If you have never been to Anthrocon before
If you have never been to Anthrocon before, let me offer a bit of additional advice from a programming perspective.
You would probably want to go to the convention's opening ceremonies. It's not a long thing, but it will let you get to see the folks that run the convention. So when you see them running around over the course of the weekend...you'll know who they are.
One of the very first panels that is traditionally held at Anthrocon is "So this is your first convention?" This panel is normally hosted by Uncle Kage, 2-the Ranting Gryphon, and myself. You'll learn some of the do's and don'ts around the con. It's really pretty entertaining, but you'll get a perspective on how and why many things are set up the way they are.
The convention programming is organized into "tracks". (Artist, puppets, fursuiting, performance, gaming, writing, etc.) You may want to look at the progrmaming guide to see what items interest you the most and build your own schedule around those interests. Also be aware that some events do attract LARGE numbers of convention attendees (including but not limited to Uncle Kage's Story Hour, 2's Rant, the Masquerade, and the Fursuit Parade). If you want to view some of these events, you may want to arrive a bit early to get a good seat.
The Dealer's Room / Artist Alley. - Many artists who take commissions fill up their lists very quickly. So if there is someone you specifically want to have draw in your sketchbook or get a con badge form...arrive early when the dealer/artist area opens. Trying to get a full color commission late on Sunday may not be an option with many popular artists.
And finally...HAVE FUN! We wouldn't be putting this thing together if we didn't want folks to enjoy themselves.
KP
Anthrocon Programming Director
I don't think there would be any problem with being an "outsider", so to speak. It seems to have been a recurring thing in recent years for Anthrocon to be the "first" furry convention that people attend.
Last year was my first, and I had fun for the most part. Way to shy to meet ppl, but this year I am brining a very close friend, and it happens to be his second con (but first big one). So, its gunna be fun!
First con is this coming Califur. Doing that together too.
Tiger kitty ready for AC, at your service,
Verdauga
WOW i feel the same way as you do I've been dying to go to a anthro con since i can remember, plus i live in Australia and i don't even think they have anthro cons out in the bush or even in the same state i'm in which is really sad 
dude, i feel you. i feel the same way, though my reason for not going is because i live in a diffrent contry and travel isn't easy, or quick. but yeah, i got know one to be with if i could go. mabye i could find you one of these years and, i don't know, hang out? lol 
i would love to go to the furrycon, but my parrents probably wouldnt approve, the fact that they are babtists. your not alone, i mean, im frieking 14. it doesnt matter what people, or 'furries', think. you will never be an outsider. babtists teach that everyone should be treated equal, and yeah, im talking to the furries that went this year. i am sorry that that ass hole was talking about everyone like that. but anyways, dannywolf, just go if you want to, i mean, its your call. dont let peer pressure get to you(sorry if it is a bit... of a ... well,, young speech.). anthro cons have been verry popular. go. im pretty sure you would have a great time.
(ignore my thing saying "godofdeath", it is my gamertag on xbox lie, and i created it a long time ago. i thought it was cool. i am getting verry used to using that though, and i dont care what other people think about it.
My mother is a Baptist as well (Conservative Baptist Association of America), and is a Deaconess for her local church. (Me, I'm more of a Lutheran myself.) While she's never been to a furry convention, she's been fine with my attendance, is quite accepting that Furry fandom is a big part of my life, and enjoys seeing some of the art now and then.
Most parents are reasonably accepting of the hobbies of their kids, though they're not likely to get 'into' them. Present furry to them as a hobby and an interest, mention it mildly, positively, and with vague mention of "Maybe one day I'd like to go to one of these conventions." rather then "We gotta go to Pittsburgh for Anthrocon 2010." Lead with the small. 
--Chi
Hi Danny, don't worry about being a "1st timer"... I am too, I just got interested in the fandom and so far I have been treated with the utmost respect, I also am having my first partial suit made. You just come to AC and have a blast, I'll be at the opening ceremonies to hear Unkle Kage, some of the do's and don'ts, if you see me don't be afraid to come over and say hi, my suit will look like the dog on my page picture, his name was Bandit, hence the name Shadow Bandit... as I will always live in his shadow. SB.
P.S. *gives you furry hugs*
thats cool just wandering. i think if i can make it out this is going to be a balst. this is my first fur con and prolly the only one that i have not just gate crashed,ok so i have seen alot about dressing up and things so dose any one have any tipps on that subject? i not talking about a full suite, cause my furry persona is a wolf hybrid. with alot of human caritoristics in the face but still enough wolf to tell what i am suposed to be.
any ideas would be heplful thaks
At Anthrocon, nobody is truly an "outsider". Everyone there shares some kind of interest, so you'll be in good company. If you are wanting to commission a fursuit, but won't have one yet, there will be panels on fursuit construction, and many of the top fursuit designers and builders will be there as well. You can get lots of ideas and talk to people who have suits that you like.
If it's your first con, you'll have the opportunity to make many new friends from all over the globe.
KP
Anthrocon Programming Director
Don't worry too much about having ears or tails or anything. Only about 10% of the folks at Anthrocon had full suits. I came and wore neither tail nor ears (nor collar nor anything else). The closest I came to wearing anything specific was a wolf t-shirt I wore one day. Furries aren't judgmental people, we accept that people have different ideas on what being furry means to them and we welcome people interested in us (except reporters who are only interested in casting us as perverts).
Furry is a state of mind.
My friend and I are going to be sharing a room, and splitting the cost as well. '07 was indeed my first time going, and even though I was a bit shy, I definately had a blast. xD But none the less, I'm sure everyone there is bound to have a good time. ^^
And while I still have this thought sitting on the back burner boiling away, UncleKage, did my registration form make it through alright? Sorry if I printed it on notebook paper. ^^; *hides beneath a newspaper* Oh, the comic section!
"Don't be a wierd boy." ~ Exile, Road Rovers
speaking of reporters, i saw this one vid tht was about couples, i cant remember what the title was, but i know chewfox took it well. how is she btw? (i know im using the furry name, its just i forgot her real name lol.)
I guess my Big question is that is on a lot of people gong to there first CON is Who Much Will the Con COST $..
Like Room $110 a night 4 nights $440..
Food.. Maybe Go out and See a Movie..Another $100 a night..
So about $1000 to $1200 save up ahead of time would be nice..
.^_._^.
U
V
Room:
440 for 4 nights, split between 4 roomies, 126 total (added taxes).
Food:
Cereal, Sammiches, Dinner out, probably around 20/day, if not less. 80 total.
Con Membership:
40 (you did pre-reg right?)
Toss in some spending money for swag and you can go for 500 or less, not counting travel, which can be from free to 500 or more.
Tiger kitty ready for AC, at your service,
Verdauga
I agree. I think one year, I managed to scrape by on $270 or so. I paid pre-reg, ride share of gas, and hotel room was some... $115? and got me one or two pieces of art, and still ate real well. The rest was mostly food and tips. I saved money surprisingly, by bringing my own food--lots was fruits and cereal and more to stay healthy during the con, which cost much less than eating out; and other food knocked down my share of the hotel room, because the guy offering the room thought it really nice that I brought community food for all to share in. No guarantees your roomies/room 'leader' will do the same, but giving apparently still goes a long way.
I carefully managed and watched my money, and yet still had glorious fun times just because Anthrocon rolls like that |3 fun is still free.
You are unlikely to go out and see a movie during Anthrocon. Maybe, maybe something just-released, but you will be too busy at the con.
Most people split a room with at least one other person; often you'll have 4 people in a room with two double beds, or people flopping on floors with sleeping bags, too.
$100 a night is rather high for food each day, unless you're doing fine dining. It's certainly possible to manage eating well for $50 or less, or even $30 or less a day with preparations (Buying drinks/snacks in advance).
Your travel costs will be a part of it, and also significantly the-stuff-you-buy-at-the-con, art, comics, prints, badges, etc. A thousand dollars set aside to afford the convention gives you a *lot* of options, but it can be done much cheaper.
Most people split a room with at least one other person; often you'll have 4 people in a room with two double beds, or people flopping on floors with sleeping bags, too.
Even splitting with ONE person cuts the cost a lot.
And with convention rates, the room-rate is very low to begin with.
(We can't affect all the taxes.)
$100 a night is rather high for food each day, unless you're doing fine dining. It's certainly possible to manage eating well for $50 or less, or even $30 or less a day with preparations (Buying drinks/snacks in advance).
If you're eating the hotel buffet (approaching $20) and eating dinner at Buca di Beppo,
that day's meals might reach $50, but then you just had a MOUNTAIN of food-
a huge breakfast and huge dinner, not even counting lunch which you may have skipped.
My average day's food expenses for AC are generally around $20.
(Less than $10 for breakfast at the Steel City, lunch at Fernando's is the AnthroCon
Special for $5, dinner is flexible and could be Fernando's again.
Or maybe the lunch buffet at the Chinese restaurant right next by Fernando's and
Steel City, and dinner at Fernando's.)
Unless you're adding alcoholic beverages, which really would multiply the costs,
especially at a bar.
Your travel costs will be a part of it, and also significantly the-stuff-you-buy-at-the-con, art, comics, prints, badges, etc.
We all have different things we like to buy. I can brutally attack the Dealer's Room
for under $150, and can generally do it for $100. The more frugal can do it for a
lot less.
is it possible to pay in advance without a credit card? i am sending a mail-in registration form. is it okay if i send a check or cash?
--
~Emptyness is Lonlieness and Lonlieness is Cleanliness and Cleanliness is Godliness and God is Empty just like Me~
Hrrrm..... cash isn't the best method really. =O If that mail becomes lost, or stolen, whoever took it just got themselves a few bucks. What I did was I went to the store I work at, and recieved a money order. Same thing as a check really. And it is a LOT safer to send through the mail.
"Don't be a wierd boy." ~ Exile, Road Rovers
That's covered in our FAQ.
And don't sent cash. That's far too risky. A check or money order is fine.
Here is a direct link to the FAQ in question.
--
My LiveJournal - My Website - My MySpace
This will be my first fur con and I will be bringing my books sign and sell but I'll be sharing a booth with Sonicblu(for those who don't know who he is he is the host of KWKAT's radio show The time machine, http://www.sonicblu.net/timemachine/)or do we have to be in different sections?
Iv'e been to 8 anime cons , but never a fur con and i want to go. at the anime cons i've always cosplayed sooo i'm working on a a fursuit but... i'm not really sure how to act.
Iv'e been to 8 anime cons , but never a fur con and i want to go. at the anime cons i've always cosplayed sooo i'm working on a a fursuit but... i'm not really sure how to act.
I'm dealing with the same thing except i'v never been to a con of any kind. I've never worn a full costume but i want to. I'm not exactly sure where to start.
You will have a blast!
The main diff is that most fursuiters don't talk --- it would be muffled anyways and kind of adds to the mystique/fun not too.
At anime cons you often spend most of your time explaining your costume is so-in-so from yada yada anime, but at fur cons you get and/or give a lot of hugs and act silly, doing antics if you feel like it, and get into it more. (IMHO)
See if you can find someone from your area and you can exchange ideas and opinions and such.
Jeef
-----------------------------------
(actually I don't talk in my anime cos either --- its a 9 ft suit of armor and my face is below its neck)
If there's one thing I've noticed in the difference between cosplayers and fursuiters, is that fursuiters play MUCH MORE into their character than cosplayers do. For every cosplayer I've seen that actually act like the character they're dressed up as, there's 10 fursuiters that are playing up to their character.
So my advice is, act like your character! If it's a canine, beg for attention and kick your leg when you get petted. If you're a feline, purr and 'groom' yourself (pretend to lick your paw, and rub it against your face). If they're a hyper character, bounce around a lot. If they're more subdued, act aloof. There's really no limit to how you can act in a fursuit!
I am 19. This is all so jumbled to me. lol. I would love for someone to get in touch with me in any way possible and give me a detailed info thing on what all is going on, maybe upcoming cons.. Where I can get a costume made... ALL that good stuff! Maybe if you could even message me on AIM it would be great and we could talk! Please help!!! This is something I really, really want to do!
Hey all,
I am new to the Anthrocon scene and I was wondering if I could get some advice as to what's appropriate for such a large convention. I come from a small rural town in Western Pa where furry practices are both taboo and frowned upon. This has prompted me to be somewhat hesitant about being public regarding my decision to be a "furry". Therefore, I was thinking of being pretty outrageous in my first opportunity to just get out there and tell the world, "hey I'm a furry, deal with it!"
Generally I like to stick to the bear form when I dress up and was wondering how intricate people's costumes can be. Should I carry a pot of honey? Is walking on all fours feasible? It's these types of questions that make me really appeal to the more experienced people for advice, and maybe some networking
So anyways, please please please respond to my post with some suggestions, support, and even share some funny stories from cons past. These comments will really ease my trepidation in going public with my passion and I can't wait to meet all of you!
Rawr!
-Bearsky
Pretty much everybody is on the way there already, but as a casual fan, I'll take a crack at it:
A(n empty) honey pot should be fine. Costumes can range from head/paws/feet/tail to as elaborate as your stamina and checkbook can handle. I've never seen anybody on all fours and doubt anybody could pull it off without mini-stilts of some kind...
Hey Ron,
Thanks so much for the tips, I know that the con is started today, so I appreciate your quick reply. I'm curious though, how common are mini-stilts and can I purchase them in Pittsburgh? I am not an experienced stilt walker, are they dangerous?
On an unrelated note, being a Northwest Pa guy like myself, is Anthrocon a good place to meet somebody? I can assure you that there isn't a huge population of people that share our interests in Crawford county. I was really hoping that events like these might help me meet the "Cheerbear" for my "Poohbear". Thanks for your continued support in helping me find the "Bear" necessities for the con.
Gr,
Bearsky
My "mini-stilts" comment was just me thinking out loud, as it were. Please do not explore this based on that - I don't want to be responsible for any injuries/damage that might occur as a result. Wait for some more experienced fursuiters to weigh in.
WRT meeting people for either friendship or romance, anything's possible, but the former is much more likely than the latter. Like many other things in life, it's a combination of luck, opportunity, and what you're willing to put into it. I'll let others share their stories about that; I myself have at least three strikes against me for the latter, and a dull/non-out-going personality for both If that begs the question why I attend AC, the answer is mainly the art and the merchandise, but the Masquerade and panels help too...
Man I wish I read your post earlier. I was working on my costume for a bit and thought I'd try using mini-stilts to make my look a little more realistic...let's just say my cat "Alfred" wasn't ready for a large man dressed like a grizzly bear to fall on him haha. Oh well, no harm no "fowel" heh heh. Anyways, I think I'm gonna go as a bear walking on 2 feet for this one.
Regarding the second portion of your reply, fret not my furry friend, I'm sure we'll all find that special someone, I just can't think of a better place than Anthrocon for this purpose. How is the night life at Anthrocon? I just can't wait to hit the town tonight with all the other party animals! Which events would you suggest going to?
-Bearsky
ive never been to an anthrocon in my life, im only 14, but i do have some good advice.
if you are at all wanting to walk on all fours, id recomend using a quadruped suit, but if you do get one, do not use it for long periods of time unless you have great stamina in using them. if you do get a quadruped suit, id recomend getting it early and practicing with it, but dont do anything that could get it to rip or break, because then you have to use a lot of time fixing it.
if you enjoy your time at the con and you want to meet me in real life, if you still go to the cons in like 4-6 years, look for someone named OmegaWolf. i will have 1 quadruped suit and 2 bipedal suits.
I live in the united Kingdom in Scotland just like Varka that lovable black dragon who sells his Bad Dragon products ^^ I can't afford to come to an anthrocon atm but I hope soon to get a dragon fursuit made by mixedcandy and get a conbadge and hopefully come to an anthrocon in the near future ^.=.^
~Aquadragon Larsen~
im only 16, so i have to wait until i get my drivers licence and debt card/credit card and such couse i know my dad wouldn't take me to an anthrocon haha
Up until you turn 18, you will need a signed and notarized permission form from your parents. Which is not the same as them being actively present, of course!
Though you might be surprised at your dad being willing to arrange a summertime trip for "This cartoon convention in Pittsburgh, I'm into it.." if you explain carefully and positively about the fun of Anthrocon. Quite a lot of parents accompany their children to Anthrocon each year. ..some keep going even when their kids do not.
ah crap... 2 years of waiting haha that sucks. i cant wait till im 18 then =]
oh and you dont know my dad! hes homophobic and racist, hes still awesome though
hey, at an anthrocon how much money do you spend all together? like on hotel ect. and how much is payed for in cash, and what you use the debit/credit card on? i wanna be prepared for the future =]
ah, the old expenses question. Money breaks down to Registration,Travel, Lodging, Food/Drink, Stuff, Emergency.
Registration: You don't get in without it. The most economical is Pre-Registered Attending at $40, the most expensive is On-Site Supersponsor at $200. The higher levels get you more perks.
Travel: Getting there. Car, plane, bus all have their costs; Car costs include parking, Plane rides include a shuttle or public bus to/from the airport.
Lodging: Standard hotel rooms have cost an average $135 per night for a room, after taxes. Rooms have a maximum capacity of 4 people.
Food/Drink: $20-50 a day for two solid meals, a snacks and some beverages. Varies depending on your tastes and hunger.
Stuff: The biggest variable. Some people spend as little as $20 on a b&W badge and a print or comic or such; some spend thousands.
Emergency: Put $20 somewhere secure that is not your wallet. Unless it is an emergency, do not spend it until you walk back in your front door. Every year, someone wishes they had done this, and someone else is glad they did. Be the person that's glad they did.
--Chi
holly! thats alot of money =l ill start street magic in the mall, get money that way haha
Furthermore, as to money:
Registration: We take cash and credit cards.
Lodging: Use a credit card if at all possible. Debit cards are trickier due to holds.
Food/Drink: Cash is useful, and good for giving tips with, though a lot of food can be credit carded nowadays.
Stuff: The Dealer's room is about 90% cash; few dealers use credit cards, though some do. Figure on cash.
thanks dude! btw nice icon
well i have not been to a fur con yet(one of the few types) rally just og into the whole fur thing and i like it. i am just about the only person that i know that is into this so if i manage to get to anthro con i will be going by my self. well i really can't think of how i want to ask my question so are the people who go to these thing ususally accepting of and for alck of a better word an outsider? like i said i want to go to this thing so bad it is sickening. but no one were i live would be seen at a furry con for any reson. if any one has and suggestions let me know thanks
danny wolf