i hope this is the place to put this but here is a little guide i did for first time fursuiters
so you have a fursuit congrats and you want to wear it about a lot and to cons but dont have a good idea of what you can do here are some hints that can help you maximize you fun and get the most out of your fursuit and there will be con info in here for those who do go to one
· You will have a diminished range of vision (virtually no peripheral vision and no vision below your nose/muzzle) there is a area the you can start to see at best idea is to get someone to move a hand near your face while wearing you head from the sides to help see where your vision is.
· Your vision may be slightly blurred depending on your eye material. (think of looking through fly screen)
· Your movement may be restricted (a lot of padding like in digitigrade suits that make it look like your character)
· You may have less dexterity in your fingers (depending on what you get)
· You will get hot very fast (if your good with electricity and know how to do it hook up a pc fan to a rc car battery pack or you can get one built in)
· You need to decide on the personality of your character. Are they happy, outgoing, shy, grumpy, angry, aggressive, etc. Once you have decided on your characters personality you will need to practice playing the character. Get your suit on and practice poses, gestures and body language in front of the mirror to get your character looking exactly how you want them. Suits with 3D eyes in particular can have a large range of expressions depending on the angle you hold and view the head so practice in front of the mirror.
· Whatever personality you decide on for your character you need to be big and animated with your gestures and poses. Being covered in fur can mute a lot of subtle movements so practice waving bigger and poses you might like to use for photos.
· Keep moving when you are in suit, even something subtle like swaying your hips gently to let wag your tail keeps your character alive. If you stand still in suit the character quickly becomes uninteresting.
General fur suiting guidelines
Helpful hints
· wear a morph suit or a wet skin to stop sweat from leaking into the suit
· this one is kind of obvious: go to the bathroom before suiting up
· keep hydrated do i really need to mention the dangers of not drinking plenty of water before doing this (start 2 days before a big con if you decide to go to one)
· Know your limits: You need to know when you have had enough and need to take a break. If you push yourself to keep performing you can run the risk of heat stroke, a very serious condition, and even passing out.
· Ruining the magic: just dont do this unless you’re in your hotel room, house, the headless lounge or instructed by a police officer or security (or any other authority figure including store employees) if you need to take off your head do it its not worth your health.
· Police and security: This should be common sense but if a police officer or security guard (or any other authority figure including store employees) asks you to leave or take you head off, DO IT! Do not argue or try to play with them or you may just end up getting yourself thrown out, banned or even arrested. (yes i already mentioned police and security above)
· Remember you are in public so don’t do anything in suit that you wouldn’t out of suit. Don’t do anything considered rude or offensive that can attract negative attention.
· Most people will be interested in you and what you are doing and approach you. Never go bounding up to people you do not know and start harassing them especially if they are working.
· Handler: someone who can help you out:
· {Before going out in suit have a talk with your handler. Make sure they:
· know what you need them to do
· know what you can and can’t see when in suit
· are ready to step in if anything goes wrong
· know your limits
· know and hand signals you may need to use in suit
· have some bottled water with them
· are able to answer any questions people may have about your fursuit and what you are doing
· know the layout of the area you will be suiting in, know where any obstacles may be and where the exists are
· know that they need to keep a close eye on you and the people around you and not get distracted}
· The 6 2 1 rule: This is more of a general convention rule but important for suiters as well.
· The 6-2-1 rule means:
· 6 hours of sleep per day
· 2 meals per day
· 1 shower per day
· These of course are minimums and there is no such thing as too many showers for a fursuiter but it is easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget to look after yourself leaving you vulnerable to The Blorch a multitude of sickness that you are not immune to.
Cons and what to take
Here i will explain what to take to a big con
Toiletries
Don't forget your toothbrush, comb, and hair dryer. Deodorant and cologne are also helpful to have. People will love you for it. I recommend keeping toiletries inside of zip-lock baggies in case they rupture inside your luggage.
Sleeping bag
You lost the coin toss, so everyone else gets the beds. You can try zonking in the bathtub, but a sleeping bag is far more comfortable. If you bring an air mattress, then be sure to bring an air pump, too!
Cell phone
Cell phones are great for contact friends at the convention so you don't have to spend hours and hours looking for them. They are also great for family members who would like to contact you during the convention.
Credit cards/ATM cards
Unlike cash, they can be replaced if lost or stolen. Don't leave home without them. Please be careful about using a debit card to pay for your hotel room.
Ice chest
Great for keeping your sodas cold. If you want to store lunch meat or other perishables in here, be sure to put them inside of zip-lock bags. As the ice melts, the bags will float on top of the water. Ice is available from ice machines on each guest floor.
Snacks
Soda, lunch meat, bread, peanut butter and jelly, and the like are all handy items to have on hand if you are looking for a quick snack before heading out onto the convention floor. Did I mention that the hotel makes ice available?
Plastic grocery bags
Put those extra plastic grocery bags to use! Bring a few along and use them to store dirty clothes separate from your clean clothes. Be sure to keep this in your luggage so that the maid doesn't accidentally throw it into the trash.
Pepto Bismol
Always a good idea when travelling. You may react poorly to the food or catch a bug from another convention goer. And hotel gift shops tend to overprice this particular item. Medicines in pill form travel better than those in liquid form.
Prescription medication(s)
Don't forget them!
Power strips
Since laptops are more common than ever, power outlets can disappear quickly in hotel rooms. A power strip will make sure that everyone can plug in their devices.
Swimsuit
Hey, the pool might be open.
Extra eyeglasses
If the pair you are wearing gets broken or lost, what are you going to do? Can you drive home without them? Same for contact lenses. At least bring a fix it kit that includes a small screwdriver.
Earplugs
Helpful if you are sharing a room with someone who snores.
Also helpful for wearing to the dances in order to protect your hearing.
Want list
Are you looking for a particular issue of a comic or a specific piece of artwork? Create your want list before leaving home, and once you hit the Dealers' Room, you'll know exactly what you need.
Driver's license or government issued photo ID
It's needed when checking into the hotel. If you are coming from out of the country, a passport will work fine.
Camera
Can you remember what you had for dinner last night? Then how are you going to remember everyone you met and every palce you went to over the weekend? A camera is useful for documenting these things and you'll be glad you took some photos later. When you get home, be sure to upload the photos for others to see.
Good walking shoes
You will be on your feet alot, especially when shopping in the Dealers' Room. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes that are broken in.
Sewing kit
Very important for fursuiters! You never know when a "malfunction" may be strike, and it pays to be prepared for such emergencies.
Empty folder
After you go through registration, you will come away with all sorts of fliers, pamphlets, con books, schedules, and maps. Unless you have something to put them in, you will end up losing one or two of those items. After you've stashed them in the folder, why not write down a list of times and places of panels and shows that you'd like to attend? That way you won't forget any of them.
