Costume bans and security, part 3: Want to organize a furmeet for Zootopia? Here’s how.
by Patch O'Furr
Nugget, fursuit of Salem Wolf
- Part 1: Bad news for fans who plan to see highly anticipated movies in costume.
- Part 2: Costume bans and security – A furry movie theater worker’s opinion.
- Part 3: Want to organize a furmeet for Zootopia? Here’s how.
Response to the articles:
There were a lot of great comments! It does seem like the feeling of high anticipation is true.
There was one piece of confusion for some readers. Going to the movies in costume doesn’t mean wearing it during a movie. Parts will come off to watch it, and theater rentals may include change space. Members of local meets are interested in a social experience before and after, like a “crawl” around town.
Costuming and security is a much wider issue. I’ve heard rumors about cons encountering problems with organizing, while making hotel deals and then being surprised by rules against masks in their public space. Biggest Little Fur Con has to carefully manage no-mask rules on the casino floor of their hotel. FurTheMore convention moved to Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, in May 2015, where there’s a statewide anti-mask law. A staff member told me they had to work with police to get a special weekend festival exemption. The con put out official instructions not to go off hotel grounds in fursuit, or risk arrest. Costumers will have to deal with the issue in the future.
Interested in organizing your own movie meet – to get trust, and permission for costumes?
You can get a good start by collecting RSVP’s from friends and local members. If you’re able to get several dozen, a whole theater rental may be in your range. Scout around and see if there are local ones that support community events. Once you’ve proposed and negotiated rates and times, the next steps would be signing a commitment, or collecting ticket/deposit money in advance (depending on how payment is supposed to happen).