A Review of Teslacon V 2014

Well, that’s another Teslacon adventure in the can, or as Captain Krieger said, we all survived until the end credits! After you read this, there are other reviews here and here. Also, check out the Facebook pages here and here for great photos and comments.

Eric Larson, aka Lord Bobbins, and his staff put on another entertaining show this year as the attendees were all passengers aboard the Freya, traveling to the Center of the Earth!

Friday started off right at 10am with panels on publishing, history and theory, costuming, and the opening of the vendor rooms. Attendees got to hear tips and suggestions on writing their stories and how to go about getting published. There was a talk about the daring and duplicitous women who traded in secrets in the 1860s. There was a standing-room-only discussion about time travel. The vendor rooms were loaded with couture, books, accessories, and plenty of gift ideas.

Saturday and Sunday panels continued with entertaining discussions by makers and crafters, authors, and community groups. There were tips on creating your own steamsona, book trailers, and steampunking Shakespeare. People learned about the steampunk multiverse, talked about starting and growing a steampunk group, and participated in LGBT discussions. There was even a good discussion about how to handle the reactions of “normal” people when steampunking in public.

 Photo by Lisa Hager

The new Maker’s Room had tutorials on using paper, leather, and even Lego Mindstorm Robotics! There was an Iron Tailor (sewing) event, a swap meet, an ever busy Fix-It table, and the Promethean Science Fair.

 There were quite a few attendees from other countries, as well

The Games Room, led by the Victorian Gamers Alliance, had live and demo sessions running for Twisted Skies, Leviathans: Monsters In The Sky, Journey to the Center of the Earth, DINO Hunt, Adventurers, Elder Sign, Forbidden Desert, among others.

 Two of the Bobbins Boys staff – Alex and Brendan

In order to get ready for Saturday’s Grand Ball, there were classes covering the waltz, polka, and country dances. Dancing is always a good skill to know, so take advantage of free classes at any steampunk event.

 

For those who needed a respite from all that activity, the Tea Room provided a nice space to relax with a cuppa, some biscuits, and friendly conversation with friends old and new.

Unwoman, Erica Mulkey, among others, was on hand to perform in the hotel’s atrium to the musical delight of convention attendees. Always wonderful to see her again.

 

The party and adventure really got started on Friday with Opening Ceremonies. The line of attendees snaked through the hotel, and it’s amazing how fast 1,200+ people can get settled when they are motivated. Watching everyone file into the ballroom was like a non-stop cornucopia of visual delights. The creativity of steampunks is second to none, and every outfit was worth seeing.

One Pound note created by Matthew Duncan

 

Welcoming speeches were made, thanks and awards given out to people who made the convention possible, and then, it was time for the Freya to seek out passage to the underworlds. Helped with Teslacon movie magic, we flew through the ice and snow of the Arctic Circle, and from the view screen, we could see the majesty of nature all around us. Over the mountains and through the valleys, we made our way closer and closer to the hoped-for, nay, expected, entrance to the Center of the Earth. And then there it was, lit up by the aurora borealis.

As we approached, we were met by a welcoming committee of flying saucers. Well, maybe not welcoming, exactly. I believe this was the moment when Captain Krieger got to use his new toys – laser cannons! He got to use them a few more times as we descended into large caverns and tunnels, and eventually out to a new world.

Nothing to fear here, though, and we promptly disembarked from the ship to explore. We made new friends along the way. I don’t recall hearing anything about anyone being eaten, so that’s a good thing.

 Photo by Diana Pho

How does one carry on from there? A fashion show right afterward, more tea, Saturday story line immersion performances, and the Grand Ball where people dressed up in their finest. You know you are at a steampunk event when wearing a tuxedo might leave one feeling a little under dressed.

 Photo by Diana Pho

With so much going on all day and night, “some people” were moving a little slow Sunday morning. “Some people” needed six cups of tea with breakfast to really get going.

 Photo by Peter Baum

Like many other conventions, Teslacon offers the opportunity to pre-register for next year. People could pre-reg for the regular ticket, and the patron level tickets will go on sale soon. Teslacon does offer some nice and personally creative items in the patron passes. One perk is being able to sit in the first few rows in the main room, but others include pins, artwork, photo room gift certificate, and drinkware.

The weekend wrapped up with the departure of the Freya from the underground lands, drilling it’s way home through the perilous strata (and plenty of Krieger firing his lasers!). Surviving another year, we were treated to teasers about the next several year’s themes.

2015 is a trip to the Wild Wild West with Saturday night entertainment at the Night Circus.

2016 is the Battle of Britain, The Return of Swarm.

2017 is the Murder on the Orient Express.

Official color palette for The Wild Wild West

Official color palette for The Night Circus

Everyone has a year now to get ready for the Wild, Wild West theme. Get your boots and britches, ruffle those petticoats, and learn how to Square Dance and Two Step!

 

Also, remember the Bobbins Initiative all year long – share your love of steampunk and share it with two friends. Bring them to events, share new books, show them how great they’d look in steampunk fashions. There’s a whole world out there, and new friends to be made!