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Steampunk Your Parties, Promo Events

and

Fundraisers

Steampunk has a style to fit almost everyone's taste.  As a theme for a party, Steampunk gives party hosts and party goers exciting, achievable experiences while offering something different from traditional party themes. In addition, Steampunk Parties can be adapted to any holiday, occasion and creates great fundraising and promotional events.

When recreating a Steampunk atmosphere, remember the most basic element of style in this genre: juxtaposition. Steampunk is a dynamic combination of the past and the future, primitive and refinement, fantasy and realism, science fiction and science fact, what is natural and what is man-made.

Here are a few ideas and resources, to steam up your parties this year:

1) Location:

• Consider having a progressive party. Round up 5-7 friends (or more) and have each person dedicate a couple rooms in their own home to the Steampunk theme. For example, one home can host the mad scientist?s experience, while another home could have Spiritualist/Séance theme. This type of party can off-set the costs of hosting a party as well increase the excitement and participation because party goers are not in one place for very long. In addition, it allows the hosts to become a party goer versus just a party worker.
• A progressive Steampunk themed party transfers well as a blog party theme. The party host could either assign individual blogs their own theme, assign themes randomly by pulling them out of the hat, or allow each host to choose for themselves and leave the individual theme a surprise to blog guests. A blog party is a fabulous promotional tool for the host blog and participating blogs.
• A Party at Home: consider dedicating rooms, not your entire house, to the party theme and assigning each room a theme of its own. Having a Steampunk party at home can be a complicated and involved option, so do not forget to ask friends to help out.
• OTHER: There are suitable site with designs and backdrops that compliment the Steampunk theme and decrease the requirement for props and theme decoration. Check out art museums, restaurants in historic or industrial buildings, public gardens, train stations, train museums, historic parks and landmarks, as well as bed and breakfast inns located in Victorian homes! Also try: airplane museums, blimp/airplane hangers, off beat museums, tattoo shops and science museums.

2) Specific Themes:

• Séance
• Hall of Wonders, or Curiosity room
• Explorer?s Room
• Flying Machines Room
• Game Room
• Mirrors and Illusions Room
• Mad Scientist
• Robots and Technology
• Theatre and Music
• Time Travel Room

Oculars from velvetmechanism

Also consider using scenes, characters, and designs influenced by Steampunk literature/movies, such as:

• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
• The Wild, Wild West
• Sherlock Holmes
• Stories by HG Wells, Jules Verne, Edgar Allen Poe
• Alice in Wonderland
• The Golden Compass
• The League of Extraordinary Gentleman
• Van Helsing

For more themes:

• http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1249132
• http://en.allexperts.com/e/s/st/steampunk.htm

3) Costumes: Steampunk fashion can be costly, but it does not have to be. Be sure to explore resale shops near you as well as investigating any sales at your local bridal shop.

Check out this reasonably priced costume shop online: http://www.costumecraze.com/Traditional-Costumes-Steampunk-Costumes.html

Do not forget DIY: http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Make-Steam-Punk-Gloves-38339879

4) Decorating: If you are lucky enough to find a venue that lends itself to the Steampunk theme, then decorations and props can be minimized. Similarly, if you choose an idea like Alice in Wonderland for a room theme, then you probably already understand what it will take to decorate a room in that theme. However, to understand how to employ the Steampunk style in your decorating, read this excellent website on Steampunk decorating theory and ideas: http://home-furnishing.suite101.com/article.cfm/steampunk_home_decorating_ideas

Do not missed Martha Stewarts Halloween magazine this year as it is full of vintage, Halloween crafts and decorating ideas.

POSSIBLE PROPS: globes, maps, primitive art, stuffed animals, bones, gears, cogs, interesting inventions, items from a science lab, lab coats, specimen jars, old west styled props, pirate styled props, woods, metals. Do not forget that many exciting props can be found in your local resale shop.

For a DIY Vintage Map: Make your own vintage map: http://www.shadowmanor.com/blog/?p=4162

There are great crafters who can help you decorate for your party; search Steampunk at Esty and Art Fire.

5) Food and Drink: Steampunk food  is per individual theme that is being created. For instance, if the theme is more Victorian, consider a tea! However, if your theme is a bit more gritty, consider using empty (and filed) sardine cans as plates and spam cans as bowls. Fill those cans with foods that have been steamed, BBQ, boiled and broiled. Drinks could be served in canning jars. Also, try including foods that need fire like Baked Alaska, Banana Fosters, or Crème Brulee.

.

If there is a laboratory theme, consider serving items in Petri dishes, stainless steel specimen trays and beakers. Your drink dispenser could be a distillery (to buy).

Are you doing Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol theme? The foods you need for this theme are listed in the book.

But, believe it or not, there are Steampunk cookbooks:

Sherlock Holmes Cookbook

Fuel for the Boiler, A Steampunk Cookbook

Steampunk Cakes

DIY Skull Cupcakes

6) Music: If you are having a Steampunk event and it is open to a curious public, a party coordinator may want music that will appeal to everyone. The solution: Steampunk TV and movie scores can provide the suitable music backdrop to your party. Here is an exhaustive list of Steampunk TV and movies: http://www.amazon.com/STEAMPUNK-MOVIES-AND-TV-SHOWS/lm/R21UT1FDVQVQTU.

However, if you want authentic music and want  to know who's who in Steampunk music, go to these helpful sites:

• http://voyagesofdrfabre.blogspot.com/2009/08/steampunk-music-abney-parks-clock-yard.html
• http://www.last.fm/tag/steampunk
• http://www.steampunkmagazine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=102

7) Games/Entertainment: There are Steampunk entertainers you can hire for your party, such as Steampunk Ghost Busters! To find these entertainers, search the internet and ask within your community. You can also provide the entertainment in the forms of Steampunk themed electronic, board and parlor games:

Electronic

Board Games

Parlor Games

DYI Ouiji Board from Crafster

 8) Party Favors: for DYI check out:

• http://blog.spottedsparrow.com/2008/11/tutorial-tuesday-victorian-paper-cone.html
• http://weddingskulls.com/?p=44
• http://community.livejournal.com/steamgear/17419.html
  

For Steampunk Party favors, be on the lookout for these things in stores:

• Vintage metal robot reproductions filled with candy
• Steam train tins filled with chocolate
• Small Brass box with a collection of tea
• Wild west themed items
• Nautical items
• Primitive  Victorian crafts

Artists also make party favors, like: http://www.lostinthestory.ecrater.com/category.php?cid=528466.

Metal charms from Pinkflamingo61

I hope these resources and tips provide a solid foundation for planning and inspiration when combined with your vision, excitement, and friends to assist you. Create a party, promotional or fundraising event they will never forget: Get Steamed!

For even more information on Steampunk, visit these sites:

• Gifts
• Links
• Periodical  

Steampunk Jewelry from LondonParticulars