Plonq's Con Report

[plonq]

I have written a con report for MFF.

It is very long and rambling.

And boring.

With a few pictures as an added bonus.

Plonq's Con report by Plonq I'm not going to get into a blow-by-blow account of what I did, or who I saw at the convention since a lot of it is a blur and I will assuredly forget some of the people and events in the telling.  atara and I discussed the con in the car on the way back, and we both came to much the same opinion on things, so you can save yourself a bit of reading here if you've already read her account. The Good This was a very well-run con from an attendee POV.  I'm sure it probably had its share of behind-the-scenes panic at various points, but from the perspective of a casual schmuck who was just there to visit and have a good time, all of the little things seemed to fall into place.  Registration was a breeze.  The panels all started just about on time, the con suite was always well-stocked, and the dealer/art rooms were efficient and well-organized. We attended a reasonable number of the panels and shows, but spent a lot of time parking ourselves in the corridors to watch various people and furries as they milled and scuttled about.  It was during one of these camp outs that we got a chance to meet, and chat with the cartoonist guest of honour.  He was a very nice fellow - friendly and well-spoken - but somebody had filled his head with some pretty odd ideas about our fandom.  atara and I tried to set the record straight, but only time will tell if we helped or compounded the issue. Two of the highlights from the con were the Variety Show and the Charity Show with 2 and Kage.  The latter two also ran a panel on The Forensics of Humour, which was also quite good.  The panel even had a funny moment when 2 put a disruptive attendee in his place.  The gentleman had been chirping up and interrupting through the first 20 minutes of the panel before 2 turned to him and rather tersely said (paraphrasing him a bit here), "Why don't you pretend that you're part of the audience and shut up?"  Not only did the guy zip his lip for the rest of the panel, but he was very well-behaved the rest of the mutual ones he was at. Evacuating the building because of a fire alarm shouldn't normally be a highlight, but it was pretty funny when the fire trucks arrived to the sight of a whole bunch of furries gathered and shivering outside.  One of the firemen from the first truck walked back to the second one and declared, "There's animals here!" (In reference to the fursuiters, one would imagine).  The only thing that would have made the moment perfect is if at least one of the dalmatian fursuiters had been out there for a photo op. The Not-So-Good As a writer (who apparently needs to write more), I was a little perturbed at the dearth of writing sigs.  I know that we're the poor cousins in the fandom, but y'all could throw us a bone now and then to let us know that we're not forgotten entirely.  The panels that we attended were good, but there were distressingly few.  If I have to volunteer to help run at least one of them next year then I'll do that if that's what it takes. I was a bit disappointed with the dealers' room, but I think that I went in there with unreal expectations.  I think primarily it was a case of having certain things for which I sought, but found not.  I have nothing but good things to say about the people that I met in there on either side of the dealer tables. The UnGood The pawpet show.  Come on guys, try coming up with some original material.  The filler skits were fun, but the lip-syncing to bad 70s songs act got old really quick.  If they were doing stuff during the songs, or somehow enacting the lyrics then it would be one thing, but having a puppet move its mouth in time to a song that I hated from the moment it came out is a good recipe for somnolence. I'd also like to extend a hearty "fuck you" to everyone whose cell phones went off during a show or panel - especially the stupid bitch who was sitting in front of us at the pawpet show.  Sure, the show wasn't particularly enrapturing, but answering your phone and then getting louder and louder so that your outpouring of vapidity wouldn't get drowned out by the show is the epitome of self-entered stupid (did you not notice that they were purposely getting louder in order to drown you out, you stupid cow?) The Artists' Alley was tiny.  It was stuffy, and it smelled bad.  That's about the only place in the convention where there was a definite, persistent funk in the air.  I felt sorry for the artists who were stationed in there. The OMFG I'm sure that you've probably see enough con reports by this point to know who I am talking about when I refer to "roadkill boy".  The man had mental issues.  The man had hygiene issues.  I engaged him in conversation for nearly 20 minutes in order to keep him away from my wife and the GOH.  The encounter left me feeling physically and mentally soiled.  That's all I have to say about that. The Epilogue As always, there are some things that I am purposely not including in my con report.  [Insert vague, enigmatic grin here] I have a few regrets, of course.  There are a lot of you who I wish I'd had more time to corner for a good visit.  There are a few people who I couldn't track down, and a few who I didn't actually see. mirkowuff, I'm sorry if it seemed like I was blowing you off on Monday morning, but when I mentioned that I was experiencing a wave of nausea, I was dead serious.  On two occasions during the con was swept by a mysterious, acute attack of nausea.  The first time was in the art show, where I had an attack of dizziness and nausea - and then the exact same thing happened to atara about a minute later.  The second time was moments before I ran into you behind the hotel.  All I could think of while we were talking was, "OMG.  Don't puke on Mirko!  Don't puke on Mirko!"  It was a close call.  =/ There must have been something in the hotel - a cleaning chemical that they were using, or somebody's cologne, because I've never had attacks like that before, and haven't since.
This suit was amazing. Alas, it made only limited appearances. I only saw it once during the whole of the con.	Three scheming skunks. What could they be planning? I smell something afoot.
	Here's a scene from the Variety Show. This was a cute musical number. The show was very good overall.
A funny moment during the charity show.  Why Kage, that's a different look that you're sporting these days.	It's phar herself. This was our first look at her new fursuit.
Actually, yes, Dr. Conway this camera is loaded.
This suit was truly amazing! The jaw was articulated, and the eyes could blink and look around.	Get lost!  Give a roo his space!
atara snuck into the dance and got this cool time exposure of a raver with multiple glow sticks going.

Comments

[lowen-kind.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm glad that I could get you and quickcasey hooked up. ;=3

I'm sure if we had a bit more time, or hooked up earlier in the con, atara's eyes would've glazed over with all the RR talk going on. :=3

It's always nice to see you and Atara. :=3

P.S. You should've picked up that snow leopard puppet. ;=3

[mwalimu.livejournal.com]

That roo looks hazardous! I don't think I saw this "roadkill boy", and it's probably just as well. And I agree awith you about puppet acts that do nothing but lip-sync a song.

I enjoyed talking with you and meeting atara. Thanks again for helping me hook up with jarrodhenry. Hope to see you again, perhaps at another con, in the not too distant future.

[aureth.livejournal.com]

Apologies on the writing front. Jen and i had a hard time coming up with ideas, and then panelists to run them. Someone else will be heading that track next year, but I'll point them in your direction...

And yeah, the artists alley is tiny. As is the dealer's room (compared to the waiting list we have). It is a perpetual problem with our current hotel that will probably eventually drive us to leave the wonderful location with all the restaurants and free parking in exchange for a hotel with lots more programing space, but less restaurants and quite possibly non-free parking (or, non-free parking that is free with validation). That seems to be the tradeoff we're looking at in the future.

[plonq.livejournal.com]

I was going down a mental list of the available rooms that I saw while I was there, and to be honest I can't think of anywhere else you could have housed the artists. I didn't say that it was something in the con's direct control, only that it was kinda cramped and smelly.

I'm not sure about taking over track programming - that would be totally new ground for me - but I would be more than happy to offer up some ideas, and help host a panel or three.

[smrgol-t-kirin.livejournal.com]

Next year when you come to Memphis, the writing track will be there.
It's been pretty good the past few years.

[aureth.livejournal.com]

Oh, I wasn't suggesting you to run the track. Aiee! I wouldn't want to do that job. ;)

[phar.livejournal.com]

Roadkill boy trapped me twice, once in-suit, and once in street clothes. The best I could do was nod while he rattled off the list of animals that he was, and then run to hide behind the big and scary Wolever. But I haven't seen much of the fiasco you allude to. I must do more report hunting. I want to read teh angst!

You guys are such a mellow influence, I'm so glad I could 'cool off' and hang out with you both Saturday night, off and on. I was getting a little genki, for lack of a better term. Regular people make me level headed! :}

[atara.livejournal.com]

If you think we're regular people, yer weird. :)

[fuzzytoedcollie.livejournal.com]

What? You're not regular people?
Gee, I never noticed.... *grin*!

[fuzzytoedcollie.livejournal.com]

...and I have read a con report.

Thanks for posting and sharing piccys! Maybe next year I can do more than just read about it afterwards.
Cheers!

[8xxnevionxx8.livejournal.com]

the pictures are amazing!!! :D thank you for taking them! :)
i will deffinitly HAVE to be there next year. lol, i'll just quit my job for a weekend and then show up when its done!!! :D
NOT ONE PERSON SHALL BE THE WISER!!!
or i oculd just do it the normal way and ASK for time off, haha, that might work too ;)
oh me oh my! what shall i wear!!!! *runs off and starts picking out which fursuits to bring* haha, can never be to prepared!!! :D