AC Con Report, Part the Fourth

[the_gneech]

Part the Third

Sunday morning ... um ... I'm sure something happened, but for the life of me I can't remember what. I still had sketches to do and I remember the previously-mentioned breakfast with WalksAmongStars that wasn't. (I didn't blame him, tho ... after my zone-out on Saturday night, I figure I have no room to complain.)

Oh yeah! Sunday was check-out day, so I spent most of the morning packing and schlepping stuff out to the car. Then I went to the dealer room and -- you guessed it -- tried to finish off sketches! At that point, my brainpower was running on fumes (and another white mocha from the resident Llama Angel of Mercy), but I had enough presence of mind to rescue Ben Bear's stuff from the room before checkout time and hand it off to him. I also wheedled Vince into drawing in my new sketchbook. (I asked for "Leonard on the beach" and got "Drezzer hassling Conrad" ... so much for Vince's oft-proclaimed desire to be given detailed instructions to follow! It is a terrific piece nonetheless, but then what else would it be?) Then it was time for the Vincester to get back onna plane and head west ... the first real shockwave of the impending End of the Con.

Somewhere around 1:30 or 2:00, my drawing hand said, "No ... no more ... the horror..." so I had to stop doing sketches. Fortunately, I'd finished most of them; I still owe one to trejaan, vik_thor, and LionkingCMSL. I'll do something good for you guys, have no fear. :) At this stage, with a big pile of cash in the cashbox and no pressing need to stay chained to the table other than to provide backup for Kerry, I slipped away to get sketches from Cooner and Derrick Dansenbrock, both of which Rock Muchly. Derrick's is only partially finished tho, because he went totally insane and chose the "All of the Above" theme from the suggestions in the front of the book. He did manage to get the pencils done ... the inks will have to come at MFF...

RANDOM NOTE: Asking for autographs made out to "GrayWolf SpiritRain" or "Bouncy BoingVixen" in a nasally fanboy voice gets me funny looks. ;) Cooner put a razz face in my copy of Buffalo Wings Reunion, Vol I when I did that. (NOTE TO genecatlow: I'm going to read it now! You can stop pummeling me senseless whenever I see you!)

After the dealer room shut its doors for the last time, susandeer very kindly let us lurk in Con Ops for a few minutes to count the till (although in retrospect we should have just sat and done it at the table after the attendees were shooed out) ... we made almost double what we did at AC last year, and about $200 more than we did at Further Confusion last year -- and that was after doodyhead me forgot the new buttons! The mousepads, the "What Do You Want From Me, I'm Evil!" merchandise, and of course the "Proud To Be Furry" items all moved very well, as did Vince's portfolio and Redkam's Carpe Diem shirts. I also signed a ton of books, which hopefully means lots of good sales for Plan Nine as well.

Then, it was dinner for Kerry, Hanta, and I over at Chili's (thank Da Lawd it wasn't TGI Friday's again), a trip to a Real, Honest-to-Goodness Starbucks to get fuel for the drive home (Mmm ... Starbucks ... you're the only one who -- oh, forget it), and back to the Adams Mark, where there was much huggy goodbye-ness. (Poor Hanta got hugged in short order by both Kerry and Ben Bear, which made his Mousey Sensibilities go off the Eekometer.)

The drive home was ... well, I-95 South on Sunday night in fog and/or light rain ... I'll let you fill in the details. ("Aaah! Absolutely nothing is blocking the road ahead! We'd all better come to a sudden stop!") Once da mouse was dropped off at his mousehole, AC was over for another year. Le sigh!

STUFF THAT MADE AN IMPRESSION...

* Ice sculpture in The Zoo at the Furry Mixer -- that was cool!

* Somebody in the hotel lobby complaining that furry art was getting "too straight!"

* More fursuits than last year, or at least it seemed like it, and of higher overall quality.

* Hearing Jim Henson stories from Guy Gilchrist.

* Spiked Punch finally got the original art for his cameo, way back in 2000!

* Being approached to do print projects! ^.^

* A lot of ASB-bashing. 0.o

* J. Willard (soappuppy)'s very silly sequel to the Drezzer/Falstaff pic...

* Kerry wants to go to Conifur, and wanted to make sure I knew that in no uncertain terms ;)

* Furry HeroClix! Nifty. :)

SHOUT-OUT TO ALL THOSE FOLKS I SAW BUT HAVEN'T MENTIONED YET!

*waves to Commander Kitsune, fastclaw, gatorman_295, invisiblewolf, jbadger, kagur, kinkyturtle, klepsydra, kurst, lance_foxx, nicodemusrat, paranoidpanther, pholph, redkam, rigelkitty, rjtremor, Skytech, tevon, tonyringtail, xydexx ... lots of others...

SHOUT-OUT TO SOMEBODY I WANTED TO SEE BUT DIDN'T!

Hey, tygermoonfoxx, where were you hiding yourself the whole time???

Ah well, that's it except for the fallout ... time to start prepping for D*C and MFF!

For another view of some of the events mentioned in this report, see also Vince's con report!

-The Gneech

Comments

Commander Kitsune

[agtiger.livejournal.com]

Gneech, if you'll permit me to branch off of your post due to a name you mentioned, specifically, Commander Kitsune.

Now that's a fellow I met at the 2002 Anthrocon, that I thoroughly enjoyed going to the private art show with, and the discussions we had. I loved his subtle sense of humor, particulary the "Tux and Tails" outfit.

Commander, if you're reading, I'd love to receive an email from you: agtiger at agtiger dot com.

Argentium [ Who also believes in dressing up for an art viewing ]

[joeygatorman.livejournal.com]

I’ve seen her many times, mostly at the lobby.

-G

I just want to add...

[mammallamadevil.livejournal.com]

I merely said "Gneech, I wanna go to Seattle" three times....any other references were INFERRED....(grin)...back home in sunny Santa Clara....MLD

[doodlesthegreat.livejournal.com]

* Somebody in the hotel lobby complaining that furry art was getting "too straight!"

O_O

* Hearing Jim Henson stories from Guy Gilchrist.

Did you get to meet the GOH's, Michel Gagne & Stan Sakai? If not, kick yourself. Hard. =};-3

* A lot of ASB-bashing. 0.o

I won't go into a Gary Groth-style evisceration of the book, but after reading "Circles" and realizing the excellent opportunity to tell a decent story that was pissed away, I can understand the grief ASB gets.

* J. Willard (soappuppy)'s very silly sequel to the Drezzer/Falstaff pic...

I hope to see that one shortly. =};-3

[stilghar.livejournal.com]

As a fan of both ASB and Circles, all I can truly say (without getting banned from the Gneech's LJ or shot) is, "If you don't like it, do something better."

Each publication has its value, both in the storyline (yes, I'll admit, ASB was a bit incomplete in certain ways; Lance Rund himself said that Circles focused on issues he himself would never dare raise) and in the quality and *ahem* nature of their artwork.

If you like it, fine. Be as generous and fulsome in your praise as you see fit. If you don't like it, go do something you like instead of trying to bring the rest of us down.

Forgive me, m'Lord Gneech, if I've trodden upon thy soapbox without cause or thy leave.

[doodlesthegreat.livejournal.com]

(Please read this and assume a conversational tone. This is a discussion, and sometimes tempers flare when involving things one feels passionate about.)

In the real world, if you don't want your work to be criticized, you have one option: Don't stick it in front of people who have every right to do so. It's disengenuous to demand that criticism only come from peers, not to mention egotistical. It's equally inane to ask that commentary only come from those who like a work, an action that smacks as much of groupthink as anything being put out by the present presidential administration. And I don't have to do better, especially when I can easily point to the work of others who already have. Along with the "Circles" crew, there's always this fellow:

http://www.howardcruse.com/

"Stuck Rubber Baby" came out at roughly the same time (give or take a year) as ASB, and was a far more striking narrative on a person coming to terms with their sexual orientation. It's an incredible testament, based at a crucial time in history, and I can't give enough paeans to his achievement. Please tell me you've read it, or that if you haven't, that you'll seek it out immediately.

I'm not trying to "bring people down." As I mentioned to Rowyn, the art in the book is quite good. I'd love to see Lance try again with a whole new story, especially with McKinley doing the art, only this time focus more on the characters and less on melodrama. The sex wasn't the problem, it was the plot. He should approach some of those issues he didn't want to with ASB, because that's where the story he could have told was hiding. More power to him if he's willing to give it a shot.

(insert semi-apologetic reply here)

[stilghar.livejournal.com]

Sorry if I seemed a bit overly defensive/hostile; I tend to react at times a bit too sharply.

That being said, there is a difference between an honest critique (like the brief synopsis you provide below) and bashing (as in a recent conversation I had where the hardcover ASB collection was referred to as a $35 roll of toilet paper).

Re: (insert semi-apologetic reply here)

[doodlesthegreat.livejournal.com]

No harm, no foul. I'm not as hostile to the book as that, I just saw it as a missed opportunity.

Missed Opportunities

[stilghar.livejournal.com]

I can see your point, now that I've landed from jumping the Gun. ;)

I also wish that they'd have made more of an issue of Daniel's faith, and the fact that it is possible to be both gay and religious. (My husbands could write a book on the subject, as both are devout Catholics; one was at one time a Franciscan monk. He still looks cute in his habit, but that's neither here nor there. :P )

We now return you to your regularly scheduled LiveJournal.

Obligatory stupid question

[rowyn]

What is ASB?

Re: Obligatory stupid question

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Associated Student Bodies (http://www.arclight.net/asb) ... influential (and in some circles, infamous) 8-issue furry comic series.

-TG

Re: Obligatory stupid question

[doodlesthegreat.livejournal.com]

There are no stupid questions. Unless you work retail, when the 27th time someone walks past the sign that says CASH ONLY in ten-inch letters and asks to use a credit card drives you to mass murder.

ASB-Associated Student Bodies. Eight issue series written by Lance Rund about a group of (mostly) gay college students sharing a dorm. It has perfectly good art from a large number of artists, including Baron Engel, Roz Gibson, Terrie Smith, and Eric Elliot. But the main plotline (art by Chris McKinley) reads like a cross between a Harlequin Romance novel and a Fire Island diary. Webpage at www.arclight.net/asb/ Not a horrible book, but as I said, it could have been ever so much better.

Or it could mean alt.sex.Barney, which would be very, very sad...

Re: Obligatory stupid question

[shepherdwolf.livejournal.com]

I'd like to formally include "reception" to the list of Places Where There ARE Stupid Questions; I work at an animal hospital. "Umm, my dog's been vomiting blood for two weeks and has stopped eating and from time to time little worms burrow out his eyeballs and he keeps bursting into flames every half hour. Does he, like, need to be seen?"

Thank you for your opinion on ASB. It's good to know I wasn't the only one to object to its' attempted melding of straight-up porn and drama (It didn't work in Eyes Wide Shut, and it didn't work for ASB). I have a hard time taking gay-bashing and homophobia seriously as dramatic plot devices when they're featured in the same medium as the New Year's Floor-Wide SuperOrgy. If you've ever seen MTV's "Undressed?" It's kind of like that, only...gayer. :)

As you said, it could have been worse, but to anyone interested in something that approaches gay life on *this* planet, I'd recommend "Circles."

[kylet.livejournal.com]

Hey, my picture was Conrad on the Beach with Drezzer Looking On. The only change was cuz Leonard isn't as fun taking Drezzer's cracks as Conrad is.

See? I still think AC is straighter than FC.

Tell me how Conifur is...I never get to go cuz of the timing.


V.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

I'm just tweakin' ya, silly ... I wouldn't mention it at all if we hadn't had those hours and hours of arguments about getting a picture that was juuuuust riiiight. ;)

-TG

[kinkyturtle.livejournal.com]

Wooo shoutout!

So, do I shout back in now?

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Only if you want grease stains in your shirt.

-The Gneech (No, I don't understand it either.)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_litho_/]

I'd love to see this "very silly sequel to the Drezzer/Fallstaff pic" Is it online anywhere?



Aside from that... all you Americans and your ability to get to Cons. I envy you all :P so there.

[wardy.livejournal.com]

Hey I'm glad you got to meet Klepsydra. She's a very good friend of mine and, bless her, often likes to play "mother" to me a bit!

I dunno if she wore the badge I designed her - hope she did tho!

Oh and give mine and TK's regards to Camstone when you see him next won't you?

Wardy

[tygermoonfoxx.livejournal.com]

I was in my room for the most part or in a quiet corner of the art show. We were rear ended before ever leaving Jacksonville (no damage to us, really, except some minor back and pelvic ouchies which just disappeared yesterday and a ~$2000 dent in the C-RV. The window was naturally bowed, and they straightened it for us) and that set my nerves on edge. Basically, I wasn't really in good condition to see anyone. Also missed several meals, which screwed with my blood sugar levels, which turned me into a whining crying puddle of crap...not fun to visit with. I just learned the hard way that I can't do low carb at a con, it doesn't provide enough energy for stabilizing blood sugars.

I WILL meet you. I had every intention of doing so. My body didn't cooperate :P

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

D'Oh! I'm sorry to hear that. But we'll keep trying!

-The Gneech

[graveyardgreg.livejournal.com]

It was a good convention, wasn't it? :)

WHO!

[dagucoon.livejournal.com]

WHO WAS ASB BASHING! GIVE ME THEIR NAMES! I MUST HUNT THEM DOWN! heehee

Re: WHO!

[kinkyturtle.livejournal.com]

It was Osama bin Laden! Go git 'im!

[lance-foxx.livejournal.com]

Sorry I didn't say much when I saw ya. I didn't know whether or not you'd remember me since December and when I sent the one comic I did recently concerning gas prices to ya. I felt awkward... and crowded. We just walked in and wanted to see more of the dealer's room, so that's why we kept walking. I wanted to chat more and I intended to come back some time, but I missed seeing ya. I'm sorry about that.

I wanted to buy one of those Dover mouse pads too, but I have a trackball mouse at home. For what it's worth, I thought that was one of the coolest things you had to offer. {:]

[hollyannvix.livejournal.com]

Poop :( I totally missed you at AC :(

I barely got away from my table, except to visit the little vixen's room, or to see Goldenwolf and Kyoht for the first time, and that was pretty much it. I took a VERY quick look around the Dealer's Room, I didn't have time to shop or anything O.o

Hopefully next year, eh? :) I still would like to get a con badge from you! =D

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

D'Oh! I saw your table, I saw your art in the art show, but I never saw you!

-The Gneech

[hollyannvix.livejournal.com]

It's the incredible invisable Holleh!! XD

Maybe when you came around, I was in the Art Show setting up my stuff in there? :) Or maybe I was actually walking around, stretching my legs or something :)