I got to interview the Chairman of Emerald Fur Con, Winston Henderson (aka Kabba the Corporate Fox) about his experience about planning and running the convention.
What inspired you to start this convention?
The local community has inspired me. The community has shown interest in coming together for smaller events, such as bowling meetups, which led me to believe that they could lend themselves into attending a larger scale event like this convention. I wouldn't have been bold enough to start the convention without the local community, because starting something like this, the local community is going to be the primary supporters of the event.
What was your biggest fear about doing this?
My biggest fear about this convention is letting the community down. The local community has always dreamed about having a furry convention in Pensacola, and if it succeeds then the dream becomes reality. However, if it fails, it will be really difficult for people to feel hopeful about it again, and that will be on me. It's an overwhelming responsibility, but it's a privilege to make the attempt.
What has been the most difficult part of the planning process so far?
The audio/video piece to the convention. It's an area in which I have no experience whatsoever, and I find myself relying entirely on the experience of others. It has been a challenge for sure.
What has been your favorite part of planning the convention so far?
Getting to work with the Chairman of MegaPlex (a large furry convention based in Orlando), and other prominent figures in the convention circuit. It's given me an opportunity to learn a great deal from people who know what they are doing. It's incredibly motivational to be receiving this kind of support from established conventions. That kind of attention is beyond anything I could have ever hoped for. I am incredibly grateful to them.
What are you looking forward to most about the convention?
Because this is our first convention, everything is still on paper, so to speak. Seeing all of that come to life, all the pieces moving, getting to feel the energy, and getting to see the hotel space that I visited so many times transform into something fantastical is a feeling I look forward to, and probably won't be able to put into words when I finally experience it.
