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A word on Fursuiting
16 years ago
IN the week past RCFM I have gotten alot of feedback about fursuiting in general. Hearing things like them being fun to hug and just generally be around.
Well it's more than that.
Remember when you were a child and your parents took you to some sports game. You were most excited to see the Mascot because you were too young to really remember how the game was played. It was just fun to see the ball zipping here and there.
We're adults now granted but part of the fandom lets face it not letting go of that blissful childhood.
The Mascot on the floor or the grass or the ice was always high strung and energetic. Running around and acting silly.
That is what people come to see with fursuiters. Ever notice the really popular ones are the ones that run around and goof off with anyone and everyone? Even randomly.
Fursuiters have an unspoken undeclared pass in any con to get away with certain things in the name of entertainment.
For Example. At FC this year the parade suiters got these little squeak toy bladders to make noise. And we did. They were resounding for the rest of the con. I had someone bitch at me cause they thought it was annoying when I was out of suit. The next day when I was in suit I saw the exact same person and I had the exact same squeaker and they were laughing and having fun with it.
The difference is the suit. It's a gateway. People look at things we do and have fun with it.
I have a little game I play. What else can I tastefully get away with. How far can I push the line without pissing someone off? I haven't done it yet.
I have jumped on stage at a con during opening Ceremonies. Sat on someone's lap that was in the middle of a conversation just cause they wern't expecting it. I have run into a store in suit and went shopping. I have stolen the hat off people's heads and (slowly) run off with them. I have sat behind an artists table randomly. Sat at random tables and pretended to draw. I have tackled, pounced, picked up, and god knows what else to people. I have borrowed people's video cameras and walked around the con with them walking behind me as I taped them instead of them taping me.
This is called Fursuit Mischief. You can get away with little mischievous little things.
Now some of the things I hear is especially during a fursuit parade. That suiters basicly meander through the parade and look up to have their picture barely taken. PLAY WITH IT!! The Parade is where you as the fursuiter have the chance where EVERYONE IS WATCHING AND LOOKING AT YOU! Play with the audience! Run up and tickle a random spectator or muss up their hair. Don't just humdrum your way through. Play around and have fun.
When you are in suit out of the parade ... Have fun with people. Part of the reason people look forward to conventions is to have a great time. As the Fursuiter you are the entertainment. So become that to people as you walk around.
One of my favorite things to do is to play with the registration line. Those are some BORED ASS PEOPLE. They are not happy not having fun waiting in line. So make them have fun.
IN the end ... Be their entertainment. When you see someone moping about the con and you are in suit ... Literally run up and hug them. You'll make their day and feel better for it.
VIVA LA FURSUIT!!
Well it's more than that.
Remember when you were a child and your parents took you to some sports game. You were most excited to see the Mascot because you were too young to really remember how the game was played. It was just fun to see the ball zipping here and there.
We're adults now granted but part of the fandom lets face it not letting go of that blissful childhood.
The Mascot on the floor or the grass or the ice was always high strung and energetic. Running around and acting silly.
That is what people come to see with fursuiters. Ever notice the really popular ones are the ones that run around and goof off with anyone and everyone? Even randomly.
Fursuiters have an unspoken undeclared pass in any con to get away with certain things in the name of entertainment.
For Example. At FC this year the parade suiters got these little squeak toy bladders to make noise. And we did. They were resounding for the rest of the con. I had someone bitch at me cause they thought it was annoying when I was out of suit. The next day when I was in suit I saw the exact same person and I had the exact same squeaker and they were laughing and having fun with it.
The difference is the suit. It's a gateway. People look at things we do and have fun with it.
I have a little game I play. What else can I tastefully get away with. How far can I push the line without pissing someone off? I haven't done it yet.
I have jumped on stage at a con during opening Ceremonies. Sat on someone's lap that was in the middle of a conversation just cause they wern't expecting it. I have run into a store in suit and went shopping. I have stolen the hat off people's heads and (slowly) run off with them. I have sat behind an artists table randomly. Sat at random tables and pretended to draw. I have tackled, pounced, picked up, and god knows what else to people. I have borrowed people's video cameras and walked around the con with them walking behind me as I taped them instead of them taping me.
This is called Fursuit Mischief. You can get away with little mischievous little things.
Now some of the things I hear is especially during a fursuit parade. That suiters basicly meander through the parade and look up to have their picture barely taken. PLAY WITH IT!! The Parade is where you as the fursuiter have the chance where EVERYONE IS WATCHING AND LOOKING AT YOU! Play with the audience! Run up and tickle a random spectator or muss up their hair. Don't just humdrum your way through. Play around and have fun.
When you are in suit out of the parade ... Have fun with people. Part of the reason people look forward to conventions is to have a great time. As the Fursuiter you are the entertainment. So become that to people as you walk around.
One of my favorite things to do is to play with the registration line. Those are some BORED ASS PEOPLE. They are not happy not having fun waiting in line. So make them have fun.
IN the end ... Be their entertainment. When you see someone moping about the con and you are in suit ... Literally run up and hug them. You'll make their day and feel better for it.
VIVA LA FURSUIT!!
Coathangers, $30-40 in crappy fun-fur from any fabric store, a scrap of nose-pad-like material from their scraps bin for a buck, and patience will get you a head that'll work well enough to wear. Just tear up an old shirt to figure out the way to piece the fur together the first time, and don't rush, you'll get there.
Do something simple, re-use your own hair, just cover your main face and romp around. It may take ten times longer to get that head on than a fancier 'helmet' style, but it's dirt fuckin' cheap to make one that way.
And the only way anyone learns a skill, including sewing, is by doing. Stab a few fingers along the way too probably, but you'll live. =^.^=
Super-detailed LARP/Movie-ish suits? You can get away with far less than Corsi's mouse can, but you can talk and people expect that too. Generally, you trade being able to talk without quirking people for being able to prank without quirking people. Opposites ends of a line, so to speak.
Micky Mouse can talk but at Disney he never does. It's part of the mystique of the suit.
All-in-all, I can say that I definitely agree with what you've addressed in regard of Fursuiting. Just have to hope they don't run into people that are afraid/hate suiters for some reason.
Your explanation for this all is quite in depth, and really brings to light the playful mind of the suiter! Thank you Corsi for writing this! <3
and messed up my already messy head fur. :P
I look forward to seeing you again at AC. I don't even know what you look like out of suit but I'll know you when you see me. =3
Makes the wait to actually visit a con and eventually get a suit of my own nearly unbearable! XD
But yeah, even without the experience of knowing a fursuiter or being around them, it seems like a fairly standard "common sense" thing that when in-costume, you wouldn't do much, if any, speaking. o.o
Viva la fursuit!
A lot of the time, personally, i will only do random things to furs that i've met before or that I have some form of friendship previous to meeting in person. Some suiters will read body language by looking and interacting from a distance before they approach. Sometimes we suiters are just random (corsi) and try to cheer you up by playful antics. There's been more than a few times people that have been at cons alone and sad, or have drama going on...and the interaction with the suiter helps out.
We don't mean any harm by trying to be playful and fun. I'd hope that you don't hate all suiters for the fact that we are just trying to have fun and let go of being an adult for a bit and relax.
teacandycorn. :P"Will that be a red, yellow, or green badge?"
"A what?"
"Red for 'please respect my personal space', green for 'approach freely' and yellow for 'approach with caution'."
"Oh... um... <color>!"
Would slow the line down a TINY bit, but would be awesome and everyone would have had it explained to them at least briefly when picking up their badge then so it wouldn't be a voodoo-language like it sorta was this con.
And yeah... marking out minor's is always important and tricky. Didn't know the existing shades were to indicate what day they were purchased for, for one-days though, good to know.
NC-17 = Wait till later tonight, then talk to me! *mmuurrooww*
R = OH HELL NO!....touch me and you'll be on the floor...
PG-13 = Approach and heed any grunts as not in the mood!
G = Bring it on!! I pounce back!
Still not a bad idea to toss out there.
sometimes I'm VERY hugglable, and snugglable
other times GTFO!
hey, I'm a cat. my mood changes pretty quick
I loves da mouseh.. so kyoot!
But yeah, you're a lot of fun to be around. :)
I'm usually a shy person, I'm hopeing once I can get into my suit, that'll get me interacting because then nobody will know who I am >.>
Mostly I'm too poor to buy one but I've been practicing on my sewing machine and getting better and better at making things (I've been making tails and ears for years now actually)
So hopefully one day I'll be able to make my own, and even make suits for others ^_^
I'm sad.
But yeah... still learning the 'unwind and let loose' mentality a bit in suit... as Celine Dion said, it's all coming back to me now. =^.^=
Which does bring up a question- Does your ability to get away with shit affect whether it's a full suit, or just sleeves, head, and footpaws?
Pretty much if you have a head on ... Yeah good to go.
Anyway, For most of the fursuiters only one pulled a fursuit mischief where with a slip of a paw he took off my con badge. It wasn't untill he gave it back that i noticed he took it lol. Most of the other fursuiters just were goofing off here and there with random things but what i didn't like is that they all played MIME and din't speak or anything.. =/ sorta sad i hate mimes XD can't understand them..
It wasn't untill the magic phrase that i got a few to speak: "I like your fursuit, did you make that yourself?" :P it was up till then they spoke then it was facinating on how many did and didn't make there own suits..
Fursuits isn't all about goofing off, some are pretty well made pices of art, still be happy and have fun suiting for ;) were furs ha ha
I've never been to a fur con but I would love to go. I bet it would be a BLAST goofing off and playing around with other furries!
My stickers would be green and NC-17 btw.
I agree, I couldn't go to a con and not suit, I didn't suit NEARLY enough at RCFM!!
disregard that above statement as it is false.
*glomp tackles his some-what-related-figure!*
Although I isnt your cub, I's still call you mum 'cause everyone pretty much is in CC X3
this con was actually the debut for Niori... even though i had the head and tail last year, i don't really consider it the debut since i didn't have the paws. and this year, even though i borrowed them this year. i had a lot of fun in suit, 'specially at the fursuit games, but i was just getting used to running around in suit. like i said, i had a blast in suit and it does take some getting used to. it's like as soon as i put the head and paws on, it's like i'm a completely different furson... at least to most ^n.n^