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Califur 2015 con report os sorts
11 years ago
General
Well, my thoughts may be meaningless in the aggregate. But since I have this account I may as well record my thoughts so they at least survive on the internet. So on my mind today regarding my experiences for CaliFUR 2015. Seeing as how my fan convention going time maybe winding down to end I made the decision to spend the effort and expense to go all three days. I am glad I did. For far too many years I've only been on the most peripheral edges of the fandom. Usually work and family obligations kept me from going to convention full time or at all in many cases. Certainly, at an earlier time in life before the body and spirit began to degenerate obligations kept me diving more deeply into the fandom. Heck even at one point I actually tried to become involved in ConFurence. But fate changed the course of my life considerably. So that brings me to here and now. Having the need in my soul to participate in the fandom properly before too much longer I made a supreme effort, and at risk to one of my jobs to be sure, to be at furry con from start to finish. So what follows may be considered a con report of sorts.
Day 0, this was an immently good idea on the part of con staff. Kudos to them for this idea. Missed the furry day at DisneyLand. But given the horrible traffic and exhaustion of old age I opted to simply check in the hotel early and relax instead. The pre-con registration was a breeze!!! Thank God, for going with this. And the decision announced at the scritch n' bitch (it a feedback panel not a English pub btw) to continue with this practice was met with positive results. The parking situation at the hotel was very slightly improved from the total rip its been the previous few years. The hotel staff generally seemed a bit better this year as well. The internet was almost free and almost not 1st tier speed. The food, I only 3 meals all weekend there, was overpriced for the quality, but still more edible than last year. Last year some of the meals I had were literally inedible. Of the 3 meals I ate, one was the GOH banquet which was actually good and the meat actually cut-able and chewable. One other was a simple burger which is hard to screw up. And the last took so long I had to pay for it and leave to catch a panel, without taking a bite of it because they literally brought it to my booth AS I was leaving. No apology for the time or money. And I had for what was the quickest meal available. For them 2 out of 3 successful tries is not bad I suppose. Though some might argue that for the 20-30 dollars per meal it should be better. I was more satisfied with the cost and quality of the food I got off campus. Gullivers was much better food and service for the price than the hotel. And the Sunday brunch buffet at the El Torito was a good value. The only really poor capper to the night was the lack of connection cables for computer to tv. They had video connection but no audio. Which sucked because I was only watching video off my netbook. Being the diligent furry fan I also did something I had not done in many years. Offered up free space in my room for those with less means. I could not post before day 0 seeing as how I have often had my day off yanked out from under me at the last minute. Got no takers, which is probably for the best since I don't do so well with people at this stage of my life.
Day 1, and to paraphrase an alien from the 90's, “And so it began”. I was a bit disappointed with the video selections for the video room. I thought they should have been much more anime heavy. To be frank it should have been ALL anime given the con's theme. There is much more kemono/furry animation out there than American fare. That aside I didn't come primarily to watch anime, I came for the fur and stayed for the anime. This year again I managed to miss the opening ceremonies. In prior years it was due to heavy traffic and loooooooong wait times in registration lines. But this year, seeing as how I managed to finagle an actual 2 days off from both of my jobs simultaneously, I HAD to get some artwork done for me and bid at the art auction. I have been starved for too many years from doing this. I was fortunate enough to procure the talents of Dark Natasha to draw a scene I've had running around in my head. That reminds me. I'll have to ask her if I can post a version of it online. But she did an amazing job that I would love for everyone to see. I bid on some pieces at the auction; some stoneware and a sculpture/model. As well as two pieces by GoldenWolf, I really like her style. Attended the panels I wanted to attend and generally had a very satisfying and furry time. I also give props to the CaliFur staff on the panel discussions this year. The preceeding couple of years there seemed to be perciptous drop in the number of properly led panels. With more than a few having no leadership at all. Given that most furfen fall into one of two groups, one being extremely gregarious the other being extremely introverted; it is really necessary to have focused leadership of any given panel. One, to keep the extroverts from going way off on many tangents like a bunch of over-caffeinated squirrels on crack; plus the need to get discussions rolling with those furs who are often too shy to start a topic of conversation. So in terms of panel discussion and leadership, I give them an A this year. Very good work guys and panel leaders!!! I didn't attend all the panels I wanted too. Too many good panels happening at the same time; and alas I can only be at one place at one time!! Took myself out to dinner at Gullivers. Went and got my ice cream at the social. Again! They had no strawberry!!! Made me feel like Captain Queeg from the Caine Mutiny!! Toddled off to the video room for a bit. Then went to the dance for a little bit to people watch and be envious of the energy and mobility of the young. Then went to back to my room watched some vids on my computer. Then hit the sheets.
Day 2, despite the fact that Saturday is the big day this year's con felt “smaller” than prior years. Though this might merely have seemed that way since there was no traffic jam in front of the Dealer's Den caused primarily, in past years, by long registration lines. Which due to the improved registration system were greatly reduced. Checked my bids in the art show. Went to my desired panels. Again too many good panels to attend simultaneously. Tried to grab something to eat at the hotel. They took forever to bring out a freaking BLT even though I asked for the quickest thing they had. And that was what they recommended. Had to leave just as they finally brought the food; after paying my expensive iced tea bill. Got my camera and initially tried to be there for the group photo for the fursuit parade. That part of the fursuit parade didn't seem to come off right. But I still managed to get a good spot right outside the Dealer's Den so I got good frontal views of the suiters coming out. Would have preferred to shoot them outside. Natural lighting being better, in my opinion, for filming the suiters. The parade turned out to be noticeably smaller and shorter this year. But fursuit parades are ultimately like pizza. While you can have really great and/or big fursuit parades you can also have really small less great ones. But like pizza, even a smaller less great suiter parades is still a good parade! ;D And as we all know it as a universal truism, everyone loves a parade. So despite what anyone else may say about 2015's parade I still loved it!!! Kudos, and much gratitude to all those who participated in the parade. You all bring much happiness and wonder to many people. Keep it up all you suiters out there! After that it was onto ...FURRY GLADIATORS!!! Few things are better than sweaty, hard breathing, fursuiters battling to the last fur in a sudden death game of musical chairs. So there no way I was going to miss that one. As is with events such as these much chaos, heart melting cuteness, and bloodshed occurred. I'll attempt to post what I filmed of it in the next week or so. I had to run a quick errand to had to leave the hotel for bit. Which bummed me out, cause I missed a panel that would have taught me how to correctly sexually harass cosplayers and fursuiters. Damn my bad luck! Also missed the Ursa Major awards, another one I wanted to see. I toyed with the idea of hitting up the Speed Dating panel for a bit. But that would have clashed with my painful shyness too much. So instead I opted for the GOH dinner. I've always wonder why they don't have a separate podium for the GOH and some of the Califur staff that brought the GOHs there to seat and eat and maybe see a few timely remarks about the experience at the con as a GOH. Regardless, the GOH dinner went pretty much like the ones in the past. Unfortunately I sat a table with a young guy that had some, shall we say, emotional control issues. Beyond that the dinner and the company was very good. Actually I found the food better than last year. After dinner, I sat and read some nice filthy, dirty kemono doujin out on the nice cool patio. Then the time came to line up for the Cabaret Fur Le Dance. Got there a few minutes late so I didn't get to sit near the front. One problem with the cabaret I noticed was an irregularity in collecting tips. Half the time they sent people through the audience with a basket to collect tips the rest of the time the didn't with simply a box (if anything at all) on the stage. I think this sort of schizoid method hurt actual tip collections at one point because people simply waited a few time for someone to come around. When no one did the simply sat on their tips until they had a chance at the next act. That aside it was a very enjoyable evening. The cabaret did run a bit long though and I think it shortened the time for the Saturday night dance a bit. From there I ran up to try and catch the last half of Bagi Monster of Mighty Nature in the video room. I made it just in time to catch Bagi's sensual dance scene, thank goodness. Was tired after that so ended my day.
Day 3, Got up, packed my bags that sped out for a cheaper better breakfast than the hotel offered. Went to the Sunday brunch buffet at the El Torita. Ahhh Mexican comfort food. All you can eat for under 20 bucks. Nice quiet Sunday. Finished packing, checked out of the room. Then ran over back to the Art Show to snipe my bids. It worked I won! Yaaaaaaay! Finalized my art peice with Dark Natasha. Then spent time buy various books and prints. Hung out in the lobby/lounge area and read a bit then went and jumped into line for the Fursuit Dance Competition. One of those moment where I didn't regret spending the extra money getting a Patron level ticket. This was probably the most popular event. To the point that there were more people in line for it than the room could be allowed to hold. And my Patron ticket allowed front line access, thank DOG. The competition was great and I'll try and post my video soon. That was the first furry dance off I ever went to and I am glad I did. After that I decided to attend the Scritch 'n Bitch panel. Got to hear some the complaints about the real problems as well as the faux perceived problems. All those problems were greatly over-shadowed by the announcement of the move of venue to L.A. County Fairgrounds in Pamona. That's right tods and vixens, were going to the fairgrounds next year!!!!! Yeah!!!!! At last we can get out of the Irvine Marriot. Which I always felt had a passive-aggressive attitude and relationship with the furry fandom. They reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaly wanted our furry-fan money. After all, how many big conventions like ours do they really have all the way down in exciting, close to no attractions Irvine California? Oh geez, just Califur (and before them ConFURence) maybe?! Despite the contention that the Marriot was sad to see us go I'll always believe that they are mostly sad to see our con-dollars go, and not the furry fans that forked them over. It is a bit sad, I've been to so many cons down in Irvine that for good or ill I now that area by heart without reading any street signs. So there is that little nostalgia I suppose. But specifically the only thing I'll miss regarding the Marriot was that little rabbit that came out from under the bushes in the early evening. I am sure many others noticed him. Year after year, just after sundown he would come brazenly hopping out on to the lawn near the side entrance to silflay. That rabbit I definitely will miss. Good luck little rabbit! The new venue in Pamona I think bummed some people. Certainly those living in the south bay or areas south of Irvine will have a longer schlepp to get to the new site. But for those coming from Los Angeles proper or points north and west will have a much easier drive. Not just because the real distance is shorter but we no longer have to fight 2-3 hours on the freeway getting there. So I am glad for the change. Whether I'll be able to see and enjoy the new venue is up in the air. I would like to dream that I will have the mobility to do that next year. But I try to be realistic about such things. So in the event I am unable to attend any furry con again. I wish Califur great success with this move. And I would wish much happiness and fun for all those that attend. So with the close of the talk back panel I got a quick snack. Then decided to peek in on the Dead Dog Dance to see what it was like. Stayed for a little bit. Tried to offer up myself to help with tear down, as much as a broken down greymuzzle like me could offer, but could find no one that could make that call. So I toddled home for the evening for a quick 5 hours of sleep before work. And so endth what maybe my last furry-con. I am thankful to the heavens that I was able to get the time off, this one time, from both my jobs, so I could attend. If circumstance and health allow it next year I will consider it good fortune indeed. So, here's to seeing everyone again next year hopefully. God bless!!
P.s. Will also post some pics of what I won at the artshow.
Day 0, this was an immently good idea on the part of con staff. Kudos to them for this idea. Missed the furry day at DisneyLand. But given the horrible traffic and exhaustion of old age I opted to simply check in the hotel early and relax instead. The pre-con registration was a breeze!!! Thank God, for going with this. And the decision announced at the scritch n' bitch (it a feedback panel not a English pub btw) to continue with this practice was met with positive results. The parking situation at the hotel was very slightly improved from the total rip its been the previous few years. The hotel staff generally seemed a bit better this year as well. The internet was almost free and almost not 1st tier speed. The food, I only 3 meals all weekend there, was overpriced for the quality, but still more edible than last year. Last year some of the meals I had were literally inedible. Of the 3 meals I ate, one was the GOH banquet which was actually good and the meat actually cut-able and chewable. One other was a simple burger which is hard to screw up. And the last took so long I had to pay for it and leave to catch a panel, without taking a bite of it because they literally brought it to my booth AS I was leaving. No apology for the time or money. And I had for what was the quickest meal available. For them 2 out of 3 successful tries is not bad I suppose. Though some might argue that for the 20-30 dollars per meal it should be better. I was more satisfied with the cost and quality of the food I got off campus. Gullivers was much better food and service for the price than the hotel. And the Sunday brunch buffet at the El Torito was a good value. The only really poor capper to the night was the lack of connection cables for computer to tv. They had video connection but no audio. Which sucked because I was only watching video off my netbook. Being the diligent furry fan I also did something I had not done in many years. Offered up free space in my room for those with less means. I could not post before day 0 seeing as how I have often had my day off yanked out from under me at the last minute. Got no takers, which is probably for the best since I don't do so well with people at this stage of my life.
Day 1, and to paraphrase an alien from the 90's, “And so it began”. I was a bit disappointed with the video selections for the video room. I thought they should have been much more anime heavy. To be frank it should have been ALL anime given the con's theme. There is much more kemono/furry animation out there than American fare. That aside I didn't come primarily to watch anime, I came for the fur and stayed for the anime. This year again I managed to miss the opening ceremonies. In prior years it was due to heavy traffic and loooooooong wait times in registration lines. But this year, seeing as how I managed to finagle an actual 2 days off from both of my jobs simultaneously, I HAD to get some artwork done for me and bid at the art auction. I have been starved for too many years from doing this. I was fortunate enough to procure the talents of Dark Natasha to draw a scene I've had running around in my head. That reminds me. I'll have to ask her if I can post a version of it online. But she did an amazing job that I would love for everyone to see. I bid on some pieces at the auction; some stoneware and a sculpture/model. As well as two pieces by GoldenWolf, I really like her style. Attended the panels I wanted to attend and generally had a very satisfying and furry time. I also give props to the CaliFur staff on the panel discussions this year. The preceeding couple of years there seemed to be perciptous drop in the number of properly led panels. With more than a few having no leadership at all. Given that most furfen fall into one of two groups, one being extremely gregarious the other being extremely introverted; it is really necessary to have focused leadership of any given panel. One, to keep the extroverts from going way off on many tangents like a bunch of over-caffeinated squirrels on crack; plus the need to get discussions rolling with those furs who are often too shy to start a topic of conversation. So in terms of panel discussion and leadership, I give them an A this year. Very good work guys and panel leaders!!! I didn't attend all the panels I wanted too. Too many good panels happening at the same time; and alas I can only be at one place at one time!! Took myself out to dinner at Gullivers. Went and got my ice cream at the social. Again! They had no strawberry!!! Made me feel like Captain Queeg from the Caine Mutiny!! Toddled off to the video room for a bit. Then went to the dance for a little bit to people watch and be envious of the energy and mobility of the young. Then went to back to my room watched some vids on my computer. Then hit the sheets.
Day 2, despite the fact that Saturday is the big day this year's con felt “smaller” than prior years. Though this might merely have seemed that way since there was no traffic jam in front of the Dealer's Den caused primarily, in past years, by long registration lines. Which due to the improved registration system were greatly reduced. Checked my bids in the art show. Went to my desired panels. Again too many good panels to attend simultaneously. Tried to grab something to eat at the hotel. They took forever to bring out a freaking BLT even though I asked for the quickest thing they had. And that was what they recommended. Had to leave just as they finally brought the food; after paying my expensive iced tea bill. Got my camera and initially tried to be there for the group photo for the fursuit parade. That part of the fursuit parade didn't seem to come off right. But I still managed to get a good spot right outside the Dealer's Den so I got good frontal views of the suiters coming out. Would have preferred to shoot them outside. Natural lighting being better, in my opinion, for filming the suiters. The parade turned out to be noticeably smaller and shorter this year. But fursuit parades are ultimately like pizza. While you can have really great and/or big fursuit parades you can also have really small less great ones. But like pizza, even a smaller less great suiter parades is still a good parade! ;D And as we all know it as a universal truism, everyone loves a parade. So despite what anyone else may say about 2015's parade I still loved it!!! Kudos, and much gratitude to all those who participated in the parade. You all bring much happiness and wonder to many people. Keep it up all you suiters out there! After that it was onto ...FURRY GLADIATORS!!! Few things are better than sweaty, hard breathing, fursuiters battling to the last fur in a sudden death game of musical chairs. So there no way I was going to miss that one. As is with events such as these much chaos, heart melting cuteness, and bloodshed occurred. I'll attempt to post what I filmed of it in the next week or so. I had to run a quick errand to had to leave the hotel for bit. Which bummed me out, cause I missed a panel that would have taught me how to correctly sexually harass cosplayers and fursuiters. Damn my bad luck! Also missed the Ursa Major awards, another one I wanted to see. I toyed with the idea of hitting up the Speed Dating panel for a bit. But that would have clashed with my painful shyness too much. So instead I opted for the GOH dinner. I've always wonder why they don't have a separate podium for the GOH and some of the Califur staff that brought the GOHs there to seat and eat and maybe see a few timely remarks about the experience at the con as a GOH. Regardless, the GOH dinner went pretty much like the ones in the past. Unfortunately I sat a table with a young guy that had some, shall we say, emotional control issues. Beyond that the dinner and the company was very good. Actually I found the food better than last year. After dinner, I sat and read some nice filthy, dirty kemono doujin out on the nice cool patio. Then the time came to line up for the Cabaret Fur Le Dance. Got there a few minutes late so I didn't get to sit near the front. One problem with the cabaret I noticed was an irregularity in collecting tips. Half the time they sent people through the audience with a basket to collect tips the rest of the time the didn't with simply a box (if anything at all) on the stage. I think this sort of schizoid method hurt actual tip collections at one point because people simply waited a few time for someone to come around. When no one did the simply sat on their tips until they had a chance at the next act. That aside it was a very enjoyable evening. The cabaret did run a bit long though and I think it shortened the time for the Saturday night dance a bit. From there I ran up to try and catch the last half of Bagi Monster of Mighty Nature in the video room. I made it just in time to catch Bagi's sensual dance scene, thank goodness. Was tired after that so ended my day.
Day 3, Got up, packed my bags that sped out for a cheaper better breakfast than the hotel offered. Went to the Sunday brunch buffet at the El Torita. Ahhh Mexican comfort food. All you can eat for under 20 bucks. Nice quiet Sunday. Finished packing, checked out of the room. Then ran over back to the Art Show to snipe my bids. It worked I won! Yaaaaaaay! Finalized my art peice with Dark Natasha. Then spent time buy various books and prints. Hung out in the lobby/lounge area and read a bit then went and jumped into line for the Fursuit Dance Competition. One of those moment where I didn't regret spending the extra money getting a Patron level ticket. This was probably the most popular event. To the point that there were more people in line for it than the room could be allowed to hold. And my Patron ticket allowed front line access, thank DOG. The competition was great and I'll try and post my video soon. That was the first furry dance off I ever went to and I am glad I did. After that I decided to attend the Scritch 'n Bitch panel. Got to hear some the complaints about the real problems as well as the faux perceived problems. All those problems were greatly over-shadowed by the announcement of the move of venue to L.A. County Fairgrounds in Pamona. That's right tods and vixens, were going to the fairgrounds next year!!!!! Yeah!!!!! At last we can get out of the Irvine Marriot. Which I always felt had a passive-aggressive attitude and relationship with the furry fandom. They reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaly wanted our furry-fan money. After all, how many big conventions like ours do they really have all the way down in exciting, close to no attractions Irvine California? Oh geez, just Califur (and before them ConFURence) maybe?! Despite the contention that the Marriot was sad to see us go I'll always believe that they are mostly sad to see our con-dollars go, and not the furry fans that forked them over. It is a bit sad, I've been to so many cons down in Irvine that for good or ill I now that area by heart without reading any street signs. So there is that little nostalgia I suppose. But specifically the only thing I'll miss regarding the Marriot was that little rabbit that came out from under the bushes in the early evening. I am sure many others noticed him. Year after year, just after sundown he would come brazenly hopping out on to the lawn near the side entrance to silflay. That rabbit I definitely will miss. Good luck little rabbit! The new venue in Pamona I think bummed some people. Certainly those living in the south bay or areas south of Irvine will have a longer schlepp to get to the new site. But for those coming from Los Angeles proper or points north and west will have a much easier drive. Not just because the real distance is shorter but we no longer have to fight 2-3 hours on the freeway getting there. So I am glad for the change. Whether I'll be able to see and enjoy the new venue is up in the air. I would like to dream that I will have the mobility to do that next year. But I try to be realistic about such things. So in the event I am unable to attend any furry con again. I wish Califur great success with this move. And I would wish much happiness and fun for all those that attend. So with the close of the talk back panel I got a quick snack. Then decided to peek in on the Dead Dog Dance to see what it was like. Stayed for a little bit. Tried to offer up myself to help with tear down, as much as a broken down greymuzzle like me could offer, but could find no one that could make that call. So I toddled home for the evening for a quick 5 hours of sleep before work. And so endth what maybe my last furry-con. I am thankful to the heavens that I was able to get the time off, this one time, from both my jobs, so I could attend. If circumstance and health allow it next year I will consider it good fortune indeed. So, here's to seeing everyone again next year hopefully. God bless!!
P.s. Will also post some pics of what I won at the artshow.
