Steampunk Thursday #3: Making Friends!

Good 'morrow, young folk of the internets! Sorry; I've been reading gothic novels again... how do you think people with lisps fared in the middle ages? Everything was thee, thou or thine... nightmare!

I digress!

So, if you've stayed with us this long, you're hopefully feeling a little more curious about steampunk and maybe thinking about testing the water...

Feeling a bit nervous about doing so? Can't quite afford a pair of goggles or a corset just yet? The internet remains the easiest and most convenient way to lurk and learn, or to jump right in there and get to know people. Without a doubt, Brass Goggles is the best place to do either or both! Brass Goggles is an international forum and the most interesting, friendly and funny steampunk community I've found online! There are different areas for costumes, books, movies and tv, arranging meet-ups and just plain talking nonsense! Introduce yourself and get to know some awesome gentlefolk!

In terms of costuming, there are several fantastic communities on Livejournal; the three main ones being steamy_stitches, budget_steam and steamfashion. Follow these on a regular basis and you will definitely learn a lot - members frequently post about the entire costuming process, from concept sketches right through to pictures of the finished product; which is not only inspiring, but fantastic for picking up tips and ideas.

For those of you based in the UK (don't worry; Amy's got a post in the works for US folks!), the Victorian Steampunk Society are the very able and wonderful people behind most of the major UK steampunk events. They hosted 2 panels at MCM Expo in London in May and are planning to return in the future - check out any cons you plan to attend and see whether they have a steampunk panel/stand that you can visit. The Expo panel was definitely what pulled me in; steampunk can seem intimidating from the outside but everyone was so friendly and down to earth that I couldn't help but be drawn to it...

Weekend at the Asylum is the biggest steampunk event of the year. Held in the lovely, historic city of Lincoln, the Asylum is a wonderful mishmash of workshops, live music, author and artist events, competitons, a steampunk market and, of course, an ongoing parade of incredible costumes! It's all steam, all the time and a fantastic way to meet some new people and get a feel for the steampunk lifestyle.

There are a couple of steampunk bands that frequently play around the UK - The Men That will Not Be Blamed For Nothing (clever Jack the Ripper reference, anyone?) - being a prime example - and you can keep an eye on upcoming gigs either on their Facebook page or on Brass Goggles.

Definitely let me know if I've missed out on anything, or if you have any experiences to share!

Until next time, good steamfolk and steamwonderers...