Fursuiting Tips

Hi Papabear! 

This is Dawnstar for another letter. For this one, I don't have any problems/concerns to report. This is more of a curiosity than anything really huge or important. 

I've been in the furry fandom for a good 4, going on 5 years now. I decided to join when I was 12 because I enjoyed drawing furries and I saw how much fun people who were in it were having. I'm really glad I joined because I love being a furry and all the stuff that comes with it. Through the fandom, I've met lots of awesome and interesting people and I've been taught to accept people no matter what or who they are. Being a furry is something that's joyfully permanent in my life. 

With that in mind, I've always wanted to go to a furcon. But I've been too young to go on my own, unable to afford a fursuit or build one, and none of them have been close to enough to my state. (Then I learned that there was a con only a few hours from my city. Knowing I couldn't get to it was a bit frustrating.) Eventually I'll be able to get to a con by myself because I can drive and I'm getting closer and closer to where I'm going to be moving out of my parents' house. Eventually when I get a job I'll be able to afford a fursuit or I will try to learn how to construct one myself.

But when this happens, how am I supposed to act when I'm wearing it? I've always wondered this and I haven't been able to figure out an answer on my own. I've seen people wearing fursuits, but it gives me little insight. 

-Dawnstar

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Welcome Back, Dawnstar,

It’s important to note from the get go that owning a fursuit, even a partial fursuit, is not a requirement to attend a furcon by any means. I’m not sure that’s what you were saying, but it sounds as if you believe everyone at furry conventions wears a fursuit. That’s not any more true than it is in the general fandom. (And, while I’m on the topic, you don’t need a fursona to be a furry, either).

Okay, so now that that’s straightened out, let’s get into our time machine and move the dial forward a year or two.... You are now old enough to live on your own, you have a job, and you have a set of wheels. Not only that, but you have managed to build and/or buy your own fursuit and save money to attend the convention that is a few hours from your home. So, you get to the convention, check into your hotel room, and the first thing you want to do is climb into your fursuit and head out into the hotel lobby and interact with people.

Well, let’s put on the brakes a bit and back up for a second. 

First of all, you might want to check the program schedule at the con you’re attending. Many times you will see forums presented by experienced fursuiters on everything from fursuit making to general fursuiting behavior to performing on stage. I would recommend you attend one or two of these, especially as it’s your first time, before suiting up.

In the meantime, I can give you some tips, certainly. First....

Safety Tips

1. Pretty much all fursuits have limited vision for the wearer. For this reason, it’s best (especially for the inexperienced) to have a handler. A handler is a pal who is not in suit and can help you navigate your surroundings, watching for hazards such as stairs, curbs, electrical cords, ottomans, and such. Handlers will also warn you of people approaching, hold your paw when you’re out at night or in dimly lit corridors, and fend off adults or children who might try to tackle you unawares or pull on your tail.
2. Hydration is key. You will perspire a lot in a fursuit, so always have some water or other un-caffeinated beverage close by. Depending on the type of mouth (or other real-mouth accessible opening) your fursuit has, you might need a long straw. Your handler can assist you with this, too.
3. If you get too hot, go to the nearby “headless room” or “fursuit room” that should be provided by any well-organized con. This is a room in which only fursuiters and their handlers are allowed. They should be well supplied with fans and water and a place to sit and catch your breath. Familiarize yourself with the location of this room before you suit up. In general, scope out the hotel or convention center or wherever you are suiting and become familiar with it before you get inside your fur.
4. It can also be helpful to discuss with your handler a system hand signals to communicate your needs. 
5. Note that when you are at a convention hotel, fursuiters are given priority to board elevators by the hotel and con staff who may be directing traffic there, the reason being that a fursuiter may need to get to his or her room quickly because of overheating or other urgent biological needs.
6. In general, you would be wise to wear your fursuit multiple times before your first public appearance. Get used to it, and become familiar with your physical limitations while wearing it.

General Maintenance

1. Fursuits can get pretty smelly. The main reason for the smell is bacteria in your sweat. Treat your fursuit after each wearing with a healthy spray of antimicrobial disinfectant, such as Lysol.
2. Washing: Many fursuiters never wash their fursuits, unless they get mud on them or some such. But, if you do wash your fursuit never never never just put it in a clothes washing machine. You’ll almost certainly ruin it. Instead, hand wash in cold water in a tub using a detergent free of bleaches and alcohol (e.g. Woolite). Do not scrub your fursuit, especially being careful of detailed areas around the zipper, claws, etc. Actually, there are a lot of things to be cautious about, so here’s a useful link: http://www.stormfirestudios.ca/careguide.html#cleaning. You can also discuss care with your fursuit maker if you have one made.
3. Feet: You need to be aware of wear and tear on the bottoms of your feet. Now, my feet have special hard soles on them that are almost like the bottoms of shoes, so I don’t worry too much, although I do avoid walking on rough surfaces. For more delicate feet, you might want to make yourself some sandals (http://dia.critter.net/tutorials/sandals/) or even special shoes. Just be cognizant of the wear you are putting on your footie pads.
4. Storage: Store your fursuit in a safe, dry, clean place. I have a large storage tote for mine. Don’t just toss it in the corner of a closet, which is a good way to damage it.

Fursuiting Behavior

1. Deheading: In general (an exception might be a furry party) you should try to avoid taking your head off in public (this is one reason why there are headless lounges at conventions). A good fursuiter tries to create the illusion that he or she is really that character. Could you imagine going to Disneyland and seeing Mickey Mouse in a parade and he suddenly takes his head off to reveal an underpaid teenager with acne and oily hair? Even if the guy inside Mickey is handsome, it’s a bit weird to dehead in public). When you’re in suit, try to stay in character, try to become your fursona—so don’t decapitate yourself. Another exception? Well, in my first fursuit parade (FurtherConfusion) I was not used to my fursuit and had not yet acquired such useful accessories as underarmor (many furries wear a balaclava) and cooling vest. Nervous, I suited up about an hour before I should have, and by the time the parade started I was already overheating, even with water. Well, the parade went okay, but at the end of the route I felt dizzy and nauseated and my heart was racing. I felt like I was going to pass out (and you often do see this at furcons). Rather than become seriously ill, I sat down and took off my head. I think that was fine. Better to have some good sense and get needed air than call an ambulance!
2. Talking: This is a point of some contention with furries. Many feel that you shouldn’t talk while in fursuit. Some say it’s fine. Me, I have no objection to it, other than to say that talking in fursuit looks better if you have a moveable mouth than if you don’t. Do what is right for your character and for you. If you do talk, you might want to adopt a special character voice.
3. Do Not Approach Others Unless They Approach You First: This is especially true of children because you could really freak a kid out if he or she is not expecting a big furry animal to approach him or her, but it’s also appropriate with adults. Be respectful. But, if someone approaches you and, say, asks for a hug, be free to do so if you’re okay with that (me, I definitely am okay with that!)
4. This should go without saying, but don’t exhibit lewd behavior in public. And definitely (if you have one) do not wear a murrsuit (fursuit with genitalia or access holes—dear Lord).
5. Interacting with Children: Related to the above, do not handle, pick up, hug, or otherwise have physical contact with the little ’uns unless you get a clear nod from their parents. And, if you DO get the nod, do not pick the kid up or do anything that could possibly result in the child being dropped or injured. There are ways to interact with kids that are fun but remain at a slight distance. Some gestures, like knuckle bumps and high fives, can work just fine. Posing for pictures with other furries or with nonfurry hotel guests is also a lot of fun. Also, when working with children, it can help to get on your knees to try to see them more at their level so as to also appear less threatening.

Performance

1. The best fursuiters are the ones who really get into their fursona and really know who that character or alter ego is. You are, in essence, a costumed actor. Don’t just shuffle your feet around, wandering aimlessly about the lobby—perform! What quirks or unique traits does your fursona have? Express them, really make your character come alive!
2. One thing to note is that when in a fursuit your gestures will appear somewhat muted by the layers of material surrounding you. Also, because your face will be rather frozen in expression (unless you have a primo fursuit head with animatronics or other coolio devices to make your ears, eyelids and such move) you will have to make up for this in different ways. Learn the art of body language, and then exaggerate your movements—really gesticulate in a broad fashion. Moving your head in expressive fashion can help a lot too.
3. Walking: I emphasize this because a lot of fursuiters just walk about like normal people and it just doesn’t look that interesting. On the other hand, I have seen some very good fursuiters who walk in such a way that is faithful to the anatomy of their fursona, sometimes in almost alien ways. This is particularly true of fursuiters of the hooved, avian, or draconian variety who really get into their unusual anatomy. Be that as it may, experiment with the way your character walks as an expression of who he or she is.

Well, this has gotten a little lengthy, but I hope it has helped. I have probably missed something, so will ask my readers who are fursuiters to feel free to add further tips.

Bear Hugs!

Papabear