Hello everyone !
The FBL is your first furry convention? Wondering what it may look like? Do not go further, this page is for you! The “Anglo-Saxon” furry conventions are very different from the Japanese culture and marketplace conventions that are common in the French-speaking countries of the old continent (Japan Expo, Polymanga and Made In Asia, to name but a few). Where the French-speaking public would expect to see a big trade show is something very different.
The biggest and most important difference is that a furry convention takes place mainly in the meeting / concert halls of the hotel which hosts the majority of the participants of the convention. After registering with the hotel reception, you can check in with the “Convention Operations” (or “Con-Ops”) who will give you your participant badge, a precious pass that will give you access to almost all the rooms where the activities of the convention take place for the complete duration of this one, as well as your goodies.
The organizing association of the event rents several rooms of the hotel to organize (or supervise the organization) of workshops and / or shows around the furry culture. So you will mainly find workshops organized by furries and for furries (drawing, fursuit building, games in fursuit, photo shooting, etc.). Unlike japanime / geek culture conventions, the commercial aspect, even if it is also present, occupies here only a minor part and much more artisanal. The “Dealers’ Den” consists exclusively of furries artists who sell their creations (commissions, boards, paintings, books, decorative objects, clothing, etc.) and its availability does not cover the whole convention.
But do not worry, the convention staff is there to help you feel at home and help you enjoy your first furry convention! We all hope that you will find everything you want and have a great time at the FBL!
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about the organization of the FBL.
• When will the FBL 2019 take place?
The 2019 edition of the FBL will take place from October 31 to November 3, 2019.
•When are registrations for FBL 2019 taking place?
Registration will take place from April 1st to September 30th, 2019.
• Are minors accepted at FBL?
No. To attend the FBL, you must be at least 18 years old on the first day of the convention.
• How much does it cost to register for FBL?
The standard access package to the FBL costs € 60 (€ 50 in early bird pricing before May 1, 2019). The Sponsor option costs 30 €. The room is not included and is payable in addition. The room reservation is managed by the hotel.
• Are there any day passes to participate in the FBL?
Yes. Day Tickets are available for purchase (25 € / day, with prior reservation only, via the registration site, available later, a few days before the first day of FBL) for the days of Friday and Saturday. They are to be withdrawn at the counter of con-ops the same day of their validity between 9h and 11h. They are valid until the end of the dance party of the day in question.
•Can I pay on site?
No. For security reasons as well as staff, we do not make any payment on site. Entrance fees must be honored before the closing date of registrations via the dedicated online site for your participation to be taken into account.
•Where does the money go?
More than half of the budget is used to pay for the rental of the convention space, the sound and light show (performed by an out-of-fandom professional) as well as the remuneration of the right-holders for music played during dances and other musical events. The rest is used to buy the goodies packages (standard and sponsor), buy and maintain the equipment of the association (badge printer, fursuit lounge and dealers’ den) and keep a reserve to pay the deposit for the reservation of rooms for the following year. The entire FBL Staff and Crew are all volunteers, from the chairman to the con-ops crew members, through the team leaders and the Safety team. All panel organizers and performing artists also do so on a complimentary basis.
• Why don’t you also manage room reservation?
An all-in-one package would be more convenient.We do not manage room booking for several reasons. This would initially cause a significant work overload in addition to creating much larger cash flow (advance to be paid by the association to retain the blocks of rooms, change of tax status of the association). Then, if we were working in an “all-in-one” package, we should ask you to pay the full cost (registration + room for the whole stay + any negotiated options) within 7 days after your registration (to be able to honor our commitment to the hotel). We know that it can be difficult for our participants to have to pay such large amounts so far in advance. That’s why we allow you to spread your expenses when you register.
• What is the content of the standard package?
The standard package includes the access badge FBL 2019 (which gives you the right to access all parts of the hotel reserved for participants of the FBL 2019), the FBL 2019 conbook, a lanyard and its badge-holder, a FBL 2019 button badge and a pair of noise-reducing earplugs (to be used at dance evenings for your safety).
• What are the bonuses included in the Sponsor option?
The Sponsor option, in addition to the standard package, includes a 2019 FBL collector t-shirt, a Sponsor collector button badge, a Sponsor lanyard, your name in the conbook “thanks” page and an assortment of candies.
•Can I get a refund for my entry?
No. Packages and options are not refundable. You can however request an exchange by contacting the Registration team by email.
•Where are the former outdoor activities gone (mini-golf, karting, laser quest)?
The outdoor activities that happened in previous editions of the FBL were closely linked to the geographical position of the previous hotels that welcomed us and the lack of event rooms of these hotels. We knew for a fact that these activities would disappear when moving to a more suitable hotel complex for the FBL.