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Holy Fur Fest, Baman!
16 years ago
General
Hoookay! So I'm finally getting around to this con report thing! This is going to be long, so I don't really expect anyone to read it through, but here is anyway!
I usually don't do these, but I took a very different approach to this con in general than I have in the past, and it was extremely rewarding!
A little history: In the past I've basically just attended cons for the purpose of socialization.
jill0r told me on IRC in 2003 that I should come to Anthrocon in 2003 and hang out! I was a bit wary at first, but I wanted to meet some of the people I knew online, and so I went for it. I had an awesome time and met lots of awesome people! I've attended AC every year since, and each year I meet even more new kickin people and form new friendships.
This was the first con that I've gone to for the point of selling/promoting artwork as my primary goal, with socializing being second. I tend to be a built self-conscious about things like this, particularly when it comes to making things for other people that they've paid for. I worry a lot about pleasing people, and I fear making something for someone that they're disappointed by!
So let me just say that this con, for me anyway, was perfect. I want to thank EVERYONE who stopped by my table in AA all through the weekend and gave me your support, either through commissions or kind words! I went in to it frightened and unprepared, and I came out of it feeling positive and loved, and with a few extra bucks in my pocket to boot! You all not only made my weekend, but you really helped get me through a slump and have kicked me into high gear. This is something I really needed right now. I LOVE YOU ALL.
Anyway! A quick summary of events!
Thursday: Freaking the hell out about being unprepared. Get on the road, and as I drive I start feeling better. I love a good drive. Got to the hotel late and met up with
beanie, 
joey-poey and we grabbed some dinner at a local Gyro dive. I was so hungry! IT WAS DELICIOUS! After that, we watched BAMAN PIDERMAN on youtube. then 
dingbat showed up, SO WE WATCHED IT AGAIN. I worked a little on some examples of things I was going to sell in AA
Friday: Artists Alley, day one! I was mostly unprepared and was working on completing my sign and my examples most of the morning. Didn't get any commissions for awhile, but didn't feel too bad about it since everyone's just scoping things out on Friday, I'm a bit of an unknown, and I wasn't really prepared. My first commission for the weekend was
moontan who threw me $10 bucks because I asked him how he was doing XD (a bet he made with someone?). Anyway, I made him a little badge for it! I did end up getting one or two more commissions for the day, including a big full color one, which tool a good chunk of time to do.
Also, I got to meet
bloodhound who's art I've been fond of for some time! She's a sweetheart and let me borrow all kinds of stuff as I was scrambling around in a panic on Friday. Thanks Bloodhound!!
After AA, we went SWIMMING! Beanie, Joey and I hopped in, and Dingy was also going to join, but was at dinner. We swam and swam and it was wonderful and did me much good. Dingy was rather late, but that's okay, cause we love swimming! We ended up spending 2 solid hours in the water. Wonderful :)
After that,
ritts arrived and WE WATCHED BAMAN PIDERMAN AGAIN
Saturday:Saturday was INSANE! Couldn't have gone better! I got swamped with commissions right off the bat, and by about 1PM I had already collected enough money to nearly break even on the trip! I was flattered and flabbergasted and OUT OF MY MIND as I was trying to draw, talk to people, keep track of things... I had to take a solid lunch break before my brain popped. It was awesome!
I also got to meet that crazy
skrimpf and sit next to him in the Alley, which was cool!
Saturday night, I met up with Beanie again and DECLARED HOT TUB TIME as my brain was FRIED and I needed to cool off. It was wonderful. Then we went back to the room where I worked on homework most of the night.
Sunday:Sunday was fairly chill and nice! Did AA once again, but mostly I was full up on commissions from Saturday and couldn't really take any more! Still, a couple people were gracious enough to commission me for things that I could work on after the con.
vintagetixen even stopped by my booth! I almost didn't recognize her at first. She's looking great! Was so glad to hear that after battling with some health problems she's rebounded and feeling better than ever.
Sunday night was very chill, and not the insane party that the end of Anthrocon tends to be. I actually really liked that fact, actually. I had some work to do and chilling out and working on art is what I needed. Also, Beanie and I took a trip across town to IKEA, where she FLIPPED OUT WITH EXCITEMENT about things like corporate branded plastic bag holders and cake carriers :D Then we ate food and it was delicious.
After that we met up with
chillymouse, who I know from AC and MAGfest, but have never really been able to hang out with. She's a total sweety and very talented! Was great to finally hang out, and I'm definitely looking forward to kicking it with her at MAGfest :D (SO SHOULD ALL OF YOU, BTW, MAGFEST IS COOL) We went to the Guest of Honor party and sketched and babbled with folks. Very relaxing and cool. I felt a little out of place, as I didn't really know anyone in there save a few people. MAYBE ONE DAY I CAN BE ONE OF THE COOL KIDS, TOO. XD Everyone was nice though, and I even got a little work done!
Monday:Monday I delivered my last commission and we packed up. My van had a tire pop in the parking lot over the weekend, so I had to put the spare on. After that we puttered over to a Firestone so I could get a couple new tires, and Beanie and Joey were kind enough to keep me company while the work was done. Thanks guys! Then we said our goodbyes and departed! I had a pleasant and save drive home on my shiny new tires :)
Oh yeah! And I received a wonderful little cup from dingbat! I need to get a picture of that!
IN CONCLUSION: One of my best con experiences ever, but for totally different reasons than previous cons. I'm sure even after all this rambling I left a bunch of shit out! If I left you out, it's just because my house was sleeping; it didn't hear you.
THANKS EVERYONE WHO MADE MY CON AMAZINGLY AWESOME
I usually don't do these, but I took a very different approach to this con in general than I have in the past, and it was extremely rewarding!
A little history: In the past I've basically just attended cons for the purpose of socialization.
jill0r told me on IRC in 2003 that I should come to Anthrocon in 2003 and hang out! I was a bit wary at first, but I wanted to meet some of the people I knew online, and so I went for it. I had an awesome time and met lots of awesome people! I've attended AC every year since, and each year I meet even more new kickin people and form new friendships.This was the first con that I've gone to for the point of selling/promoting artwork as my primary goal, with socializing being second. I tend to be a built self-conscious about things like this, particularly when it comes to making things for other people that they've paid for. I worry a lot about pleasing people, and I fear making something for someone that they're disappointed by!
So let me just say that this con, for me anyway, was perfect. I want to thank EVERYONE who stopped by my table in AA all through the weekend and gave me your support, either through commissions or kind words! I went in to it frightened and unprepared, and I came out of it feeling positive and loved, and with a few extra bucks in my pocket to boot! You all not only made my weekend, but you really helped get me through a slump and have kicked me into high gear. This is something I really needed right now. I LOVE YOU ALL.
Anyway! A quick summary of events!
Thursday: Freaking the hell out about being unprepared. Get on the road, and as I drive I start feeling better. I love a good drive. Got to the hotel late and met up with
beanie, 
joey-poey and we grabbed some dinner at a local Gyro dive. I was so hungry! IT WAS DELICIOUS! After that, we watched BAMAN PIDERMAN on youtube. then 
dingbat showed up, SO WE WATCHED IT AGAIN. I worked a little on some examples of things I was going to sell in AAFriday: Artists Alley, day one! I was mostly unprepared and was working on completing my sign and my examples most of the morning. Didn't get any commissions for awhile, but didn't feel too bad about it since everyone's just scoping things out on Friday, I'm a bit of an unknown, and I wasn't really prepared. My first commission for the weekend was
moontan who threw me $10 bucks because I asked him how he was doing XD (a bet he made with someone?). Anyway, I made him a little badge for it! I did end up getting one or two more commissions for the day, including a big full color one, which tool a good chunk of time to do.Also, I got to meet
bloodhound who's art I've been fond of for some time! She's a sweetheart and let me borrow all kinds of stuff as I was scrambling around in a panic on Friday. Thanks Bloodhound!!After AA, we went SWIMMING! Beanie, Joey and I hopped in, and Dingy was also going to join, but was at dinner. We swam and swam and it was wonderful and did me much good. Dingy was rather late, but that's okay, cause we love swimming! We ended up spending 2 solid hours in the water. Wonderful :)
After that,
ritts arrived and WE WATCHED BAMAN PIDERMAN AGAINSaturday:Saturday was INSANE! Couldn't have gone better! I got swamped with commissions right off the bat, and by about 1PM I had already collected enough money to nearly break even on the trip! I was flattered and flabbergasted and OUT OF MY MIND as I was trying to draw, talk to people, keep track of things... I had to take a solid lunch break before my brain popped. It was awesome!
I also got to meet that crazy
skrimpf and sit next to him in the Alley, which was cool!Saturday night, I met up with Beanie again and DECLARED HOT TUB TIME as my brain was FRIED and I needed to cool off. It was wonderful. Then we went back to the room where I worked on homework most of the night.
Sunday:Sunday was fairly chill and nice! Did AA once again, but mostly I was full up on commissions from Saturday and couldn't really take any more! Still, a couple people were gracious enough to commission me for things that I could work on after the con.
vintagetixen even stopped by my booth! I almost didn't recognize her at first. She's looking great! Was so glad to hear that after battling with some health problems she's rebounded and feeling better than ever.Sunday night was very chill, and not the insane party that the end of Anthrocon tends to be. I actually really liked that fact, actually. I had some work to do and chilling out and working on art is what I needed. Also, Beanie and I took a trip across town to IKEA, where she FLIPPED OUT WITH EXCITEMENT about things like corporate branded plastic bag holders and cake carriers :D Then we ate food and it was delicious.
After that we met up with
chillymouse, who I know from AC and MAGfest, but have never really been able to hang out with. She's a total sweety and very talented! Was great to finally hang out, and I'm definitely looking forward to kicking it with her at MAGfest :D (SO SHOULD ALL OF YOU, BTW, MAGFEST IS COOL) We went to the Guest of Honor party and sketched and babbled with folks. Very relaxing and cool. I felt a little out of place, as I didn't really know anyone in there save a few people. MAYBE ONE DAY I CAN BE ONE OF THE COOL KIDS, TOO. XD Everyone was nice though, and I even got a little work done!Monday:Monday I delivered my last commission and we packed up. My van had a tire pop in the parking lot over the weekend, so I had to put the spare on. After that we puttered over to a Firestone so I could get a couple new tires, and Beanie and Joey were kind enough to keep me company while the work was done. Thanks guys! Then we said our goodbyes and departed! I had a pleasant and save drive home on my shiny new tires :)
Oh yeah! And I received a wonderful little cup from dingbat! I need to get a picture of that!
IN CONCLUSION: One of my best con experiences ever, but for totally different reasons than previous cons. I'm sure even after all this rambling I left a bunch of shit out! If I left you out, it's just because my house was sleeping; it didn't hear you.
THANKS EVERYONE WHO MADE MY CON AMAZINGLY AWESOME
I don't know how you had time to do all that stuff, though. I suppose with experience these things make more sense.
I'm glad I could help! Trust me, I'm just passing on the good will that has been passed to me by other artists. Friday morning I did not look nearly so adept at this whole thing XD