Rocking Foxes and a Cougar Calamity

[vakkotaur]

While foxes are rather plentiful at furmeets, a couple really stand out. I don't have the photos developed and don't recall their names at the moment, but these are foxes stand out not for names but for actions, or at least a really neat schtick. These are the rocking foxes. Start with a couple fox fursuitters and add some impressive looking jewelry. It clearly took a long time to make and was made by them. That would stand out right there, but they add saddles. Yep, saddled foxes. Think of something like you might see on a very impressive carousel. There's not enough room to set up a carousel at a furmeet (and that would get quite complicated) so instead, a rocker setup, like for a rocking horse, is what they do. Everything looks good. When they set up, it's an instant crowd as people take pictures. This became a bit of a problem and MFF security wanted to them to set up in a less travelled area of the con. Evidently the crowd was a bit of an issue last year.

That's all good, but then there was this loudmouthed cougar, aptly named calamitycougar. I suspect he's trying to be more annoying than jugularjaguar ever was with his bell. If so, he succeeds all too well. He caught me in the hall as he was on his way to have some photos taken with the rocking foxes. I was drafted into being his photographer. There was a glitch as the rocker was forgotten and had to be retrieved. There was more confusion as what a low-traffic area evidently hadn't been defined well to someone. When things were finally set up, I took the photos which were the last on Calamity's camera. And then things got even stranger.

Calamity figured he could charge for fox rides. He actually got a couple takers. The money raised, all two dollars of it, was donated to the convention charity. That got a bit of a laugh at closing ceremonies. Each fox had some time on the rocker, and one might have ridden the other but I can't be sure without having the photos to look at. Calamity rode, of course, for his photos, and then I went and asked if they ever ridden. The result was a role reversal with one of the foxes riding Calamity. I wound up in a couple photos, which I hope turn out.

After playing photographer and carrying the rocker around some, I wound up in the fursuit lounge (aka 'headless lounge') where I'm not sure I really belonged (that will change, as I expect to have something of a 'suit by my next furmeet) but nobody objected. It was good to be able to talk with the foxes and find out a bit about how they did things. I didn't ask how they came up with the idea, which is something I'd like to know. I got some of the how, but not the why.

Comments

[altivo.livejournal.com]

You can be in the headless lounge if you are assisting a fursuiter. That probably puts you quite in the clear on this one. :)

And I'm sorry I missed the rocking foxes. I'll look forward to your photos.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*snicker* Oh no! Not that! Anything but a r4cc00n!

Actually, vakkotaur performed admirably as a furless lackey for me on Friday night, so I hereby deputize him or decapitate him or whatever it is. ;P

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I think. Though actually, considering how things went, didn't you capitate me? And even without the opinion of a certain jaguar, I don't think I'd care to be a raccoon.

I know it can be argued that I had reason to be there and if there was reason for me to leave I'd have been invited to leave. It's more that I'm not used to being "behind the scenes" at least not in the official sense. I have assisted, to a limited degree, jugularjaguar and perhaps chakawolf. I've had similar experiences elsewhere (at faires) and it always feels a bit strange to me, even when invited behind the scenes. I could write an entry on this sort of thing and perhaps I should sometime.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Good point, that too. I don't think I've ever seen capitate as a verb but logic decrees that it should be one. Seems a shame to cover up all your nice hair though. You could actually incorporate it as a good mane by using a leonine or equine face mask. ;)

Raccoons are very amusing but I agree, I don't want to be one either. On the other hand, becoming a "rocking horse" might have some appeal if it wasn't actually stealing someone else's brilliant idea.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

That would be another thing to talk to them about, to see if they would feel put out by any similar efforts. The rocking horse bit does fit better with a horse, though I am somewhat biased about that. I also wonder if they appear at any other furmeets. I sure haven't seen them at RCFM (no surprise, given the size - I'd recommend it to you save for the time and distance involved) and I'd certainly have remembered them. And probably have gotten to know them much better, too.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I remember that you have gone to RCFM. Mephit too? Did you drive?

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

I've only been to AnthroCon (2003), RCFM (2004,2005) and MFF (2004,2005). AC was just plain too big. I think they broke 2,000 that year, and to me 2,000 is not an attendance but a population. jmaynard and I flew to AC. I drove to RCFM and MFF each time. MFF is only a day's drive and it's just not worth the hassle of today's version of air travel. Since I can take the time off for RCFM, I drive to that, too, for the same reason. Also, I can haul more stuff that way. Even with the gasoline and motel stay (it's a two day drive each way) it's still less expensive and less annoying than current air travel.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

That's a good way of putting it. The population of the nearest town here is only 3000, and it's too many people.

I stopped flying on commercial airlines way back in 1979 and probably never will again. The current shennanigans are just an extension of what made me angry at that time. I used to ride Amtrak but between the management snafus and their declining safety and on-time record, I haven't done that either in quite a few years. Driving is the only option left.

[kinkyturtle.livejournal.com]

More like, don't take pictures in the headless lounge.

And yeah, I never saw the rocking foxes in action; I only saw them on the way to or from the headless lounge.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

Heh, I saw a couple pictures taken there, but they were well set up and all agreed to in advance, so everyone in shot was in full suit. But I know what you mean, no 'undressed' photos. It was amusing to see how you handled portraying 'suitters not fully in suit in one of your cartoon diaries.

[tilt-longtail.livejournal.com]

That was fayfox and his pal phoenix (?) Quite cool.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks. Now that you mentions Fay, I do recall that name but not the other. Maybe a con badge will show in one of the photos.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

..you mentions...? I'll try to lay the blame for that one on being tired.

And in chatting with Fay, yes it was indeed Phoenix-D.

Graa!

[aatheus.livejournal.com]

Definitely want to see the pics when you get them. I missed more fursuit madness. X_X