Tag: MFF
MFF 2014: Final Thoughts
MFF 2014 was the best fur con I ever been too and I am not the only one saying it. There was something about this years con that made it special to all of Us.
There really isn’t that much for me to add. Except that this year since I live in Chicago and took public transport to get there. I took a backpack with me to both take home what I bought and store my coat. It worked fine.
I also noticed some of the dealers didn’t have change. Especially the smaller ones, I would suggest you bring plenty of singles for small purchases like the few stickers I bought.
I did find out why Furvilla was there, as you know Furvilla is a game that is coming up in the Spring of 2015 that you can play on your browser. They was just stilling art from the game.
I guess the only thing I have left to say is enjoy the videos, I will be posting videos from MFF now until the end of the year.
Message from MFF’s Lawyer
Taken from Facebook, I warn you get the tissues out your going to cry.
To all of you weird, wonderful furries, thank you.
I don’t normally do these, but this time some things need to be said.
I love the city of Chicago. It’s a great town with lots to see and do, but really what makes it home for me are the people who welcomed me with open arms. I went to my first Midwest Furfest back in 2002 when it was a small gathering of geeks who liked to play games, watch DVD’s (yeah we still had those because I am old), and dance to techno wearing plush ears and tails.
Moving is one of the most stressful things someone can do. Moving to a whole new city with no support network makes it even worse. The furries were welcoming from the first day and have never stopped. I found friendship and the love of my life there.
I started working for Midwest Furfest as staff in 2004. I’ve been registration staff, the head of the gaming track, and operations before settling into my current role as the assistant director of operations and legal counsel for the corporation that runs the con. Somehow 10 years have gone by and despite many nights of sleep deprivation I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world.
Early in the morning on Sunday, December 7th, I was in a room party drinking with friends because hey, I was off duty! And then the alarms went off. Reports started coming in of a gas leak and MFF security and medical staff showed up and told us that yes this was a real emergency. So everyone vacated the hotel.
When I got downstairs, Devin (MFF’s assistant director of security) tracked me down and informed me that I needed to join the convention’s senior staff at a staging area to help coordinate our response.
I have never sobered up so quickly in my life.
So we stood there, in the cold, talking through what our immediate and near-term steps needed to be. We found Robert, the president of Midwest Furry Fandom, Inc. We did what we could to take care of our friends and guests and we made plans for what to do next.
Throughout it all it was you, the MFF community – our friends and loved ones, who made this ordeal so much easier than it could have been.
As the company’s lawyer, it’s my job to look out for MFF. By looking out for each other, each and every one of you stepped up and showed the world the kind of amazing men and women you all are.
You gave your jackets and fursuit parts to people who had to evacuate without proper clothing.
You hugged strangers just because they were cold.
You kept your cool when we the staff had no answers for your questions even though you deserved them.
You helped each other stay warm and hydrated.
You applauded the emergency services workers and thanked them when they let us back into the hotel.
You came up to sleepless staffers walking zombie-like through the Hyatt and helped us keep going with hugs, pats on the back, handshakes, and “thank you’s.”
I am proud of you all. Every last strange, wonderful one of you. You made it all worthwhile.
We don’t know who it was that forced more than 4500 people (including me) to evacuate the hotel last weekend. And we still don’t know what he or she was thinking when they did what they did. Some people have called this a terrorist attack. I don’t know how to think or feel about that yet, but what I do know is this.
As a community we are not so easily terrorized.
In closing… I just want to say “thank you” from the bottom of my heart.
MFF 2014: Sweet, Sweet Memories
Once again I have to say even though I was at MFF on Saturday, I left long before that HAZMAT Emergency, and if you read the post above, you see why I am currently smiling.
Frankly I didn’t know what to expect at this years MFF. I guess I am not the only one, but it really was like that for me. First thing I saw that the crowd was larger than usual and for the first time all the sponsorship were sold out as I got my badge. But that was kinda expected since I heard most of the hotels were sold out. No my first sweet memory was during the parade when I got hugged by a fursuiter. It still makes me happy.
Floor Wars, which was my second MUST See is filled with incredible dance moves. But the one thing I will always remember, is of this blue fursuiter. You can see them on my photos on flickr, what is hard to see when they laid down was their big round blue belly.
Given the way I felt before I arrived maybe the cellphone signal issue they had was a blessing in disguise. You see I been taking care of a friend’s dog for over a year because they had been in Rehad, after a severe accident that almost took their life. I really don’t want to say they had been a pest of themselves, given the number of times they call me in an average day. But I really needed the time just to relax and have fun.
Oh that Variety Show, was sooooo good!!! Okay so it’s non professional, but it was certainly fun…and I want to go back. This time *fingers crossed* for 2 days this time around, and I hope to get a non furry friend to come. Who knows this might convince them to join us, hey we have fun and no one could disagree wit that.
Am I right….
MFF 2014 What a Fur Con!!!
As the Police continue to investigate, and I will report once any official announcement is made. My job right now is to tell you of my thoughts and feelings. After I felt I kinda blew it last year being so nervous, I wanted to go in to MFF with a brave face…and a bit of a nervous stomach, to tell you the truth. I really was jittery as the days grew closer, and even more nervous when rumors sprang up about a crooked artist by the name of Darius Koopa was there. Thankfully that turned out not to be true, I was afraid that my friend whom I met down there was gonna get himself kicked out. As I previously mentioned, it seems if you have any problems you call upon the staff, and not take things in your own paws. While I was afraid I was going to have an attack of nerves once again.
Everything turned out and was so great, wait to you see the new fursona I had made. I paid $50 for it and it’s great. It will make it’s debut here this Saturday.
To be honest the only real problems I had was an iffy cellphone signal issue, and the reason that was an issue was because I had planned on meeting someone else down there as well. The other problem was the schedule. As is figuring what I could see, without missing the want I wanted to see the most.
Now for something I really can report and it’s Official. Duke the Dancing Dog, who currently holds the record for the most viewed furry video on You Tube at over 248,000 views with his video ‘Good Time’. Is making a brand new music video, which was shot on the last day of MFF. I for one can’t wait to see it, and you have my promise once Duke posts that video you will see it here.
Tomorrow is what made me the proudest to be a furry.
MFF 2014 First Thoughts
WOW!!!! If MFF goes down in the history books yesterday was really something to be hold. First of all the crowd was WAY UP!!! The number of fursuiters in parade OMG!!! The parade itself nearly lasted an hour, and as far as I know. No fursuit parade this entire year lasted more than 40 minutes.
Oh yeah I also forgot MFF hit the local news last night…
A chemical leak at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont caused an evacuation early Sunday, right in the midst of the Midwest FurFest Convention.
Rosemont Public Safety upgraded the leak to third alarm at the hotel, 9300 Bryn Mawr Ave. in Rosemont, an Elk Grove Village firefighter said. Rosemont declined to comment.
One ambulance from Elk Grove Village was sent to the scene at about 2:20 a.m., said.
It was not immediately known how many people were transported to hospitals.
The chemical leak happened during the 2014 Midwest FurFest Convention, which was taking place at the hotel from Friday to Sunday, according to the group’s website.
Attendees dress up like furry animals for the event, centered around art, literature and performance based on anthropomorphic animals, according to the convention’s website.
Multiple witnesses said the leak was reported on either the 9th or 10th floor of the hotel. One woman said chlorine could be smelled on both floors.
Lucis Hilliard, who was attending the convention, said the evacuation was “very orderly. “
Several people could be seen in animal costumes waiting outside of the hotel. Ambulances from area suburbs were on scene helping transport people.
The number of injuries was not immediately known.
Isn’t that something?!!! This one will go down in the record books, but we will have to wait for the official numbers before we see by how much.
Breaking News!!! MFF to have World Premiere
Anyone familiar with Kaze Winds of Change, know it was a furry animated story set in Japan during it’s feudal period in history and the only episode that was available was the pilot. Which can be easily found on You Tube, one of the reasons why it was made 10 years. Now for the breaking news, On Dec 7th at 3PM during Midwest Furfest they are going to premiere the very long anticipated 2nd episode of the series, which is in titled: The Crucible.
I fully admit what is next is more rumor than anything else, but it does have to basis in fact. Ever since it was announced that MFF would be moved to the 1st weekend in December everyone assumed that it’s numbers would be down. Maybe not so, as of this post there is no available hotel room near the convention site. Every single room, more than 3,000 in fact have been booked solid. Given the fact that there is no other conventions taking place in the same area that Midwest Furfest could have more furries than Anthrocon. But we won’t know the truth of that until the official numbers are released.
Furry Times 