I have never been, but from what i've heard i'm not missing much

Yeah I've heard mixed things. Either "it's totally awesome" or "it's really overwhelming."

Maybe, but is that a good thing?? :U

Well it's the biggest furry convention in the world which you can either take as a good or a bad thing. The convention itself can be seen like any other big convention with huge and plentiful amounts of dances + a lot of parties.

The downside is that the city of Pittsburgh closes at like 6 pm or something so you better not have to go to a CVS or 7-11 after dinner b/c they won't be open.

I'd never heard about the stores closing so early, rather I'd heard the downside was that it was so big :B

While Pittsburgh does close early(9pm), a lot of places stay late just for us. And there's always the mall, just west, which is open a lot later.

Pittsburgh, is a pretty awesome city. They take great pride in the arts, and have been very good to us wierdos traipsing around their city in full costume. AC IS HUGE, and it's getting bigger. You will notice it mostly during the parade, and if you like to attend panels, you would want to be early. If you just want to browse/sell art, and meet people, it's a great size. I don't know where you come from, but AC last year was about the size of my High School in terms of people. It was good to mingle, and if you know people, not too onerous to meet them. IMO

The elevators are a serious problem though, I hope you have good legs if you room in the westin. You might see me corralling people for the elevators if you use them.

The auctions are also fun to watch b/c of how high some of the pieces of art go. I remember seeing plenty of  blotch work skyrocketing well into the thousands of dollars and just being amazed at how much money these people who are my age and younger have.

you know its shit, Ive been to AC tons of times but I never get to go to the auction at any damn time because I always stack up on sketchbooks and just draw.

You dont have to draw when you go to a convention D:

I do because people like it.

I do because people like it.

It's definitely worth going to at least once. Then as for repeat trips....that's up to you.

Those are my thoughts yeah, but the thing I'm trying to figure out is if I should make that first time be this year or not

I know there are plenty of Ann Arbor furs who would be going, and I'm sure you'll be able to find a room with friends, eh? I'd say do it! I'll be there, and so will other, cooler people :P

I could drive ya if you pay for half of gas and parking ~$50. Arrive at AC around 4 on Thursday and leave Sunday night. Or Monday if I can crash in your room that night. Er, because you're in like Dexter or something right?

Its huge and hectic, but like any other con, if you know a lot of people that are going to it and have a chance to meet its awesome. Artist Alley is cool make decent money there. Lots of events. Its a good con I been going for a bout 6 years now.

I'm usually one to shy away from going to cons since they are spendy to prepare for
Though every year, AC is the one con that is worth the trip out there for me
More cool people to meet, totally varied for business people to sell art and for party people to hangout
Its totally one I can never miss :V

Three words: Big bitchin' con.

I've been a handful of times and enjoyed it, lots of people to meet, things to do, etc. Artists Alley is ginormous. I'd be going this year if I didn't want to save my vacation time for a real vacation, like, y'know, the Caribbean.

DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT
I know it can usually turn up like any other con, but the experience is wonderful. I've been four years running (skipped last for money/other life issues), and I cannot wait to go again this year. I consider cons a means to meet new and old friends alike, and just relax for a few days and see those you seldom talk to beyond a screen. The con itself is growing, you get to see tons of suiters, and get to wander aimlessly through the city of Pittsburgh for food and fun on the hours the con doors shut each night. The zoo is a blast if you don't just sit and hope for others to interact with you, and they have parties. so many parties. Room parties and con parties and yes.

Do it.

MFF, broheim.

I hope to go to that too, but I'm allowed to go to more than one con you know :V

AC is very much a clusterfuck.

Have you ever been to a furry con?

Yes :V I've been to MFF last year and FCN like 2 weeks ago

A con is only good if you know people there. The fun part of any con is hanging with your friends in a real, but still familiar environment. I've never been to AC or any furry con, but whenever I run into friends at NY Comic Con I remember why I went in the first place. :3

Considering you haven't been yet, I'd say you should. It's not like going to a furry convention (for me at least) is something I'd regret. If you don't enjoy yourself as much as other cons, well hey, at least you tried right?

I love AnthroCon. It's a great fun expediences, IF I go with my friends. I have the capability to have a wonderful time and really enjoy the city of Pittsburgh and the fact that furries basically take over that section of the downtown city, in addition to mobbing all the local businesses. The only reason I don't like AnthroCon, is since it's so huge, and everyone is going everywhere doing everything, running around, seeing all these people.... you can't really just relax, and meet people the way you can at other cons. I'm sure at some of the small cons you've noticed, that you can just sit down, chill out, and people will talk to you, meet up with you, chat with you. This happens a lot less at AnthroCon. Don't get me wrong, you can still go, and leave knowing new people, and having gained friends, but the feeling is much less cultural when it happens at AnthroCon.

Personally, I'd say, that whether AnthroCon will be good for you or not, is based purely on what type of furry you are. More of a cultural, social, spiritual etc. type, it will effect the experience you have. But until you know, I'd suggest going anyway, for once. I'm sure you won't regret it, even if you never go back.

Experience*

Go next year. I'm going next year, and god forbid you go this year and decide not to go next year and I don't get to meet you :S

you don't need to meet me I'm not very exciting in person :U

I'll be the judge of that when I meet you >:O

From what I've heard, going there is like a furry's dream come true. But it is something for you to plan early on.

So yeah, if you can go, then go. If not, just plan on going next year. :>

I didn't realize you were an expert on furry conventions :V

Well I have to know these things before I'm actually able to go gosh :V

yes :o go

I say, yes, go to AC if you can afford it. It will be quite the experience. Make a point of talking with other attendees. As Fritter said above, conventions are "a means to meet new and old friends alike". ( I can't make it to AC this year due to limited funds, but I did make it to FC. )

Been there in 2009, the venue is huge which makes finding people very hard and annoying. I didn't know many people at all (first US con) so I didn't enjoy it much....

I have good times there myself, although I might be slightly biased. There's usually plenty to do there, though.

I know this is a late reply, but I'm trying to weed through over 157K journals and it's been a real pain since I'm limited to loading so many at one time.

I've been to AC 9 years in a row and I have no intention of stopping unless it becomes a problem. AC is like going to a mall, party & sleep-over that you are more than likely to find people you know or heard of in the same place wanting to do, buy or experience the same interest.

The only real downside would be what many refer to as Post-Con Depression, which is an emotional state that comes to certain Con-attendees on the day of departure. For some, it hits really hard. The other downside would be the aforementioned: Size. Some people that actually do go tend to be those that are prone to panic attacks in crowds or those that don't like being around a lot of people. It's these people that many wonder why they bother going when they know exactly what they will be getting into. Drama fits are said to have happened, but I don't recall ever meeting such within my Con-going experience. If you keep away from Drama, then there's really nothing to be concerned about.

I feel that you should go to AC at least once. And when you do choose to go to a con, you should be wise to plan in advance so you can plan for anything and everything that could come your way that you would want to be prepared for or need to use at your leisure for your enjoyment. Pre-register to save on the fee, save up plenty of money for all forms of necessities (Food, roomspace, merchandise, etc.), be willing to step into a broader world of possibility, and just aim to have a good time for yourself. Be it with friends or not, it should be a chance for you to get a chance to experience something different than what you refer to as a normal lifestyle.

With you being an artist, it's also a grand opportunity to expand your audience to those that have no familiarity of who you are, and perhaps also give you more inspiration for the skill you have to further its progression.