Badges?
Ok... First time con goer and I'm already a bit confused. My problem is with badges. When people say badges, what exactly is it that you receive from registration, and what are the ones being advertised by furaffinity's artists? Is there a difference? If so what? Is it worth paying the extra money to pay from an artist? Still confused, please help.
You beat me to it, Protocollie. Just one thing I could add is that your registration badge should be displayed at all times. Con staff and security check for registration badges all the time and you will not be able to get into any of the events or areas without one. If security see you walking around without a registration badge displayed they may stop you and ask to see it.
Thanks. Kinda got hit with a whirlwind of badges, but that should definitive. Any recommendations as to where I can get an artist badge and not break the bank? Kinda on a strict budget at the moment and not too happy with my own artistic skills...
Furaffinity is one place to start. You can see an artist work and try and pick one whose style you like. At this point in time if you commission an artist from furaffinity you will probably be picking it up at AC. There is going to be several artists offering AC badge commissions for pick up at AC. You can also wait until AC and try and commission someone in the dealers den or artist's alley and may be able to pick it up before the end of AC.
As for price you will just have to shop around. Price will vary from artist to artist and they can range from around $10 to upwards of $40-50. Cost can depend a lot on the artist's skill and popularity.
Any thing I should watch out for? I've browsed a little and saw slot of the artists asking for paypal only.
Just pick an artist you like, check the LJ community artists_beware if you're nervous about getting shafted or something, and see if they'll take a commission.
Most furry artists are on the up and up but do be wary of folks who get a lot of complaints :]
Wait until the convention, and when the Dealer's Room opens,
proceed directly to Artists Alley. Look all around the tables.
More than 1/2 the artists, IMHO, will be selling badges.
Look at the people with the art you'd buy, and asking the prices
you are willing to pay. Then commission one or more badges.
Oh, and here's another link:
http://en.wikifur.com/wiki/Conbadge
Protocollie and Nicona have covered nearly it all. I'll just add a link to http://www.anthrocon.org/node/5066 , "A Guide to Buying your First Fursona Badge."
This confusion over "Con Badge" is why "Membership Badge" and "Fursona Badge" have popped up. Less ambiguity. 
--Chi
Okay. Hey I did realize something though. Umm... Furaffinity's registrations down for some reason or another. My only problem with waiting til the day I get there is I'm afraid I won't be able to get it til it's time for me to leave. I'll only be there for one day, and it seems opening days about all I can do. I'll keep searching, and thank you all. \/^.^\/ Just want to have it in time and not get screwed when it comes to paying for one.
The Uncle Kage??? Um... I emailed them asking. But I'm still open to suggestions while i browse, thanks everyone!
No uncle kage, I just hold a deep respect for you is all. Bit of a suprise to see you posting on my thread.
Uncle Kage is actually a very nice guy (despite what he might say to the contrary) and posts quite a bit on these forums. He has a little more free time and is able to do so. During the con he is very busy though so while he may stop and say hi or listen to any concerns you may have don't expect him to chat for any length of time. Usually if you see Kage during the con he will be moving rather quickly from one point to another.
Furbuy.com and furbid.ws often have artists offering badge commissions. (Including me 
)
Then may I ask you now, after I browse your work and several others, is it likely I can pay on arrival to ac if I preorder?
That varies depending on the artist. Some artists will accept payment at the con while others will require payment before the work is started. When you ask about commissioning them they will let you know when they expect payment.
I've gotten badges from Heather Bruton, Likeshine, Michelle Light, and Tani DaReal. I am also getting a new badge from Kitt Mouri that I am picking up at AC this year. I had no problems with any of them.
I can highly recommend Likeshine, if she is taking badge commissions. She draws wonderful art and is a real treat to work with.
I commissioned a badge from touchmybadger for Anthrocon http://www.furaffinity.net/view/3854967/
It's only $5, it fits the theme this year, and you can pick it up there if you pre-order now and pay via paypal. I figure since this is my first, I'll start with a basic badge like this and can get something more elaborate later.
I saw them when I was browsing, only problem is I have no account... Gonna check for an email I guess.
You don't need a furaffinity account to request one. Touchmybadger set up a web form form to fill out to take the badge commissions. Just click on the red text on the link page I gave you where it says "Click here if you'd like one."
Now if it is a Paypal account you don't have, well, you might be SOL on that, you'd have to ask the artist.
Con badges from Anthrocon are basically your 'ticket' to the event. Because it's so spread out, rather than a paper ticket, you wear a badge with your name on it so people know who you are and we know you paid the entry fee. That badge is generally about the size of a credit card, worn on a little tag, and is included in the cost of your registration.
Badges by artists are a completely different thing - they're generally a piece of artwork that represents your character and has your name on it. If you don't have a suit (or even if you do!) but you want people to recognize you as your character, a badge by an artist is like a little sign you wear that says "hey! this is what I am!" They're not required to be worn at the con but most people choose to wear at least one.