Lucky Coyote welcomes guests to the hotel Local caterers get ready for big business, as almost three thousand fans converge on the David L. Lawrence Convention Center over the Independence Day weekend for the world's largest ever furry convention, Anthrocon 2007. Costly expansion Dealers fit easily into the larger venue This year marks the second time this ten-year-old convention has been held in Pittsburgh. Members of the furry fandom have lived in the region for years, but prior to 2006 their annual gathering took place 300 miles to the east, in Philadelphia . Fears of union rates kept the growing fan convention away from the Steel City for years, but Anthrocon ultimately outgrew all other options. The purchase and demolition by Target of its regular hotel, the Adams Mark, led to a cramped last-minute alternative for Anthrocon 2005. Convention leaders became determined to provide a better venue, no matter the cost. And that cost is high. The convention hall alone runs to $24,000; A/V and labor costs nearly triple that before accounting for the main ballroom. The board of Anthrocon, Inc. seems to like the venue, though, and has booked it through 2009. Its chairman, Dr. Samuel Conway — better known in the furry world as "Uncle Kage" — seems determined to keep other fees to a minimum, taking time during the pre-con staff meeting to caution against last-minute extras. Similar touches can be seen elsewhere; bag racks are shared with long-running sci-fi event Philcon, and spare paper is kept packed away for next year. It may seem like penny-pinching, but the results speak volumes: Anthrocon has kept in the black for the last three years. Where does the money come from? Attendees pay from $ 35 to $50 depending on when they register - or perhaps nothing at all, if they worked as a volunteer last year. But that isn't quite enough to cover the costs. It is Anthrocon's sponsors who make up the gap. Of the 2849 registered attendees, hundreds paid $90 or $175 for the privilege of faster registration, a convention t-shirt, and - for the 202 SuperSponsors - preferential seating and free food. This year the price includes a three-course luncheon with the convention's guests of honor; voice actor Rob Paulsen, Carolyn Kelly (daughter of Pogo artist Walt Kelly) and animation writer Mark Evanier. Programming and entertainment Voice actor Rob Paulsen tries to find the right words for Pinky during the Masquerade Three courses may not sound like much, but for some con-goers the standard fare is cheese pizza and granola bars, consumed between the many panels, workshops and special events. The vast majority of programming is provided by fans, though guests are expected to pass on their experiences in return for accommodation and travel expenses. Tutorials on arts, crafts and fiction are the order of the day, though several more exotic events do stand out. This year's Masquerade (where costumed fans perform skits for the audience) ended with the performers dancing with the audience in the aisles to the tune of the Time Warp. Earlier that day members of the Funday PawPet Show provided a ninety-minute puppet extravaganza. Comedy plays a significant large part in the lineup, with home-bred entertainers such as Matthew Davis (or "2, The Ranting Gryphon") doling out the laughs. Dr. Conway played a part with his Story Hour — a regular fixture involving personal tales with a humorous spin. Anthrocon has historically held itself to three days of activities, though this year's holiday provided an excuse for many to arrive early. For some, the entertainment started early, too; Thursday night saw a staged reading of Furry Tales, a unofficial musical inspired by Anthrocon 2006. The cabaret found itself swamped by furry fans, and was well-received as a comedy, though Anthrocon board members had reservations about the show's accuracy. When its creators admitted not actually having attended a furry convention, Conway told them he "knew where there was one." Convention leaders often find themselves having to explain things to those who have heard second-hand accounts. For example, while the fabled furpiles of CSI do exist, they're hardly the public orgy depicted — you'll find furs snuggling together, but conduct in lobby areas remains firmly PG. As for the fursuits, there's no denying their popularity. Fursuits are similar in construction to mascot costumes used by companies, schools, and sports teams, however they are personal to the wearer. Surveys suggest that up to 15\% of convention attendees have one, and Anthrocon 2007 is no exception, with 353 in the half-hour long Saturday parade; potentially a record for mascots in a procession. Guinness World Records were invited to confirm this next year, while convention staff promised more fans in the headless lounge to keep the costumed critters from overheating. The lounge costs Anthrocon $ 1,000/day to rent. Other groups sought a different brand of comedy. Four "protesters" from imageboard 7chan stationed themselves outside a daycare center opposite the convention hotel on Saturday. Two wore Afro wigs and bore anti-furry banners. Most attendees treated the "raiders" as part of the entertainment, especially after it began to rain. Dr. Conway and Operations Director Douglas Muth eventually took pity on the group, lending them Anthrocon-branded umbrellas. While other countries have their own furry events, on average they're only about one tenth the size. The largest outside of North America is Eurofurence , which drew 405 in 2006. Anthrocon's closest competition is San Jose's Further Confusion , while Midwest FurFest in Chicago provides a third alternative, spurred by 35\% growth last year. Anthrocon's own yearly growth was 14\%. The piece was one of a set created by seven prominent furry artists to depict the seven deadly sins - in this case, Greed. Adult art commanded a slightly higher price, with one work by Taurin Fox going for $2,000. But bargains could be had in both sections for those willing to forgo a popular name. A number of items went for the minimum bid, sometimes as low as $10 for large colored pieces. Charity and volunteers The convention supported Animal Friends, a local no-kill animal shelter . Over $6,600 was raised by Sunday night. Of this, $5,053 came from a charity auction featuring 77 items donated by members of the fandom. Some, like a Kevin and Kell original, would have been at home in the regular art auction. Other donations, such as the 12-packs of Canadian Coke and the pound of beef jerky, were more esoteric. Last year gave local vendors plenty to think about. Dr. Conway reported the total impact on the local economy at $2.5 million. Regardless of the actual figure, the local Kwik-E-Mart started taking furry fandom seriously when shelves started coming up bare. This year, vendors thought themselves better-prepared. The Steel City Diner printed 100 shirts celebrating the convention, only to run out on Friday afternoon. The diner met their weekly sales target by Wednesday, and doubled that by Friday night, working through Sunday to keep up with demand. Neighboring sub shop Fernando's drew blue paw-marks on the pavement to attract customers, and offered a special $ 5 menu for attendees. Its proprietor also came to the aid of his furry customers as they were being harassed by a local beggar — who gave Fernando a mild skull fracture for his trouble. While local cab drivers had compliments, not everyone appreciated the company. The Chicago Cubs decided to cancel their booking after hearing about the con, and J.J. Hardy of the Milwaukee Brewers reported being kept up by fans on Wednesday night. The Brewers lost their game the following day. The convention closed with next year's date — June 26-29 — along with the announcement of a guest: Disney animator Floyd Norman . The event's theme will be "It's a Jungle Out There!"
Lucky Coyote welcomes guests to the hotel Local caterers get ready for big business, as almost three thousand fans converge on the David L. Lawrence Convention Center over the weekend for the world's largest ever , . Costly expansion Dealers fit easily into the larger venue This year marks the second time this ten-year-old convention has been held in Pittsburgh. Members of the have lived in the region for years, but prior to 2006 their annual gathering took place 300 miles to the east, in . Fears of union rates kept the growing fan convention away from the Steel City for years, but Anthrocon ultimately outgrew all other options. The purchase and demolition by of its regular hotel, the Adams Mark, led to a cramped last-minute alternative for Anthrocon 2005. Convention leaders became determined to provide a better venue, no matter the cost. And that cost is high. The convention hall alone runs to $24,000; A/V and labor costs nearly triple that before accounting for the main ballroom. The board of Anthrocon, Inc. seems to like the venue, though, and has booked it through 2009. Its chairman, — better known in the furry world as "Uncle Kage" — seems determined to keep other fees to a minimum, taking time during the pre-con staff meeting to caution against last-minute extras. Similar touches can be seen elsewhere; bag racks are shared with long-running sci-fi event , and spare paper is kept packed away for next year. It may seem like penny-pinching, but the results speak volumes: Anthrocon has kept in the black for the last three years. Where does the money come from? Attendees pay from $ 35 to $50 depending on when they register - or perhaps nothing at all, if they worked as a volunteer last year. But that isn't quite enough to cover the costs. It is Anthrocon's sponsors who make up the gap. Of the 2849 registered attendees, hundreds paid $90 or $175 for the privilege of faster registration, a convention t-shirt, and - for the 202 SuperSponsors - preferential seating and free food. This year the price includes a three-course luncheon with the convention's guests of honor; voice actor , (daughter of artist ) and animation writer . Programming and entertainment Voice actor tries to find the right words for during the Masquerade Three courses may not sound like much, but for some con-goers the standard fare is cheese pizza and granola bars, consumed between the many panels, workshops and special events. The vast majority of programming is provided by fans, though guests are expected to pass on their experiences in return for accommodation and travel expenses. Tutorials on arts, crafts and fiction are the order of the day, though several more exotic events do stand out. This year's Masquerade (where costumed fans perform skits for the audience) ended with the performers dancing with the audience in the aisles to the tune of the . Earlier that day members of the provided a ninety-minute puppet extravaganza. Comedy plays a significant large part in the lineup, with home-bred entertainers such as Matthew Davis (or "2, The Ranting Gryphon") doling out the laughs. Dr. Conway played a part with his Story Hour — a regular fixture involving personal tales with a humorous spin. Anthrocon has historically held itself to three days of activities, though this year's holiday provided an excuse for many to arrive early. For some, the entertainment started early, too; Thursday night saw a staged reading of Furry Tales, a unofficial musical inspired by Anthrocon 2006. The cabaret found itself swamped by furry fans, and was well-received as a comedy, though Anthrocon board members had reservations about the show's accuracy. When its creators admitted not actually having attended a furry convention, Conway told them he "knew where there was one." Convention leaders often find themselves having to explain things to those who have heard second-hand accounts. For example, while the of do exist, they're hardly the public orgy depicted — you'll find furs snuggling together, but conduct in lobby areas remains firmly PG. As for the , there's no denying their popularity. Fursuits are similar in construction to mascot costumes used by companies, schools, and sports teams, however they are personal to the wearer. Surveys suggest that up to 15\% of convention attendees have one, and Anthrocon 2007 is no exception, with 353 in the half-hour long Saturday parade; potentially a record for mascots in a procession. were invited to confirm this next year, while convention staff promised more fans in the headless lounge to keep the costumed critters from overheating. The lounge costs Anthrocon $ 1,000/day to rent. Other groups sought a different brand of comedy. Four "protesters" from 7chan stationed themselves outside a daycare center opposite the convention hotel on Saturday. Two wore wigs and bore anti-furry banners. Most attendees treated the "raiders" as part of the entertainment, especially after it began to rain. Dr. Conway and Operations Director Douglas Muth eventually took pity on the group, lending them Anthrocon-branded umbrellas. While other countries have their own furry events, on average they're only about one tenth the size. The largest outside of North America is , which drew 405 in 2006. Anthrocon's closest competition is 's , while Midwest FurFest in provides a third alternative, spurred by 35\% growth last year. Anthrocon's own yearly growth was 14\%. The piece was one of a set created by seven prominent furry artists to depict the - in this case, Greed. Adult art commanded a slightly higher price, with one work by Taurin Fox going for $2,000. But bargains could be had in both sections for those willing to forgo a popular name. A number of items went for the minimum bid, sometimes as low as $10 for large colored pieces. Charity and volunteers The convention supported Animal Friends, a local . Over $6,600 was raised by Sunday night. Of this, $5,053 came from a charity auction featuring 77 items donated by members of the fandom. Some, like a original, would have been at home in the regular art auction. Other donations, such as the 12-packs of Canadian Coke and the pound of beef jerky, were more esoteric. Last year gave local vendors plenty to think about. Dr. Conway reported the total impact on the local economy at $2.5 million. Regardless of the actual figure, the local started taking furry fandom seriously when shelves started coming up bare. This year, vendors thought themselves better-prepared. The Steel City Diner printed 100 shirts celebrating the convention, only to run out on Friday afternoon. The diner met their weekly sales target by Wednesday, and doubled that by Friday night, working through Sunday to keep up with demand. Neighboring sub shop Fernando's drew blue paw-marks on the pavement to attract customers, and offered a special $ 5 menu for attendees. Its proprietor also came to the aid of his furry customers as they were being harassed by a local beggar — who gave Fernando a mild skull fracture for his trouble. While local cab drivers had compliments, not everyone appreciated the company. The decided to cancel their booking after hearing about the con, and of the reported being kept up by fans on Wednesday night. The Brewers lost their game the following day. The convention closed with next year's date — June 26-29 — along with the announcement of a guest: Disney animator . The event's theme will be "It's a Jungle Out There!"
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Independence Day
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furry convention, Anthrocon 2007.
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furry fandom
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Philadelphia
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Target
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$24,000; A/V and labor costs nearly triple that before accounting for the main ballroom. The board of Anthrocon, Inc. seems to like the venue, though, and has booked it through 2009. Its chairman, Dr. Samuel Conway — better known in the furry world as "Uncle Kage" — seems determined to keep other fees to a minimum, taking time during the pre-con staff meeting to caution against last-minute extras. Similar touches can be seen elsewhere; bag racks are shared with long-running sci-fi event Philcon, and spare paper is kept packed away for next year. It may seem like penny-pinching, but the results speak volumes: Anthrocon has kept in the black for the last three years. Where does the money come from? Attendees pay from $
$24,000; A/V and labor costs nearly triple that before accounting for the main ballroom. The board of Anthrocon, Inc. seems to like the venue, though, and has booked it through 2009. Its chairman, — better known in the furry world as "Uncle Kage" — seems determined to keep other fees to a minimum, taking time during the pre-con staff meeting to caution against last-minute extras. Similar touches can be seen elsewhere; bag racks are shared with long-running sci-fi event , and spare paper is kept packed away for next year. It may seem like penny-pinching, but the results speak volumes: Anthrocon has kept in the black for the last three years. Where does the money come from? Attendees pay from $
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$175 for the privilege of faster registration, a convention t-shirt, and - for the 202 SuperSponsors - preferential seating and free food. This year the price includes a three-course luncheon with the convention's guests of honor; voice actor Rob Paulsen, Carolyn Kelly (daughter of Pogo artist Walt Kelly) and animation writer Mark Evanier. Programming and entertainment Voice actor Rob Paulsen tries to find the right words for Pinky during the Masquerade Three courses may not sound like much, but for some con-goers the standard fare is cheese pizza and granola bars, consumed between the many panels, workshops and special events. The vast majority of programming is provided by fans, though guests are expected to pass on their experiences in return for accommodation and travel expenses. Tutorials on arts, crafts and fiction are the order of the day, though several more exotic events do stand out. This year's Masquerade (where costumed fans perform skits for the audience) ended with the performers dancing with the audience in the aisles to the tune of the Time Warp. Earlier that day members of the Funday PawPet Show provided a ninety-minute puppet extravaganza. Comedy plays a significant large part in the lineup, with home-bred entertainers such as Matthew Davis (or "2, The Ranting Gryphon") doling out the laughs. Dr. Conway played a part with his Story Hour — a regular fixture involving personal tales with a humorous spin. Anthrocon has historically held itself to three days of activities, though this year's holiday provided an excuse for many to arrive early. For some, the entertainment started early, too; Thursday night saw a staged reading of Furry Tales, a unofficial musical inspired by Anthrocon 2006. The cabaret found itself swamped by furry fans, and was well-received as a comedy, though Anthrocon board members had reservations about the show's accuracy. When its creators admitted not actually having attended a furry convention, Conway told them he "knew where there was one." Convention leaders often find themselves having to explain things to those who have heard second-hand accounts. For example, while the fabled furpiles of CSI do exist, they're hardly the public orgy depicted — you'll find furs snuggling together, but conduct in lobby areas remains firmly PG. As for the fursuits, there's no denying their popularity. Fursuits are similar in construction to mascot costumes used by companies, schools, and sports teams, however they are personal to the wearer. Surveys suggest that up to 15\% of convention attendees have one, and Anthrocon 2007 is no exception, with 353 in the half-hour long Saturday parade; potentially a record for mascots in a procession. Guinness World Records were invited to confirm this next year, while convention staff promised more fans in the headless lounge to keep the costumed critters from overheating. The lounge costs Anthrocon $
$175 for the privilege of faster registration, a convention t-shirt, and - for the 202 SuperSponsors - preferential seating and free food. This year the price includes a three-course luncheon with the convention's guests of honor; voice actor , (daughter of artist ) and animation writer . Programming and entertainment Voice actor tries to find the right words for during the Masquerade Three courses may not sound like much, but for some con-goers the standard fare is cheese pizza and granola bars, consumed between the many panels, workshops and special events. The vast majority of programming is provided by fans, though guests are expected to pass on their experiences in return for accommodation and travel expenses. Tutorials on arts, crafts and fiction are the order of the day, though several more exotic events do stand out. This year's Masquerade (where costumed fans perform skits for the audience) ended with the performers dancing with the audience in the aisles to the tune of the . Earlier that day members of the provided a ninety-minute puppet extravaganza. Comedy plays a significant large part in the lineup, with home-bred entertainers such as Matthew Davis (or "2, The Ranting Gryphon") doling out the laughs. Dr. Conway played a part with his Story Hour — a regular fixture involving personal tales with a humorous spin. Anthrocon has historically held itself to three days of activities, though this year's holiday provided an excuse for many to arrive early. For some, the entertainment started early, too; Thursday night saw a staged reading of Furry Tales, a unofficial musical inspired by Anthrocon 2006. The cabaret found itself swamped by furry fans, and was well-received as a comedy, though Anthrocon board members had reservations about the show's accuracy. When its creators admitted not actually having attended a furry convention, Conway told them he "knew where there was one." Convention leaders often find themselves having to explain things to those who have heard second-hand accounts. For example, while the of do exist, they're hardly the public orgy depicted — you'll find furs snuggling together, but conduct in lobby areas remains firmly PG. As for the , there's no denying their popularity. Fursuits are similar in construction to mascot costumes used by companies, schools, and sports teams, however they are personal to the wearer. Surveys suggest that up to 15\% of convention attendees have one, and Anthrocon 2007 is no exception, with 353 in the half-hour long Saturday parade; potentially a record for mascots in a procession. were invited to confirm this next year, while convention staff promised more fans in the headless lounge to keep the costumed critters from overheating. The lounge costs Anthrocon $
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imageboard
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Afro
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Eurofurence
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San Jose's Further Confusion
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Chicago
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seven deadly sins
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no-kill animal shelter
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Kevin and Kell
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$2.5 million. Regardless of the actual figure, the local Kwik-E-Mart started taking furry fandom seriously when shelves started coming up bare. This year, vendors thought themselves better-prepared. The Steel City Diner printed 100 shirts celebrating the convention, only to run out on Friday afternoon. The diner met their weekly sales target by Wednesday, and doubled that by Friday night, working through Sunday to keep up with demand. Neighboring sub shop Fernando's drew blue paw-marks on the pavement to attract customers, and offered a special $
$2.5 million. Regardless of the actual figure, the local started taking furry fandom seriously when shelves started coming up bare. This year, vendors thought themselves better-prepared. The Steel City Diner printed 100 shirts celebrating the convention, only to run out on Friday afternoon. The diner met their weekly sales target by Wednesday, and doubled that by Friday night, working through Sunday to keep up with demand. Neighboring sub shop Fernando's drew blue paw-marks on the pavement to attract customers, and offered a special $
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Chicago Cubs
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J.J. Hardy of the Milwaukee Brewers
of the
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Floyd Norman