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Califur 2015 report (Cover your butts)
10 years ago
Read me...
I ended up going to Califur as a last second thing. Almost literally. My original plans (which I won't be discussing for personal reasons) were moved forward one week. This review is going to be honest, succinct, and straightforward.
I'd gone to Califur clearly to make it a one-day con. I've said before that Califur had really gone downhill, but to be honest, I only really went to see the few friends I really wanted to talk to. I barely see them at the PS (since all of the old regulars barely go these days, myself included). Nobody put a gun to my head to go. I wasn't coerced. I just wanted to see friends, and maybe have a front row seat to witness something. Not a train-wreck, no. It feels more like it's on life support. So, I'm going to focus on the good things, what made it fun; and the bad, what really needs to be revamped or gotten rid of.
The good.
I saw friends there. That's the good of it. I managed to take a few good pictures. Plus, and this is a really good plus, I really didn't get the feeling that my presence didn't make the volunteers go on edge by mere virtue of my using my DSLR to actually take pictures. It has to do with drama that happened at past cons.
I hung out with friends.
The bad.
These are the issues that are still plaguing the con. The Cabaret seems kind of like an unnecessary event, because it's not so fun, and the only way for anyone to consider it fun would have to be at least 18 years old, and looking for adult fun at an all ages con.
Speaking of all ages fun, what they could just do is make an all-ages variety show. Remember that show at Califur. I do. I also remember they banned cameras for the anonymity of the fursuiters, but my point stands that instead of a show that is beset by technical, age and physical appeal of performers, and passing the buck issues, Califur would probably do best to maybe add a variety show and focus on something for the entire convention, instead of only the 18+ group. Plus, let's not forget that the Cabaret Fur Le Dance is a legacy show that is the only thing to survive the demise of Confurence that was re-appropriated by Califur's board of directors.
There's also the con book. All past books, relative to other conventions, seemed kind of neat. This year's book, relative to previous years, is the saddest looking book I've ever seen. Even Antheria's book was decent looking. It was pretty much the convention schedule printed up at Kinko's. Hell, I could've done that on my own time. Literally, con schedule, description of events, and where to buy food. Most disappointing book I've ever seen.
Speaking of which, going to the Talk Back, I'm kind of getting the feeling that maybe the con's departments aren't really talking to each other as much as they should.
The fursuit parade wasn't disappointing. The last few parades weren't as well organized as they could be. All other cons have their act together. Plus, the whole having to find furries to actually take the parade photo at the end does not bode well.
And I'm saying this should be fixed not from a fan's point of view, but from a business point of view. They should fix these things. They should retool certain events. They should stop passing the buck and try to accept accountability for the things they should either make better or get rid of.
But in the end, it doesn't really come down to me. It's not my con, it's not my problem, it's not my set of issues that need to be addressed and accepted at my personal responsibility. But I will say this. Speaking from personal experience, internal conflicts that spill over and become visible by attendees (or customers, or whatever), will either put people off, or cause them to turn the other way. And sometimes, you can put some people off for only so long.
And that's my cue to look for better things to do during my time off.
I'd gone to Califur clearly to make it a one-day con. I've said before that Califur had really gone downhill, but to be honest, I only really went to see the few friends I really wanted to talk to. I barely see them at the PS (since all of the old regulars barely go these days, myself included). Nobody put a gun to my head to go. I wasn't coerced. I just wanted to see friends, and maybe have a front row seat to witness something. Not a train-wreck, no. It feels more like it's on life support. So, I'm going to focus on the good things, what made it fun; and the bad, what really needs to be revamped or gotten rid of.
The good.
I saw friends there. That's the good of it. I managed to take a few good pictures. Plus, and this is a really good plus, I really didn't get the feeling that my presence didn't make the volunteers go on edge by mere virtue of my using my DSLR to actually take pictures. It has to do with drama that happened at past cons.
I hung out with friends.
The bad.
These are the issues that are still plaguing the con. The Cabaret seems kind of like an unnecessary event, because it's not so fun, and the only way for anyone to consider it fun would have to be at least 18 years old, and looking for adult fun at an all ages con.
Speaking of all ages fun, what they could just do is make an all-ages variety show. Remember that show at Califur. I do. I also remember they banned cameras for the anonymity of the fursuiters, but my point stands that instead of a show that is beset by technical, age and physical appeal of performers, and passing the buck issues, Califur would probably do best to maybe add a variety show and focus on something for the entire convention, instead of only the 18+ group. Plus, let's not forget that the Cabaret Fur Le Dance is a legacy show that is the only thing to survive the demise of Confurence that was re-appropriated by Califur's board of directors.
There's also the con book. All past books, relative to other conventions, seemed kind of neat. This year's book, relative to previous years, is the saddest looking book I've ever seen. Even Antheria's book was decent looking. It was pretty much the convention schedule printed up at Kinko's. Hell, I could've done that on my own time. Literally, con schedule, description of events, and where to buy food. Most disappointing book I've ever seen.
Speaking of which, going to the Talk Back, I'm kind of getting the feeling that maybe the con's departments aren't really talking to each other as much as they should.
The fursuit parade wasn't disappointing. The last few parades weren't as well organized as they could be. All other cons have their act together. Plus, the whole having to find furries to actually take the parade photo at the end does not bode well.
And I'm saying this should be fixed not from a fan's point of view, but from a business point of view. They should fix these things. They should retool certain events. They should stop passing the buck and try to accept accountability for the things they should either make better or get rid of.
But in the end, it doesn't really come down to me. It's not my con, it's not my problem, it's not my set of issues that need to be addressed and accepted at my personal responsibility. But I will say this. Speaking from personal experience, internal conflicts that spill over and become visible by attendees (or customers, or whatever), will either put people off, or cause them to turn the other way. And sometimes, you can put some people off for only so long.
And that's my cue to look for better things to do during my time off.
