Convergence's topics - tribe.net

C14

2007-08-06T01:04:13Z

So Convergence 14 is in Ybor, FL can wait to see what is there theme and stuff gonna be like... I was hoping Dallas was gonna win... but whatever!! See everyone or some next year!!

posted in Convergence - 4 replies

Convergence 13

2006-10-19T17:38:51Z

I bought my airline ticket and make my hotel reservation last month, and bought my event tickets a couple of weeks ago. I'm skipping the Mystery Theater, though. The Mystery Theater trip at C8 went badly.

So who's planning on going?

http://www.convergence13.com/

-nb

posted in Convergence - 1 reply

MySpace

2006-09-22T06:39:17Z

Has anyone considered starting a MySpace group for Convergence??

L=)

posted in Convergence - 7 replies

Calling all ARTISTS!!

2006-03-15T18:34:44Z

Call for Work! All artists welcome. Have an artistic draw to the darkside? If you are interested in displaying artwork for our Convergence XII Gallery ( http://www.convergencexii.com ) showing please submit sample digital images (max 5 submissions). You will be notified as to acceptance within one week of submission along with mailing information for the hotel. The dates of the exhibition will be the 14th thru 16th of April, during the Convergence XII festivities.

There is no fee for displaying your artwork, but due to the ongoing need for help restoring our city, please consider donating a percentage of your sales (we recommend 40%) to a charity devoted to rebuilding New Orleans. You may choose any fund, but if you'd like to donate to Tipitina's Artist Relief Fund ( http://www.convergencexii.com/nola_rebuild.html ), someone will be on hand to collect your donation.

Please go to http://www.convergencexii.com/cgi-bin/artshow.cgi and submit your work.

posted in Convergence - 0 replies

The OFFICIAL (well, not really) ROLL CALL list...

2006-02-14T16:41:37Z

Are you coming? Are you sure? Sign away your soul here...

posted in Convergence - 37 replies

What's happening with C12?

2005-11-08T21:23:25Z

Does anyone know what's going on with C12? Are they still planning on trying to do it New Orleans? I haven't heard much lately about how things are going in New Orleans, is it even going to be possible to hold Convergence in New Orleans next year? I think it's weird that this is the Convergence Tribe and nobody is discussing Convergence on here.

posted in Convergence - 1 reply

New Orleans Recovery

2005-09-11T07:58:38Z

Just posting to see everyone's thoughts on what's occured...

Personally, my heart goes to anyone who's been affected by this latest disaster.

posted in Convergence - 1 reply

Goth Costume display and rating site

2005-09-06T18:43:12Z

Like to show off your costumes? Like to see other costumes? Like to discuss and review costumes? Try this site:

www.costumerating.com

posted in Convergence - 0 replies

SONG REQUESTS FOR DJ'S

2005-03-01T21:10:44Z

So here's our virtual clipboard for requests... anyone care to start it off? (Drum Roll please... )

posted in Convergence - 7 replies

Tsunami Relief

2004-12-29T18:54:42Z

Dear C11 Tribe Members-

You may have heard about the Tsunami that hit SE Asia. While I am new to the tribe community as a whole, I feel strongly compelled to get the word out as my family and I have plans (at this time) to be in Thailand in 2 weeks. Had this disaster hit only 2 weeks later we could have been on the beach at Phuket when it hit. Please read further for more information on how to help...

"The strongest earthquake for 40 years has claimed several thousands lives across South Asia.

Tidal waves triggered by the quake struck across the region causing widespread destruction." - SKY NEWS

"The largest earthquake to hit the planet in 40 years struck at 6:58 a.m. (local time) on Dec. 26 off the western coast of Sumatra. About 44,000 people have been reported to be killed in nine countries, including India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, following massive tsunamis, with thousands washed out to sea." - WORLDVISION

People out there need our financial help, and they need it now. As of Wednesday 29th December 2004, the "Tsunami Death Toll" stands at 60,000+. That figure is thought to rise dramatically still as more bodies are recovered from this tragic natural disaster.

There are many charities and aid agencies which have already deployed teams out to the areas affected. But due to the massive impact that these Tsumani's have created, the lives of millions of people will be affected by disease, lack of food, and more importantly, lack of fresh water.

This is not a begging letter or email. So if you can't afford to give, please feel free to get the word out, so that others who may be able to donate.
Right now there are people in South East Asia who have lost everything.
£1, $1, 1EURO, etc, is better than nothing at all.

Please feel free to add links of any charity accepting donations for this cause.

The Command Post is a newsblog that is being continuously updated to contain information regarding this disaster. More importantly it contains up to date information about where you can donate.
www.command-post.org

British Red Cross/Blue Peter Appeal
www.bluepeter.redcross.org.uk/tsa.....eal.htm

American Red Cross www.redcross.org

Google Ways to Help with Tsunami Relief
www.google.com/tsunami_relief.html

Medicins Sans Frontieres
www.msf.org

Oxfam UK
www.oxfam.org.uk

UNICEF
www.unicef.org

Donate via Amazon.com
s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea...my-pay-page/PX3BEL97U9A4I/104-2867334-2853546

Save The Children
www.savethechildren.org/radio_.....hquake.asp

Red Cross & Red Crescent
www.ifrc.org

PLEASE DO WHATEVER YOU CAN!

posted in Convergence - 1 reply

C11 Passover

2004-11-06T05:58:03Z

Ok, so San Diego won but it's over Passover (aka Pesach). Apparently that was of some concern for some PIBs. So here's the straight horseradish. I've been intending to do a gothic seder here in S.F. for years and now it looks like I will have a captive audience (argh argh) with which to do it. It'd be great to be able to reserve a banquet room or whatnot and have a seder -- non-Hebes are ok. If there's any interest, let me know and we can coordinate responsibilities. NO Manischewitz!

posted in Convergence - 4 replies

Fwd: [C11 Vote] Voter Ping and Mail-in Registration

2004-09-29T23:32:14Z

Just forwarding the Convergence voting announcement. If you have not
attended a previous Convergence or have changed e-mail addresses since the
last time you did, you can follow the instructions below to register to vote.

May the best bid win.

>Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2004 21:47:49 -0500 (CDT)
>From: siobhan <virulent@virulent.org>
>Subject: [Afterglow] [C11 Vote] Voter Ping and Mail-in Registration
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>This is the Convergence 11 Mail-In Instruction Form version 1.0
> Originally Posted 25.09.2004 Please re-post where applicable.
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>The Convergence 11 Vote email "ping" is being sent out to the full
>registered voter database. If you DO NOT receive notice that you
>are on the database within the next 72 hours, then you are not
>currently registered to vote, or your registration information is out of
>date.
>
>If this is the case, you MUST register to vote by snail mail if you wish
>to participate in the Convergence 11 Vote. In the interest of fairness,
>there are no exceptions allowed.
>
>
>MAIL-IN Convergence 11 Voter Registration:
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>You may self-register to vote for Convergence 11 by doing the following:
>
>Send a photocopy of your government issued picture ID with the ID# or SSN
>blocked out along with the following information:
>
>*Network Alias
>*current / permanent email address
>
>For those updating an email address, please include your old email
>address.
>
>Those in the USA can mail this information to:
>
>Convergence 11 Vote
>c/o Peter H. Coffin
>1343 E Moreland Blvd #10
>Waukesha WI, 53186
>
>Those outside of the US also have the option of sending your info to the
>following address.
>
>Convergence 11 Vote
>c/o PO Box 172, Station E
>Toronto, ON
>M6K 1P9
>Canada
>
>Envelopes MUST be received by October 18 2004. Due to time constraints
>this is a very short time-line, do not waste any time getting your
>registration in.
>
>ONE mail-in registration per envelope only.
>
>Following successful entry into the voting database your paper mail-in
>submission will be destroyed. If you wish to have the document returned to
>you, include self-addressed stamped envelope.
>
>You may register with confidence that under absolutely no circumstances
>will any of your information ever be disclosed to any other parties for
>any reason whatsoever.
>
>
>Questions and Contact
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>If you have any questions about past Convergences or the C11 voting
>process, feel free to either post to alt.gothic.convergence or email
>Siobhan ( convergence at virulent dot org ). Links to reference resources
>are also be available at http://www.altgothic.com
>
>All official correspondence will carry the [C11 vote] subject tag and a
>document ID, date and version number.
>

posted in Convergence - 7 replies

C11

2004-09-24T21:20:09Z

any news?

posted in Convergence - 21 replies

NEED HELP!

2004-06-08T06:18:35Z

Can any of you lovely vendors tell me what county the hotel was in so I can file my sales taxes?

-danke

also, for all that are curious, my online store should be up and running soon!

posted in Convergence - 4 replies

More and more photos!

2004-05-24T21:27:04Z

Hey everyone!

C10 was a great success and fun was had by all here in Chicago!

A whole bunch of our Convergence 10 pictures are up in the GothicChicago Scrapbook
http://gothicchicago.com/index.php?PID=11

More pictures coming soon as our photographers get us there work! Check back often!
DavidB and JameyB

PS - Check out all the sites with C10 photos at the C10 Website http://altgothic.com/c10chicago/

posted in Convergence - 1 reply

THANKS!

2004-05-13T15:22:19Z

Woooooooooow, what a weekend.

This was my first Convergence, and my first time running a convention art show, so as you can imagine, I was more than just a little concerned about... well, everything. Thanks to a great Committee and priceless volunteers, I needn't have worried. I had a friggin' blast! I met SO many amazing people and had SUCH a good time. Thank you everybody that attended and participated!

Specifically, I'd like to thank:

* The Committee: Sarah, JV, Eric, DavidB & JameyB, and Carrie MonSTAR.

* The Volunteers: Dave, Heather, Marni, Stephanie, Galen, Slash, Cynthia, and a couple of people whose names have now escaped me because I am a Bad and Ungrateful Man.

* The Artists:

* Beth Bajema

* James R. Barnhard

* Jason Beam

* Jennifer Borovicka

* Avery Butterworth

* D. E. Christman

* Chrystyne

* Allen M. Clark

* Jennifer Jeffery

* Thomas P. Reidy III

* Andrew Reynolds

* Laura Robles

* Allen Robst

* Laura Schaff

* Ryan A. Sekulski

* Allison Stein

* Nathan Thorin

* Matt Towler

* Rachel Turner

* Elisa Lazo de Valdez

* Christa Wellman

* My Council: Several art show veterans shared invaluable advice and assistance early in the process, and continued to answer my dumb questions right down the line. I'd like to thank Alan Clark in particular, and the members of the Spooky Art Project in general, for their advice, opinions and assistance.

* You: The Art Show would have sucked if all you guys hadn't come to check it out. Thanks for taking the time and making the effort to find our lonely corner of the hotel, for appreciating the work of the artists involved, and in particular to those who bought stuff! ;)

* The Congress Plaza Hotel: Say what you will, but those guys bent over backwards for us.

posted in Convergence - 2 replies

C10 Photos :)

2004-05-12T23:01:13Z

If you want to share any photos from C10, feel free to email me links and I will post it on the site!

GREAT seeing you all here in Chicago!

Hope to see some of you tonight at Berlin :)

posted in Convergence - 3 replies

congress plaza hotel - HERE Local 1

2004-05-03T13:16:19Z

Workers at the Congress Plaza Hotel have been on strike since June 15th, 2003 over wage and benefit reductions. Workers at most other union hotels in Chicago have much higher wages than the Congress Plaza workers - for instance, as of May 1st, most other union housekeepers in Chicago will earn almost $2.50 an hour more than housekeepers at the Congress Plaza ($10.70/hr as opposed to $8.21/hr).

Convergence 10 is being held at the Congress Plaza this year. We are asking anyone who is attending the Convergence not to cross our picket line. There are several other affordable places to stay in the area. Please visit www.congresshotelstrike.info for more information.

HERE Local 1

posted in Convergence - 4 replies

C10 Tickets Now Available In Exciting New Ways! ;-)

2004-04-28T23:25:45Z

Greetings-

Due to popular (*really* popular!) demand, until 6 May, C10 tickets will be available not only through the C10 website/PayPal, but now also in Chicago at cool clothing emporium 99th Floor (3406 N. Halsted Street/at Roscoe St.) and at Noctronica on Tuesday night at Smart Bar (3730 N. Clark St; 10p.m.; you have to be 21+ to get inside Smart Bar, though.) Before going to 99th Floor to get tickets, it might be wise to give them a call (they are open odd hours sometimes): 773-348-7781. In person tickets must be paid for in cash or with a money order made out exactly to:
Convergence 10.
This info will be posted on the website in a day or so, but please pass it along to any & all interested parties. (And I do mean parties!!!) :)
To reiterate, a "ticket" is actually more of a receipt; you exchange it at the Meet and Greet (or at Metro; more info on this soon!) for a laminate. It is the laminate that gets you into all of the official C10 events. Thanks!

~SLS~, C10 Chicago co-chairperson
http://www.altgothic.com/c10chicago

posted in Convergence - 0 replies

[C10] CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!

2004-04-24T03:35:16Z

We need YOU!

Please visit http://www.altgothic.com/c10chicago/c10volunteers.html and sign up to help us out at Convergence 10! We need all kinds of folks for all kinds of jobs - details at the link above.

posted in Convergence - 0 replies

Photographers? Who's gonna be at C10?

2004-04-11T08:16:02Z

Any photographers gonna be attending?
- Kristy

posted in Convergence - 3 replies

$64 Hilton in Chicago Loop (4-star hotel!!!)

2004-04-01T15:49:46Z

I finally made hotel reservations for C10... what a load off my mind! We decided to try our luck outside of Congress Plaza, so I did a priceline.com search for the "Loop" area of Chicago. We got a room at the 4-star Palmer House Hilton for $64/night!!! It's only .57 miles from the C10 hotel, very walkable and only 2 minutes by taxi!!! A couple other people did this after I posted the info on LJ, and got the same deal.

Only 35 days left!!!
Muahahaha

posted in Convergence - 0 replies

[C10] Art Show Update

2004-03-31T05:56:37Z

The Art Show page on the Official C10 Site has been completely updated and is now ready for artists to begin registering for the convention!

If your work was accepted during the Jury Process, please go to http://www.altgothic.com/c10chicago/14artshow.html for:

- Art Show Rules
- Art Show Control Sheets, Bid Sheets & Print Shop Control Sheets
- PayPal Registration Fee Payment Center

PLEASE NOTE: We're waiting on some information for tables, for artists with 3D/sculptural work. If your work is flat (drawings, paintings, etc.) you may go ahead and register. Artists who need table space - we should have that information in the next 48 hours. Check back often at the link above.

If, after reviewing the Art Show page, you have questions, please direct them to me at c10artshow@sinistervisions.net.

Chad Savage
C10 Art Show Coordinator

posted in Convergence - 0 replies

Party Suite in Chicago!!! :)

2004-03-30T09:12:33Z

I'm setting up a party suite in Chicago for Lake View-Come one come all-email me at ildirector@yahoo.com-we had a GREAT time in C9 Las Vegas...

posted in Convergence - 2 replies

[C10] Official C10 "Goth Bus" Shuttle!

2004-03-30T08:54:27Z

Greetings!

The Convergence 10 committee is pleased to announce that decorated "Goth Buses" will be available for point to point transportation between the main hotel and the venue (Metro) for all evening events. Three buses with a total rider capacity of over 400 people/hour will be on hand for convenient transportation. The five mile ride along scenic Lake Shore Drive takes approximately 10-15 minutes.

The buses will be operating on a fixed schedule, which will be posted on the C10 website and printed in the booklet, minimizing wait times.

Pick up/drop off at the Hotel will be right outside the Hospitality Room window. Pick up/drop off at Metro will be in directly in front of the building.

Convergence 10 attendees have the option of purchasing an entire weekend pass for unlimited rides on the Goth Bus for $10.00, or one can buy "pay as you go" tokens for $2/ride. The passes and tokens will be available at the Meet and Greet on Friday and at the C10 stall at the vendors bazaar on both Saturday and Sunday.

Thanks!
~Scary Lady Sarah~, co-chair C10 Chicago
www.altgothic.com/c10chicago

posted in Convergence - 1 reply

[C10] Official C10 Pre-Party!

2004-03-30T08:50:51Z

Convergence 10 Pre-Party ~ Come to Our "VISION THING"!

Kick off your Convergence 10 weekend with the official pre-party! The C10 committee invites you to a night of dancing, drinking, socializing (& it's an extra night to get a head start on your C10 plans & meeting up with fellow C10 attendees!)
Join our fun all-Chicago cast of DJs-
(CarrieMonster, DJ $#&@!, Chilliwinters, MisterEntropy, Gremlin, Scary Lady Sarah)- spinning goth, ebm, electro, new wave, punk rock, glam, and who knows what else! :)
on Thursday, 6 May, 2004 at Vision, 633 N. Dearborn, Chicago
10p.m. - 4a.m. 21+. The cover charge is only $5.00 and ALL profits are being donated to Chicago's longest running no-kill cat shelter Tree House Animal Foundation! Visit Tree House on the web:
http://www.treehouseanimals.org

Thanks!
~Scary Lady Sarah~, co-chair C10 Chicago
http://www.altgothic.com/c10chicago

posted in Convergence - 1 reply

C10 Art Show Info Delay...

2004-03-26T04:34:46Z

Just as an FYI, my wife underwent brain surgery last week to remove a non-cancerous tumor. She's recovering here at home now, but as you can probably imagine, this has derailed our lives significantly for the last couple of weeks. I'm getting back on track and hope to have info about the C10 Art Show ASAP, as well as getting the registration process up and running.

I just wanted to let people know what's going on, and request patience. Thanks.

posted in Convergence - 3 replies

C10 Art Show First Deadline Approaching

2004-03-10T15:46:42Z

If you want to participate in the C10 Art Show and you haven't submitted your work to be juried, you have 5 more days to do so before the jury phase ends and the registration phase begins.

Visit http://www.altgothic.com/c10chicago/14artshow.html for more information.

Chad Savage
C10 Art Show Coordinator

posted in Convergence - 0 replies

Your film at C10!

2004-03-05T00:44:04Z

CALL FOR ENTRIES

The C10 Committee has obtained the use of a VCR and projection TV system for the Hospitality Room. We have decided to give aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to show their work on this system during the festivities!

Video content should be in keeping with the general goth/horror/spooky aesthetic of Convergence.

You do NOT have to be an attendee to submit your work.

So! If you have something you've made that you'd like shown, here's how:

1] Send a VHS copy of your film, animation, or other video treat to C10 Video Show c/o Your Plan B, 4024 North Sheridan Suite 1R, Chicago, IL, 60613. Include your name, Director's name or name of Production Company, email address, and URL for the film. If you want the tape back, enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient postage for the return trip.

2] Include a check or money order for $10.00 made out to Convergence 10.

That's it!

Videos will be previewed before C10 and may be rejected if they contain excessive nudity, sexual content or violence (this will, after all, be playing in public view, and there will be a few babygoths lurking about!). If they wouldn't show it on late night cable, we won't show it.

By submitting your video for inclusion in the video rotation, you give the C10 Committee permission to dub your video onto a long-playing format tape, so that we can maximize play time between switching out tapes. You retain ALL rights to your video.

A program will be provided in the Hospitality Room listing all films being shown, the name of the Director or Production Company, and the official website for the film.

Videos will played in persistent rotation.

ANSWERS TO LIKELY-TO-BE-ASKED QUESTIONS

1] Can I send a DVD / Film Reel / VCD / etc.?

No. The hotel requires that equipment be rented from them. Costs for anything beyond a VHS player are prohibitive, plus the fact that VHS is the most widely-accessible format available for video.

2] Will part of the room be sectioned off and set up for video viewing?

No. Make no mistake, the videos will be playing in a room used for socializing. Those that wish to "tune in" to what's playing will do so, but the room will not be used at any time exclusively to view videos.

3] Why do I have to pay $10 to show my film for free?

We are being charged for the equipment rental. The submission fee is to help defray that cost.

posted in Convergence - 5 replies

Airport Shuttle Rates

2004-03-04T06:13:40Z

Continental Airport Express offers multi-passenger rates to/from Chicago Airports.

You can reserve on their website and print out a $2 off coupon.
Deep discounts if you are traveling in groups 3 or more.

We'll see if we can get a group ID# and get a larger discount.
http://www.airportexpress.com

jv

posted in Convergence - 2 replies

The Congress Plaza Hotel

2004-03-03T21:46:44Z

A couple of the other C10 Committe members & I trooped down to the Congress Hotel today to look over the rooms we'll be using and the surrounding cityscape.

To anybody concerned about the Congress, don't be. It's friggin' gorgeous. I mean GORGEOUS. I've never been to a convention in a hotel REMOTELY this nice, and I've only had the pleasure of STAYING in a hotel this nice a handful of times.

I took a stack of photos and I've posted them at http://www.sinistervisions.net/c10/congress.html - look for more from other Committee members soon.

I have to say, the photos do the hotel absolutely NO justice. You have to be there. Between the atmosphere of the over-century-old decor and the spectacular views of Grant Park, Lake Michigan and downtown Chicago, I honestly can't think of a better hotel in the city to host a gothic convention. Well, that goes for less than $500 a night, anyway. ;)

Charles, the Catering Sales Manager for the hotel and our tour guide for the afternoon, regaled us with stories about Al Capone's favorite rooms (2 of which we saw and photographed), ghosts in the hotel (see below), and selected anecdotes from the many International Mister Leather conventions that the hotel has hosted over the years. Suffice to say on the latter: Convergence attendees will NOT be shocking the staff of the Congress Hotel. Trust me on this.

The rooms we'll be using for hospitality, vending, the Art Show and so forth are all extremely cool, old, and GAF. The 24-hour hospitality room has huge picture windows overlooking Grant Park and is connected to the (rather large) hotel bar, which has darts, pool, and one of the coolest paintings I've ever seen in a bar (see photo page listed above).

The Alcove Room, which we'll be using for the Art Show, is spacious and connected to one of the vendor rooms. I'll be speaking with the hotel staff this week about what the art show will require and getting a cost analysis, which will determine how much space we have for hanging, and what the hanging fees will be.

After our tour of the hotel, we walked around the area to see what convention attendees can expect by way of food, liquor and shopping. Jackpot. Because it's at the southern corner of Chicago's downtown Loop area, and in the middle of Columbia University's campus, and only a few blocks from the Art Institute, there are a TON of restaurants, liquor stores, parking lots, convenience stores, and so forth - within 3 blocks of the hotel. Within a 5 minute walk we found restaurants from 6 different nationalities, a Pot Belly, a Subway, a Starbucks, a Dunkin Donuts, an Arby's, and several of Chicago's infamous little Vienna Beef greasy spoon-type places. If you're willing to walk a few more blocks, that puts you in the Loop, and there's no end of stores, galleries, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, you-name-it at your disposal.

For those who've never been to a convention, this is probably no biggie. But for those of us who've attended conventions held at airport hotels (where the nearest bar or restaurant outside the hotel was 20 miles away), this is friggin' Nirvana.

The Chicago El train runs right behind the hotel, and attendees can easily follow it to the nearest station to access the entire city.

There's a couple of places with free internet access within a couple of blocks of the hotel, including Chicago's famous Harold Washington Library.

There's stuff I'm forgetting, but this is getting long, so I'll stop. Oh, wait. The ghosts! Right...

THE HAUNTED TOWER & OTHER GHOSTS OF THE CONGRESS HOTEL

We learned that there are 2 ghosts that regularly visit guests of the 12th floor of one of the hotel's 3 towers (referred to by the staff as "The Haunted Tower". Yes. Convergence 10 will take place at a hotel with A HAUNTED TOWER). One is a man in clothes from the early part of the 20th century - guests wake up to see him watching them. He then walks into the bathroom, turns on the light, uses the toilet, flushes it... and vanishes. The other ghost is a little boy who, once spotted, will turn and walk out of the room - opening the door and closing it behind him - and when followed out into the hall, he is, of course, not there.

Then there is the lovely young couple that appears on the balcony in the Gold Room (which is one of the rooms we'll be using for vendors!). They seem to be overseeing an event that only they can see (their wedding, perhaps?).

We also learned that more than one late night security guard will not go near the Florentine Room, as they are tired of the lights turning themselves on and off, the self-flushing toilets and the self-opening-and-closing doors. The Florentine Room is where we'll be having the Meet & Greet. (!)

I got the distinct impression that these were only a few of the ghosts that Charles knows about, but time prevented us from delving deeper!

Charles also told us that famed Chicago paranormal researcher Richard T. Crowe [ http://www.ghosttours.com/ ] has expressed interest in the hotel for his Ghosts of Chicago Tour and/or his next book about Chicago's famous haunted spots.

Intrigued, I did a cursory search on the Congress and discovered that MSNBC named it one of their Top Ten Favorite Haunted Hotels in the United States! [ http://local.msn.com/special/archive/hotels_haunted.asp ] - "FDR, Thomas Edison and Frank Lloyd Wright are rumored to make appearances here."

Oh, and one other thing. The Congress Plaza Hotel has a 13th floor. And it's actually a 13th floor. Most hotels, by tradition, go from 12 to 14 in the elevator, skipping 13 and supposedly the bad luck that would go with it. If you've never noticed this, start looking when you're in hotels or even some office buildings. The Congress' elevator has an actual 13 floor button. Spooooky.

posted in Convergence - 8 replies

C10 Bands Announcement

2004-02-29T15:36:53Z

[This is being posted everywhere else - thought I'd post it here]

There were nearly 80 bands who submitted to play at the Convergence 10 festival and only 7 slots to fill! This wasn’t an easy task and it took months to complete. If it could have been possible, we could easily have turned C10 from a 3 night event into a week long array of bands, bands, bands! In the end, our finalists were chosen on several criteria: they had to have a distinct sound, be talented musicians & vocalists, be currently (or very recently) working on music & their band as a whole (after all, the theme of C10 is “Hope for a Dark Future”, emphasis on “Future”!), and have a fantastic live show- even for people as-of-yet unfamiliar with their music.

Many thanks to *all* of the bands who submitted! As stated above, there were many who would have also been great choices, and we wish you all the very best!

And now, without further ado:

The Convergence 10 Bands
(With thanks to Starvox.net, Uncle Nem, Blu Matt, Funprox.com, Deathrock.com, Kaleidoscope Magazine, & RedSunRecords.nl for some source material used in these descriptions.)

- - - - - - - -
The Brides http://thebrides.net/
New York, formed in 2001, (founding members formerly of The Brickbats)

Looking somewhat like a mix between four silent movie era horror stars, a fascist sports franchise (?!) and an absurdist work of art, The Brides play fast bursts of spooky rock: they display up-tempo elements of garage, punk, old school death rock and all with pop sensibilities that never let you get away without a catchy chorus or a memorable melody. Recently signed to Hell’s Hundred Records (a division of Middle Pillar Presents), The Brides have been dedicating themselves to a finishing up their self-titled debut scheduled for 2004. Since the band's inception in 2001, The Brides have released a steady stream of well-received e.p.s: "If You Dance," "Baby Girls Are Much More Tender," and the dual issue of "Here Come The Brides - Part One" and "Here Come The Brides - Part Two." The New York Press’ April 29th, 2003 issue reported: “The Brides aren’t quite riffing the 60s, 70s or 80s, nor are they trying to anticipate 2010. Too campy to be goth, not trite enough to be fashionable, not deadpan enough for some, too tongue-in-cheek for others– they’ve moved past irony to absurdism."

Key words: spooky horror garage psychobilly rock, melodic ghoulish synths & guitars, excellent squeaky clean production, funny, graveyard humour, sick'n'twisted lyrics, catchy & memorable tunes, intense and interactive live show, zombies, morbid Victorian charm.

Well now that you know, how can you live without them?

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black tape for a blue girl (New York based) http://www.thescavengerbride.com/
http://www.projekt.com

Since its debut in 1986, Sam Rosenthal's (founder of Projekt Records) black tape for a blue girl has developed an intensely loyal following amongst lovers of ethereal, darkwave and gothic music. With their 8th release, the recent “The Scavenger Bride”, black tape continues the neoclassical turn introduced on its groundbreaking 1996 album “Remnants of a Deeper Purity”, integrating a string section into the band's unique mix of lush, hauntingly beautiful keyboards and enchanting male and female vocals.

black tape for a blue girl has matured in the live setting, amazing audiences with their powerful sets at 2002's Projektfest (Philadelphia, PA) and 2003's Wave-Gotik-Treffen (Leipzig, Germany). Convergence 10 attendees can look forward to black tape for a blue girl's premiere of new material from their upcoming autumn 2004 Projekt release. Athan's passionate voice mixes with Elysabeth's soul-stirring vocals and viola, Michael's guitar & percussion, Lisa's flute and Sam's electronics creating a mixture of heavenly voices and driving darkwave. Rosenthal and his ensemble have created a memorable series of delicately crafted ethereal panoramas. black tape has always tempered sensuality with sadness and beauty, and their music perfectly reflects this dichotomy.

"Poetically sincere lyrics add beauty to their already branded melancholic magnificence. So timeless, it's as beautiful as it is haunting. This band should be huge!" - Delirium Magazine. "What they're doing here is original and singular in its ability to touch the listener both emotionally and intellectually." - Alternative Press Magazine

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Passion Play (Germany & UK) http://www.passionplay.co.uk

Although Passion Play is generally categorized under Goth this tag alone does not do the band justice. Passion Play has a very distinct musical style, which combines energetic, guitar based goth rock, atmospheric arrangements and strong melodies. Passion Play’s material is varied, with catchy up-tempo songs, like their popular "Frantic" and "Analgesia", as well as those that are a bit slower & more melancholy, such as "Caught By the Nails" and the bittersweet "Running On Empty". The music is dominated by excellent drumming and lush atmospheric guitar arrangements that are both energetic and ethereal and Justin Stephens has an amazing voice that goes perfectly with the music. It is sincere, natural, warm, & emotional. This is atmospheric, guitar-driven, intense, moody, & melodic dark music.

Passion Play have held impressive live spots at the Whitby Gothic Weekend festival (twice) in England, the immense Wave-Gotik-Treffen festival in Leipzig, Germany, Austria’s Judgement Day festival, the Saturnalia IV festival in Chicago, & many others.

Their first release was the “Name No Names” e.p. in 1998, which was followed by their full-length albums “Stress Fractures” in 1999 and the critically acclaimed “Dreaming Spikes” in 2001. Passion Play’s new full-length c.d. will be released in the autumn of 2004, making it the inaugural album for a brand new record label. Several of the new tracks from this forthcoming album will be making their live debut amongst their set at Convergence 10. Their live lineup for C10 features Justin on vocals & guitar, John Berry (formerly of Die Laughing & This Burning Effigy) on lead guitar, Ryan Swift (formerly of Emma Conquest) on bass, & Justin’s twin brother Doug on drums.

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Manuskript (U.K.) http://www.manuskript.co.uk

If there was a good goth version of “Pop Idols”, Manuskript would win, hands down. They take the vibrancy of 80’s new-romantic, meld it with the best emotion that 90’s dark-wave gave, and add their own original, highly energetic & exciting sound. Though they draw on certain influences, Manuskript have carved their own niche, an irresistible combination to lovers of synth-pop and hardened rock fans alike, yet still firmly entrenched in the goth scene. Their unique sound is characterized by unerring vocal lines, which weave in and out of a backdrop of grandiose synthesisers and searing guitars - all cemented with a pounding, electronic rhythm section. Lead vocalist Mike effortlessly -and inevitably- has his live audiences bouncing & singing along with their unbelievably catchy choruses. The energy & interplay between Mike and keyboardist/second vocalist Tim (also known for the band Pretentious, Moi?) during their gigs is infectious & looking around at a Manuskript gig, you get the pleasant sight of many smiling faces, even on the most jaded of Goths. Clever lyrics and choruses to die for, full-speed-ahead rhythms and ideas that tumble forth as if tipped out of a bucket. This isn’t all “happy go lucky” music here, though; there are still those darker moments, and even a bit of social commentary. (But just wait for the surprise cover song at the end of their set!)

They have recently released “The Cyprus Recordings”, a collection of remixes, live tracks, & tracks previously available only on compilations and are working on a new full -length c.d. Their discography also includes: “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Goth!” (e.p; ‘96), “The Diversity of Life” (full-length; ‘96); “Spooky” (e.p; ‘97); “Devil’s Advocate” (full-length; ‘99); and their best produced, popular, and excellent album, “Natural High” (2002), which has spawned many dance floor hits at goth nights around the globe.

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Goteki (Brighton, UK) http://www.goteki.com

Goteki began in 2002, starting out previously as Sneaky Bat Machine (probably the inventors of “cyber goth”!) Goteki front man, Sneaky, has expanded the scope of the band from those former days, creating a wider & individual sound, combining eastern themed electro with a healthy dose of camp, still with obvious industrial/ebm roots, but nice & surprising touches of synth pop & even dark trip hop at times. Goteki make intelligent dance music for people who like to have fun.

The theme running through their first e.p, “Fight the Saucermen” conjures up films like “Plan 9 from Outer Space” and their most recent full-length c.d. “Goteki O/S” is resplendent with references to the pop & kitsch sides of Japan and robots galore. They have just released a remix-cd. of the latter album, entitled “Goteki O/S: Corrupted Files”, with mixes by such bands as Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Seize, Icon of Coil, Echo Image, & The Chaos Engine. All three of their c.d. s have been released through Wasp Factory Records.

Their image is semi-futuristic, blending, for instance, manga cartoons with Commodore 64 graphics in the artwork and their live performance is very visual, as well. C10 will be the first stage for Goteki’s new expanded live lineup. Expect to see visions of robot geisha girls, surveillance cameras, big fake-furry outfits, frantic keyboards that appear to be possessed, and especially ninjas!

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Frank the Baptist (San Diego, CA) http://www.frankthebaptist.com

Frank the Baptist is a band that has been around in the American underground since 1997. Only recently, new Austrian/German gothic rock label, Strobellight has released their debut album. This first release, “Different Degrees of Empty”, sets high hopes for the future.

Though Frank the Baptist seem to be linked with the Death Rock scene, they aren’t what you’d typically expect . They go well beyond sticking to that older punk-influenced sound, refreshingly providing much more than “style over substance”. These are musicians who are talented & creative. The music of Frank the Baptist is sincere and powerful, yet modest. There is no fashion statement to be made, Frank concentrates simply on the music and lyrics, hiding underneath his simple top hat and jacket, conveying a feeling of broken romance and fallen stars, but leaving an aftertaste of hope for a better tomorrow. They are the exasperated hopes of a dark romantic that though jaded, quixotically strives ever forward. It is melancholy yet at times aggressive rock and roll; it has amazing lead and rhythm guitars that bounce off each other in perfect sync. Prominent, fluid bass is enhanced by sparse piano/keyboards. Each song's lyrics are a nostalgic foray into a cluttered room of emotional mementos and visual metaphors that provoke imagination and empathy - a wonderful approach to lyricism.

Just prior to C10, Frank the Baptist will have completed their “Baptising Europe Tour”, with gigs in Switzerland, Italy, Slovakia, Germany, and culminating with an appearance at the famed Judgement Day festival in Austria.

P.S. They’re not Baptists.

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Arch Visceral Parlor (Chicago) http://www.archvisceralparlor.com

In 1999, Arch Visceral Parlor was formed by Abigail and Nathaniel, who have known each other from childhood, as an expression of their similarly haunted existence, to seek out dreamy and moody expressions in music and vocals. The results are a spellbinding blend of darkwave romanticism and shoegaze atmospheres. Soft strains of glorious e-bow effected passages, lulling bass lines, and surreal synthesized swirls all make for a beautiful and highly entrancing package. The dense and dreamlike soundscapes are capped with the breathy alto of Abigail Ferraris, who opts for a decidedly more primal, low & seductive vocal approach, as opposed to rigid attempts at angelic operatics.

AVP have become favourites in the Chicago scene and several of their romantic & soul-stirring tracks have been filling the Chicago goth club dance floors for over a year now. The band is beginning to gather positive attention in other cities and has also received praise in respected musical publications such as Alternative Press, Kaleidoscope, and Meltdown magazines. They have self-released several e.p.s, including the 7-track “Lascia” and have just released a new 3-track, “Wilis” (available through their website.)

Arch Visceral Parlor frequently gig around Chicago and the Midwest & played at the Saturnalia III festival. Their performance at Convergence 10 will be to their largest audience yet and their hometown crowd is especially proud of them!
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Thanks!
Yours Truly,
~SLS~, co-chair C10 Chicago
http://www.altgothic.com/c10chicago

posted in Convergence - 0 replies

Room share, preferably in Official Hotel?

2004-02-21T02:57:16Z

Hi, everyone!

This will be my fourth convergence, and I am planning to drive from the DC area (but possibly philadelphia, that's still up in the air at this point). I already have a likely driving partner, but need a room share. I would prefer to share a room with nonsmokers, and would like to share with one or two other ppl, preferably platonically involved rather than couples, who like to sleep in quiet-ish surroundings. I like to go to party rooms, just don't like where I'm staying to BE the party room. :) I am vending at Convergence, and my situation is this: I do not possess a credit card, but would pay cash to whomever I'm sharing with, on a daily basis, or at the close of the weekend. I can provide a reference from my roommate(s) from last year, who I expect would vouch for me. :) Last year was a blast, and I'm hoping to have even more fun this year, if possible! :)

-d

Angldst/Donna
DC Sewingoth & resident HockeyGoth
Original Sin Design LLC/OSD Sur Glace
http://www.originalsindesign.com
http://www.sur-glace.us

posted in Convergence - 2 replies

Via Clevo to Con10

2004-02-21T02:56:27Z

Good Tidings.

From Chi - going to Con10 from Clevo. Need a hitch? Drop a line and we'll discuss.

A

posted in Convergence - 1 reply

Music

2004-02-20T01:28:19Z

Who is playing, where, and when?

posted in Convergence - 9 replies

hey everyone

2004-02-18T03:09:19Z

tribe friendless and going to C10. looking to meet a few good net goths before then. I'm up for talking about whatever.

posted in Convergence - 2 replies

C10 Art Show Update

2004-02-08T05:15:15Z

Hello, all -

This is just a status update about the art show.

Once everything's official, signed, sealed and delivered with regard to the hotel, we can start nailing down specifics for the show. In the meantime, here's some general info and reminders:

1] Deadline for submissions is March 15. That means that if you want to participate in the show, you need to have submitted art for review before March 15. Please note that posting to this list does not constitute submitting your art for review; you MUST email me off-list and declare your intentions specifically, as per the guidelines at http://www.sinistervisions.net/c10/

2] Actual registration will begin on March 16. In other words, the part where you actually fill out forms, send a check/PayPal payment (see below), and decide specifically what you're going to show.

3] Because the hotel charges us for everything from the room to the equipment on which art will hang to the lighting to the ELECTRICITY we'll use (yes, I'm serious), there will be a space-based hanging fee which has yet to be determined. Once we have all the information we need, we'll determine a reasonable price for pre-determined increments of hanging space. Artists who wind up showing their work will be the ones who submit their hanging fee and registration forms the soonest, as space will go on a first-come, first-served basis.

4] Reminder: Getting approved to be in the show does NOT guarantee you a space. See above.

5] There are some preliminary things to consider that have been posted at http://www.sinistervisions.net/c10/ - take a look. Some of them may seem harsh; they are not intended that way. We have to cover our butts. We can't have somebody being irresponsible with their own artwork and then blaming us if something happens to it. Hence, the CYA attitude. Nothing personal.

6] DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL ARTWORK as a submission unless you make specific arrangements to do so in advance.

I've seen the proposed space for the art show and it's very cool. I don't want to say more until it's locked up, so I'll wait.

As ever, questions and concerns are encouraged.

Chad Savage
Art Show Coordinator

posted in Convergence - 0 replies

Pics from Past Convergences

2004-02-01T20:56:02Z

Any tribe member can upload photos to the tribe photo album - so please do! Pick a favorite from a past Convergence and post it to the album!!!

posted in Convergence - 0 replies

C10 Art Show : SUBMIT!

2004-01-30T05:16:15Z

Convergence 10 Art Show : http://www.sinistervisions.net/c10/
Convergence 10 Art Show Tribe : http://convergenceart.tribe.net/

The Convergence 10 Art Show is now accepting submissions from artists wishing to participate.

Submitted artwork will be juried. Submission does NOT guarantee inclusion. Artwork should be of general interest to the gothic/industrial/fetish community, and must display a reasonable degree of skill and ability. All traditional media are acceptable; unusual art forms, art that requires a power supply, art that is large/heavy, or art that may present a risk to C10 attendees will be considered and reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Details about the Art Show itself are still pending. Information will be made available as soon as possible, including any related hanging/space fees, commission, etc.

Acceptance into the Art Show puts the accepted artist under absolutely no obligation. If you submit art and are accepted, but then can't do the show, it's not a problem at this phase.

3 WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR ART

1] Email a link to your images, web site or online gallery to c10artshow@sinistervisions.net <<< THIS IS THE PREFERRED METHOD. Please make sure your links are accurate - dead links won't be investigated.

2] Email no less than 3 and no more than 10 image files to c10artshow@sinistervisions.net.

* Image files should be no larger than 500 pixels in width or height, 72 dpi, and should not exceed 150K each.

* .GIF, .JPG, .TIF, .PNG, .PSD or .EPS files are acceptable.

* Images may be sent in a .ZIP or .SIT file

* MAC USERS: Make sure your files have the proper .XXX file extension

* If you send a virus with your images, you will not be included in the show. So be careful.

3] If you need to send actual, physical examples of your work, email c10artshow@sinistervisions.net for instructions

Questions? Email c10artshow@sinistervisions.net

Chad Savage
Art Exhibit Coordinater

posted in Convergence - 0 replies

[Sample] Post Convergence discussions here...

2004-01-21T11:24:12Z

Keep your discussions here on the topic of Convergence, please!

posted in Convergence - 7 replies

Convergence's topics - tribe.net

C14

Convergence 13

MySpace

Calling all ARTISTS!!

The *OFFICIAL* (well, not really) ROLL CALL list...

What's happening with C12?

New Orleans Recovery

Goth Costume display and rating site

SONG REQUESTS FOR DJ'S

Tsunami Relief

C11 Passover

Fwd: [C11 Vote] Voter Ping and Mail-in Registration

C11

NEED HELP!

More and more photos!

THANKS!

C10 Photos :)

congress plaza hotel - HERE Local 1

C10 Tickets Now Available In Exciting New Ways! ;-)

[C10] CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!

Photographers? Who's gonna be at C10?

$64 Hilton in Chicago Loop (4-star hotel!!!)

[C10] Art Show Update

Party Suite in Chicago!!! :)

[C10] Official C10 "Goth Bus" Shuttle!

[C10] Official C10 Pre-Party!

C10 Art Show Info Delay...

C10 Art Show First Deadline Approaching

Your film at C10!

Airport Shuttle Rates

The Congress Plaza Hotel

C10 Bands Announcement

Room share, preferably in Official Hotel?

Via Clevo to Con10

Music

hey everyone

C10 Art Show Update

Pics from Past Convergences

C10 Art Show : SUBMIT!

[Sample] Post Convergence discussions here...

The OFFICIAL (well, not really) ROLL CALL list...