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A 'furry convention' (also 'furry con' or 'fur con') is a formal gathering of members of the furry fandom — people who are interested in the concept of fictional non-human characters with human characteristics. These conventions provide a place for fans to meet, exchange ideas, transact business and engage in entertainment and recreation centered around this concept. Originating in California, USA during the mid-1980s, there are now over 25 annual furry conventions worldwide, mostly in North America and Europe.^[1][2]

Contents

Origin and growth

Activities

Attendees

Organization and staffing

Timing and duration

In the media

See also

References

External links

Origin and growth

Furry conventions started in mid-1986 with parties at popular science fiction conventions, such as Westercon and BayCon in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over time, these parties split off into conventions of their own, starting with ConFurence 0 in 1989.^[3] Attendance at furry conventions has been growing, with the number of conventions, total attendance of all conventions and maximum size of a single convention all doubling over the period 2000–2006.¹
Furry conventions sometimes start out as 'furmeets', where groups of local fans meet at a regular location, often on a scheduled basis. As the local community grows, these groups may put on events which attract dealer attention or significant fan activity and which become recognized as fully-fledged conventions. Other conventions spring up in the wake of discontinued events; for example, Califur was founded in 2004 following the final ConFurence in 2003, in order to keep a furry convention in the Los Angeles Basin.^[4]

Activities

Convention programming includes presentations, panels, workshops and tutorials on anthropomorphic culture, from literature, fiction and art to science, technology and spirituality. The convention will often provide space for stand-up comedy routines by entertainers like Uncle Kage and , filk music, many kinds of gaming, and role-playing sessions, as well as numerous puppeteering and performing arts events.theme is common for larger events.^[6]
Most conventions will feature some kind of an art show, in which artists' work is displayed, often for direct purchase or auction during the convention. There will often be a ''Dealers Den'' where art and comic book distributors and other merchants can sell their wares for a fee, and an ''Artists' Alley'' where individual artists are given space for no fee or a token fee, usually on the condition that they only sell their own work.^[7] Artists may also trade art between each other using sketchbooks. Erotic art is typically allowed if kept separate from other pieces, and only shown to adult attendees; a few conventions are rated strictly PG-13.
Major conventions tend to have a disco on at least one evening. Often there is a "fursuit-friendly" dance prior to the main event, with raised lighting and slower music to offset fursuiters' reduced vision and mobility. The use of glowsticks and illuminated poi are popular once the lights are dimmed.^[8] A furry convention is also an opportunity to socialize, and private parties for subgroups of the fandom are common.^[9]
Conventions with significant numbers of fursuiters may offer an event known as the ''furry games'', ''furry races'', or ''critterlympics''. These focus on feats of dexterity suited to multiple players in teams, such as dragging a sled filled with plush toys or other fursuiters around a marked track, or racing back and forth while tethered to one another with a hula hoop.
Some conventions have established charity auctions, which (in the US) usually raise several thousand dollars for the convention's yearly charity, typically a wildlife refuge, nature reserve, animal shelter, sanctuary or rescue group.^[10][11]

Attendees

Attendees include artists and dealers offering products and services for sale to fans, and those wish to buy them. Others come for the programming, or to meet friends or other furry fans in general. Many attend for all of these reasons. Some later publish a ''con report'' detailing their experiences.
Attendees of major conventions receive a bag with the convention book (or ''conbook''), a lavishly-illustrated volume featuring themed artwork, fiction and articles submitted by members and the Guests of Honor, along with a description of the event's programming, staff, rules, guests and any charity being supported by the convention.^[12][13] Local restaurant information and a combination pocket schedule and map may also be included. Sponsors often receive additional items such as T-shirts, pins or ribbons, as well as faster registration badge pick-up and on-site meals (some conventions provide a ''con suite'' with basic refreshments for all members).^[14] They may also be displayed prominently in convention publications.⁴
Fans may wear a full or partial fursuit or other costume to express their identity and entertain others,⁹ though typically less than 15% of attendees bring a costume, and few of these wear them all the time.^[15] Others may wear accessories such as ears or a tail, particularly outside the main convention area.⁹ Nearly all will wear one or more custom convention badges featuring a depiction of their anthropomorphic persona, some with attached ribbons providing an indicator of social status, such as a notice of affiliation, or sponsorship of the convention. Sales of such accessories form a part of the commerce at furry conventions.⁶

Organization and staffing

Artists Alley at Anthrocon 2006

Furry conventions are run and staffed by volunteers,^[16] though venues may require certain activities to be contracted out. Event funding typically relies on convention registrations.^[17] Many of the larger conventions are incorporated as non-profit organizations, usually to achieve tax-exempt status and safeguard the organizers' personal assets - in the US, some are 501(c)(3) charities, while others are registered as recreational clubs. The largest events may require up to a hundred volunteers, not including gofers.¹³ Volunteers are thanked for their participation during the closing ceremonies, which are usually well-attended, and often receive T-shirts or other benefits.

Timing and duration

Most furry conventions take place over a weekend. Reasons for this include:

★ Most fans would have to take a vacation from work or study to attend an event held during the work week.

★ Transportation costs are often lower for weekend travelers.

★ Hotels have few business travelers during the weekend, making it much easier to reserve a block of rooms and secure space for programming at a reduced price. Many fans are students and have little discretionary income, so hotel and convention fees are important factors.^[18][19]
As furry conventions have expanded, increased demand for programming has extended the hours covered, such that events many now include activities on Thursday and Friday, often extending late into the night.¹³ Saturday remains the busiest day, as most fans must return home on Sunday. One-day passes are sometimes sold at a reduced price.¹⁴

In the media

Conway talks to KDKA-TV reporters outside Anthrocon 2006

While small, and often avoidant of media coverage, furry conventions have increasingly become a topic of attention for the news and mass media:

★ The Commercial Appeal covered in September 2003.^[20] Two years later, ''The Memphis Flyer'' did a piece about MFM 2005.⁹

★ An October 2003 episode of '' featured , a fictional furry convention held in Las Vegas. were varied.

★ A CBC Newsworld episode of ''Culture Shock'' about furries spent much of its time covering in November.^[21]

★ ''The News Tribune'' of Tacoma wrote a short article about .^[22]

★ The ''Financial Times Weekend Magazine'' took a look at Anthrocon 2005.^[23]

★ ''The Corner'' of Auburn, Alabama covered 2006.^[24]

★ Several newspapers were invited to attend Anthrocon 2006, including the ''Pittsburgh Tribune-Review'',^[25] the ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'',^[26] and the ''Pittsburgh City Paper'', which printed both a preview and an extensive review.^[27][28] When local television station KDKA-TV showed up, chairman Samuel Conway gave a short television interview outside the convention hotel.^[29] There was similar coverage in 2007.^{[30][31][32][33]}

★ The Montreal Gazette covered Anthrofest 2007.²

See also

★ List of furry conventions

References

1. , derived in part from the
2. Finally comfortable in their own fur
3. Chronology Of Furry Fandom Fred Patten
4. Califur III — About Us Califur
5. Further Confusion - 2007 Events Further Confusion
6. Parry, Laurence "GreenReaper". '', Wikinews, February 6, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
7. Anthrocon Artists' Alley Anthrocon
8. Animal Magnetism
9. My Furry Weekend
10. AAE, Inc. - What we do Anthropomorphic Arts and Education
11. Anthrocon Charity Auction FAQ Brian Harris, Anthrocon charity auction director
12. Anthrocon Convention Book Submission Guidelines Anthrocon
13. Anthrocon 2006 convention book
14. Anthrocon Registration Anthrocon
15. At Midwest FurFest 2006, 213 of 1441 attendees participated in the Fursuit Parade (post by registration coordinator on 2006-11-20), while wore suits at Anthrocon 2007
16. Report from Pittsburgh Evanier, Mark
17. Guidestar.org - see ''Anthrocon'', ''Anthropomorphic Arts and Education'', ''Midwest Furry Fandom'' and the ''Oklahoma Association of Anthropomorphic Arts''
18. Furry Survey Results University of California, Davis Department of Psychology
19. UC Davis posts furry survey results Parry, Laurence "GreenReaper"
20. 'Furry' Weekend In Memphis - Meet Brings Folks Dressed As Animals Together
21. Beauty and the Beast
22. Conventional fur for all
23. Of All Things: All The Rage in the US
24. Get Furry
25. It's a furry weekend
26. All about 'furry fandom' at confab
27. Fur Ball In the Works
28. Animal Passions
29. ''Furries Descend On Pittsburgh'', KDKA-TV (June 16, 2006), accessed on 2006-08-27
30. Anthrocons convention turns city into 'real zoo'
31. Furries purr over Pittsburgh reception
32. Furries Return To Pittsburgh
33. Furries Return For Annual Convention

External links

★ Map of active furry conventions

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