| SalonCon 2009 Announcement |
[Jan. 30th, 2009|10:58 am] |
Gentle readers,
The staff and I have been discussing 2009, and the honest truth is, unfortunately I don't have it in me. I'm completely exhausted from a variety of personal reasons and I just don't have the ability to make it go this year.
I know that potentially that could signal the end of SalonCon, and while I hate disappointing all of you who have been so kind to us throughout the years, I would rather go out on top with interviews by MTV and The New York Times than go out a shadow of what we were.
We are still in the planning stages for a SalonCon charity tea at Teaberry's. We will have details on that within the next month or so.
We appreciate all the love and kindness and support you've given us and we're happy that we've had a chance to be a part of people's dreamscape, if even for a fleeting bit.
with love,
Deborah |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 5th, 2009|01:42 pm] |
Okay. It seems that SalonCon is not something that's going gently into the good night. We are going to have (yet another) meeting to discuss options in feasiblity for doing a SalonCon potentially for 09.
*If* we did and *if* we fundraised sufficent funds, I think we would have it at the usual hotel (Somerset Holiday Inn). Would having it later in September help people, like say Sept. 25 - 27?
Whilst we are meeting, please put on your thinking caps as to:
1. What could we offer as gifts for donating? (which would need to be something donated to us. . .in other words if someone's like, give out socks! We would need said socks donated)
2. Do you have anything to auction off to the cause?
3. How soon would you really buy tickets/vending space?
We are *very* *very* tentatively thinking that *if* we did this, and we did not raise sufficent funds, we would either keep the money for '10 or give the money to a charity of our choice (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) saveours00j), depending on funds. If we did raise enough to do '09, obviously saveours00j would still be our charity and receive the usual charity efforts.
Part of our decision making process will be based on your feedback. As one of my favorite (somewhat inelegant) movies goes, "If any of you have anything to say, now's the fucking time!" |
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| SalonCon 2009 Update |
[Jan. 5th, 2009|11:24 am] |
Hi everyone,
We've been going over and over the numbers, and with the economy being in the current state that it's in, SalonCon 2009 is not looking feasible. We went over and over the numbers and we tried to reinvent the wheel about a billion times and it just wasn't coming out right. We personally cannot afford to take a loss this year.
What we *are* working on is to put together a charity Neo-Victorian tea event hopefully at Teaberry's (hopefully candlelight!) with a reading from our darling Catherynne Valente, possibly a short performance by our sweetheart Sooj, a Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab meetup, and who knows? Maybe a seance. When we know a date, we will let everyone know. We would like to do this as a placeholder for 2009 so we are not forgotten by 2010, where SalonCon may again be possible.
I would just like to say thank you to everyone for all of your love and support and constant kindness throughout the years and that we would be literally nothing without all of you. Thank you. We love you and thank you for everything you've given us and it's been so much.
love,
Deb |
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| SalonCon 2009! |
[Jan. 2nd, 2009|11:34 am] |
We have secured the September 5th date, darlings. I know it is not preferred that it would be over Labor Day Weekend, but as it's a historical spot, weddings get preference. This was the best date we could get (and honestly we were lucky to get it). The gardens are really lovely. In my college days, ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) slim1979 would be convinced by my finishing school dropout self to cut Geology and we would zip over the to the gardens in my convertible and smell the roses, roll down the hills, and walk through all the lush greenery. Some of my happiest memories are there, and I hope you will find it similiarly pleasing. I will also be doing my best to get some tour guides for those who want to really learn about the gardens.
New FAQ:
How will SalonCon be different than years past?
In a lot of ways!
1. We will be holding it at the
Rutgers Botanical Gardens, which is a historical location with a weather proof log cabin and pavilion.
2. Our location means a limited guest list (around as many people as we had last year) with more exclusive vendor opportunities.
3. Our hours will be from 12pm – 9pm, which gives everyone more opportunities for after hour parties at the hotel.
4. Our evening format will have changed. There will be no hour change over, the log cabin will already be decorated all day. There will be an evening recital with a reading from Catherynne M. Valente and then a performance by Sooj. Following that will be a full Victorian Ball (there will be instructions earlier that day). We will look into being able to have a modern ball going on simultaneously as well.
5. We will be doing a full tea catered by Teaberry’s at 12:30pm, with a performance by Kwannon. There will be lawn games (weather permitting) going on simultaneously.
6. There will be a dinner hour where you can either bring food for yourselves, or purchase (in advance) a box dinner.
7. Our charity will be SOS, saveours00j.
8. There will still be three tracks, one will be workshop based, one will be salon based, and one will be outdoor games based (weather permitting).
9. Tickets in advance will be a straight $25. We fully expect to sell out, so it’s a good idea to get them asap. If there happen to be a few tickets left, they will be $40 at the door. Because of this, our exclusive LJ Community 24 Hour Sale will be to give you the first bite of the apple, you will have the first opportunity to buy tickets before anyone else. Rumor has it, this will happen in early Febuary.
10. There will be a Steampunk themed meetup at the hotel on Friday night, at the hotel’s restaurant. There will be a nominal entrance fee to cover hor’deorves and a cash bar will be available.
11. We will have another meetup on Sunday to give everyone a chance to dress in their finest (Neo-Victorian, Steampunk, etc.) to go to The Zimmerli Museum which is a beautiful little museum that has amazing exhibits and costs a mere $3 for entry, giving you yet another chance to play dress up *and* support the arts.
Q. This is not my beautiful house! Why has there been so many changes?
A. To be completely honest my darlings, the hard cold fact is that convention is extremely expensive and time consuming to run. This is not a fantastic economy, people can afford much less than they have in previous years.
I’ve also discussed last year’s event in detail with my staff. We want to continue to provide you with a quality event. Conventions are run primarily by volunteers, and they do this out of the good of their hearts and for the love of the game. We need to be realistic about what can be done on a volunteer basis and running our poor volunteers into the ground does no one any good.
Additionally, we think that it’s good for an event to have some change to it so it’s not same same every year. We want to have a chance to get closer to our original vision of a Neo-Victorian event. What could be more Neo-Victorian than a full Victorian ball? Or a walk in the gardens? Getting the chance to play lawn games? Having a séance in a historical location?
On a personal note, it’s been a difficult past few years for me, I’ve lost a lot of people I love to Lady Death. I am also going through a divorce, which as anyone who’s been through one can attest to the painfulness and difficulty of it. I want to give you a quality event but one that I can realistically produce for you.
I hope you will support us in this exciting new chapter of SalonCon.
oxox,
Deborah Castellano
Minitrix of Organization |
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| Our Weapons Policy as per our Head of Security |
[Sep. 10th, 2008|10:17 am] |
Weapons Policy
You need to be over 18 to carry a weapon of any kind.
All weapons to be period pieces only.
Absolutely no functional firearms or projectile weapons (including bows,darts, and knives) . Period replica and steampunk weapons are allowed. Whips are permitted, but must be peace-tied.
All blades to be peace-tied and sheathed. No exceptions.
Swinging around weapons can be taken as an aggressive move and the weapon or patron can be removed from the con.
Performers (during preapproved performances) are permitted to use weapons for the performance. However, anyone performing with a weapon or carrying an unsheathed weapon shall not consume anything that could adversely affect reaction time, judgment, or agility, until after they have finished performing (with weapons). |
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| SalonCon Presale Tickets |
[Sep. 5th, 2008|04:03 pm] |
End in 8 hours! Buy them here!
The best way to guarantee your place at SalonCon is to get your tickets in advance! |
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| SalonCon Presales |
[Sep. 5th, 2008|12:28 pm] |
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have 11.5 hours left! Buy your tickets here. There will be a limited amount of tickets for sale at the door. |
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| Tea |
[Sep. 3rd, 2008|09:42 pm] |
Gentle readers,
The tea menu has been posted.
Missed your chance to buy tickets? We have put up two tickets up for auction (here and here) to support SalonCon 08's charity, RAINN. Bidding starts at only a dollar! It all goes directly to charity! Help make a difference!
oxox,
Deborah |
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| Possibility of SalonCon Tickets Selling Out |
[Sep. 3rd, 2008|02:46 pm] |
Gentle readers,
We have a lovely hotel with attentive staff that we essentially have the run of. We do so adore it and it's been absolutely perfect for us and we are fairly sure you will be equally pleased with it. However. The hotel is a smaller hotel and we have just discussed as a staff what our maximum number is for everyone's optimal comfort. There is a chance that our venue space may be sold out this year.
The best way to make *sure* that you have a place at SalonCon is to buy your ticket in advance.
xoxox,
Deborah |
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| [x-posted from salonconvention] on behalf of kinkyjesus |
[Sep. 2nd, 2008|02:44 pm] |
"Hi all, this is your friendly neighborhood Head of Security. If you wish to have a room party, that is fine (more than fine, it is great!).
We simply ask that you:
-Keep things under control. We are all about refinement, and we don't want to disturb other guests.
-Please let meself (a tall gentleman walking around with long hair and, more uniquely, a badge that says Head of Security) or the Saloncon reg desk know that you are having one, what room it is, and who is hosting it. This way, if any issues arrise, we can contact the responsible persons quickly, and if you wish to have an open party, we can direct people which rooms to head towards.
That being said, come and have fun!
Bryan (aka, Ogre to some of you)" |
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| (no subject) |
[Aug. 21st, 2008|02:46 pm] |
Before we go live with it in the next day or two. Have a small meetup you'd like to have in the ConSuite? Drop us a comment and we'll talk! |
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| SalonCon Advanced Tickets |
[Aug. 21st, 2008|11:51 am] |
Gentle readers,
As of tomorrow, there will only be two weeks left to purchase your advanced tickets.
Just as a reminder as to what $25 will get you in this current difficult economy:
* Around half a tank of gas
* Two movie tickets
* A hardback book
* Two cds
* A dinner for two at a diner
* An inexpensive concert ticket
* Two martinis at a bar
At SalonCon, for $25 you will be getting:
* Salons with people knowledgable in their fields for intellectual discourse
* Workshops on a wide variety of topics
* A BPAL meetup
* A Chrono'nauts Parade
* Readings & Signings by renowned authors
* Ballroom dance instruction
* A Fashion Show
* Art lesson by Dr. Sketchy
* A Fashion Show
* A Burlesque Performance by White Elephant Burlesque Society
* An Abney Park concert performance
* A Fancy Dress Masked Ball
* A chance to browse vendors selling all sorts of beautiful wares you won't find at your mall, giving you a chance to support small business
I think that's a pretty good deal, if I do say so myself. As I have been discussing how SalonCon has been growing and changing and evolving, one of the things that's remained consistant and important to me is to make glamour affordable. Most of us would never have access to all of this in our daily lives, I know I never did. I wanted a chance to live out all of those period books and films I always watched with my mom, but in a modern context that addressed trying to keep the playing field even for everyone regardless of race, class, gender, religious preference, etc.
I'm so excited about how much we've grown! I can't wait to meet you all.
oxox,
Deborah |
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