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Con Report - FurDu 2017
8 years ago
Well, I've survived my first Aussie Furry convention and came back home. If I had to describe the experience I'd probably go 'The Same, but Different'. There were lots of things that I'd come to expect from the furry conventions that I'd experienced in the US, back in '01 and '09-11, as well as the various media conventions I've attended over my entire life.
You had panels, a Dealers Den, the Headless Lounge (Which was labelled the Fursuiters Lounge, but everyone just called it the Headless Lounge anyway).
Then there were the differences. They were small, but niggling. No Artist Alley (although a couple of artists decided to set a mini one up for themselves in the main area), there was a 'chillout' area but no consuite (I'd have starved if I was in the same financial boat as I was in '01), and no dedicated AV or Gaming areas.
That was a bit disappointing, partially because I'd been espousing the joys of the Alley to a friend prior to the convention. But I suppose if you're not used to other conventions, you wouldn't notice what was 'missing'. I can't even say its because it was a small con, because it actually seemed to have really good attendance (Although I kept seeing the same dozen or so people all the time! No complaints since most of them were cool) and I'd been to smaller ones which had the lot.
About the only other issue was really scheduling, with the con's 'Day' starting really late (almost noon!) and then winding up really early unless you counted the dance parties (which I don't) and the evening outings. Combined with at least two panels (sometimes three!) all happening to be at the same time, I felt really stretched thin at times, and then thumb twiddling for hours at other times. Hence my going to bed by 8pm most nights.
Thats not to say I didn't have a good time, because I had a great time (traumatic friday night notwithstanding). I just wanted to get the negatives out of the way besides the positives. I guess in my old age getting to bed early was more appealing to me then going dancing (especially since I missed the 'How to Dance' panel due to all my panels coinciding XD)
The panels I attended were good, and it was great getting to see Kyell Gold again. Something serendipitous in him being a guest to the first TFF I went to, and then at my first FurDu!
Met new people, Torvald, Annika and Nikita being the standouts. I got to find out what was happening in Texas since I left from Torvald... from the sounds of it everything was pretty much the same! Funnily enough it struck me after the con that he reminds me a lot of Panther! Except more textile crafty rather than techy crafty.
And of course, got to meet and hang out with Labrynth. My favourite part of the con. :D Was fun just getting to chatter, get coffee and lunch, art jam and wander. Good to get the 'yep! We're friends' vibe when spending time with someone in person that you've gotten to know online. :) Her costume was a perfect kemonomimi Talutah.
Got to see some great fursuits. Lots of Dutch Angel Dragons! (Something new to me since they really happened after I left Texas) Some suits were really awesome, some really cute ones, and I got to see the cutest kitty suit with her chickens! And then there was the inflatable dolphin fursuit! It was really impressive on the Saturday after helping to kinda herd the fursuiters to the beach seeing exactly how many there were (as did the residents and tourists at Surfer's Paradise!) There were lots of happy little kids in the hotel as well as the surrounding area. I felt so sorry for the one little girl that saw the fursuit in the elevator and was so excited and wanted to hop in the elevator except no room, and just the pure heart breaking disappointment was all :(
... now I want a fursuit of Ake, Souji, Calixa or Niah. XD
The beach was great! First time I'd been to one in like 10+ years, and although there were only four of us went, it was a blast, as well as hanging out in the pool afterwards to de-salt and chlorinate. :D Luckily there was beautiful weather for it and the fursuit march and just saved the terrible rain and storms for flying home again. XD
I'll be uploading the art I got at the con over the next few days. There'll be ones done later on that were take homes from a couple of different artists at the con, that I'm really really looking forward to seeing how they turn out. It was great getting to meet and talk with artists outside my usual circles. (First Furry con without any of the Pirates!)
I actually did a lot of art (for me) which makes me happy. :D I'll probably tweak it a bit when I upload it, but it was silly fun. :D I'm proud of bits and pieces of it, especially the Bubble Tea piece!
Hope that everyone else's weekends were good!
You had panels, a Dealers Den, the Headless Lounge (Which was labelled the Fursuiters Lounge, but everyone just called it the Headless Lounge anyway).
Then there were the differences. They were small, but niggling. No Artist Alley (although a couple of artists decided to set a mini one up for themselves in the main area), there was a 'chillout' area but no consuite (I'd have starved if I was in the same financial boat as I was in '01), and no dedicated AV or Gaming areas.
That was a bit disappointing, partially because I'd been espousing the joys of the Alley to a friend prior to the convention. But I suppose if you're not used to other conventions, you wouldn't notice what was 'missing'. I can't even say its because it was a small con, because it actually seemed to have really good attendance (Although I kept seeing the same dozen or so people all the time! No complaints since most of them were cool) and I'd been to smaller ones which had the lot.
About the only other issue was really scheduling, with the con's 'Day' starting really late (almost noon!) and then winding up really early unless you counted the dance parties (which I don't) and the evening outings. Combined with at least two panels (sometimes three!) all happening to be at the same time, I felt really stretched thin at times, and then thumb twiddling for hours at other times. Hence my going to bed by 8pm most nights.
Thats not to say I didn't have a good time, because I had a great time (traumatic friday night notwithstanding). I just wanted to get the negatives out of the way besides the positives. I guess in my old age getting to bed early was more appealing to me then going dancing (especially since I missed the 'How to Dance' panel due to all my panels coinciding XD)
The panels I attended were good, and it was great getting to see Kyell Gold again. Something serendipitous in him being a guest to the first TFF I went to, and then at my first FurDu!
Met new people, Torvald, Annika and Nikita being the standouts. I got to find out what was happening in Texas since I left from Torvald... from the sounds of it everything was pretty much the same! Funnily enough it struck me after the con that he reminds me a lot of Panther! Except more textile crafty rather than techy crafty.
And of course, got to meet and hang out with Labrynth. My favourite part of the con. :D Was fun just getting to chatter, get coffee and lunch, art jam and wander. Good to get the 'yep! We're friends' vibe when spending time with someone in person that you've gotten to know online. :) Her costume was a perfect kemonomimi Talutah.
Got to see some great fursuits. Lots of Dutch Angel Dragons! (Something new to me since they really happened after I left Texas) Some suits were really awesome, some really cute ones, and I got to see the cutest kitty suit with her chickens! And then there was the inflatable dolphin fursuit! It was really impressive on the Saturday after helping to kinda herd the fursuiters to the beach seeing exactly how many there were (as did the residents and tourists at Surfer's Paradise!) There were lots of happy little kids in the hotel as well as the surrounding area. I felt so sorry for the one little girl that saw the fursuit in the elevator and was so excited and wanted to hop in the elevator except no room, and just the pure heart breaking disappointment was all :(
... now I want a fursuit of Ake, Souji, Calixa or Niah. XD
The beach was great! First time I'd been to one in like 10+ years, and although there were only four of us went, it was a blast, as well as hanging out in the pool afterwards to de-salt and chlorinate. :D Luckily there was beautiful weather for it and the fursuit march and just saved the terrible rain and storms for flying home again. XD
I'll be uploading the art I got at the con over the next few days. There'll be ones done later on that were take homes from a couple of different artists at the con, that I'm really really looking forward to seeing how they turn out. It was great getting to meet and talk with artists outside my usual circles. (First Furry con without any of the Pirates!)
I actually did a lot of art (for me) which makes me happy. :D I'll probably tweak it a bit when I upload it, but it was silly fun. :D I'm proud of bits and pieces of it, especially the Bubble Tea piece!
Hope that everyone else's weekends were good!
