Category: Performance & Pleasures

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The Spellbinder Orchestra Illuminates Our Festival

Spellbinder Orchestra.

The Spellbinder Orchestra is a melodious fit for our xenodochial mult-genre show.

In the thirty years during which we’ve been putting together music festivals, we’ve seldom had a band as euphonically optimized while simultaneously so culturally disparate. ..they also just plain sound amazing.

The Spellbinder Orchestra, based in San Francisco, California, is known for its unique blend of indie folk music with influences from classical, Americana, Eastern European, and swing styles. This ensemble, which can range from a trio to an octet, specializes in vintage music from the 1800s to the 1940s, making it a popular choice for themed events like speakeasy and 1920s parties. Their parent group, Brother Spellbinder, is primarily folk-based, offering a crossover with classical and Americana music. The orchestra includes a variety of instruments like ukulele, guitar, fiddle, cello, percussion, mandolin, harmonica, with both female and male lead vocals.

They have performed at notable venues and events such as the Edwardian Ball, SF Free Folk Fest, and Burning Man Decompression, showcasing their versatility and appeal to diverse audiences. Their music selection includes both covers and originals, tailored to the event’s theme, with past performances earning praise for setting an authentic, engaging atmosphere. The musicians are described as professional, easy to work with, and delivering performances filled with energy and fun, making the Spellbinder Orchestra a cherished part of San Francisco’s eclectic music scene.


The Spellbinder Orchestra has made a notable appearance in New York, particularly within the folk and vintage music circuits. They’ve performed in Woodstock, New York, where they were actively seeking additional musicians to join their ensemble, showcasing their interest in expanding their unique sound to the East Coast. This move reflects their ambition to bring their eclectic mix of folk, Americana, and swing to broader audiences, suggesting they’ve left a mark in New York’s vibrant music scene, much like their influence in San Francisco. Their performances often include improvisation, adding a fresh and dynamic element to their shows, making them memorable in settings that appreciate creative musical expressions.

Spellbinder Orchestra East 


Primarily based in Woodstock, NY now, Alzara plays with cellist Cornelia Logan, a Hudson Valley native, who has played with Mamalama, Earth Opera and Free River band. Core members also include upright bassist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Joe Pierog of The Library band and songwriter Chris O’Driscol on acoustic guitar. You may catch rotating violinist Kate Hudson of Big Brother & the Holding casting spells with electric violin. Spellbinder East members are known for their strong vocals and delicious harmonies.

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The Business of Cosplay: Tips on how to make money in the Imagination Industry

Alfonso Todd III


The seminar titled “The Business of Cosplay: Tips on how to make money in the Imagination Industry” is presented by Alfonso Todd III of Imagination Nation. Here’s an overview based on available information:

Alfonso Todd III: Alfonso Todd III is the founder and managing partner of Imagine Nation Concepts, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and his passion for turning creative hobbies into legitimate businesses. His profile on LinkedIn highlights his role and his eclectic approach, blending street-level creativity with corporate strategy, focusing on community organization without political ambitions. This background makes him particularly suited to discuss the business aspects of cosplay, given his experience in both creative and business environment.

Seminar Overview:

  • Title: “The Business of Cosplay: Tips on how to make money in the Imagination Industry”
  • Focus: This seminar is aimed at providing insights into transforming the passion for cosplay into a profitable venture. It explores various avenues for monetization within the cosplay and broader imagination industry.

Content Highlights:

  • Making Money through Cosplay: The seminar would likely delve into multiple strategies for generating income from cosplay, such as:
    • Selling Cosplay Merchandise: Including costumes, wigs, props, and digital content like tutorials or patterns.
    • Content Creation: Utilizing platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or Patreon for monetizing through ads, sponsorships, and memberships.
    • Event Appearances: Participating in conventions for both performance and selling opportunities, offering custom services or workshops.
    • Brand Partnerships: Engaging with brands for modeling or promotional activities at events.
  • Building a Career: Insights on how to transition from a hobbyist to a professional cosplayer, including:
    • Networking and Community Engagement: Understanding the importance of social media presence, community involvement, and networking at conventions.
    • Skill Development: Tips on enhancing one’s skills in costume creation, performance, and digital marketing to increase marketability.
    • Economic Considerations: Practical advice on managing the costs associated with cosplay while aiming to make it a sustainable income source.
  • Innovative Approaches: Given Todd’s knack for turning hustles into businesses, the seminar might also discuss:
    • Innovative Business Models: Exploring new ways to monetize creativity, perhaps through unique cosplay-related services or products.
    • Using Imagination for Business: How imagination can be leveraged not just for cosplay but for any entrepreneurial venture within the creative industry.

Expected Takeaways: Attendees would leave with a better understanding of how to professionalize their passion for cosplay, learning from Todd’s experience in merging creativity with business acumen. The seminar would likely encourage participants to think outside the conventional cosplay box, pushing for entrepreneurial thinking in the imagination industry.

This seminar would be particularly beneficial for those looking to turn their cosplay hobby into a part-time or full-time career, offering both inspiration and practical steps from someone who has navigated similar paths.

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Our Guest of Honor Panel

Our Guest of Honor panel.

“I remember my first convention, and it was terrifying. I walked into this room, and there were all these people, and they were all looking at me. I thought, ‘What am I doing here? I don’t have a script.’ And then I realized, they were there because they loved the show. It was overwhelming, but in a good way.”

~William Shatner

Music. Writing. Art. Swinging pillows at monkeys. These are some of the most classic of human art forms, and our Guests of Honor will come together to talk about their creativity, their struggles, their advice for others, and, really, anything they want; they’re our guests of honor, we can’t exactly tell them what to do.


Buckle up, earthlings, for a cosmic collision of creativity at our Guest of Honor panel! We’ve summoned a motley crew of wizards, bards, and other dimension-hopping artists for a spectacle that’ll make your neurons dance. Prepare for tales that’ll warp your mind, from battling writer’s block with a magic quill to jamming with intergalactic beats. They’ll spill the beans on how to conjure art in an age where AI might just be your next collaborator, or archenemy; who knows?

General Creativity and Inspiration

  1. What are some unusual sources of of inspiration for your works?
  2. How do you overcome creative blocks or periods of low inspiration? Is murder essential, or just a good idea?
  3. Can you describe a moment when you felt your work truly resonated with an audience?

Cross-Genre Exploration

  1. Which genre outside of your primary one would you love to explore or have explored, and why?
  2. Do you use other genres for inspiration or ideas?

Process and Technique

  1. What’s the most challenging aspect of your creative process, and how do you tackle it?
  2. Can you share a technique or tool that has significantly changed how you create?
  3. In your field, what’s one thing you wish you knew when you were starting out?
    • Wisdom for new creators, potentially touching on both successes and mistakes.

Collaboration and Influence

  1. Have you ever collaborated with someone from a different art form? What was that like?
    • Explores the dynamics of inter-disciplinary work and its challenges or benefits.
  2. Who or what has been the biggest influence on your style or approach to your work?

The Future and Adaptation

  1. How do you see your medium evolving in the next decade?
  2. What’s the most exciting project you’re working on currently, or planning for the future?
  3. With the rise of AI and new technologies, how do you see these tools affecting your creative process?

Audience Interaction

  1. What’s the most memorable feedback you’ve received from a fan or critic?
  2. If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps, what would it be?

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Weird Worlds: A Symphony of Abductions, Hauntings, and Tales Beyond Reality

“But art is the distillation of intelligence, the essence of human understanding. It is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Art is the opposite of chaos. Art is the enemy of chaos. It’s what we do to keep from going insane. We create order out of chaos, patterns out of randomness, beauty out of the mundane.”
-Harlan Ellison

Embark on an extraordinary journey where film, music, and literature converge into a celebration of the bizarre. In “Weird Worlds: A Symphony of Abductions, Hauntings, and Tales Beyond Reality,” we invite filmmakers, musicians, and writers to weave together a narrative of the uncanny, exploring:

  • Creative Fusion: How do these artists blend their crafts to create a universe where alien abductions harmonize with ghostly symphonies, and literature paints pictures of the surreal?

Discussion Topics:

  • Storytelling Techniques:
    • How do you visually depict the indescribable in film, or musically score an encounter with the unknown?
    • What narrative devices do writers use to make bizarre fiction resonate with audiences?
  • Interdisciplinary Inspiration:
    • Can the melody of an alien language inspire a new story arc or a film scene?
    • How does the rhythm of prose influence the pacing of a film or the composition of a song?
  • The Weird Experience:
    • What makes a story, song, or film truly “weird”? Is it the setting, the characters, or the twist in the narrative?
    • How do you balance humor, horror, and the surreal to keep an audience engaged?
  • Psychological Impact:
    • How does the weird affect our perception of reality in each medium?
    • What ethical considerations come into play when depicting the otherworldly or the supernatural?
  • Practical Applications:
    • What are some practical tips for creating an atmosphere of the weird in your work?
    • How can sound design in films mimic or enhance the eerie elements of a literary piece?
  • Collaboration and Influence:
    • How have these artists collaborated in the past, and what unique challenges did they face?
    • Can we see examples where music inspired a plot twist, or where a film scene led to a new musical composition?
  • The Role of Audience:
    • How can audience feedback shape the direction of weird art across these mediums?
    • What role does the reader, listener, or viewer play in completing the weird narrative?
  • Workshop Element:
    • A hands-on session where panelists might start with a weird concept, and each adds their layer – a writer with a plot twist, a musician with a theme, and a filmmaker with a visual.

Audience Interaction:

  • An open Q&A where participants can ask about personal experiences with weird art or how to begin their journey in these genres.
  • We may be able to convince some of the performers to create something spontaneous, like a song or a dance or an Omniversal Universal Destructoo-Device. Something cool.

Panelists:

  • A group of artists known for their boundary-pushing work across film, music, and literature, with a history of collaboration or mutual influence.

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The Machinations of Mayhem: A Grand Conclave on the Governance, Gallantry, and Grand Larceny of Steampunk’s Splendidly Sinister Souls, Mad Scientists, and Airship Brigands

“Airships are like steampunk’s version of the Internet: everyone wants to be connected, but the connections are slow and occasionally explode.”

– George Mann

Explore the governance, ethics, and societal structures of a steampunk world, with an emphasis on the roles and influences of its rogues, pirates, and those who operate on the fringes of society.

  • Discussion Points:
    • Piracy in the Skies: Discuss the legitimacy of airship piracy as a form of resistance or redistribution, akin to Robin Hood in the air. What laws govern the skies, and how are they enforced?
    • Villainy as Catalyst for Change: How can villains or scoundrels push for technological or social advancement by challenging the status quo?
    • The Ethics of Villainy: Explore the ethical considerations of using technology for personal gain versus societal good. Is there honor among thieves in a steampunk world?
    • The Role of Scoundrels in Society: How do these characters fit into the societal structure? Are they necessary for balance, or do they disrupt the order?
    • Power Dynamics: Discuss how power might be redistributed or contested with the advent of steampunk technology, especially by those outside traditional power structures.
  • Activities:
    • Mock Trial: Stage a trial where an airship pirate is on the stand for their crimes. Panelists and audience members can act as judge, jury, or witnesses, debating the pirate’s actions in the context of steampunk ethics.
    • Debate: A structured debate on a topic like “Should pirates be seen as heroes or villains in a steampunk society?” with audience participation in voting or suggesting points.
    • World-Building Exercise: Break into groups to design a utopian or dystopian steampunk society where villains and pirates play key roles, either as rulers or revolutionaries.
  • Outcome:
    • A Declaration of Airship Rights: Draft a document that outlines the rights, responsibilities, or even the lack thereof for airship pirates, considering their unique position in society.
    • The Scoundrel’s Code: Create a set of principles or a “code” that might govern the behavior of villains and scoundrels in this universe, possibly with humor or irony reflecting their nature.
  • Setting:
    • Transform the room into a steampunk courtroom or a captain’s quarters aboard an airship, using thematic elements like brass fixtures, wood paneling, and maps of the skies.

This panel celebrates the darker, more rebellious sides of steampunk, offering a nuanced look at how these characters shape the world around them, challenging attendees to consider the ethics of rebellion, innovation, and the pursuit of personal freedom in a society bound by gears and steam.

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Shane Dykman, Author and Guest

Shane Dykeman.

Shane Dykeman was born on March 23rd, 1991 in Lakewood, New Jersey. Now residing in Jackson, he spends most of his time getting inspiration from reading other authors and well known manga creators. His dream is to one day be a well known author of his own and possibly even become a show runner for one of his independently published books. Spreading happiness throughout the world through literature is his highest priority, like so many in the worldwide field of art.

About Tok and the Alliance of Hybrid Heroes:

As criminal activity starts to rise in the lone city of Houndtrocity, Tok the Chrono-Pup is sent on a mission to Planet Earth by Father Time to gather three founding members of an organization known as the Hybrid Heroes in order to stop another war from completely destroying Houndtrocity for good. Along the way there are laughs, struggles, and surprises. All while the Hybrid Heroes grow and hopefully stop any imminent danger.

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Theophanes Avery, Chaos Sprite

Theophanes!

Theophanes Avery – Bard, Author, Chaos Sprite


Good morrow, fair visitors to this realm of words! Let me regale thee with tales of Theophanes Avery, a scribe, an adventurer, and a sprite of the fairy kind, whose deeds and writings are as enchanting as a bard’s song at a Renaissance Faire.

The Scribe

Hark, for Avery’s quill hath touched upon many a parchment. Their first tome, “Honoring Echo,” doth capture their journeys across the vast lands of the Lower 48, weaving tales of landscapes and folk with the skill of yore’s minstrels. Each page doth whisper the winds of adventure, painting visions of America through the eye of one who wanders.

Thence, “Milking the Cat” emerged, a collection of mirth and musings upon the creatures great and small that have crossed their path. This book doth tickle the ribs with tales of animal antics, revealing Avery’s keen eye for the humor in nature’s tapestry.

And lo, “Achilles in Heels” dost bring myth to life anew, telling of the famed warrior’s youth with a twist most amusing. Herein lies Avery’s love for folklore, spun with threads of modern wit, making old stories dance to new tunes.

The Adventurer

Avery, with heart and boots well-traveled, doth love the lands of New England, where they seek out mysteries in every corner. Their blog, “Catching Marbles,” is a chronicle of such quests, from the autumnal hunts in Newton’s sacred grounds to the vibrant streets of Provincetown. Each story, a guide for the curious, doth blend the lore of the land with the lore of the soul.

But their adventures do not end with mere travel; nay, they extend into arts of sculpting, doodling with the humble Sharpie, knitting, and even the craft of tattooing upon leather. Their vision for “Through the Looking Glass Farm” speaks of a future where they teach the ways of the earth, husbandry of rare beasts, and the art of living in harmony with nature.

The Fairy Sprite

Methinks, when we speak of Avery as a fairy sprite, we mean one who brings light and magic unto the mundane. Their tales do often touch upon the fantastical, where each day holds a spell or a surprise. Through their writings, they beckon thee to see the world as if through the eyes of a child, where every leaf and stone might hold enchantment.

Avery’s spirit shines even in the shadow of illness, known in modern tongues as being a “spoonie,” showing us all that even in adversity, there is beauty to be found and shared.

In Conclusion

Theophanes Avery be a modern-day bard, a storyteller whose tales are as varied as the stars in the night sky. Through their books and digital scrolls, they invite us to join in adventures, laugh at life’s absurdities, and perhaps, just perhaps, believe in a little magic. Visit their digital keep to delve deeper into this tapestry of tales, where each click might lead to a new quest or a moment of wonder.

Thus, with this tale, we close our scroll, hoping to have enriched thy day with the lore of Theophanes Avery. May ye find joy in the upcoming year!

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Why You Need To Support Authors And Purchase Their Books Or Else The Universe Will Explode Tomorrow

Tomes of power!


In this panel, you will meet some of our amazing authors, hear about the writing process, and understand that if you don’t spend a great deal of money on their tomes, all of Reality will be unmade, but hey, no pressure.

Step right up, bibliophiles, cosmic enthusiasts, and those who’ve ever wondered if their reading habits might perhaps be the key to universal destruction. Welcome the most pivotal panel at Wonderplace Alpha: “Why You Need To Support Authors And Purchase Their Books Or Else The Universe Will Explode Tomorrow.” Here, we’ll have a nice, cozy discussion with our authors about their work, art, writing in general, and the Universe ending.

The Panel Setup:

Imagine stepping into a room designed like the interior of a colossal, steampunk library where books don’t just sit on shelves; they orbit around you like planets around a star. The walls are adorned with gears that turn with each thought-provoking discussion, and authors, in their space suits, are perched on floating podiums.

Doesn’t that sound awful?

We’ll offer you a nice room with chair and such. It’s the people and the words that matter, after all.

Part 1: The Cosmic Impact of Fantasmic Literature

What would the world be like without Science Fiction and Fantasy literature?

Part 2: The Author’s Plight and Your Role

Wherein we meet our authors!

  • The Existential Crisis of Authorship: It’s hard enough to put words together on a page, virtual or otherwise. Ransoming them to a happy audience is a unique and challenging skill. It also helps to have great readers.
  • Writing For A Very Stressed Modern Audience.
  • Trying To Write The Future Faster Than We Can Invent It

Part 3: The Call to Action

Oh, go ahead…tell us why we ought buy your books!

  • The Economics of Existence: Sure illustrating how book sales correlate with the stability of time-space continuums.
  • Interactive Q&A: A chance for the audience to engage with bizarre questions like, “Can horror stories scare away dark energy?” or “Is there a genre that could prevent the heat death of the universe?” Answers will be a mix of playful speculation and real insights into literature’s influence.
  • The Art of Storytelling as Cosmic Glue: Discussion on how storytelling not only entertains but also binds the fabric of reality together, with each tale adding a thread to the cosmic tapestry.

Conclusion: The Real Stakes

As the panel concludes, the playful threats of universal doom will segue into a heartfelt appeal for the support of authors. The panelists will emphasize that while the universe might not literally explode, our cultural and intellectual landscape could certainly diminish without the continuous creation and consumption of literature.

“Every book you buy supports not just an author but the collective imagination of humanity. It’s about preventing the explosion of our shared consciousness, keeping the spark of creativity alive in an ever-expanding universe.”

Post-Panel Experience:

  • Book Signing: With each book signed, authors will offer a “Cosmic Stability Certificate,” humorously ensuring the buyer has contributed to universal harmony.
  • Photo Op: Capture your moment with a giant, mock book titled “How I Saved the Universe by Buying This Book.” Due to the whimsical nature of this universe, you might need to pose, send us your photo, and we’ll photoshop it for you. Compromise is key in the cosmos, after all.

This panel at Wonderplace Alpha is a quirky, yet profound reminder wrapped in humor of why we must support our creators. Because, in a way, they truly do keep our universe from exploding – both metaphorically and in the vibrant world of our collective imagination.

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Ozno, the Jockey of Discs

Alfonso Todd, time-travelling DJ.

DJ Ozno has travelled all about this fair country creating music and making heads nod. Now, he comes to us, to bring us music and the Muse!

Surely you deserve a party where the DJ isn’t just spinning records but also spinning through time and space. Your interplanetary time-travelling DJ, DJ Ozno, arrives in a glow of cosmic energy, his playlist an eclectic mix from across millennia and galaxies. Known for his unique blend of musical styles, DJ Ozno, whose real name is Alfonso Todd, brings the vibe with his mastery of mixes and blends. His journey started from the dance floors of South Beach, Miami, to becoming a pivotal figure in the Imagination Industry, where he combines his love for literature and music. At a multi-genre music festival, the pleasures are manifold. Firstly, there’s the sheer delight of discovery as you wander from stage to stage, each one hosting a different era, culture, or planet’s music. You might start your day with the soul-enriching, bass-heavy beats of a jazz fusion band from 22nd-century New Orleans, then find yourself entranced by the sharp, innovative sounds of an AI-composed symphony from Alpha Centauri.

The brilliantly curated music at these festivals serves as a bridge across time, cultures, and even species, providing a sensory journey that educates while it entertains. The transitions between genres are seamless, each set carefully chosen to complement the next, creating a narrative flow that’s as engaging as any epic saga. You’re not just listening; you’re experiencing a tapestry of sound where every thread – be it reggae from the 1970s or electronic beats from a distant future – adds to the richness of the experience.

Moreover, there’s the communal aspect; shared looks of disbelief or joy with strangers as you collectively witness music that transcends conventional boundaries. The festival becomes a microcosm of human (and intergalactic) connection, where the universal language of rhythm and melody unites everyone in a celebration of diversity. Every note, every beat, is a step into another world, making the festival not just an event, but an odyssey of sound.

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The Fascinatingly Argumentative Philosopher

Philosopher.


In the grand amphitheater of Wonderplace Alpha, where the minds of the cosmos gather to ponder the imponderable, there dwells the Fascinatingly Argumentative Philosopher, a figure as perplexing as he is enlightening. I shall attempt to dissect this enigma with the precision of a scalpel and the humor of a well-aged amphora of wine. (After enough wine, the amphora tells some hilarious jokes.)

This philosopher, much like those of ancient Athens, does not merely converse; he argues, debates, and challenges every notion with the ferocity of a man defending his last piece of ambrosia. His dialectic, however, is not confined to the dusty scrolls of old but is interwoven with the shimmering threads of quantum thought and the subtle dance of theoretical physics. He is, in essence, a Socratic method wrapped in a cybernetic cloak, questioning the very fabric of reality with the same zest one might reserve for questioning the quality of yesterday’s symposium meal.

His method, one might argue, is to make you feel like you’ve known nothing, much like how I might have made my students feel about the nature of existence – or how Socrates might have made you question your own shadow. This philosopher does not seek answers so much as he seeks to dismantle the questions themselves, leaving you in a delightful state of intellectual vertigo, akin to being on a spinning top in Plato’s cave.

He wanders through Wonderplace Alpha, not with the quietude of a sage but with the clamor of a man who’s just realized he’s forgotten to sacrifice to the gods. He engages with all, from the starry-eyed novice to the grizzled veteran of philosophical debate, each conversation an odyssey into the unknown. His attire, one might whimsically note, seems to be a mishmash of togas and tech-wear, as if he’s caught between attending a symposium and a celestial feast.

His discourse is peppered with humor, the kind that might have made even Diogenes chuckle. “Why ponder the infinite when you can’t even agree on the best way to pluck a lyre?” he might quip, bringing the lofty down to the mundane, only to elevate it back into the realm of the profound. His arguments are like the tales of Aesop, filled with wisdom, yet somehow, you leave both laughing and pondering the moral.

In his presence, one feels the weight of the cosmos and the lightness of human folly. He teaches, in his peculiar way, that to argue is to live, to question is to grow, and to laugh at our own ignorance is to be truly wise. For in Wonderplace Alpha, where everything is possible, the Fascinatingly Argumentative Philosopher reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge is as absurd as it is noble, as futile as it is fulfilling.

So, in the spirit of classical humor, I leave you with this: If life is but a series of arguments, then this philosopher is its most entertaining sophist, ensuring that even in the infinite expanse of space, we never run out of philosophical conundrums to unravel or laugh about.