Tag: Midwest Furfest

MFF 2019: Friday Dec 6

Ahmar Wolf

Yesterday was my 1st day at MFF this year and it started off with some confusion. You see this year I decided to be a Sponsor I knew I get some benefits but who knew it was going to start off with a lot of confusion.

First I was directed in one direction, then another I had to ask 5 people where to go when you are a Preregistered Sponsor. I was sent to 5 different places with the last one being the correct one. Thankfully there was only 1 person ahead of me. This is where I found most of the social media rumors turned out to be true. Like the one suggesting an upgrade to cut wait times and someone calling out your fursona name when you pick up your badge.

The process with the QR Code actually took less than a minute, my only real issue after that was finding where I pick up my Sponsor Swag Bag. Which thankfully I spotted on my own. But actually, the whole process of getting my badge took less than 15 minutes. When I was getting my badge they ran out of lanyards, they were supposed to get some later.

Meanwhile, in the long registration line I was told by a staff member there was somewhere between 300 and 500 waiting to get their badge at 10:40 AM. It seems by Noon there were no lines, so I guess you can say the system worked.

To my surprise, I had enough time to see the Opening Ceremony. Being a Sponsor you get a priority but still, it wasn’t good enough to get any usable photos or videos. I am sure it will be on YouTube later.

The Opening Ceremony I found was quite touching at times. They Honored those staff members who had been there for 20 years. They even Honored those who are no longer with us. Sadly I knew one of them and remembered the good times.

They also spoke about the new Accessibility Program which gives those in special need the help they needed to enjoy the convention, which includes Quiet Room, where you are encouraged to turn off your cellphone and relax.

Felines and Canines, this year’s charity we learned it was there involvement with MFF that helped them grow from operating in a basement to operating in multiple states.

Lastly, the Dog Show that was happening at the same time as MFF. It seems the Skokie Valley Kennel Club’s All-breed Dog Show was taking place at the same time as MFF. In the same buildings, different locations within them of course. Fursuiters were advised at the Opening Ceremony that they weren’t allowed do to they were not recognized by the American Kennel Club as a recognized breed. But really all jokes aside anyone could buy a ticket and see the dogs.

The only other issue I had of sorts was with the Dealer’s Area. I totally understand they had only started to set up late Thursday night. But why on earth did this one staff member kept sending people to this second entrance which was for Dealer’s Only.

After 20 minutes or so the Dealers Area finally opened.

The Largest Dealers Area in the history of MFF, 300+ dealers in 30,000 sq ft of space. It’s HUGE.

More on MFF tomorrow.

MFF 2019 Early Reports

Ahmar Wolf

I want to make this very clear the following is what has been posted on social media and I frankly can not confirm any of this.

QR System seems to be working: According to the single report wait times, are half of what they were last year. But keep in mind Thursday is generally the worse time to get your badge. A staff member said last year’s wait times exceeded 7 hours.

Line Con Day 1: Reports have people were getting into line as early as 11AM. With Registration not opening to 3PM. It makes you wonder.

If true not a great moment for Staff: Supposed according to a couple of reports a member of the staff went over the loudspeaker system as said to the crowd in line. If you want to cut your times, you should think of upgrading. If this is true not a great moment for the staff.

I will try and verify as much as I can, by tomorrow’s report. Otherwise, follow me on Twitter @Dr_Timefox for the latest news.

MFF Offers Accessibility Bracelets

Ahmar Wolf

In Registration (opening at 10AM-2PM Friday) or Operations Friday 2PM through the remainder of the weekend (Hyatt Reagan Room) will have Accessibility bracelets. They are a fabulous shade of purple.

Pre MFF Coverage

Ahmar Wolf

I was at Midway yesterday waiting for a friend to arrive. When I spotted this fursuiter going up an escalator. I wish I spotted them earlier so I could have taken their photo. For the record, they were only wearing the head, otherwise, they were wearing normal clothes. Then later by the luggage carousel 2 more furries. So how did I know they were both furries and fursuiters by the number of cases and the Hyena Agenda shirt one was wearing.

MFF’s Plan for Quicker Lines

Ahmar Wolf

Yesterday I reported that MFF will be sending out emails with a QR Code to help those preregistered to speed through the lines.

Here is the one I received minus personal information

Then late yesterday on Twitter, Midwest Furfest extended that offer

Will this work? Will this end the up to 4 hours plus wait times? Only time will tell follow me on Twitter @Dr_Timefox to get reports LIVE from MFF

Message from MFF’s Lawyer

Ahmar Wolf

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.

My 2nd Fur Con

Ahmar Wolf

As of right now I am some 2 hours away leaving for my 2nd fur con. Ironically it’s the same as the first Midwest Furfest and I hope like I did last year to have fun…which is the whole point of going. Unlike last year, I know a lot more furries, and some of them actually plan to be in the fursuit parade which will be held starting at 1:30 PM.

Now for a bit of irony, a good friend got ripped by a crooked artist named Darius Koopa 2 years ago, and he heard from another furry that this Darius Koopa is down there selling supposedly his art at the con. I say that because recently I heard a rumor that he was stealing some other artist work as his own. But to top everything off it seems this crook has a warrant out for his arrest in Indiana. A fact confirmed by the Rosemont Police Dept. To top things off my friend plans to confront DK and demand his money back or he is calling the cops. To complicate things even more, I already contacted the staff at MFF on this matter last year and they advise to tell my friend work through the staff and let them call the police if they deem necessary. Also my friend being a bit short tempered, things could get interesting. Will let you all know what happened.

And all I though the biggest thing I would be reporting on is news of Furvilla which is making some sort of debut at the con.

If you want to say Hi, I will be wearing this badge.

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It was done by a local artist Kelley McAdams

More tomorrow…

Breaking News!!! MFF to have World Premiere

Ahmar Wolf

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.