Omake Panel A Guide to Getting on Stage!

Things We’re going to cover: For all Masquerade things: Costume practicality Costume practicality Walk ons Walk ons Posing Posing For Skits: Structure and scripting Structure and scripting The techy stuff The techy stuff Actually being on stage Actually being on stage

There will also be some games, so be prepared to actually do something.

Costume Practicality How will you get the costume to the con? How will you get the costume to the con? Will the con let you have a giant thing of death? AKA Your giant super prop. Will the con let you have a giant thing of death? AKA Your giant super prop. How easy is the costume to get in and out of? How easy is the costume to get in and out of? How long can you wear it? How long can you wear it? Can you go up stairs? Can you go up stairs? Can you fit through doors? Can you fit through doors?

Game Time! BRING ON THE PAIN.

Walk ons! Pick GOOD music. Whatever that is. Pick GOOD music. Whatever that is. Pose for 8 seconds! Camera flashes need to recharge! Pose for 8 seconds! Camera flashes need to recharge! GO SLOWLY. GO SLOWLY. Practice walking how they would Practice walking how they would Take up all of the stage. Take up all of the stage.

ANDDDD It’s Game Time!

Poses Practice in front of a mirror Practice in front of a mirror Look up the characters signature pose Look up the characters signature pose Remember cameras are coming from below Remember cameras are coming from below Look away/up to prevent looking crosseyed Look away/up to prevent looking crosseyed

And now another game…

Skit Structure and Scripts Skits need this: Premise, Story, punchline. Make sure the punchline is the best bit so you go out with a bang.

Basic Tips Search your skit idea on youtube to see if anyone’s done it before Search your skit idea on youtube to see if anyone’s done it before If you’re going to do a dance you have to do it well. Practice until your feet bleed. If you’re going to do a dance you have to do it well. Practice until your feet bleed. Practice no matter what you’re doing! Practice no matter what you’re doing! Make sure you have reliable friends Make sure you have reliable friends Make sure the punchline is funny to people who HAVEN’T watched the series Make sure the punchline is funny to people who HAVEN’T watched the series

GAME TIME

The Techy Bits So, you have your awesome idea- how is it going to translate to stage? You’ll do it live with microphones You’ll do it live with microphones You’ll pre-record all of it You’ll pre-record all of it You’ll make a video and let it be funny for you You’ll make a video and let it be funny for you

Microphones Pros! You can respond to the audience better You can respond to the audience betterCons! You can forget lines You can forget lines If you’re like Tab you suck with one. If you’re like Tab you suck with one. Mics can cut out Mics can cut out Most cons only have 2 Most cons only have 2

Pre-recorded Pros! Can’t forget lines! Can’t forget lines! You can add sound effects/music etc You can add sound effects/music etc It’s simple! “press the play button Techie.” It’s simple! “press the play button Techie.”Cons! Lip syncing can look bad Lip syncing can look bad Audience might laugh over the funnier joke Audience might laugh over the funnier joke Badly recorded skits lead to lack of funny. Badly recorded skits lead to lack of funny.

Videos Pros! You can do lots more cool stuff! You can do lots more cool stuff!Cons! Expensive equipment Expensive equipment Time consuming! Time consuming!

And now it’s time for a little Game…

So now you’re on stage? TAKE UP AS MUCH OF IT AS YOU CAN TAKE UP AS MUCH OF IT AS YOU CAN Use Big Gestures! Use Big Gestures! Move around- your feet aren’t stuck to the floor Move around- your feet aren’t stuck to the floor Your face tells part of the story- use it! Your face tells part of the story- use it! If something goes wrong KEEP GOING. If something goes wrong KEEP GOING.

And most of all.. Have fun! If you want a copy of this panel or check out the Auchi Forums as I’ll post it there.