United Kingdom Steampunk Convention?

[Doctor When]

I too will be at Redemption Sir, I am on about a dozen panels (normal for me) including the "Well Dressed British Hero"

Now that sounds like quite my cup of Assam!

[TimeTinker]

Greetings gentlefolk, I've just returned from the City of London and on the journey north and south spent lots of time chatting with she who must be obeyed about running a Steampunk get together.

First and foremost - this is not intended to replace or compete with and event or be the only Steampunk convention.  This is purely a situation where many people are telling me its a good idea and I feel I would like to put some practical effort into organising something rather than debating. If it works then fine we have had a good time and if it doesn't well I'll chalk it up to experience.

I am looking at Sheffield because it is local to me and this makes organising much easier. Sheffield is of course rich in industrial heritage too.  If people are also organising events in Brighton, London and Cardiff then I would be delighted to attend and help out if I can. I am going for Sheffield since I think we have enough people locally to make it work and as those of you also in the North know getting down to the South can be a real pain in the proverbials.  I know that for many of you Britain finishes at Watford - I live with this dichotomy since I lured my better half away from London to live in Yorkshire and the majority of my work is in London. I understand this but make no apologies for wanting to establish an event in the North (although not as North as Whitby).

My plan is to secure a hotel as the convention centre but not necessarily expect all people to stay there. (Of course you get the best social aspects of an event like this if you are residential).  There is a wide range of accomodation in Sheffield to suit all pockets but of the Hotels I am talking to and looking at the Victoria is currently favourite. 

The aim is to have the convention open at 9.30am on the Saturday although folks staying on Friday would of course meet up and socialise on that evening too.   The convention should consist of an open contraptors exhibition and competition with trophies etc for Aesthtically pleasing device, Functional Device and Overall Award. Of course we will be inviting vendors too and interested parties should pm me.  During the day we were thinking about workshops and features e.g. a period dance workshop, 19th century fashions etc. Perhaps folks would like to offer to lead seminars or how to demos etc?  Of course we will have to have some form of dress/costume competition too.  Awards would be made over afternoon tea which we feel is the most gentile part of the day.  In the evening we intend a masked ball. An opportunity for the best of dress and good manners.  This would include a buffet.  We intend period dances from Quadrilles to the "Dashing White Sergeant" and have experienced callers to make sure this all works well. We were thinking the ball might be best to finish around 11.30 allowing those who want the opportunity to sample the Sheffield clubbing scene.  Of course the rest of us would probably end up relaxing and socialising in the bar.

Sunday morning we would aim to be checking out of the hotel (to keep costs down) and heading on to Kelham Island Museum to gaze in awe and wonder at their displays with plenty of local hostelries in the area we should also be able to organise a nice sunday lunch.

Why do it like this? Costs. I get the impression some people are experienced convention attenders and others are impoverished students with every possible variation in between. Done this way we can allow an element of mix and match to allow people to get involved with what they can afford.  We are going to try and get things costed at:  Dance including buffet £20, Day ticket to visit the  exhibition, vendors and see fashion shows etc £7.50ish, Day delegate ticket including afternoon tea and access to seminars etc £20 or a full delegates ticket of day plus dance around £35.  Rooms at the hotel should be around £55 for a double. Breakfast around £5-£10.  That means a target full attendance cost of around £70 per person including accomodation whilst turning up for the day to check out the atmosphere and see the event side of it should be under a tenner.

I want to see an event like this work. Luckily we have portable PAs, radios, radio mikes,  projectors etc we can use and this means there should be no capital outlay costs and we can underwrite the event costs with the hotel in an effort to get something off the ground. I hope we can get around 100 people to attend.  I can certainly get many more at the dance since we have around that number of local people who are up for that anyway this helps the event work.  Obviosuly any offers of help and support from you good people would be more than welcome.

Time schedule -  we would dearly like to be able to run something around the end of June/start of July.  This is our target but please watch this space on that one.

Finally -we are not trying to set up in competition with any other Steampunk convention or event.  What draws me to this genre is the spirit of shared enthusiasm and good manners. Should anyone not want to support this I bear no ill feeling at all and please keep me in the loop about other outings since I would be happy to supprot them too.  I am doing this because I would like to see a convention happen sooner rather than later and I am a self starter that doesn't mind putting in some hard work (plus I have a bunch of friends who will help me out and who I rely on regularly.)

Toodle pip for now.

Tink

[JennyWren]

sorry just bookmarking this 

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Excellent, most conventions run Friday afternoon through to Sunday Night, involving a 2 or 3 night stay. It increases the spend in the hotel, which is important if you have deal which means a good spend gets you your function space for free or at a reduced price. Conventions need to be distinguished from Memorabilia or Collectormania or London Comicon which are non-residential events, and are quite different. 

As it happens significant numbers of SF fans exist within Sheffield, which include myself, Co-Chair of the current Eastercon, next years Fan Guests of Honour at Eastercon, and the current Chair of Novacon. There is therefore significant experience and resources. For such reason a Convention called Conrunner is taking place in Sheffield early next year which is for people who run conventions.
 
I will be in the Old Queens Head near Ponds Forge tomorrow for the SF Group midweek meet, from about 6.30 onwards. We meet on the Wednesday each week with a larger meeting upstairs on the last Friday of the month. Please accept my invitation to attend, just ask thebstaff tonpoint you in my direction.

I am aware of at least one other steampunk convention being touted by experienced conrunners I have recommended to them the Victoria and the Midland in Bradford, another fine hotel. However they are not on the forum so I will alert them as to your interest.

What year and month are you considering for this Convention?





Sir I am aware of at least one other Steampunk Convention

[TimeTinker]

Hello Peter,

I hope to be able to meet up with you in Sheffield tonight.  Just got to clear a few things first - look forward to meeting you.

Tinker

[Mich]

Salutations good and honest folk!

I would like to propose a convention in my Little Regency period Theatre, in Brighton, opposite the Pavilion. It was built in 1794, and has been a theatre since the victorian period. it is steampunk that inspired me to run the theatre (i had previously worked the bar below for 7 years), and it would be very fitting to have some sort of convention in these grounds. the theatre itself, is antiquated and avante garde, and run by a dedicated team of volunteers. it is in the heart of the city, directly opposite the pavilion, but overshadowed by a new and ugly glass building. we still have the best view of the pavilion from a licensed venue however.

we have already had one steampunk event, attended by at least 100 people throughout the day, and have just today decided on the date of or second one. The Steampunk Hidden Cabaret will be happening on the 21st of February, and will play host to not only musicans, magicians, scientists and historians, and market stalls! And, like all well thrown together events will also have some beguiliing surprises. (Check out the Marlborough Little Theatre FB group, and link to the Steampunk Hidden Cabaret) or email me: CarnivalCatalyst@hotmail.com

I would like to host a sp convention, there was lots of talk about it at our last sp event. But ofcourse, i do not want to tread on any toes of events already planned. but a promenade to the theatre from the convention? wink wink nudge nudge....I definitely like to help spread the word of a steampunk convention (wherever the venue) at our future SP events, so please contact me as soon as details come out!

I think Brighton seems to be the obvious place to at least start a convention. it could then periodically roll around the country, and then the world beyond, perhaps visiting some of the ex colonies...(just thinking off the top of my head, please stop me if i'm wrong - has anyone checked out indian steampunk? might have made it to mumbai maybe?).... anyway with our rich 19th Century history, architecture and technology, i can't think of a more perfect place to begin!

Wonderful, signing off now,

Tarik
Carnival Catalyst/Theatre Manager

Hahaha, I was just going to link to this thread too.

[TimeTinker]

I would just like to formally extend my thanks to Peter and the rest of the good people at Sheffield tonight.  Lot's of positive thoughts and input and I will keep people posted here about plans for a gathering in Sheffield for the north.  Can I take the opportunity to wish all the folks down in Brighton the best of luck with their event too.  To my mind we would have (in an ideal world) half a dozen or even more conventions/gatherings/events each year in different places around the country. Some people would only attend those close to them because of costs and logistics and others might attend them all. Only in this way do we create a thriving and vibrant SP "scene". I hope we can arrange something for South Yorkshire and surrounds fairly soon.  Now if there was only a way to put the theatre on wheels and move it up to Sheffield since I doubt they will let us have the Lyceum!

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

For science fiction fans there are up to a dozen conventions in the UK, with this year Conventions scheduled in Coventry, London, Bradford, Derby, Cambridge, Belfast, Glasgow, Nottingham, Northampton and Plymouth. When promoting conventions at Comicon etc I always promote the local convention, as well as my own is the cheapest for a first time attendee, as they can commute, rather than habe an expensive stay overmight in a hotel and we in the SF community are more than happy to help the SP Community in promoting and organising Conventions and events.

[Gazongola]

Brighton, fair enough, I will attempt tp make it. But for the next one we should just book the Black Country Living Museum for a weekend and descend upon it...

[Herr Döktor]

Just as an aside, one has to pass through Surrey when travelling by rail from Birmingham to Brighton...

[MinistryOfTruth]

We could always just pick out some spot in the middle of nowhere, ideally in Cornwall and also ideally involving a ruined monastery, and descend on it en masse.

[SteamBlast Mary]

That'd give the Daily Mail types something to gossip about.

[Herr Döktor]

We could always just pick out some spot in the middle of nowhere, ideally in Cornwall and also ideally involving a ruined monastery, and descend on it en masse.

That'd give the Daily Mail types something to gossip about.

Oh, please, please, let's DO IT!

[Carnival Catalyst]

[quote author=TimeTinker link=topic=11878.msg265555#msg265555 date=1232580475 Now if there was only a way to put the theatre on wheels and move it up to Sheffield since I doubt they will let us have the Lyceum!
[/quote]

funny you hould say that,  a steamepunked freight lorry converted into a transportable Marlborough Lirrle Theatre onboard is one of my long term goals ~ just got to  seduce the right billionaire...i have one in mind already!

[TimeTinker]

Mmmm images of the steam lorry from "One of our Dinosaurs is missing" but with a theatre on the back. Of course the theatre would have to have a steam powered organ, flying rigs, lime lights and all the rest.  Now that would be a very very special project.

[Ancient Design]

That'd give the Daily Mail types something to gossip about.

Only if they survived being kidnapped volunteering to be test subjects for maniacal evil schemes wholsome experiments.

[TimeTinker]

I once saw this written in the dirt on the back of a white van hurtling down the motorway. It made me smile at the time and I feel it would be appreciated here.

"Time Travellers' Convention
                      Last Tuesday
                                  Be Early!"

It's probably old news to you all. (Fnaah, fnaah)

[Berty Boleyn]

I once saw this written in the dirt on the back of a white van hurtling down the motorway. It made me smile at the time and I feel it would be appreciated here.

"Time Travellers' Convention
                      Last Tuesday
                                  Be Early!"

I love this!
(did it give a location? I might attend/have attended  )

[Herr Döktor]

I once saw this written in the dirt on the back of a white van hurtling down the motorway. It made me smile at the time and I feel it would be appreciated here.

"Time Travellers' Convention
                      Last Tuesday
                                  Be Early!"

I love this!
(did it give a location? I might attend/have attended  )

I'm going to attend, it was fun!

[Berty Boleyn]

I once saw this written in the dirt on the back of a white van hurtling down the motorway. It made me smile at the time and I feel it would be appreciated here.

"Time Travellers' Convention
                      Last Tuesday
                                  Be Early!"

I love this!
(did it give a location? I might attend/have attended  )

I'm going to attend, it was fun!

I also attended, so I'll see you there Herr Doktor! 

[lady sakara]

i didnt think it was that good, but itl'l be great the second time around.

[TimeTinker]

What have I started?

The next meeting of the Time Travellers Society will be two weeks last Thursday.  Anyone who has already attended is politely requested to avoid themselves when they visit in order to avoid any temporal disturbances.

Tink

[The Professor]

I went, nobody turned up. How about organising one for the end of last November.

[Gazongola]

I went, nobody turned up. How about organising one for the end of last November.

Thats because it was a poorly advertised one. If we start a madcap viral campaign next year, there will be many more people.

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Ahem, can we get back on topic, a separate thread for a timetravellers convention spoof would be most excellent though, especially if you can persuade several sets of identical twins to attend, to add to the temporal confusion.