Dolls and Conventions

I hope this question hasn't been asked before, I did a search and haven't found anything to furry conventions only. Mainly anime conventions.

To the people that have taken dolls, especially anthro dolls to furry conventions. How did people react to them?

 

One time I brought Kitt to a con...he came home with one less finger.

 

Wow I would love to take Karma out. But I am really afraid of the sun. I keep her home safe. I must one day get a basket or something to carry her in and cover her up. That would help.

 

I tend to take three to six of the dolls depending on room at the time.

 

I took Kii to the last day of Animeiowa this year, and to keep him safe, I actually carried him in a baby sling. XD It was really nice; I could keep an eye on him so he wouldn't get stolen, or handled without my permission, but my hands were free to do what I wanted. One person did notice him and want to touch him, but she was really nice and careful, so that was pretty cool. All in all, it worked out really well. (My arms also didn't get sore from having to carry him for hours.)

 

We've carried our dolls at Comic Con, A-Kon and Anime Fest, and while only my little girl cosplays we have three dolls dressed as anime characters. We've had people get very excited about them, but only had one experience with a creeper who wanted to glomp on Ciel.Other than that it's always a positive experience. Lots of people ask for pictures but never ask to hold them unless we ask them to for a photo of our own. We've never felt insecure about the convention environment, even at Comic Con, where the traffic is so fierce that the crowd lifts you off your feet at times, people were very considerate about trying not to bang into the dolls.

We never put them down - in an event room that's full to capacity we either hold them or push our chairs together and wiggle them in between us. Even though they get a bit heavy sometimes (especially Ed!) we have a ball getting to carry them around and getting to cuddle them all day.

 

I dance, so I only bring my girl on the day the meet up at the convention (if there is one)
Mine is just a MSD,so carrying her isn't much trouble

 

I will be going to EXPCon next week and heading a doll meet there, normally i wouldnt take dolls (didnt to the last one) coz i have enough to carry around by myself and didnt go to the meet there, but will be taking my 4 dolls with me to this one since its gonna be a meet. Which I think would be the only reason to take them tbh..

 

I go to comic book conventions, so bjds are a little rarer to see than at an anime convention, but I do still see them around. It's so exciting seeing others' dolls.

 

I bring my dolls to anime conventions all the time. I love carrying them around and talking to other doll people. Its also fun when non-doll people notice the dolls and ask questions. I've turned many a person onto the dolly habit at anime conventions.

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?
I do cosplay, it's my favorite hobby And sometimes I try and make my dolls matching cosplay xP

And no I haven't. Comparing my first con in 2008 to my most recent in 2012, the hugging and glomping is nearly non existent

2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?
Yes :P

3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from ‘grabby hands syndrome’?
Nobody really....has grabby hands that I've come across. I had a young girl ask me to see my doll before and she was so respectful :3

4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn’t harmed/stolen during such an event?
watch them at a meet or have someone watch them if you step aside for a moment. Hopefully everyone can get to know each other so if they see a stranger walking off with a doll, they can stop them.

5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?
Dolls tumbling off the table. Never a fun time.

6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?
I'd say so. But it can get hectic if you have a prop or camera to carry also so now I try to limit my doll toting around to a minimum.
Definitely bring a doll bag. I regret not bringing one!

I'm going to Otakon this year but our hotel is a short drive away so I'm not too sure if I'll be bringing a doll. But some of us DD owners would like to meet up, and I hope I'd be able to go and bring Hime!!

 

I go to a con or two every year and have and have not had a bad experience until this year. I went on a crowded day, and prepared for the bumping I had brought a tiny with me (yo-sd size) I pushed through the crowds and made it the meeting place and when I looked down my doll had no wig, or hat. I was pretty upset because he is an OT doll and I wanted to show him off but he ended up spending the rest of the con in my bag I was so worried something else would fall off!

Other then make sure they have a secure hat and/or wig I like taking them just have a safe place to store then if they aren't or can't carry them all the time. If it gets crowded put the doll away. And if you go to a meet up or find some calm to take pictures HAVE A SPOTTER there is nothing worse then getting your doll to stand and think they are solid and then be so far away you watch that slow fall to the tle floor and peices go flying!

 

I usually take 2 to a convention, and I only carry one at a time (leaving the other in the hotel) I chose which 2 go simply by what would be easier for the convention. My LE is better to take when we are in a hotel connected to the convention center; since he is harder to manage, it gives me room to take him back to the hotel quickly if I get tired of carrying him. And if we have to walk a lot from the hotel to the con, I would consider taking my MSD since he is easier to manage/can fit in a bag. I am going on vacation in April and have considered taking a doll... but I am so afraid because of the airport transportation and all the security between the plane and cruise ship, I am afraid it'd be near impossible.

 

I would totally bring Ember, I think she'd love it!!

 

If you take your doll into a convention, it is a bother, unless you are going to sit around and have all your attention for it. I took mine once, and she was really in the way, since I'm a cosplayer, I had to give her to other people all the time when someone wanted a picture of me. If i someday go to a convention in casual or just some uknown character cosplay, or something I'll defenitely take one of my girls with me.
It is just alot of work to have a doll with you.

 

I've never brought a doll to a convention but it sounds quite fun! I imagine I would only take one or two... I don't think I could manage any more than that. I do see how they could get in the way, though. I've heard a few stories about dolls being broken or lost at conventions.

 

Out of the two cons I go to every year, Setsucon and Otakon, I always have a doll with me. I only had Suzume (DD Yukino) Setsucon 2011 and Otakon 2011, so I spent the whole time carrying her with me. But I couldn't imagine leaving her home or in my hotel room, if she wasn't with me it didn't feel right. I got Chitose (Islanddoll MSD Amy) back in December, so I had her and Suzume at Setsucon this year and I usually had one with me and the other with one of my friends. Otherwise, the second one was in the hotel room. However, I'm not sure how it's all going to work out with Otakon this year since I'll have three dolls to carry around. My Impldoll Dorisy should be here by then, so I'll probably carry her most of the time. Or I'll alternate. I don't know yet. I haven't had any troubles with my girls getting lost/injured, and they don't really get in the way too much for me. Every so often it gets tough balancing a doll and a bag when I'm trying to do something, but for the most part it's nice to have them with me. I consider them family. I cosplay, but not really as characters anymore so much as just in Lolita fashion or steampunk clothing, so I just coordinate the doll I'm carrying to match me as much as possible and keep them with me while pictures are being taken.

 

As someone who totes along with others at cons (namely, Tristiahna from a few posts back) I love the idea of bringing dolls to cons.
There are often meetups to go to and also people who have bright-eyed questions.
Tristi, like she said, usually brings two, and when I'm there sometimes we each carry one.
But it really depends on what we're wearing. If it's a simple costume that's comfortable and easy to wear, or street clothes of course, the dolls are probably coming with.
But often there are cumbersome outfits and props involved so her boys stay in the room.
It's always easier to have a friend you trust with your doll to come with. There have been a couple times where she said, "Ary, take Lucien! I'm gonna go over there~" and I would just pose him to suit me and then carry him around like he's mine XD
And I can be a bit of a social brute so I'd be good with, "Oh can I hold him?" "NO GET YOUR STRANGER DANGER PAWS OFF."
As for vacations, I would totally bring my dolls with me (depending on where I am going that is... No dollies are going to dangerous places with me) I love having people look with curiosity at me.
But for airplane-specific tips, DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT check your doll. Check bags are subject to search, and get LITERALLY THROWN. I fly a lot and I have sat where I could see suitcases being loaded into the plane a few times, and the handlers are not gentle in the slightest. I have never flown with a doll, but I have flown with other special or delicate things, and I kept them in my purse/computer bag, and stored them under the seat in front of me rather than the overhead compartment. They were always in my sight and always safe. If you can deal with security giving you a curious look, then I say why not~

 

I brought Caesar with me to Momocon this year ONLY because I had a hotel room. Had I not, I wouldn't have felt comfortable bringing him along (a few momocons ago a doll was stolen so it made me iffy!) I found it very easy(and safe for both of us!) To take him out at appropriate times and then keep him safe in the room during others. I also put the privacy door hanger on our door since that will keep the housekeeping out of our room! I'm unsure if I can/will bring him to AWA this year (without a room and all) but we will see!

 

So, next month is the phoenix comicon. Do you think it would weird to bring my doll along?


(Excuse the title typo! *comicon)