Interaction

[firetail]

One thing I've been studying lately is how performers (suiters) interact with their audience, particularly in settings such as a convention.

I'll give you a few examples of what I mean:

A few days ago I was reading a few journals onling; one of which tells about a person that snuck up behind Balto Woof during a convention and tried to pull his ears off. And another one telling how some people will try to figure out rcking's gender, when he's suiting as Samantha Kemple, by grabbing him in certain places.

How do you, as either a performer or a spotter, deal with occurrences like these? What are some steps you might take to prevent stuff like this from happening?

[noodles_husky]

I'm not a fursuiterbut I can give you advice; you kinda have to take in stride and act embarrased if you get groped (Groping is rare but I heard a similar story to the one about Balto Woof). If something happened like what you've just described happens, your spotter will stop the jackass. If not, you need to get another spotter. If something like that happens to me, I would probably break the f*cker over my knee. These suits are expensive so I just hug them, shake their paw and scritch them (the furthest I've done is pretend to fall asleep on a fursuiter... What!? she was comfy!).

[firetail]

I'm not a fursuiterbut I can give you advice; you kinda have to take in stride and act embarrased if you get groped (Groping is rare but I heard a similar story to the one about Balto Woof). If something happened like what you've just described happens, your spotter will stop the jackass. If not, you need to get another spotter. If something like that happens to me, I would probably break the f*cker over my knee. These suits are expensive so I just hug them, shake their paw and scritch them (the furthest I've done is pretend to fall asleep on a fursuiter... What!? she was comfy!).

I didn't mean just those particular kinds of circumstances; more along the lines of if the people do things to you that you don't want them to.

Thanks for the input, though.

[Athena]

How do you, as either a performer or a spotter, deal with occurrences like these? What are some steps you might take to prevent stuff like this from happening?

To prevent any problems, you need to tell your spotter just what you're comfortable with so they can intervene if someone or something happens that you don't like. Everyone is different, so what might be ok with one person isn't ok with another. If your spotter let's things slide that you don't like, you're going to have to have a chat with them or find yourself another spotter for the future.

If something does happen, you need to make it clear to the person you're uncomfortable and don't like what they did (waving your hands and shaking your head "NO" is a good way to show that). If they're smart they'll take the hint and stop, if they don't, the spotter will need to step in.

[procyonloki]

Everyone knows that certain things are not okay- groping the groin, for example, is an arrestable offense!
You want them to stop, but you don't want bad publicity. So it's a fine line to walk. If someone put their hands somewhere I don't want them, I'd cover up with one hand, and point at them with the other, hoping to attract someone's attention so they'll intervene. Even if no one does, the offender knows you don't like it (If you aren't the speaking type, roleplay that you disapprove).

If you have a handler, they can use words to communicate- but as stated, you don't want to be rude and attract negative attention. So have them say things like: "Okay, be nice! He's a good little dragon!" Generally, the term: "be nice" usually tells people that what they're doing is wrong, regardless of their age. So it applies for unwelcome sexual advances, suit-damaging behavior, excessive mind-play, etc.

If your handler doesn't catch the offending behavior, the action I, as a suiter, fall back on is to sink into my handler's arms like a frightened child. This is a red flag to your handler, meaning: "BACK OFF!" They should discourage ALL further interaction with you by anyone (for a short time, of course- giving you enough time to escape the culprit).

If any one person goes too far, even after saying no, then it's time to contact convention security and report the offender. Because sometimes people just don't stop, and you have to stay safe.