Dragon*Con Membership Newsletter Volume 1, Issue 1 August 31–September 3, 2012 Atlanta, Georgia

Making Walk Up Registration Even Easier Our Comic Book Costume Contest Is One of the improvements Dragon*Con Getting a New Name implemented last year was the use Have you heard? We’ve been in the process of renaming of barcodes to speed up registration. Find us on Facebook our Comic Book Babes Costume Contest by collecting fan If you purchase your membership in and participate in our ideas. We’ve narrowed down the nearly one hundred advance, then you receive a postcard Comic Book Costume suggestions received to our top three selections and Contest naming poll! with a barcode on the mailing label. YOU are the first to hear the finalists. You just bring that postcard and a valid We’ll be taking these suggestions to Facebook for a poll government-issued photo ID with you to determine the winning name. The creator of the final to the registration area at the Sheraton. name selected will be a judge at the contest, sitting It greatly speeds up the registration alongside some of the best comic and pop art guests. experience for you and everyone else. Which will it be??? facebook.com/ And if you prefer to purchase your ‘‘From the Page to the Stage: Comic Book Pageant pages/DragonCon/ membership onsite, you can speed up 58381388805 ‘‘Intergalactic Heroes and Villains your registration process by going to The Ultimate Comic Book Costumes Showdown dragoncon.org/dc_pde_barcode.php, ‘‘ fill out the form, submit it, and it will Thanks to all who participated in the renaming and be on the lookout for other generate a .pdf file with a QR code. This opportunities to be a part of Dragon*Con history! form is not connected to any database; it is merely a utility for printing your own QR code. The QR code will contain your demographic information, mildly encrypted and base64 encoded. Print your form and bring it along with your valid government-issued photo ID to the on-site registration area. Our friendly volunteers will be able to scan your code, check your ID and print up your badge without all that time consuming manual data entry. You’ll be free to go have fun that much sooner!

DRAGON*TALK Membership Newsletter Subscribe to our eBlasts at www.dragoncon.org/pr.php#News 1 Dragon*Con Survival Guide Don’t Miss Out! Whether It’s your first year at Dragon*Con Wear Comfortable Shoes or you’re an old pro, we want you to have The convention takes place in five hotels. Update Your Address an awesome time at the show. You may have You’re going to be doing a lot of walking! seen some of these “survival guides” before, Wearing a costume with special shoes? Don’t miss out on getting your copy and some of you can probably even write Bring a pair of plan “B” shoes to wear during them…either way, check out these tips…they your off times in case you can’t stand it any of the 2012 Progress Report, update could come in handy! longer…you will thank us later! your address at the Dragon*Con office today! Get Your Badge, Secure Your Badge, Carry a Survival Bag Show Your Badge (or enlist someone to carry it for you) Mail: Dragon*Con Office Attn: Address Update First things first…swing by the Sheraton and Sure, you think you will swing by your room PO Box 16459 pick up your badge. Did you preregister? If to pick up what you need. In reality, the Atlanta, Georgia 30321-0459 so, be sure to bring your postcard. We made elevators, the time, the distance and the some awesome upgrades to the registration crowds will make you rethink that trek. So Call: 770-909-0115 system in 2011 and the lines move much here is a list of items you might want to have Email: [email protected] quicker (we promise; ask someone who at easy reach. came last year). Once you have your badge, ‘‘Camera you must secure it and show it at all times. You will need your badge to get into the ‘‘Batteries events at the host hotels. Additionally, some ‘‘First aid supplies (adhesive bandages, of our host hotels will be requiring a badge or aspirin, medications) room key during peak hours to cut down on ‘‘Business Cards (for those networking congestion, and to help keep our members opportunities) safe. So have your badge ready and visible! ‘ Cash (ATM machines are available but Lost badges are not replaced; I know it’s a ‘ often run out of cash) bummer…but you should know… ‘‘Snacks ‘‘Water bottle ‘‘Sweater or jacket (it can get cold in some of the rooms plus it makes an The Peachtree Center has a food court impromptu pillow) that is accessible via the skywalks from the ‘‘Sanitizer (con crud is no one’s friend) Hyatt, Marriott and the Peachtree Center parking garage. You can find a wide variety ‘‘Page protectors or photo sleeves for autographed photos of quick food options as well as fine dining restaurants nearby. ‘‘Sharpie, pen, highlighter, and paper Stay in a group! so you can make notes to your pocket Be sure to carry some snacks with you so program and get autographs you can eat something when you get hungry and don’t have time at that moment to Plan Your Time Follow the 5/2/1 Rule track down food. There is a Publix located Dragon*Con is four non-stop days of 24- We require our staff to adhere to the 5/2/1 approximately one mile north of the host hour fun! There are almost forty individual rule. Get a minimum of five hours a sleep, hotels on Piedmont Avenue. programming tracks and even more special two meals, and one shower every day, events, contests, gaming, and parties than please. It works for everyone. And don’t forget about the ConSuite. It’s you can imagine. We hate to break it to a sci-fi convention tradition located in the Sleep: We know you are probably not going you, but you can’t do everything you want, Hyatt where you can get snacks and some to get enough sleep at the convention, but so you’ll have to prioritize. The free smart soda. you’ll have a lot more fun if you at least try. phone app and pocket program are great Plus, you’ll be a nicer person to be around Tip Your Hotel Staff tools that will tell you where to go, what to (just ask your friends). So shoot for 5 hours The hotel staff gets a kick out of the do and when to get there. Make a plan and sleep at a minimum in one stretch. convention and they work pretty hard to be sure to allow time to wait in line for a big take care of us throughout the four days! So event or popular panel that has your favorite Food: You can usually find a hamburger and guest. Lines for events in main programming hotdog vendor anywhere. Here are some be sure to tip the maid service, bartenders will begin when the group for the previous other options: and other hotel staff that provide a service panel has been seated. An important note, Each of the hotels has somewhere to buy to you. we clear the room after each panel in the café and deli style food and salads and some So now you’re off to a good start and ready to larger rooms. are open 24 hours. go. We look forward to seeing you in August!

DRAGON*TALK Membership Newsletter Subscribe to our eBlasts at www.dragoncon.org/pr.php#News 2 Get to Know the Puppetry Track Dragon*Con has two new tracks this year, The footage they created that day So here is just a sampling of what you one of which is the Puppetry track. If became the first twelve episodes of Bob can expect: you’re already into puppetry, then we’re and Carl, the Sci-Fi Janitors. The Sci-Fi ‘‘Live performances with renowned sure you’re excited about this new track Janitors have gone on to become a staple puppeteers such as Madison J. and are eager to know what they have of DCTV. Based on the popularity of The Cripps, Carole D’Agostino, Honey planned. But let’s say you don’t know Sci-Fi Janitors, Dragon*Con hosted their Goodenough, Kristin Haverty and much about puppetry. What if you’re first ever Late Night Puppet Slam toa Allisa Hunnicutt; asking yourself “isn’t puppetry just for packed house of 250 people with a line ‘‘There will be performances kids”? Ah, there is stuff for the kids, but of people waiting to get in.* appropriate for all ages during the puppetry is so much more—just ask one *See the afore mentioned 700+ minus the 250 that day, and more mature themed of the 700+ people who were in line for actually got in…well you can do the math. performances at night; the Late Night Puppet Slam last year. ‘‘Question and Answers with the puppeteers and performers; ‘‘Create-a-puppet workshops for kids; ‘‘Workshops on puppet construction using advanced techniques and materials; ‘‘How to film puppetry for television and video; ‘‘Fan panels on the world of Jim Henson including the Muppets, Fraggle Rock, Farscape, and Sesame Street; ‘‘Panels about influential puppetry on US television including Howdy Doody, Edgar Bergen and Charlie Puppetry is an art form that combines The Puppet Slam was outrageous, McCarthy, and Shari Lewis and elements of both visual and performing hysterical, and paved the way for Beau Lamb Chop; arts and encompasses a range of Brown to bring the Puppetry Track to styles from humorous and touching Dragon*Con for 2012. ‘‘A presentation on how to work as a busker and street performer (and to dark and macabre. Members will So what can you expect from the Puppetry not get booted off your corner); see marionettes, shadow puppets, rod track for 2012? In a nutshell they want puppets, hand puppets as well as styles to celebrate Puppetry in pop culture. ‘‘Films representing a wide range that defy description! We’re sure you are familiar with one of of styles including the Handmade So why a Puppetry Track at Dragon*Con? the biggest names in pop culture and Puppet Dreams film series Well, you probably know about Bob puppetry…Jim Henson and the Muppets. produced by Heather Henson; and Carl, the Sci-Fi Janitors. If not, visit The Puppetry track is excited to welcome ‘‘Puppetry merchandise to buy www.scifijanitors.com, we’ll wait here some wonderful guests, including Peter including puppets, DVDs, t-shirts, till you get back. Linz, who performed as “Walter” the and cool stuff you won’t find Patrick Freeman saw Beau Brown and Muppet in the recently released Muppet anywhere else; Matt Nitchie perform “Clean Up”, an Movie. Peter is an Atlanta native who has ‘‘And of course, the Late Night early version of the Sci-Fi Janitors, and also worked at the Center for Puppetry Puppet Slam! thought it would make a good skit for Arts, Sesame Street, Between the Lions, Whether you are a novice or a budding the Dragon*Con Television, which is the and Avenue Q. Peter will be here to share professional, a new fan or connoisseur closed circuit network that we run in his knowledge, joy and love of puppetry there will be something for everyone. host hotels during the convention (aka with the members of Dragon*Con. Be sure to stop by and say hi to our DCTV). They got together to start filming. Joining Peter in the puppetry guest line new track and welcome them to the up is Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, best known Dragon*Con family! as Sesame Street’s Abby Cadabby.

DRAGON*TALK Membership Newsletter Subscribe to our eBlasts at www.dragoncon.org/pr.php#News 3 AAA! No, we are not referring to the ever popular and helpful motor club. Nor are we speaking of the Amateur Astronomers Association (although they will be pleased by the third A). This has nothing to do with the highest level of play in minor league baseball either. What we are talking about is Acting, Artists, andA stronomy! That’s right, this year Dragon*Con is bringing you three new and exciting workshops!

Acting Artists Astronomy We are pleased to offer a unique acting Dragon*Con 2012 presents a series of We are also proud to offer a two-day workshop over a two day period by acclaimed workshops over a two day period by workshop on Friday and Saturday, focused on actress, director, and author Amber Benson. acclaimed artist and illustrator, David A. astronomy, physics, and other space sciences If you are interested in a career in acting Cherry. Whether your interest is traditional, and how to present these topics to general either on the stage or screen or just want to digital, illustration, or game art, one or more audiences. The workshop is designed for polish up your professional skills, here is your of these workshops will be for you. writers and editors of science fiction, as well chance to gain insights, and learn tips, from David A. Cherry is past president of The as other interested parties. The workshop the successful, talented, and knowledgeable Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy will be directed by Mike Brotherton, Amber Benson. Artists and winner of multiple Chelsey an astronomy professor specializing in Amber Benson is a writer, director and actor. Awards, the Frank R. Paul Award, the Skylark quasars, a hard science fiction novelist (Star She currently writes the Calliope Reaper- Award, and the Polly Freas Award for Artistic Dragon, Spider Star), and founder of the Jones paranormal romance series for Ace/ Merit. After 20 years as an illustrator, working Launchpad Astronomy Workshop for Writers Roc and her middle grade book, Among the in traditional media, he became Marketing held each summer in Laramie, Wyoming. Ghosts, came out in paperback this past fall Artist for a game studio, Ensemble Studios, Joining Mike is Launchpad co-founder and from Simon and Schuster. As a director, she and moved on to the 3D modeling team, science education specialist, Dr. Jim Verley, co-directed the Slamdance feature Drones, producing titles such as Age of Mythology, observational cosmologist Adam Myers, which was picked up for distribution by Age of Empires III, and Halo Wars, among internationally recognized astronomy Phase Four Films. She also directed (and co- others. There he became proficient in digital education researchers Tim and Stephanie wrote) the BBC animated series, The Ghosts media. For the past several years, he has Slater, and planetary astronomy Kevin R. of Albion. Her acting work includes the Steven been Professor Cherry, teaching 2D and Grazier who is science consultant for TV and Soderbergh film,King of the Hill, and the indie 3D game art production at The Guildhall at Battlestar Galactica Eureka feature, Race You to the Bottom, for which she SMU in Dallas, a graduate school for those movies ( , , the won the Best Actress Award at Outfest. She interested in working in the ever expanding upcoming movie Gravity, and many others). also spent three years as Tara Maclay on the game industry. Among subjects to be included are television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series of workshops, which are fundamentals, planets, stars, galaxies and The two day workshop, held on Thursday purchased individually and take place cosmology, and issues common to “science and Friday, will cover valuable topics such over Friday and Saturday, will include fiction science.” Special attention will be as “Breaking into the Business,” “An Improv “Acrylic Painting Technique,” “Life Drawing given to common misconceptions, jargon, Primer,” and “Character Building.” At the end Sessions,” “Photoshop for Illustration and and techniques for communicating science of the experience students will complete a Game Art,” “3D Studio Max Game Asset that make science less accessible. Examples mock audition to be recorded on video and Creation,” and a “Personal Project Review from popular movies and books, good and personally critiqued by Amber. for Illustration and Game.” bad, will be used for illustration.

And for all of you fans that have already fallen in love with some of our other great workshops, worry not…we will be bringing back some of our favorites. For all of the aspiring writers out there, you have the choice of Jody Lynn Nye’s Two Day Intensive Workshop or the Writer’s Hourly Workshops with Mike Stackpole and Aaron Allston. If you are looking to clear your head, you can still relax and mediate with Virginia Hey or practice Tai Chai with the always amazing Erin Gray. And for those that have been wondering how to investigate the paranormal, we still have our Scientific Investigation Workshop with Benjamin Radford. Finally, don’t forget our free Belly Dancing with Phoencia if you are looking for a fun workout! For more information on all workshops, please visit our website at dragoncon.org/workshops.php.

DRAGON*TALK Membership Newsletter Subscribe to our eBlasts at www.dragoncon.org/pr.php#News 4 Dragon*Con New Guests Dragon*Con Night Membership Dragon*Con is excited to welcome the at the Aquarium leading men of the hit series Vampire Rewards Diaries, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Dragon*Con will again partner with the Wesley, to Dragon*Con 2012. Both will world’s largest aquarium to provide our What exactly do you get when you buy a members with a unique “after hours” membership at Dragon*Con? Of course have limited appearances on Saturday and Sunday including programming, experience Saturday, September 1, from you get four days of non-stop fun, the 7:00 pm–11:00 pm. chance to see some pretty awesome photo ops, and signing, courtesy of costumes and meet friendly, interesting Celebrity Authentics. Stay tuned for people that are obsessed with the same more details. things you are. Oh yeah, you also get more Also check out some of our other recent gaming than you could imagine, parties additions: that go on and on, the biggest art show in ‘‘Aaron Ashmore ‘‘The Guild’s the South, the chance to meet around 400 ‘‘Dean Cain Felicia Day, Jeff guests, the biggest parade in Atlanta, and ‘‘Grant Imahara Lewis, Amy Okuda, Sandeep much, much more! So basically, the four ‘‘Juliet Landau best days of your year, right? Parikh, & Robin ‘‘Sean Maher We here at Dragon*Con really appreciate Thorsen ‘ Eve Myles our members and know that they have ‘ ‘‘True Blood’s helped make us the convention that we ‘‘Craig Parker Nelsan Ellis, Joe all know and love! ‘‘Leslie Carrara- Manganiello, Rudolph In fact, we love our members so much Carrie Preston, that we are working to provide you guys ‘‘Katee Sackhoff & Sam Trammell with even more “perks” to membership. ‘‘Jewel Staite ‘‘Walking Dead’s We are thinking drawings, contests, ‘‘Jim Starlin Steven Yeun and All exhibits, as well as food court, will be discounts, and more! James McCune open and of course your Dragon*Con So we are excited to announce a new costumes are welcome! Tickets are $20 in membership perk. Now when you Dragon*Con advance (before Aug 29th) and $25 after. shop at the Dragon*Con store online, Please visit www.georgiaaquarium.org/ you get 10% off all merchandise and Partners with Delta dragoncon to take advantage of this offer. even bigger discounts on our fabulous Air Lines workshops. All you have to do is go to store.dragoncon.org and log in. This year Dragon*Con has partnered Stay Connected! with Delta Air Lines to offer attendees Stay tuned for even more membership a 2%–10% discount on airfares to the perks to be announced in the future! convention. Reservations must be Want to be connected to Dragon*Con booked for travel between August 28, with the quickest and most regular updates out there? Be sure to add 2012 and September 6, 2012. us to your social network…like us on In order to take advantage of this Facebook or follow us on Twitter to opportunity, please visit delta.com/ stay connected. Phone the Dragon*Con booking and enter meeting/ Office at 770-909-0115; event code NM8S7 for Or Mail Your domestic travel into Atlanta Membership Form or NM8SR for international (Available Online) to: travel. Reservations can Dragon*Con also be made over the Attn: 2012 Membership phone at +1–800–328– PO Box 16459 Atlanta, GA 30321-0459 1111 Monday thru Friday 7:00 am–7:00 pm CDT, but a facebook.com/ twitter.com/#!/ Or Order Online at: pages/DragonCon/ DragonCon store.dragoncon.org direct ticketing fee will apply. 58381388805

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