I usually register at the "Supersponsor" or "Patron" or whatever the top-level membership is, primarily because I can. My current position is such that I can afford to support Fan Activities at the moment, but it hasn't always been so, and may not be so in the future; who can say what Fate will hand us? But at the current time, I am able - and so I do.
I appreciate all the little perks and goodies that I get; they certainly aren't worth the extra money that I pay, for that would defeat the whole purpose of charging extra in the first place. As tokens of thanks, they are like any gift: It's the thought that counts. We all understand this - and again, most of us register at the higher level, to benefit the convention overall.
Now - certain of the "extras" do give us the appearance of an advantage, like the first seating for stage events. I really appreciate this, as one of the highlights of my trip is the Pawpet Show, and it's nice to get a view with few people in front, standing up with celphone cameras, trying to capture the whole thing, but blocking the view...but I noticed that this year, with the benefit of a real stage and the two video monitors, that there really were no bad seats, provided that again people refrained from either standing up with a camera, or holding their arm aloft with one. So my particular benefit didn't really impact any one else's ability to enjoy the stage performances or the pawpet show.
Likewise the "Supersponsor only" programming, which in this case meant a "Sake Appreciation" (or Sake-tasting) event with Onkel Kage and assistance by Stan Sakai. It really wasn't a "core" furry fan function, and I don't think anyone begrudged us the 4 small shotglasses, each carrying a sip or two of the key grades of Sake, while having the subtle differences in taste and effect explained by Doctor Conway. I learned something, and I'm glad I could participate, but missing it wouldn't have affected my convention experience.
The separate line for art pickup from the Art Show - Yes, this eliminated much time that I would have spent in queue; I had to wait anyway, but I know others had to wait far longer. This is the case with nearly every convention Art Show, and the solution - If I weren't a Supersponsor - would have been to simply go on and do other things, and come back when the line was shorter, or non-existent.
So far - each of these privileges is like the caviar and string quartette that the First-Class passengers enjoyed, while crossing the Atlantic on a grand liner; the folks in steerage didn't live as grandly, but then, the point of the trip for them was economical transport to the New World.
But there was one privilege, one perk, which we could exercise, but only at the expense of others - and this was the one of First-Access to the Dealers' Den. Let me explain why this is so.
There has been a marked change in the demand of Furry Fandom from artists and dealers - particularly the artists. Traditionally, many artists have made and sold prints of their artwork, some of it represented by originals in the Art Show, most of it where the originals have already been sold or are for other reasons not available. Until the last year or so, this made up the bulk of income for artists in the Dealers' Den. But for the last two years, there has been a notable decline in the sale of prints - Furry Fans now want original, unique artwork, and for many of them, it is artwork, often a con-badge, drawn of their own personal character/personal Furry, or something done to order for a Sketchbook - and preferably done on-site, during the Con, for delivery before the convention closes its run. The artists who will take commissions of this sort will spend much of their time at their table, doing these badges and sketches and sketchbooks - and then spend hours late into the night, in their rooms, doing "homework" as they call it.
Remember! - As much as we think of Furry Conventions as parties and Fun Time, for these artists and dealers, this is work for necessary income - and they can only do so much of it, in the limited hours given, which means that each artist can only take so many commissions/sketch requests per convention. And usually, they get a convention's full of work within the first day, if not the first hour or so, of the Dealers' Den opening.
Necessarily, not all fans who wish to get a commission from their favorite artist will be able to. And for many, if not most of these fans, this convention represents their only opportunity to try to do so. So one takes ones' chance, and hopes that they are early enough or far enough ahead in the line, to have a crack at at least one favored artist. But...even if one is at the very head of the line, and has waited an hour - or two - for the Dealers' Den to open - it can be heartbreaking, and rather bitter, to find that the artists have already reached their quota for commissions, even before the room is formally opened to the general furry membership, because the Supersponsors had first crack. There is no alternative, no "Plan 'B'" here, no real "second choice", as there is for the event seating.
To extend the earlier analogy - The folks in Steerage can abide the swells and aristos with their caviar and music - it is a completely different matter when the ship strikes an iceberg...and there are no seats left in lifeboats. (yes, it is a rather extreme analogy, bordering on the absurd, but I think it explains my point). For we Supersponsors to have first crack at a limited, important resource, for which there is no approximate analog or similar remedy, seems - at the very least - "unsporting", if you will. The general membership would feel, in this one case at least, that the cards are stacked against them.
I like my privileges - but I, for one, am willing to sacrifice this one advantage to take my chances, the same chances as everyone else, due to the limits on commissions. It seems fairer to me - and I think this is the point others tried to make.
Other than that one concern, I am quite pleased by the efforts that EuroFURence has made to show appreciation for the people who are willing to pay extra, in order to keep the convention itself affordable.
