Cross-Posted for Aaron....

Hello

After years of attending the San Diego Comic Convention as a professional, I want to start running some stuff.

Larp kinda stuff.

To that end, I am trying to set up a series of workshops and a panel at this year's Convention.

*I NEED TO PITCH THIS PROGRAM BEFORE MAY 15*
*THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THEY WILL LET US RUN THIS STUFF*

That being said, the rough schedule and rough descriptions of the things are:

Workshop 1 = Fighter workshop, outdoors
Want to hit someone in a safe, sane, and legal fashion? Come to the Live Action Role Playing live combat workshop on the green by Hall H (or wherever). Rick McCoy and Adrianne Grady will demonstrate how physical combat works in LARP role-playing games, how it's used, why it's used, safety issues, weapon types and styles for the many different LARP groups across America, techniques, and then have some safe sparring (after liability waivers are signed, of course).

Workshop 2 = Prop and costuming workshop, indoors
Live Action Role Playing games contain some of the most amazing props and costumes in fandom today. If you are a costumer or cosplayer, or want to be, don't miss this hands-on demonstration and workshop on crafting materials for live action role playing games, including mobility and visibility issues, cost, durability, accuracy, and timeliness. This is your chance to show off your hall costume, and to learn how to really show it off during a Live Action Role Playing game. Workshop run by Andrew Leman and Shawn Crosby, and they'll have activities for you to do/make!

Workshop 3 = Role-playing workshop, indoors
They're called ROLE-playing games, but how often do your games degenerate into a craps table played by rules lawyers? Using acting tips and techniques, Adrianne Grady (Role Models LARP technical consultant) and Aaron Vanek (director, The Yellow Sign), and Shawna Waldron (actress, The American President, Little Giants) receive hands on exercises to improve your gaming experience, whether a table top situation or Live Action Role Playing. Learn how to develop a character's background, personality, and goals, the value of prep work, and gain confidence needed to make whatever character you are playing interesting, dynamic, and believable in a make-believe world.

Workshop 4 (or panel) = The Art and Design of LARP
Live Action Role Playing, or larp for short, is one of the oldest forms of human art. The larp art form is used for psychological research, military training, education, and business efficiency. It is gaining a huge following in the United States, but the form itself is lagging far behind that of the Nordic countries. Inspired by Scott McCloud's landmark Understanding Comics, Aaron Vanek and OTHER PEOPLE will discuss the history of larp, the strengths and weaknesses of the art, the spectrum of form for any larp experience, and the future of this blossoming popular art form.

SO, MY QUESTIONS TO YOU ARE:

Are you planning on going to Comic Con this year?

If yes, have you already registered?

Regardless of registration or not, do you want to be a part of this?

Here are the caveats:

1. I cannot get anyone badges, rooms, transportation, food, nothing. I am assuming that you are on your own ticket, but will have some time and an inclination to help out on some of these ideas.

2. If you want to help out, YOU NEED TO REGISTER ASAP. The four day memberships and Saturday (one day) are already sold out. The hotel rooms are likely out as well (though I might be able to reveal a few secret places that might still be open).

2a. If you have some professional standing or credits, (head of a larp group? published? acting credits?), you can apply for a pro badge, which is free and also gets a guest in. But the deadline for this is May 5. Read this: www.comic- con.org/cci/ cci_pros. shtml

So despite the restrictions, I think this could be an awesome part of the Con, and something that we LARP fans should do to promote and support our art. I can't think of a better place to recruit people, either.

Please post or email me if you have questions or comments. Again, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. If you want to be on the team teaching others about the cool stuff we do, get in touch with me ASAP.

best,

Aaron