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What Should I Take to a Furcon?

6/11/2014

4 Comments

 
Papabear,

What are your suggestions to bring to a convention if it is your first convention?  What food choices do you recommend to bring inside your hotel room to snack on as well? Plus, when going out with a group of Furries, how much do you recommend to tip?

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Thunderwolf

* * *

Dear Thunderwolf,

We’ll start with the easy one first: tipping. You should tip the way you always would when going out to eat. The easiest thing to do is to double the tax on the bill to calculate the tip. When the service is particularly good, I sometimes tip 20%-25%. And, if the service is really not good at all, I still give about 10%, unless it’s downright insulting, in which case I would leave nothing or even ask to speak with the manager. Now, if you are going out somewhere with a group of furries, go Dutch—that is, everyone pays for his or her own bill. I would not recommend one bill and everyone splits it, because often people get irritated if, say, someone orders a salad and water and someone else orders lobster tail and wine. So, pay your own bill.

Depending on which convention you’re attending, there may or may not be reasonably priced local restaurants within easy walking or driving distance. Hotel fair is usually a bit overpriced. Many furries, therefore, go on a bit of a shopping trip before a con, which works especially well if your room has a refrigerator and/or microwave. If not, buy dry goods and other things that don’t need cooking. Bring a small ice chest to keep drinks cool. For food, it depends on whether you wish to be good or bad. Many people throw all caution to the wind during what can be a party weekend and don’t worry about unhealthy snacks. I, on the other hand, think it’s a good idea to purchase some fruit, which will be fine unrefrigerated for a couple days. You can purchase cereals (or pastries, when naughty) and put a quart of milk in the fridge or ice chest. This will save you a lot of money versus buying such things at the hotel convenience store. I just came back from Califur, and a friend of mine also brought bread, packaged tuna, oatmeal (use the coffee pot in the room to heat up water). There are a number of dehydrated or freeze-dried products you can buy that, while not the best in flavor, will do in a pinch at a con if you are really trying to save bucks.

On to other things: you might want to bring a small bag of medical supplies including some or all of the following: bandages, Bactine, aspirin, Tums, Imodium, tweezers, and sunscreen; a pocket knife can also come in handy, as well as nail clippers if you break a nail. You might also want to take Airborne daily while at the con to help keep germs away (commonly called "con crud"). Take some multivitamins, too, and get 8 hours of sleep a night to keep your immune system strong. Events at furcons don't usually start until 10 a.m. at the earliest, so you can sleep in.

If you’re a fursuiter, remember to bring a repair kit with you, including things like needle and thread, fabric glue, and, if you have them, extra fur for patching or other spare parts for replacing things that might break. Bring Gatorade to replenish yourself after suiting. Bring a travel cup with a loooong straw so you can sip while in suit.

If you have one, take a cell phone with you. Make sure numbers of family members are there in the directory on your phone to contact in case someone needs to call and you are unable to. Barring that, just in case, keep a list of contact names in your wallet or purse in the unlikely event that there is an emergency and you are unable to call for yourself. This isn’t always necessary if you are with close friends who already know whom to contact in an emergency, but in a panicky situation it might be should they forget the numbers to call.

Do not take valuables with you to a con, such as expensive jewelry, lots of cash, or expensive electronics, unless you can keep them in a safe while at the hotel. And keep an eye on your fursuit; it’s not unheard of for people to lose parts at a con (tails and foot paws can be swiped, for example). Keep cherished items you might have been considering taking (e.g., a favorite plushie) at home. You don’t want to risk losing something like that at a hotel.

Check the weather forecast before you leave home and make sure you pack clothes appropriate for the weather, especially if you’re going somewhere that gets very chilly at night. Take a bathing suit if the hotel has a pool (they usually do).

Some furry gatherings are actually campouts, in which case you want to be even more prepared. If you have never been camping, you should ask others who have and see what to bring. The above advice is for cons that are held at hotels.

Thanks for asking! Hope this is a valuable post for some of you con-goers out there!

Papabear

4 Comments
Bara Kawamori
6/11/2014 06:55:17 am

I would not count on the con hotel having a fridge, much less a microwave. One con hotel I’ve stayed at has had neither, while the other one had only a fridge. Plus, oftentimes if the hotel does have a fridge, there will likely be a bottle of water and/or a few sodas in it. If you or your roommates drink any of them, be aware that you are essentially buying them, and a fee will be tacked on to the hotel bill. (Usually anywhere from $3-$5 per drink.) Bring the ice chest if you plan on having anything that needs to be refrigerated, and bring foods that don’t need to be refrigerated, like fruits, PB&J sandwiches, bagels with jelly, etc.

While it’s not a good idea to bring valuables, bring a good amount of cash, especially if you plan on visiting the Dealer’s Den. More artists now are accepting credit card payments thanks to small card readers that can be put on to an iPhone/iPad, but not all of them do, and you will run into some cash-only dealers at a con. Plus, as Papabear mentioned about tipping, it’s a little easier to tip in cash than on a card, though it can be done. There are ATMs at the hotel usually if you’re really stuck, but they will almost certainly not be from your bank, and there will be a transaction fee for using them. I’ve also heard of ATMs at con hotels running out of money too, although this is a rare occurrence. Just remember to be safe, and know where your cash is at all times.

Reply
Papabear
6/11/2014 11:08:36 am

Good input, Bara. Apologies if I seemed to imply that all hotels at cons had a fridge and a microwave. I didn't mean to say that, but did say to bring an ice chest. And good point about not taking stuff out of a fridge provided by a hotel--HEINOUS prices. Also a good point about the Dealer's Den. You do have to be very careful with cash, of course, which is why I was urging people not to take a lot of it. "A lot" is a relative term. Take as much cash as you feel won't hurt you should it be stolen. The majority of dealers do have cc processing, but a few might not. Sometimes, with, say, an artist, you can still commission art and agree to pay later when it's done. ATM machines will sometimes charge you, but these days there are more and more networked systems that take cards from several banks. It can all be a bit confusing for a first-timer; don't fret too much and try to enjoy the experience! I remember my first con (MFF) and I was so utterly GEEKED! Have fun!

Reply
Randy
6/11/2014 02:02:06 pm

(Hotel fare*)

Great advice, and do take care when dining out, restaurants for every meal can add up. As Papa said, have some food you can eat in your room. This is easier if you're driving rather than flying in, but you can probably find some grocery stores or convenience stores reasonably close to your hotel. Check to see if the hotel where you're staying offers a free shuttle service -- that's a great way to get groceries, and to get around town in general.

Reply
Ed
6/16/2014 09:14:46 pm

You could also look into the anthrocon website. There are useful tips that can be used in practically any conventions.

Reply



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