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EF 2008: Saturday-- Parades, Puppets and Pathos
The Flickr photosets for EF
Click here for the SATURDAY PHOTOSET
Saturday...
...what can I say? Saturday is the high-point of an already fantastic convention. First thing in the morning (read: 11am) is the fursuit parade. I wandered down to the lobby still a few winks short of a good night's sleep and was greeted by costumes at the elevator, elevators filled with costumers and a lobby packed with even *more* costumes and not a few snapping cameras. Honestly, the place looks like a real world of anthropomorphics. Or what a nube pictures every furry convention to be like. The workmanship was just amazing.
Shakey Cam!
You know what would be perfect? Hunter S. Thompson (as played by Bill Murry) finding himself at this convention, illustrated by Ralph Steadman.
Speaking of workmanship: I wonder if the high quality of costumes here is because resources (fur, foam, etc.) are so hard to find (and $$$) that people are more careful with their work. I saw very little of the slap-n-glue technique here. And yes, there were a ton of American-made costumes (made by companies like Marilyn's and Latin Vixen) in the mix. Still...I saw a number of European-made costumes here and liked the unique style that many of them had.
Saturday after noon socializing and chatting and just hanging out was also peaking, as people were starting to realize that the end of the con was looming in just a day. Got some quality shop-talk in with Fatkraken and even got to talk to Dark Natasha in the evening in the art room.
Saturday night: the puppet show. The crew starts work on this even before the end of the last con. They work hard for the year scripting, building and directing this show. This is really a professional show at a fan-convention. Last year's show blew me away: this year's show was another powerhouse. Sky and Lord Tarian were fantastic as villains (I'd -so- do a Tarion suit!)-- and they were custom-built by Xan (fantastic job-- I've got a lot to learn, puppet-wise!). The regulars were back, too-- Poke, Mika, Lionel and Lori are a wonderful mix of comedy and heart. Can't wait until next year!
Check out the video of the show when the EF DVD shows up! I will caveat that no video can match the electricity of a live performance (anyone who has seen a stage show in-person and on video can tell you how different it is). Great job, guys!
Click here for the SATURDAY PHOTOSET
Saturday...
...what can I say? Saturday is the high-point of an already fantastic convention. First thing in the morning (read: 11am) is the fursuit parade. I wandered down to the lobby still a few winks short of a good night's sleep and was greeted by costumes at the elevator, elevators filled with costumers and a lobby packed with even *more* costumes and not a few snapping cameras. Honestly, the place looks like a real world of anthropomorphics. Or what a nube pictures every furry convention to be like. The workmanship was just amazing.
Shakey Cam!
You know what would be perfect? Hunter S. Thompson (as played by Bill Murry) finding himself at this convention, illustrated by Ralph Steadman.
Speaking of workmanship: I wonder if the high quality of costumes here is because resources (fur, foam, etc.) are so hard to find (and $$$) that people are more careful with their work. I saw very little of the slap-n-glue technique here. And yes, there were a ton of American-made costumes (made by companies like Marilyn's and Latin Vixen) in the mix. Still...I saw a number of European-made costumes here and liked the unique style that many of them had.
Saturday after noon socializing and chatting and just hanging out was also peaking, as people were starting to realize that the end of the con was looming in just a day. Got some quality shop-talk in with Fatkraken and even got to talk to Dark Natasha in the evening in the art room.
Saturday night: the puppet show. The crew starts work on this even before the end of the last con. They work hard for the year scripting, building and directing this show. This is really a professional show at a fan-convention. Last year's show blew me away: this year's show was another powerhouse. Sky and Lord Tarian were fantastic as villains (I'd -so- do a Tarion suit!)-- and they were custom-built by Xan (fantastic job-- I've got a lot to learn, puppet-wise!). The regulars were back, too-- Poke, Mika, Lionel and Lori are a wonderful mix of comedy and heart. Can't wait until next year!
Check out the video of the show when the EF DVD shows up! I will caveat that no video can match the electricity of a live performance (anyone who has seen a stage show in-person and on video can tell you how different it is). Great job, guys!
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Has anyone ever suggested trooping down to the village, in suit, En Mass? It would make one helluva Evening Event in that town!
I guess Dark Natasha did well? With the exchange rate being what it now is, eurofurries with pockets full of euros can (and did) outbid what I offered through proxy...
Speaking of Revar - did you catch Watts Martin at his reading? He seemed to enjoy the whole thing, it restored his faith in Furry Conventions. Any way that we can re-capture that sense of spirit and joy here, we should try.
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It's a good 2-3 miles down the hill to Suhl...though back when the con was held in Nuremburg, Germany the town was just outside the convention venue and many groups of costumers made their way into town. The locals were surprised to see so many animal costumes (mascots aren't that common in Europe), but generally happy and welcoming.
I think Natasha did fine. She was so busy she hid out in order to finish some of the work she needed to do!
I'm not surprised Watts had such a good experience: I sure did! The staff was *very* good to their guests! The whole con was a breath of fresh air.
Unfortunately, I don't think we can import those elements that make Eurofurence special. First, it's an adult-only convention (simplifies a LOT of things, from insurance to alcohol consumption). That aspect alone automatically tends to make the convention a little more mature. And it's not cheap to get to Eurofurence: for Americans especially but also for locals-- which means that those attending are going to be functional enough to hold a job, etc. So what they have is a convention for adults-- and the spirit of the con reflects that.
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I just started making puppets myself and I know how much work goes into them. It'll be a while before I'll be up to Xan's level!