JUNE 27th – CON*tourage plans for Dragon*Con 2012 to be announced!

Here we are people….just a little over 2 months away from the most kick-a$$ extra long weekend of the year…DRAGON*CON! CON*tourage has been busy finishing up our plans for our most excellent return to Dragon*Con, where we hosted our first party and were founded back in 2008. Come June 27th we’ll be releasing FULL details on all of the events we have planned for Labor Day weekend this year, including party themes, times, details and entertainment…as well as how to reserve a VIP or Regular Party Pass (required for entrance, 21+). We’ll also be unveiling our 2012 Commemorative Party Shirt designed by illustrator Billy Tackett.

June 27th…mark the date in blood on your calendar and be sure and check back to see what fun events we have planned for Dragon*Con 2012. Remember, last year (2011) we “sold out” of both VIP and Regular Party Passes almost a month before the big weekend arrived so don’t say we didn’t warn ya…PARTY ON!

NOTE: One Dragon*Con 2012 event already leaked to the general public via Facebook is the Annual PANCAKE CHOWDOWN set for Sunday morning. Complete details on this all-you-can-eat throwdown can be found HERE.

CANDID CRUE: A look behind CON*tourage’s Metal Curtain at some who make the magic happen

For many people who attend CON*tourage events, probably not much thought goes into how it all came together or who made it all happen. Since CON*tourage founded in 2008 our group has grown in numbers and friendships have blossomed due to the time we’ve spent together. Lots of time goes into planning and implementing our events and if we all didn’t get along…let’s just say it’d not be near as fun.

Most of the time CON*tourage events, once they are opened to our fans, move forward like a well-built Pirate ship with a strong sail…but what many don’t see are the kick-ass people behind the scenes who are there to make sure the ship stays on course and doesn’t sink before getting to it’s destination (and also make sure all the rum, grub and entertainment don’t end too soon either).

Recently many of CON*tourage’s CRUE got together for a fun weekend in a secret location, without all of the hassle of party decorating, organizing, set-up or tear-down. They engaged in many thing geek related, but most of all they spent time with one another, just catching up and even planning for future CON*tourage CON*quests. And yes…there was even a CON*tourage Pancake Chowdown.

Here’s a glimpse at some of those people who help make CON*tourage what it is. (NOTE: Check out more of the CRUE by clicking HERE.) Sure…CON*tourage IS about the parties, the costumes and the atmosphere…but most of all, CON*tourage is about the PEOPLE. Thanks so much to everyone who has supported us over these past 4 years and we look forward to partying it up with many of you at PlayOn Con (Birmingham, July 26-29) and then at Dragon*Con 2012 (Atlanta, Aug. 30-Sept. 3). Speaking of Dragon*Con, expect us to release FULL DETSILS on all of our Dragon*Con events/parties the week of June 25th, 2012 – including how to snag a VIP or REGULAR Party Pass.

An extra special THANK YOU to photographer ( and zombie) Stan Bowman for these kick-ass candid CON*tourage shots!

CON*tourage CRUE members...assemble!

CON*tourage co-founder Mark "Bama Spyder" upping the horns!

CON*tourage resident bartender Syd...in deep thought.

Rich (who's been known to moonlight at Nikki Sixx)

CON*tourage make-up artist & stylist Emm Divine, grappling with an alien.

CON*tourage resident steampunk'er and creator Aimee

Will - the creative CON*tourage genius behind "Pimp Vader"

Zach...channeling his best southern Willie Nelson

Zach...when he's not channeling his inner southern Willie Nelson

Will before competing in the Finals of the Galaxy wide STAR WARS Space Station reCONstruction CONtest.

Will, being watched closely & time by Mark, as he attempts to beat the Galaxy Record.

CON*tourage's Rich, Mark and Will before taking off on the SPACE SHOT.

Mark (center) wasn't quite ready for the SPACE SHOT it seems. Much loud cursing ensued...

"I control the destiny of the Galaxy...NO...only I control the destiny of the Galaxy!!!"

Our weekend zombie (and photographer)...Stan Bowman.

VOTE NOW for your favorite fan submitted CON*Tourage photo for April!

The first deadline has passed for entering the new monthly CON*tourage PHOTO CON*TEST. Overall, we had a great response for it being our first month seeking submissions. We’ll be awarding a PAIR of CON*tourage VIP PARTY PASSES to our Dragon*Con 2012 parties (21+) to the “Best Photo” (picked by some members of the CON*tourage CRUE) but we’ll also be giving away a VIP PARTY PASS to the most popular…or “Liked” photo on Facebook.

HERE’S HOW TO VOTE:

1.) Become a Fan of the CON*tourage Facebook Fan Page (if you aren’t already) by clicking the Facebook “Like ” Button, found HERE.
2.) Then click HERE to see all of the entries (15 photos total).
3.) Next click “Like” under the photo(s) you like best!
4.) Deadline to “Like” (Vote) for a photo is May 11th (11:59 p.m., EDT)
PRIZE: The photo with the most “Likes” will get a VIP PARTY PASS (21+) to the CON*tourage events at Dragon*Con 2012.
NOTE: Stay tuned to see who CON*tourage will be awarding the “Best Photo” to, being picked by some members of the CON*tourage CRUE.
Do you want to enter the May CON*tourage PHOTO CON*TEST? Read all about it HERE. That next photo entry deadline is May 31st, 2012 (11:59 p.m., EDT) We’ll be giving away CON*tourage VIP PARTY PASSES for Dragon*Con again….so don’t delay….ANYTHING GOES!

CON*tourage announces new MONTHLY PHOTO CON*test!

CON*tourage is super excited to announce a new fun way our fans can get involved monthly…visually….creatively…and win prizes along the way!

This monthly contest is a no-brainer and doesn’t really take much planning…if any at all. You don’t have to be a professional photographer by any means. You don’t have to own or have access to a expensive-as-all-get-out camera with lots of settings. Hell, this might be the first photo you’ve ever submitted to a contest! If you have access to a cell phone camera or a simple point-and-shoot camera then you are good to go. And yes….Instagram photos are do-able too!

The ONE requirement that you will need to include in your photo is the word CON*tourage….that’s it! You can do that several ways:
1.) If you have a CON*tourage t-shirt — wear it in the photo.
2.) Print out the CON*tourage logo HERE (.pdf file) and show it in the photo in some way.
3.) Write the word CON*tourage on yourself (or an object) and have it appear in the photo.

What does the photo need to be of or show? ANYTHING! Be creative…take chances….anything goes! Going out clubbing with your friends? Planning on hanging with a celebrity? Scaling Mt. Everest? Traveling to a foreign country? Found a funny/interesting setting for a photo? Feeling nerdy, sexy or a maybe little naughty? In the middle of no where, all alone and the sights are killer? Bachelor Party in Vegas? Really…ANYTHING GOES as long as the word CON*tourage is in the photo.

Sure…this is a damn easy and fun contest but there are GUIDELINES / DEADLINES so read on!
DEADLINE for submitting a photo is the last day of each month (11:59 p.m.).
EMAIL the photo (.jpg preferred) to: contourage@gmail.com
• In the EMAIL SUBJECT please put “Photo Contest Entry”
• In the email put your FIRST NAME and LOCATION and a short description/write-up about the photo. If there are several people in the photo, feel free to include their names also. Say as much or as little as you want.
• Each photo can only be submitted ONE TIME so if you don’t win one month, try something different the next month.
• You CAN submit more than one entry per month BUT photos must be different. (i.e. Don’t submit the same photo from just different camera angles. Who knows…one night out of the town might get you numerous photos as the evening develops!) Quality over quantity, friends!
• The word/logo CON*tourage must be “in” the original photo and not added afterwards with a photo editing program (i.e. via Photoshop)
• NOTE: CON*tourage reserves the right to post, edit, and/or reproduce any photos submitted for contest. Photos submitted may possibly be featured during future CON*tourage parties/events.

MONTLY PRIZES:
Leading up to Dragon*Con 2012, monthly winners will receive a PAIR of CON*tourage VIP PARTY PASSES (21+) to our Dragon*Con 2012 events (FYI, we SOLD OUT well over a month before Dragon*Con 2011 so these VIP Passes will be a hot item).  If you are one of the lucky monthy winners but don’t plan on attending Dragon*Con 2012 let us know and you can:
A.) Transfer your VIP Passes to someone else (21+)
B.) We’ll give you another kick-ass prize instead.

After Dragon*Con passes, we’ll change up the montly prizes. Photo Winners will also have bragging rights with photol be posted online for future viewing purposes.

REMEMBER…ANYTHING GOES!! Email monthly entries to: contourage@gmail.com

INFESTATION: Halfway to Dragon Con to hit Atlanta on 3-31-12

WARNING: An INFESTATION will happen in Atlanta on March 31st, 2012! An infestation of Superheroes, of Stormtroopers & Jedi, of Monsters and Pirates. An INFESTATION of Kilt-Wearing Men and Scantily Clad Women. An infestation of Leather and Lace. An infestation of ALL types of COSTUMES…and most threatening of them all, an INFESTATION of ZOMBIES!

‘The Shelter’ (voted BEST NEW CLUB by Atlanta’sCreative Loafing readers) will be the setting for this fun & unique event, hosted by CON*tourage (and produced by RockEgos) on March 31st, 2012 from 9 pm–3 am

Already lined up for the evening:
• DJ/VJ Anthony, Atlanta’s premiere video DJ, and DJ Ghost, will keep ‘The Shelter’ moving until the early morning hours. Anthony, who played Dragon*Con in 1992, 2004, 2009 and 2010, adds a video element to the dance club experience ~ mixing and beat matching the actual music videos to create a fluid and energetic night that pleases multiple senses.
• Makeup Artists will be ready to help turn willing partiers into zombies.
• Billy Tackett, known as the Zombification Specialist™ and the Father of the Zombie Mash-Up, will have his art featured and will also be the evening’s Guest of Honor Artist.
• Photographers will be set up around the venue to snap photos of partiers as the INFESTATION unfolds.
• A PANCAKE CHOWDOWN (from 9 p.m.–11 p.m.).

Visit the official website: www.InfestationAtlanta.com

3.31.12 In Atlanta — SAVE THE DATE!

CON*tourage will be announcing very soon what all of the 3-31-12 hype is about. It’s an event not to be missed!

SantaCon 2012 (Little 5 Points, Atlanta, GA)

December 15, 2012 7:00 pmtoDecember 16, 2012 3:00 am

Info. TBA

INFESTATION: Halfway to Dragon Con (Atlanta)

March 31, 2012 9:00 pmtoApril 1, 2012 3:00 am

Complete info. can be found at www.InfestationAtlanta.com

Exclusive event poster art by BillyTackett.com

 

 

 

 

NEW YEARS EVE PARTY (Battle & Brew, Marietta, GA)

December 31, 2011 8:00 pmtoJanuary 1, 2012 2:00 am

Come party it up at metro Atlanta’s premiere gaming bar….BATTLE & BREW!!

Complete info. here: http://www.con-tourage.com/2011/12/28/contourage-endorses-new-years-eve-party-to-be-hosted-by-gamer-bar-battle-brew-in-marietta-georgia/

New Forum with Gravatars

Hello everyone! Master Andre here with a quick bit about the new forums,  gravatars, and features coming soon.

First of all, we have new forums! Yay! Why new forums? It was the best way to integrate the posts into our new WordPress site that we are now using. The old site and message boards are still up should you want anything from them, but they will be taken down completely and permanantly within the next few weeks. Basically, the site was built on old web architecture, and we have now rebuilt on a better foundation. As a result our sites ranking has increased over 700% over the past month. We are coming up on our 3rd anniversary for the site and we have expanded and grown so much since we started CON*tourage.com so I wanted to be ready with a new back-end that can handle our growth.

With that said you may notice that when you setup your new profile in the forum there is no place for an Avatar. Thats because I am using a thing called Gravatars. You have to go to http://en.gravatar.com/ and setup your avatar, and it will show up in our forum, as well as many other sites that are using this free feature. So get yourself setup ASAP, it’s just cool!

COMING SOON to the forums….’Smilies’, ‘Add Images To Posts’ and more…Stay tooned!