Presented by Cynthia Gayton

Sunday, 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm
Boardroom A (Radisson)

Ever wonder why there are so many novels, television shows, comic books and movies even software programs featuring Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s character, “Sherlock Holmes,” but only a handful of works about the Studio Foglio, LLC comic and literary character “Girl Genius?” It’s not simply age, but how the characters were protected and “packaged.” Learn basic differences between copyright and trademark law and what Steampunk authors and illustrators can do to protect their characters for generations.

Presented by Ben Hamby

Saturday, 8:45 pm – 9:45 pm
Boardroom A (Radisson)

How to create / modify existing weapons to meet the steampunk aesthetic.
We will discuss types of weapons, parts, tools, and techniques, from the basic repainting of available plastics weapons to the more complex modification of wood and steel firearm.

Friday, 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Boardroom A (Radisson)

Presented by Brenden Coleman, a classy gentleman and little kid at heart.

How engineering basics can be learned with Legos.

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Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

So we’d like to be quite clear here.

There are many fantastic Steampunk events out there, and our strong suggestion is that you go to all of them.  That way, you won’t miss out on anything!

There are immersive events, like TeslaCon.  There are events who balance scholarship and fun as if they were creating a fine wine from several different grapes, like AnachroCon.   There’s Steampunk gaming, like TempleCon.  And there are many, many other wonderful shows, each of which has its own unique strengths.  Saying which show is “better” is absolutely a matter of personal taste.

We of The Steampunk World’s Fair (which is, unlike most Steampunk events, not a convention) hope that you’ll enjoy many of our own unique opportunities – our absinthe tasting; our genre-blending ball; our own breed of welcoming friendliness; Moriarty’s Deadliest Dinner; the unusual things we do with our guests and performers and so on…

We do have one other special distinction:  We pack more Steampunk pleasures into one weekend than anybody else.

We run a half-dozen performance stages simultaneously, and often, we run twice that many performances.   We have, not just two big hotels, but 30,000 square feet of parking lot, and we’re currently applying for more.

In some ways, we’re kind-of like a Renaissance Faire – not as immersive, and with more variety – but unlike many conventions, where you can walk around the whole event in an hour, it could take you half a day just to walk through all of the spaces we have.  …and after you did that, there’d still be new things to see, because we change what we do when night falls and we can get out the fire shows, the Tesla coils, the massive party and concert in the parking lot!

We’re so big we actually have specific content for if it rains, because there’s no hotel within three hundred miles big enough to contain all of this event inside!   Not even in Atlantic City!

Want to see how much we’ve done in the past.  Click here…but be warned – you can keep going for hours and not get to the end!!

Do you like what you’re seeing?  Want tickets?  Get them here!

Val, the face painter from one of our other events. Photo by Ben Jordan

There is one simple fact that some Steampunks, and even some Steampunk events, don’t seem to want to acknowledge:

 If it weren’t for all the creative people, movements, groups, fans, and dedicated crazy people who came before us, Steampunk wouldn’t exist.

At The Steampunk World’s Fair, not only do we welcome you – but we welcome you to come dressed as you want, and we honor your background.  Are you Gothic?  Come out and be Gothic; Goth is the direct parent of Steampunk, and we thank you!  Are you a Rennie?  Were it not for Renaissance Faires – their origins in historical re-creation, their charitable work, their sense of immersive fun – there’s no way we’d be able to run around in our wacky tophats with goggles on them as easily as we do.  Are you a geek, a scifi fan, a lover of fantasy?  There’s no way Steampunk would exist without Tolkein, Gaiman, and a whole slew of writers, filmmakers, and creators who exist because of you.

Not only do we invite you to come as you are, as you were, as you’d like to be – we’re ALSO putting together a big, very fun Genre-Bending World-Twisting Ball, where everyone is specifically invited to come and be themselves.

We want to meet you!  We humbly and happily ask you to help us build this strange culture  we’re creating!  And we’d like to show you an amazingly great time!  Come out!  Come out and play!

“Honest.  There Is No Secret Steampunk Handshake!”

It has been several years since the mainstream’s acknowledgment of Steampunk—that ever-expanding and historically creative subculture of literature, music, fashion, science, intellectual gatherings, and beyond.  Steampunk: We know it when we see and hear it.  It appears distinct and new, yet with a comforting sense of familiarity to it.  If our grandparents and their parents could see a steampunk today, they might not find these ideas so abnormal.

Over the years, there has been an expansive wardrobe of definitions—some embraced and some cast aside, strewn on the dressing room floor like so much ill-fitting finery—that attempted to capture the requisite quality of “true Steampunk”.  Is it the copper-and-brass of smoke-stacked machinery?  The Victorian sensibilities of involved parties?  That palpable hint of merry adventure, dangerous exploration, and brave new wonders still left to uncover?

Or something more subtle?

While Steampunk scholars and artists attempt to influence the outcome of this word-war, so that the media might properly identify and show respect to this diverse culture, the extraordinary and inevitable has happened: Steampunk continues to evolve.

No sooner does the mainstream believe it has discovered the alchemical formula for a lacquer coat of Steampunk-Enough that the culture shifts, developing unique new sensibilities and interests.  And with each shift, the mainstream gives chase, hoping to find purchase among the community.

That community has built up from intimate groups—taking lunch in parks and meeting at coffee houses—to full tens of thousands of inspired contributors attending events world-wide that take over whole hotels and city blocks!

As Steampunk saunters into more public view, the odds that a new potential Steampunk lover will finally stumble onto it grow exponentially.  The more successful a Steampunk novel, movie, television episode, or music video is, the higher likelihood that it will stir at least one of its fans to action—that action might even have led them here.  After all, the average person is able to recognize what the long-time steam-boy or girl did when they caught their first glimpse: that Steampunk is amazing!

And best of all?  Steampunk is only getting bigger, better, and more amazing with each new person who discovers it, jumps into the guts of the machine, and starts tinkering.  The more a fan shows and shares, from the largest experimental prop device to the shortest, sweetest bit of flash-fiction, the more Steampunk there is to enjoy.  The brave new wonders of Steampunk will always be here to discover, open to anyone.  No secret handshake required.  Honest.

“At One Time Or Another, Everyone Was New To Steampunk”

Please understand that nobody owns Steampunk.  It does not clandestinely belong to shadowy steam-Illuminati, squirreled away in the dingy attic of a dead 19^th-century author, only taken out of its shackles in front of other elite, in-the-know Svengali and forced to dance for their amusement.  Nor did someone wake up one morning and decided, “You know what I’ll make into a trend?  That steam-thing we keep almost-seeing in books and movies.”

Certainly, a large lot of enthusiastic tinkerers, artists, scientists, cosplayers, designers, authors, musicians, and performers championed the spread of Steampunk awareness.  These pioneers brought the culture to new minds; to people young and old who found that spark in Steampunk which fanned the flames of creativity in their own hearts.  But again, none of those people can claim Steampunk to be theirs alone.  Nor do they or should they attempt to.

The Steampunk community is so much more than “a bunch of Goths that discovered brown”, as is too often reported.  There are those on either end of the age spectrum who, frankly, have never stepped foot into the territory of Goth either before or during their stay in the land of Steampunk.  With that said, many of Steampunk’s finest did in fact venture over from being into Goth.  Or Punk.  Or Pop.  Some discovered their taste for retro-futurism through movies like Wild Wild West, Return to Oz, The Great Mouse Detective, and Steamboy—while others had their first taste with more recent films such as Sherlock Holmes and Hugo.

Still others came from proto-steampunk literature, growing up on the tales of Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Mary Shelley, and Arthur Conan Doyle.  And some steampunks have never picked up a book or tuned into a movie or tried on a top hat.  They prefer instead to dance in the delights of rediscovered and abandoned technology, building replica devices in their own homes… just for fun!

Because again: Steampunk.  Keeps.  Growing.

Every day, teenagers are picking up copies of Scott Westerfeld’s “Leviathan” or Kady Cross’s “The Girl in the Steel Corset”, while other readers are diving into William Gibson’s “The Difference Engine” and the world of Cherie Priest’s “Boneshaker”.  The music crowd, which once might have joined mostly from Abney Park and Dr. Steel, now follow the pied piper tunes of Professor Elemental and the music videos of Panic! At The Disco.  Yes, it’s true: someone discovered Steampunk because of television shows, like Warehouse 13, or the Steampunk episode of Castle.

Some future steampunks will see a friend’s modified wood-and-brass paneled phone case and get the itch.  Another might be invited to a period costume party or Mecha-themed anime convention, where they enjoy absinthe for the first time and how to fill out a dance card.  And still another shall catch a glimpse of a girl wearing a short bustled skirt, thrifted vest, and superfluous goggles, and rush home to look up what style she was wearing.

Some people interested in Steampunk keep it all the year round, in all parts of their lives from their clothes to their furniture.  Others parade their Steampunk side only while attending events or genre movie premieres.  And still others indulge their love of all things Steampunk simply by enjoying a good book or purchasing the art of a maker or tinkerer.

All of these entrances into the hedge-maze that is Steampunk are valid and as legitimate as any other.  Because no one was simply born with full knowledge of Steampunk, everyone can point to their moment of discovery: There is a word that gathers into one place all the books, movies, machines, and outfits I have loved all my life!

But everyone has to start somewhere.  Even the most world-renowned steampunk musicians, makers, and scientists were once beginners.  And those varied, beautiful moments worth encouraging and celebrating together.

“Being As Steampunk As You Want To Be”

Look at almost any entertainment and traces of Steampunk can be found therein.  By simple association, this does not make everything with such hints “All Steampunk all the time.”  It does, however, mean that Steampunk can be anywhere.

Thus, anything can be steampunked.  There is a strong undercurrent among much of the Steampunk community for DIY (Do-It-Yourself) and creative innovation.  The idea of draping a lush layer of Steampunk over a pre-existing fandom, character, world, or item has been around as long as steampunks have.  In fan art, even Mickey Mouse and his gang have gained clockwork arms, monocles, and wire-caged bustle skirts.

Few things are universal among the Steampunk community.  There is, however, a general understanding that artists can find an audience… as long as they are making a perceivable effort.  After all, slapdash work in any genre or subculture will only gain ire and scorn: the opposite intent, one would hope, of any artist claiming to love the source of their inspiration!

There are infinite approaches to appreciating and playing in Steampunk.  It can be part of just about any activity!  You can:

• Write or read an original or fan fiction story, poem, or play
• Write or read a Steampunk essay, magazine, or blog
• Attend an author reading, movie showing, concert, or performance (including sideshow, burlesque, cabaret, and vaudeville shows)
• Make your own short films
• Attend a local dance night, convention, tea party, absinthe tasting, tweed ride, or picnic
• Plan a tea party, absinthe tasting, tweed ride, picnic, or Steampunk night at a local club (you can make your own public or private fun!)
• Take a class in fan language, tea ceremonies,
• Take a lesson in period, ballroom, burlesque, or belly dancing
• Browse a history museum, technology museum, or Steampunk art gallery
• Attend a play or opera, either an original Steampunk work or one where the sets, costumes, and time period have been “steampunked”
• Listen to a Steampunk music podcast (such as Sepiachord or The Clockwork Cabaret) to discover new sounds and artists you like
• Paint, draw, sculpt, build, or digitally create a work of art
• Take a favorite character to draw or cosplay and “steampunk it”
• Explore your inner mad scientist through giant mechanical spiders, death-rays, and weather-control machines
• Wear clothing that fits your personality and perceptions of Steampunk while at school, work, or out for the day
• Modify and up-cycle your old clothes into something unique and new
• Check out a thrift store, consignment store, or hunt through your attic for other fun pieces to add to your daily or event-only accessories
• Create a personal piece of mechanical-inspired jewelry for yourself or a friend
• Take pictures of your favorite Steampunk people, places, projects, and objects
• Read about Victorian and Industrial Era history, fashion, science, medicine, philosophy, and machines
• Have your tea leaves read, or attend a period-inspired séance
• Learn to tie a bow-tie, use a sewing machine, type on a typewriter, ride a penny-farthing, play a banjo, accordion, harpsichord or other non-standard instrument
• Learn a “Lost Art” that requires use of your hands and imagination: knitting, crocheting, fabric dyeing, hand-stitching, weaving, metalsmithing, wood carving, leather tanning, the language of flowers and their arrangement, haberdashery, cobbling, pocket watch and mechanical repair
• Learn the martial art of Bartitsu, or street performance arts such as poi spinning and being a human statue
• Join a table-top or live-action Role-Play Gaming set in a Steampunk world
• Play a Steampunk-themed board or card game
• Take a trip in a dirigible, zeppelin, or hot-air balloon to the Moon, the Center of the Earth, or the Lost City of Atlantis
• Join or start a local Steampunk fan group (many sandwich shops, coffee shops, and bookstores host other types of clubs on a weekly or monthly basis: they might be willing to host your group!)

It’s important to remember that there are even more ways to enjoy Steampunk, and they don’t have to all exist at the same time in the same place!  Sometimes a steampunk only wants dress in interesting clothing and never bother with the period history that inspires the culture or understand how a steam engine works.  While another steampunk may enjoy writing with the setting but never wear something more unusual than a baseball cap on their head.

Large ways or small, overt or covert, Steampunk is here to play with in whatever way you see fit.  You can be as Steampunk as you want to be.

“About That Handshake…”

There might still be out there a curious newcomer, interested but unsure about Steampunk, questioning if they will fit in and if they have read enough of the backlog to have caught up.  Perhaps they feel that there is an imperceptible Steampunk thing that others have and they don’t.  Then for that person, there is good news and bad news.

The bad news: Remember that secret Steampunk handshake discussed earlier, the one that doesn’t exist?  Well, in an effort to draw people in this far, the truth had to be stretched on that one.  Sorry for the deception.

The good news: By way of an apology–for the first time ever in print!—below is a detailed explanation!  Yes, this one simple move grants full access to the wonderful world of Steampunk without fear of appearing out of the loop.

Grab a friend to practice.  First, stand facing each other.  Secondly, both parties stick out a firm but inviting hand.  Then, clasp those hands together.  Finally, give a smile.  (Optional secret password of “I’m so glad Steampunk brought us both here” is considered acceptable.)

There you have it.  The honest to goodness secret Steampunk handshake.  The next time you find yourself wondering after how you, too, can open the doors to all that Steampunk has to offer… you now hold the key in your hands!

Curious about Steampunk?  New to Steampunk?  Interested but unsure?  Rest assured that you’ve come to the right place!

Scott Helland, from “Frenchy & The Punk”, has just realized that he’s got tickets to The Steampunk World’s Fair. This is his reaction.

 There’s a lot we could say about The World’s Largest Steampunk Event, but we’ll let CBS News say it for us (because, well, okay, we’re doing it this way because we’re showing off, to be honest.  But we’re not showing off because we’re stuck up..we’re showing off because we’re so amazed to have been featured!)

Sally-Mae and Joe Pax are the Steampunk Mario Brothers–er, that is, Mario Siblings. Photo by Philip Ng.

We can say this very simply:

There are events where you have to dress a certain way, where you need to have certain knowledge or experience before you go, where you won’t have a good time if you don’t already know lots of people who are going. There are events where you HAVE to wear clothing from one genre or one kind of way or you’ll stick out, in a bad way.

This is the exact opposite of those events.

We welcome you! It doesn’t matter what your background is! It doesn’t matter if you wear jeans, or a complete airship pirate uniform, or a suit of armor. Or if you wear all three at the same time! Come to this event, and you will make new friends if you want to, and you will find pretty much everyone is really, really friendly. (Though some people are quite shy; not everyone’s an extrovert!)

In fact: If you’re a mean person, we don’t care how nice your Steampunk clothes are. You should go somewhere else.

If you’re a nice person and you like cool good times, we don’t care who or what you are. We want to meet you!

Welcome to The Steampunk World’s Fair: We’re Not Just A Gigantically Enormous Amount Of Fun, We’re Also Really Accepting People. Okay, that’s not our official motto, but it’s close enough.

Come on in! Come in! Come in!

p.s. Speaking of making friends with people, you’re cordially invited to join our Facebook group, if you’d like! And feel free, if you have questions, to email the president of the company himself – that’s jeffmach@jeffmachevents.com.

An Open Letter To Steampunk Fandom 

Jeff’s note:  One of the things I love about Steampunk is the fact that it has been enormously low on melodrama (ironic, considering how popular the melodrama was as a dramatic format in Victorian times!)   As a movement created/built around no single person, and with the ability to look at other movements and say, “Goodness!  Those people were torn apart by unnecessary battles of egos, selfishness, and/or grandstanding.  Let’s not do that!” – Steampunk’s been practically idyllic.  

One of the few downsides of this is that a few people have taken advantage of the general Steampunk desire to live and let live.  Well, actually, I can’t really say “a few people” – I can only really say one person.   Ask nearly any group of people who’ve organized events in the Steampunk community for more than two or three years, and those organizers will confidentially mention how badly they’ve been hurt by a woman named Evelyn Kreite.

Now, you’re reading this on my website, which is clearly biased – and you may or may not know me.  You certainly have no reason to take my word that Evelyn is a poor influence on the Steampunk scene; you may or may not know that, in the years I’ve been involved in Steampunk, I’ve never actually come out and made a public statement that any person was negative or to be avoided, and that my doing so now is literally a first for me.  I do not give you her name in the thought that you’ll read my words and take up arms against someone you may never have heard of.  I give you her name because I want to be specific in why I’ve published the letter below.

The catalyst for this letter was that Evelyn finally engaged in an abuse of power so public, so egregious, and so well-documented that it essentially could not be denied; there are pretty much only two reasonable interpretations of these events – Either Evelyn made a mistake so gigantic and unlikely that it pretty much denies belief, or she blatantly destroyed the work of dozens of other people in order to further her own ends.  That story is documented here, in The Steampunk Chronicle, in an article by author Karina Cooper:  http://steampunkchronicle.com/ArticleView/tabid/238/ArticleId/284/Greasing-the-Gears-Scandalizing-Society-behaviors.aspx.

Again:  I do not ask you to take me at my word – and the above article only details this last incident, and not Evelyn’s historical misdeeds.  But I do not wish to publish this letter without being fair to the accused:  I believe that Evelyn Kreite does harm, and when I speak of a threat to the community, I will name it.  Evelyn is not Voldemort; I am not afraid of her response.  

Evelyn and I were friends once.  I have seen her do some good things – they’ve just eventually been massively outweighed by attacks and harmful behaviors.  I do not wish her harm.  I wish that she would go away.

And the letter is here:

Over the last five years the Steampunk Community has grown by leaps and bounds through social media, publishing, film, art, conventions, and many more diverse avenues. Even as Steampunk’s success draws it into the mainstream popularity, what remains vibrant and unique about the community is that it is an open source fandom; no one entity owns Steampunk; we all do.

This shared ownership naturally brings with it a varied spectrum of ideas, definitions, practices, influence, and responsibility. Everyone has a say in what Steampunk can be, but inevitably there are some who through their work and prominence in the Community bear more influence on the Steampunk movement, and with this comes a greater responsibility and commitment. Frequently these esteemed Steampunks will be featured guests at events and conventions, sharing their experiences and knowledge with the wider Steampunk Community; it is a wonderful thing to see individuals and groups who genuinely care about the movement using their talents and skills to build up others and promote Steampunk culture.

It is, however, unfortunate that there are some prominent Steampunks who have and will use their influence and positions of power in negative fashions to promote their own agenda at the expense of others. Abuse of power to censor others or threaten them creates a toxic environment that works counterintuitively to all that makes the Steampunk Community great. Recently there has been an increase in these negative behaviors that have prompted many Steampunk and Alternative History Convention organizers to confer and agree to take a form of action on the topic.
The undersigned Conventions have reached consensus that individuals or groups who display destructive behaviors and negative actions towards the works, careers, and reputations of others in the Steampunk Community will not be invited to participate as guests, speakers, panelists, or hosts of any talks or lectures at their events. The undersigned Convention organizers are unified in disassociating themselves from anyone whom they consider harmful to the spirit and culture of this fandom.

Civility, honor, and integrity are some of the highest held values in the Steampunk Community and the organizers of the undersigned Conventions encourage the continued practice of these values, especially in those who bear positions of responsibility. The goal of the undersigned Conventions is to maintain a safe, fun, and nurturing environment for fans of Steampunk and Alternate History; let’s enjoy this wonderful thing that we share.

Others of the undersigned will make their own individual announcements on this subject.

Aetherfest
AnachroCon
Clockwork Alchemy
ConTemporal
Octopodicon
Steamcon
Steampunk Empire Symposium
The Steampunk World’s Fair
TeslaCon

Frank Todaro is a New York City based voice actor and host of the award winning weekly paranormal/science based radio program THE INVISIBLE WORLD.

TIW has held many hugely successful live shows at theatres around Manhattan with some exciting guests in the fields of paranormal, science and philosophy, and presented at several events and conventions, among them the Steampunk Faire at historic Speedwell in Morristown, NJ.

This weekend’s particular presentation promises period paranormal ponderances of a Steampunky theme.  Expect “true” tales of ghostly presences and other oddities of the 1800s.  Some feature past presidents, Victorian-era “airship” sightings (as most UFO sightings were deemed at the time) and new/old takes on phenomenon which may seem eerily familiar. After the presentation, look forward to a trivia contest with prizes (that fans of classic Doctor Who should appreciate!)! The multi-media fun starts at 3:45 in Boardroom B.

But the prizes start here…

THE INVISIBLE WORLD is about to celebrate its 100^th episode on May 30^th and is glad to welcome rocket-scientist and UFO-legend STANTON FRIEDMAN as our guest!  All past episodes are available to download, stream, or podcast for FREE at: www.theinvisibleworld.info

For more on Frank, visit: www.franktodaro.tv

Thee Bluebeard is the pirate talk show host of thee most exclusive improv comedy show from Chicago. Seen across the country and on the internet and even at sea Thee Bluebeard Show is the comedy talk show where YOU, the audience, are the guests!  Ever wanted to be on stage and tell the world your story?  Ever wanted to put your best friends on stage and hear THEIR story?!  Of course you have! Look at you there, reading this while dancing in place with anticipation at the thought of being a part of it all.

All guests of Thee Bluebeard Show will receive certification of having been fantastic for 12 seconds in the spot light.  All audience members will take home the FREE Bluebeard Show Home Game.  Prizes and other amazements to be won.  Stand by mates!

Belladonna is an internationally recognized tribal fusion belly dance instructor, performer and show producer. A sultry mistress of dark dance  sensuality and intensity she is widely known for her fierce style and daring sword play.  You can see her at a variety of festival and events across the globe, including her annual Raven’s Night which takes place October 20th at the Birchmere in the Washington DC area. Please visit www.BellaFuse.com for more information.

Belladonna & Ken Vegas
A rocking hot duo sure to defy your sense and tickle your fancy.  Ken Vegas is an internaltion rock star of drag, and has been featured in a variety of films and documentaries about drag kings. He is also the founder and producer of the famous DCKings, the longest running drag king troupe in the world! Belladonna is a mistress of the night and a bad-ass bellydancer. When these two meet sparks fly and no one is safe from the sex appeal!

Q-Phia Experienced Clothier & Milliner

Proud Sponsor for Belladonna

Trisanguinus Carnelevarii brings to life the legends and lore of Vampires through the ages via a blend of improvisation, theatre, and Live Action Roleplay (LARP). Originating as roaming performers at Long Island Fear Fest’s CarnEVIL, the Trisangs have branched out to bring their unique style of entertainment to local and regional Gothic-themed events such as Wicked Faire and Macabre Faire.   As part of the Cimmerian Consortium, they are working to produce original multimedia online content about creatures of legend and those who hunt them.

So as you take in the wonders of the Steampunk World’s Fair and feel as if there is something or someone following you, it just might be the Trisangs…

For more information about Trisanguinus Carnelevarii check out their Facebook page!

LEARN TO NAVIGATE THE LUMINIFEROUS AETHER THAT IS THE LAW: A Crash Course in Protecting And Selling Your SteamPunk Comic Book or Novel

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This dapper gent will tell you everything you need to know about publishing law!

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You’ve written a SteamPunk novel or comic book and are now ready to meet with publishers. Can you protect your comic book ideas from being purloined by publishing’s ne’er do wells? What is “work for hire” and how can it hurt or help you in seizing the Promethean spark that is your creation? And when you do entice a publisher with your mad genius, how do you avoid the multitude of unseen legal traps waiting to ensnare the unsuspecting creator who is negotiating a publishing agreement for the first time? Join entertainment attorney Thomas A. Crowell, Esq. in a one-hour quest to demystify those shadowy areas of the law that most impact creators. Arm yourself with legal grappling hooks before entering the rough and tumble world of publishing!

Thomas A. Crowell, Esq. is an entertainment attorney and author of the best-selling legal guide: “The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers.” In addition to his private practice, where he represents comic book creators and filmmakers, he also teaches film, media, and intellectual property law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Mr. Crowell has been a legal lecturer at New York ComicCon since 2008 . For more information, see www.thomascrowell.com

So apparently, the VIP ticket t-shirt got leaked, and people are posting it around.  So we made a page for it, and here it is:

If you’d like to get the shirt, you’ll want to purchase a Steampunk World’s Fair Gentleperson-Adventurer ticket.   These shirts are designed by Aristotle C. Pramagioulis – well done, sirrah!

Leanna Renee Hieber

Author, actress and playwright Leanna Renee Hieber grew up in rural Ohio inventing ghost stories. She graduated with a BFA in Theatre and a focus in the Victorian Era. She has adapted works of 19th Century literature for the stage and her one-act plays have been produced around the country. Her debut novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, first in her Strangely Beautiful series, landed on Barnes & Noble’s bestseller lists, won two 2010 Prism Awards (Best Fantasy, Best First Book) and is currently in development as a musical theatre production with Broadway talent on board. The Strangely Beautiful series has been translated into several languages and was selected for hardcover book club editions. DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, first in Leanna’s Gothic Historical Paranormal saga set in 1880 New York City (Sourcebooks Fire), hit the Kid’s/YA INDIE NEXT LIST as a recommended title by the American Booksellers Association. DARKER STILL has been selected for a SCHOLASTIC edition as a “Highly Recommended” title and will be translated into several languages. The sequel releases 11/12. Leanna’s short fiction has been featured in anthologies such as Willful Impropriety: 13 Tales of Society and Scandal (Running Press) and the upcoming Queen Victoria’s Book of Spells: Tales of Gaslight Fantasy (Tor) as well as an upcoming feature on Tor.com. A proud member of actors unions AEA and SAG-AFTRA she lives and works in New York City, where she resides with her real-life hero and their beloved rescued lab rabbit.

For the latest updates, visit her on Twitter and Facebook.

Twitter:  and FB:

Author of sci fi and paranormal romance, steampunk and urban fantasy, PJ Schnyder spent her childhood pretending to study for the SATs by reading every fantasy and sci-fi novel she could borrow from the local and school libraries. She scored fairly high in the verbal portion.
She was introduced to the wonderful world of romance a decade later by her best friend at an anime convention in Seattle.

She now lives somewhere temperate watching the seasons go by with her two dogs and super stealthy ninja kitty, writing her stories.

PJ is represented by Louise Fury of the L. Perkins Agency.

We’ll let the beautiful Lydia describe herself in her own words…

” I started dancing around the age of five. At the age of 18 I discovered Bellydance, I was instantly addicted. After taking classes for 2-3 years, I finally auditioned for Damali Dance Company. I was accepted and soon after was a regular fixture. My teacher was Nefertiti, a master bellydancer who trained under Habiba of Philadelphia as well as Suhaila Salimpour. I danced with the company for around 2 years and even danced in Egypt. My style is heavily influenced by sharp hip movemets often seen in Egyptian caberet, with the slow sensuous movments found in American Tribal. “

V is for Villains is a new breed of entertainment. Mixing the visual styles of Steampunk, Carnival and Noir, with the musical taste of Nine Inch Nails, Prodigy, and your favorite film score; V is for Villains will take you on a journey through the imagination that your mother couldn’t prepare you for. Most groups often say that they intend for “world domination”…V is for Villains might actually mean it….

Miss Violet Deville

Miss Violet DeVille is a trans woman and a class act from a history that never was. She is a steampunk with a love of dance, performing, and taking her clothes off for other people in raunchy and entertaining ways!

Actually, the Timeless Trollop of the Gaslight District has always loved performing and the dancing is the recent addition to this list. If you ask her loved ones, they’ll tell you she’s loved taking her clothes off even if it wasn’t the place or the time.

When not producing and performing in burlesque and cabaret shows, she belly dances, dabbles in absinth cocktails, creates daguerreotypes and other photographies, and spends far too much time in her workshop. Mad science has never been so sexy!

Miss Violet DeVille is excited to be performing for you at the Steampunk World’s Fair and thinks it’s fitting location for first trip to the east coast.

We are the weird and the strange. Or so we are told. Based in New York, we amaze both young and old. From juggling torches, knives, and other weird things, to walking on glass and sword swallowing. We escape from shackles. (Ropes, chains, and locks.) We hammer nails in our faces as if we were blocks. Boys and girls! Ladies and gents! Don’t miss these up and coming events… Trust us: they’re some that you’ll want to share. Any time or occasion. Come get lost in Middle to Nowhere!

Steampunk World’s Fair Code of Conduct

For other useful information, consider our Weapon’s Policy, General FAQs, and Vendor-Specific FAQs.

For the best convention experience possible, please review the information below. However, please keep in mind that all decisions made by our security chiefs are final.

***TABLE OF CONTENTS***
1. Disruptive Behaviour Policy
2. Alcohol Policy
3. Line Etiquette
4. Photography Policy
5. Lost Children
6. Weapons Policy

***1. Disruptive Behavior Policy***

We have policies to address specifics such as weapons and lost children. We also have a general policy that we do not tolerate disruptive behavior of any sort, and we can and will take action when we see something we feel is dangerous or disruptive. The type of action we take may range from a quiet but stern word in private to forcible ejection from the convention, or even criminal charges. (The action taken is solely at our discretion.)

The sorts of things that may trigger such action include fighting (fake or real), heckling, impeding traffic flow, offensive behavior, failure to observe basic hygiene (Foamy the Squirrel says “Use Soap!”), public inebriation (or similar intoxication) in the convention area, or any other failure to follow the rules. Remember, anything illegal outside the Hotel is illegal inside the Hotel. If your behavior is clearly problematic, we will deal with it as a problem. Show common courtesy to your fellow convention goers, and follow the rules, and there’s no problem.

***2. Alcohol Policy***

If you are obviously intoxicated and acting in a disruptive manner in the convention area, SPWF staff reserves the right to immediately remove you from the premises and if necessary, call law enforcement. We may take pictures to laugh about later. If you are obviously intoxicated you will not be served any additional alcohol at the convention.

***3. Line Etiquette***

Anyone caught jumping in line will be sent to the rear of the line. You will not be allowed to hold places in any long, competitive lines (ie, for autographs). Lines cannot block entrances or exits, so leave a gap in front of the door.

***4. Camera Policy***

SPWF guests have the right to maintain their privacy. Convention members may be asked to refrain from photographing guests if the guests would prefer to not have their picture taken.

When stopping to take photographs in the hallways, please be considerate of your fellow members by being brief and not blocking traffic.

Please use discretion with flash photography. Some performers (including our sideshow and fire experts) require intense concentration during their performance – for your safety as well as their own. Please be considerate when photographing performances.

***5. Lost Children***

Children are required to carry some form of written identification and parent/guardian contact information with them at all times so that our staff may contact the parents or guardians should the need arise.

THERE IS NO CONVENTION-WIDE PA SYSTEM. We are unable to page your child if he/she becomes lost.

Recommendations for keeping your child safe

• First and foremost, please do not leave your child unattended. It’s easy for someone to get lost in a crowd this large.
• Make sure your child knows important information, such as your name, what you are wearing, what hotel you are staying at (if any), a cellular phone number, and a home phone number. If a child is lost, we will make every attempt to contact you through this information.
• Any children found unattended will be given sugar, cappuccino, and a puppy.  If these things are insufficient, they’ll get an Emo music cd and we’ll ruffle their hair. Helloooo angsty teenager!

***6. Weapons at SPWF***

If it is illegal in the State of New Jersey, it is illegal inside the Hotel.
Illegal weapons will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

For our weapons policy, click here.

Misuse of any weapon or prop, such as swinging it in a public area or creating hazards to others, will result in the weapon or prop being deemed unsafe for the convention.

If a weapon or prop is deemed unsafe for the con, we will ask you to remove the weapon or prop from the convention and store it in your private quarters (i.e. your home, hotel room, or car).

Any weapon purchased at the convention must be immediately boxed and removed from convention property, or immediately and securely peace bound by a staffer. Once purchased, weapons are not to be exposed prior to peace binding.

All props and weapons brought into the convention may be inspected and approved or rejected by staff, including those that may have been allowed at other conventions, previous SPWFs, or been approved pre-convention by SPWF staff.

Any item that poses a potential safety hazard is subject to challenge and may need to be removed from the convention. For example, any costume, prop, or accessory which is too wide or bulky to maneuver the halls safely may be disallowed once discovered.

In the event your weapon/prop is approved by one staffer, and is contested by another, the head of security will make a final ruling. Please note that just because a staffer has not stopped you to check your item, does not mean that the item is allowed.

We are a performance group specializing in adding a little something extra to our shows. Not every show will feature the same artists as we pull from as many different skill sets as we can. Right now the core group consists of:

Madison Bartholemew: Skilled in sword balancing and belly dance, Madison has been performing with dance and burlesque groups for many years. She teaches belly dance in the California Tribal style near her home and has begun to learn whip artistry to add in to her performances.

James ‘The Voice’ Hatton: Host & MC with a decade of experience, writer of webcomics that are quasi-famous, and generally interestingly amusing guy with a scathing wit, vociferous nature, and giant thesaurus. You can see his work at inhislikeness.com and althistorycomic.com.

Ryan hosts a discussion on major scientific breakthroughs and technological innovations during the Victorian age!

The Crazy Kimono Lady has a problem.  She can’t stop acquiring pretty kimono!  Starting in 2005 The CKLady has been on a mission to find the prettiest kimono to possess.  This obsession has lead to a collection of over 45 kimono, 50 obi, and many many more kimono accessories. But the obsession doesn’t stop there!  What’s the point of owning these pretties without know how to wear them?  The Lady is an accomplished kimono dresser with years of self experimentation experience and kimono historian, having written several papers on the history and origin of the kimono.  If there’s anything you ever wanted to know about kimono, she’s the person to ask!

Victor Sierra is Paris-based Steampunk rock electro band… but they offer much, much more than just music!

Help Victor Sierra come to the United States!  Visit their IndieGoGo page here for special bonuses and incentives!

Victor Sierra fuels your imagination, leading you into a vaporous and multicolored universe, through unexplored paths down to a future that could have been.

The powerful down-tempo beat is stowing the Hydrogen Queen above cloudy battles. Standing on a half-burnt gangway, mad officers are drinking dark alcohol, and as dusk grows, clowns will give you the killer’s kiss.

Enter Victor Sierra’s universe -  go beyond the horizon line, feel stirrings deep within your psyche,  and dare to live unpredictable experiences.

Sponsored by Greenwood Creations

“The Burlesque Poetess & Those No-goodniks”

(A party band worth rouging your knees for!) jojo The Burlesque
Poetess has been seen at Steampunk World’s Fairs past in steamCRUNK
phenomenon Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken TOys and as busking
ruffian in The Tiny Instrument Revue. Known to rock out with her frock
out on electric ukulele and flash frilly flapper behind – she’s here
to front a vaudeville ‘n rollers musical experience featuring members
of Army of Toys and Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band. From
the Boston salons & seance parlours they bring steam-glam tunes, wax
cylinder favorites, futurtorian covers, and the inapproetry, perverse
verse & commedia your burlesque poetess is known for. Visit her
keyring site, jojolazar.com   (Speak easy, mister.)
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For some samples of this audacious and salacious group, view the videos below:

• jojo’s Interlude
• Ruffians
• That’s My Weakness Now

Now with EVEN LESS Supervision: The Not-so-Few, the Proud, and Horrifically Deranged?
The Crew of the A.S.S. Titilus is sending an full platoon to win the hearts and minds of Steampunk World’s Fair! And it seems they’ve slipped their bonds as the Captain is nowhere to be seen! Rumors of a mutiny abound as Bartholomew J. Warbisham, Cydney Savia, Z0RM (to name only a few) have gone off the chain, rampaging through the halls and generally running amok!

Meantime, this will not stop them from practicing and teaching the Rules of Swagger up and down the entire event, as they fill out and usurp as much of the convention programming as one could possibly conceive!

They will be actively hunting for signs of their hated arch-nemesis, the gypsy pirate Rohan Balraj and his Dogs of War, whatever or whomever that means. The question is, can they succeed without their Captain?

Also, expect an announcement by the famed Revitalized Cobra about his political platform, policies, and more details from the presidential campaign — Cobra/Slick-Brass 2012. Where ‘Cobra MAY just have some issues holding off pretenders to his office WITHOUT his running mate! It’s time for some Super-villainous Political Smack-Down!. This is your chance to truly meet your candidate!

Tune in to find out more at their Facebook event Mutiny At the Steampunk World’s Fair – The A.S.S. Titilus Takes the Field!

Sponsored by Stella Price and Big Bear Trading Company

Crew of the A.S.S. Titilus and Cobra/Slick-Brass 2012 remain Copyright Steam-Funk Studios.

What is Voltaire saying and why is Jeff Mach hiding? We don't know, and if he finds this picture, our lives are forfeit. So please don't tell him we put it here.

I beg your pardon, dear chaps, chappetes, and (for those of you who do not necessarily fall into either category) chapparelli* -

but wouldn’t you like to get acquainted with other folk who like The Steampunk World’s Fair?

We most cordially invite you to come join The Steampunk World’s Fair Facebook group!  It’s a good place to meet new people, talk about the event, and, of course, work on your sinister secret plans to take over the World.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

* If there were a nongenderspecific plural of “chap”, why wouldn’t it be “chaparelli”?

Geek Girl Productions was founded in 2011 with a single simple mission: to provide you smart and sexy entertainment.

Our monthly burlesque revue at the Bowery Poetry Club has been repeatedly selected as one of Time Out New York’s Critic’s Picks for live entertainment in the city. The Geek Girls have performed acts inspired by cult movies, comic books and fairy tales and are known for their dedication to their costumes, choreography and characters.

This Way to the Egress is an Ole Tymey – Gypsypunk- Cabaret. With a valiant effort to “bring the show back to the people” they are a revolving door of musical mayhem, sideshow, burlesque, and comedy leaving a modern twist on the good old days of Vaudeville. Like a renegade theater of sorts, they weave visual antics with eclectic sounds creating an experience unlike any other in their genre.

Uncle Monty’s Mollyhouse!

Photography by Russ Kuhner

A vivaciously interactive Victorian bawdy house is coming to the Steampunk world.  Monty has gathered exotics and rare beauties from around the globe to furnish his little bawdy music hall. We are proud to bring you the most decadent lads and ladies with the most intriguing talents, such as…

Stella Chu

Stella Chuu is a geek and nerdlesque performer. Her love for anime, video games, and pop culture has led her to create naughty stripteases such as Tron, Pedobear, D&D, Jayne Cobb, Fatal Frame 2, and Evangelion.

Photography by Russ Kuhner

Fritz von Blitzkrieg – your Teutonic master of ceremonies descended from the Bavarian Alps to kick high, twist your pretzel and show you a spanking good time at the Mollyhouse.

Iris Explosion – your exotic lady of mystery and wonder… thoroughly experienced at capturing hearts.

Lewd Alfred Douglas – A Bedlam escapee, he specializes in serving those with curious tastes.

The Mollyhouse is a project proudly brought to you by the fabulous Royal Baritarian Players!

Dr. Dubious Lie

Few things are known about the mysterious professor, Dr. Dubious lie! However, our sources have reported a series of 11 facts – one of which is true. Can you guess which one?

1. Peanuts and Dr. Dubious Lie are beans.
2. A sixteenth century mathematician lost his nose in a duel over his love for Dr. Dubious Lie, and wore a silver replacement for the rest of his life.
3. If you kiss Dr. Dubious Lie for one minute you will burn six or seven calories.
4. A female ferret will die if it goes into heat and cannot find Dr. Dubious Lie!
5. Edinburgh imports three thousand kilograms of Dr. Dubious Lie every year!
6. New Zealand was the first place to allow Dr. Dubious Lie to vote.
7. Czar Paul I banished Dr. Dubious Lie to Siberia for marching out of step.
8. Dr. Dubious Lie can be found on a Cluedo board between the Library and the Conservatory!
9. Americans discard enough Dr. Dubious Lie to rebuild their entire commercial air fleet every 3 months.
10. Dr. Dubious Lie is the traditional gift for a couple on their third wedding anniversary.
11. He is an actual Mathematics professor who creates a fictitious personae in order to lecture about Victorian math.

Riley Schillaci

Riley Schillaci is recognized internationally as one of the few Female Sword Swallowers in the world. She has appeared in local publications, news broadcasts, opened for international bands, and appeared at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Niagara Falls & New York City. In 2011, Riley was featured on season 6 of America’s Got Talent

H/BRIS

BRIS is a fun-loving, piratical, licentious, geeky band of fire freaks who seek to entertain and amuse with wickedly creative antics.  Returning to Steampunk World’s Faire for the third time, they hope to amaze their audience once again with their dangerous delights.  Performers and instructors, Hubris loves introducing people to their element, FIRE!

COGHEAD

Combining two of Steampunk’s most influential DJs, CogHead is Dave Ghoul and DJ Kiltboy. Both have been a driving force in helping define the soundtrack to Steampunk, performing at numerous events like Dorian’s Parlor, the Steampunk World’s Fair, and the SteamWërk Ball. Well known for their vast arsenal of music and a love of making audiences dance, you can expect to hear a mix of Steampunk, Neo-Swing, and Cabaret as well as Goth, Industrial, Synth and Electro. They return to the Steampunk World’s Fair to perform with special guest DJ Cub (who joined them during this past Wicked Faire), for another year of bringing the “punk” back into Steampunk. Watch them ladies and gentlemen, as they drop maddening beats all up in this ballroom.

Pyaara

Proud sponsor of Coghead

Dance Fairies Dance

Dance Fairies Dance began after Oona the Fairy visited a fairy festival this spring. She quite enjoyed the festival, with all of its wonderful music, creative performers and friendly folk of the fairy world, but noted with some regret that there were no “Fairy Bands.” She was inspired then and there to create music especially for and about Fairies. People from all realms, however, will enjoy and celebrate life with her music, made to inspire and entertain all creatures who have ears to hear and like to dance.

Rabbit Velvet

Rabbit Velvet is the first solo project of Danielle Stauss after artistically noted projects The Lost Patrol and Afterglow. With these groups, Stauss has earned airplay and press in the collegiate and underground realms of music worldwide. Her debut CD “Crows and Doves” as Rabbit Velvet has continued these accolades and earned listings in the local CMJ charts and received several “Best Of” listings in the US and UK, as well as plays and press around the globe.

Stauss has made great use of atmosphere and melody on the cd which is more electronically formulated. Live, Stauss interprets tracks from Crows/Doves along with newer works solo with voice and effected, psychedelically slanted electric guitar. Voice is the strong point of Stauss’ work as she has been acclaimed as one of the best, and most unique voices in contemporary music. She owns Asbury Music awards for Best Female Voice and Best Acoustic Bands between former projects. She has recently played at NJPAC, and has also performed at The Loser’s Lounge, NXNE, and toured through Nashville, Detroit, NYC, DC, and Maryland with former projects as well. Stauss is also a visual artist, and has brought these qualities to the release of her CD, doing all art, t-shirts, and videos for the project on a DIY release.

PT Grimm

An unhealthy blend of middle eastern scales, dark comedy, and sociological experimentation, PT Grimm is a rock band as well as a fraternal organization for unbelievers, freethinkers, and deviants, and anyone else with an un-murdered imagination.

Since they performed at Wicked Faire VII in February, their presence at a Steampunk convention such as ours can only be described as “a match made in heaven!”

Hellblinki

The Hellblinki Sextet… Broken tooth blues in a Tux, Choral fantasies for agnostic angels, peg-leg waltzes on the rim of Mt. Vesuvius,  psycho-cabaret, southern fried with guerrilla operatics, pirate-blues, infused with punk rock cinematics.  The Hellblinki Sextet is prone to suprise, tension, and dramatic release. Dark and experimental, Hellblinki combines elements of American folk, European cabaret, and punk rock experimentation into an intoxicating brew of transcendent madness…

Hellblinki is best described as “Three Penny Opera meets Sesame Street”, with punk rock experimentation, guerilla operatics, and a southern drawl…

Sapphire Rebellion

After co-founding (1992) and subsequently leaving the internationally known Crüxshadows, (1997) Tim spent his time studying the craft of music production. From 2002 – 2004, taking on the role of producer, he developed Girls on Film into a now nationally performing/recording act. In 2004, he aided ex-Crüxshadow Stacey Campbell in establishing her act, Spider Lilies, by producing two tracks, “Read Your Mind” and “Within.” Since the Sapphire Rebellion has been focused on establishing itself as a national act, and tours frequently on the east coast – Sapphire Rebellion’s sound can be described as “Darkwave Finding Its Soul.”

The Clockwork Dolls

Allison Curval and Helene de Fer began The Clockwork Dolls in 2007 with an idea: To create music that serves not only as a means of the listener’s recreation, but also as the means of a story’s narration; To be a group of writers and actors, bringing the magic of the theatre and the opera back into live musical performance; To become storytellers like the days of old.

The duo combines Allison Curval’s fusing of traditional classical music, contemporary musical scores, and modern electronic music with Helene De Fer’s passionate and poetic lyrics and detailed story writing. Together, they paint the epic musical picture of an elaborate and strange world as they tell the familiar tale of a young noble woman and her best friend battling against the odds for the freedom to be themselves. It is a world filled with pirates, dark saloons, airships, and the technology of both past and future. It is a story filled with drama, bravery, tragedy, and adventure.

These are the stories of dreamers, the stories of warriors, the stories of freethinkers. These are the tales of people who fly.

 ”Eli August is comparable to a master chef.  Adding a plethora of unnecessary ingredients is a refuge for the mediocre.   Eli adheres to this same principle in his music, and the result is excellent.” -Midnight Calling

“There is a melancholic earnestness to his songs as August pours his soul through the strings of guitar, ukulele or mandolin. He is more akin to a folk singer sharing ballads of shadows and ghosts than a steampunk rock star blasting you with tales of airships and clockwork robots.”-Street Vibes

Danny Blu was born in a town that was far too small… He had a terrible habit of misbehaving. He would be punished for misbehaving. But he never found it to be punishment. Danny Blu thought this was sexy.

Drawing inspiration from Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, and Queen, Danny Blu offers dark, danceable music with an irresistible beat. He has headlined various venues throughout NYC – including the 2011 Pride Rally – and will be making his Webster Hall debut at the upcoming Anachronism! Danny Blu wants to be your plaything – find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Reverbnation. For samples of his music check out his music page onFacebook.

Psyche Corporation combines art, fashion, dance, and science within the framework of an imagined technomythological world. The name itself describes a futuristic dream manufacture group which allows people to jack their nerve endings directly into the internet and download dreams. As a performance group, Psyche Corporation has at various times incorporated robot exhibitions, steel origami cranes, contortion, corsets, flashlights, and old radios. The music spans genres; a recent song has mixed tribal singing with classical piano while embedding the DNA of deadly polio virus into its percussion.

Platform One first came together in Rhode Island in 1999. Now based out of New York, this band of highly energetic musicians brings together danceable beats, well thought out lyrics, and an appeal that crosses all genres. A combination of pop, gothic and alternative with a side of oontz, Platform one ranges in influence from And One to The Psychedelic furs, and Peter Gabriel to The Cure. They’ve spent the last few years playing festivals and conventions, from steampunk to goth, all over the Northeast with forays to the West Coast and New Orleans.

Lia Habel was born in Jamestown, NY, and has lived there the majority of her life. Her first book, Dearly, Departed, is a sweeping tale of zombie-living romance set in a cyber-Victorian/steampunk future. When Dearly, Departed sold, Lia was swimming in debt incurred from her studies and years of un- and underemployment, with only a few dollars to her name. Miss Habel enjoys attending anachronistic and steampunk events, watching zombie movies (she has watched over a hundred of them), commissioning ball gowns, and collecting Victorian and Edwardian books. She is incredibly grateful for the opportunities she has recently been given.

Director at Hatton Cross Steampunk

Producer at AB Productions

David is the principal artist at Hatton Cross Steampunk. David’s steampunk art has been featured at the “Steampunk Bizzare Exhibit” with Dr. Grymm in the Mark Twain Museum in Hartford CT and has had exhibits in various steampunk conventions on the east coast. His “Gentleman’s Flying Apparatus” aka “The Morgan Aeronautical Destroyer of Satan’s Arrogance” has been nominated for “Best non-goggle accessory” in the Steampunk Chronicle’s Readers Choice Awards. He is a contributing “DIY” author for the Steampunk Chronicle as well as Gothla Magazine (online) and owns a small production company that produces instructional DVDs. He recently signed with the publisher Hypatia Press and expects to release his first steampunk novel entitled “The Great Loons Disease of 1865″ in summer of 2012. With the upcoming release of his novel, David intends on producing a short film containing exerpts from the story with the intent of a full feature film someday.

His personal motto is “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing!” and applies this to his steampunk creations daily.

New York-based Euro-American duo Frenchy and the Punk have performed all
across the US, and in England, France, Germany and Canada. They’re one of
the top-reviewed live acts in the underground cabaret scene today and they
have been fan favorites at every major steampunk convention and faerie
festival in the US. In 2011 Yahoo Music listed French-born singer and
percussionist, Samantha Stephenson, as one of “25 Women To Watch” in music
and guitarist Scott Helland is listed in the Encyclopedia of Punk with his
legendary first band Deep Wound.

Fusing foot-stompin’ bohemian cabaret, world music, French chanson and
`80′s punk with steampunk flair, vaudeville charm and pixie spirit, the
duo’s performances are a high energy theatrical spectacle. They captivate
crowds by seamlessly blending raucous, danceable old-world melodies with
cheeky stories sung in English and French and exhilarating Taiko meets
Blue Man Group drum and percussion instrumentals.

Stephenson, a performer since her early teens, beams with charisma and
seduces in her sultry neo-vintage cabaret vocal style; think Siouxsie
Sioux meets Karen O meets Edith Piaf. Helland, an Amercian-born guitarist
and punk veteran, creates a wall of sound with his rhythmic live-looping
guitar prowess and catchy melodic lines; think Johnny Ramone meets Django
Reinhardt meets Eugene Hutz. Together this spirited duo manage to create
the sonic expanse and richness of a full band while still retaining the
charm of a vaudeville duo. Visit them at: frenchyandthepunk.com.

We’ve added a few more vendors – we anticipate adding many more! So many, in fact, that we’re giving them their own page (and maybe some addition special attention in the weeks to come.)

SPWF comes but once a year – so you may as well pick out a nifty souvenir and remember all the fun you had partying like it was 1899 (without typhoid, child labor, or gratuitous amounts of smog.)

Well, folks, it’s that time… we’re ready to reveal some of the phenomenal vendors and artisans who will be appearing at Steampunk World’s Fair.

Revilla Grooves & Gear

Revilla Grooves and Gear is the labor of love of Darren Revilla. For years, as DJ Darren, he spun Vinyl in the bars and clubs of New Jersey and NYC. A huge collection of records was amassed. Hip Hop Twelve inches, Rare Funk records, impossible to find Jazz Lp’s, Blues 78s, records from India to Africa, all found their way into the stacks. With so many great records on the wall, Darren decided to sell off a few to share the music and make a little extra cash. Ten years later an online business was launched.

Revilla Grooves and Gear is the online home for buying, sharing and selling the equipment needed to make old records sound beautiful.

Revilla Mobile Music

Revilla Mobile music provides an entire musical experience for parties, events, clubs, and gatherings. We are light, sound and music professionals dedicated to making your special occasion fun and memorable.

The music we play is the music you love, any genre from anywhere in the world. We want to make your guests smile, feel great and dance.

A party’s success depends on the venue, the food, the invited guests and the music. Let us take care of the tunes so you can take care of the rest.

Prof. Mark P. Donnelly is a multi-award winning author, historian, screenwriter, and television producer as well as internationally renowned duelist, swashbuckler, and constant gentleman.

Currently, he has about 20 books in print – all of which are non-fiction – and all of which are on historical subjects.  In addition to his work in print, Mark P. Donnelly has scripted and/or produced nearly 200 hours of broadcast television for Discovery, History Channel, PBS, BBC, National Geographic, Biography, A&E, etc.

He is also a Professore di Armes in various forms of historical combat and western martial arts who has taught workshops around the world and is honored to have been frequently counted among the top instructors inEurope.  After nearly 14 years in England he recently returned to the colonies and currently resides in Pennsylvania.

When not otherwise scheduled, he will have a table for book signing and conversation. While he is aware that knowledge is power, he has been known to share anything he knows if asked nicely (and bribed with decent port or brandy).

WEBS was the creative brainchild of Femme Fae la Butche and Viktor Devonne as a theatrical, fully realized inner circle of talented and ambitious burlesque performers. Each of them a headliner, the White Elephant Burlesque Society members perform for audiences with an array of skill and talents.

Our tongues are firmly in cheeks, our bosoms tightly in corsets, and our toes are a-tapping. We aim to bring the symbolism of freedom, joy, romance, sexuality, and theatrics that captivated the audiences of the original vaudeville and burlesque ages to the modern.

Proudly Sponsored by Red Falcon

The Do-It-Yourself ethic is a big part of Steampunk. We love to make, mod, recycle, upcycle, hack and create, and the Steampunk World’s Fair welcomes the maker spirit with open arms.
We’re looking for a few good Steampunks to lead hands-on workshops over the course of the weekend. Do you build cigar box guitars, make your own clothes, make household objects into amazing pieces of anachronistic art? Do you want the chance to pass on some of your awesome DIY skills, and swap ideas with like-minded folks? Let us know!

If you’re interested, please fill out a performance application as a presenter, and let us know you’re interested in giving a DIY/Maker workshop, and tell us a little about what you’d like to do.

Imagine you are strolling along the Steampunk Worlds Faire midway only to find a military expedition encampment. The Imperial Amerikan Air Corp has landed at SPWF 2012. Twin tents contain stenciled crates and casks, racks of weapons, and various pieces of gear set on hand for ready use. There are also cages with strange beasts captured from strange lands, trophy heads, and framed photos of previous expeditions decorate the walls. The imperial troopers are telling war stories, drinking, and playing cards as a troupe of exotic women wiggle to the strains of strange music emanating from a fancy little brass and leather box. A boisterous major extolls visitors to contribute to some far off war effort by having their picture taken with a handsome trooper and embedded in a pre-emptive war bond that can be downloaded from the either …or to enlist in the IAAC and defend the Amerikan Empire against foreign and alien incursions.

· Come hear Major Girth and his crew recount war stories of Imperial valor and prowess.

· Come see and participate in martial demonstrations of Imperial weapons training.

· Come see the exotic creatures captured during her Imperial Majesty’s alien campaigns.

· Come see the even more exotic Cavalcade of Fancy Ladies as they perform dance mysteries discovered in the darkest corners of foreign and alien ports!

· Come see what it means to be a trooper in the IAAC, and how you too might become one of “The Sky’s Finest.”

FAR EAST STEAM!

Why are hot dogs sold in packs of ten but buns sold in packs of eight?

Who, exactly, did we drunk-dial during that absinthe-and-opium bender?

Can an event that doesn’t showcase amazing acts from around the world truly be considered a World’s Fair?

These are the questions that keep us up at night, and while the first two remain a mystery, we can definitively answer the third: no, it cannot. Which is why the Steampunk World’s Fair has always aimed to bring you the best in not just amazing, not just fantastic, but global steampunk wonders. The Fair has already welcomed several guests and performers from Europe, but now we claim to be the first steampunk event to reach across the Pacific Ocean as well.

Hailing from Tokyo, Japan, Strange Artifact are at the vanguard of the growing Japanese steampunk movement. Vocalist MaRy and composer 130JET draw influence from J-Rock, video game soundtracks, and genres from around the globe in creating their own unique steampunk vision.

Formed in 2010, the band has performed at the world-famous Tokyo Design Festa and regularly appears at events held by Japanese underground subculture promoter Artism. After making their international debut last year through omnibuses alongside Professor Elemental, This Way to the Egress, the Clockwork Dolls, and other SPWF alums. Strange Artifact will release their first album The Antikythera Mechanism in April and have chosen a stage no greater than that of the Steampunk World’s Fair for their first overseas shows.

But that’s not all!  Along with today’s announcement, Strange Artifact has unveiled an IndieGoGo campaign to support their album release as well as help them complete the arrangements necessary to make their appearance at SPWF a memorable one. The band is offering some incredible and exclusive perks for donating, including stuff so cool we wouldn’t dare reveal the secret here, so go over to the campaign page and have a look!

Attendees who can understand Japanese are invited to check out their official homepage, while those fluent in English, Victorian, and Pirate are welcome to peruse their Facebook and ReverbNation pages.

From the visuals of Howl’s Moving Castle and the Final Fantasy series to kimono fashion and the bushido code, Japan has long been a source of inspiration and enjoyment for steampunk fans worldwide. We are proud to have run an event worthy of such attention from the other side of the world, and hope that you will join us in warmly welcoming Strange Artifact to America.

Born under a barstool in Saskatoon and raised by a pack of wild koalas, Painless Parker plays a mixed bag of country laments, sea shanties, murder ballads and classic rockers, filtered through a grimy, whiskey-stained punk lens. Toe tapping, finger snapping and general getting down is highly encouraged during the show.

Here’s a clip from Painless Parker at Occupy Wall Street – as you can see, everyone is getting into the spirit and joining in the chorus, which is pretty much the norm for any Painless Parker Concert.

For more great music, you can browse his website.

Due to the terms of the contract by which he was granted superior talent and other-wordly popularity, Mr. Parker will be borrowed by the Goblin Market for a few hours over the course of the weekend.

PHILIPPA BALLANTINE: A corporate librarian for thirteen years, Phillipa has a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Library and Information Science. She is New Zealand’s first podcast novelist, and she has produced four podiobooks. Many of these have been short listed for the Parsec Awards, and she has won a Sir Julius Vogel award. She is also the author of Geist and Spectyr. While New Zealand calls, currently Philippa calls America home.

TEE MORRIS: While Tee Morris began his writing career with Dragon Moon Press’ 2002 historical epic fantasy, MOREVI: The Chronicles of Rafe & Askana, it is his podcast of that book and works like Podcasting for Dummies and All a Twitter where people know him best: one of the pioneers of Social Media. With Phoenix Rising, Tee returns to where he prefers to be: in his imagination. When he is not there, Tee lives in the Washington D.C. area with his five cats and one daughter, all of whom have him very well-trained.

Pip & Tee’s first steampunk novel together, PHOENIX RISING came out last May to great reviews. The second book in the series, THE JANUS AFFAIR is coming in June 2012!

Here’s a video of Pip & Tee together at NYCC 2011 – watch the video, and get excited for May!

Margaret Mae has been designing costumes and accessories since she could
first pick up a needle and blowtorch, and has been knitting and crocheting
original work for longer than a lady generally concedes in polite society.
You can catch her outlandish crafty pursuits through her
blog and on her Facebook and Ravelry accounts where she
has adopted the alliterative moniker “Crafting Crusader.”

She’s delighted to be presenting a workshop on the historical roots of yarn
craft, the popularity of knitting & crochet in the 1800s, and the
applications of needle crafts in Steampunk costuming.
And don’t forget to pack your hooks and needles along with your jetpack and
goggles, because she’ll be stitching along with yarn devotees and
introducing curious novices to the oh-so-addictive arts at this year’s
Steampunk World’s Fair.

Working in tandem with her sister, Stella has produced over 18 novels, several novellas, and a bevvy of short stories. Stella lives in New York City, and is also an award-winning author – so she knows a thing or two about literature. That’s why we’ve recruited her to create a series of highly unorthodox literary panels – in the spirit of our unconventional Steampunk Festival, we promise everything from thought-provoking intellectual discussion, cheeky but well-intentioned humor, at least one axing, and maybe a strategically-placed Viking moderator (if our resources will allow).

Yesterday, the general clouds of craziness that typically follows our staff and volunteers cleared for a few minutes, and something dawned on us – we’ve hinted at it, we’ve kind of announced it, but we’ve never officially announced it, in a big way, with posts and details and stuff – Voltaire returns for another sure-to-be-spectacular performance, AND he will also be hosting our VIP Absinthe tasting.

Voltaire is a master of musical satire – much like his namesake – and he’s made a career out of transforming gothy, gloomy topics into laugh-inducing ditties. (His irreverent sense of humor shines in tracks like “Death Death (Devil Devil Evil Evil Song)” or a CD titled “Riding a Black Unicorn Down the Side of an Erupting Volcano While Drinking from a Chalice Filled with the Laughter of Small Children”)

I remember my first time seeing Voltaire, at The Anachronism II – I can only describe it as storytime for people who wore above-average amounts of black eyeliner in high school and were OK laughing about it now. In any case, I listened to songs about Zombie Prostitutes and somehow felt warm and fuzzy inside – I finally understood why his concerts are always packed to capacity.

(Almost as epic as Voltaire’s concerts are Jeff’s introduction to Voltaire’s concerts. We keep meaning to record Jeff’s intro, but we always forget. Maybe this time someone will remember – will it be you?)

Jonah Knight is quick to point out that many Steampunk-identified bands have diverse styles. And if you’ve been following our updates lately, you can see we’ve added many fantastic performers with a unique sound all their own.

Jeff’s note:  Caran wrote most of this description, but I have to mention that I met Jonah at Philcon, and he was a really great guy to hang out with.  As someone who’s been an amateur singer-songwriter for (holy crud!) more than 20 years (I just realized when I started writing songs – I feel really old now!) – it was really fascinating for me to talk to a songwriter who’d become interested in Steampunk, and decided to explore it in an assortment of ideas and themes on his new album.  It’s one thing to have a big huge band behind you and sing about exploding airships – it’s quite another to be one person standing up and trying to sing stories of a past-future that never was.  It’s a really personal experience – and really enjoyable, too; if you’re at all interested in solid songwriting and excellent performance, this is a man to watch.

Caran says: If you’re looking for folksy, imaginative music – or perhaps as good, honest ghost story, we recommend Mr. Knight. His latest CD (“Age of Steam: Strange Machines“) features songs set between 1880 and 1920. As he explains, “[these songs] tell the story of an increasingly passionate inventor who, living in a world of ghosts and monsters, must rely on strange machines to live and to escape.”

He himself favors “haunted” subjects – ghosts and monsters, angels and demons, empty places and empty people. If you are looking for something other-worldly, insightful, and bittersweet, Jonah’s your guy!

(And speaking of bittersweet, have you checked out our absinthe tasting yet?  You really ought to.  Trust me.  Would a man who was trying to sell absinthe to you lie?)

When an unusual subculture actually has an underground favorite band, what do you say about those people?  When we invited these musico-maniacs to our first year’s event, did we have any idea that they’d start marching through the halls and parking lots, creating sweet sonics which swept pretty much every damn person out of chairs and away from tables and into a mad dancing frolic that stormed through two hotels and a parking lot before finally culminating in a mad jam with several of our other performers, right under the Radisson awning?  (And that the Radisson staff, being as awesome as they are, would come out and dance with us?)

By the seven-headed brass-articulated hydra head of the Great Colossus of Imaginary Nineteenth Century Greece, we are pleased as punch to (re)-announce that Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band will be joining us again – they have been featured at past SPWF events, as well as our second Anachronism at Webster Hall.

Formed from the most talented deadbeats and drifters that could be rounded up, this group of raucous and rambunctious musicians will honk, wail, blow, beat, bounce, scream and serenade their way into your hearts. Playing anything that won’t break from vigiourous use, their instrumentation is a unique blend of brass, winds, violin, accordion and an eclectic rhythm section.

Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band combines the rich musical history of the circus and the vagabond peoples of Europe with the raw energy of avant-garde jazz and the irreverence and fun of today’s Vaudeville for a sound that is somehow familiar yet like no other.

Emperor Norton’s is about as stationary as the reincarnated dancing Tesla-powered cyborg of Gene Kelly, and they always have the audience up and dancing. I highly recommend that you check out their music, transfer it onto your Victrola or steam-powered music contraption of choice, and keep it around for those moments your life needs small figurative explosions of musical awesome!

Rumour has it that they may be among those who take part in the Goblin Market & VIP Meet-And-Greet, but this is not yet totally confirmed…so do check back.

——-

Agnes Delaney
Victorian Fashion for Modern Times

Proud Sponsor for Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band

Gentleman, scholar, and author Jean-Christophe Valtat will be among our many honored and distinguished guests this year. Author of two novels, a collection of short stories, several radio-plays, and a movie – AND the recipient of many awards – he is also a professor of Comparative Literature at Universite Blaise Pascal in France.

His newest novel, Aurorarama, takes place in New Venice – a fictitious luxury city located in the frozen Northern seas. As spring arrives, the city is wracked by tension – suffragette demonstrations, drug round-ups by mysterious police thugs (known as “The Gentlemen of the Night”), and suspicious activity from the native Inuit groups come together to create a masterful mix of dark prose, humor, and suspense.

Jeff’s about halfway through Aurorarama now, and notes, “I think Americans will make the inevitable Jules Verne comparisons, and I wouldn’t disagree, but there’s a real dose of mystery in there that’s somewhere between Poe, Lovecraft, and John LeCarre”.  When asked if he could describe the book without resorting to comparisons between long-dead authors, Jeff pointed out that LeCarre is totally still alive.  When asked for further details, Jeff said, “Actually, as arctic novels go, this beats Verne’s ‘An Antarctic Mystery’ all toe heck, frankly.”  We then told Jeff to go to bed.

Valtat’s previous novel, 03, was noted as “One of the Best Books of 2010.” His short essay, “In Defense of Steampunk,” argues that the genres provides a unique lens to explore and contrast both historical and current social ills.

We believe Monsieur Valmat is, in fact, going to be coming to our absinthe tasting.  That’s right: drink absinthe with brilliant French novelists!  ’Cause that’s how we do things at The Steampunk World’s Fair.

Psyche Corporation

Psyche Corporation combines art, fashion, dance, and science within the framework of an imagined technomythological world.

Psyche Corporation has performed regularly around the East Coast, and her work even captured the attention of BBC News!

What, pray tell, is the “Psyche Corporation”? The name itself describes a futuristic dream manufacturing group. This Orwellian service allows people to jack their nerve endings directly into the internet and download dreams. As a performance group, Psyche Corporation has incorporated robot exhibitions, steel origami cranes, contortion, corsets, flashlights, and old radios. The music spans across genres; a recent song has mixed tribal singing with classical piano while embedding the DNA of deadly polio virus into its percussion. Be sure to catch Psyche Corporation at Steampunk World’s Fair – they will transport you to an entirely different plane of existence.

 Because Steampunk Wasn’t Weird Enough?

It’s easy to define Steampunk music.  All you have to do is open the portal in your wardrobe that leads to an imaginary, steam-driven semi-Victorian future-past, and check out whatever’s playing at your local music hall.

But for those of us who don’t have hidden portals in their wardrobes or, even worse, don’t have wardrobes, it’s a bit harder to define.  And that gives us the freedom to offer you quite a lot of variety, and let you chose what’s Steampunk (and, secretly, even if you decide something isn’t Steampunk, you can still enjoy it at our Fair.   We won’t tell on you…)

Here’s what I say:  Whether it’s Steampunk or not, we’d like to give you the chance to enjoy a band whose percussion is Tupperwear, whose sound is kind-of like maddened folk-rock, only catchier, and who write songs about, say, pirates, metaphorical hats, Steampunk monsters, being kicked in the head, being someone’s nose, alien invasions, Sesame Street characters, and seventies clothes – to name a few.

A Halo Called Fred is one of the most fascinating groups we’ve ever worked with.  If you’ve got a few minutes to spare, try listening to a song or two.  Possibly “(Hat) [note that this link plays automatically, and includes a word you can't say on the radio]“, or “Barry The Steampunk Monster“.

Or, you know, check out their whole website at www.AHaloCalledFred.com, to find out about a band that’s been making unusual music for nigh-on two decades!

Amour Obscur somehow managing to perform in daylight and not melt. Photo by the talented John Black.

“With pockets empty as my heart / I swallow only rhymes / With each new place they promise us, we get a guarantee / But I know that I’m in the band, and at least I drink for free!”

-Amor Obscur, “The Band Drinks For Free”

My dear maternal forebear always told me not to get into event business, lest I associate with a bunch of drunken ne’er-do-wells, the very dregs, the true nadir of society.

And she’d never even met Amor Obscur when she said that!

It’s kind-of as if the cast of The Threepenny Opera* beat up the cast of “Cabaret”, acquired a wicked sense of humor, and decided to go to a Steampunk event.  Which may have been exactly what happened; I never ask Amor Obscur how they got in, and they never tell me.

You can find them at http://www.reverbnation.com/amourobscur.  My favorite song there is probably “Elegy For The Mars Bar”, but that’s just me.

Come check them out!  And possibly buy them drinks.

*  ”The Threepenny Opera” is pretty darn cool on its own.  I am going to randomly give you a link to Eartha Kitt singing “Barbara’s Song”,  because I was listening to it incessantly when I wrote this, and wanted to share.

“Come listen to me, you gallants so free / All you that love mirth for to hear / And I will you tell of a bold outlaw / That lived in Nottinghamshire”

-Francis James Child, 1888

Robin Hood, that trickster bold!  He come to us from times of old!  He brings us joy, and steals our gold!  Except none of us are actually carrying any gold, so we don’t really have to worry.

You’ll find Robin making his merrie way through our Midway, engaging in all manner of puckish jests.  Beware his mighty steam-crossbow!  I mean, you don’t have to beware it, since it’s not actually a functional weapon, because that would be terrible for our insurance costs.  But still.  This waggish jester’s always fool of sport and joy.  Let him share some with you!

Mid-March 2012 Update:  Both of those hotels are sold out.  But it totally helps the event if you book at our overflow hotel, The Hotel Somerset-Bridgewater, 732-560-0500.

Dearly beloved,

Because our hotels tend to book up terribly quickly, I’m getting you this information as fast as I can.

The two hotels of The Steampunk World’s Fair 2012 are the Radisson of Piscataway (acquire your hotel room by calling 732-980-0400; rooms are $99!) and the Embassy Suites of Piscataway – a lovely suite for only $109 for double occupancy; you can call them at 732-980-0500, or reserve online via this link right here. For the Embassy Suites, you must use group code SPK, or the Universe will explode.  Okay, possibly the Universe won’t explode, but it definitely won’t work without that code.

Remember that the hotels are separated basically by a parking lot, and are a two minute walk from each other.  There will be major events in both hotels: both hotels are a “main” hotel this year!

Much love to you all!

-Jeff