32.0 - Conventions

32.0 - Conventions
=========================
A convention is a weekend event in a hotel where Science Fiction Fans, and/or Furry Fans get together for a good time.

A typical convention:
--runs from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon
--has 1-2 hr panel discussions on relevant topics of interest
--is a very social event and some people don't bother with the panels.
--has parties in the evenings
--has a masquerade, a dance, and other special events
--has a dealers area where people can sell stuff.
--has an art show (and auction) where people can bid on art.
--has a "con suite" where you get all the soda and munchies you want.
--is a wonderful place to meet old and new friends

32.1 - Where to find
=====================
This is just a partial listing, and there is no way that every single type of con out there is going to be listed. This is just a small sampling, and each con's website can have its own listing of other cons.

A-Kon (http://www.a-kon.com)
Anthrocon (http://www.anthrocon.org)
ArmadilloCon (http://www.fact.org/dillo/)
Balticon (http://www.balticon.org/)
BayCon (http://www.baycon.org)
CaliFur (http://www.califur.com/)
Canadian Anthro & Cartooning Expo (http://www.cace.org/)
Chicon (http://www.chicon.org/)
ComiCon International (http://www.comic-con.org)
CONduit (http://conduit.sfcon.org/)
ConiFur NorthWest (http://www.conifur.org/)
Costume-Con (http://www.costume-con.org/)
DooDah parade: Ocean City, NJ and Pasadena, CA
DragonCon (http://www.dragoncon.org/)
Duckon (http://www.duckon.org)
Eurofurence (http://www.eurofurence.org/)
Feral! (http://www.campferal.org/)
Furry Weekend Atlanta (http://www.furryweekend.com/)
Further Confusion (http://www.FurtherConfusion.org/)
Gaylaxicon (http://www.lambdasf.org/)
GenCon (http://www.gencon.com/)
I-CON (http://www.iconsf.org/)
Life, the Universe, and Everything (LTUE) (http://humanities.byu.edu/ltue/)
Loscon (http://www.loscon.org/)
Marcon (http://www.marcon.org/)
Mephit Furmeet (http://mephitfurmeet.org/)
Midwest FurFest (http://www.furfest.org)
MillenniCon (http://www.millennicon.org/)
Minicon (http://www.mnstf.org/minicon/)
Murrdi Gras (http://www.furnation.com/ARF/mg.htm)
Nan Desu Kan (http://www.ndk.cc)
Pawpet Megaplex (http://www.ppmp.info/)
Philcon (http://www.philcon.org/)
Rocket City FurMeet (http://www.rcfm.net/)
Worldcon (http://worldcon.org/)

see also:
http://tigerden.com/furcons/index.html
http://www.confurence.com/cf10/links.html
http://tigerden.com/~infopage/furry/ - Lists of Conventions and Other Gatherings
http://www.sflovers.org/Reference/fandom/conlist/cons.html - Yet another HUGE listing! Sci-fi and related!
http://www.catbox.com/laff/conventions.htm
http://www.cooky.demon.co.uk/ - More con listings, European-style
http://www.stlf.org/ - St. Louis Fandom website
http://www.fandata.com/ - The Fandom Directory
http://www.furrycon.org/ - Furry Con listing

32.2 - Events at a con
=======================
- fursuit creation
- performing in suit
- artistry
- spirituality/totemism

32.3 - What to take
===================
Matt McCullar wrote up What To Take To A Con, which is one of the most helpful things on the subject.

32.4 - Masquerades/Variety shows
============================
Depending on the convention itself, you may have to sign up for the masquerade, or just show up for the performances. Every masq has its own set of rules, stage setup, that kind of thing. Always talk to the technical people about your needs, if you have a tape, CD, require a microphone, etc. Different cons have them at different times. It's not unusual for one con to have it at noon, while another has it just after dinnertime, while yet another has it at midnight!

From: Kuddlepup
Subject: FL: Masquerade performance Guidelines

Just my two cents on masq performances.

One of the things that is most important (in my mind) is not just what we enjoy doing, but what the audience will enjoy watching.

Using songs that the audience will immdiately recognize, if not join in with, are great. Having a degree of humor or lightheartedness in skits isn't a bad idea either. A lot of us have seen skits where the acts take themselves WAY too seriously, and the entertainment aspect seems to just vanish. (Remember folks, most of us are doing this for fun.)

On the issue of time, I can see both sides of the argument, but can't say that either side is right. If you limit a skit to under one minute, you lose the ability to see some outstanding performances like the one given by YappyFox and BearClaw at AnthroCon ('99 or 2000) (a 2 minute-30 second skit). But you also tend to have "stage-hog" acts that go on for 5+ minutes and bore the audience. Fursonally..I think 3 minutes is a good cut-off point. (But that's just my opinion).

Again....just my two cents.

From: Lance Ikegawa
I realize that many costumers on this list are new to costume masquerades so I thought I'd help clear some things up about them. FYI, I've been in or worked on several masquerades at large-ish sf conventions (and have friends who--for whatever reason I can't imagine--run them regularly).

The first thing to keep in mind is that it is an often thankless job: the persons running the masq rarely have time to watch it themselves, let alone participate in them (and the best-run masquerades tend to be run by veteran costumers: they -know- what needs to go into making a good show, from both sides). Remember, these are volunteers putting in time to help -you- have a good time!

Equipment: Most masquerades are woefully under-budgeted. Special microphones, professional sound systems, audio equipment and lighting effects are beyond most budgets. The key to this is to ASK IN ADVANCE! And, if they can't provide you with this equipment, don't complain--you just need to modify your routine to do without. I realize that sometimes this can be a problem, but it's unreasonable to demand special treatment. With enough communication and advance warning, many things can be done (such as providing for a way for wheelchairs to get onto a raised stage--at one such con they just had six strong backs standing by to lift the chair onto the stage safely). Based on precedent, few conventions have had microphones for participants to use (for whatever reason--cost, logistics, etc.).

"What if I provide them with the equipment?" Sometimes this works, sometimes not. While it seems that this could be a solution, most masquerade directors are going crazy making sure all of the "standard" problems are taken care of (stage set-up, working sound systems, lighting set-up, making sure the water/triage is set up, wrangling all the contestents, starting one time and hundreds of other small emergencies). Though your request might seem simple and their veto seem unreasonable, often it makes sense given everything (and everybody) that needs to be taken care of. If they say they can't, just accept it; try to have some empathy for their position.

Thanks to people like Cary Sandvig and Andrea Adams (Confurence 9 and 10), it's easy to get spoiled (they studied under they guy who runs local sf masquerades, including the costume costest at the San Diego Comicon!). However, large masquerades are a new thing to furry conventions for the most part. If you really want to help make these events run better/be more accomodating, volunteer to help run the masquerade and maybe focus on that area you think is being ignored (say, handicap access, whether physical or audio, etc.). But remember, volunteering often means attending staff meetings, helping to set up the masquerade, and usually means that you're not planning on participating, which is why they're often so short-handed: everyone wants to have fun; few want to do the work. And...it never hurts to give your masquerade volunteers/directors a perk, like buying them a coke or just saying "Thanks!"

From: Spiked Punch
Subject: FL: Masquerade Guidelines/Suggestions.... according to ICG.....

Here are a few rough rules from The Beginning Costumer's Handbook by Toni Lay & Denice Giradeau

1.) There should be a weight limit for the purchase of leotards.
2.) Every contestant should first see him/herself from the rear.
3.) Learn to manage your props, accessories and music, or they will manage you.
4.) Select costumes and characters suited to your personality and/or body type.
5.) No nametages on costumes.
6.) Thy shoes shall match thy costume. Nikes were not around during the dark ages!!!
7.) Parts of your costume shall not be edible or smell. Parts of your costume should not fall off accidently.
8.) Consider really carefully before going nude or seminude.
9.) Numbers alone do not a coherent group make.
10.) No fire, explosives, loud noises, or dangerous weapons without full and proper clearance from the masquerade committee. In other words, surprise the audience, not the committee/director, EVER!!
11.) Carry a repair kit with appropriate tools and materials.
12.) Wether prince or pauper, act like it. Be in character.
13.) Speak distinctly, but not at length, or not at all. Learn to use the microphone properly, or not at all.
14.) Do not lecture your audience. You are not there to make long statements on your particular passions, but to entertain yourself and others, to show off and to exhibit a character or costume, not to convert, harangue, or bore.
15.) When in doubt, keep your mouth shut.
16.) Some people can grow beards, some can't.
17.) Hand in legible entry cards, even to the point of writing out phonetically any difficult or unusual words. Do not assume either the narrator, judges, or audience will know all of these words.
18.) If you have any doubt that your costume, based on some media source, is unfamiliar to the judges, provide them with reference materials to prove you did it right!!!
19.) If possible, give the judge sufficent time to examine your costume from all angles, giving special attention to any particularly interesting aspect of design or construction.
20.) If you have something for the narrator to read, keep it brief; eliminate as much as possible all unpronounceable, incomprehensible, made up names.
21.) If you are thinking of doing something you think is amusing, try it out on a honest friend or complete strangers before you go near the stage.
22.) If your going to do a costume cliche, you must either do it better than ever before of have a good variation, preferably comic. Short is better than long, funny is better than nonfunny, short and funny is best.
23.) Presenation can make a medicore costume and break a good one.
24.) Keep all presentations short. Action is better than words.
25.) Do not commit the unforgivable sin: DO NOT BE BORING!!!
26.) Three words to remember: Rehearse, Rehearse, REHEARSE!!!!

Glitziana Publishing Co. Extremely ltd.
C/O Toni Lay
190 West 170th St. #3D
Bronx, NY 10452

This is just a small sample of what I got from ICQ sources. Will have more on my webpage in a whiles. So visit often..... =D)

Costume masquerades will vary widely from con to con. Ask your local con-com for info. I have never been in two that were alike. Some are popularity vote, some are skill related, some both.

The closest thing to a standard is the rule set of the International Costumers Guild.

32.5 - Travel reservations
===========================
CheapTickets.com - http://www.cheaptickets.com/
Discount Fares - http://www.discountfares.com/
Expedia - http://www.expedia.com/
Mobissimo - http://www1.mobissimo.com/
Orbitz - http://www.orbitz.com/
PriceLine - http://www.priceline.com/
SideStep - http://www.sidestep.com/
Smarter Living - http://www.smarterliving.com/
Travelocity - http://www.travelocity.com/
TravelZoo - http://www.travelzoo.com/
Uniglobe Travel - http://www.uniglobe.com/
Yahoo Travel - http://travel.yahoo.com/

More methods of transportation and reservations - http://directory.google.com/Top/Recreation/Travel/Transportation/

32.5.1 - Airline travel
===========================
Today, airline travel is safer than it was previously. However, there are many federal rules in place, security, airline rules, FAA guidelines, etc., which define what a passenger can and cannot do on the plane and at the airport. Since the events of September 11, 2001, this has changed the way we fly. The most noticeable change has been in the area of security.

Under no circumstances are you to joke, *AT ALL*, with security, or do one within earshot with a friend. Certain words, such as bomb, gun, and related, will set off alarm bells with security people. These guys have no sense of humor. Finish the humor before you get to the security area. Listen carefully to what a security person tells you.

There is the story of a traveler who turned on his laptop at the request of security. The security person, upon seeing a 'countdown' on the laptop screen, immediately hurled the laptop out the window. The result was one very irate traveler who just lost some important data.

According to Tyger Cowboy, the rules can change *ANYTIME*. Your best bet is to find out what kind of changes have been put in place *BEFORE* you fly, rather than finding out on the day of your flight. If you have some sort of disability, like hearing loss/deafness, wheelchair-bound, etc., it is most important to mention it to them. They are not allowed to discriminate based on disability, race, etc.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) - http://www.tsa.gov/

FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) website - http://www.faa.gov/

Airlines Reporting Corporation - Read the Breaking News section - http://www.arccorp.com/.

If all the airlines in the world were to be listed here, it would be a large listing. However, here's two sites that have an even better listing than what can be listed here.

http://directory.google.com/Top/Recreation/Travel/Transportation/Air/Airlines/?tc=1

http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Travel_and_Transportation/Airlines/

Trying to keep updated here on the luggage limits and other info that each airline has as well as those that are new or out of business is just not possible. It is strongly suggested that you go to the website and find the info there rather than finding out at the airport the hard way. Again, to repeat what Tyger said above, the rules can change anytime.

32.6 - Hotel reservations
==========================
- making the reservations
- roomies
- what kind of room?

32.7 - Other methods of transportation
=======================================
American Automobile Association - http://www.aaa.com/
Canadian Automobile Association - http://www.caa.ca/
Both clubs above offer maps, travel planning, etc.

Greyhound - http://www.greyhound.com/
Other bus lines - http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Travel_and_Transportation/Bus_Lines/

Amtrak - http://www.amtrak.com/
Other train lines - http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Travel_and_Transportation/Trains_and_Railroads/Passenger_Trains/

Alamo - http://www.alamo.com/
Avis - http://www.avis.com/
Budget - http://www.budget.com/
Dollar - http://www.dollar.com/
Enterprise - http://www.enterprise.com/
Hertz - http://www.hertz.com/
National - http://www.nationalcar.com/
Rent-A-Wreck - http://www.rentawreck.com/
Thrifty - http://www.thrifty.com/

A more complete listing of car rental agencies - http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Automotive/Rentals/

Subways, light rail, heavy rail, buses, trolleys - Check the website of that city's public transportation system. A good site is http://www.nycsubway.org/. It's got listings of just about every place with a subway around the world.

32.8 - Convention history
=======================================

32.9 - How to pack a fursuit
=======================================