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FC2013: First con fursuiting!
12 years ago
I decided after last FC that it was time for me to get a fursuit. And so I did.
I have fursuited a few times, but never for long, and mostly in cool weather. FC2013 was different, and lots of fun!
- Wander the hallways randomly. A friend helped me around, coping with all of the little problems, like tucking my gloves into the sleeves, opening doors, stairs, navigating, etc.
- Got professional pictures taken. I had no idea what kind of pics I wanted, so the guy posed me. How do I find these pictures? Or in fact any pictures of my fursuit?
Update: Someone found one of me: http://i.imgur.com/FhJg1kT.jpg
- Participated in the fursuit parade. 568 fursuiters, I believe? At one point while we were waiting, someone said "Mine?" and soon there were hundreds of fursuiters mimicking seagulls. Until someone shouted, "Oh, shuuut uuup. You're a bunch of rats with wings."
- Danced at Frolic. Was lots of fun, but was also the most taxing. More on this in a couple of places later.
Often fursuiters speak of the emotional change that comes over them when fursuiting. I didn't really experience this. I suspect for the same reason that alcohol does not make me more relaxed and social. I'm perfectly comfortable with who I am, so I don't need inhibition reducers.
With one exception. I was not scared to dance. Perhaps not being able to see anyone's face had something to do with that.
And perhaps hugs. I got hugged alot, and I got the distinct impression that people were hugging the fursuit and not me, which did make it feel different.
One thing I didn't expect was how much acting skill I'm going to need to develop. I need to exaggerate my emotions and pantomime a lot more. And I have to do so with only vague cues from the people interacting with me. Limited vision makes interaction hard. And there are no facial expressions. Those must be done with head tilts and hands.
- Overheating was expected. I coped well with the sweating and keeping hydrated. The only time I pushed it too far was dancing. I got to the point where I was disoriented, and had no clue where the exit was. If the person who I was dancing with hadn't lead me outside, I might have passed out before finding a place to cool off.
- Glasses fogging. None of the tricks I tried kept this from happening. Soap (various kinds), otter spit, warming the glasses, etc. So, most of the time I was in suit I could only see blurry shapes. I have no idea who I said 'hi' to, who i hugged, who i danced with, etc.
- Cotton shirts/pants. *Do not* wear cotton under a fursuit if you can avoid it. Lycra is best, but I didn't have any. I must have gone through 7 sets of clothes in 2 days.
- Cleaning the suit. If it wasn't for the supplies in the Headless Lounge, I would have had serious problems with this. I am so grateful for the fans, drying tree, disinfecting wipes, etc.
- Feet. I specifically ordered comfortable feet for my fursuit. For a fursuit, they are very comfortable feet. But they are nowhere near as comfortable as regular shoes.
- Vodka in a spray bottle. Apparently this is the very best way to get the smell out of the head, since you can't throw it in a washing machine.
- Contacts. I want to *see* when I'm suiting :)
- Lycra. Perhaps a zentai suit? Those are cheap. Can you get one without a head?
- Earplugs, if I'm going dancing. That place was loud.
- Clorox bleach-free disinfecting wipes.
- A handler. Half the time I was in the fursuit, I was by myself. I have come to appreciate just how useful a handler is.
- Dancing feet? I'm seriously thinking of buying a comfortable pair of shoes and having my fursuit maker make new feet around them.
I have fursuited a few times, but never for long, and mostly in cool weather. FC2013 was different, and lots of fun!
Activities- Wander the hallways randomly. A friend helped me around, coping with all of the little problems, like tucking my gloves into the sleeves, opening doors, stairs, navigating, etc.
- Got professional pictures taken. I had no idea what kind of pics I wanted, so the guy posed me. How do I find these pictures? Or in fact any pictures of my fursuit?
Update: Someone found one of me: http://i.imgur.com/FhJg1kT.jpg
- Participated in the fursuit parade. 568 fursuiters, I believe? At one point while we were waiting, someone said "Mine?" and soon there were hundreds of fursuiters mimicking seagulls. Until someone shouted, "Oh, shuuut uuup. You're a bunch of rats with wings."
- Danced at Frolic. Was lots of fun, but was also the most taxing. More on this in a couple of places later.
EmotionalOften fursuiters speak of the emotional change that comes over them when fursuiting. I didn't really experience this. I suspect for the same reason that alcohol does not make me more relaxed and social. I'm perfectly comfortable with who I am, so I don't need inhibition reducers.
With one exception. I was not scared to dance. Perhaps not being able to see anyone's face had something to do with that.
And perhaps hugs. I got hugged alot, and I got the distinct impression that people were hugging the fursuit and not me, which did make it feel different.
One thing I didn't expect was how much acting skill I'm going to need to develop. I need to exaggerate my emotions and pantomime a lot more. And I have to do so with only vague cues from the people interacting with me. Limited vision makes interaction hard. And there are no facial expressions. Those must be done with head tilts and hands.
Problems- Overheating was expected. I coped well with the sweating and keeping hydrated. The only time I pushed it too far was dancing. I got to the point where I was disoriented, and had no clue where the exit was. If the person who I was dancing with hadn't lead me outside, I might have passed out before finding a place to cool off.
- Glasses fogging. None of the tricks I tried kept this from happening. Soap (various kinds), otter spit, warming the glasses, etc. So, most of the time I was in suit I could only see blurry shapes. I have no idea who I said 'hi' to, who i hugged, who i danced with, etc.
- Cotton shirts/pants. *Do not* wear cotton under a fursuit if you can avoid it. Lycra is best, but I didn't have any. I must have gone through 7 sets of clothes in 2 days.
- Cleaning the suit. If it wasn't for the supplies in the Headless Lounge, I would have had serious problems with this. I am so grateful for the fans, drying tree, disinfecting wipes, etc.
- Feet. I specifically ordered comfortable feet for my fursuit. For a fursuit, they are very comfortable feet. But they are nowhere near as comfortable as regular shoes.
Required Items for Next Time- Vodka in a spray bottle. Apparently this is the very best way to get the smell out of the head, since you can't throw it in a washing machine.
- Contacts. I want to *see* when I'm suiting :)
- Lycra. Perhaps a zentai suit? Those are cheap. Can you get one without a head?
- Earplugs, if I'm going dancing. That place was loud.
- Clorox bleach-free disinfecting wipes.
- A handler. Half the time I was in the fursuit, I was by myself. I have come to appreciate just how useful a handler is.
- Dancing feet? I'm seriously thinking of buying a comfortable pair of shoes and having my fursuit maker make new feet around them.
You can order a zentai with out the hood, or have the hood removable.
I'll see what I can find for shoes this weekend \|/