Taipan Midwest Sector

Hello Taipaners! Last year the Chicagoland area hosted its 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 its 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 wonderful library and join in on all the fun that is the TaiPan. We missed you all in November.

Dina & DJ

Hello everyone! Three 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.

Panels & 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 a little time chatting with everyone.

Celebs in attendance

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). Stephen Emmons 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 upcoming pages of the Taipan.

DJ & Dina