Let’s talk a little about convention etiquette.

Rule One: Okay, I can skip over the first rule of conventions: deodorant and showers. Steampunks are a surprisingly nice-smelling lot. I have yet to feel the need to spray one down with Febreeze on first meeting them.

Rule two follows perfectly from Rule One. If you want to sniff someone, or otherwise become more-closely acquainted to them, ask permission first. I recommend opening the conversation with something like this something like this “Good day sir, I am Lieutenant Gobsmeagol of the good airship Teacozy. I couldn’t help but notice the exquisiteness of your fougere. Would you mind if I lean in closer? I would love to discern the ingredients used.”

Rule three, and the one I particularly want to address here: If you plan to pass out over your evening snifter of brandy, we would recommend you do so in a non-public space. The hotel prefers not to fish exhausted adventurers out of their potted plants.

You see, the Steampunk Symposium isn’t going to end at 5pm. Or 7pm. Or 9pm. Or even 11pm. We have social activities planned into the wee hours of the morning.

A few of the reasons you won’t want to leave early…

Frenchy and the Punk

The Extraordinary Contraptions

Ford Theater Reunion

And others!

If music isn’t your style (I suppose everyone has their flaws), our resident mixologist extraordinaire, Calamity Dawn, will be hosting a Drinking with Calamity panel Friday evening and Peter Beerslayer will be running a Homebrew workshop and contest on Saturday evening.

The official parties run 11pm to 6am Friday and Saturday evenings. Yes, 6am. Do you really want to be piloting your airship back to your fortress of solitude at 6am? I didn’t think so. I don’t want you doing that either. After all, only you can prevent airship collisions.

Luckily, we have a solution for you! We have a special convention rate at the Crowne Plaza North, the hotel where the convention is happening. Rooms are $97 per night, if you use the code SPS. You can book by going to the Crown Plaza’s website. Make sure you enter the code SPS when searching for rooms. You can also call (513) 771-2080 to book, but you’ll have mention the Steampunk Symposium to get the special rate.

This rate is only guaranteed until March 27th, so please book soon! As a bonus, if you book by March 27th, you will be entered into a drawing for four passes to the 2014 Steampunk Symposium!