Anthrocon 2009, Day 4
As I post these entries, other memories come back to me:
Saturday, July 4, 2009
I knew Saturday would be an active and busy day for me, and I looked forward to every minute of it. I also knew that I'd have to sacrifice my participation in Fursuit Games: Solo Competition. Due to a scheduling conflict (it started about an hour before the supersponsor luncheon was scheduled to begin), and the activity/preparation required for upcoming events (not the least of which was the parade), I couldn't take part in it. :(
Moving on...
Today was the day of the supersponsor luncheon, and I brought one of my dress suits for the occasion. I knew I'd be way overdressed for it, but I still thought it was appropriate (guests of honor, catered food, etc.). After breakfast (Fernando's again), I went back to the Westin for more photos. The lobby and second and third floors were pretty much dead, and I made my way to the DLCC, to take photos during the games. I saw exile17 and nbowa there, along with Tzup, Jaggers, Frostbite, Firr, Frostcat, Rathkin, and a few others. The turnout seemed to be okay, especially considering it was Saturday morning and there were other fursuiting events scheduled soon after it ended. Unfortunately, I could stay for only about an hour because I had to get to the luncheon (which was also in the DLCC, thankfully).
The luncheon was pretty much what I'd expected. I walked in, surveyed the crowd a bit, saw that was way overdressed, and took a seat and waited for things to get started. The guests of honor were late because their panels ran over their allotted times, and we were allowed to eat instead of waiting. The food was very good, and it certainly was nice to have REAL food after days of eating... not-so-nutritious meals. I ate a good amount of it (though I didn't stuff myself) because I knew I'd need the energy. Other than the good food, though, the luncheon proceeded as I expected, with the guests speaking about their professions and other life events, Q&A from the audience, etc. It was all very... pleasant, really. It felt like something that was completely separated from the craziness of the rest of the convention, and I liked that. After eating, I took a few photos and proceeded to make my way back to the Westin for the next big event.
The fursuit parade.
As I was walking back to my room, all I could think about was the parade. What would I do? How would I handle the flag? How would I look doing this? Will I look bad if I do that? Yes, I was anxious, but it was a good anxiety. I wanted to do it, and I couldn't wait to see how it would play out.
I got back to my room, gave my suit a quick brushing, readied my Ohio flag and pole, suited up, and made my way to... the elevator. The parade lineup started at 1:30 PM, and I was stuck on the 12th floor, waiting for an elevator at that time. "I'm gonna be late", I thought, and I kept thinking that for the entire wait. But thankfully, an elevator became available soon after, and I made it to the 2nd floor (which connects to the DLCC) by 1:45PM. After getting to the ballroom in the DLCC, I took my place in the lineup, and waited for the show to begin.
The wait wasn't fun at all, and the heat buildup didn't help. We were told we could remove our heads while we waited, but I wasn't gonna do that. It takes more than a couple seconds for me to put my head on (and even longer if I try it with my paws). So, I stood there, waiting, sweating, anxious (again). But the wait didn't last forever, and the parade began.
Those of us who carried flags were at the front of the parade, with the color guard, antique flags, and international flags marching before the USA state flags. When I made it through the doors, and saw the crowd, the feeling I had... I can't describe it. I looked around and saw all the smiles, and heard all of the comments and other joyful laughs and expressions... it was like nothing else I'd felt before. All the anxiety I felt before the parade was totally gone at that point. Everyone was having a good time. I played to the crowd, I waved my flag, I waved and gestured at random people along the route (and I even got some waves returned to me)... I loved it. I loved every minute of it!
The big fursuiter photo was to be taken in one of the big halls at the bottom of the DLCC, and that's where things went south a bit. We had so many fursuiters in the parade, the end of the parade did not leave the ballroom until the flag carriers made it to the hall. That turned out to be a 15-minute gap between the front and the back, and we had to wait in the hall until everyone arrived. The room, while very large, had no air conditioning, and we were allowed to take off our heads while we waited. After all the fursuiters arrived, we were told that there were 640 fursuiters in the parade, which was more than 40% (almost 200) more than the number posted for the Anthrocon 2008 parade. WHOA!
We took the photo, and all the suiters headed back (in a not-so-orderly fashion) to the ballroom, where we started. The crowds and cameras were still there, and I did my thing again, waving, gesturing, etc. It all felt so good (again), seeing everyone smiling and enjoying themselves. :)
Back at the ballroom, heads and parts of suits came off, and everyone crowded around the water containers. I chatted with a few people while I was there, including Bucktown Tiger, Sparky BlueFox, and a couple others (I can't remember the names). When they left, I hung around for a few minutes, just thinking about what I'd been through.
It was my first fursuit parade. Before it started, I didn't know what to expect, and I was a little concerned about what would (or could) happen. But when it started, all of my concerns went away. I still can't describe the feeling I had. But it felt good, and it felt right. :)
I put my head and paws back on, grabbed my flag, and left the ballroom. But when I left, I didn't go back to the Westin. The parade was great, but I wanted to keep things rolling. No sir, I didn't want to end my big day... not yet. >:)
- Thursday, while I was in the Westin lobby taking photos, a random guy wearing a suit (I didn't think he was a Westin employee) approached me and asked, "are you with the press?" That was kinda... weird. I wore Dockers and my Detroit Lions t-shirt that day, along with the Abrahm badge I'd commissioned from Moose; I certainly didn't look like someone from the press. Maybe it was the camera, with that big zoom lens attached?
- On my way out to get breakfast Friday morning, I ran into bucktowntiger, tweeting as he walked through the lobby. :)
- I don't know how I forgot about one of Friday's big events, Fursuit Games: Recess! The games weren't judged or scored; we all just played some silly playground-style games. It was all great fun, especially when the 'DJ' played the video game music. The Wood Man theme from Mega Man II? Snake Man from Mega Man III? HELL YEAH! I didn't do so well, in terms of performance; I even slipped and fell square on my back (no pain or injury)! But as I said, I had a lot of fun playing.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
I knew Saturday would be an active and busy day for me, and I looked forward to every minute of it. I also knew that I'd have to sacrifice my participation in Fursuit Games: Solo Competition. Due to a scheduling conflict (it started about an hour before the supersponsor luncheon was scheduled to begin), and the activity/preparation required for upcoming events (not the least of which was the parade), I couldn't take part in it. :(
Moving on...
Today was the day of the supersponsor luncheon, and I brought one of my dress suits for the occasion. I knew I'd be way overdressed for it, but I still thought it was appropriate (guests of honor, catered food, etc.). After breakfast (Fernando's again), I went back to the Westin for more photos. The lobby and second and third floors were pretty much dead, and I made my way to the DLCC, to take photos during the games. I saw exile17 and nbowa there, along with Tzup, Jaggers, Frostbite, Firr, Frostcat, Rathkin, and a few others. The turnout seemed to be okay, especially considering it was Saturday morning and there were other fursuiting events scheduled soon after it ended. Unfortunately, I could stay for only about an hour because I had to get to the luncheon (which was also in the DLCC, thankfully).
The luncheon was pretty much what I'd expected. I walked in, surveyed the crowd a bit, saw that was way overdressed, and took a seat and waited for things to get started. The guests of honor were late because their panels ran over their allotted times, and we were allowed to eat instead of waiting. The food was very good, and it certainly was nice to have REAL food after days of eating... not-so-nutritious meals. I ate a good amount of it (though I didn't stuff myself) because I knew I'd need the energy. Other than the good food, though, the luncheon proceeded as I expected, with the guests speaking about their professions and other life events, Q&A from the audience, etc. It was all very... pleasant, really. It felt like something that was completely separated from the craziness of the rest of the convention, and I liked that. After eating, I took a few photos and proceeded to make my way back to the Westin for the next big event.
The fursuit parade.
As I was walking back to my room, all I could think about was the parade. What would I do? How would I handle the flag? How would I look doing this? Will I look bad if I do that? Yes, I was anxious, but it was a good anxiety. I wanted to do it, and I couldn't wait to see how it would play out.
I got back to my room, gave my suit a quick brushing, readied my Ohio flag and pole, suited up, and made my way to... the elevator. The parade lineup started at 1:30 PM, and I was stuck on the 12th floor, waiting for an elevator at that time. "I'm gonna be late", I thought, and I kept thinking that for the entire wait. But thankfully, an elevator became available soon after, and I made it to the 2nd floor (which connects to the DLCC) by 1:45PM. After getting to the ballroom in the DLCC, I took my place in the lineup, and waited for the show to begin.
The wait wasn't fun at all, and the heat buildup didn't help. We were told we could remove our heads while we waited, but I wasn't gonna do that. It takes more than a couple seconds for me to put my head on (and even longer if I try it with my paws). So, I stood there, waiting, sweating, anxious (again). But the wait didn't last forever, and the parade began.
Those of us who carried flags were at the front of the parade, with the color guard, antique flags, and international flags marching before the USA state flags. When I made it through the doors, and saw the crowd, the feeling I had... I can't describe it. I looked around and saw all the smiles, and heard all of the comments and other joyful laughs and expressions... it was like nothing else I'd felt before. All the anxiety I felt before the parade was totally gone at that point. Everyone was having a good time. I played to the crowd, I waved my flag, I waved and gestured at random people along the route (and I even got some waves returned to me)... I loved it. I loved every minute of it!
The big fursuiter photo was to be taken in one of the big halls at the bottom of the DLCC, and that's where things went south a bit. We had so many fursuiters in the parade, the end of the parade did not leave the ballroom until the flag carriers made it to the hall. That turned out to be a 15-minute gap between the front and the back, and we had to wait in the hall until everyone arrived. The room, while very large, had no air conditioning, and we were allowed to take off our heads while we waited. After all the fursuiters arrived, we were told that there were 640 fursuiters in the parade, which was more than 40% (almost 200) more than the number posted for the Anthrocon 2008 parade. WHOA!
We took the photo, and all the suiters headed back (in a not-so-orderly fashion) to the ballroom, where we started. The crowds and cameras were still there, and I did my thing again, waving, gesturing, etc. It all felt so good (again), seeing everyone smiling and enjoying themselves. :)
Back at the ballroom, heads and parts of suits came off, and everyone crowded around the water containers. I chatted with a few people while I was there, including Bucktown Tiger, Sparky BlueFox, and a couple others (I can't remember the names). When they left, I hung around for a few minutes, just thinking about what I'd been through.
It was my first fursuit parade. Before it started, I didn't know what to expect, and I was a little concerned about what would (or could) happen. But when it started, all of my concerns went away. I still can't describe the feeling I had. But it felt good, and it felt right. :)
I put my head and paws back on, grabbed my flag, and left the ballroom. But when I left, I didn't go back to the Westin. The parade was great, but I wanted to keep things rolling. No sir, I didn't want to end my big day... not yet. >:)