My problem with conventions

[Acton]

I have to make a confession I love to going to a furry convention but at the same time I cant stand the idea. It is not the people or the events but it is not the way I travel.

I fist started traveling in 1985 while stationing Japan with  the US Navy. I did not go home on leave but use the opportunity to travel throughout Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Australia. My last big vacation was 60 day starting form Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia in 2000.  My good friend in 1985 tough me the way of the backpack, hostel, and Lonely Planet. I travel very light, fast, and cheap. I would never think of paying more 30 a night for a place to stay. a five night stay at AC will cost me $500.00. $500 can buy me room and food for 7 to 10 days.   The only thing keeping me from just staying home is an overwhelming desire to go to an furry conventions.

I need to get thsi off my chest and wonder ther are others

[Keeshanic Fox]

Cons are expensive things, ain't gonna lie.  I'm actually starting to donate plasma now on the side to cover all these fursuit and travel expenses.  I'm cheap by nature, m'self.

[Mac]

I guess I'm in your same boat, except it's not price that wards me from furry cons. As much as I'd like to meet people who share my interests, I'd never survive a con. I've got more than enough money, my problem is my personality. I just can't mingle casually with civilians at all, I'm too serious. I know it's probably because of my job, but that can't prevent me from being a complete moron in front of civilians. I always have to remind myself that my jargon is only understood by the people I work with...

But, eh, if it can't be helped why worry about it. If you simply don't have enough money, then there's not much you can do. And donating plasma  '>  How much can fursuiting and traveling expensives cost?

[Arbutus]

I hear ya, Acton... last year, I got accustomed to traveling as lightly and cheaply as possible, and that perspective has left me utterly shocked at how much money "real" vacations cost. I cringe every time I have to drop money on a hotel-- I don't want down pillows or continental breakfasts or tiny little bottles of shampoo, I just want a place to sleep! Can't I just pay like five bucks and get a couch in the lobby? And people actually buy plane tickets to get to cons? I would never be able to justify that expense to myself.

Not to mention liike $1000-2000 for a fursuit. Jesus. $2000 is what I make in an entire summer.

[Kyotas]

Hehe plane tickets are terrible from here ^^

Im not going to AC because the minimum Ive seen tickets for going there cost..... well... alot....

 I remember seeing some for about 650.... pounds that is, so 1300 dollars.......

 I guess I didnt shop around too much but.... thats the kind of price range I saw... and its not something Im prepared to pay ^^

Ok just had another look, and the prices are in dollars... but.... tickets still costing like    $834.37 per adult...

If anyone find anything better from the uk ^^

Tell me and I may be able to go to AC09 or something ^^

But like I said.. at these prices Im not going... and that doesnt even include the hotel or the con... or food....

[Acton]

Quote (Mac @ Oct. 20 2007, 3:15 am)

I guess I'm in your same boat, except it's not price that wards me from furry cons. As much as I'd like to meet people who share my interests, I'd never survive a con. I've got more than enough money, my problem is my personality. I just can't mingle casually with civilians at all, I'm too serious. I know it's probably because of my job, but that can't prevent me from being a complete moron in front of civilians. I always have to remind myself that my jargon is only understood by the people I work with... But, eh, if it can't be helped why worry about it. If you simply don't have enough money, then there's not much you can do. And donating plasma  '>  How much can fursuiting and traveling expensives cost?

Tell me about it. I been in the navy for 12 years, I wanted to do my 20 years but reduction in force got to me. The first two years were rough because i was a Senior enlisted  (e-5) and use to tell some sap get it done or else. It took me a while to get used to civilian life.

I heard there area few milfurs who attend the convention beside just think of it a leave.

[Blastdav]

Be thankful that you don't live in Wales, the plane to Anthrocon 2008 is going to cost around $1100, then there's the hotel, admission price and all the food stuffs >.=.<
Fortunatly, RBW is in London and that's only going to cost about $100 to get the train, so it's not all that bad I guess ^.=.^

[TheNomeKing]

because the cons are once a year, what you should do is have a seprate bank account just for cons. Then during the year, every month, put away a small amount of money.Then,theoretically, by the end of the year when the con comes you should have enough money to afford it.  '>

[Holley]

I know what you mean about expenses, when I go away to watch (up to) 4 days of car racing I take one backpack of stuff and sleep in the back of my car (usually after wangling a press pass so I don't have to pay to get in).  I've now started getting paid for my words & photos, not a lot but enough to cover my petrol with a little left over '>

Now Confuzzled is like £180 per person, not as much as Anthrocon, but still a good chunk of money and more than I can afford to spend on one single luxury right now ... still, there's always 2009, lol.

[Narei Mooncatt]

Quote (Mac @ Oct. 20 2007, 2:15 am)

I've got more than enough money, my problem is my personality. I just can't mingle casually with civilians at all, I'm too serious.

Do what I like to do, just find a quiet corner in the main hall or wherever the action is and just sit back and people watch.  I'm pretty serious about stuff as well, and not much into making small talk with random people.  That's usually my issue, having so many people that I need to meet that I can't get time away do just de-stress.

Don't get me wrong, I like the friends I hang out with, but I bust my tail driving all over and usually pushing it to get to the con in time because of my work schedule, and then hit the road again right after.  Instead of taking a breather in that off time, it's filled with con activities.  But I'm now being more selective about how many I go to and which ones, and getting a feel of extra time I'd like off before and after to ensure I get there on time and have a chance to unwind.

[Mazz]

you can find a small hotel nearby that will cost you less.

[Acton]

Yes there are cheep ways. I know furs arrange van pool to FC from Seattle and a train Ride to Calfur. As for cheaper hotels, there is a possibility but a huge trade off, when I was at RainFurrest there were times I need to crash out at my own space if just for a half a hour. This can become impracticable if the cheaper hotels are 10 to 15 miles out.

UK furs, I feel you pain especially how the dollar has feel against the Euro and Pound.

I guess it is like much of life: a matter of trade offs. I see reducing my con schedule and sticking to Rainfurrest and All Fur Fun after attending one of the majors. I want to go back to Europe* or South America.  
* probably during time of one of your cons.

[Mazz]

it's a good idea to jut stick to one or 2 that you really enjoyed. Helps save money and ensure a good time IMO.

[Holley]

Quote (Acton @ Oct. 20 2007, 5:09 pm)

UK furs, I feel you pain especially how the dollar has feel against the Euro and Pound.

Actually with the Pound being strong against the comparatively weak dollar for most of this year its been a good thing for us - I've been buying as many parts for my Dodge as I can while the goings good, lol.  Some of my friends have been over to the US when they normally wouldn't be able to afford it ...

Honestly, I don't think it's that much. 90 dollars a night for a hotel is pretty normal.  Actually that's cheaper than almost anywhere here in the city -- I know the Holiday Inn here is about 180 a night and up, and the nicer hotels like the Hyatt at Fishermans Wharf are even more -- I got a room there for my birthday and its gonna cost about 360 for the night.

Stuff is expensive, but I don't think that it's asking too much.

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I've got more than enough money, my problem is my personality. I just can't mingle casually with civilians at all, I'm too serious.

Social skills are good to have.

[Mac]

Quote

Do what I like to do, just find a quiet corner in the main hall or wherever the action is and just sit back and people watch.

Yea but I can't justify spending money to do that O_o I can do that in a movie theater, or a mall. Heck I'm doing it right now and getting paid for it. And yea Rabid, social skills must be nice to have. But when your daily routines are either patrol and combat overseas, or training and drilling at home, one kinda misses out on opportunities to develop said skills.

Acton is a case example, I'll probably get normal again a couple years after I retire. Only a little over 16 years to go, maybe then I can go to some cons, lol.

Quote

I been in the navy for 12 years, I wanted to do my 20 years but reduction in force got to me.

Oh man I'm pretty scared as it is. This crappy war will shift hugely with the new president next year, you just know when it's over force reduction will take effect. I'm exactly what you were, an E-5. In a soon-to-be useless MOS. Wont need much Infantry when there's no more combat, I'm getting pretty nervous...

[Narei Mooncatt]

Quote (Mac @ Oct. 20 2007, 3:54 pm)

Quote Do what I like to do, just find a quiet corner in the main hall or wherever the action is and just sit back and people watch. Yea but I can't justify spending money to do that O_o I can do that in a movie theater, or a mall.

Yeah, but I'll bet they nothing near as interesting to watch as furries are. '>

Though it is nice to get paid for it, depending on your definition of "people watching."  You could say I get paid to go to some cons because I can get a load to the the con city and park it on site or a short walk away.

[Savaaha]

there would be no way Tak and I could go to a con without sharing costs with other furs. Food is easily enough had thro the consuite but rooms themselves are murder on the wallet.

We got lucky for MFM that my folks offered to board the dogs, other wise it would have cost another 170.00 just to put them in the kennel.

[Mac]

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Yeah, but I'll bet they nothing near as interesting to watch as furries are. Though it is nice to get paid for it, depending on your definition of "people watching."

Alright, ya got me there. Definatly not as interesting as watching furries. But, if that's the only thing I'd do at the con, would it really be worth it? :/

And currently my definition of people watching is - sitting around in the common room of our little FOB on my laptop, watching the other guys watch TV or slap each other out of boredom. We're all just waiting to leave this place... But we're still getting paid =D

[Fen-Fen]

Quote (RabidRick @ Oct. 20 2007, 4:39 pm)

Quote I've got more than enough money, my problem is my personality. I just can't mingle casually with civilians at all, I'm too serious. Social skills are good to have.

That's honestly easier said than done. I'm a very shy person myself, if I didn't have Kevin going with me I wouldn't go at all. He's more outgoing than I am.

I'm slowly saving up for AC '08 as a birthday gift to myself. I plan on taking a good bit from my Income tax and using that for food and stuff. :]

[Wulffrith]

I knew someone that raised $2000.00 once for a trip to New Zealand completely by recycling.  She got all her friends, family, and neighbors to help her out.  I'm pretty cheap too, but there are always ways to save up money.

[Lobar]

Sleeping-tube rentals for $10 a night or so need to become a reality.

[Narei Mooncatt]

Quote (Lobar Shadowtail @ Oct. 21 2007, 3:24 am)

Sleeping-tube rentals for $10 a night or so need to become a reality.

Don't they already have those in Japan?  Would be interesting to see them start popping up at cons though.  I said interesting, not neccesarily good.  Can you image all the extra people comming in on the cheap and not really having any way to shower unless they are lucky enough to bum one of someone with a room or the con/hotel put's in "rent-a-showers".  

Quote (Narei Mooncatt @ Oct. 21 2007, 1:17 am)

Can you imagine all the extra people comming in on the cheap and not really having any way to shower

Unfortunately yes >.<

This happens enough as it is, and is gross '>

Quote

That's honestly easier said than done. I'm a very shy person myself, if I didn't have Kevin going with me I wouldn't go at all. He's more outgoing than I am.

I guess you don't need to be outgoing to still have social skills but it's important to at least be able to talk with people well.  Not only here but important for stuff like getting a decent job.

I guess I'm not really a social butterfly myself, but I can at least start a conversation if I want to meet someone.

[Fen-Fen]

Quote (RabidRick @ Oct. 21 2007, 1:02 pm)

I guess you don't need to be outgoing to still have social skills but it's important to at least be able to talk with people well.  Not only here but important for stuff like getting a decent job. I guess I'm not really a social butterfly myself, but I can at least start a conversation if I want to meet someone.

I talk with people well, especially at my job interview. But it becomes so uniform that you can just spit out what you have to say. (ie: I'm a hard-worker, a team player, etc.) It becomes second nature.

I'm just not one to start a conversation. There is a reason to my 'madness'. I have a speech problem that makes me very uncomfortable with saying things first. When a word has vowels in the front, I get stuck on them easily. So that contributes to my shyness. '>