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Thoughts....
13 years ago
General
So I am having a bit of an introspective moment.
A few years ago, I helped a friend start a fur convention in the city of Montreal called AnthroFest. It ran for only 2 years, and had decent attendance in a time when fur cons like anthrocon were just around 3000 attendees and other cons thought it was a success if they had 200.
I sunk 2 years of my time and close to $10,000 of my own money making this convention go. It put me quite far into debt but I loved seeing the looks on peoples faces when they were there, having fun. It made it all worth it.
Now that you have the back story, I can get to the soul searching. Lately, a lot of people have been calling it "The con that shall not be named" and slagging it off, or worse yet I have heard reports of people who when it is mentioned they are admonished for it. This really cuts me to the quick. I worked extremely hard to help make this con something that people could enjoy, and at times there was very little support from other sides, but I am proud of what I did. To this day I am honoured to have given 2 summers of my life to this, making it work as best as I could.
To hear that it has become a joke burns.. It makes me feel that I wasted my time, that I wasted my energy to try to make a difference. I could not continue the convention myself after the principle in the con dropped out, so it fell by the side. For that I am genuinely regretful. But I honestly wish that things were different in some way. I wish that people could understand just what I did to help make it what it was. I wish that people would acknowledge just what that con did. I know it was not much, but damnit in my mind it was a success. To hear it slagged off...
You may as well be slagging me off too, as that con was my heart for 2 hard, long years.
No one will probably read this or care really.. I just want people to know where I am coming from.
To know how it hurts.
A few years ago, I helped a friend start a fur convention in the city of Montreal called AnthroFest. It ran for only 2 years, and had decent attendance in a time when fur cons like anthrocon were just around 3000 attendees and other cons thought it was a success if they had 200.
I sunk 2 years of my time and close to $10,000 of my own money making this convention go. It put me quite far into debt but I loved seeing the looks on peoples faces when they were there, having fun. It made it all worth it.
Now that you have the back story, I can get to the soul searching. Lately, a lot of people have been calling it "The con that shall not be named" and slagging it off, or worse yet I have heard reports of people who when it is mentioned they are admonished for it. This really cuts me to the quick. I worked extremely hard to help make this con something that people could enjoy, and at times there was very little support from other sides, but I am proud of what I did. To this day I am honoured to have given 2 summers of my life to this, making it work as best as I could.
To hear that it has become a joke burns.. It makes me feel that I wasted my time, that I wasted my energy to try to make a difference. I could not continue the convention myself after the principle in the con dropped out, so it fell by the side. For that I am genuinely regretful. But I honestly wish that things were different in some way. I wish that people could understand just what I did to help make it what it was. I wish that people would acknowledge just what that con did. I know it was not much, but damnit in my mind it was a success. To hear it slagged off...
You may as well be slagging me off too, as that con was my heart for 2 hard, long years.
No one will probably read this or care really.. I just want people to know where I am coming from.
To know how it hurts.
if my jests about the con funky life sized plushie or the fact that i can still taste the legendary Bactini has driven a nail into you i have never meant it. My time at AF will never be forgotten or ever be looked down upon. if i have offended you without knowing it. then i take full responsibility for my actions and i am truly sorry.
don't look on it badly it was because of you all at AF that first year that i'm still with us today with my tac vest on ready for the next adventure
Rithy
I know I am being overly sensative but I just needed to say my piece.
rithy
Some of these furs are little more than ungrateful, unappreciative ingrates.
AF provided a venue for them to enjoy themselves and they are spoiled idiots.
If they had a clue about running a venue, they'd appreciate the challenges AF had to go through fro those 2 year.s
I will say this, I wouldn't take on running a con. I don't have the time nor the inclination to put forth my efforts for someone that would most likely bitch and moan and not contribute to solving the problem constructively.
If I could have, I would have gone to a venue you were a part of. The downside of not being local.
But I will say, that I appreciate YOU and all you do.
Always.
I had spoken to a staff member at the end of the '07 con about being involved in running the games room in '08 but at that time no one seemed to have a clue that there would not be another. It was sad for me to see the con go; given that it was a very small con it was a great opportunity in my early years of the fandom to actually get to know and bond with people, many of which are still my friends today, and I'm proud to say you're one of them. *hugs*
I just want people to remember the good and be thankful for what happened, and remember that there were real people invested in what it was both emotionally and physically.
*hugs*
I've known you for years Purple and you put your heart into everything you do, you're a kind hearted bear and it's my privilege to be your friend.
I kind of know where you're coming from. I worked at a local comic convention for several years and we had sort of the same thing happen. The con, for several reasons, became a joke. The senior staff feared developing a bad reputation in the industry and had to distance ourselves from the show owner. It was rough and when people said mean things about the show, it hurt.
I wish I could make it better or make the icky feelings go away for you, but you know I will ALWAYS be here to listen.
While I wasn't ever a seriously important part of the Anthrofest staff, the faith and trust that was put in me those years still bewilders and makes me feel incredibly good. Whenever I wear my Anthrofest 2007 shirt at a con (which I do on occasion) and when I get asked about it my answer always is "It was a con in Montreal Quebec and one of the best cons I've ever attended."
Don't let anyone's ignorant and thoughtless comments bring you down. All the AnthroFest staff made it something really special, and nothing will ever change that.
I am glad you had a great time at it, that was one of the goals. It also gave me a good friend in a dragon, so I can't complain about that. I just wish people would realize there are people behind that inanimate object known as a con.
Aww, you flatter me hon. Kinda funny that we may never have gotten to know each other as we have if certain events didn't take place the way they did. May have been inanimate, but it was certainly 'Larger than life' while it lasted.
you wanted to do good , you are a sweet pal and i am so sorry this hoya is still being flung around . and i make you this promise , next time i am with anyone who says the con etc... i will stop what ever i am doing and walk away , no discussion no nothing .
there is far to much slagging going on and i want no part of it . your comrade and pal wizzy oh this made me so upset i almost forgot huggles buddy.
*hugs*
I just needed to vent a bit.. things eat at you for a while and sometimes you have to let it out.
I tried my best to get it all straightened out, it was all pretty new.