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2014 con schedule - and controversial comments
12 years ago
Cons I usually go to and plan to go and comments
Jan 2014 - Further Confusion, San Jose
This is a no Go for me. It' s too spread out in a convention center. 1 hotel ago it was still my #1 con but now, it's really not worth it to me to put up with the TSA, airlines and costs to get there. con folks use Flare with is, in my opinion, 1000x better than Dorsai so if you like it, go. It's a good con, just not for me right now. Further comments on cons in convention centers in the AC entry.
Feb 2014 - Texas Furry Fiesta
YES! I expect this one will be an ongoing replacement for FC. Shorter plane trip, availability of restaurants seems to be a good call. Also this year's gusts include BBF a friend I want to see.
3-2014 FWA - Loved the con until it became elevator con. I know they are locked into a contract and expect to be back when it moves hotels. There seems to be no mathematical way to avoid the elevator headaches with the layout of the hotel. not the con's fault so if you love it, go! I'm just taking a break.
04-11 Motor City Fur Con in Novi, Michigan
This is a MAYBE - At the writing of this the con has a deal with the hotel but who is on the board and any details are still a secret for some reason. Allegedly con pre-reg is open but I won't reg until I see it looking like a real con. It's a 2 hour drive so I can go or not go easily if it looks sketchy. Make no mistake I want them to succeed but this mysterious group seems to be no inviting help from others who have in the past helped and it's making folks gun shy of this con. Time will tell.
07-04 Anthrocon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
I plan NOT TO ATTEND. 2 hour drive but to me, the 100+ in parking costs and ass-hattery for getting a room without a bataan death march across downtown is a bust. No furry cons in a large convention center give me what I want in a con. They tend to be too spread out and it's difficult to find and see friends. Events are a real hike, too. The con uses Dorsai and I figured it out - The older and taller they are, the nicer and more polite they are. The Dorsai are at other cons but at AC they seem to have a few who make the rest look bad.
I know some locals so I may show up for a night. Hard to say.
7-2014 Megaplex
I'm going to try like hell to be there! I went last year and it seems to be a sweet spot growing in the hotel. It's a very family friendly con and attendees tend to jive with this. Lots of fun, lots of chances to spend times with friends and if you have a bad day, leave and go to a nearby park!
08-09 Indiana Fur Con in Indianapolis, Indiana
Went last year, had a good time! Not a huge con but growing. Good room party con in off hours when there is no programming. Great opportunity to see friends and do some cool con stuff! Snerf wars are a great innovation! Oh hey! They use Dorsai but the ones who were there were really nice and professional!
09-12 Furlaxation* in Columbus, Ohio
I'm just going to give my opinion here since I went last year.
Hotel - We played 'name the stain' with the walls, ceilings, carpets. The hotel is run down. they say it's being sold and rebuilt so check with a Columbus local who may be able to stop in and check it out.
The con was trying too hard for a small con. It had every event you see in lager cons. It could learn a lot from IFC for how to run a smaller con. It took me 20 minutes to register with 4 people ahead of me because staffers kept stopping to talk to people passing by. It was a bit infuriating and unprofessional.
There is a lot of behind the scenes controversy with this con (and the other notorious Ohio con). Asking around will likely yield the answers about this. I just choose to avoid it all.
It's a no - go for me. That's my opinion, for what it's worth.
10-2014 - Some new con in Cinci I hear is decent, as part of a steam punk con. I will probably look into this one, possibly attend. Worth looking into.
11-21 Midwest Fur Fest in Rosemont, Illinois
Yes! Yes! a thousand times yes!
This is just my take on cons based on experience. Don't flame to argue, you won't change my opinion.
Jan 2014 - Further Confusion, San Jose
This is a no Go for me. It' s too spread out in a convention center. 1 hotel ago it was still my #1 con but now, it's really not worth it to me to put up with the TSA, airlines and costs to get there. con folks use Flare with is, in my opinion, 1000x better than Dorsai so if you like it, go. It's a good con, just not for me right now. Further comments on cons in convention centers in the AC entry.
Feb 2014 - Texas Furry Fiesta
YES! I expect this one will be an ongoing replacement for FC. Shorter plane trip, availability of restaurants seems to be a good call. Also this year's gusts include BBF a friend I want to see.
3-2014 FWA - Loved the con until it became elevator con. I know they are locked into a contract and expect to be back when it moves hotels. There seems to be no mathematical way to avoid the elevator headaches with the layout of the hotel. not the con's fault so if you love it, go! I'm just taking a break.
04-11 Motor City Fur Con in Novi, Michigan
This is a MAYBE - At the writing of this the con has a deal with the hotel but who is on the board and any details are still a secret for some reason. Allegedly con pre-reg is open but I won't reg until I see it looking like a real con. It's a 2 hour drive so I can go or not go easily if it looks sketchy. Make no mistake I want them to succeed but this mysterious group seems to be no inviting help from others who have in the past helped and it's making folks gun shy of this con. Time will tell.
07-04 Anthrocon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
I plan NOT TO ATTEND. 2 hour drive but to me, the 100+ in parking costs and ass-hattery for getting a room without a bataan death march across downtown is a bust. No furry cons in a large convention center give me what I want in a con. They tend to be too spread out and it's difficult to find and see friends. Events are a real hike, too. The con uses Dorsai and I figured it out - The older and taller they are, the nicer and more polite they are. The Dorsai are at other cons but at AC they seem to have a few who make the rest look bad.
I know some locals so I may show up for a night. Hard to say.
7-2014 Megaplex
I'm going to try like hell to be there! I went last year and it seems to be a sweet spot growing in the hotel. It's a very family friendly con and attendees tend to jive with this. Lots of fun, lots of chances to spend times with friends and if you have a bad day, leave and go to a nearby park!
08-09 Indiana Fur Con in Indianapolis, Indiana
Went last year, had a good time! Not a huge con but growing. Good room party con in off hours when there is no programming. Great opportunity to see friends and do some cool con stuff! Snerf wars are a great innovation! Oh hey! They use Dorsai but the ones who were there were really nice and professional!
09-12 Furlaxation* in Columbus, Ohio
I'm just going to give my opinion here since I went last year.
Hotel - We played 'name the stain' with the walls, ceilings, carpets. The hotel is run down. they say it's being sold and rebuilt so check with a Columbus local who may be able to stop in and check it out.
The con was trying too hard for a small con. It had every event you see in lager cons. It could learn a lot from IFC for how to run a smaller con. It took me 20 minutes to register with 4 people ahead of me because staffers kept stopping to talk to people passing by. It was a bit infuriating and unprofessional.
There is a lot of behind the scenes controversy with this con (and the other notorious Ohio con). Asking around will likely yield the answers about this. I just choose to avoid it all.
It's a no - go for me. That's my opinion, for what it's worth.
10-2014 - Some new con in Cinci I hear is decent, as part of a steam punk con. I will probably look into this one, possibly attend. Worth looking into.
11-21 Midwest Fur Fest in Rosemont, Illinois
Yes! Yes! a thousand times yes!
This is just my take on cons based on experience. Don't flame to argue, you won't change my opinion.
I loved FC, but as you said it is spread out, the one hotel conventions really are easier (Without the convention center)
AC has been getting more attractive to me, but yes... the parking rates quickly detract me from it.
IFC and MFF are guarantees since MFF is a home con for me. IFC is less than two hours from me and I thought they've done a pretty good job running things the last couple of years. With IFC on Labor Day weekend this coming year, it's pretty much a guarantee that I'll plan a full weekend stay this year.
If I remember right, I thought Furlaxation disbanded after the last con? o.o
I hope they can get MCFC off the ground. I'd come along to that one, if it's for real.
I agree with ya about FC being more spread out than I'd prefer, at least compared to MFF, which was awesome, but since FC is so much closer to me, I can't say no to that one, despite it's problems. Also, the dance at "Frolic" was pretty excellent, last year. It's a shame the 'con can't hire those DJ's for their own dances, but it's still worth it for me.
AC is well... I dunno. It had the best dances I've seen at a 'con yet and it'd be fun to go to those with my suit next year. On the other hand it's a long flight for me, and if I wasn't staying with someone who has a room at the main hotel, I'd just stay home. And telling their security staff that they're a paramilitary organization (with their own special uniforms and barets, even!) has had the predicable result that they think of themselves as being an occupying force, rather than being in the hospitality business.
Still, if you're a 2 hr drive from the hotel, I would think there's ways to get around the high parking fees at the hotel, like dropping off your stuff there, then parking off-site someplace. I bet there's cheap parking within a 30 minute bus ride of the hotel, and it's not like you're gonna be taking your car back out again during a furry 'con anyway.
TFF sounds like a fun party 'con, and I'd do that one if we can talk my BF into going. I don't mind going to 'cons without him too, but I want us to go to SOME of the same ones too, and I can only hit so many of 'em every year, after all.