Championing the makers, artists, and wanderers in all of us.
After seeing the Phoenix Symphony’s concert Star Wars vs Star Trek – The Music of Deep Space during Phoenix Comicon, we asked a few fans about their favorite pieces and made a video.
It was cool that we happened to catch three people who were so passionate and knowledgable about music from both franchises.
What movie or tv music are you a fan of?
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Did you or someone you know go to Phoenix Comicon 2016?
You may notice some or all of these symptoms:
1. Persistent laughter over PUGS-related incidents. Chuckling resulting from things said during the Phoenix Ultimate Geek Smackdown may continue for days.
This is a tournament of geeks to see who can most passionately debate absurd topics like “Ant-Man vs. Aunt Mae: Who was the better A(u)nt?” As bizarre as the questions were, this year’s contestants took some even more bizarre – and hilarious – approaches to arguing their respective sides.
2. Outbreak of photos of dogs in superhero costumes.
Superdog, Wonder Dog, Batdog, and a four-legged Ewok were among the cosplaying pooches that gathered on the patio of the Herberger Theater ahead of the Comi-PAWn Pet Parade.
3. Thermoqueuephobia – fear of waiting in line in the heat.
About the time it topped 110 degrees on Friday, a “perfect storm” of crowds and computer glitches resulted in a registration line that spilled out onto the sidewalk and stretched about a block-and-a-half. Organizers apologized for the hours-long wait and worked to rectify the situation so lines would be inside the rest of the weekend.
4. Claims of spotting Jedi weapons in unusual places, such as on Phoenix streets and in place of a symphony conductor’s baton.
Outside programming included pairs from Syndicate Saber demonstrating their surprisingly elegant lightsaber combat and choreography. This was followed by a lightsaber walk, where anyone with a lightsaber could light it up and march around downtown Phoenix.
While that was going on, Phillip and I were at the Phoenix Symphony’s Star Wars vs. Star Trek performance. The audience could vote via text for which franchise’s music they preferred. To announce the winner, Conductor Tito Muñoz emerged with a red lightsaber, which he began using to conduct the “Imperial March!” (We were not allowed to take photos during the performance, but I found one on Instagram!)
5. Sudden increase in geeky and/or pop culture related skills, such as learning in a matter of days how to make a duct tape prom dress, a music video, and a tabletop game.
Yep, as usual there were a plethora of diverse panels, including…
If you missed out, check out Phoenix Fan Fest this October. (Passes are on sale now.)
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We received media passes from Phoenix Comicon and the Phoenix Symphony.
Here are a few shots from last weekend’s Phoenix Comicon. We’ll be filling you in more soon!
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Wading through the Phoenix Comicon schedule can be a bit daunting, so I wanted to highlight some panels and events I thought you lovely maker geeks might be interested in.
I’ve asterisked the items that don’t require a Phoenix Comicon membership pass for anyone who can’t make it to the whole Con but still wants to be a part of the action.
For more recommendations on what to eat/drink/see around the Convention Center, check out our last post.
3pm Cosplay 101 – From Closet to Convention Floor – I love that this panel is about making your own costumes with what you already have!
*6:30pm Comi-PAWn Pet Parade – Probably the cutest event of the Con, pet lovers can bring their dogs in costume to the Herberger Theater patio to be part of a show and parade.
7:30pm The Phoenix Ultimate Geek Smackdown (PUGS) – preliminary round of the annual, hilarious geek debate tournament
*8pm Star Wars vs Star Trek – The Music of Deep Space – The Phoenix Symphony will be playing music from Star Wars and Star Trek films, and the audience will vote for their favorite franchise! (Event tickets required.)
1:30pm Making the Game: The Art, Design, and Imagination of Iconica – how to design your own tabletop game. (More info on Facebook.)
*4:30pm Geek Girl Brunch Phoenix: Comicon Meetup – cocktail hour with a group of geek girls who usually meet for brunch. (h/t friends Anne and Eileen)
7:30pm The Phoenix Ultimate Geek Smackdown (PUGS) – geek debate tournament finals
8pm Star Party with the Phoenix Astronomical Society – telescopes will be set up for star/planet-gazing
1:30pm Cosplay for All Sizes – modify costumes and patterns to work for your body
7:30pm Dancing for Everyone! – introductory-level English and Irish community set dances
10:30am Confessions of a Cosplay Boyfriend – trials and tribulations of being in a relationship with a female cosplayer
4:30pm Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest Preview – apparently, this year’s Fan Fest will be at a new venue and in October (instead of December). Hopefully, they’ll let us know what’s up. (And hopefully I’ll make it to Sunday afternoon.)
While the car show will stay on Third Street (full schedule under Phoenix Comicon “outdoor events.”), there will be a lot happening on Adams Street, as well.
This year, Phoenix Comicon is taking over Adams Street, where there will be live music, a party pavilion, San Tan Brewery beer garden, and food trucks.
What are you looking forward to?
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PS Travelcraft Journal turns 3 today! I’ll probably raise a celebratory glass – or spoon – at Comicon. Cheers to all of you for being a part of this community!
At Phoenix Comicon, I attended 5 panels where authors, cosplayers, and time-machine builders gave advice about their respective crafts.
Four authors and a comic book artist shared about the role clothing plays in their works and what to keep in mind when you consider how your characters dress.
Is the clothing functional in the environment? If not, make sure the character feels its effects. –Travis Hanson
Try making the costume of one of your characters and wearing it for day. Feel what it’s like to move around in what they wear. Sensory input can really inform your writing. –Leanna Renee Hieber
2. A Beginner’s Guide to Foam Smithing:
New cosplayers often start working with foam, because it’s fairly easy to work with and cheap. If something you try doesn’t work, you’re probably only out about 50 cents.
Foam doesn’t have to be something you move on from. You can incorporate many different materials into your costume. It also uses many of same tools as Sintra and other thermoplastics. [Check out the Tools and Materials list in our DIY Armor post.]
3. Cosplay Like a Pro: Less Stress, More Fun!
You notice the flaws of a costume you’ve been working on but others won’t. They see the overall picture.
Remember the 10-foot rule: your costume doesn’t have to be perfect, it just needs to look good from 10 feet away. If someone wants to get closer than that, that’s when you suddenly have a panel to rush off to.
4. We are ALL Wonder Women! with Heather Ann Cosplay, Stray Kat Cosplay, and Whitney.
Even if you feel you don’t look like the character or aren’t sure about your costume, you can feel like Wonder Woman. –Stray Kat Cosplay
Watching Wonder Woman inspired little girls that
they could stand up for themselves and others. –Whitney
Oliver and Terry Holler used parts they found and made to turn a DeLorean into a far out Back to the Future time machine. With it, they have traveled to all 50 states to fund raise for a future Parkinson’s Disease cure (a cause close to my heart because of my cousin Allison).
5. Back to the Future: Adventures in a DeLorean Time Machine:
The great thing about making something yourself is then you can fix it.
Money comes and goes. Time only goes.
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Thank you to Phoenix Comicon for providing media passes.