Your First Con: What to expect

[Kahoku]

Nice, the costs were a given to me.
Now it be nice, if I could find an updated con schedule. I would love to see another one in New York, or Philadelphia, they are the closest cities to me.

[moonlightserenity]

I noticed some people talk about handlers for suiters. As someone who would want to suit at a con what are handlers and what do they do?

[Dokid]

I noticed some people talk about handlers for suiters. As someone who would want to suit at a con what are handlers and what do they do?

Handlers basically help the fursuiters since it's hard to see. they also stop the crusty people from possibly doing damage or any creepy things. It's always a good idea to have a handler.

[moonlightserenity]

Handlers basically help the fursuiters since it's hard to see. they also stop the crusty people from possibly doing damage or any creepy things. It's always a good idea to have a handler.

Ah okay, seems like a very good idea to me. Thank you for explaining.

[Dokid]

[QUOTE=moonlightserenity;2968539]Ah okay, seems like a very good idea to me. Thank you for explaining.[/]

No problem! I've heard some..horror stories about people who have suited with no handler. Things like people awkwardly hugging them or people who wouldn't stop touching them to people trying to break or ruin their fursuits.

Plus it's easier to pry little kids off you...

or creepy adults.

[FrostHusky81]

I'd like to go to a con someday. It's looks like fun. :P

[Greg]

Try watching the Room 366 music video as it is totally 100%accurate. :V

[Kausza]

I'm planning on going to my furst <---- I actually typed that --**first con in two months' time (having discovered its nearby proximity to my home last night), and I have a few questions if you don't mind.

I will be attending Rainfurrest 2012, which runs for three days. Do I assume the con runs for 72 hours straight, or do they usually have open-and-close times? I tried to look for some information on this but didn't come up with anything conclusive.

One of my friends wants to come with as well, but he's not yet 18, and protocol on how they handle the chaperone business is extremely vague on the site. We sent them an e-mail to clear things up, but it didn't help much and I didn't feel like pestering them further for clarification:

"So if you are under the age of 16, [the chaperone] will have to register and be with you at the con, but 16 to 17 she just has to be on-sight. But she will have to be with you to register."

In your experience, does this mean she could be with him to register only? And how does the in-person registering work? I know for a fact that she doesn't want to be there the entire time, so I'm wondering if minors that leave the con are checked off as well, or if they're only checked when entering. If not, we would be able to spend as much time as we wanted there and come home by public transit, and that would be most preferred.

[Ouiji]

The only conference I've ever been to is DEFCON. From this experience, I totally agree with everything your saying. I'm still fairly new to the fandom, so I'll have to give a fur conference a try. Certainly sounds a lot cheaper to attend, and very much fun.
QUOTE=Fay V;2346261]

• When suiters are waiting for an elevator, let them go first and don't crowd into the elevator car with suiters. It's already hot and stuffy in an elevator car, and crowding the car makes air flow worse while also delaying the trip to the destination floor, which only increases the difficulties on the suiter or suiters. Also the suiter may be very hot and need to immediately remove the costume.

[/QUOTE]
I saw a couple fursuiters at the ninja party at DEFCON, it felt silly saying it, but I said it anyway, "it must be a hundred degrees in there". I was mainly trying to start up conversation (and failed), but I had an idea, "astronauts have a internal cooling system, why not build one myself?" Probably not a cheap project, but neither is a fursuit.
P.S. Never did get to tell them that I thought they're suits were cool.

[rnvr]

I have no experiance with fursuiters sadly, as Futerkon which is organized also by me, is not guesting any (there are only few in Poland sadly,we are just poor country).

What I could advise is:
- try to be optimistic, do not be scared of talking with new people, however also you should behave appropriately (still, some furries like to have their personal space)
- remember that you need to sleep and eat (it is commonly called rule 621, 6 hours of sleep, 2 hot meals a day, 1 shower a day, at least). If you will party to hard, you might get really bad really soon
- whenever you have a party, remember what are your limits. Convention organizers really do not like when things get messy. This might affect even reputation of the whole convention in some cases
- keep you ID cards, badges and other useful items (like charged telephone) close. Not only for your own security, but if you will spot that something is happening, you will be able to react. Plus, if you get lost, you will know how to get to your room
- It is fine to go to the convention with at least one familiar furry. Being completely alone at the place might cause such situation, when you will not found any companion, and then you will be more bored than you should be
- try to catch a moment (carpe diem), do not waste time on things that you can do at your place. I.e. try not to take you laptop with yourself to avoid spending time on the Internet
- if you have anything interesting to share with other convention attendees, do not hesitate to take it/share with it (i.e. if you are a fire dancer, you might propose doing small performance at the convention, but firstly ask organizers if this is an option!)
- be pro-active try to take part in as many programee points as possible, as this is what organizers are counting on
- take photos, ask people to take photos of you with new friends; you need to have something after all, photos are easy to obtain

That is it, if I will figure out something else, I will drop it here.

[Wereling]

great guide! Im hoping to get my suit ready before FurIdaho for my first con but if not Ill just stalk the outside and try to steal a few furparts lol -grabs tail off suiter and runs-

[d.batty]

Prepare to get your ass stomped if you do that. Fursuits are extremely personal items to whom they are owned by.

[TricksterNoire]

Haha if only I had this my first time going to a con! It was so awkward for me because I had no idea what to expect or what to do! Thankfully some nice people there helped me through it and I had a blast! I'll be sure to give this list to my little sister when she goes to her first furcon this year!

[mirokufox]

I'm going to FC in two weeks. I don't know anyone but =P ill meet people. My DS is charged my pokemon team is ready and I love meeting people.

[kiken]

question, did anyone mention post con depression to be expected?

[Rivers Bluetail]

Never been to a furry convention, but with others I never really suffered with that, only looked forward to the next one! Granted, I was always sad when one was over, but life goes on, you know? Sometimes, I've been glad they're over :rollseyes: But that's what I get for letting my mother drag me to a quarter horse convention. Fursuiting sounds amazing though ^-^

Edit: I'm too stupid to spell "furry" right. :/

[Golden]

Never been to a con. What's the itinerary like?

[Riho]

Is there age limits for certain sections of the con?
Obviously the bar would, but I'm talking about things like the art section (Porn), or a species only room party.

Another one, for a species only room party, do you have to be suited? Or is it just what species of furry you are?

[Rivers Bluetail]

I think pornographic material would probably be off limits to minors, for legal reasons. No idea about the species parties.

Another question about the age restrictions, I was wondering if the "Rave dance party things" were age restricted. I'd imagine so.

[TheGr8MC]

This thread will be most helpful. I've been to anime cons before but this year I'm finally going to be able to go to anthrocon, my first exclusively furry convention! Thankfully, my experience with anime cons won't leave me completely in the dark on how to behave at a furry convention.
Now if only I can beat the procrastination disease and finish all my cosplays on time this year......

[patchdawg]

This is really helpful, as I'm going to my first con this year

[Chisai73]

My first furry con will be Califur and of course I did some research on what goes on there and stuff. My only concern was the pet auction. I've heard a few stories about it some good, some bad. I think it's a great idea. It's like being paired up with someone to be friends for a day and it helps a charity at the same time, but I heard there are creepers that ruin the goodness of the auction. So would you suggest I join or should I just avoid it or only spectate? I'd like to believe they kind of control the creepers but I don't want to assume. I love donating to charities but if it means I'll be asked to do things I don't want to do I think I'd rather donate a different way. c: