Thank you!

[artvixn]

Thank you!
It’s been one of my dreams to one day be able to hold an excellent
party for my friends, where they can dress up, dance and have a
fabulous time. It looks like my dream finally came true; so much
grander than I could have hoped for or expected. I want to thank
everyone who made it possible. So bear with me while I do just that.

First of all, I must thank Martin, my loving husband for having faith
in me and sharing my vision and being supportive. He also worked his
butt off before during and after the con taking care of the details so
that I didn’t have to.

Thanks to our friendly and talented author guest of honor, Tim Powers.
I enjoyed our chats and heard great things about his talks and panels.
Thanks also to Serena, his beautiful wife, who made the tea party even
more fun for me.

Thanks to our colorful and knowledgeable artist guest of honor, Paul
Guinan. His perfectly timed book and fantastic take on history were a
huge hit. Also thanks to his amazing wife, the well dressed Anina, for
adding color and zest to our weekend.

Thanks to the awesome musical guests of honor, Abney Park, always fun
to hang with and of course great to listen to as well!

Thanks to our vivacious and fabulous operations manager, J. She made
me feel like I never had to worry about anything. Her and her crew
were quite professional and helpful.

Alisa, the programming director is a consummate cat juggler and I am
so glad that this most complicated of tasks was handled by someone of
her aplomb and expertise.

Jarrod, our hotel liaison is one of the hardest working young men. His
job was never easy, but he was always on top of it.

Angelina, our beautiful art show coordinator brought fresh vision and
enthusiasm to the show. Her buoyant personality never faltered and she
has a way of reinvigorating me just by being near her.

Victoria, our vendor coordinator worked hard to fill our tiny space
with the most awesome steampunk merchants to be found. It was bursting
with temptations. And thanks to all the vendors for stepping up to our
themed convention.

Jordan, our live music coordinator and the reason there was music at
Steamcon at all deserves many thanks for making it all happen and
keeping it happening. Many thanks to all the musicians who came and
performed. As a first year con, we really had no budget, but you came
anyway and it was wonderful.

DodiRose, our fashion show coordinator has produced the best steampunk
fashion show I think I have ever seen. It was a thing of beauty to
watch. Many thanks to all of the designers and models who
participated.

Jennifer, our tea party coordinator, was the perfect hostess and
produced an excellent afternoon of tea and camaraderie. Many thanks.

Katherine (Pel), our publications person, who took over a very
complicated task with almost no time and very little help, did a
magnificent job of making the program book and pocket program
wondrous. Bravo!

Marcus, Donna and Barry, who ran the games rooms, kept folks
entertained all weekend long. It looked like great fun.

Pete, our reg master, did a great job of dealing with adversity,
excruciatingly slow wifi, a dripping ceiling and other frustrations.
He and his staff worked long hours making it so the rest of us could
enjoy the convention. He’s already reworking everything for next year.

Marty (Martian), our database administrator for working tirelessly at
reg to keep it all going, and for thinking hard on the upgrades to
make it better next year.

Michael, our webmaster, made a great first impression for us with the
best logo ever, and a truly lovely website.

Grahame, our security head, was always even keeled, but effective. He
and his crew did a marvelous job of always being where they were
needed. The only complaint they had, is that our crowd is so well
mannered that they had little to do. That’s what I like to hear.

Michael (Dizzy), the volunteer coordinator and his army of volunteers
kept the convention ticking along with grace and adaptability.

Roman and Meredith and their crew in hospitality kept us fed and
happy. They even took food to the vendors so they wouldn’t feel left
out.

Ericka and the crew from CSPC did a fabulous job of running the photo
salon. The photos that I’ve seen are beautiful.

All the volunteers in every department, who donated their time and
energy to helping us out were just so cheery and enthusiastic. Many
thanks to all!

And finally I have to thank the people that really made the weekend
the fantastically colorful, wonderfully steampunk filled event that it
was; the steampunk enthusiasts who graced our convention. They were
mannered, cheerful, and extremely well dressed. I don’t think I went
more than twenty minutes without someone stopping me to thank us and
compliment us on a job well done. Such a gracious and appreciative
crowd! I am thoroughly gratified and eager to begin the preparations
for Steamcon 2010.

(For those of you, who wish to send suggestions, please email those to
in...@steam-con.com. If you post them here, they are not as likely to
get logged, and we’d like to be able to take them all under
advisement. Thank you.)

[Richard Stephens]

As a guest pro participant I want to be one of several congratulating the Convention Committee on an OUTSTANDING JOB - VERY WELL DONE!!!

 

I was so impressed by the quality of programming, the attention to details, the hospitality offered, the services in registration, green room and over all quality to the look and feel of the convention.  The web site was wonderful and the broadsheet program book was beautiful and inspired.

 

In 20 plus years of attending conventions I have NEVER been to a better dressed convention and what a thrill to visit and hob knob with such well mannered, gracious, genteel people.  It was, for a fashion anthropologist and costumer, a real treat and delight and all weekend long I was calling fellow costumers to tell them how amazing our STEAMCON was and how they MUST be in attendance next year.

 

Being a newcomer to the Steampunk genre I was delighted to find out that I was a hardcore  Steam Punker (and just didn't know it!).  I loved all the panels I was asked to be on and have to undeline your raves below to echo and say what a rare gem Alissa is, she kept all of us informed up to the very moment we arrived at the con.  She put together a very attractive grid of panels that appealed to a wide spectrum of people and the standing room capacity crowds in virtually every panel spoke to the quality panels and pros that Alissa booked.

 

It was definitely one of the highlights of the year for me and I look forward to returning, with my family next year, with a whole new wardrobe and trunk full of accessories.

 

Thank you all for the great work that you did, get some rest and then set off for an even bigger and more spectacular follow up next year!

 

Richard Stephens

[McClure, Kate (DEX-BLV)]

I must echo Richard Stephen's comments. Though I was but a mere
attendee, my time was filled most gloriously!

All of the panels I attended were both entertaining and educational.
Sometimes the later, even on purpose! ;) The Dealer's Room was filled to
the brim with tempting trinkets, many of which somehow made their way
home with me. The tea merchants in the corner were a godsend on Sunday
morning.

The music was top-notch, though the sound system for the concert on
Saturday did need a bit more 'oomph' to carry the low notes very far. I
really enjoyed the DJ room, and have noted several musicians whom I need
to brush up on. My music collection is woefully out-of-date!

Most of all, the COSTUMES! I was in absolute heaven the whole time,
admiring the creativity of everyone. These were, without a doubt, the
best-dressed convention halls I've ever seen. The Tea and Fashion show
was the icing on the cake, and I came away buzzing with new ideas.

Since the gaming areas of most conventions are prohibited to me due to
the . . . aroma, I was most pleasantly surprised to find SteamCon's
gaming room to be quite nice. I very much enjoyed perusing the games on
the tables. (Donna, are you here? Let's talk DeadLands!) I also was very
happy to play one of the story-telling games, especially as I was able
to use my Bad Irish Accent(tm).

Though the hotel had a few problems, I was never greatly inconvenience
by them. This speaks highly of those running this show. Kudos to you
all!

Already signed up for next year,
Kate McClure

[Danicia de Lontra]

Thanks, Kate! Yes, I have your email. Been swamped with work since I got back from
SteamCon (along with a sick housemate and step-daughter. *grin*).

An email about Deadlands and all will be coming your way!

Cheers,
Donna (aka Danicia)

[McClure, Kate (DEX-BLV)]

Thanks, Kate! Yes, I have your email. Been swamped with work since I got
back from SteamCon (along with a sick housemate and step-daughter.
*grin*).

Ah, yes. That cold, hard return to mundanity. ;)

An email about Deadlands and all will be coming your way!

Yay!

Cheers,
Donna (aka Danicia)

Kate McClure
Aka Lady Vilda Leusch
Aka StitchWitch
Aka Mad Gracie Rackham
Aka Y'Durkie Zonavitch
(There's more, but I
believe you get the point)

[Sepiachord Captn]

It was a pleasure/honor to be involved!

> i...@steam-con.com. If you post them here, they are not as likely to