Last month we asked all registered fursuiters to vote on the upcoming changes to the Fursuit-Lounge rules.
Several hundred of you voted already within the first hours, and by the time the poll was over we had a very clear result.
76% of all votes call for the more strictly controlled lounge, mandatory fursuit badges and badge-checks.
That is an impressive majority and a distinct mandate. Thank you all for your active participation.
We have worked out a set of rules that honor your choice and should not impair your convention and fursuiting experience.
- The Fursuit-Lounge is a "fursuiters only" area.
- An attendee in fursuit can always enter the lounge.
- Fursuiters out of suit have to present their valid fursuit badge to enter.
- Fursuit helpers can only enter hand-in-hand with a fursuiter. They can not get in or stay alone.
- No filming or photography inside the lounge
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- You do need a personal fursuit badge to enter the lounge out of suit.
- You do not need more than one badge, even if you bring several suits.
- You must present your fursuit head upon badge pick-up, or show up in fursuit if you prefer.
- Your fursuit badge does not need to show your nickname, if you don't want this. It will show your registration number. At the lounge, we will check this number against the number on your normal badge.
If you want to avoid long queueing to get your fursuit badge made on-site, we highly encourage preregistering your badge in time here:
http://fursuit.eurofurence.org/Thank you for your help and understanding.
FAQ:
Q: This looks overly complicated and restrictive, and is overall a bad idea.
A: We are sorry that you feel this way, but it was a democratic decision. The new rules are made to be as clear and easy to manage as any possible. Actually they now are very much the same like at other large conventions, like Anthrocon.
Q: I did not receive an invitation to a poll. How can this be fair?
A: The invitation was sent to everyone who checked the "I'm a Fursuiter" box in the registration, and we checked the results for plausibility. We decided to do it this way because we specifically wanted the fursuiters opinion alone for this.
Q: I have to show my fursuit head for badge pickup, but i have five badges for different suits. Do I need to bring them all to the table?
A: No, bringing one of your own heads or showing up in suit qualifies you as a fursuiter and gets you all your badges.
Q: Can I borrow my fursuit badge to a friend to give him access to the lounge ?
A: No, sorry. The badges are coded to the person registering it and we will check this. If a person is found to be using someone elses fursuit badge to gain access, s/he will be handed to security for breaking the convention rules.
Q: A friend will use my suit occasionally. How can he get in or use the lounge ?
A: You will have to accompany him inside the lounge to get your suit. As long as he is wearing the suit, he has free access.