It's Almost MaxFunCon Time

Oh man, this year is going to be so great. To prepare you for the greatness, here's some key info to keep in mind...

* Tickets *

There are no tickets to MaxFunCon. As a registered guest, you'll check in at the front desk for your room assignment and at the MaxFunCon welcome table for your name tag and conference bag.

* When to Come *

Registration for MaxFunCon starts at 4pm. This is also when check-in begins at the conference center. From 4pm until 6pm, we will be welcoming people with a pleasant reception. That said, it's our strong recommendation that you come to Lake Arrowhead as early as your schedule permits. Both traffic out of LA and driving conditions on the mountain (particularly fog) grow exponentially worse as it gets later. A pleasant 90-minute drive from LA at 1 or 2pm becomes a grueling 3-hour-plus slog at 4 or 5pm. If you end up arriving early, you can always park and enjoy the lake.

* What to Bring *

Lake Arrowhead is a mountain resort, and while the forecast is in the 70’s and 80’s, we do suggest you bring clothing to layer as it can become chilly at night, dipping into the 40’s and 50’s. One of our comedy shows is held in an outdoor amphitheater at night, and our s'mores roast is also held under the stars, so please bring cozy clothes to keep yourself warm. Consider bringing a hat, scarf and gloves. You can look at up-to-date weather information here: http://bit.ly/maxfunconweather .

Bring comfortable shoes (the center is situated on a hill). There is WiFi, but you won't really need or use your laptop. Generally, you won't need many diversions - your schedule will be quite full. Your food, beverages (including adult beverages) and everything else is provided, so there isn't much need for money. Bring something to write down contact information for your new friends.

Classes largely have no special requirements other than the obvious -- if you signed up for improv, bring improv-friendly clothes or if you’ve signed up for cooking bring clothes you don’t mind potentially getting messy. If you are in the Superhero Battle and have not been in touch with Amanda, please email her - we've got some costumes to coordinate! Supplies for the various crafting classes will be provided. And don’t forget to bust out some fancy duds for the Country Estate Party!

* Carpools *

We strongly encourage you to share rental cars and other ground transportation whenever possible. Folks are organizing carpools on the forum, here
* Special Needs *

If you have a mobility impairment or a special food need and you haven't reported it to Amanda, please do so immediately. Also: it has been suggested to us that if you're a vegetarian, you might want to bring a couple protein-y snacks, as the vegetarian meals, while good, might be short on non-meat protein.

* Getting There *

We strongly encourage you to use the directions to the conference center on our website, rather than using GPS or Mapquest directions. The mapping software doesn't understand the terrain of the region and the relative road sizes, and will send you on a route that will take you an extra 20 minutes or so of driving. The best directions are here.

* If you arrive early *

If you happen to arrive early, feel free to say hi - we'll be in Iris. We may need a bit of help setting up and filling the conference bags.

* If you have questions *

Feel free to email amanda@maximumfun.org if you have questions. You can also post your questions on the forum.

Time to Sign Up!


MaxFunCon has two activity sessions: Session A (Saturday morning) and Session B (Saturday afternoon).  Each attendee should sign up for ONE class per session.  Full activity descriptions can be found on the sign up pages (and also here).  

To sign up for Session A, click here.

To sign up for Session B, click here.  

NOTE: You do not need to print out your tickets via Eventbrite. We will keep track of the sign-up lists.

Please sign up only if you're already registered for MaxFunCon!  If you try and slip one past us, we'll notice.

MaxFunCon 2013 Class List!


Check out the amazing classes we'll be offering this year! 

Signups will be MONDAY, MAY 6 at 11 AM PST
We will be emailing you the link, so keep an eye on your inbox!

Session A

Comedy Open Mic Workshop with Maria Bamford
Maria will lead a small group of performers. Perform new material, get help, enjoy others' performances. All skill levels welcome.

Crash Course on Independent Animation with Dan Henrick
Ever dreamed of being the next Bill Plympton or Friz Freleng? Or are you simply interested in bringing your own doodles to life? Dan Henrick (animator of The AV Club's series, Stand Down) presents this crash course on independent animation. You'll learn everything you need to know about creating cartoons, from the basics to time-saving pro tips. We'll cover hand-drawn techniques and essential software tricks, so that you can hit the ground running. This class will include a lecture with visuals and a demonstration, along with a special collaborative project. You'll walk out of this workshop armed with the tools to produce your own animated creations!  

Getting Crafty with Jessica Charlton
Medals Of Distinction: Are you a Prince of Podcasting, the Comedy Comandante? How will people know how special you are unless you show them? Instructor Jessica Charlton will teach you how to create your own medals of distinction, so you can class up your wardrobe just in time for evening cocktails. 

Baking a Pie with Evan Kleiman
Join the host of KCRW's Good Food in the kitchen and learn how to bake a pie from the master! 

Superhero Battle with Pendleton Ward
Have you always wanted to star in an epic battle of superheroes? Well now is your chance! Join legendary hero-creator Pendleton Ward and the awesome film crew from Corridor Digital and be part of a battle for the ages. PLEASE have a superpower/superhero identity for yourself in mind - we will be contacting you to coordinate your costume.

Begin Your Novel Right NOW with Antoine Wilson
Got an idea for a great novel rolling around in your head? Well Antoine Wilson wants to help you get started on it right away! Soak in the advice of the renowned author of Panorama City and The Interloper as he talks you through starting off the writing process.

Victorian Portraiture the Easy Way with David Malki !
What could be classier than your very own Victorian portrait? It would look stunning in your sitting room when the Leftenant comes to visit. In this interactive workshop, collage artist David Malki ! will help you create your very own portrait, using authentic 19th-century book engravings cut-and-pasted together with a photograph of you. Along the way, he'll share fascinating tidbits and forgotten lore from his collection of strange Victorian magazines. Come with your best Queen Victoria frown, leave with a unique keepsake that'll forever remind you of the stern but dignified time you had at MaxFunCon 2013. All materials provided.

Monetizing Your Creative Skills So You Can Spend More Time Being Creative with John Vanderslice
The amazing and talented musician (and label head and studio owner) John Vanderslice shows you how to implement his Dual Income Stream Technology™, helping you rake in the $$ while spending more time on drawing or writing operas or whatever it is you want to accomplish.

Improv for Beginners with Jordan Morris
Jordan Morris isn't just the co-host of Jordan Jesse Go! -- he's also a UCB-certified improv instructor. Try improv for the first time, Session A is open to all. (Session B is for experienced improvisers.)

Getting Gouda with Roman Mars
Having a hard time getting your artistic vision off the ground? Roman Mars, creator of 99% Invisible, will discuss fundraising, Kickstarter, and the necessary financial hurdles that often need to be overcome in the creative process.

Making It Work with Nick White
"Honor thy error as a hidden intention." - Brian Eno
Mistakes happen all the time. When you're creating multimedia content, they're downright common. Whether it's a recording error, an unpredictable interview subject, or a story that just won't come together, Bullseye producer Nick White will show you a few editing and post-production tricks that can turn a potential disaster into what Eno calls a 'happy accident'.

Cooking with Julia Crookston
Love to cook? Want to learn more about your favorite foods? Join renowned chef and MaxFunCon All-Star Julia Crookston to learn the ins and outs of whipping up some tasty treats. 


Session B


Crash Course on Independent Animation with Dan Henrick
Getting Crafty with Jessica Charlton
Baking a Pie with Evan Kleiman
Superhero Battle with Pendleton Ward 
Begin Your Novel Right NOW with Antoine Wilson  
Victorian Portraiture the Easy Way with David Malki !  
Getting Gouda with Roman Mars  
Making It Work with Nick White 
Cooking with Julia Crookston

Handcrafted Bitters with Ben Harrison
Are you an enthusiast of cocktails, cooking, or just sipping on a bitters and soda? Of course you are! If you take this class, you will learn all about bitters, what they're made of and how to make them. Participants will make their own bitters and taste them and other kinds of bitters in cocktails. You'll go home with your own bottle and you can use it to delight all your friends at your next cocktail and/or secret sex party. All materials provided.

Pub Quiz with Chuck Bryant and John Hodgman
Hosted by Chuck Bryant, co-host of podcast ‘Stuff You Should Know’, and Daily Show correspondent John Hodgman. Have a beer. Earn valuable bragging rights.

Advanced Improv with Jordan Morris
Jordan Morris isn't just the co-host of Jordan Jesse Go! -- he's also a UCB-certified improv instructor. Further your skills in the afternoon, Session B is for experienced improvisers. (Session A is open to all!)  

HISTORY LESSONS WITH BOOZE with Rico Gagliano

Just like the signature segment of Rico's public radio show and podcast "The Dinner Party Download," here you'll learn about some of the coolest/weirdest/dumbest moments in history... and then you'll mix yourself cocktails themed after each.  Kind of like "Drunken History" except with actual facts and actual booze.  Liquor, citrus fruits, ice and shakers provided.  Note: Rico is not a mixologist.  But the recipes he'll provide come from some of the best cocktailians in the world, and anyway he is making it possible for you to learn neat trivia and get tipsy in the middle of the day, so shut your piehole.  Imagine rolling into MaxFunCon dinner Saturday evening and dazzling everyone with your newfound historical knowledge!  Assuming you can remember any of it through the hangover.
 

Congrats to our Scholarship Winners!


First, a big, heartfelt thanks to all who applied for the two scholarships we are offering to MaxFunCon 2013. We at MaxFun Headquarters enjoyed reading all of your applications and were delighted to see that so many smart, interesting and creative people are excited about MaxFunCon.  Honestly, it was very difficult for us to choose only two winners. We sincerely wish that all of you could join us in Lake Arrowhead! 

To those who applied but did not win this year, please do not feel discouraged. We do plan to offer scholarships to our future events and we hope that you will write to us again at that time to tell us about your latest hopes, dreams, projects and creations.   

The scholarship recipients who will be joining us in Lake Arrowhead this May are: Greg Harries and Landon Hughes!

Congratulations to both of them! Other MaxFunCon attendees: please keep an eye out for these folks during the weekend and introduce yourself. We hope you’ll all become great friends!



A huge thank you to Rebecca O'Malley for making these scholarships possible!

MaxFunCon 2013: The Lineup

We're proud to announce the tentative lineup for MaxFunCon 2013. We've got amazing speakers and performers this year, including some special guests from our co-sponsor, KCRW. If you don't already have a ticket, we're sold out, but our waiting list is open. Email us at waitlist@maximumfun.org.

Comedy:
Maria Bamford
Matt Braunger
Maeve Higgins
John Hodgman
Laurie Kilmartin
Kyle Kinane
Morgan Murphy
Ali Wong
Jordan, Jesse, Go!
My Brother, My Brother and Me
& Convoy (Alex Berg, Todd Fasen, Alex Fernie)

Speakers & other Entertainment:
Chuck Bryant
Nate DiMeo
Elvis Mitchell
Jon Ronson


Instructors:

Jessica Charlton
Julia Crookston
Rico Gagliano
Benjamin Ahr Harrison
Dan Henrick
Evan Kleiman
David Malki
Roman Mars
Jordan Morris
John Vanderslice
Pendleton Ward
Nick White
Antoine Wilson

We'll have more details in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

MaxFunCon is Sold Out!

If you're hoping to join us at MaxFunCon this year, we've got good news and bad news.

The bad news: it's sold out.

The good news: get yourself on the waiting list and we'll do our best to get you in if we're able. Sometimes as we assign beds, we're able to squeeze a couple people in. Include your full name, whether you are single or a couple, and a phone number (or more than one) where you can be reached - we call each person on the waitlist in turn and do not hold spots.

To get on the waiting list, email waitlist@maximumfun.org.

Register for MaxFunCon 2013



MaxFunCon 2013 is currently sold out. To be added to the waitlist for tickets, email waitlist@maximumfun.org, and include your full name, number of people in your party, and a telephone number where you can be reached during the day.

MaxFunCon 2013 begins the afternoon of Friday, May 31st, 2013 and ends at noon on Sunday, June 2nd. 

We offer two admission rates:
FLYING SOLO: Our base rate of $790 and includes a bed in a double-occupancy condolet, admission to all conference activities, all of your food & beverage for the weekend, plus a conference bag with a MaxFunCon 2013 t-shirt, merit badge, and other awesome stuff. 
LOVEBIRDS: Couples sharing a bed can register for $1480 (a $100 discount off single admission) which guarantees all of the above.


Registration is extremely limited. Last year, MFC West sold out in just a few days. Act fast! 


If you have any problems with registration, email nick@maximumfun.org for assistance. Remember, tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable; as a courtesy, we are able to provide a refund of half of your purchase price until one month before the event.

The best gift? A trip to MaxFunCon West

Money may not buy you friendship, but a ticket to MaxFunCon sure does!

Look, there are a lot of Black Friday deals floating around, but there's no better gift than MaxFunCon: a summer weekend in the woods with elite stand-up comedy performers, classes led by some of the best creative minds in the nation, and -- most importantly -- your friends. 

Registration for MaxFunCon West opens Black Friday, November 23rd at 12pm Pacific. 

Since it's the season of giving, nab a ticket for your friend or loved one first. Then, why not grab a ticket for yourself? We won't tell anyone.

Just act fast. MaxFunCon pretty much always sells out. We don't expect this year to be any different. 


MaxFunCon West is May 31st - June 2nd, 2013 in Lake Arrowhead, CA. 

MaxFunCon East Photos!


Get them while they're hot.

And don't forget to check back here on November 23rd for MaxFunCon West registration.