Further thoughts post-AC

[vakkotaur]

While I did enjoy AC, it wasn't as good as I had expected. I suppose that comes from a few things. One is that my expectations were based largely on the cartoon diaries, and those tend to show the highlights rather than the whole - or at least it's easy to overlook the less than wonderful bits when you are not experiencing them. I might revise that some when the AC03 diary is (more) complete. Also, KT has attended several furcons now and knows (and is known) by a good many people. AC was my first.

In a way, it was kinda like when I first went to MNRF. It was big, it was interesting, but I didn't really know anyone. It took my going to the little Iowa faires to actually really meet people (other than Bronxelf, anyway) and start to feel more like I belonged. Not that I was vending or performing or anything, just that I wasn't simply a customer/consumer utterly interchangeable with any other. AC didn't really do anything wrong as far as I can tell. The attitude was generally very relaxed and friendly and open. But somehow I just didn't belong. I attended as a complete outsider. This is to be expected, yes, but it still leaves me feeling like it was an illusion or something.

I suspect that had I started with AC in 2000 as KT and others did, it'd have been different. Mainly as the group got together at AC and were a ready-made group of folks. Rather than being just one or two, it was many and the dynamics had to work different.

Also, there is the matter of not being a talent of some kind. Not necessarily an official part of things, mind you, but there were folks who made incredible fursuits, folks who were good (and some utterly fantastic) artists, writers, those in fursuits even if they had been made by others, and so on. It makes one realize how much talent one doesn't have. Should I carry a sketchbook? Only if it was just for others. Anyone who asked me to draw would be in for a terrible disappointment. Stick Figure Theater is about all I can manage, if even that. Hrm, there's an idea, I suppose. Can you imagine a workshop "Remedial Sketching" and it being off limits (if only by suggestion) for good artists (I know that's a fluid definition - few artists seem to consider themselves good - and usually the wrong ones do) or something like that? Not even how to draw furries or cartoons, just the utter basics. I suppose there's a book somewhere I should look into... (And it sure isn't 'How to Draw Anime' or 'How to Draw Manga' - at least not for me.)

KT, being an artist, is an insider by now. Even if all he did was the cartoon diary (and I am sure that at times it seems like it is, to him) he is a Known Figure. This was brought home when I acted as translator for a moment between him and a fursuitter before Kage's Story Hour. Some fursuitter spotted KT and tried to communicate (without speaking) and didn't quite get the point across to KT. ("I think... he.. wants you.. to draw him.. in the cartoon diary.." *acknowledgment*) I am not a Known Figure, nor do I ever expect I will be. And that may be just as well. Less pestering, less drama, and all that.

And then I got back and realized not only did I spend much time looking for folks, I completely forgot to look for some. I knew the_gneech and xydexx would be there, for instance, but somehow it didn't register enough for me to remember while there.

I am pondering going to Midwest Fur Fest this coming November. It's smaller, though I don't know how small. It's within driving distance. It's in a nice cool time of year, and after Road Constriction Season. The downside is that it's in Chicago (Okkay, Schaumburg, which for me is effectively Chicago). Yes, wendyzski, jmthane, I know. But I normally do what I can to go around Chicago rather than into it. Went through it a couple times and had enough of that. Well, at least I ought to be able to find a proper hot dog there.

Anyone know what the MFF attendance was? Or perhaps more importantly, what it is projected to be? And is there anything I ought to know about attending MFF? What to bring along, or suchlike?

Comments

MFF

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

"Furries" tend to be a fairly insular lot. The art really does nothing for me, and hanging around sweaty people in smelly fursuits isn't my idea of fun.

I'm not involved with MFF, but some of the people I know from the local Costumer's Guild are. They spun off from the Duckon group, and my impression of them is that they are small but growing.

Have you considered volunteering in some way as a way to meet people and "get into" things more? I'd be happy to get you in touch with Robert King or some opf the other local folks..

[jmthane.livejournal.com]

And you can also get some very good pizza here. Downside: yeah, Schaumburg is not one of the more distant suburbs, so you wind up with traffic galore.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

Actually I don't think much of what Chicago did to pizza.

[jmthane.livejournal.com]

OK, so enlighten me. What did Chicago do to pizza? It's far better than pizza in New Mexico, which pretty much constitutes my entire pizza experience.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

"Chicago style" pizza is a deep-dish thing which I do not care for. It seems likes it's not so much pizza as unmixed lasagna. And with that much stuff overstuffing, the crust ends up needing to be thicker. Again, I don't care for thick crust. If I wanted bread, I'd buy bread.

On the other hand, the Chicago style vienna dog is almost perfect. The addition of the tomato was the only misfire and that is easily rectified. I consider the Chicago-dog to be perhaps the one thing Chicago got right.

[jmthane.livejournal.com]

Chicago *does* make thin-crust as well...

But I agree with you on the hot dog (mostly - I put ketchup on, but am not fond of raw tomato).

[xydexx.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of folks know me just because I've been around the fandom for almost a decade now. I'm not really that talented; I draw a little and write a little, but that's it. Dunno what to suggest, really. A lot of folks I meet at cons I had already had interaction with either on FurryMUCK or LiveJournal, so it's pretty easy to hook up with folks that way. I've found that volunteering can be a good way to meet folks at a con.

Midwest Furfest had 685 attendees last year. I'd estimate they'll have between 800-900 attendees this year. Not an official projection, just guessing based on their growth last year (26%) and the average growth of conventions YTD (23%).

I attended MFF in 2000 and 2001 (didn't have vacation time to go in 2002). Both times I thought it was a very relaxing convention. I spent a lot of time going to panels or socializing with folks I don't get to see very often. Furry fans are generally pretty cool folks to hang around with.

If you plan on attending, you should at least read What To Take To A Con by Matt McCullar. Remember to dress appropriately for November in Chicago.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

The weather is a non-issue, at least for me. Spent most of my life north of the 45th parallel and have since lived on the windy plains...

I'm probably more concerned about the attendance estimate. Sounds like last year would've been a better time than this year. I'm just guessing here, but am figuring that somewhere around between 500 and 1000 is the point at which things get to be too much, at least for me.

And I know of you from LJ, but originally from WCotP (though I am not on FM). It's nice to see equines around.

[pharwarner.livejournal.com]

I appreciate even more now than I did in back then how good a group we had at AC in 2000. Our Anthromania group, for want of a better term, was very close nit. In fact, I don't remember spending more than an hour or so without the company of someone else from the group. The only exception there being time spent with HERD members, I recall now.

I think the fun we had was due to us feeling a very close bond, and wanting to show the rest of the furry community at AC that we were a distinct group worthy of recognition. WTnet folks share a close bond, as you well know. This was an occasion were than fact really shone through. And we also know how precious time spent with other members in the flesh is! I sure do.

There's one other factor which you touch on than I agree with completely. Talent. The fact that Chilly was both a part of our group, and already well known and liked in the wider furry community, meant that the rest of us were often able to be introduced to other folks and be invited to events that we otherwise may have missed out on. She really was our great facilitator, and I really appreciate that role she played for us. Chilly and the Mania was what made AC something more for me than just a visit to a furcon.