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ANE 2024: Post-Con Report!
a year ago
TL;DR First: I had a blast, and I'm looking forward to going next year!
Considering it was my first furry con in over a decade, it went very well! Lots of fun panels to go to, plenty of photography opportunities, and (almost) everyone was so friendly and authentic that I felt incredibly at ease. I ended up hitting the hypnofurs, scalies, and Young-At-Heart meetup panels on Saturday, but had to skip the Latex meetup on Friday due to a dustup in the Night Market (more in a bit). Speaking of, the Night Market and 18+ panels were amazing, and it's a real boost to my own confidence to see so many people being their best selves out in the open like that.
Big shoutout to all the folks who setup the panels, and the staff for keeping everything in order!
I almost forgot (stealth-edit time), but ANE also had a strict policy of masking at every event and proof of vaccination in-person at registration (hence, I suspect, the reason for the line). This was an amazing policy, and I felt fairly confident going in that any COVID/RSV/ConCrud would be very minimal as a result, if it happened at all. Compliance was never an issue that I saw, and outside of eating areas or outdoor spaces, I generally saw 90-95% of folks masked up at all times. Masks + vaccines are just good health policies in this day and age, and if there are any research furries keeping tabs on the data, I'd be curious if there's a comparison between reported post-con sickness in ANE against cons that didn't have vaccine and/or masking requirements.
Really the only bad note of the entire con was a dustup in the Night Market. See, I'm a hobbyist photographer who loves taking candid photos of folks, especially when they're in gear or suiting. I don't want to disrupt anyone, and I like seeing how relaxed and pleasant people are when a lens isn't shoved in their face or they're expected to pose. This admittedly plays nicely into my own social anxieties, in that I don't have to interrupt folks, make introductions, or struggle to understand what they're saying through a suit/mask/hood/whatever.
So when I read about the Night Market online in the schedule and event page, I was pretty excited! I made sure to double-check all the rules and policies surrounding it, too, to make sure I was in the clear. Nothing on the site at the time of the event (and at time of writing this journal) on the Night Market event page, the Code of Conduct, or the panel descriptions for the various Night Market activities had any additional restrictions against photography beyond what the con already clearly laid out (ask for consent before posing with folks, and strict rules for media), so I assumed I would be in the clear as long as I was respectful about it. Given that my lens meant I had to remain ~15ft away to get a shot and the Night Market was packed, I felt I'd be fine.
That was not the case. I got the universal "stop" signal when a critter in gear pointed at me while talking to someone, so I immediately lowered my camera and turned my attention back to the band performance. What I wasn't expecting was the person they were talking to stomping across the floor into my personal space, and then screaming into my ear to demand if I was staff before announcing that no photography was allowed in the Night Market without consent.
In hindsight, I know I was in the clear. The written rules had no such mention on their site, and no signage was posted in the venue stating those rules. I even confirmed with staff immediately after the incident what the rules were, and was told that technically yes, no photography was allowed in the Night Market without consent...but also they might have forgotten to post that this year on the site (having now looked on mobile and desktop several times and days since the incident: yes, they did forget to post the rules in question). They apologized for the oversight and said I didn't have to delete the photos (and even pitched applying for their staff photography team next year if this was a continued interest of mine), but I deleted them anyway because it was the rule in spirit from last year (which I didn’t attend), even if it wasn't explicitly written this year (my first time attending).
Ultimately the escalated over-reaction from the random guy left me feeling unsafe, and so I opted to skip the latex meetup that night and just head home. I do not have any photos from the Night Market, either of performers or visitors (including the few who deliberately posed for shots), as I deleted all photos from both memory cards for that timeframe.
Overall, the con was a great time, and I'm looking forward to going next year! That said, I did learn a few things to help me have a more fun time in the future:
* Even though I live locally (within CR distance), I should absolutely get a room of my own next year at a backup hotel. Having to duck out around midnight to catch last trains/buses home meant I didn't get to enjoy the evening festivities as much as I would've liked. It'll also let me leave heavier gear upstairs or swap out as needed, rather than packing everything in and out.
* Everyone has a conbadge, but if you're trying to find someone in a crowd, having a unique hat or prop is way better. I had no issue finding folks based on descriptors about their hat or prop, but finding someone in a sea of badges was impossible.
* Bring a water bottle! ANE and the Westin had water dispensers everywhere, so I just need to bring a reusable bottle instead of shelling out $4.50 for one at the gift shop
* Don't be as conservatively dressed next year! Everyone was super relaxed and open, so there's no reason for me to shy away behind basic jeans and a plain t-shirt.
* Be more assertive in standing up for myself, especially when I know I'm in the right. At the same time, do not escalate a situation further - remove yourself from it, and talk to staff as soon as you're able.
* Join chat rooms for the panels that offer them so that if I have to leave due to crowding/social anxiety, I can still let folks know where to find me so we can meet up or talk.
As for the con itself, I think they've got their own lessons learned after an amazing 2024:
* Meet-and-greets regularly over-packed rooms and had lines out the doors waiting to get in. Rooms might need to be combined next year, or backup hotels utilized for additional meetups if the finances don't accommodate BCEC expansion. Alternatively, non-18+ meetups (like species meetups) might consider scheduling off-sites at nearby venues or day-tours, weather permitting, so everyone can attend.
* You can never share the rules too many times, and it's never too late to fix a mistake. Especially for 18+ panels, I'd recommend signage telling folks about photography policies in that event, as well as announcements by emcees to remind folks about said policies. Signage should not only be at every entrance, but also inside the panel.
* Taping down line markers for panels outside rooms (or posting signage) could help with traffic flow. Lots of us queuing for a panel ended up sticking to both walls until doors opened, since there wasn't a formal "queue" to get into most events.
* For registration, consider offering a mailed-badge option for early birds provided they provide proof of vaccination and ID at checkout (such as a digital card). This would drastically cut down the registration queue which, at peak, stretched to the Grand Ballroom.
Frankly, I was floored by the attendance levels of ANE. I was expecting a smol little con of one to three thousand people, but the whispers I was hearing were numbers approaching five thousand attendees. It's awesome that they're grown so big, and I sympathize with their plight of needing more space but also the cost of said space in Boston. Still, I'm sure they'll find the right balance for their future needs, and I'm excited for 2025!
I had a blast, all told. I'm really looking forward to ANE 2025, and I'll be back in full force with my camera to get more photos. Speaking of, if I decide to post the photos I do have, it won't be here. That said, if you saw a Stegosaur taking your photo and are curious if it turned out well, drop me a line with your sona's design/headshot and I'll see what I've got!
The Good
Considering it was my first furry con in over a decade, it went very well! Lots of fun panels to go to, plenty of photography opportunities, and (almost) everyone was so friendly and authentic that I felt incredibly at ease. I ended up hitting the hypnofurs, scalies, and Young-At-Heart meetup panels on Saturday, but had to skip the Latex meetup on Friday due to a dustup in the Night Market (more in a bit). Speaking of, the Night Market and 18+ panels were amazing, and it's a real boost to my own confidence to see so many people being their best selves out in the open like that.
Big shoutout to all the folks who setup the panels, and the staff for keeping everything in order!
Masks & Vaccines!
I almost forgot (stealth-edit time), but ANE also had a strict policy of masking at every event and proof of vaccination in-person at registration (hence, I suspect, the reason for the line). This was an amazing policy, and I felt fairly confident going in that any COVID/RSV/ConCrud would be very minimal as a result, if it happened at all. Compliance was never an issue that I saw, and outside of eating areas or outdoor spaces, I generally saw 90-95% of folks masked up at all times. Masks + vaccines are just good health policies in this day and age, and if there are any research furries keeping tabs on the data, I'd be curious if there's a comparison between reported post-con sickness in ANE against cons that didn't have vaccine and/or masking requirements.
The Bad - Night Market Dustup
Really the only bad note of the entire con was a dustup in the Night Market. See, I'm a hobbyist photographer who loves taking candid photos of folks, especially when they're in gear or suiting. I don't want to disrupt anyone, and I like seeing how relaxed and pleasant people are when a lens isn't shoved in their face or they're expected to pose. This admittedly plays nicely into my own social anxieties, in that I don't have to interrupt folks, make introductions, or struggle to understand what they're saying through a suit/mask/hood/whatever.
So when I read about the Night Market online in the schedule and event page, I was pretty excited! I made sure to double-check all the rules and policies surrounding it, too, to make sure I was in the clear. Nothing on the site at the time of the event (and at time of writing this journal) on the Night Market event page, the Code of Conduct, or the panel descriptions for the various Night Market activities had any additional restrictions against photography beyond what the con already clearly laid out (ask for consent before posing with folks, and strict rules for media), so I assumed I would be in the clear as long as I was respectful about it. Given that my lens meant I had to remain ~15ft away to get a shot and the Night Market was packed, I felt I'd be fine.
That was not the case. I got the universal "stop" signal when a critter in gear pointed at me while talking to someone, so I immediately lowered my camera and turned my attention back to the band performance. What I wasn't expecting was the person they were talking to stomping across the floor into my personal space, and then screaming into my ear to demand if I was staff before announcing that no photography was allowed in the Night Market without consent.
In hindsight, I know I was in the clear. The written rules had no such mention on their site, and no signage was posted in the venue stating those rules. I even confirmed with staff immediately after the incident what the rules were, and was told that technically yes, no photography was allowed in the Night Market without consent...but also they might have forgotten to post that this year on the site (having now looked on mobile and desktop several times and days since the incident: yes, they did forget to post the rules in question). They apologized for the oversight and said I didn't have to delete the photos (and even pitched applying for their staff photography team next year if this was a continued interest of mine), but I deleted them anyway because it was the rule in spirit from last year (which I didn’t attend), even if it wasn't explicitly written this year (my first time attending).
Ultimately the escalated over-reaction from the random guy left me feeling unsafe, and so I opted to skip the latex meetup that night and just head home. I do not have any photos from the Night Market, either of performers or visitors (including the few who deliberately posed for shots), as I deleted all photos from both memory cards for that timeframe.
Lessons Learned
Overall, the con was a great time, and I'm looking forward to going next year! That said, I did learn a few things to help me have a more fun time in the future:
* Even though I live locally (within CR distance), I should absolutely get a room of my own next year at a backup hotel. Having to duck out around midnight to catch last trains/buses home meant I didn't get to enjoy the evening festivities as much as I would've liked. It'll also let me leave heavier gear upstairs or swap out as needed, rather than packing everything in and out.
* Everyone has a conbadge, but if you're trying to find someone in a crowd, having a unique hat or prop is way better. I had no issue finding folks based on descriptors about their hat or prop, but finding someone in a sea of badges was impossible.
* Bring a water bottle! ANE and the Westin had water dispensers everywhere, so I just need to bring a reusable bottle instead of shelling out $4.50 for one at the gift shop
* Don't be as conservatively dressed next year! Everyone was super relaxed and open, so there's no reason for me to shy away behind basic jeans and a plain t-shirt.
* Be more assertive in standing up for myself, especially when I know I'm in the right. At the same time, do not escalate a situation further - remove yourself from it, and talk to staff as soon as you're able.
* Join chat rooms for the panels that offer them so that if I have to leave due to crowding/social anxiety, I can still let folks know where to find me so we can meet up or talk.
As for the con itself, I think they've got their own lessons learned after an amazing 2024:
* Meet-and-greets regularly over-packed rooms and had lines out the doors waiting to get in. Rooms might need to be combined next year, or backup hotels utilized for additional meetups if the finances don't accommodate BCEC expansion. Alternatively, non-18+ meetups (like species meetups) might consider scheduling off-sites at nearby venues or day-tours, weather permitting, so everyone can attend.
* You can never share the rules too many times, and it's never too late to fix a mistake. Especially for 18+ panels, I'd recommend signage telling folks about photography policies in that event, as well as announcements by emcees to remind folks about said policies. Signage should not only be at every entrance, but also inside the panel.
* Taping down line markers for panels outside rooms (or posting signage) could help with traffic flow. Lots of us queuing for a panel ended up sticking to both walls until doors opened, since there wasn't a formal "queue" to get into most events.
* For registration, consider offering a mailed-badge option for early birds provided they provide proof of vaccination and ID at checkout (such as a digital card). This would drastically cut down the registration queue which, at peak, stretched to the Grand Ballroom.
Frankly, I was floored by the attendance levels of ANE. I was expecting a smol little con of one to three thousand people, but the whispers I was hearing were numbers approaching five thousand attendees. It's awesome that they're grown so big, and I sympathize with their plight of needing more space but also the cost of said space in Boston. Still, I'm sure they'll find the right balance for their future needs, and I'm excited for 2025!
Final Thoughts
I had a blast, all told. I'm really looking forward to ANE 2025, and I'll be back in full force with my camera to get more photos. Speaking of, if I decide to post the photos I do have, it won't be here. That said, if you saw a Stegosaur taking your photo and are curious if it turned out well, drop me a line with your sona's design/headshot and I'll see what I've got!
