[LAFF] BIG FUN, NO WHAMMIES! - Megaplex 2007 News - January 2007

[Megaplex 2007]

Happy New Year from all of us at Megaplex 2007!

I'LL TAKE A HOTEL ROOM TO (FILL OUR) BLOCK

ATTENTION! Reservations close on *January 30, 2007*, so get your rooms
as soon as possible!  Less that a month left to go to get your room at
the con rate!

This year, Megaplex 2007 will be held at the Wyndham Jacksonville
Riverwalk, in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.  The hotel is just off of
I-95, on the Southbank of the St. John's River.  Full directions can be
found on our web site (http://www.ppmp.info).

Reservations at the hotel can be made ON-LINE this year!  This method
requires a credit card to use. Here's how:

1) Surf to http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/JAXHT/main.wnt .

2) Click on the "Get Rates or Make A Reservation For This Hotel" link,
just under the hotel's address.

3) On the next page...
    a. Leave "Select A Rate Plan" (Section 1) as "Best Available &
Wyndham.com WEBRATES".
    b. Enter your arrival and departure dates (Section 2).  Remember,
Megaplex is March 2-4, 2007.
    c. Specify # of Rooms, and folks staying in them (Section 3).
    d. Skip past Section 4, unless you're a Wyndham ByRequest member and
want the credit.
    e. In Section 5, type the following in the "Group Code" blank :
0301886pa
    f. Click "Check Availability"

4) The next page shows the rooms available.  You should see "Pawpet Live
Experiences" as the Rate Plan, and $99/night as the rate for regular
rooms.  Click on the rate for the room of your choice to continue.

5) On the next page, double-check the selections in Sections 1-4, then
fill in Sections 5-8 and click "Confirm Reservation".

If you prefer to reserve by phone, call (904) 396-5100.  Be sure to
reference group reservation code 0301886pa to get Megaplex's room rate.
If you have any questions on the hotel, feel free to contact Randy Fox
at mp-facility at pawpet.org.

The Wyndham is a short distance from the Museum of Science and History
(MOSH), Friendship Park, and River City Brewing Company, which can
easily be reached via the Riverwalk.  The hotel is also a stop for the
S.S. Marine Taxi service (http://www.jaxwatertaxi.com), which is a
convenient way to get to the shops and restaurants at the Jacksonville
Landing (http://www.jacksonvillelanding.com).  You can also utilize the
nearby Skyway service to get to the Landing
(http://www.jtaonthemove.com/services/skyway.aspx), or take a pleasant
stroll over the Main Street Bridge.  For those wanting to stay on the
hotel's side of the river, eateries and stores can be found a short walk
away in the San Marco shopping district.

We'll have additional information on attractions and ammenities on our
web site soon, as well as how to get there from Jacksonville
International Airport.  In the meantime, if you have a question about
Florida's First Coast, drop Karl Meyers a line at mp-ceo at pawpet.org.
(He lives there, after all!  :)

NOW, FOR OUR FEATURE PRESENTA...oops, sorry, last year's theme.  :)

COME ON DOWN!

Florida's furry arts and performance convention is back for another
spin, and this time, we're bringing the fun to the First Coast!
Megaplex 2007 will be held on March 2-4, 2007, at the Wyndham
Jacksonville Riverwalk, in Jacksonville, Florida.

LET'S MEET OUR GUEST OF HONOUR!

Megaplex 2007 is happy to announce that Mike Kazaleh will be joining us
as Guest of Honour this year!  Mike is a professional animator and
comics artist; old-school furry fans will remember his comics work on
"The Adventures of Captain Jack" (Fantagraphics), and "Mean Green Bondo
Machine" and "The Suit" (MU Press).  He has also drawn "Ren and Stimpy"
for Marvel, "Cow and Chicken" for DC Comics, and "The Mighty Mutanimals"
for Archie Comics, and is currently working on "Futurama" for Bongo
Comics and "Camp Lazlo" for DC.

Animation-wise, his credits include "The New Adventures of Mighty
Mouse", "Tiny Toon Adventures", and "The Simpsons"; more recently, he
has worked on "Krypto the Superdog", "Johnny Test", and "Hi Hi Puffy Ami
Yumi".  He was also a storyboard artist for the recent release, "The Ant
Bully".

Please join us in welcoming Mike to Megaplex 2007!

WHAT'S BEHIND DOOR #1?

It's time to play!  This year, we're working up a Game Show theme that
is sure to entertain...especially with our members at the contestants!
Keep an eye on the Events page at http://www.ppmp.info for more details
on the specific games, and how you can play!  There'll be
fursuit-specific games, as well as games for all our members to join in on.

It wouldn't be a game show theme without the return of a crowd favourite
- the Gong Show!  Our annual variety-show-with-a-twist is always
entertaining...play along, even if your act isn't that great; sometimes
it's better to perform and have been gonged than never to have performed
at all!  Contact Josh Strom at mp-variety at pawpet.org if you'd like to
perform in the show.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?  Our improvisational stars', that's who...and
that could include you!  The improv returns for another spin in 2007.

Megaplex also welcomes the return of a couple of guys who always keep us
in stitches - Uncle Kage, and 2, the Ranting Gryphon will be back for
2007, with their unique stories and comedy.  Kage and 2 often test out
new material for Anthrocon here first, so come hear what's up!

DJ Rory will be with us, as well, spinning the tunes for a
fursuit-friendly dance!

There'll be mystery amongst the merriment...more information on this in
coming weeks.

For our fursuiting and puppeteering members, Santa Fox is working those
tracks this year.  Say, here he is now!

"Greetings, everyone!

I've been asked to take on the Fursuiting and Pawpetry Tracks at
MegaPLEX this year, and I don't have much time to spare, so I need to
get the ball rolling pretty quickly. So, here's a list of the panels I'd
like to have hosted at MegaPLEX:

* Intro to Fursuiting
* Fursuiting Basic Performance
* Fursuiting Advanced Performance
* Fursuit Construction Mega Panel [Basics and Advanced Topics]
* Fursuit Public Performance and Safety
* Spicing Up Your Fursuiting Life

* Pawpet Performance Techniques
* Pawpet Improv Workshop
* Pawpet and Plush Construction
* Developing Pawpet Skits

If you'd be interested in co-hosting any of these fursuiting or pawpetry
panels, or if there's some other kind of fursuiting or pawpetry panel
that you'd like to host, then please get in touch with me ASAP

I'm also looking to have an Open Call Pawpet show for the first time
this year, so if you'd like to participate in that, please get in touch
with me so that I can have an idea on what kind of participation to expect."

If you're interested in helping out with the above, drop Santa a note at
mp-fursuit at pawpet.org, or mp-puppet at pawpet.org!

Plus, we'll be bringing back the late-night showing of the Rocky Horror
Picture Show, a smash hit from 2006!  (Yes, we're bending the rating a
little for this one - badges will be checked at the door, and no minor
badges will be admitted.)

If you have any other ideas for a panel or event that fits into our
theme for 2007, drop John Cole a line at mp-programming at pawpet.org .  We
want your feedback on exactly what you want to see at the convention,
and we want to get with folks who would like to run said panels and
events.  Megaplex is ultimately the members' convention, so help make it
the best it can be!

We're always on the lookout for volunteers, as well.  Drop us a note if
you'd like to help out in March.

HAVE YOU VISITED THE WEBSITE LATELY?

What can you do on http://www.ppmp.info/ ?  Well, you can register for
the convention, order your con t-shirt, reserve your dealer's room
table(s), and purchase con book advertisements and personals!  Not to
mention, we'll be updating the site regularly with news and notes to get
you ready for the con.

Also, keep an eye on our "megaplex" community on LiveJournal, for
additional information from not only the staff of Megaplex, but our
members as well!  That site is http://megaplex.livejournal.com/ .

WHAT ARE T-SHIRTS, ALEX?

We will have Megaplex 2007 t-shirts...with a design by our Guest of
Honour, Mike Kazaleh!  Be sure to order yours when you register - we
won't have that many available beyond what is ordered, and if last year
was any indication, the extras will go fast!

T-Shirts are $12 for Small through 2X-Large when pre-ordered.

DEALERS ROOM TABLES!

Our members asked for it, so Megaplex is bringing back a traditional
Dealer Room in 2007!  Bring your art, comics, clothing, DVDs - whatever
you'd like to show!

Full tables are only $40 apiece (limit two) - grab one for yourself, or
find a partner to share.  Register for your tables when you register for
the convention - it's easy to do!  Go to http://www.ppmp.info and follow
the "Reg" link.

Reserve early! Space is limited - first come, first served!

NOTE : Please remember the rating! All materials being displayed
publicly must be no more than PG-13 rated. Applying labels or other
coverings in order to conceal its objectionable portions will not be
acceptable.  If you have any questions on this, contact Karl Meyers on
mp-ceo at pawpet.org.

STAY TUNED!

Keep an eye on http://www.ppmp.info/ and
http://megaplex.livejournal.com/ for the latest news and information,
and please do not hesitate to drop us a line at
megaplex-feedback at pawpet.org (or to the chairman directly at
mp-ceo at pawpet.org) if you have suggestions or questions regarding the
convention.

Also, please join our dedicated mailing list for Megaplex!  Information
on joining can be found at
http://lists.pawpet.org/mailman/listinfo/megaplex-list .

Hope to see you at Megaplex 2007!