Need help on Fursuits.

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KenFurryHusky's picture
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Ok so like I SO want to go to Anthrocon 2011, but the thing is, i have no fursuit. I need help getting one. The thing is, i don't know how to make one, and one to buy is too expensive. Do you know where i can buy one for a cheap price but looks really good? Or do you know how i can make one? I need help. Thanks.

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Vulpes Rex's picture
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Greetings, KenFurryHusky!

The Fursuit makers and wearers are a fairly friendly bunch, and a few of them will be along to point you to such resources as a LiveJournal Community, various websites and a slew of photo albums and YouTube videos depicting the various approaches and stages...

...But I would like to point out that you do not NEED a fursuit to be a Furry Fan, or to enjoy AnthroCon; I think the last quoted figure was fewer than 15% of attending participants own or wear fursuits.

There are many different reasons for being involved in fursuiting, the big ones being the ability to perform or act-out a persona (or "fursona"), which is the typical "Masquerade" reason - and you can do it while preserving your own identity and personality (not to mention your dignity) as a separate entity - a part of "you". Also the ability to perform something completely unlike yourself - think of the Fursuit as a full-size Puppet which you wear, instead of manipulate externally (examples being the characters on Public Broadcasting educational shows such as "Sesame Street" and "Between the Lions"). For others, the challenge is to construct a moving illusion, if you will - various costumers for whom the art is not in the wearing, but the creation of the effect. These are the people who often go into special effects work in Theater and in Hollywood.

Be advised, though - wearing a fursuit, whatever else it might be to you, is going to be Hot, cumbersome, and heavy, at least the first few times you try it. It is like wearing a fireman's "Turn-out" gear - his normal uniform, his NOMEX jumpsuit or jacket and overtrousers over that, his fireboots, heavy gloves, and heavy leather fire jacket over all, plus perhaps a hood, respirator mask, and helmet - and it is cumbersome, hot, and heavy. You can't feel anything except through the suit - imagine wearing insulated leather gloves all the time, over your entire body. You can't see much, except in a very limited field of vision, primarily directly in front of you and up; and your hearing is almost as impaired. Sensory deprivation is the rule here.

Despite that, dedicated fursuiters become innured to the heat and humidity, adapt to the limited senses, and build enough endurance to wear the suit long enough to participate in a stage masquerade and perform in the halls and open spaces of the convention - even participate in a parade of substantial distance and duration.

Still want to wear a fursuit? You don't have to, most of us fans don't - but if my description hasn't frightened you off (and I admit, I may be overstressing the negatives over the positives here), then read on...and be welcomed by the Fraternity of Fursuiters!

Good Luck!

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charlieg's picture
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While Vulpes Rex gave a good answer, I'll add just one thing. Your profile says you post videos on YouTube. While there are plenty of Anthrocon videos, many of them make it look like everybody at the con is wearing a fursuit.

This is completely understandable! Videos are supposed to grab your interest, and fursuits are wonderful at that. They are also often brightly colored and photogenic. The people wearing them are usually willing to pose and show off. This makes for much better video than showing the majority of the attendees who are wearing (usually) casual clothes and who vary in age, gender, race, weight and every other characteristic you can think of.

If you still want to try making a fursuit, a good place to start would probably be www.fursuit.org. Just remember, fursuits are not necessary and only a minority of the con attendees wear them.

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PeterCat's picture
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I'd encourage you to attend even if you don't get a fursuit! This year there were 3500 or so people who just wore ordinary clothes, or maybe a tail and ears, and still had a great time. As mentioned, you don't realize this from looking at the videos and photos that focus on the fursuiters.

This will also give you a chance to talk to fursuiters first and learn about what it's like being in costume, and attend some panels on fursuit performance and construction. You can start small with a partial (head, paws and tail) which will be less expensive. If you keep an eye on the furry auction sites you might find a deal (see http://en.wikifur.com/wiki/Category:Auction_websites), but it's rare to find something cheap that's of good quality, either used or new from a maker. There are plenty of online resources on learning how to build one, just search the forums here for links.

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For faster answers to any Art Show question, please e-mail art-2012 (at) anthrocon.org . I visit the discussion boards here only a couple of times a week.

Protocollie's picture
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You really don't need one, most folks don't have 'em.

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Origamigryphon's picture
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If you still want a suit after everyone has told you that it isn't necessary to have one to attend a con, check out this thread that is (and always will be) the very first post in the fursuit building forum: http://www.anthrocon.org/node/376/welcome-fursuit-building-forum

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ChibiIgiari15's picture
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You can also go here for help lots of how to's

www.matrices.net/fursuiting.asp

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GreenWolfEyes's picture
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yeah, like people have said above, you dont need one to be able to go Smiling
but id be glad to help you (as i hope i already have in our messages) with tips and hints and websites and youtube videos Smiling ive tried to do my research on how to make a fursuit, which i think would be the cheaper way to go, instead of comissioning

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KenFurryHusky's picture
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The reason i want one is because i think it would be fun to be in one. not because i think i need one to go.

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Vulpes Rex's picture
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Quote:
The reason i want one is because i think it would be fun to be in one.

That reason is perfectly good for me! You aren't required to justify why you wish to wear a fursuit, to me or to anyone else.
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Quote:
...not because i think i need one to go.

Puzzled
Well, then, perhaps I misunderstood; and for that, I apologise. But your very first statement in this thread:

Quote:
Ok so like I SO want to go to Anthrocon 2011, but the thing is, i have no fursuit. I need help getting one.

In my defense, it was rather easy for me to misconstrue your meaning.

Forgive me? Presumed innocent Please?

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