Next Post (from Germany)

[furtech]

Saturday night update:

The capping event of the convention was earlier this evening: a puppet show. But not just any puppet show: this was something that several dozen members of the con committee and friends have worked on for months. They worked out a script, rehearsed extensively over several months (some driving several hundred miles to attend rehearsals) and built a number of really great props. The story was unexpectely amazing; I knew that they would put on a good show-- but this performance was above and beyond that. A two hour performance! The characters and puppeteering were effective and combined with a good script and innovative stage trickery made for a terrific show!

What a great way to end a con! Tomorrow is essentially an open day (plus a dead dog party). We're going to try and get to a local zoo (really a nature center, I think). They don't have any big animals-- just foxes and stuff. But I like visiting zoos regardless of their scope.

Things I need to get: great boxes of sodium cyclimates; cheezy souvineers; German versions of Broadway musicals.

I'm guessing that it's a bad sign when the first thing one says after eating a really delicious sausage is, "Was that cooked?" I am still investigating the mystery sausage: several sources say, "Local delicacy-- raw sausage!" and one that thinks it -might- be cooked, mostly. One theory is that this is a half-cured salami. One of the locals told me something that I had a hard time getting my head around: he said (and I paraphrase): "When you buy sausage from the butcher, for the first two days we often eat it raw. After two days and you really should cook it." He looks remarkably robust, too, so I don't know.

They serve a great summer-type sausage in the lobby. Funny thing, though: it has a kind of raw texture (though it is clearly smoked). Maybe this is a style of sausage they like. I got a wheel of cheese and some "white sausage" in my goody bag, along with a chunk of ham. Probably can't take any of this home; not sure if I should have refrigerated them, too. I'm guessing not. Ahh-- how adaptable of me: I'm going 'native'.

Random observations: Tracy would REALLY love this place: loud trance music everywhere. Except during the day, where the hotel speaker system played non-stop "Zamfir plays Beatles Greatest Hits". All day. The same flutey wheezings of "Michele" and other hits from Abby Road and Sgt. Pepper. Didn't notice if they played "Helter Skelter"-- that would have made up for all the rest, though.

Roz: I wasn't in the show at close, but you sold at least three pieces: Jack and car had three bids up to 50e; Ferel Grin had three bids to 30e; Termite Mounds had a single bid of 30e. I'll try to check and see what they ended up going for (long line today). Both you and Hopkins do have your following here, though. Had a talk with someone who lamented that his stuff was all out-of-print.

Atmosphere here is very "family". People generally are open and will actively engage you into their activities and conversations. Nearest I can describe it is that there is a lack of inhibitions which often prevents American fans from either attempting to integrate or makes them (American fans) seem clique-ish at American cons. This may also be due to the size and age of the actual fandom here. Plus, there seems to be less of the instinctive persecution of something different here. Maybe when one's culture is as old as many of these are, you don't feel as much a need to persecute. Mostly people seem confused by all the animal costumes. More than once they have assumed that we're protesting something (like the G-8 or some big political event). The idea of mascots hasn't really caught on here and locals seem to have a hard time understanding that one would do this without some important purpose.

The hotel manager loves us, though. Huge food and beverage receipts probably help, but it's still amusing to see a very German, very straight businessman welcoming big furry costumed customers like they were old friends. Apparently hobby conventions are very uncommon in Europe: the chairman has to spend time explaining what exactly a "convention" was. This hotel is used to people coming to the area to hunt or hike or ski-- not whole groups who pretty much hole up in the hotel and entertain themselves!

Comments

[waynekaa.livejournal.com]

Well doesn't the smoking process provide enough carcinogens to kill off little bacteria and wormies? And then in 2 days the spores germinate and grow again :D

[furtech.livejournal.com]

No, he meant regular raw-pork sausage...

[sk-1.livejournal.com]

The capping event of the convention was earlier this evening: a puppet show. But not just any puppet show...

I've heard a lot about these efforts, but I've yet to see one for myself. As much as I'd like to have something like that at a US convention, I doubt it will ever happen. Not enough people are willing to put out the work needed to pull it off, and those who are willing are scattered too far about the country to effectively rehearse anything.

I applaud all of the people involved in making the EF puppet show the only one of its kind, and it will likely be the only one for a long time.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

The Eurofurence puppet show is an amazing piece of work! So much work and so much rehearsing! The audience really feels for the characters early in the show and makes their story something that draws you into it. Can't wait for the next one!

[sk-1.livejournal.com]

Do you know if they put the show out on DVD? I may want to get a copy of it so I know what I have to copy can find some inspiration.

[diadexxus.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a blast, but I am disappointed that I have not seen ONE picture from anyone yet! :)

Enjoy the rest of your time there!
-J

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Next post at least has a preview...I'll get stuff up on Flickr asap!

[cooner.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a lot of fun! So sorry I couldn't make it. :P

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Would have been cool to have you, but the ticket turned out to be non-transferable and I couldn't overcome the guilt at the price of a new, no-advance fare ticket.

But still! Get your darn passport! You never know what might come up!

[kvogel.livejournal.com]

Wish I were there. But this has been a really horrible time for Bev and such, and would have been a total catastrophy had I not been here to help.

I'm really relieved that it has worked out well for you. Hope they didn't miss me too much.

[martes.livejournal.com]

I seriously doubt anyone holds it against you for not going! It just wasn't in the cards.

Hopefully you can hit FC. I don't think I've seen you since i was up there for ConiFur 2005.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Everyone was very sympathetic to your situation and wished you well. I took over a couple of your panels (actually, now that I think about it-- just one: writing for comics). Definitely drag you there next year!

[vulpesrex.livejournal.com]

The puppet shows of EF are indeed special; the AnthroCon on-line store was, and may still be selling DVDs of their performance from a couple years ago, "Phantom of the EuroFurence", I believe it was called. If there are any further such "BBF" (Big Blue Fox) productions, I would by them.

I had hoped to go this year, had even hoped of talking my aged father into going, but it was not to be. Instead, I am living out of a motel in Roseville, looking for an apartment with short-term lease, when not actually working (or at least trying to look like I am woring).

[furtech.livejournal.com]

The new venue (an actual hotel) is fantastic! Hopefully they can stay there for a few years. No waits for the elevators; good food; nice layout; none of the problems of a youth hostel.

[iisaw.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a great time! I love (well-done) puppet shows. That's something that seems to be a Europeans tradition,

[furtech.livejournal.com]

You know-- I hadn't thought about it, but you may be correct about the European/puppet connection.

You'd probably have a good time at Eurofurence: you could actually have hit the Fringe Fest and then shuttled over to the con! Aeto accidentally found himself in Edinburgh on the closing day of the Fest.

[iisaw.livejournal.com]

Hmn... do they coincide next year? I'm planning on being in Edinburgh for the Fringe then.

[pikacello.livejournal.com]

Enjoy yourself! Enjoy yourself!
haha, the businessman sounds so awesome. Europeans are AWESOME!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Totally enjoyed myself! Once I arrived, most of my cramming/work was done except for the panels. Got to meet a ton of people and got many kudos on the worgen! Plus, sausages and Coke w/real sugar!

[skunki.livejournal.com]

Thats a "Kuckucksuhr" and its typicall for the Black Forest. You have to look there.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Yeah-- those things! I gave up trying to use the German name because my pronunciation was so bad they didn't understand that, either.

[skunki.livejournal.com]

Have a look at this place:

http://www.schwarzwalduhr.de/?gclid=COmh3sqavY4CFQJrMAod03jYzg

They even do custom clocks according to your wishes. I know the place from the time when I went skiing when I was little.

[yarwick.livejournal.com]

Glad you had a good time and enjoyed yourself on this side of the pond – it was a great convention overall!  Good to see you again briefly, too. :)

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Arrgh! Did I actually meet you and not know who you were? Totally my bad! So...who were you? Any identifying features my jet-lagged brain might remember?

[yarwick.livejournal.com]

Not really – when I wasn't bouncing around the place as a large anthro-collie, I was just your average ugly, balding English guy (the one holding the conbook).  Not much has really changed since I visited (the other) Lex at your L.A. workshop some 3.5 years ago!

Siefer and I will be back again to the U.S. hopefully in January for FC, so see you there. :)

[yarwick.livejournal.com]

By the way, aren't you going to be around this neck of the woods in a week or so's time (or so I'd heard)?  Would be good to say hi briefly if you're in town on this side of the Pond!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Yes! Steve Gallacci and I will be at RBW: please introduce yourself and let me put a face to your LJ! See you in a few!

[yarwick.livejournal.com]

I won't unfortunately be able to make the boat trip itself (and suiting for charity in the morning), but I should be around either side on Saturday evening or on Sunday, depending what the general plan is.  Or indeed during the week if you're hanging around in London. :)

Safe trip over, and maybe see you in a few days!

[doco.livejournal.com]

Essentially, the "mystery sausage" you were referring to isn't as much a sausage as it is minced ham. It is commonly used as a spread and garnished with onions, and it usually is a staple item of these little sandwich shops you saw at the airport.

Law says that it _has_ to be consumed on the day it is produced when raw, but a lot of folks will use it in place of the much more expensive steak tartare (which is essentially the same thing, just beef instead of pork) to create dishes such as spaghetti bolognese, meatballs, et al. It's pretty much the mystery ingredient of German cuisine, but there's nothing to worry about when it's fresh. Unless it is presented in the all too common minced meat porcupine form (or, better known by its German name "Mettigel") - if that ever happens you should either put on your polyester pants and dance to disco or be prepared to sue your host for being 30 years behind common style. :)