Taipan Midwest Sector
Chicago Midwest Furfest convention report
             Hello Taipaners, last  year the Chicagoland area had hosted it's First ever Furry convention which we attended to promote the Taipan in the midwest.    This was an excellent opportunity for the Illinois area Furry/Anthropomorphic  fans to get to know the project and it's universe first hand.
            We hosted an Information/Dealers table (and Art Panels) where the convention patrons could meet some of our members, check out our wonderous library and join in on all the fun that is the TaiPan.
                              We missed you all in november,
                                   Dina & DJ 
Hello every one,
              3 days of furry fun has past and it's time to tease and taunt you with all you have missed.  This has been my first ALL furry convention and I now look forward to going again this year.  The convention board had nearly 300 pre-registrations and by the end of the last day, they let us in the dealers room know that they had at least  a hundred more attendees than they had projected and were negotiating a date and time for 2001.
                 The con hosted many different panels of a wide variety of fun and exciting events.      
* Furry parade                      * Basic & Life drawing            * Furry Variety Show   
* Start a Furry Group           * Pawpeteer's hour                  * Improv   
* Children's workshop         * Anime influence                     * Tail construction   
* Name badge making        * Future of Fanzines                * Storyteller's circle   
* Video production               * Art show auction                   * Practical Fursuiting   
* Women in Fandom            *  and at least 54+ more I was unable to pop in on
                 There were also many celebs in attendance, hosting panels, sketching books, selling wares and more than happy to spend alittle time chatting with everyone.
* The Carpeckens of OzFoxes    * Jim Groat of GraphXpress    
* Bill Holbrook of Kevin &Kell
* David Allen of Plan nine publishing    * Jeffery L Eddy of Anthrolations             
* David Bliss of Rivercoon arts    
* Richard Thatcher & Carole Curtis of Shanda Fantasy Arts    
* Tigerwolf of Tigerden.com                     * Brian McPherson of multi-titles       
* And many  more ( including me ;)  )
                The art show was fully packed with wonderful works from all over( I only wish I had more money to buy everything that caught my eye ).   StephenEmmons sent in 3 pieces for the art show, his print "Eli and the universe in a crate" was purchased along with 8 out of 11 of my own auctioned.  Stephen was wonderfully surprised on Christmas eve when he received his remaining prints and his auction check which he sent back a HUGE thank you card and letter.  I hope that this year I will be able to do the same for more of our contributors.
                  The dealers room was far better than I had projected.   A grand total of 34 out of 64 Taipan issues  ( 1 thru 4, 8,9,11,  Contraband, Eclipse and Rough Trade  SOLD OUT   also sold single issues of 5 thru 7, 10, 12, 16, 17, 23, 24 and three issues of 25 )   Dina and I handed out more than 400 taipan fliers, 60 back issue order forms and 38 subscription forms.   There were many  interested patrons who I hope sign up to the project.  I also sold 21 of my own 8 plate art portfolios and 16 of my 6 plate wolf  benefit art portfolios ( All of the proceeds going to the Indiana state wolf park fund ) .   Along  with the portfolios , I sold out of my fantasy lapel pins which I sell at many different cons and did a few commission sketch books over the three day weekend.  The grand total for the weekend has ensured a table for us this year.                
Looking  forward to another wonderful year of reading and eye candy from all of you in the up n coming pages of the Taipan.
DJ & Dina
Convention Photos
My wife Jan at our dealers table Friday afternoon before the flu knocked her out for the weekend. Yes I hand made the table cloths one of my many other hidden talents.
The other half of our tables which will be our "Contributors Spotlite" table for any of our contributors who wish to sell thier wares here in Illinois ( If you might be interesrted, please contact me at - logan5@corecomm.net )
Yes, Jonesy & Iching both showed up to help us out promoting the Taipan.
Iching was a little shy at first but He loosened up.
Me completing my first sketch book of the convention.
Table issue display stands and a close up of the table cloth
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