The Convention: Furlandia
The Theme : 1850 Age of Industry
The Place Sheraton Hotel Portland Airport
The Dates May 27-29 2016
With the demise of Rainfurrest, Furlandia has become the premier NW corridor Furry convention. The theme was 1850 Age of Industry; the con says it was not exactly Steam Punk but the number of panels introducing furries to Steampunk and the number of furs with goggles and costumes shows the convention has a Steampunk feel to it.
Both by Giant Hello Kitties and Chocoact were my companions.
Friday: My chances to volunteer fell apart so I had the con for myself. Like to may furcons , I felt the panel variety was sparse. I still enjoyed the Seven Steam Punk fallacies presentation. Other than that, it was meeting up with old friends before calling it a day.
Saturday: After my traditional breakfast fill up at Hometown Buffet, I arrived and cruised around the convention until the Steampunk moding for wimps, then Rainfurrest town hall to get another side of Rainfurrest downfall and plans for a return. I caught the preliminary round of the Fursuit dance contest. Furlandia tried something new when the convention split the dace completion into a preliminary and final rounds. I have to say it was the best fursuit dance contest I seen. This is because more than dubstep (folk and J-pop was represented) and the dancers used their feet. It was not all popping hand motion with paws planted to the dance floor as if boat anchors were tied to them. I drove a new friend to pick up some food at Panda Express, then met a another Christian fur for some discussion. I checked out the dace and went home.
Sunday: I had lunch at the church so I missed the fursuit dance finals. I set up for my Greymuzzle panel . The panel was at 1:00pm. I only had 12 people or so but it seems to me the low 20’s is the average panel attendance at Furlandia. It did not help part the panel time was opposite of the Fursuit dace competition finals. I did gain a few attendees after the contest ended. I am still calling it a success
One word for the wise for bout running a panel for older anime fans and gremmuzzles: one hour is not enough.
The rest of the time I attended the Thrifting Your Way to a Steampunk wardrobe. and Dramatic Furry Drawing. After than it was the closing ceremony then final goodbyes before calling it a convention, head home and drown my PCD in curry rice and anime.
The Good: the dance completion preliminaries. Also kudos goes out to Diana Vick who went out beyond the call of duty introducing Steampunk to the furry fandom at her panels at Furlandia.
The bad: need more panels.
The Ugly: nothing.
For a while I was concerned how Furlandia will handle the influx because of Rainfurrest demise and the fear the same troublemakers would come down to Furlandia. Furlandia has increased it numbers from 463 to 763 attendees numbers. I suspect next year the challenge will be greater, noting Gene’s Armstrong plan to scale back and cap the attendance Rainfurrest. (I head this form him at the Rainfurrest Town Hall) I believe Rainfurrest will meet the challenge and Lord willing I will be attending.
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