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Upcoming Conventions! JFTW and CF (And I'll be MIA Thursday)
8 years ago
Hello friends and fam!
We'll be attending a few conventions next year, we are already set for JFTW (Just Fur the Weekend) in Bristol UK which I highly recommend and am planning on Confuzzled as well next year to finally bring PawPrinting to you folks as well as selling my own art and unique wears and gear. We have a lot of design work to do between now and then, but I will be also offering closer to the time, likely from February, custom gear to pick up at the conventions.
There was some talk on Twitter going on about JFTW versus Confuzzled when JFTWs registration opened and I have to honestly laugh, it's very difficult to compare one to another as they're a different feel to both. JFTW isn't Confuzzled and there are folks who go to both (I couldn't personally do CFz last year). After having experienced both conventions even though JFTW is still relatively new to the scene as this coming year will be it's third year, and I say this without bias of having been a guest of honor last year (if I didn't like it, I'd say) both conventions are unique.
Confuzzled is big, the largest convention here in the UK and there are many people that attend, so there is a lot going on and a lot to do. People complain about the price of it as it's held at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham but its a large space that can cater for so many people especially over a bank holiday. CFz has lots of money that it brings in, and a lot of money that goes straight back out. All of the lanyards, the gear you get, the t-shirts for sponsors, the storage they need while the years going by, the lighting and sound equipment - the money goes to putting a function on, regardless of what fandom it's for. There are thousands of people that show up and it's a fun gathering with lots to see and do. Some folks don't like how busy it is, others revel in it, personally I like quiet and being alone with friends in a quiet area as my hearings not the best, but the dealers area is large and I could run gear there if I needed to effectively. Food is sadly a little more expensive, so we actually travel away from the hotel to get food or bring snacks/food with us. The hotel itself is not updated, but that's not the conventions fault - this is a common problem that other folks have even commented on, such as the Rotarians who have had conferences there and complained about it, so when you complain about the price and getting broken rooms, it's not the fault of CFz or it's staff, and in before you complain about moving venues as it's not as simple as that. Overall I enjoy CFz, though I do get stressed out more easily but this isn't the fault of anyone or the convention itself.
JFTW is more low key, it's quieter and "quaint" which actually I quite enjoy. It feels more like a large furmeet over a convention, that we can hang around together and in that itself its more intimate. I can talk to folks and hear them which I liked. I had more of an opportunity to just sit and chat with folks at JFTW which isn't my experience at CFz. People again started complaining about the prices of JFTW, but you also need to remember they have costs to cover to make a convention better than the year before, the logistics behind it, the swag you get (lanyards and badges don't just pop out of no where) and you also need to remember food is included for breakfast and lunch in a nice buffet style. The food quality was incredible and there was always something that I could eat, I have to be very careful with food these days so everyone seems catered for. They really catered to the dealers. We were able even though we sadly weren't able to vend, go in with the dealers - the den closes to allow everyone inside time to get food and eat which was amazing - so many folks at conventions tend to go without because there is no break and sometimes no one to take over to watch the stalls. The bedrooms are a little small unless you're executive, though the executive room is what I feel is the size of a standard hotel room, so to have a good friend of mine come to ours and say it was bigger than theirs I was a little surprised - I sadly didn't see the normal rooms.
As a side note, some of my immediate family owns and runs hotels, of which I'm part of one. I doubt they'll let me run a furry convention at theirs however. :P
I can't say anything about the suit walks as I've never been on either as someone without a suit, but they both look fun.
All that aside, I'm happy with both conventions. I feel neither is really better than the other, it's just a different setting and style which works for me.
We'll also try to do Scotia con and Furcation next year as I won't be able to attend that this October. Sadly we won't be attending next years EF either as we'll be away for August again, away from the fandom.
Right, so Thursday I'll be gone again. I'm back at the hospital for one more check up after discussing with a doctor about my surgery finally, so this visit is with the head honcho of the department. The NHS projects in my area surgery can come as quickly as 2 weeks and up to 18 weeks waiting. I've not heard anything about my blood samples yet so I'll find out more when I go in. I do have a tumor that has come back which was picked up on an ultrasound but as everything is being removed internally anyways so I don't really need to dwell on what it is, or what it isn't as it doesn't really matter anymore. The results will determine what hospital I attend in the area (there are 4 total so I could be anywhere across the Midlands at this point.)
Once my surgery date is on the cards I'll get as much work completed as I can, but I'll be unable to do much for roughly 6 weeks afterwards, the first week will be in hospital for recovery as it's a massive abdominal operation, not keyhole. The second week may be at
slatons parents just as their house layout is easier to manage than our own. I won't be able to lift anything, so even if I can draw and design things I can't run the printing area without slaton doing the manual bits but together we should be able to work it out alright.
Happy it's finally getting close and that I'll get peace of mind. I hope that in that regard I'll start perking back up again.
Aside from that I've been finishing the last bits of commission work and will be reopening custom drawn and printed (by me in house!) large messenger bags. I'll have 8 spaces total. =) At least in that area I can draw them and slaton can print them for me if need be.
We'll be attending a few conventions next year, we are already set for JFTW (Just Fur the Weekend) in Bristol UK which I highly recommend and am planning on Confuzzled as well next year to finally bring PawPrinting to you folks as well as selling my own art and unique wears and gear. We have a lot of design work to do between now and then, but I will be also offering closer to the time, likely from February, custom gear to pick up at the conventions.
There was some talk on Twitter going on about JFTW versus Confuzzled when JFTWs registration opened and I have to honestly laugh, it's very difficult to compare one to another as they're a different feel to both. JFTW isn't Confuzzled and there are folks who go to both (I couldn't personally do CFz last year). After having experienced both conventions even though JFTW is still relatively new to the scene as this coming year will be it's third year, and I say this without bias of having been a guest of honor last year (if I didn't like it, I'd say) both conventions are unique.
Confuzzled is big, the largest convention here in the UK and there are many people that attend, so there is a lot going on and a lot to do. People complain about the price of it as it's held at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham but its a large space that can cater for so many people especially over a bank holiday. CFz has lots of money that it brings in, and a lot of money that goes straight back out. All of the lanyards, the gear you get, the t-shirts for sponsors, the storage they need while the years going by, the lighting and sound equipment - the money goes to putting a function on, regardless of what fandom it's for. There are thousands of people that show up and it's a fun gathering with lots to see and do. Some folks don't like how busy it is, others revel in it, personally I like quiet and being alone with friends in a quiet area as my hearings not the best, but the dealers area is large and I could run gear there if I needed to effectively. Food is sadly a little more expensive, so we actually travel away from the hotel to get food or bring snacks/food with us. The hotel itself is not updated, but that's not the conventions fault - this is a common problem that other folks have even commented on, such as the Rotarians who have had conferences there and complained about it, so when you complain about the price and getting broken rooms, it's not the fault of CFz or it's staff, and in before you complain about moving venues as it's not as simple as that. Overall I enjoy CFz, though I do get stressed out more easily but this isn't the fault of anyone or the convention itself.
JFTW is more low key, it's quieter and "quaint" which actually I quite enjoy. It feels more like a large furmeet over a convention, that we can hang around together and in that itself its more intimate. I can talk to folks and hear them which I liked. I had more of an opportunity to just sit and chat with folks at JFTW which isn't my experience at CFz. People again started complaining about the prices of JFTW, but you also need to remember they have costs to cover to make a convention better than the year before, the logistics behind it, the swag you get (lanyards and badges don't just pop out of no where) and you also need to remember food is included for breakfast and lunch in a nice buffet style. The food quality was incredible and there was always something that I could eat, I have to be very careful with food these days so everyone seems catered for. They really catered to the dealers. We were able even though we sadly weren't able to vend, go in with the dealers - the den closes to allow everyone inside time to get food and eat which was amazing - so many folks at conventions tend to go without because there is no break and sometimes no one to take over to watch the stalls. The bedrooms are a little small unless you're executive, though the executive room is what I feel is the size of a standard hotel room, so to have a good friend of mine come to ours and say it was bigger than theirs I was a little surprised - I sadly didn't see the normal rooms.
As a side note, some of my immediate family owns and runs hotels, of which I'm part of one. I doubt they'll let me run a furry convention at theirs however. :P
I can't say anything about the suit walks as I've never been on either as someone without a suit, but they both look fun.
All that aside, I'm happy with both conventions. I feel neither is really better than the other, it's just a different setting and style which works for me.
We'll also try to do Scotia con and Furcation next year as I won't be able to attend that this October. Sadly we won't be attending next years EF either as we'll be away for August again, away from the fandom.
Right, so Thursday I'll be gone again. I'm back at the hospital for one more check up after discussing with a doctor about my surgery finally, so this visit is with the head honcho of the department. The NHS projects in my area surgery can come as quickly as 2 weeks and up to 18 weeks waiting. I've not heard anything about my blood samples yet so I'll find out more when I go in. I do have a tumor that has come back which was picked up on an ultrasound but as everything is being removed internally anyways so I don't really need to dwell on what it is, or what it isn't as it doesn't really matter anymore. The results will determine what hospital I attend in the area (there are 4 total so I could be anywhere across the Midlands at this point.)
Once my surgery date is on the cards I'll get as much work completed as I can, but I'll be unable to do much for roughly 6 weeks afterwards, the first week will be in hospital for recovery as it's a massive abdominal operation, not keyhole. The second week may be at
slatons parents just as their house layout is easier to manage than our own. I won't be able to lift anything, so even if I can draw and design things I can't run the printing area without slaton doing the manual bits but together we should be able to work it out alright.Happy it's finally getting close and that I'll get peace of mind. I hope that in that regard I'll start perking back up again.
Aside from that I've been finishing the last bits of commission work and will be reopening custom drawn and printed (by me in house!) large messenger bags. I'll have 8 spaces total. =) At least in that area I can draw them and slaton can print them for me if need be.
anyway keep up the awesome work and see you at both cons