Those basic questions...

[ofthewood]

...that any newbie would ask, and I'm sure you've been asked before, and I'm really sorry about it but I couldn't find answers that postdated 2003 and I figure the event has evolved a bit since, especially with venue changes. To sum myself up: I've obsessed about the event since I first heard of it, and about masquerade since a few months before

Comments

[_harlequin_]

1. There are indoor and outdoor areas. It's LA summer, so normally both are a bit warm for me if the costume has lots of layers. I'd guess at around 80 degrees, but it changes - the roof gets cooler as the night gets later, the indoors gets warmer as the bodies fill it with dance heat

[ofthewood]

First off, I'd like to point out that over a year or three of watching you help people out, and such, you're just an awesome person. Your web page was a lot of why I kept on with maskmaking - I was losing my drive during my first project and having someone else's experiences to read was motivating. I think I told you this when I first saw that the page was yours, but anyway...
Two - thanks a lot - that's extremely helpful, especially because I just found out that the main obstacle to my attendance just vanished.
I didn't realize it was the first two-night year. Very cool. I was impressed with the low ticket price ^-^
I've seen the galleries (and by "seen," I mean I've scoured them each year after the event); mostly the fitting in I wanted to achieve was getting in, but as I said, I think I and my partner will fit the theme

[_harlequin_]

Happy to help, it's nice to hear it makes a difference - thanks :)
I'm getting progressively more worried that I might not make it this year - I've got a bunch of work visa issues that are taking much longer to resolve than they should. :-/
Fingers crossed :)

[_harlequin_]

Good luck! It'd be a pity if you couldn't make it, I'd like to be able to thank you in person. But I bet things will work out, there's a little over a month to get it straightened out and paperwork is 90% waiting, anyway. All the best ^-^

[eidolon_bird]

I missed last year's masquerade, but my experience the previous two years was

[ofthewood]

Sounds wonderful. The entire setup and planning of the evening sounds fantastic. As for my costume, I'm shooting for fey - based on what you've said I think I'm going to chance the wings, but I may have figured out a way to reinforce them without using wire (or risking anyone's injury. They'll be fairly huge but with a very low profile, close to the body, so hopefully they'll survive. And if not, and they become too much a burden... I'm making them for the event, and there'll be a trash can if it becomes necessary.
$4 for water sounds like the Renn faire. I'm glad to hear there's not likely to be an issue with food or water from outside - now I just have to obtain and cover a wineskin...
Thanks very much for the information ^-^ It's much appreciated!

[eidolon_bird]

It really is a wonderful night, and very well planned.  I wish I could go more often (going to miss it this year too - woe!) because they make the night absolutely magical.  They are also extremely helpful.  In 2004, the first year they had dinner I believe, my sister and I bought tickets to the pre-show dinner.  I was worried because she is a terribly picky eater, so I sent them a short e-mail asking them what would be on the menu.  Less than a day later, Strider had responded with a wonderfully in-character e-mail letting me know what would be available for us fae to munch on.  I believe it was the same year that one of the threads holding extra beading on her mask came loose and a fabulous faerie managed to find tape so we could hold it together for the evening.  Almost everyone is like that all night long - not people running or attending a masquerade ball, but a fabulous court holding a night of entertainment

[ofthewood]

I've been overwhelmed with everyone I've spoken to - all very helpful and pleasant. No worries about the misinformation, I was very tempted to tell you when I replied to you "And don't worry about it if that turns out to be wrong" - I appreciate that you offered what you knew ^-^
I love wire for wings, but in this particular case - wings that hang down - I may have whipped up a better solution. If my guess is right, they'll swing well, be just rigid enough to look right, and just soft enough that I could sit on them to no ill effect. Crossing my fingers, here, I'll be sharing tips over at faeriefashion if I find out that it works

[aethyrkitten]

If there's even a chance you can go, PLEASE get your tickets ASAP, we are almost sold out and I would really hate for you to be disappointed

[ofthewood]

I'll reply separately so the context'll be easier.
You are fantastic. Really. Thank you very, very much - I never expected to get so broad an orientation and it's tremendously appreciated. When I'm not concerned about paying for an education anymore I'll come up and do trash or toilet duty or something for you guys, as I don't think I have many useful qualities that you don't each have in spades.
Glad to hear there's food. I eat in little amounts constantly and sometimes do very poorly when I haven't eaten in a while - this was most of my concern, as six-ish hours of clubbing without food sounded rough, and without ready access to water, dangerous. I'm happy to purchase food and drink at the venue - if someone like me were to bring in some nuts or something she'd only really be interested in eating them after other more filling sources of food were exhausted. Very good to know, thank you ^-^

[aethyrkitten]

4. Again, depends on the year. On average, I'd say 2 is when everyone gets kicked out. Some years it's 1, some years it's more like 2:30, but 2 is a good average to aim for. You are, of course, welcome to leave early, we don't lock you in or anything, but when the venue shuts down, it tends to be a bit sudden - rather, not that the shutdown itself is sudden, but generally half the people at the masquerade aren't paying attention until a security guard asks them to go to the entrance

[ofthewood]

Not realizing it's over 'til it's over sounds very familiar for some reason... Glad to hear the officials are so welcoming in so many respects - taking costume advice pleas is a new extra mile to run. No worries about alcohol or substances or questionable ingestion choices, heat and dehydration was my major health concern, but again - thanks for thinking of it

[aethyrkitten]

Alcohol is usually available at the bar for people with ID, so there's nothing wrong with having drinks (unless you're handing them out to peoples' kids of course); it's just easy to lose track of how much you've had. Again, you being from Texas, you probably have a better idea of how much you can drink in summer heat and still stay safe, but a lot of people may not. But if you feel yourself getting too hot, or if you didn't sneak in some nuts and you're feeling sick from hunger and they're out of food at the lounge and grill, grab a crew member. We'll take good care of you. Above all else, we are committed to giving you a wonderful, magical night, and whatever mundane problems we have to fix to get you there, we'll take care of them if we possibly can.*

*DISCLAIMER: Sypher Core and its affiliates cannot cure cancer, make kittens laugh, resurrect the dead, perform miracles including but not limited to: walking on water, turning water into alcoholic beverages, producing fish, bread, or any other food items from thin air, turning

[ofthewood]

Heh, well, unfortunately for the next six months I am someone's kid, and thus my boyfriend will be drinking on his own if he does. The most powerful drug I'll have in my system at any point will be caffeine.
That is a top-of-the-line disclaimer.
And I'm very glad you enjoy introducing people to the event - it's probably necessary for anything you want to continue to grow, so it's best you don't mind it. I can state for a fact that it does help people ^-^ In my case my parents were just wary of shipping me off to L.A. to go to an event about which their daughter couldn't answer simple questions like "Is there food? Does it run late?"
Thanks for the airline tip - may be able to use that this time, if lucky, as I'm not sure we've got airfares figured out.
Thank you, again - your practical information and love for the event have contributed much to others' enjoyment, and your aid and your passion for the fantasy in general have certainly shaped my experience - it won't be forgotten, whatever that's worth.