I don't usually write reports on the conventions I go to because everything goes by so fast, but I had a good experience at Vancoufur this past weekend! It was my first time going to Vancoufur and it was also a very last-minute decision (didn't know for sure I was going until about 3 weeks ago). Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and will definitely return in 2019 if at all possible! (Can't make 2018 because I'll be elsewhere in the spring.)

I arrived at a hotel down the street late Thursday night and woke up on time on Friday so I could get to Registration (planning my trip was so last-minute I didn't make the pre-reg window!). After that I checked out the Dealer's Den and Artist Alley for a while before it was time to suit up for the Fursuit Dance Competition rehearsal and check-in. It was my first time being in a performance environment since last Furlandia, so I was very hyped. Including multiple run-throughs of my dance and hanging out with all of the other friendly dancers (including  fazar), that took until lunchtime. Since there was nothing in particular I had planned out in the afternoon, I figured I would try my hand at volunteering for a couple hours! It was fun and chill and I got a cool "Helping Buck" wooden charm, which I believe was worth a dollar at the convention store, but I thought it was too neat to just spend, so I kept it. I have an idea of how I'm going to permanently incorporate it into Yu's design as a charm later!

I was too excited for the dance comp to eat dinner, so I just had a snack before suiting up and walking over to the con space.

We drew numbers to determine performance order back in rehearsal, and as it turned out I was first!! So I opened the show after Duke (who was a wonderful MC) introduced our judges, and I was really happy with my dance because I didn't mess up at all (at least not that I could tell). Pretty great considering I only had about 3 weeks to prepare, with only around half of my routine choreographed! It also made me happy that my critique from the judges hit all of the points I like to focus on (freshness, musicality and expressiveness, use of the stage space and the floor, and doing a few tricks they didn't expect in such an awkward fursuit).

After that it was time to watch all of the other spectacular dancers and cheer them on from the side of the stage. Seriously, they were all so good! Every time someone performed I thought, 'okay, that person for sure is going to place.' And of course, by the time everyone had danced, I was well out of places. :P

After the dance competition I did more hanging out and talking in the fursuit lounge with the not only spectacular, but also super friendly, dancers! (such as Popsicle, Delightfully Odd, and  Reo_Grayfox) I love this community because everyone is so nice and supportive and I always feel welcome talking to other dancerfurs.

Since I was awake anyway, I decided to stay up for the Friday night dance, and I managed to shake my tail feathers for about an hour before I got too tired and headed back to the hotel to go to bed. XD

Next up was Saturday! I got up bright and early to prepare for Floor Wars, which started at 10:00. I dance battled against Munchkin, Dori and Drift and had an awesome time even though it was a really small, chill event :D Now I can say I've done FW before so I can be ready for when I do it at a bigger con!

FW ended early enough that I had time for a quick break before the fursuit parade lineup started. As usual, I walked with a flock of other birds and we took a group photo afterwards, followed by an impromptu practice session for the choreography for the filming of Duke's music and dance video later that afternoon! I managed to fit in lunch before I went to that. The filming session was a lot of dancing in a short amount of time, so I got really hot being in suit the whole time, but it was super fun and totally worth it! I can't wait to see how the video turns out. It's going to be awesome :D

Later that evening I attended the panel on Running a (Successful) Furry Business. I've been to similar panels before in hopes of upping my commission game, and a refresher from a different panelist at a different convention is always helpful!

I was a little sleep-deprived on Saturday and I didn't want to ruin my con by getting sick or something, so I went to bed early and got a full night's sleep.

But I guess I was the only one, since I went back to the con relatively early on Sunday morning hoping to get pictures of fursuits (which I lacked because I was in fursuit for most of the day Saturday), but it was mostly deserted. XD

After lunch I ended up being in fursuit for most of the rest of the con as well. I hung out until Shadowsmyst's Making Comics panel, which was very helpful and informative! Then more hanging out until closing ceremonies (which I had a hard time understanding because of all of the space lingo), and then dinner before I headed to the Dead Dog dance - my first! Again, I only made it about an hour before I got too tired, but I still had a fun time.

I think my only complaints about the whole experience had absolutely nothing to do with the con itself! xD My feetpaws are falling apart on the inside and made it hard to waddle, so I need to cut into them and fix them before next con. Next rant to my stomach for being so sensitive I can't eat most seafood (except for specific kinds of sushi) because it's either too raw or too fried, since the majority of the restaurants in the immediate area are seafood restaurants, and I can't eat at those :x

I might upload some pictures to FA, but for now, keep an eye out on my Twitter! http://twitter.com/YuPuffin