MagFest, conventions worked, conventions coming up
A year ago I worked MagFest 6. It was, well, quite insane. Not only was it my first convention, it was also my first time working security with the Dorsai Irregulars. As I said in my previous post, this is thanks to scs_11 who is a member, along with Rene Gobeyn. I work with scs_11 and Rene is the MACC Data Center Coordinator, so needless to say I see him quite often too. Both of them are members of the DI.
So, MagFest 6.. we had cops show up with shotguns, we had attendees having lampshade parties, phones being stolen, people getting alcohol poisoning... The report started off saying "Despite the presence of police with shotgun and full riot gear, Magfest was much smoother this year." so that should give you an idea of what the convention was like and how bad MagFest 5 was compared to 6. The best part for me was meeting a lot of new people who were working: Colin, giza, Gooch, Skippy (drzaaron), Deja and Steve, Max, tango, Creature, toracub, Chilly Mouse, Kasi, Da Bear..
Next I worked Technicon (Mar 28-30) in Blacksburg, VA with a subset of the crew above.. that's also the first time I met Crimson. And JJ/James I believe. Oh and Quazi. I spent a lot of time talking with toracub during Technicon which was fun.
After Technicon came the big one - Anthrocon (June 26-29th)! Anthrocon was loads of fun and a lot of work. This was my first-ever Furry convention and it was awesome. In addition to a lot of the crew above I met the Claytons, Dan and Kay Jarrell, Mark Osier, Ann and Bob Passovoy, Gary Bratzel, Grant Millard, Gerry Felipe, Sam Gobeyn, Marnie (gooch's wife), John and Joanne Hall, Russ Hershler, Tina, Alex, Heathyr Lamb, and probably others I'm forgetting. Anthrocon was a lot of fun and working with Sam to do elevator control was a blast. Oh, that's where I met evil_dwagon.
Next was FurFright (Oct 17-18). I met boomeroo (Xander) and mrianti there. Again, fun was had by me.
I just got back from working MagFest 7, which was - oddly - quiet this year. Even with a lot more people than last year, we had very few big incidents. The biggest one being some idiot who didnt get the hint that the hotel wasn't joking when they said if he showed up again he'd be arrested... (twice). toracub and I spent some time away from the convention.. once to go check on his parent's cats and then on Saturday to see his current place, future place, where he works, and his local area. We grabbed lunch at Five Guys which was quite tasty! I had a lot of fun at MagFest, even though I was pretty miserable for a lot of it. My sinuses did not adjust well to the really dry air and gave me nothing but problems.. I probably should have done more to properly treat it then, but I didn't have my normal drugs and didnt want to go out to get any. I'm paying for it now, however. Fever. Severe congestion. Cough.. yeah, it's a lot of fun. Regardless, I got to spend time with the people I basically only see when working conventions and it's always nice to spend time with them.
So what's in store this year for conventions I'll be working?
March 12-17: A&G in Cincinnati, OH
April 24-26: Furry Connection North in Novi, MI
July 2-5: Anthrocon in Pittsburgh, PA
FurFright in Oct- this depends on who else is working it
In addition, March 6-8 is the Dorsai Irregulars Thing which I'll be at (although that doesn't count as working). toracub is flying in early to drive down with me and flying out late to spend some time around A2. a2andy and I will be taking him to Gigi's Monday night I'm sure. I'm looking forward to Thing and getting to show Tora around my area :)
So, MagFest 6.. we had cops show up with shotguns, we had attendees having lampshade parties, phones being stolen, people getting alcohol poisoning... The report started off saying "Despite the presence of police with shotgun and full riot gear, Magfest was much smoother this year." so that should give you an idea of what the convention was like and how bad MagFest 5 was compared to 6. The best part for me was meeting a lot of new people who were working: Colin, giza, Gooch, Skippy (drzaaron), Deja and Steve, Max, tango, Creature, toracub, Chilly Mouse, Kasi, Da Bear..
Next I worked Technicon (Mar 28-30) in Blacksburg, VA with a subset of the crew above.. that's also the first time I met Crimson. And JJ/James I believe. Oh and Quazi. I spent a lot of time talking with toracub during Technicon which was fun.
After Technicon came the big one - Anthrocon (June 26-29th)! Anthrocon was loads of fun and a lot of work. This was my first-ever Furry convention and it was awesome. In addition to a lot of the crew above I met the Claytons, Dan and Kay Jarrell, Mark Osier, Ann and Bob Passovoy, Gary Bratzel, Grant Millard, Gerry Felipe, Sam Gobeyn, Marnie (gooch's wife), John and Joanne Hall, Russ Hershler, Tina, Alex, Heathyr Lamb, and probably others I'm forgetting. Anthrocon was a lot of fun and working with Sam to do elevator control was a blast. Oh, that's where I met evil_dwagon.
Next was FurFright (Oct 17-18). I met boomeroo (Xander) and mrianti there. Again, fun was had by me.
I just got back from working MagFest 7, which was - oddly - quiet this year. Even with a lot more people than last year, we had very few big incidents. The biggest one being some idiot who didnt get the hint that the hotel wasn't joking when they said if he showed up again he'd be arrested... (twice). toracub and I spent some time away from the convention.. once to go check on his parent's cats and then on Saturday to see his current place, future place, where he works, and his local area. We grabbed lunch at Five Guys which was quite tasty! I had a lot of fun at MagFest, even though I was pretty miserable for a lot of it. My sinuses did not adjust well to the really dry air and gave me nothing but problems.. I probably should have done more to properly treat it then, but I didn't have my normal drugs and didnt want to go out to get any. I'm paying for it now, however. Fever. Severe congestion. Cough.. yeah, it's a lot of fun. Regardless, I got to spend time with the people I basically only see when working conventions and it's always nice to spend time with them.
So what's in store this year for conventions I'll be working?
March 12-17: A&G in Cincinnati, OH
April 24-26: Furry Connection North in Novi, MI
July 2-5: Anthrocon in Pittsburgh, PA
FurFright in Oct- this depends on who else is working it
In addition, March 6-8 is the Dorsai Irregulars Thing which I'll be at (although that doesn't count as working). toracub is flying in early to drive down with me and flying out late to spend some time around A2. a2andy and I will be taking him to Gigi's Monday night I'm sure. I'm looking forward to Thing and getting to show Tora around my area :)