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Went to Califur
12 years ago
This year, Califur was done on the cheap. I took only two hours of vacation time and only spent two nights in the hotel, and enlisted a roommate.
And I flew down rather than drove down. When driving alone, it actually costs more in gas/maintenance than it did to fly. I can't take as much with me, but I still took more than I needed to on my flight.
I brought two fursuits, but I only managed to go out in Aventinus. I hope you got to see the lizard man some time Saturday night. I was in and out of the suit for about 8 hours.
Poor Caspian stayed in the hotel room the entire time and I took him back as clean and dry as when I arrived. That's the first con I've gone to since I've owned him that I did not wear him outside for at least a short time. Poor neglected birdy.
The con started out pretty shaky when I arrived Friday night with a train of baggage. The hallways were swamped with people and all I wanted to do was get to my room. I heard someone pulled the fire alarm, which caused a limited evacuation, and thus a stream of people trying to go back up.
I was a bit cranky at first dealing the the crowds from the very moment I arrived, but after a shower and a pizza and an impromptu visit by a group of friends, and I felt a lot better.
Friday night was spent in various rooms, socializing with old and new friends. I did not get to see the hotel common area again till 4:30am.
Saturday, registration had a short line, and was not nearly as broken as previous years. So that was good.
I was told that I had to keep my lens cap on my camera when in the dealers room. The con claims dealers complained about people stealing their art by taking photos of it. Really? Has this 'ever' happened?? Last year, I couldn't take photos of the dance. This year I can only take photos in the hallways. I know of no other con that does this.
I felt pretty negative at being treated as a potential thief. I did notice at least one CFAC member furtively look around me to check the condition of my camera. So that really curtailed much of my interest in taking any photos. I'll post the 100 or so I did take after I got out of my funk. CF repeatedly implements policies that leave me with a bad taste in my mouth.
I ditched the fursuit parade in favor of an extended lunch with old and new friends. Sounds like I made the right choice as there was such confusion regarding the start time of the parade. I'm not surprised. When I asked about a program schedule, registration told me to go to con store. Con store told me they don't know anything about program books and I should check the TV monitors for the schedule.
Foxtrack was the best guy ever because he got me a program guide. He's a good egg. I should talk with him more often. Program guide said 2:30, but by the time I was thinking about getting ready for the parade, it seemed to already be starting at 2! Oh well, guess I'll go to lunch instead.
Saturday night was more of a continuation of room-con for me. But I spent a good chunk of the evening in Aventinus. I wandered the hallways being a lizardman for a while, then went to a couple gatherings in the hotel rooms. The BLFC open party was great. That pineapple-upside down cake drink really went to my head!
I hit up the dance in Aventinus for the last 20 minutes or so. I'm glad I managed to at least do 'something' at the con. The dances are always important to me, but it's so hard when I want to do everything at once!
I stumbled around as a lizardman for another hour or so, then stumbled around as a human for another hour or so.
The lack of a proper lobby really hurt the con experience this year, but the poolside lobby was a good attempt by the con to make lemonade out of lemons. The pool did get a lot more use this year, and the hotel was kind enough to allow fun activities out there till pretty late each night. Maybe they can continue that next year even after lobby renovation is complete.
The hotel really bent over backwards, IMHO, to make my experience as pleasant as possible. I applaud their efforts and patience because there are many examples of furries running around that would have left me incredibly exasperated. I frequently wanted to apologize to any witnesses to the somewhat uncivilized behavior that occurred in their presence. However, the hotel staff always kept a smile on their face.
And then just as soon as I got there, I had to go. Sunday, I had to check out for my plane ride back. I think I could have enjoyed the con a lot more if I could have stayed another day either before or after. But life demanded that this year I cut my visit short.
I met a bunch of people for the first time that I want to meet again, either at a con or for a private visit. I really hope to get those opportunities in the near future.
And I flew down rather than drove down. When driving alone, it actually costs more in gas/maintenance than it did to fly. I can't take as much with me, but I still took more than I needed to on my flight.
I brought two fursuits, but I only managed to go out in Aventinus. I hope you got to see the lizard man some time Saturday night. I was in and out of the suit for about 8 hours.
Poor Caspian stayed in the hotel room the entire time and I took him back as clean and dry as when I arrived. That's the first con I've gone to since I've owned him that I did not wear him outside for at least a short time. Poor neglected birdy.
The con started out pretty shaky when I arrived Friday night with a train of baggage. The hallways were swamped with people and all I wanted to do was get to my room. I heard someone pulled the fire alarm, which caused a limited evacuation, and thus a stream of people trying to go back up.
I was a bit cranky at first dealing the the crowds from the very moment I arrived, but after a shower and a pizza and an impromptu visit by a group of friends, and I felt a lot better.
Friday night was spent in various rooms, socializing with old and new friends. I did not get to see the hotel common area again till 4:30am.
Saturday, registration had a short line, and was not nearly as broken as previous years. So that was good.
I was told that I had to keep my lens cap on my camera when in the dealers room. The con claims dealers complained about people stealing their art by taking photos of it. Really? Has this 'ever' happened?? Last year, I couldn't take photos of the dance. This year I can only take photos in the hallways. I know of no other con that does this.
I felt pretty negative at being treated as a potential thief. I did notice at least one CFAC member furtively look around me to check the condition of my camera. So that really curtailed much of my interest in taking any photos. I'll post the 100 or so I did take after I got out of my funk. CF repeatedly implements policies that leave me with a bad taste in my mouth.
I ditched the fursuit parade in favor of an extended lunch with old and new friends. Sounds like I made the right choice as there was such confusion regarding the start time of the parade. I'm not surprised. When I asked about a program schedule, registration told me to go to con store. Con store told me they don't know anything about program books and I should check the TV monitors for the schedule.
Foxtrack was the best guy ever because he got me a program guide. He's a good egg. I should talk with him more often. Program guide said 2:30, but by the time I was thinking about getting ready for the parade, it seemed to already be starting at 2! Oh well, guess I'll go to lunch instead.
Saturday night was more of a continuation of room-con for me. But I spent a good chunk of the evening in Aventinus. I wandered the hallways being a lizardman for a while, then went to a couple gatherings in the hotel rooms. The BLFC open party was great. That pineapple-upside down cake drink really went to my head!
I hit up the dance in Aventinus for the last 20 minutes or so. I'm glad I managed to at least do 'something' at the con. The dances are always important to me, but it's so hard when I want to do everything at once!
I stumbled around as a lizardman for another hour or so, then stumbled around as a human for another hour or so.
The lack of a proper lobby really hurt the con experience this year, but the poolside lobby was a good attempt by the con to make lemonade out of lemons. The pool did get a lot more use this year, and the hotel was kind enough to allow fun activities out there till pretty late each night. Maybe they can continue that next year even after lobby renovation is complete.
The hotel really bent over backwards, IMHO, to make my experience as pleasant as possible. I applaud their efforts and patience because there are many examples of furries running around that would have left me incredibly exasperated. I frequently wanted to apologize to any witnesses to the somewhat uncivilized behavior that occurred in their presence. However, the hotel staff always kept a smile on their face.
And then just as soon as I got there, I had to go. Sunday, I had to check out for my plane ride back. I think I could have enjoyed the con a lot more if I could have stayed another day either before or after. But life demanded that this year I cut my visit short.
I met a bunch of people for the first time that I want to meet again, either at a con or for a private visit. I really hope to get those opportunities in the near future.
Being told "No photos allowed in the dealers room. Camera must have a lens cap on at all times. Photos allowed only in hallways." is different from, "Please, do not take photos of dealer artwork." One treats me like a potential thief. The other is making a reasonable request.
I understand that con ops is just doing their job. They are implementing a policy made from higher up. Still, the guy I talked to at con ops explained it as best he could. He's just doing his job. In the end, I blame the executive staff taking a lazy, simple-minded approach to a problem that rarely occurs.
Perhaps I'm just oversensitive at being singled out. I carry a moderately hefty camera, but there is no way for me to hide the fact I take a photo. My phone, however, takes a remarkably good photo unobtrusively in total silence. There's far more phones out there capable of stealing shots of artwork. But I'm the one who gets told. And being told in this way serves to diminish my enthusiasm to participate.
Though, maybe I'm just spoiled after all these furry cons I've been to. Maybe it's common policy to disallow photographs altogether at some places. This is just the only furry con I know of that maintains such a policy today.
However, Califur seems to get by quite well even with its current policies. Attendance will likely keep rising despite my grumblings.
Each convention has its own personality. So I will let Califur have that personality.
*The one email conversation with Trish Nye over my camera probably was the closest I've ever gotten to a 'FU' from a convention head, ever.
As for the parade, what happened was someone called out over the radios for staff to announce that suiters should get ready for the parade in half an hour. The problem was that it was a very badly worded announcement that was misinterpreted as the Parade starts in half an hour instead of half an hour till fur suiters should start suiting up in preparation for the parade. Then when everyone was suited up and ready and standing around int he heat, DJ Raven saw that we needed to get the parade going before people in suits started getting heat issues and health problems. It was a cluster because of who ever put out the call on the radios for announcement way too early and Raven took command of the situation to keep any health issues from popping up.
I was bummed I didn't get to see you in your bird suit, but I think I did see you in the other suit saturday night. Though I headed up to room and bed about 1 as I was worn out from the parade and working all day.
Hopefully next year you and I both will be able to be at the con longer and enjoy all of it. ^v^ Thanks again for coming and I look forward to the pictures you did take.
Oh yes, next year, as long as I can make it, if you want, I'll give you the clear to take pictures of people and suits in the dealers den and be with you if someone has a problem. Also talk to glen wooten, the guy that runs the artshow and dealers den. He has allt he rules and can make any calls about something pertaining to it.
Looking back on the con as a whole for my personal experience, it would have been a LOT better if I had time/money to be there an extra day. I tried to do too much all on Saturday. It just wasn't gonna happen. I did what I could and it was good. I feel bad for letting some people down.
Thanks again. Most problems end up caused by miscommunication. There are staff at CF who do have their hearts in the right place.
I'd like to hang out with you more if our paths cross again in future conventions. *winghugs!*
You were on that list, but when I had a free moment I couldn't find anyone. But I was down in the common space for almost no time. So it's my fault.
An additional day would have made it better.
but once again a shared beer proved elusive. Next time!!
Also, I didn't go!
Glad to see you had fun. Hope to see you soon. Can't wait to see your post-funk pix.