Early planning: Steampunk convention in Germany, in 2011

[elShoggotho]

It's just an idea right now, but some people over at the Clockworker group are planning a steampunk convention. Right now, it's all theory, but the general idea is to hold it in Hamburg, in the Speicherstadt. Details are bound to change though. Timeframe says spring or autumn 2011 right now. Not right in the summer, too hot.

So what are your thoughts on the topic? Would you attend a full fledged European steampunk convention?

[Ardril Lerfai]

This is a great Idea like i said on Clockworker!
I hope we can make it a great event and maybe even can get some Guests from england or even the usa!

greetings

Ardril Lerfai

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

I certainly would, Europe bizarrely hasn't had a major steampunk convention yet. Are you going hotel based like the US Conventions or campus style like The Asylum?

[elShoggotho]

That depends on the final location. We're still undecided where exactly we'd like to hold it. Hamburg would be great, because we'd have the chance to charter Germany's oldest running steamboat. Speicherstadt would mean campus style, the other locations would mean more or less of a mix. Expect it to be more of the Asylum variety.

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

I do want to do an overseas Steampunk convention, but my language limitations (I am English you know) means that I can only really only be comfortable where they treat The Queens English properly, so that's the US out (they spell 'grey' with an 'a' and call braces 'suspenders'....the horror, the horror). Anywhere in Germany would be fine though.

It is certainly worth having a word with MajorTinker, he knows Germany well, and the VSS can help with UK guest introductions at the very least. Who are the big steampunk bands in Europe, and the big current authors? The threads on BG are dominated by UK/US artists in these areas, so a lot of us fellows just don't know who or what is popular in the continent.

[elShoggotho]

We're already looking for German bands and some UK artists that fit the bill. Coppelius and Drachenflug are on the wishlist.

[Herr Döktor]

Registering my interest; always liked Germany, always seems like you're just a bunch of cousins we Britons don't see very often...

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

But Herr Doktor, this post would suggest that you are not German yourself!

[Herr Döktor]

Only on my Mutti's side.

[elShoggotho]

Bah, probably from Hanover, and you can gladly have that back - together with Ernest Augustus and his misbegotten spawn.

But seriously, with Herr Döktor aboard, there's nothing that could go wrong.

[Hyperkubus]

UiUiUi!

A german convention would be great.
For the Timeframe I would prefere Autum because in spring I will have to learn for my Abitur (but it wouldn't stop me from comming)
Getting Copelius there would also be great.

[Sir A Poiselamppe]

Will have to brush up on my German....

[Ardril Lerfai]

Currently i am the only who is planning this Event :/ so it will take some time for me because im alone and so i cant be everywhere at the same time.

First off all i need to find sponsors because i cant pay the 7000€ for the Tents only..... v.v or i need to find cheaper ones or something like that.
Anyways i talkd to the managment of "Coperlius" they want 2000€ to play for us...

Stay tuned

greetings

Ardril Lerfai

[vampyresheep]

i have only briefly visited Hamburg but from what I've seen, the Speicherstadt area would be an ideal location for a steampunk event!  Would be an ideal excuse for me to pay a return visit - so consider me interested, date and finances permitting.

[TimeTinker]

If there is anything I can do to help then don't hesitate to ask.  Datewise I would of course prefer it if you avoid the first half of September since this is The Asylum.  On a logistics point - might it be possible to look at a venue in the Koln/Dusseldorf area?  This would make it more accessible for Dutch, Belgian and French steampunks as well as from the UK thus offering you a bigger potential attendance?

Best advice - think small for your first event (400-500 people).  If it sells out, great. Go bigger next year.  If it doesn't then you stand to lose less money.

[akumabito]

I think it would be great! Definitely a preference for the Koln area - just because it's easier to get there for me..

[Hyperkubus]

I think it would be great! Definitely a preference for the Koln area - just because it's easier to get there for me..

would be easier for me, too.

[PockyNightmare]

if you could get it over here to the sweet sweet niederrhein i could get a BUNCH of people there (i'm very familiar with the dutch steampunk community)

also, i think the ruhrgebiet would be a better place since we have a lot of industrial background here.

plus! it's easier to get to the convention for almost all of us (sorry shoggotho).

and i agree with Monseur Tinker that we start small, if you think of 400-500 peepz á 30 euro i think we could manage to pay the event (and also coppelius <3 )

[TimeTinker]

For the Asylum we use a conference centre (That really was a Victorian Insane Asylum)

It has one main hall with a stage.  This has a fire certificate limite of 400.  The bar is adjoining this and a seperate lounge area.  We also have two other rooms (50 seater and 120 seater) for day features.

In our first year this was big enough for us to have evening music, a day programme, stalls and exhibits.

A location that has plenty of accomodation nearby (hotels, pensions, hostels etc) is perfect.  Whilst people don't mind camping it is much much easier if you have a room for changing into elaborate costumes etc.

I would advise you not to pay more than 1000 euro for a band for the first event.  Keep your costs down and the worries are lighter if the tickets are not selling too fast.  You will have many other costs from insurances and security to back line hire and projectors.

A note on traders - they are an attraction and should be supported.  Don't expect them to subsidise the event.  A price of 40-50 euro is fair for a first event.  If traders are coming then more people want to attend the event.  A good market is actually a bigger draw than the bands.

I am happy to volunteer some of my team to help and will of course promote an event to Steampunks in the UK.   Let us know if there is anything we can do.

By the way I will have a huge touring exhibition of Steampunk art available next year.  Anyone have a venue which might be interested for three montsh or so next year?

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

You may also want to set up something like the Victorian Steampunk Society as a tentpole for such events. The VSS is really starting to attract sponsorship, and act as a first point of call for the media. The VSS website also acts as a tickets portal which appears tone superior to the traditional SF con desk and requires less attention. It also gives a continuing identity, useful if you intend to  I am sure the VSS would help cross promote a fraternal body.

It is also worth doing a fact finding visit to The Asylum, pick up contacts, ideas, and get people involved.

[PockyNightmare]

what about getting sponsored by the tv?

like asking pro7 or the WDR to make a documentation about it!

[TimeTinker]

Whilst they might want to make a documentary they are very unlikely to actually want to sponsor an event.  (I work in TV for my day job).  Your best chance at sponsorship is things like beer companies, other alcohol companies etc.  As a small, new event though you are unlikely to get much cash sponsorship.

You don't actually need it though.  Keep independent for your first year and you have a better say when the sponsors come looking for you next time.

[Capt. Dirigible]

Will have to brush up on my German....

Thanks to Stephen Fry I can ask "Wo ist mein Handy?" in a very camp German accent!

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Sponsorship is the jam, subscription pays for the bread and butter of the event. Books, magazines, prizes, sweets, drinks are all the type of thing that can be obtained through sponsorship,  not necessary for a good time but they don't hurt. This year for example Orbit have kindly donated Gail Carrigers steampunk books, one for each Member at The Asylum, as part of a promotion of opening the UK to this author.

For Eastercon once Sony/Forbidden Planet brought and set up a full Expo quality Rock Band set up a fun/fan event. A terrific time was had by all.

[ooakkarin]

i read days before about a 1.steampunk convention in Germany on this side:
http://animexx.onlinewelten.com/events/event.php?id=44931

Is it the same event as you talking about? Or do you plan another one?
I thought it´s the same because of the place in Niedersachen, but í´m not sure ...

and like a few people over me i would find it better in the Ruhrgebiet or Köln area or something near this because Hamburg is realy on Germany´s ending and not close to many people. But this is my own opinion and a bit influenced, because Hamburg is not in my closeness.

and sorry for my terrible english xD