Arisia Workshops

Arisia Programming is pleased to announce numerous workshops on a variety of subjects! Advance sign-up is necessary and space is limited.

The Program Nexus is located in the Executive Boardroom, which is at the far end of the Mezzanine (past Registration).

(Please note that materials fees should be brought to the workshop itself, and not to Program Nexus.)

Art and Maker

• Chainmail 101: European 4 in 1 Weave (Friday at 8:30 PM, and again on Monday, 1:00 PM): Learn how to make this basic armor weave. We provide a kit of rings and pliers to borrow. Participants should sign up in advance at Program Nexus, or you can stop by before the workshop to see if there's room. (LIMIT 15) Materials fee: $5 per participant.
• Circuit Bending (Friday, 10:00 PM): Circuit bending is the creative customization of the circuits within electronic devices (children's toys, small digital synthesizers, and low-voltage battery-powered guitar effects) to create new musical or visual instruments and sound generators. Jimmie will lead you in hacking your own musical device from parts. Participants should sign up in advance at Program Nexus. Materials fee: $20 per participant. (SPACE IS LIMITED)
• Make a Renfair Rosette (Saturday, 7:00 PM): Come join a fun workshop making a rosette by sewing gathered fabric together and then adding ribbons and beaded strands. Attach it to a pin-back or a barrette and you have an instant decoration! No prior sewing or crafting experience needed. You are only limited by your own imagination. Participants should sign up in advance at Program Nexus. Materials fee: $10 per participant. (LIMIT 15)
• Soldering 101 (Saturday, 10:00 PM): Learn to solder by making a simple circuit that blinks! Participants should sign up in advance at Program Nexus. (LIMIT 10)
• Make a Scale Flower, Late Night Edition (Saturday, 11:30 PM): Make colorful aluminum flowers using chainmail techniques and supplies used for scale-mail armor. Participants should sign up in advance at Program Nexus, or you can stop by before the workshop to see if there's room. Materials fee: $5 per participant. (LIMIT 10)
• Chainmail for Breakfast (Sunday, 8:30 AM): For early risers! Work on your own chainmail project with experts on hand to make suggestions, or buy a simple kit to learn a basic chainmail weave or project. Participants should sign up in advance at Program Nexus, or you can stop by before the workshop to see if there's room. (LIMIT 15) Materials fee: $5 per participant if you need a kit.
• Chainmail 102: Byzantine Weave (Sunday, 5:30 PM): Learn to make this popular and easy jewelry pattern. We provide a kit of rings and pliers to borrow. Participants should sign up in advance at Program Nexus, or you can stop by before the workshop to see if there's room. (LIMIT 15) Materials fee: $5 per participant.

Guests of Honor

• So You Want to Start a Convention? (Sunday, 1:00 PM): So you want to start a convention? I won't tell you not to do it, I'll tell you how to do it! Come to this workshop with our Fan Guest of Honor. Participants should sign up in advance at Program Nexus. (LIMIT 16)
• Portfolio Review with Lee Moyer (Sunday, 2:30 PM): Our Artist Guest of Honor is graciously making himself available to critique your work, answer questions, and possibly make career recommendations. Listen to the critique of others' works, as you may learn something valuable. Participants should sign up in advance at Program Nexus. (LIMIT 10)
• Pitch Session with N. K. Jemisin (Sunday, 4:00 PM): Have a novel you'd like to get published? Aspiring fantasy writers can sign up to pitch their novel ideas at our Writer Guest of Honor and discuss how to move forward with them. Fantasy novels only, please! Participants should sign up in advance at Program Nexus. (LIMIT 6)

Music

• Open Mic Concert (Saturday, 5:30 PM): Do you like to sing? Show us what you've got! From professionals to newbies, all are welcome. Limit one song per performer. Participants should sign up in advance at Program Nexus, or at the following link: http://goo.gl/forms/3UfUFypvEk (LIMIT 20)
• The Strong Sound (Sunday, 1:00 PM): Sing and be heard without strain. Lead songs with confidence. Learn to sing with a loud, clear voice without harming your throat. Improve your range and increase your vocal stamina. This workshop is an introduction to Anabel’s vocal and centered breathing technique. Helpful for all singers. Students should sign up in advance at Program Nexus, or at the following link: http://goo.gl/forms/c8QS8nb5v4 (LIMIT 25)
• Your Voice and How to Love It (Sunday, 4:00 PM): Hate the sound of your own voice? You'd be surprised how many singers do. Learn to enjoy singing more, sing more in tune and lead songs with confidence. Bring your problem songs; we can make time for three or four people to work individually. Filk, folk traditional or modern, chanteys or theatre songs; this workshop will be helpful for all singers. Participants should sign up in advance at Program Nexus, or at the following link: http://goo.gl/forms/23jNmxijny (LIMIT 15)
• Doom, Gloom and Despondency (Sunday, 5:30 PM): This is a serious, formal, thematic, judged song contest. Attendees are expected to maintain a solemn aspect (e.g., dark clothes, long face, and soft, respectful speech). In the event of a breach of decorum (e.g., laughter), the offender will be evicted for the duration of the current song—and the singer will receive bonus points. Contestants should sign up in advance at Program Nexus, or at the following link: http://goo.gl/forms/VR2dx1aJPT (LIMIT 15)

Writing

• Authentic Voices: Dialogue and Dialect (Sunday, 7:00 PM): All of us who write fiction want to clearly convey our characters’ voices to readers through our words. This can be especially tough when characters’ speech patterns differ significantly from our own. This workshop will explore ways to let characters speak their authentic truths, to help them reveal themselves and their worlds. From rhythm, slang, and pidgins, to jargon and code-switching, we’ll cover the power and techniques of representing diverse voices. Note: This workshop is a ""double block"" and runs 2 hours, 45 minutes. (LIMIT 15)