User's first fur con! :D

["User"]

As some of you may know, I attended the last day of a furry convention in London Ontario called Condition: Zero Hour.  It's interesting in that it has a theme/story that will be arcing over a period of 5 years.  Never seen a convention do something like this. 

I went down with a friend of mind that did that Krystal badge for me - Anyare and her BF LarkStarr.  Anyare was going to be setting up a table and doing some commissions throughout the day and wanted to know if I could come down as well to chill.  Well, seeing as I didn't have anything else to do Sunday (except maybe sleep in after staying up until 2 am watching a UFC fight at a stadium bar) I agreed.

We arrived at around 8 am or so at the Sheraton (higher end hotel chain) and Anyare noticed the place seemed to be pretty dead. I surmised that most of the furries in attendance were still sleeping due to partying or what not Saturday night. I was right, as by noon the place was packed. In the meantime however all three of us registered for the day and picked up our package as well as our badges.  After doing a quick runaround of the hotel to see where everything is Anyare set up in the Artists Alley (where artists draw and do commissions).  Seeing as this was my first con, I decided to stay in that area to watch her do some commissions for the furries who would wander in and pay her $20 or so for badges/lineart and what not.  I thought that since most people on FA paid her to draw mature/adult commissions that the same thing would happen at the con - thankfully only one her pieces of art turned out to be of a mature nature.  Other artists were in the Dealers Den, selling things like high end plushies (one was going for $320), art cd's, little furry trinkets and keychains, and other stuff that you would expect to be sold at a Dealers Den at a fur con.

Speaking of mature stuff - there's a reason why any minors need parental consent to be at the con and those of a certain age or younger have to have their parents or guardians there.  Although the floor as a whole is supposed to be rated PG there were some more mature events taking place like adult card games (which you'd really only notice if you were to actually walk up to the table) and some highly suggestive art being displayed in the dealer's den and some of the sketchbooks open in public to display adult artwork, as well as some overt public displays of "affection" between couples - including one in a fursuit.   Also, mature subject matter was throughout the convention when it came to certain things.  For example, they had a "Pokemon Biology Lecture" which I attended.  It involved asking a lot "what if's" when it came to questions concerning the Pokemon world, like evolution, cubones mask, and who the Marowak really was at the top of that spirit tower in Pokemon Red.  Some of the stuff made me mentally facepalm hard....oh well.  In the end however, it was about what I'd expect for a fur con and not as bad as the stuff that pops up on FA. 

After getting some food and talking with some of the other furries in attendance I returned to the Artists Alley and found that Anyare was overloaded with people wanting commissions - she wouldn't have enough time to finish them that day and would have to mail some of them out.  Thankfully most of the stuff she was drawing out in the open wasn't of a lewd nature considering I had a seat right beside her by her laptop as she was drawing the stuff. >_>

The last event of the day was a Charity auction to raise money for some vet company of sorts that helps abused and/or hurt animals survive.  A worthy cause...for furries of course.

I ended up buying one thing at the auction, a travelers bag loaded with two dozen or so glowsticks, I needed another personal bag for all my Laser Quest travels as my old one was falling apart and since this bag was made by the same company I outbid everyone else for it.  Some other items were on sale at the auction, including someone paying $1500 for a multipass with super sponsor status for the next 5 years at the con, two free commissions, a free trip to Camp Feral, a free con at Furnal Equinox next year in Toronto, and a sh*t load of other stuff that people offered up as the amount of money for that one of a kind ticket kept going up - not to mention a huge ass tax return.

Max BlackRabbit (creator of Zig Zag) was also in attendance at this con.  For those who don't know who he is he's a furry celeb of sorts and one of the most popular furries of all time IMO.  He's been in the fandom for more then 10 years and I've been a fan of his work since I entered the fandom back in 2005.  Nice but very business like. I figured that because he was just starting to set up his table and he already had 6 commissions within the first 10 minutes from furries.  As much as I like the guy, I don't get yiff commissions from ANYONE.

As the con came to a closed I departed for him and just arrived back an hour ago.  I enjoyed my time with my friends and I am hoping to hit up Anthrocon and Furnal Equinox in Toronto next year.

Props to Xabre - the military dressed furry who spent $1500 and winning that massive auction against two other furries.  I think that auction went an hour longer then it should.

Props to no drama (as far as I can tell).  Most furries, while drama prone online it seems, are generally pretty cool people in person. 

Slops to furries willing to go up to auction $135 on a high quality piece of line art showing the fursonas of the convention staff but then ONLY willing to pay $45 for an original piece of FULLY COLORED FRAMED artwork by a high end artist in DarkNatasha.  I mean seriously, I would have reversed the prices here....that line art wasn't even worth $20. >_<

Slops to the few individuals who completely weirded me out.  I'm sorry, but don't slobber all over your "mate" in public...especially if they're are both guys. That's just gross.

[CrypticQuery]

Sounds like great fun :D

[Dublinthefox]

Wish I was there.

[Sabre]

I could rant alot about furries generally having been to a furmeet today too. I won't though.

What I will mention about the lineart. It's a peice of fame they are after. My friend has a pic drawn by some guy I've never heard of (of similar status as that maxblack rabbit) This pic is enshired and shown to everyone despite being a 5 second doodle. Basicly a sideways 3 and 3 black blobs (eyes and nose) and I'm sopposed to be impressed, in aw of it.

I'm not a fan of how and perverse people are. That adult card game you mentioned sounds like furoticon, and most people hate it. Some of the art is even stollen. It's basicly magic the gathering, but instead of health its sex points. It's the most cynical piece of crap in the fandom.

[Guest Julius Quasar]

I'll probably never make it to a furcon. 

goddamit...

["User"]

What I will mention about the lineart. It's a peice of fame they are after. My friend has a pic drawn by some guy I've never heard of (of similar status as that maxblack rabbit) This pic is enshired and shown to everyone despite being a 5 second doodle. Basicly a sideways 3 and 3 black blobs (eyes and nose) and I'm sopposed to be impressed, in aw of it.

That piece wasn't really exclusive though as there were two other "original one of a kind" pieces of art but neither sold as high.  The only piece I can see that would be worth having, using your logic about one of a kind pieces, was that multipass badge.  Before people starting throwing all kinds of extras the higher the bid went it started bidding at $120 and quickly rose to $400 in like....20 seconds.  This inaugural con attempted to start a few things that other cons did not - mainly the 6 year storyline and "pretty looking" silver badges that are good for many years. 

I'm not a fan of how and perverse people are. That adult card game you mentioned sounds like furoticon, and most people hate it. Some of the art is even stollen. It's basicly magic the gathering, but instead of health its sex points. It's the most cynical piece of crap in the fandom.

I thought it was at first but taking a glance at the cards I could tell it wasn't.  It was a more recent game started by two or three other people there from some other prior con.  They were trying to get it more popular by teaching people how to play but yeah, it's very similar to furoticon. >_>

[Milkyway64]

I just can't even imagine going to one of these. They're way too... eyugh.

At least they aren't as drama prone in real life.

[Guest FoXXX]

That's cool man

[Sabre]

I just can't even imagine going to one of these. They're way too... eyugh.

At least they aren't as drama prone in real life.

I can't speak for cons, but I can speak for meets, and it varies. OFten it's just a bunch of people who meet, chat, have a laugh. Other times its embarrasing, annoiying and drama filled. Most of the time it's somewhere in the middle.

Take yesterday for example. We had a laugh, played some board games though no one was really interested. We draw, we talked, and we joked. Gnerally a good time.

The bad side was the guy running it was a bit of needy for attention, some guy was spamming flyers everywhere for some crappy con/meet of his own, the owner of the place we were at kept trying to get us to buy more drinks, and some small gay guy (I was the only straight there, and Im huge compaired to this guy) jumped on my back and started humping for no reason other then to be a complete knob.

Ultimatly what it comes down to is the rational and fun people are drowned out by the accuratly named attention whores and people pushing an agenda, something I'd image is not limited to furries. Assuming the ratio of normals to wankers is good then it's not a problem.

[Guest FoXXX]

I can't speak for cons, but I can speak for meets, and it varies. OFten it's just a bunch of people who meet, chat, have a laugh. Other times its embarrasing, annoiying and drama filled. Most of the time it's somewhere in the middle.

Take yesterday for example. We had a laugh, played some board games though no one was really interested. We draw, we talked, and we joked. Gnerally a good time.

The bad side was the guy running it was a bit of needy for attention, some guy was spamming flyers everywhere for some crappy con/meet of his own, the owner of the place we were at kept trying to get us to buy more drinks, and some small gay guy (I was the only straight there, and Im huge compaired to this guy) jumped on my back and started humping for no reason other then to be a complete knob.

Ultimatly what it comes down to is the rational and fun people are drowned out by the accuratly named attention whores and people pushing an agenda, something I'd image is not limited to furries. Assuming the ratio of normals to wankers is good then it's not a problem.

...and this is in England?

[Milkyway64]

I can't speak for cons, but I can speak for meets, and it varies. OFten it's just a bunch of people who meet, chat, have a laugh. Other times its embarrasing, annoiying and drama filled. Most of the time it's somewhere in the middle.

Take yesterday for example. We had a laugh, played some board games though no one was really interested. We draw, we talked, and we joked. Gnerally a good time.

The bad side was the guy running it was a bit of needy for attention, some guy was spamming flyers everywhere for some crappy con/meet of his own, the owner of the place we were at kept trying to get us to buy more drinks, and some small gay guy (I was the only straight there, and Im huge compaired to this guy) jumped on my back and started humping for no reason other then to be a complete knob.

Ultimatly what it comes down to is the rational and fun people are drowned out by the accuratly named attention whores and people pushing an agenda, something I'd image is not limited to furries. Assuming the ratio of normals to wankers is good then it's not a problem.

Furries are such weird people. The fact that it even HAS this large amount of wankers in the first place is telling and quite repelling to me.

Let's not also forget that depending on where it is, you'll always have people who think you're totally nuts present as well.

["User"]

Furries are such weird people. The fact that it even HAS this large amount of wankers in the first place is telling and quite repelling to me.

It had about 170 or so.  So it was relatively small for a con, and not everyone were wankers.

Let's not also forget that depending on where it is, you'll always have people who think you're totally nuts present as well.

Wouldn't surprise me, although in this case some of the kids who were also staying at the hotel with their parents loved the "mascots".

That being said, wanna go to AC Milkshake?

[Milkyway64]

That being said, wanna go to AC Milkshake?

Whhyyyy?

["User"]

Whhyyyy?

Because you know you'll like it.  :wink:

[Milkyway64]

Because you know you'll like it. 

But I don't wanna. D:

A furry I may be but not enough for your conventions says I. You'll have to kidnap me and DRAG me to a con, buster!

[Samantha Weltzin]

But I don't wanna. D:

A furry I may be but not enough for your conventions says I. You'll have to kidnap me and DRAG me to a con, buster!

You sure you want to say that to a guy who knows where you live?

[Redeemer]

He would probably do it too.

Anyway, glad you had fun User, I've never been to any conventions before, including non-furry ones. When my friends are like "Oh I was at this con at the weekend" I feel like I've missed out. :/

[Asper Sarnoff]

Nice to hear you enjoyed it User. I'm definatively going to go to a con myself, just to have tried it, but I suspect it might be a while. Closest one's a tiny one in Sweden, and getting plane tickets for another one might be a little to much.

[Sabre]

...and this is in England?

Yes. Why would that matter?

Furries are such weird people. The fact that it even HAS this large amount of wankers in the first place is telling and quite repelling to me.

Let's not also forget that depending on where it is, you'll always have people who think you're totally nuts present as well.

Same with computer games and warhammer, at least in my exp. The only real difference is the how. Furries will hump you, insist you call them 'moonwolf', go on about art or generally making irritating noises, warhammer players pull the elitism card. Mocking you for your lack of stuff, or the stuff you have.

[Fira-Astrali]

Say WHAT! I did not know that there was anthro cons in London or the GTA! I thought the closest one was in the states! This changes things...

Nice to hear you enjoyed it User. I'm definatively going to go to a con myself, just to have tried it, but I suspect it might be a while. Closest one's a tiny one in Sweden, and getting plane tickets for another one might be a little to much.

If you wait long enough, you can come to one with me!  It might be safer in groups XD

[Sabre]

Say WHAT! I did not know that there was anthro cons in London or the GTA! I thought the closest one was in the states! This changes things...

If you wait long enough, you can come to one with me!  It might be safer in groups XD

I don't know what you live. If you live in UK or EU, I know a fair few.

["User"]

Say WHAT! I did not know that there was anthro cons in London or the GTA! I thought the closest one was in the states! This changes things...

Yeah, the GTA hasn't had any real con until this year.  Toronto's first furry con was Furnal Equinox last March, I would have attended that but a tournament got in the way.  That same convention will be at the DoubleTree on Airport Rd across from Pearson in March 2011.  I'll be attending that for sure because I heard it was a great success and had over 350 people attending - not bad for a first.  London's Condition Zero was the 2nd fur con in southern Ontario and it will be happening next year as well - just a mile away when you get off the 401.

If you wait long enough, you can come to one with me!  It might be safer in groups XD

Lol yeah.  We can have some sort of SF-O group or what not. XD

I don't know what you live. If you live in UK or EU, I know a fair few.

There's a city of London in Ontario, Canada :P

[Guest FoXXX]

Yes. Why would that matter?

Just wondering!!

[Milkyway64]

Same with computer games and warhammer, at least in my exp. The only real difference is the how. Furries will hump you, insist you call them 'moonwolf', go on about art or generally making irritating noises, warhammer players pull the elitism card. Mocking you for your lack of stuff, or the stuff you have.

Well, there is a small difference between being a jerk and being downright creepy.

You sure you want to say that to a guy who knows where you live?

He would probably do it too.

Anyway, glad you had fun User, I've never been to any conventions before, including non-furry ones. When my friends are like "Oh I was at this con at the weekend" I feel like I've missed out.

No don't give him any ideas!

[Sabre]

Yeah, the GTA hasn't had any real con until this year.  Toronto's first furry con was Furnal Equinox last March, I would have attended that but a tournament got in the way.  That same convention will be at the DoubleTree on Airport Rd across from Pearson in March 2011.  I'll be attending that for sure because I heard it was a great success and had over 350 people attending - not bad for a first.  London's Condition Zero was the 2nd fur con in southern Ontario and it will be happening next year as well - just a mile away when you get off the 401.

Lol yeah.  We can have some sort of SF-O group or what not. XD

There's a city of London in Ontario, Canada

1 better. Almost every american place that start with 'new' is named after somewhere in england. New York = York, New Hampshire = Hampshire and so on. Even Washington is named after a British place.