Fur Fright 2011 a First time Fur con help guide

Arrival

Ok for those of you that are going to read this I need to make it purrrfectly clear (LOL like that) this was my FIRST FUR CON EVER! So unfortunately a lot of you may or may not agree with what I have to say. May this guide may (or may not) help all those that attend their first fur con to learn from my mistakes and have themselves a great time.  
As like anything I do I try to approach it with a neutral point of view on my first experiences, and when I write about it. First off I'd like to thank Belic and the rest of the Staff at FF 2011 for making this a rather enjoyable event with great panels and events. Second I'd like to thank all of you who attended as well and basically dealt with my newbishness with some of the dumb ass questions I asked. Now with all that said lets continue.  
I have to admit I was very apprehensive about attending a fur con being the fact I'm a straight male, and I heard those were rare. Granted you don’t get all that great of a picture painted for you when 3 of your friends that are furs (that were in attendance also) are also gay and told me I might have to beware of possible gropes, that never happened. They did however inform me about the community being friendly and that you all were. Honestly I don’t think they were trying to deliberately scare me but prepare me for the worst case scenario if there was one.  
Thursday: Well getting ready for a con I know nothing about other than Youtube videos and what I've been told, its hard to prepare for the unknown. I wasn't sure what to bring, if I needed anything special, should I just freak out and panic at the last second (and I did LOL). After a late start and a 2.5 hour drive with an additional 2 hours sitting in traffic I eventually made it to the hotel. Point of note on this, NEVER DRIVE ALONE! Especially when your sitting at a dead stop because of a traffic accident closed off a section on I-95. Boring as hell sitting in traffic by yourself and running late.  
Anyway after I arrived and got checked in I made it my mission to explore the hotel a bit, This was a very valuable thing I did as the hotel is a bit of a frakin maze. I learned this lesson the hard way at my very first IRB Convention (Internet Radio Broadcasters) when I kept having to ask directions to everyone how to get to my hotel room and to the front desk. I’m digressing from my point here, after I was done exploring I still had some time to meet and greet some other folks attending the con waiting in the line for Pre-Registration to open. Nothing major for an arrival day so lets move on… TO DAY 1

Day 1

Friday: Day one of the convention, and as you know nothing starts until opening ceremonies. You Prep, get ready, run a lap, whatever you do to build a momentum to start a convention, for me that was grab a beer. Now you can’t have beer in the Con area so I didn’t drink it I just bought them from a store nearby and grabbed a soda to drink during ceremonies (yes I drank a beer before them in my room). I decided to do what any other first timer would do, not talk to anyone and find a corner of the room to sit in and watch the ceremonies. It was fun to watch and would explain why I could not find my friends because one of them was on stage. I’d like to say a big thanks to Wii/Neto or whatever he’s called for the NYAN cat laugh, if you were there you would know.  
The Dealers Dungeon was the first place I decided to look into and I have to tell you it was hard not to drool when looking at some of the art, thanks to my trusty drool band I was able to prevent that. I’m a computer nut so at a computer trade show I actually drooled on my now computer valuable lesson learned (and if you believe that I have swampland in Florida for you LOL). When you go to a dealers room always have an idea of what you want in mind and try not to forget them when you cream your shorts over some stuff. My main plan was this, a con badge of my fursona and a tail to start building my suit, I was also looking for a suit maker but apparently she was hosting panels but I’ll get to that later. A word of advice is when your choosing an artist for your con badge you have to find one that will be able to draw what you want I happened to find Rukis who was able to create what I was looking for, something more serious. Next Con I might find someone who can do a bit more cartoony and animated but for now serious and a little mean is what I wanted. I even got my tail but I cant remember who made it, I know shame on me.  
The Video game room was right near the dealers dungeon, now while not a huge room it did contain some entertaining games, and granted as much as I hate consoles the games on hand were fun. A pinball machine that was good and a rockband setup. I decided to continue to meander about and stumbled into the other game room. Turns out the other game room was setup for table top games, not bad but I didn’t know any of the systems of games everyone was playing but that’s ok it was a good idea for a distraction should nothing be happening. I eventually found the Charity auction room, not realizing it was right next to the dealers dungeon. It was a great find because there was some really cool stuff in the Chinese auction and even in the silent auction.  
Granted it was Day 1 and there were still a lot of people registering so not a lot was going on until later in the day. There were a few panels of interest but thanks to a crappy laptop and a horrible internet connection I missed the ones I wanted to attend while trying to get the laptop working so I could do a Live radio show that night. There was that pool, and I did bring a swimsuit… ON TO DAY 2

End of Day 1 and Day 2

I decided to go for a swim then changed my mind when I noticed the time. Because this being my first Fur con I wanted to learn a bit about making a fursuit, seeing I don’t have one yet. Not that I want to build one myself because sewing aint my thing I don’t have the time or the patience to do it, but seeing I heard a lot about the person hosting the panel I decided to check it out. The panel was hosted by Art Slave and she had built a suit for my friend so I wanted to see and hear what’s the essentials in building a suit so I know what I need to know when I plan on ordering one, makes sense right, I thought so. I felt bad for G, why? Well apparently Indian food didn’t agree with her so lets just say indigestion sucks especaly when you have to host a panel, I know this as I have hosted one at an IRBC before under almost the same duress except mine was bad chineese food. ANYWAY! I have to admit G is hilarious and is a great fursuit maker but she cant draw for shit HAHAHAHA! Now I know I was sitting very attentive I guess I did have a look on my face like I was being judgemental of what she was saying but that’s my learnin face LOL! I did learn a lot in that panel dispite the reasons she kept on getting interrupted, what I learned was LEAVE THE FURSUIT MAKING TO THE ONES THAT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING, I was a little lost during that panel, ok very lost I’m an electrician and Radio DJ I’m not a Fuck’n seamstress, now were did I hear that line… Demolition Man. I will admit she is very knowledgeable in her craft and honestly if you’ve never heard of her you’ve probably seen some of her work or her ad here on FA, I like the fact she says F cute and that’s what I’m looking for in a suit maker as I was looking for in my first con badge. After the Panel I got her card and well Right away after getting home I decided to watch her on FA, but the rest now is for the future. I left the panel after it was done and decded to take some pictures and catch a little bit of airplane before Midnight.  
Well Day 2 starts for me at midnight and the end of Airplane was showing on the big screen by the pool. One of my friends was hosting a panel, a reading of the Eye of Argon. If you’ve read it you will know it’s the worst thing ever written but so damn funny because it’s so bad. Now with 2 beers cleverly disguised as sprite in a black non party cup I decided to embark to the panel. Mike was there as was OMG I forgot his name hey mike I know your reading this help me out LOL! Anyway I figured I was going to need at least 2 beers to make it through the reading. Now let me help you out a bit I’ve only heard Rumors about how bad it is, It’s much worse it’s better to be drunk off your ass for this or bring a keg. Now I had yet to meet anyone I’ve heard about on youtube or through friends at the con I was hoping that would change. So back to the room I went for a small room party and a few more drinks then sleepy time ahoy.  
So lets start Day 2 officially, by waking up at 11am and missing most of the stuff in the morning YEAY! Not. I got some food a beer to take the edge off the hangover and began to mingle around take photos and get myself a good location for the fursuit parade. I decided to give up on setting up the computer as I think everyone and their mate was trying to get a signal so the internet was bogged down to an almost halt. The parade started I got my trusty Motorola defy out and started recording. Now with an 8 gig card I had what I thought was 14 min recording time, nope more like 14 hours, GOOD I got the whole parade recorded. After that I had to get outside and take pictures in the gathering (viewable in my gallery if you want to find yourself) and then try to find a couple people I was looking for. I managed to find 2 of those people, being King Gourd and Coopertom cool guys and we actually got to chat a bit, but I still wanted more photos of everyone else and meet up with my buddy mike and mingle with the crowd a bit. I was very shocked about how many furs are into Heavy Metal, so I gave out a few cards, yea I know promoting my station at a fur con but hey I like to entertain hence this guide. I had to head back to the dealers dungeon to meet up with Rukis because I had no idea how long it was going to take to make my con badge. She already had a rough sketch and WOW was all I could say because she was actually able to capture what I was looking for on just a crappy description we talked about. Durring this time I made the fatal error of not paying attention to time and I missed again several panels I wanted to attend, I swear I’m setting up an alarm on my phone so I don’t miss them again. Again at this time I decided to see if I could get the computer up one more time (yes I know stupid me I should have learned) and missed out on more panels and well decided to mingle a lot more and chat with others while takeing photos. More to come capping off Day 2 and then on to Day 3 and closing ceremonies, IN THE NEXT INSTALLMENT of “How to build a mad scientist…” no wait that’s not what this is about.

End of Day 2 and Day 3

After realizing I had missed out on the fursuit games and the talent show, I decided to continue to mingle get food and well keep taking some good pictures. Again I thought HEY good idea again lets go for a swim, but wait rocky horror is playing and that’s a good idea too to mingle and meet new people. So back go the swim trunks once again. Honestly it was the better idea I had I got to see Rock-it Wolf doing Pee Wee Furman, and got a nice photo of him, Shiacoft, and ErinValgen. Now after a bit I decided to take a seat next to someone and watch a bit of the movie and the folks playing it out under the screen for a few laughs and maybe some conversation. I started to have a chat with a very nice and attractive woman, now I don’t know what her name was but thank you for the conversation and kiss it made my day if your reading this. Once again it was time to wander more take photos chat up some folks play in the video game room for a couple of hours have another small room party get toasted and get some sleep. Now when I say small room party I’m not joking it was a small room with 3 peoples stuff in it so not a lot of room to party and well having a bartender in your room always makes for good LMAO! Drink more, have fun, sleep.  
Day 3 ok were to start here, well seeing nothing was going on good in the AM I decided to sleep late have a beer get some food and get ready for closing ceremonies after another hour or 2 playing games hahaha! Now you would think I was paying attention to the time, but your wrong I wasn’t. The dealers den was closing and fast when I realized, and yes I said this in the middles of a rockband song, “OH SHIT! MY CON BADGE!” and ran out of the game room. Now I don’t know who it was, but playing guitar on hard in a fursuit and still getting over 90%, all I have to say is EPIC! Anyway I was proceeding with haste to Rukis’s booth a little out of breath and needing a smoke and asked if it was done yet. Now just so you know I really didn’t care if it was done or not I just wanted to see more progress on the artwork so I could drool more at how well it was coming along. Well to my surprise it was done and all we really needed was the eyes. I choose red because well I like red eyes makes things look pissed off and that was part of the look I was looking for. I cant say thanks enough to Rukis for the excellent job done on my first ever con badge with such a crappy description I gave, that came out to what I was looking for. Well now with new Badge in hand, uhhh on shirt, it was time to get that smoke and show it off.

End of Day 3, Checkout and Reflections

Ahh yes Nicotine how great you are (see day 3 for the reference). Well the moment of truth was at hand and it was time to end the con. Closing ceremonies was good and Wags hair was on the line, would we beat the donation amount and top last year or would we fall short. The totals just before closing ceremonies were just a little short so the bucket brigade was continuing to go around and beat that total. As fun opening ceremonies is closing ceremonies is also good although a bit more somber mostly because people are tired as shit and the fact that it’s the last day of the con and people are bummed to have to go back to a normal life.  
After closing ceremonies we were told there would be a new count and Wags hair was still on the line at the dead dog party. It was going to be a while after closeting ceremonies before the dead dog party started so I had to meet Belic, I did shook his hand said thanks for a great and first fur con. After that I decided to take a few pictures and mingle a bit then head back to the room get a couple of drinks, food, and get some important things packed up to make checkout less painful. AGAIN I cant stress this enough PAY ATTENTION TO THE TIME! I didn’t yet again and wound up getting late to the dead dog party and missed the final total and Wag getting his head shaved. Between Tony and myself we said he looked like Rusty Venture and thought it would be awesome if next year he actually dressed the part for FF. We told Wag and he laughed and said that would be awesome I really hope he does as I have a contact at Turner and I’m going to send them a picture of it.  
The Dead Dog party was great and fun and I got to meet a few new and cool people took a few more photos (that I have already posted because this is taking me forever to write LOL!)  I want to say I did some interesting things but as I said this being my first fur con I didn’t know many people but I was mingling. Close to the end of the party, well several times during the party there was a fur pile. It was funny to watch even funnier when one time one person tried to jump on the pile and folks scattered. Guess nobody wanted to get squished I don’t blame them either I’m sure if I saw a person that was about the size of my garage running toward me and about to jump on me I’d move too LOL! The day was over and it was time to have the last of the booze and get some rest seeing I wasn’t getting a lot of it and try to enjoy the end of the con before I started the long drive home.  
We all got up early enough helped each other pack up and moved out to check out. The last day when everyone is leaving is a bit sad because you don’t know if you’ll see them again, or when. I know a lot of folks I met attend many cons Like AC, MFM, FAU, and many, many more so for them it’s not too solemn of a time. But those I did get to meet on the way out one of them was JD Puppy. Now I had to ask him his secret on how he’s able to be so active during the entire con, I did promise not to tell but I did get a good laugh at his answer. I also got to meet some of the other folks I had met during the con and say goodbye. The last day at any convention is about the same you exchange emails social networking site info and promise to keep in touch with them and you usually do. I must say there is a photo I didn’t post but when I was leaving it was nice to se a brand new Charger next to my car and well I am a bit of a car nut becuase I had to tell Coopertom I jizzed my pants when I saw he owned a DeLorian. What does that have to do with the guide, absolutely nothing I had to mention that because if you have a nice car I want to see it LOL.   
In closeing I have to say there are a lot of friendly people out in the fandom especially to newbs like me, but honestly Day 2 was so great with everyone treating me well and making me feel welcome that at that moment, wait is that right, yea, at that moment I decided I’m hooked, so coming back next year. See you all at FF2013.