South Eastern USA -- A steampunk connectivity thread

[Ex Libris]

I like the last weekend in Sept!

UPDATE on Con Nooga:  The SteamPunk Roundtable Panel was a big success thanks to Cindy and William McLeod.  Standing Room Only.  The Costume contest was unfortunately scheduled RIGHT after the panel so Steampunk Boba Fett and I (both on the panel) made special arrangements to arrive late for the contest.  Happily, we each won our division (John took first in the Master Class with the Boba Fett awesomeness crafted with the Penny Dreadfuls and I won the Intermediate division in the Medical Automaton costume and gear).  Sadly, we got no photos together!).  The Prince and crew hosted a stellar Steampunk Room Party which served our community well.  We enjoyed the finest libation, card games and socializing to be found at the Con that weekend.

Looking forward to AnachroCon and ImagiCon (May 21-23) for more Southeast SteamPlay!

Ex

[Erland Calwallader]

Looking forward to AnachroCon and ImagiCon (May 21-23) for more Southeast SteamPlay!

I am planning on going to both. Anachro will be a blast. Steampunk will rock there. Imagicon’s guest list is awesome and I can't wait to get my pictures in the life size dioramas.

[Wilhelmina Frame]

Dioramas?

[Utini420]

Sorry for the wretched cellphone pic, but here's one from last year:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

They also had a sort of jungle (with a Predator), a castle, and maybe one or two others.  Basically you have a simple stage set, with a flat background and a few props.  Some are more involved, this one had doors and stuff, so you could maybe get your picture taken coming through one.  The intent may have been for people not in costume to get their picture taken with the Storm Trooper (or whatever) stationed at that diorama, but folks in costume had as much or more fun with them.  Honestly its the coolest new thing I've seen done at a con in a while:

1) People in the pics have a background FAR superior to, say, the convention.  Hotel lobbies and convention guests are great and all, but sometimes they are not the most dramatic of scenes.

2) People just trying to get around the con are not tripping over people stopping to take a pic every few feet.  These things are camera magnets, and everyone wanting to pose or take pics tends to gravitate towards them.  I know of no other method to actually encourage out-of-the-way photography than these back drops.  

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

To say that these are better than DragonCon's futile, "Move!  Move!  You can't take pictures here, keep moving!" is an understatement, to say the least.  These sines are the stupidest things in sign-printing history:

You ever try to find these so-called backdrops?  Its a big DragonCon logo down an other wise unused hallway.

[lilibat]

I will be in Nashville May 13th-18th and definitely attending Ren Faire that Saturday probably in pirate wear unless it rains.

[Erland Calwallader]

I will be in Nashville May 13th-18th and definitely attending Ren Faire that Saturday probably in pirate wear unless it rains.

The following weekend we love to see you in Birmingham.

Thank you Utini, you did an awesome job explaining the dioramas. They are adding a few more this year. I can not wait to see what they are adding.

FYI
http://imagicon.org/imagine2010/

[lilibat]

I will be in Nashville May 13th-18th and definitely attending Ren Faire that Saturday probably in pirate wear unless it rains.

The following weekend we love to see you in Birmingham.

Thank you Utini, you did an awesome job explaining the dioramas. They are adding a few more this year. I can not wait to see what they are adding.

FYI
http://imagicon.org/imagine2010/

Unfortunately I have to come back to CA for Maker Faire the next weekend. Too much going on!

[Wilhelmina Frame]

If I can secure a free place to crash I might drive over to the B'Ham

[Erland Calwallader]

I am crashing out on a friends futon. If I can afford it I would stay at the uab downtown Marriott. That where the room parties are.

[Ex Libris]

Here's the flyer for a Steampunk CONCERT coming to Huntsville Alabama on April 3 - Looks like HUGE fun!!!
Ex

[Wilhelmina Frame]

I am crashing out on a friends futon. If I can afford it I would stay at the uab downtown Marriott. That where the room parties are.

I gotta save my pennies for the Steampunk World's Faire so crashing is the only option.

[Ex Libris]

ATTENTION STEAMPUNK MAKERS, INVENTORS, BUILDERS and ENGINEERISTS!!!

ImagiCon, a Science Fiction and Fantasy convention in Birmingham, Alabama on May 21-23 is hosting a STRONG offering of Steampunk panels and events.

One of the events is the Steampunk Inventors' Alley - where Steampunk makers, inventors, and builders can exhibit/model their own work/creation in an interactive forum that allows Con guests to meet the maker, "tour" the work, ask questions and see demonstration of working pieces.

Due to limited space, I am seeking inquiries from Steampunk Makers who are interested in exhibiting their work. Please send a brief description of your work including favored materials (leathers, metal, modded plastic, recycled materials etc.) with sample photos and/or a web link to images of your work.

Ideally, the work should be wearable and or easily portable.  There may be limited tables for some items, but most created work will be worn or held by the exhibitor.  Selection for the Steampunk Inventors' Alley entails a commitment from the maker to attend ImagiCon and commit two hours to "being on display" and answering questions from the crowd.

ImagiCon is a popular destination for Steampunk fans and this is a grand opportunity to show off your work to a welcoming crowd.  I've also pasted BELOW a list of the additional SP offerings at ImagiCon in hopes that fans of the craft AND the sub-culture will join us in Birmingham, Alabama on May 21-23, 2010.

I look forward to seeing your work!

Send inquiries to:
Paige "Ex Libris" Smith
alabamaceltic@yahoo.com
DEADLINE = April 30

NOTE:  ImagiCon SCHEDULING is still unconfirmed and time/day BELOW may change
 
FRIDAY NIGHT:
 
Steampunk Soiree (Meet-and-Greet) --- in the lobby of the McWane Center 8:00 PM
 
SATURDAY: (PANELS)
 
Steampunk Costuming: (early)
Discover how to make, alter or find clothing and gear that puts the Steam into Victorian era costuming.  Panelists model Steampunk fashion while they share resources, themes, tips and ways to combine elegance with engineering.
 
Steampunk Inventor's Alley: (Mid-day)
The South's best Steampunk crafters and inventors display their work and are available to discuss their projects and designs one-on-one with visitors.
 
Steampunk Translation:  Re-imagining Superheros, Icons and Mythic Personae
From the X-Men to Alice in Wonderland, steampunk visonaries are translating popular characters into a Steampunk world with amazing and compelling results.  Panelists discuss their vision and journey toward reworking iconic images from the Sci-fi and Fantasy worlds.
 
Steampunk Maker's Roundtable:  (Late afternoon)
Noted Steampunk craftsmen, designers and inventors share their inspiration and craft followed by a Q&A from the audience
 
NOTE:  The existing costuming panel on CORSETS will seat a steampunk- flavored corset-maker).
 
Unofficial - Steampunk Room Party LATE on Saturday night...hosted by Paige "Ex", Melissa "Queenie", David Britt and other shameless tarts and rogues. (Room parties from CON-Tourage, PlayOnCon and B.R.A.S.S. are still pending the 60 room booking mark with Marriott )
 
SUNDAY: (PANEL)
The World of Steampunk (Mid-day)
Explore the inspirations for Steampunk subculture, from literature and comics to movies and music.  Panelists discuss the works that planted the seeds of Steampunk and the results that have flourished in various mediums since.

[Utini420]

I was just about to shout, I'm IN!
Then I realized this is the weekend before the World's Faire in New Jersey.

I'm still in, and will shoot you a PM shortly, but I might be a bit more reserved than the, "I'll be there around the clock," I'd had in mind before, ya know, thinking.

[Ex Libris]

Dude.  I promise not to overwork you if you promise not to get mad when I do.
<grin>
Ex

[Utini420]

Great, just what I needed... another woman who knows its best for everyone if I'm kept busy! 

I am the walking embodiment of the Devil's Idle Hands Workshop.


Email full o' links sent.  I've been meaning to be a lot more proactively involved with ImagiCon this year, but ya know, I got distracted and -- SQUIRREL!

[Erland Calwallader]

I am looking forward to seeing more of your inventions Utini. You had an awesome collection at the Workshop at Ex Lib's. I saw some pictures of fairies in the bottles. If it is yours, do you let them out so they can breath?

[Wilhelmina Frame]

Although I assume quite a few know about this, I haven't actually seen a posting on here about it....

Mechanical Masquerade: Dance of the Elder Gods, March 27th in Atlanta.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=341834000849&ref=ts

[Benzworth]

Drat... I won't have any vacation time available until June, so no ImagiCon for me(shame too, since it's pretty much 3 hours due south from my current residence).  Guess I'll just have to try and make it to Maker Faire Detroit at the end of July and DragonCon in September.

[Erland Calwallader]

I hate to hear you won’t be able to make it. I think Saturday is going to be awesome. ImagiCon is going to have 4 professional costume designers showing us how to make costumes on a budget. I saw Travis’ <Alabama Shakespeare Festival designer> steampunk uniform and put mine up. He promised to help me with mine. I do need the help.

Maybe you can come down for the day.

[Pinktutu]

Here's the flyer for a Steampunk CONCERT coming to Huntsville Alabama on April 3 - Looks like HUGE fun!!!
Ex

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

OH! Daikaiju are AMAZING live! I highly recommend to anyone in the area. I saw them in Hattiesburg, MS and cannot wait until they roll through again.

[Wilhelmina Frame]

I was just about to shout, I'm IN!
Then I realized this is the weekend before the World's Faire in New Jersey.

It's actually the weekend after the World's Fair.

[Utini420]

And that's why I get involved in implementation, but not planning! 

[Ex Libris]

Here's the flyer for a Steampunk CONCERT coming to Huntsville Alabama on April 3 - Looks like HUGE fun!!!
Ex

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

OH! Daikaiju are AMAZING live! I highly recommend to anyone in the area. I saw them in Hattiesburg, MS and cannot wait until they roll through again.

This band is ALSO booked for ImagiCon in Birmingham, AL on May 21-23 - with HEAVY Steampunk programming  ( www.ImagiCon.org )

[Erland Calwallader]

Imagicon looks like it is growing huge for Steampunk. I will be there!

[Armydillo978]

There's enough of us here, we should get a traveling journal going.  Take it to the various events and such.  Yes? No?