Further Confusion 2008 breaks fursuit parade record

Madius created the Year of the Rat banner and marched with other rat fursuiters in the fursuit parade as the character Squeaky

Update: In April, AAE reported a new attendance figure: 2423. The prior figure omitted dealer and marketplace registrations.

Further Confusion 2008, held January 24-28, broke both its own record for attendance and worldwide records for the number of fursuiters in the fursuit parade.

While Further Confusion 2007 had 2062 attendees,^[1] this year's event had 2311, a 12 percent increase.^[1] The number of fursuiters in the parade also increased, breaking the record of 353 set at Anthrocon 2007.^[2] In contrast, art show sales fell slightly, from US$53,881^[3] to $52,068.^[4]

The exact number of fursuiters in the parade is disputed. Video evidence suggests at least 354 started the parade,^[5] while photographs taken outside the gift shop suggest 371 at that point.^[6] Conversely, an observer outside the dealers room reported only 352.^[7] The official count, taken by an observer at the Coffee Garden, was 387.^[1][4][8][9]

This year's theme - "The Fur East" - was reflected by the San Jose Taiko and a dragon leading the parade, followed by rats and other rodents honoring "The Year of the Rat" in the Chinese Zodiac.^[10]

Popular Furry Night Live skits included "Fur in a box" (a remake of the Saturday Night Live skit), "Furry Deanimator", and "So you think you gangsta?". In Iron Artist the secret ingredient was painted vases,^[11] with at least one challenger (Justin R. Bunny) emerging victorious over his selected artist.^[12]

Further Confusion is next scheduled for January 22nd-26th, 2009 at the same hotel, the San Jose Doubletree.^[1] As usual for the convention, the staff shifts from year to year; the title of chairman shifted from Bos'n C Otter to Frysco for 2009, with the more local Findra selected as Vice-Chair.^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Further Confusion 2008 - our ten years
2. ↑ Anthrocon 2007 draws thousands to Pittsburgh for furry weekend - GreenReaper et. al., Wikinews (July 17, 2007)
3. ↑ 2007 Artist Agreement states 10% commission, commission total was $5,388.10 in 2007 (AAE 2007 Form 990, p30)
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Further Confusion 2008 official website
5. ↑ Video of fursuit parade: 1, 2
6. ↑ FC Parade Photos - furry-k9,   furcon (February 1, 2008)
7. ↑ FC: Fursuitin' it. - Bennie Tiger,   bigtig (January 26, 2008)
8. ↑ Comment regarding official figure - Bos'n,   furcon (31 January, 2008)
9. ↑ When contacted, Frysco noted that as people can join and leave the parade at any time, a different figure could be recorded at different points on the route.
10. ↑ ???? [Kung Hei Fat Choi, or "Happy Chinese New Year"] - Madius H Rat,   furcon (January 26, 2008)
11. ↑ FC, Brief Recap - Nicodemus   nicodemusrat (January 30, 2008) - winning vases: 1, 2, 3 (photos by Skiltek)
12. ↑ Post con postingness! - Mad Coyote   madcoyote (January 28, 2008)
13. ↑ AAE Announces Chair / Vice Chair for FC2009 - David Cooksey, Further Confusion forums (January 4, 2008)
14. ↑ Furly Edition #3, daily con newsletter (January 27, 2008)

External links

• Photos, videos, reports: Further Confusion 2008 resources