DFW(Dallas/Fort Worth) area meeting and soon much more

[Captain Quinlin Hopkins]

Edited once again to show location of new website 9-2010:
http://steampunkis.org/

All current information is updated there.  Please drop by and sign up. We'll keep you updated on all gatherings in the dfw area, no cost. 

Edited to add times and locations:

The Crow Fashion show on Friday July 16th, starting at 6pm, with the fashion show starting at 9pm, just happens to be the night before our meeting, but has generated quite an interest:
So far we have
Radha Narasimhan +3
Pennie Nevan -might
ganghiss +1 might
The Squire Might
dulon -might
Wells45 +1 crow possible
of course I'll try to make it out there
Current total 8 and another 7+ interested

For the first official meetup on Saturday July 17th , 2010 3pm at The Generator in Garland:
Hopefully I'll be there +3
RaasAlHayya -possibly a bit under the weather
Pennie Nevan
figments
ProfessorCoppertop
JonnyPhoenyx
JimiC
Roderick Tremaine -not on the weekend but possibly the weekday meet
Radha Narasimhan
LadyFox +1
Rbm121273 -out of state, but might come down anyway
ThatGuy0123
Wells45 +1- arriving fashionably late
Prof. Jericho Wahl
AudeliaFlint

Looks like we've had 20 express interest in attending.  Some who have conflicts.  And of course we'll have the usual lurkers who are a bit too shy to say hello, but will be sitting within earshot.  ::Waves to lurkers:: Feel free to drop in even if you don't pipe up here.  We really want nothing more than to enjoy the pleasure of your company.  

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Original post:  I was going to post this as a response in another thread, but after typing it out, the ideas had fleshed themselves out enough for a thread of it's own.  

What's bad is I'm contemplating bugging out early one day from work and driving down from DFW to the Austin meet just because I'd like to see how your meetings go.  I'd really love to find a friendly place locally, but am still searching for something with the right feel.  Perhaps a few pointers as to how you found a decent place?  The more I thought about it, the more I realized that wasn't going to help the others who think they're stranded in this area like I am.  So, Lets kick this off with a few thoughts for a place to meet-up.  

1. Food is always nice, but of course not mandatory.  If food is not sold, most places have no issue with you bringing your own as it's not costing them profit.  I've no issue with businesses making a profit.  Just rarely find really good quality food for a decent price.  I prefer to bring my own wonderful foods and be able to cater to the dietary needs of others.  Potluck

2. Children being tolerated would be nice( I'd say kid friendly, but what I expose my children to might be way off from what you think is appropriate)  just some place they are not physically barred from attending.  

3. Cost of entry.  I don't mind paying a few dollars to sip on a cup of coffee and chat with what I'm sure will become lose friends.  but I don't' want anyone to be left out because they've lost their jobs or are low on funds that week.   Alcohol allowed/sold is fine.  Up to the barkeep to make the age call.  

4. Bars/clubs  It would be good to know of one for a secondary meeting location for just the adults.  I'd not be there often, but I'm sure others would enjoy some kid free time.    

5. Someplace when someone walks in with their latest galvanic discombobulation ray gun, that the police aren't instantly called.  Steampunk gadget friendly, even if a room reservation is required.

If the meetings get a large enough/regular group, It might even be worth renting our own building space, and allowing workshops to create our gadgets.  Which brings up my second thought.  

 
As a second thought,  Have any of you considered setting up a place for workshops to occur?  many other groups/clubs have this, but I've never heard of one for Steampunk.  A building space,with the equipment purchased by membership dues, with a small fee for their use just to keep up with what wears out. I'm talking 2 of 3 dollars an hour for the use of a grinder.  Covers the cost of replacing the stone and the electric.  Just so that those who use it are the ones mainly paying for it.  Not everyone is on the tinker side and that's fine.  But everyone enjoys what we tend to make. Equipment can be donated, or just brought to meetings for a while.  

There would be some hurdles along the way, but nothing a groups of Steampunks can't prevail over.  

Basically my thought process is this.
1. Get together and enjoy the company of other Steampunks in person making a growing community.
2. Get a workshop set-up for those of us who want to actually create new items.  Even if we have to start in someone's backyard or garage/shop it would be nice for this to happen soon.  
3. Get enough interest in the area to host our own convention at a hotel.  The costs can be managed as well as the rest of the details.  I've run shows before (running an unrelated show this weekend actually) they take time, money and effort.  All of which aren't too hard to come by.  

And yes I know shows like Akon are here(next weekend as a matter of fact) and having Abney Park on Saturday.  But nothing about this place or their website makes me think Steampunk.  It make me think "major convention corporation latching onto the latest trend in order to make more money. " I' like it to be by Steampunks, for Steampunks.  With the money going back into the Steampunk community.  Helping to build our workshop/meeting area.  Setting up scholarships for education, or art project, hosting contests for Steampunk art.  

If anyone here is already doing this. let me know.  IF not, lets get this done.  

As a central area to dfw, I'd suggest somewhere around six flags in Arlington.  That's dead center of the metroplex.

So there it is in a nutshell.  Let's make this work!  Tell me what you think.

[RaasAlHayya]

Good afternoon, Captain!

I have been considering starting a local Meetup group for steampunks, but Meetup.com requires a small fee, which I cannot afford until after A-Kon. The leader of HP-DFW assures me that the small outlay is well worth it. Perhaps if the local steampunks got to know each other, pooling resources in the way you describe would be likely to follow?

I hope we can continue this discussion and get others involved. What say you all...y'all? All y'all?

--Leslie

[Captain Quinlin Hopkins]

Interesting place.  Sign up on their site for 6 months for $72 plus tax.  Never used it.  Could easily set up a website and cover costs for a year for about the same price though.  I'd have to look into their traffic a bit more before deciding if it was worth it.  The only other listing for steampunk in the area is for steampunk goth with 2 members.  I'd almost have to believe that BG would be better at spreading the word than that alone.  But I could be wrong.  If you'd like to start it when you do recover from Akon.  Then please by all means, feel free.  You'd get at least one more member.

I know I can generate more traffic with a stand alone site.  Nothing to replace a site like this one,  just something with a local focus.  Something that when you type in a search for dfw and steampunk, you get more than a personal blog.  I couldn't even figure out how to contact them(probably have to sign up or something).  btw if you know them or can contact them feel free. 

Again. I'm not knocking anything that might get people to meet in person to show off their latest gadget or outfit. Or even just to sit in the same room and talk with like minded individuals.  Anything at this point s a good idea. 

I've going to do my best to get out to akon and the abney park concert.  Hopefully can have something pieced together by then to put on a card so afterwords we can meet up again.  I know we're out here in droves.   Just need something to get this boulder rolling. 

Still just thinking out loud. 

[Pennie Nevan]

I am all for creating some sort of meet up group, I don't really have time to be really involved in getting it going, but I sure would want to at least attend. BTW Raas is awesome and we are both in the HPDFW meet up group and it is a great group of people!

[RaasAlHayya]

... BTW Raas is awesome ...

Aww, thanks! I really appreciate your help with the costuming; you're awesome too!

--Leslie

[Captain Quinlin Hopkins]

I am all for creating some sort of meet up group, I don't really have time to be really involved in getting it going, but I sure would want to at least attend. BTW Raas is awesome and we are both in the HPDFW meet up group and it is a great group of people!

That seems to be the consensus, and one of the major factors that we're not a massive group already.  I'm willing to go the distance in getting this group up and running.  And as you can see above I'm not thinking small.  I'm actually planning on being set up as a non-profit before the convention.  Quite a headache (that I'll keep as much behind the scenes as possible), but will be more than worth the effort.  I kept saying the same thing myself about not having the time.  But I'm not going to let that stop me anymore.  The DFW area NEEDS this.   

Currently I'm looking at having the first meeting around the end of June, before everyone runs off for their celebrations on the 4th.  Probably Saturday the 26 or Sunday the 27th of June.  Not that the weekend would have to be the regular meeting, Just seems to be the most accommodating to those that work.  Hoping to make it a large enough kick off event that we'll have a decent group to start. If not those dates, then two to three weeks after the 4th celebrations to give everyone time to recover financially.  I'm very serious when I say I don't want anyone excluded due to finances. 

Just to hash out a few ideas on the group:
1. Anyone can show up without being a member(no financial exclusion or using that as an excuse not to be there )
2. I'll try to have a website up and running by then.  Along with a newsletter. Anyone wanting to support these costs would be welcomed to do so. A printed copy of a newsletter ususally runs about $2 each, mailed(just for reference). And can be a fun thing to get in the mail.  One of the things that yearly club dues would go towards.  If you don't want to waste paper, the pdf would be available online.  Green will be encouraged as much as possible, but some still enjoy the ability of archiving. Especially those whose projects will be featured.
3. Contests will be highly encouraged.  This will be a segue to the scholarships and grants we will be trying to give back to the community.  Clothing, hardware, and other articles of interest to the steam-punk community locally, and after that the genre in general. 

Steampunk is so varied and difficult to define, but one thing almost everyone can agree upon is the Art we produce is beautiful to behold.  Be it a new sculpture, musical group, outfit, or a steamed up usb drive.  There is some part of this art that you like.  That is the one thing which can bind us together in a common cause. 

There are quite a few more things that would have to happen when a club site is created.  Some things like being a member to use the equipment would be mandatory, not for a profit reason, but to cover the cost of insurance, so that one accident doesn't destroy what we've built to that point, but these things will be addressed when we get to that juncture. (This is some of that business that I'll try to handle behind the scenes to keep from boring everyone to death, just mentioning it here to let you know we will be looking to the future)


Take this thought and get it out to the groups you do know who are interested in getting together for a steamy reason.  If we get a crazy membership soon enough, we might be putting on a convention in the DFW area this fall. I don't see that happening till next year, but feel free to surprise me.  If not it will be fall of 2011. 
It has to be at the cooler times of the year for those that haven't taken safari to the Sahara and enjoyed it(our northern neighbors).  I'd say spring, but the very unpredictable chances of rain are much less in the fall and I'd like to have many outdoor activities. 

And don't let my enthusiasm scare anyone off.  I've no intention of asking anyone who joins to put forth more effort than they are comfortable with. 

Good thing I was trying to keep this short so it wouldn't be a wall of text.   

[RaasAlHayya]

Good heavens, man! 

I will certainly help all I can, but I don't know how much I will be able to contribute as time and money are in short supply for me (as with everyone.) Please let me know what I can do to help and I will make a supreme effort. I will also let you know if something is beyond my capability so I don't leave you in the lurch when you are expecting to have something done.

If you have not done so already, please read through the HPDFW Meetup page for activity ideas. We are a very active group and do a wide variety of things. You are also welcome to attend sometime; we rarely sit around a talk Potter stuff any more, now that the books are all done.

I heartily agree with the idea of a Fall or Winter convention. May I suggest that you consider a one-day convention the first year? Many conventions start that way and then build over time.

--Leslie

[Captain Quinlin Hopkins]

I had popped over there the other day for a glance or a meetup group that was active.  200+ members.  Quite a group you have.  I'll try to get back over there tonight and look at your locations.  I'd really love to find a good spot and get in touch with the owner personally to get the approval  to set a location as quickly as possible.  Given enough time to plan, Most can find a way to make a trip. 
If not there will be photos(of those that consent to be photographed only) and a nice summary to entice others to come along to the next meeting. 

I appreciate your offer of help. I'm sure with the diversity of backgrounds our day jobs have, that we'll have quite a bit of talent for most tasks.  Even those who come in without any known talents will have their enthusiasm to learn and help. 

As far as funding, I'm going to be pulling this out of my own pocket until someone else sees fit to donate.  Any and all expenses will be tracked to be covered later by the non-profit requirements of reporting expenses.  Same with possible donations.  Just have to make it very clear we're not yet a non-profit.   

You'll also have to forgive me the slowness with which I'm apparently moving.  I've a show this weekend which is taking up considerable amounts of time.  But, I figure the sooner this information get out, the more time others have to consider the merit of the idea and hopefully spread the word.  6.5 million people in the metroplex.  Certainly there have to be more than 3 of us interested in steampunk. 

[RaasAlHayya]

Slowness? Captain, you are a cyclone!

I am an administrative assistant by day. I am sure you will have use for my skills!

The 200+ HPDFW members are not all active, but quite a lot are, and many are extremely active.

As for planning early enough to give people time to make the trip, do you mean for a convention or a local meetup activity? If you mean for a convention, please take into account that you will be competing with other conventions for the time and money of attendees. True, there is not a North Texas event especially for steampunks, however, there is a lot of fandom overlap. For instance, years ago I sat in on A-Kon planning meetings and I particularly remember that not overlapping with Scarborough Faire was of major importance. The two are completely different in terms of focus, but quite a lot of the people who would want to attend or vend at A-Kon would have been Scarborough cast members or vendors. Just something to think about.

I am extremely impressed with all you have done so far!

--Leslie

[Captain Quinlin Hopkins]

That was in reference to the planned 1st meeting.  To pull a convention off this year would be an amazing feat that might even stretch me a bit thin given the time constraints. 
I've already started compiling a calendar of events to avoid if at all possible.  I really don't want to interfere with another Steampunk specific convention at all(Though it may become unavoidable). There is the large Renfest in Houston for instance, which covers that entire time frame in which the weather might be the most cooperative.  I can only hope that due to it's span of two months, that those wanting to attend a DFW convention would plan accordingly. 
Then there's the matter of the proper venue and their current bookings.  Luckily there is a bit of a slump in business conventions due to the local economy shifting it's weight around a bit.  Though how long that will last is unknown. I don't think with some of the outfits involved that the Southern baptist convention being at the same hotel would go over very well.    The logistics of this will be interesting to say the least. 

[figments]

Wow, how could I have missed this thread??!!! I'd love to see a steampunk themed even in this part of Texas as Austin or Houston are a bit far for me right now. Being in the Sherman/Denison area means that DFW is about the limit of my reach for the moment, though Arlington would work. A one day con would be an awesome start, though planning for one this year might be stretching it unless you looked toward the fall or even winter. I'd be willing to help with something like that though not sure what I could do.

If you can make it to A-Kon this weekend maybe we can discuss it in person there?

[Captain Quinlin Hopkins]

I'm hoping things do work well and I can actually attend and meet a few of you. 
I really don't think this year is possible for a Steampunk con.  There is just too much work that ahs to happen behind the scenes before that's possible.  And as far as a one day versus several days, each has their benefits and drawbacks, with different venue requirements.  One day is safer for a launch, but multi-day is so much more fun(and work). Not sure which way I'll jump off that cliff yet.   

[RaasAlHayya]

It appears to me that the cons that start small and build up over time do much better than those that go all out immediately. That's my tuppence.

--Leslie

[Captain Quinlin Hopkins]

Agreed, most start small and work their way up.  It's a tried and true method.  As well as so much less to worry about.  Ultimately it will depend on the amount of funding available.  #1 rule about setting up a con is don't go into debt for it.  We've plenty of time to hash out all the details though.  Fall of 2011 looks very promising though. 

[ProfessorCopperTop]

Hey I'm in the CFB area and have really nothing but time right now my funds are a bit light but if you some thing on the time effort side done let me know i am totally for this my roomates and i have been talking back and forth about this since animefest last year.  so hi and i'm here to help also i have a friend that has brought up a few other conventions(unrelated) from the ground up and has said she would be willing to lend her experiance to the cause

[RaasAlHayya]

Hey I'm in the CFB area and have really nothing but time right now my funds are a bit light but if you some thing on the time effort side done let me know i am totally for this my roomates and i have been talking back and forth about this since animefest last year.  so hi and i'm here to help also i have a friend that has brought up a few other conventions(unrelated) from the ground up and has said she would be willing to lend her experiance to the cause

Welcome, Professor!

--Leslie

[Pennie Nevan]

What does CFB stand for?

[ProfessorCopperTop]

Carrollton-Farmers Branch just north of Dallas

[Captain Quinlin Hopkins]

ProfessorCopperTop,
 Welcome Indeed.  I'm sure we will shortly be able to find some use for your spare time soon enough.  Many people's current status is feast or famine, so no worries there.  We should have a good cross section of the metroplex soon enough.  Some with more time, others with more funds than time.   We'll happily enjoy everyone's company as time allows. 

Your friends convention experience can be very useful indeed.  No matter the cause for the gathering, much of what is needed translates directly.  In fact, any skills that anyone can bring to the table will be greatly appreciated.  I've found over the years that no matter what your capabilities are, that there is always something useful that you can bring to the table.  I've known people who enjoy a particular pass-time, who feel comfortable with nothing more than providing an interesting meal at the gatherings.  It may sounds like something small, but it's not.  Everyone working together and bringing their skills out is what makes a functional group.  Even those who just show up to learn, make those who are trying to teach feel as if they are not wasting their time.  Eventually they will be the ones teaching. 

Everyone who has a genuine interest can help out whether they realize it yet or not.

[ProfessorCopperTop]

After talking with my wife and a couple of my friends last night we have come up with some ideas about where to have that initial small meeting the first idea is one of the group rooms at Dave&Busters the look just seems to fit and those are all over the place the other idea is a new gaming store in richardson call The Gamers Realm half gaming half steampunk with room for a fairly large goup of people but in either case we would have to call ahead

[ProfessorCopperTop]

Also wanted to mention that my wife is a professional photographer and is more than willing to do any photo shoot that any one wants to do

[Captain Quinlin Hopkins]

I'd actually heard of the Gamers Realm at some point, there's also an Independant coffee shop in downtown garland(the Generator) that was having a steampunk group on Saturdays, but they were recently canceled (need to find out why exactly).  I'll happily contact both and see what the best times and costs would be.

Nice offer on the photography as well.  Do extend our appreciation of the most kind offer.  I've no doubt several would love to avail themselves of her services. 

I noticed recently when looking at maps of the area, that the center of the Metropolis is truly no longer in the center of Dallas and Fort Worth.  So much growth between Dallas and Plano has cause the center to shift around to the area you are in.  For now it seems appropriate to focus on a meeting place in that general vicinity(Richardson/Garland).  I'd prefer to make it someplace that has fairly convenient bus or train access for those without vehicles.  And we may still have to have multiple locations. 


D&B is a massive operation, and frankly I'd prefer to help out the local shop owners.  I'd actually like to keep it as much small business oriented as possible.  The local shops are great advertisement for getting a local group going, we help them by showing up and buying, and they help us be spreading the word we're here.  A dozen people showing up at D&B wouldn't even be noticed.  A dozen in a shop that seats 20 makes a big impact.   
This isn't a hard and fast rule, just my personal leanings. I don't know of any place that will be able to hold a large convention that's not corporate (would love to find one though).  A few people don't really seem to make that much difference, but it would be a good trend to start.  Eventually a few hundred of us showing up will make a nice financial impact on an independent business and be most welcomed. 

[JonnyPhoenyx]

I'm totally down with this idea! I'm completely new to steampunk (had no idea what it was until I went to Akon this past weekend). Come to find out I've loved steampunk my entire life, but I never had a name to associate with. I'm been frantically searching for a group near the Highland Park area of Dallas.

I would love to help out however I can. I'm a film student at SMU, so if you want help attracting members, I'm sure we can throgh together an add video. It'll be fun!

[Captain Quinlin Hopkins]

And so it begins....

Glad to have you aboard.  Take some time to read what you can around here.  You'd be amazed at the knowledge within Brassgoggles forum.  Don't forget to check out the blog page as well to keep up to date on the latest and greatest items of interest in our world.  The lads and ladies at Brassgoggles are some of the greatest hope and inspiration for humanity. Though it is my very biased opinion. 


Working on acquiring the website and will start filing the non-profit paperwork shortly after.  Can you hear that rusty cog starting to roll?

[JimiC]

I am Mostly a fringe player right now. I enjoy the Artistic end immensely, and  have not delved into the costuming much yet. I am  a musician and would very much like to met other musicians to see about putting together a local band and see what happens. Looking forward to meeting everyone.
Jimi