First time AnthroCon Advice
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 "Adjusting to new lifestyle..." Location: Maine
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*Blushes* Erm... New guy here, I'm really new to the whole furry world, only having stumbled upon it (Very Happily I might add) recently. Unfortunately it's put me in an awkward postion. My friends for the most part are really cool, however, most of them are anti-furry. Not in the life threatining kind of way, more like the "You'll never hear the end of this, ever." Kind of way. The other thread posted, I believe it's called "How do I tell my parents..." Was helpful for parents, but advice about close friends would be Helpful. |
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Icerocket
Location: Ardmore, PA
Website: [Link]
Blog: [Link]
Hi new guy, I'm an old guy.
On the subject of your friends, I've found that what helps is to be non-chalant about such matters, if you even care to bring them up. If you don't make it out to be a big deal, then there's a good chance that neither will they. Alternatively, you could always try to give them grief back if they give you any. i.e. "What do you mean you're not coming to Anthrocon? What's wrong with you? The con is going to rock!"
On the subject of "bootstrapping" yourself into the community, yeah that can be a challenge. Having someone to come to the con with helps, especially if they know people that they can introduce you to.
Volunteering at the con is also a great way to meet people. However, I should warn you that people do have a tendency to get "sucked in". If you are especially unlucky, you'll wind up on staff in a future year. (I learned this all too late
)
Hope that helps.
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permalinkWebsite: [Link]
Yes... do beware of that staff infection.... it's virulent and pernacious.
- krin ^ _ ^
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permalinkLocation: Youngstown, OH
Welcome!
1) If your friends are mostly ribbing you about this it's probably best to rib them back. If you really feel like they need to know furry better the Just What IS Furry http://www.anthrocon.org/about-furry page is always a good start. Aside from that you could always try and bring back some nice art for them to look at.
2) Giza has a good suggestion about volunteering. Alternatively if you can convince one of your friends to come with you it might make things a bit easier. Attending panels is a good way to get over shyness since they have a much smaller group. Remember, everyone at the con has at least one thing in common with you - a love of animals. You might also want to try and make friends with some folks here so you at least 'know' someone, and possibly set up to meet with them at the con.
3) This is something like Furry Myth #1. Only about 10 - 12% of the con members actually dresses in fursuits, and not even all the time. There's no problem with you not having a fursuit because you don't need it. You'll see a lot of ears and tails around, a lot of folks in shirts with animals on it, but there's no need for you to have a suit for the con. If you really want to wear one I'd advise waiting until next year, not only will that leave you more time to create one but you will also have gotten a feel for the con.
Hope this helps.
"Furry is a state of mind."
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permalinkLocation: Philadelphia area, PA
Yes! Volunteer! Funfunfun! I especially recommend the art show!
Seriously, in some ways, you're right to worry a little. AC is a huge con, and being in amongst than many new faces, especially if you're a little shy, can be a bit overwhelming.
Attending panels (i especially recommend the one for newcomers that kage, 2, and KP run every year) is a great way to meet people. So is hanging out in the zoo, especially if you bring a sketchbook, or getting involved in one of the open LARPs or RPGs.
Having a friend or two with you can be really grounding. If you want to meet some faces in advance, hanging around this board works. Hanging around the irc channels, livejournals, and mucks devoted to furry works, too.
Volunteering was what really worked best for me--instead of taking on a couple thousand faces, i could concentrate on about 10 regular ones, plus 10-20 others who were only there for one period. Most particularly, i made a lot of great friends on breakdown crew for the art show, though i think any of the setup crews would have worked just as well. And once i volunteered at art show bag check once, i found a friendly place i could keep coming back to and be useful whenever i felt a little lonely and at loose ends. This does, of course, put people in danger of becoming staff...but there are worse things than getting pulled into a small crew of like-minded people who pay your way in return for work you would have done anyway.
But i still think really finding your feet at a con can take a bit of a leap of faith--you just have to get into the middle of something and trust that you'll be welcomed. Thankfully, this isn't a group where you really have to do that too much before you get sucked in.
This, too, i want to echo. Personally, i spend the entire gather in plain, ordinary, solid colored clothes. No fursuit, no ears, no tail. Occasionally, you might see me sprout horns, but that's about it. And i don't really stand out all that much for not being dressed up. Whatever you wear normally will be fine; just pick out clothes that make you feel good.
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permalinkBlog: [Link]
I run the convention, and even I get ribbed once in a while. Usually my response is, "Yeah, it sounds silly. But the organization brought in almost $300,000 last year, and injected more than 2 million dollars into the Pittsburgh economy."
That usually gets a soft "Oh" followed by silence.
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permalinkYeah, about that, how DID you end up running the convention anyway?
-If someone walks up to you and says they are a pathological liar, would you believe them?
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permalinkBlog: [Link]
I don't know. They invited me to be guest of honor in 1998, and somehow when I walked out I was chairman.
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permalinkCool. Can I bug you for more details?
Like, how did *that* conversation go?
"Yeah, have fun did you? Cool, hey, how's about next year, instead of coming up and telling some stories, you RUN the convention?"
I'm just curious because I can't really see a decent transition from "storyteller" to "CEO/operations manager of a multinational and steadily growing convention". I really don't see their job descriptions overlapping so much that the jobs are nearly identical
Also, I'd kill for a picture of the look on your face when they asked you.
-If someone walks up to you and says they are a pathological liar, would you believe them?
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permalinkBlog: [Link]
That's my point. There was no conversation. It just sort of happened. I still don't know how. I got home and said, "Wow, that was fun! And I'm chairman, isn't that delightful? Er....wait a minute..."
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permalinkLocation: Syracuse, NY
Website: [Link]
You don't remember? That must have been some good sake...
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permalinkPoor Kage
And contrary to Giza's comment, he seems to be second-in-command around here, so he's next up when you decide to retire >:)
-If someone walks up to you and says they are a pathological liar, would you believe them?
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permalinkLocation: Ardmore, PA
Website: [Link]
Blog: [Link]
The Chairman is not allowed to retire without permission of the Board.
--
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permalinkSo when you say "Chairman", what you really *mean is "slave".
Who was the chairman that Kage replaced? Honestly, I've never heard anything about him/her/it/both/neither/other.
-If someone walks up to you and says they are a pathological liar, would you believe them?
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permalinkLocation: Ardmore, PA
Website: [Link]
Blog: [Link]
Note to self: Never accept any Guest of Honor invites.
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permalinkLocation: Orlando, FL
max,
First of all, if you haven't been told enough times yet, WELCOME to Anthrocon! We're glad you're here.
No, in terms of dealing with your friends, I get ribbing from my friends too from time to time. It's all in jest, but it happens. What I'd do is just laugh it off. And you know, you may meet people from Europe, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and all over the world. Just imagine what kind of a response your friends would have if you told them, "Yeah, I went to a furry con, and I met a new frend who invited me to visit them in France next summer." Kind of puts thing sinto perspective.
One thing to keep in mind is that you'll also be meeting many new people and new friends over the weekend. I can tell you that my first Anthrocon was really a very eye opening experience. I met more friends and had so much fun that I couldn't even describe it. I hope that you will find that to be your expereince as well. I'd recommend that you attend the "This is Your First Furry Con" panel. It's a great way to get to know about AC and meet me, our chairman, and well known furry persona "2 the Ranting Gryphon". It's light hearted and informative and a great way to start your first convention.
Afterwards, please feel free to stop and say hi to me. I'm fairly approachable so long as I don't have a programming crisis on my hands.
You should be aware that there is a kind of "Chill Zone" called The Zoo. It's on the third floor of the hotel and it's a great palce to just stop and talk with folks away from the busier programming areas.
I'm also a fursuiter, and I can tell you only about 10-15% of our con attendees will have fursuits. So if you don't have one ready for the con, you won't be the only person not wearing a costume. You can definitely stop by the fursuit contruction and performance panels to get some great info on building and performing in costume. We'll have some top notch folks holding those panels.
KP
Anthrocon Programming Director
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permalinkWebsite: [Link]
If your friends are true friends, than they will not abandon you for being a furrie. The best you can do is just not bring up your furrie interests unless they ask you to. That way they don't see you flaunting your furrieness...and perhaps in turn they will be civil and more accepting of it.
As for the subject of shyness....I felt so shy the first time I went to a convention. I had worked hard on my first furrie costume...and although it wasn't an epic costume it was a costume and I wore it to Nekocon. After walking in, and hearing two people yell out "Furries for the win!"...most of my shyness and fear went away. After that it was replaced with a feeling of belonging...being surrounded by so many people in costume. If a usually shy person like me who keeps to herself unless among friends could feel that feeling of belongness at Neko, than I am sure you can find yourself feeling you belong at a place more accepting towards furs because it is for furs.
At first you will feel shy but once you are then and surrounded by people who you can relate to, that shyness should melt right away. So just don't go in thinking people will judge you, or don't go in focusing on negative thoughts. Go in thinking happy thoughts and you will be better for it.
Also there is no written rule that you have to dress up for a con. If you don't, it's not big deal. You will still have fun.
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permalinkLocation: Somewhere over the rainbow in a land far far away
If don't want to chill alone you wont, pluntly of friendly people there, me being one of them. You'll be able to spot me at some point, I like to run around the con and meet everyone that I can and also catch up with friends. So if you see me just come over and say hey, sup ^_^
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permalinkLocation: New Brighton, MN, USA
Website: [Link]
One, small piece of information.
My mother had asked me what a furry was...
... so I told her.
We're people.
Simple as that.
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permalinkLocation: Mystic, CT
Blog: [Link]
Sho' nuff.
People who like people-who-are-also-animals, for the more extended explanation.
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permalinkLocation: Maine
Wow... This is an amazing welcome! I can't make it this year due to bad financial problems, but I thought this would be a great place to get better aquainted with the community. >^_^< It's nice knowing that I'm not crazy! This is apparently the closest Con to me so I'm really jazzed about being able to attend in the future! *Blushes* Again I'm a little overwhelmed by being coaxed out of my shell so quickly...
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permalinkLocation: Mystic, CT
Blog: [Link]
If you're in Maine, there is a closer convention to you: Furfright, which is held in October in Connecticut. http://www/furfright.org is their webpage.
http://furry.wikia.com/wiki/Template:Upcoming_events has a list of furry conventions upcoming. We certainly would enjoy for Anthrocon to be your first furry convention, but there are others besides us you might consider, too.
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permalinkLocation: Baltimore, MD
Website: [Link]
Blog: [Link]
Well with all these wonderful comments here, I feel like throwing in my own two cents
Last year's Anthrocon was my first. I was rooming with a friend of mine who I'd mainly known over the internet, as well as some others who I'd never known in my life. I got lost once I got off the 28X (the bus that takes you the closest to the Westin from the Airport, as far as I know) as I have the special ability to get instantly lost and wind up in Pennsylvania somehow (long story) I started wandering, and eventually found myself turning a corner and following the guy in the fox-tail and ears, heh.
For the majority of Day 0 (Thursday, since technically the con doesn't -technically- start until Friday) I sat in the Zoo by myself and just doodled. Met one guy, and we chatted for a bit, and it was all good. Went out to Dinner at some restaurant (I think it was the Smithfield Cafe. Great food there.) with two of my roommates. Spent the rest of the day wandering, etc, then retired.
Next day, I went to get breakfast at this one bagel place nearby (once again, followed a bunch of guys in tails and ears. Great food there too), then went to the 'So This Is Your First Furry Convention' Panel. I -RECOMMEND- this (if they have it this year, which I'm pretty sure they will). I dunno if it was just me, but after that panel, the entire nervousness I had about the con left me... I recall smiling so much my jaw literally hurt
Go to as many panels as you wanna, talk to the dealers, or those working at the Artist's Alley. You'd be surprised how many people you can meet/chat with.
And yeah, as some of the other fuzzies have said, you don't need a fursuit for the con. Most people just walk around in street clothes, some people also wear tails and ears (I recall someone with a tail so big they had to hold it while they went up/down the escalator) but only a few actually suit up.
Edit: Removed the way-too-many-:p's
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permalinkYay Someone saw the huge tail!
been tryin to find pictures.. no luck. will have it again this year.
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permalinkLocation: Trenton, Florida!
Well in the future if ya find me and AC you could hang around with us if you like. If you're not comfortable around me you'll be comfortable around him. EVERYFUR is comfortable around my mate, AC. Bahaha.
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permalinkLocation: Westerlo, NY
Huh! And all this time I thought Aloyen gave it to you because you asked for the position, Kage
I should have know you were smarter than that.
Still, you must have been the only one at AC98 that didn't know. As PeterCat said: Good sake!
Of course, there is something to be said for the volunteering bug. I worked the first two ACs and left fandom for a time. This is my first AC since then... I'm working at whatever gets thrown my way. It really IS an awesome way to take in a con.
Join us...........
-- Mouse (Ish)
It's a white cat caught in a snow storm. Oh, no, it's a white cat caught in a hairstorm.
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permalinkLocation: NJ
I shall remember that if my animation company takes off and I get an invitation in the mail.
You won't trap me!
*realizes he's already been volunteering for 7 years and can't stop. The brainwashing has already taken hold!* Ah crap. >:[
Anyway, my advice for the newbs to the convention is: DO NOT TAUNT THE HAPPY FUN CHAIRMAN! D:
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permalinkLocation: Norfolk Virginia
The gender inside a fur suit may not be the same as the gender the suit is made to be.
XP
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permalinkLocation: Roseville, CA, USA
Is that important in some way?
After all - the species inside a fur suit may not be the same as the species the suit is made to be, either.
I have a friend, a long-time, old-school furry fan, who loves the suits, primarily the better-made ones. He will take time to snap pictures, waits patiently for the fursuit parade...but will not dance with one at the fursuit dance, because he is quite concerned that he doesn't know if he's dancing with a gal or a guy, "inside the suit". I don't worry about it; although I am older and my joints can't quite take it anymore, and I never did learn to dance or seem to have any instinct for it, IF a lady leopard or a slinky vixen appear and are willing to dance, I'll try it. It is the leopard or the vixen I'm dancing with - not the performer underneath, and I've never had a "misunderstanding" occur after the dance, because of it.
Indeed - perhaps it is that people who would NEVER consider dancing with me, as themselves, feel that they can approach me in leopard- or vixen-form.
A book could be written over the all the possible meanings - and motives - of the appearance of the suit, vs the person wearing it. Perhaps that book has already been written. But it is perhaps best to take the suit at face (or muzzle) value. If it looks like a cat, it expects to be treated like a cat, or looks specifically female, it should be treated as such - at least as long as the suit is actually involved and engaged. If you wish some more involved - or even intimate - communication with whatever force animates the suit, it is best to wait for the suit to retire, and the "real" person to come forth.
In short - don't take the suit, and your interaction with it, too seriously! You could miss a lot of simple and innocent fun that way.
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permalinkLocation: Washington DC
Website: [Link]
Which is EXACTLY why the advice was issued. It is easy (too easy) for some furres to get all excited over the fursuit and forget about the person inside it. Never underestimate that reaction.
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permalinkLocation: Norfolk Virginia
You know I was just Jesting, right? >.>
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permalinkLocation: Roseville, CA, USA
No.
I did not know that you were jesting.
There are many furry fans who are very serious about that very thing, and I don't quite understand the concern (which, since you are just jesting, you apparently do not share - and that is fine).
My comment was not meant as a personal rebuke; rather, as a challenge to explain that concern (shich, since you are only jesting...you know).
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permalinkWebsite: [Link]
I have a few things that I would wish to say to you of this. I'd rather not get into it though. Not here at least. I will say this though...that she was jesting. You didn't have to jump on her for it.
(comment directed towards Vulpes Rex)
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permalinkLocation: Roseville, CA, USA
In reading your response, as well as the other two, I gather that somehow, my post must seem like a rebuke at least, if not an attack of some sort. Having gone back over my post, I can detect no harsh word, no personal slander, Put-down, or 'flame'. I am at a loss to understand the defensive response.
I did not see Zeke's post as a jest - how can one tell? It is a fairly straightforward statement of fact, with no whimsey or humor referenced or implied; I did not even know that Zeke is a "She", again that isn't apparent from the single line post.
Masks and costumes are very ancient cultural tools, common to cultures around the world and through history. The emphasis can be to conceal, disguise, or misdirect, or to portray, adopt, or assume an identity or role or power, for reasons including spiritual and entertainment. I'm no fursuiter myself, but I know several, and their reasons for building, wearing, and performing in fursuits run the spectrum.
If you feel that what I wrote is in factual error, well, I am open to correction. Show me the error of my conclusions.
And if you feel that I was being harsh to Zeke - and I assure you, that was not my intent - than show me how I may avoid being misunderstood in the future.
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permalinkI need to be more Zen like you.
-If someone walks up to you and says they are a pathological liar, would you believe them?
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permalinkBlog: [Link]
Indeed.
And let's move along now, shall we?
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