Indyfurcon 2010
So, after returning home for one day from RMFC, it was time to board another plane and fly out to IndyFurCon in Indianapolis! You might remember me asking for roomies for the con here in my journal. They flew me out there earlier than usual. I was to depart Los Angeles Wednesday night and return the following Tuesday.
Well, plenty of people wrote to me, offering to give me a place to stay and I want to thank each and every one who offered. Though I wish I could have stayed for a little while with everyone who offered to put me up, that just wouldn't work. So I accepted the offers that most closely matched the time I was going to be there. I had no idea I would learn so much from the people I stayed with over that week. But we'll get to that in a minute...
I will admit, when I first got to the hotel on Thursday, I had doubts. The hallway with the convention space was dark and empty. There were almost no other furs around. I might have thought I had the wrong place if I hadn't seen a few license plates in the parking lot that only furries would have.
What I didn't know is that this was ninja con! It was fairly quiet until registration opened. Then suddenly, POOF! Furries jumped out from everywhere! From under the couches, from the flower pots, rappelled down cables from the skylights... and started partying! Suddenly, it looked like what I know to be a fur con!
There were a few main acts on main stage (which I'm honored to say I was one of) and some great dances and other programming. But the programming was kept fairly light at this convention, which ultimately lead to a lot of hanging out and spontaneous "events", like Bucktown Tiger and Floppy Belly starting up a little contemporary music concert in the convention area hallway. I always love it when those happen! Uncle Kage could even be seen as he was ten years ago, in a lobby chair surrounded by furries who uttered the sacred phrase, "Tell us a story, Uncle Kage!"... so he did!
I know quite a lot of furries who really enjoy "hang-out cons". Well, that's what IFC was. And a very good one! The staff was friendly and helpful. The hotel was nice. There were loads of bouncy fursuiters around to keep things fun (a huge percentage of which were the "squeakers" this time, for some reason). The weekend just cruised by and everyone had a great time.
And then, on Monday morning... *POOF*. As quick as they appeared, they were gone. Indianapolis furries are ninjas. All of them.
Like RMFC, I had a lot of time to hang out with people. And as I said before, I wound up staying with other furries a lot that weekend. Zylana and Drac offered their home to me to stay in during the time the con wasn't going on. And Keeya and Syber had me in their room during the convention.
Now, you may not know what it's like to have fans. Particularly fans that you might... well... want to minimize your time around. I never want to be rude to a fan, but now and then you run into one that's a bit uncomfortable to be around. Before too long, you've run into quite a few fans that have been uncomfortable to be around. And if you're not careful, you will eventually start being prejudice to a certain type of fan, believing that they will be uncomfortable to be around, even though you have never actually talked to them much.
I made new friends at IFC. And I'm happy to say that two of them caused me to realize that while I hadn't realized it, I had build up this kind of prejudice for certain fans. And that prejudice can be dead wrong. I shall not mention names. One of them known exactly who he is and the other is probably completely unaware.
What I will say, to my new friends...
Zylana and Drac. You welcomed me into your home, drank beer and played video games with me, drove me where I needed to go, offered me a warm place to sleep and made me the first home cooked meal I'd had in months. You let me play with your snake! And you didn't ask for a thing in return. You're good people and I won't forget you.
Keeya and Syber. You were two of the most respectful, cheerful and outright fun roomies I've ever had at a convention. You're messy as hell, but your personalities made up for it and more. :) The chats I had with you were insightful and intelligent. I would look on it as an honor if I could room with you again, should the opportunity appear.
Finally, Floppybelly. You were the surprise of the weekend for me. It has been a long time since I've found someone with whom I felt so at ease spending time. I even started spilling my own troubles out to you for a bit, and I rarely get to do that. Talking to you felt like talking to someone I've known for years. I don't know how, but it did. You were awesome and I certainly hope I get the chance to hang out with you again in the future.
So, in short... Great con. Great weekend. Great friends.
My next stop is Eurofurence! But that's... another story *dramatic music*.
Well, plenty of people wrote to me, offering to give me a place to stay and I want to thank each and every one who offered. Though I wish I could have stayed for a little while with everyone who offered to put me up, that just wouldn't work. So I accepted the offers that most closely matched the time I was going to be there. I had no idea I would learn so much from the people I stayed with over that week. But we'll get to that in a minute...
I will admit, when I first got to the hotel on Thursday, I had doubts. The hallway with the convention space was dark and empty. There were almost no other furs around. I might have thought I had the wrong place if I hadn't seen a few license plates in the parking lot that only furries would have.
What I didn't know is that this was ninja con! It was fairly quiet until registration opened. Then suddenly, POOF! Furries jumped out from everywhere! From under the couches, from the flower pots, rappelled down cables from the skylights... and started partying! Suddenly, it looked like what I know to be a fur con!
There were a few main acts on main stage (which I'm honored to say I was one of) and some great dances and other programming. But the programming was kept fairly light at this convention, which ultimately lead to a lot of hanging out and spontaneous "events", like Bucktown Tiger and Floppy Belly starting up a little contemporary music concert in the convention area hallway. I always love it when those happen! Uncle Kage could even be seen as he was ten years ago, in a lobby chair surrounded by furries who uttered the sacred phrase, "Tell us a story, Uncle Kage!"... so he did!
I know quite a lot of furries who really enjoy "hang-out cons". Well, that's what IFC was. And a very good one! The staff was friendly and helpful. The hotel was nice. There were loads of bouncy fursuiters around to keep things fun (a huge percentage of which were the "squeakers" this time, for some reason). The weekend just cruised by and everyone had a great time.
And then, on Monday morning... *POOF*. As quick as they appeared, they were gone. Indianapolis furries are ninjas. All of them.
Like RMFC, I had a lot of time to hang out with people. And as I said before, I wound up staying with other furries a lot that weekend. Zylana and Drac offered their home to me to stay in during the time the con wasn't going on. And Keeya and Syber had me in their room during the convention.
Now, you may not know what it's like to have fans. Particularly fans that you might... well... want to minimize your time around. I never want to be rude to a fan, but now and then you run into one that's a bit uncomfortable to be around. Before too long, you've run into quite a few fans that have been uncomfortable to be around. And if you're not careful, you will eventually start being prejudice to a certain type of fan, believing that they will be uncomfortable to be around, even though you have never actually talked to them much.
I made new friends at IFC. And I'm happy to say that two of them caused me to realize that while I hadn't realized it, I had build up this kind of prejudice for certain fans. And that prejudice can be dead wrong. I shall not mention names. One of them known exactly who he is and the other is probably completely unaware.
What I will say, to my new friends...
Zylana and Drac. You welcomed me into your home, drank beer and played video games with me, drove me where I needed to go, offered me a warm place to sleep and made me the first home cooked meal I'd had in months. You let me play with your snake! And you didn't ask for a thing in return. You're good people and I won't forget you.
Keeya and Syber. You were two of the most respectful, cheerful and outright fun roomies I've ever had at a convention. You're messy as hell, but your personalities made up for it and more. :) The chats I had with you were insightful and intelligent. I would look on it as an honor if I could room with you again, should the opportunity appear.
Finally, Floppybelly. You were the surprise of the weekend for me. It has been a long time since I've found someone with whom I felt so at ease spending time. I even started spilling my own troubles out to you for a bit, and I rarely get to do that. Talking to you felt like talking to someone I've known for years. I don't know how, but it did. You were awesome and I certainly hope I get the chance to hang out with you again in the future.
So, in short... Great con. Great weekend. Great friends.
My next stop is Eurofurence! But that's... another story *dramatic music*.