Representing From Springfield,MO
Hey everybody this is my first post on anthrocon.org and this year will hopefully be (about 84% chance) my first time attending Anthrocon! Now I'm most likely bringing 3-5 friends and I was wondering what I should do? There mostly going for the dancing and to just hang (there not furs but they wanted to come along xD), while I'll be there for everything! So how should I keep them entertained? Where are the best hangouts? Were all 16-17 years old and we want to party 
! Lastly is there anyone heading down this year that's from our area? Thanks for all your help guys, keep rockin'!
Much Love,
Some Phat Dude 
It's not my fault I'm crazy!
One thing that wasn't mentioned was where you're staying. If you're not sharing a room with other people, at least one person in your group must be 18 years old to sign for the room.
If you're not staying in a con hotel, this doesn't apply.
If you're staying in a con hotel, someone 18 years or older will need to sign
for the room, someone staying in it who assumes legal responsibility for
the activities in the room (and any damages, noise complaints, etc.)
If you're NOT staying in a con hotel, someone 21 years or older will need to sign
for the room, someone staying in it who assumes legal responsibility for
the activities in the room (and any damages, noise complaints, etc.)
Arrgh! Thanks for correcting my screw-up, BlackJack! I'm so used to saying that the normal age to be permitted to rent a room is 21 and that the con hotels relax this to 18 for Anthrocon... So I forget it once and give the wrong impression.
Sigh. At least regular posters realize that this was an error of omission, not commission...
Thanks for all the help guys. I do have a question about hotels though... Due to the fact that I will need someone that is at least 18 to sign for the room, is it possible to have a parent reserve the room for us over the phone? Or will someone need to be there in person?
It's not my fault I'm crazy!
Come to the dances.
Come to the dances.
Come to the dances.
They rock.
Hrmmm...everyone's different, of course, so it's hard to say what they might like. Off the top of my head, however...
--Take them to the art show. The beauty of the work will blow their tiny minds.
--Take them to 2's and Kage's performances. They'll be doubled over in giggles.
--Take them to the dances. It's what they're planning to go for anyway, so i doubt it'll take much effort, but they won't be disappointed.
--Take them to the 'So this is your first convention?' panel, or maybe the 'So your kids dragged you to anthrocon?' one. They'll feel more at home if they know something of what to expect.
Aside from those and a few others, we may not know what's happening until pretty close to the con. But i recommend sitting down with them and digging through the schedule, to see what seems like it might be fun. Personally, i have a fondness for Anthropoly, and i had a good laugh attending Midwest Furfest's Charity Auction.
Guys and Gals I gotta say I love ya! The Furry community has always been awesome, but you can really see it here! With that randomness out of the way XD I have a one more questions for you guys. With the parent consent form I see there is a place for a ,notary is this a mandatory or is it a option?
Thanks for all the help,
Clinton
It's not my fault I'm crazy!
Dang Kage that was speedy ^^ Thank you for clearing that up for me.
It's not my fault I'm crazy!
As Kage said, with one clarification: if your parent is physically present with you at Registration, shows identification, and signs the Minor Consent form in front of a member of Registration Staff; then it does not need to be notarized.
Otherwise, notarization is utterly mandatory. Luckily, it's an easy and cheap thing for parent(s) to do.
If i plan on volunteering before AC, can I have my parent or sine it then?
Er.. could you clarify what you mean, Weisen?
Very sorry, Its 3am My time I should have known better sorry. lets say my mother would be able to drop me off to volunteer the day or so before June 24, So I can 'try' and help with the things that are needed(what ever i am put to work doing). If my mother was already downtown at the Westin would she be able to sine the consent paper then, rather then driving down on the 24 to do it, well maybe i should just stick to my plan and get it notarized.
Ahh, okay, now I gotcha.
On the 23rd (Wednesday) things are fairly chaotic; but I think we can swing this. You'll just need to take several careful steps.
First, bring a printout of the consent form, with everything filled out except for the signature. This will help speed up the process. You'll want to check in with Registration staff, who will be starting to actually get things going about 2pm*, and be going until about 10pm (when bag stuffing finishes.) We will be outside of Hall B in the DLCC.
You and your Mom will look for me. Outside of looking for the most frantic person, that's best accomplished by asking around for Chiaroscuro until someone points you to me. (I'm not usually in my chef's outfit until Thursday, or that'd be the easy way to spot me.) One of my AD's (Sonicgod, Tyrrlin, Derecho) could handle this as well. Your Mom can sign the permission form in front of us, and we'll carefully file it.
[Also note that you will separately, for volunteering, need to go to ConOps; this will be in the DLCC in room 309. You will need a signed-by-parent form, which will be available here: https://www.anthrocon.org/files/anthrocon/active/0/VOLUNTEERTIMESHEET2009.doc or at ConOps. This form does not need to be notarized.]
When it comes time for actual registration on Thursday (And you should get Pre-registered, it'll be so much faster, not to mention $5 cheaper!), you'll register as normal, and say "My Parental Consent form was turned in already, to [Chiaroscuro or the AD]." This will make the person taking the registration go "Urh, huh?" and call over me or the AD. We will then say "Yeah, we have it." and you'll get your badge.
--Chi
Once again you have been a big help to me, I don't think I could ever thank you for all you help, now real fast I have been thinking this is you name said in the same way as the art?(kee-ar-uh-SKYOOR-o)
Correct, identical to the artistic term. ( Also pronounceable as Chee-ahr-uh-skyoor-o.)
Thank you 
What time do you expect to arrive on site, though? Wouldn't want Weisen's mom to try stopping by in the morning if you won't be there until the afternoon.
That is a very good point that I did not think about maybe its not worth the trouble and I will just get it notarized like every one else
That is why I mentioned getting things going about 2pm on Wednesday.
My schedule to Pittsburgh still depends on quite a few factors yet, but 2pm is a likely time for a well-fed, unburdened mongoose to make it to the DLCC.
Actually, that link is for last year's form. The current year's form is at http://www.anthrocon.org/files/anthrocon/VOLUNTEERTIMESHEET2010.pdf
Well they can either sine it or cosine it, but as long as there's no tangent involved, you should be okay.
/flat
Let's not make the Point too Obtuse; but with proper Linear reasoning like that, you've got the Right Angle.
(Please excuse my Hyperbole).
Well, I have hit quite the road bump on my trip to AC!
My dad doesn't really want me to go to AC this year. He doesn't care what it is about or anything like that, it is just that he is worried about me being on trip by myself and him not being able to get to me in case of a accident or something. He knows I have Sam's Club Car Side Service (cross country crash responce, gas refills, towing, ect.) But he still doesn't want me driving in a major city like Pittsburgh,PA. I suggested me taking a plane (I would be paying for myself of course),but still no... I completely understand where he is coming from and I'm not mad at him just kinda upset with his decision.
I was wondering what you guys think I should say to reassure him that everything will be okay? Possibly to help sway him to let me go.
My mom will probably let me go (divorced parents with very different views on things), but I want my dad to know that I would be in safe hands so he wouldn't have to worry about me.
Thanks for the help everybody,
SomePhatDude
It's not my fault I'm crazy!
I understand his concern; it's a reasonable one for him to have at that. A road trip is a major undertaking, and it was a while before my parents let me take one myself. Pittsburgh, while it can be a slightly entertaining city to drive through (bridges everywhere!) is not that hectic a drive, however.
My advice to you is to help allay his fears. The Sam's Club AAA-like service is a good help; I'd also recommend setting some limitations on yourself that might ease his fears.
Agree to not use the cell phone while driving, regardless of what the laws of the states might be.
Agree that once you arrive in Pittsburgh and park, you'll really plan to leave your car where it is for the duration of the convention; most folks who arrive at Anthrocon do not drive about the city during the con, but walk to nearby destinations.
Explain to him that Anthrocon is in a downtown business district in Pittsburgh; he may be worried about 'big city crime', and not know that Anthrocon is in a rather safe and secure area.
Let him help you plan the drive, as well; good points to stop at, good places to eat and gas up the car.
And there's always the option of inviting him or your Mom along to Anthrocon; or perhaps an aunt, uncle, or other trusted relative. You might also consider travel by Amtrak or Greyhound, if the driving part is his biggest concern.
Either way, present things positively, and with a lot of "Well, dad, either way you feel it's fine.. but I'm really hoping to go." sort of statements. If he does say no to this year, then he might agree to next year, after you're another year seasoned at driving, as well as older and wiser. We'll still have Anthrocon in 2011, eager as I'm sure you are to go now.
Great advice Chiaroscuro!
My mom is going to let me go now (I used some of your suggestions) and dad seems content with the idea. So hope to see everybody at AC this year ^^
It's not my fault I'm crazy!
Very good! Continue to keep them updated with plans, and ask them for advice here and there on travel too (Parents love giving advice, as you may have noticed...) and all should be good.
I'm quite certain your friends will find things within Anthrocon to keep themselves entertained; of course, they can always head off to Pittsburgh if not and explore the city.
To note, since you're all under 18, you will all need signed and notarized permission forms, available at http://www.anthrocon.org/files/anthrocon/minor-consent-2010.pdf . It's best also to Pre-Register at http://www.anthrocon.org/registration to both save money and time in line.
http://www.anthrocon.org/faq/minors has good information as well; I'd make sure to read it, as well as browse other sections of our FAQ and these forums, most of your current and upcoming questions will be answered therein.