ConFuzzled 2019

Enlightened has been supplying ConFuzzled since 2014, and 2019 was Enlightened’s 5th year of supplying this event.

ConFuzzled is the UK’s biggest furry convention, it started in 2008 in a YHA in Manchester, and was the UK’s first fully residential furry convention.  In its first year it attracted just over 100 people.  11 years and 12 conventions later, the convention now takes over the whole of the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, as well as using other local hotels for overflow and welcomed over 2100 people over a long May Bank Holiday weekend.

Enlightened provided:

Lighting, power distribution, staging and audio control in the main stage/nightclub, where keynote events happened through the afternoon and into the evening, when the space was transformed into a nightclub.

Approximate Kit List:

• Robe LEDBeam 150
• Robe LEDBeam 100
• Robe Pointe
• ETC ColorSource Fresnel
• Martin Mac Aura XB
• ProPlex Blue Box data distribution system
• Avolites Sapphire Touch, with Tiger Touch 2 networked backup
• QL5 + RIO for front of house mix
• QL1 + RIO for broadcast mixing
• Sennheiser G3 IEM and Radio Microphones
• 14m Diameter Circle Truss
• Full production in 3 other spaces
• Stumpfl fast fold screens
• Panasonic laser projectors
• Nexo PA systems
• Sennheiser G4 Radio Microphones

Some Numbers

• £1m + worth of kit in total across the entire event, £750k+ supplied by Enlightened
• 10 + Tons of kit
• 85 lighting fixtures
• 10 dedicated volunteers
• 20L of coffee and 50 packets of biscuits consumed on the in and the out

ConFuzzled provides a space for members of the fandom to express themselves with panels and events covering every sort of artistic outlet imaginable.  Drawing events, music, performance and comedy fill the event schedule, with members of the fandom taking part in one of the fastest growing conventions in Europe.

Another of ConFuzzled’s aims is to promote charitable donations towards a chosen charity that supports animal welfare.  This year, the nominated charity was Gentleshaw Wildlife centre, which is a small sanctuary for exotic animals and birds of prey. As well as a hospital unit for the treatment of wild raptors, the centre is home to over 30 different species of Bird of prey, Primate, Reptile, Invertebrate, Raccoons, Cats and many more. Their mission statement is to provide, at all times, the best care and welfare for the birds and animals that they take in, with their health and safety being of the utmost importance. Their aim is always to give safe and caring homes to animals which have nowhere else to go, and to provide them with a much better quality of life than they had before coming to the centre.  

This year, thanks to charitable donations through auction sales, sale of merchandise and cash donations, the attendees of ConFuzzled raised over £30,300 for the charity, not including thousands of pounds raised in the run up to the event through a gofundme campaign after the charity suffered a catastrophic fire which destroyed several of their enclosures, killing several animals.