D20

Hi Lasergirl, you could do both set up the Yahoo board and advertise it within the TS (through Amon Hen) so people could join members and non-members but all of you into costuming

Verity I'd edit how your email addy is typed in that post, if I were you, so you don't have it grabbed by a spammer's software. Using "spaceATspace" instead of @ and "space DOTspace" is better than having it just as you'd type it in your e-mail prog

Glad to see you enjoyed yourself at Oxonmoot Lasergirl, and welcome along Voronwe and Elwyn! If people want a write up (from a biased source admittedly) there's one over at the HarperCollins forums. It's not all academics but a broad mix of people: and even some of the academics are into costume-making. Double to the left ...

So, ahem, what are you saying Noddy?

Oh good luck for the Third Year! Hopefully SM can pull this off and you can have a fun event to give yourself a break after the first month

Oooh I wouldn't say that was a given, although I can't speak for Alen & John, I do know that many academics will be very busy right now as the new term/semester starts at the start of a whole new year intake (in the UK at least). And with friends and family spread across Britain and Europe I think I've got about one weekend free a month until January.

Ah perhaps I'd better clarify, Alan & John are professional artists and work on all sorts of book covers & illustrations, plus films, and other artworks of their own so may have their time committed to projects and publishers or friends and family (John has I believe recently held an exhibition in Europe). As for the TS the people who run it, and anyone giving a talk or workshop, does so in their spare time - even if their professional job is as an academic - only a few academics have the luxury of doing Tolkien and calling it work even Michael Drout (who isn't a TS bod afaik) does his Tolkien stuff mostly as a 'hobby'.

Yup! I think you hit the nail on the head, a lot of the posts I've read in the last month have indicated that people were keen but .... And now time is very short for people to arrange weekends off work, or book travel, even if they have the money to come be they fans of the films, fans of the books (or both), or just autograph hunters. And that also applies to Alan, John and the TS bods.

I've not posted yet, still been reading all the news and views on this thread, but I haven't seen anything that says the Tolkien Society have said they aren't coming. That said though somebody waaaay back (somewhere in the early pages but I'm too tired to look now having just had a great weekend at Oxonmoot) said that people like John Howe, Alan Lee and the Tolkien Society didn't need as much warning to be booked - sorry but these guys all have lives and committments of their own so two months notice might not be enough.

Hopefully Showmasters will be talking to Alan and getting him and John Howe along! But in the meantime if you can get to London week after next they're doing a book launch at Waterstones Picadilly on Tuesday April 17th at 10am. There will be a daylong extravaganza of readings, competitions & activities in store. Illustrator Alan Lee will be signing the new novel (10am - 3pm). 50 bookplates signed by Christopher Tolkien will be awarded to the first 50 people through the doors. ( It's a work day and I don't have any leave spare to get down there early enough to get one) Bernard Hill will read the first chapter of The Children of Húrin. (I wonder if SM will get him too?) There'll be other stuff too, apparently including actors from the LotR Musical!

Heather, that's a very good question. From my experience at TFF there was a strong bias to film-replica coming from many fans such that all the good film-replicas got applause at the Masquerade but the own design or based on an illustration stuff seemed not to get much reaction, except form book-first fans who appreciated the idea and work. Although the ElvenTailor and JediElfQueen appreciated the work and efforts made, whatever the design's origins. At TS events pre-film, or Worldcons, people doing Tolkien character costumes have generally worked up their own costume concept and been appreciated for that. Now TS events see people doing a mix, and both get equal appreciation for look and work.

If you can get to the re-enactors market then do so, you'll find various merchants there with a wide range of cloaks in various cloths and styles with prices varying accordingly. But they're almost all generally very friendly and helpful, in my experience, when it comes to talking about making things and there are also cloth merchants who also sell patterns! Enjoy!

It would be a different perspective on the films to have him, and round out the cast, crew balance.

Tell us more ...

That's a very good question. I wonder when we'll be told, certainly they'd be amenable given the previous negotiations etc that ust have taken place for the postponed April event.

Oh I didn't know ELF had gone west ...

Care to elaborate?

Yippee!!

I wonder when they're thinking off as German Ring*Con is October 12-14.

Ooh yeah, Gino Acevedo was a really great guy to tell you stuff about 'backstage' things and to chat to!

Wow! Thanks for those links Marc! So did you and the team sign up anyone for the another show UK? And is that Marcel Bulles in one of those opening photos?

Oh yes ditto on those suggestions, lots of very keen and informative people who know their stuff! 8)

Cons generally differ to signing events in that between signing sessions guests do Q&A sessions or talks or workshops and other invited speakers do talks and workshop items as part of the programme so that there should always be something going on that people can go to or get involved in. There's also usually an art show and costume masquerade that attendees can put stuff into or put themselves into plus parties or meals with guests in the evenings.

Sorry Steph that link just 404s.

Actually I should point out that the idea of themed rooms and atmosphere was suggested to the TFF organisers after the first one and I think they wanted to do that but the venue were really sucky about what could or couldn't be used because of fire regulations (in a non-smoking venue?), and the place had been picked as it offered a big theatre to show the films in and do the costume show.