MaxFunCon

Due to a logistical problem, we don't have access to a building we thought we'd have access to. The folks at Lake Arrowhead are being really awesome about it, and have helped us secure some overflow sleeping quarters at another, very similar center 5 miles away.

I need a few people (about 10% of the total) to volunteer to sleep there. Nothing else would change, other than where you slept, and you'd get a private room rather than a mostly-private condolet.

If you're willing to do this, I'll also throw in a Sound of Young America rocket shirt.

If you'd like to volunteer, email me at jesse@maximumfun.org ASAP.

Weather in the Spring in Lake Arrowhead can vary widely. Please pay attention to the weather when packing - and remember that there are outdoor activities in the evening, so bring something cozy so you can focus on laughing and not on frozen extremities!

You can find current weather forecasts at http://bit.ly/maxfunconweather.

Check in (and the welcome reception) for MaxFunCon begins at 4PM on May 7th, 2010.  You are welcome to relax outdoors before that time, but your room may not be available until four.  The welcome reception runs from four to six; we strongly recommend getting in on the early side, as the drive is much more pleasant when the sun is out and the mist has yet to fall.

Check out is at noon on Sunday, May 9th.  Once you are checked out, lunch is served.  To-go boxes for this final lunch are available.

Temparatures should be crisp and pleasant during the day at MaxFunCon, but remember that there are two evening activities that will take place outdoors.  Bring warm clothes - what you would wear to sit outside when the temperature is around 50 degrees.

Unfortunately, Clifford & Kidd have had to cancel their appearance at MaxFunCon due to an unavoidable conflict.  We're bummed, they're bummed, but they promise they'll make it up to us somehow.

The silver lining is that you'll get to enjoy more Elephant Larry and Kasper Hauser on Friday night.  And there's always next year.

MaxFun forum poster Inturnaround has responded more than ably to my query: what should people remember to bring to MaxFunCon?

Here's what he wrote.  The only thing I'd add?  Bring a sweater *and* a jacket, because it is COLD at night, and we WILL be outdoors.

Honestly, there are very few things other than the obvious (clothes, suitcase, secret sex party prep/cleanup kit) that you need. The resort provides your meals and soft drinks throughout the day (I kind of loved their lemonade and will be crushed if I learned it was just Country Tyme). The other attendees and the panelists will provide your entertainment.

But here are a few DOS and DON'TS for the weekend:

DO bring comfortable shoes. I can't stress this enough. The Lodge is a beautiful place, but most rooms are accessible up a very steep hill and your tootsies will thank me later.

DO bring a sweater or jacket. It can be chilly at night in the mountains and you don't want Jimmy Pardo seeing you shiver while he is delivering his comedies.

If you're addicted to your computer, DON'T bring your laptop. There is wifi, but you're there for the experience, recap it afterwards, not while it's going on. When you're not asleep, you should be socializing, getting out among the people.

DO bring a small pocket flashlight if you're not a fan of the dark as things can get quite pitch black after the lodge shuts down. There are some pathway lights to get you back to your condolet, but you might find it easier on your gentle constitution, dear reader, if you carried a small torch.

DO bring your camera, but DON'T live behind it all weekend (see laptop note above).

DO bring a sense of openness. Approach new people. Be open to new ideas. Let the spirit of awesome fill you.

DO remember to bring a pen and paper to exchange email addresses with the cool new friends you've met over the weekend.

With MaxFunCon only a month away, our photographer Noe Montes has started a countdown twitter @maxfuncon_countdown.  Follow it and get a shot from MaxFunCon every day until we blast off May 7th.  And check out more of Noe's beautiful photos here.

Activity signups for MaxFunCon are now open.

Please sign up for ONE activity in each session.

Couples, please sign up INDIVIDUALLY.

Also of note: the only pre-requisite for any of these classes is Jordan's session B improv class, which we ask be limited to those with previous organized improv education experience (ie: UCB, Second City, JetCity Improv, TheaterSports, etc).

MaxFunCon has two activity periods - one on Saturday morning (Session A), and one on Saturday afternoon (Session B).  They're your chance to enjoy yourself in smaller groups, learn things and do things.  Starting Wednesday, you'll be able to sign up for one activity in each period.

Available activities are:

Comedy Open Mic with Maria Bamford and Al Madrigal
Maria and Al will lead a small group of performers.  Perform new material, get help, enjoy others' performances.  (This activity is only available in session B.)

Cooking with Julia Crookston
Julia is a chef experienced in almost every cooking setting, from running huge kitchens to being a private chef.  These days she makes pickles and jams for high-end restaurants and stores, and she's planning to show you how to make exotic and delicious pickles at home.

Crafting with Jenny Ryan
 Jenny Ryan is the proprietor of Home Ec., a DIY and crafting shop in Los Angeles.  She's both an expert crafter and an expert craft teacher.  Last year, MaxFunsters made God's Eyes and terrariums.  This year... who knows?

Put This On Presents: Gentlemanly Dressing with Will Boehlke
 Come prepared with your questions for menswear expert Will Boehlke, the proprietor of A Suitable Wardrobe.  Will will talk about the basics of elegant dress for men.  This presentation is sponsored by Put This On.

Group Work with Kasper Hauser
 Kasper Hauser return with one of the most popular courses last year, on working creatively in groups.  The four-man comedy group has authored three books and has been featured on Comedy Central and This American Life.

Improv with Jordan Morris
Jordan Morris isn't just the co-host of Jordan Jesse Go! and an on-air correspondent for Fuel TV.  He's also a UCB-certified improv instructor.  Further your skills or try improv for the first time.

Lake Stroll
Get to know Lake Arrowhead with a leisurely stroll along the lakeshore.

Movie Club with Rian Johnson and Adam Lisagor (aka Lonely Sandwich)
 Rian Johnson is the director of the films Brick and The Brothers Bloom.  Adam Lisagor is the co-host and producer of You Look Nice Today, the director of Put This On and the PredatorCam Operator of Alien v. Predator: Requiem.  This will be a hands-on workshop with two of America's sharpest filmic minds.

Open Resort Time
Don't feel like you have to be busy on our account.  Lake Arrowhead is full of stuff to do - frisbee, tennis, basketball, swimming, a gym, naps.  Plan not to have a plan.

Pub Quiz with John Hodgman and Elephant Larry
John Hodgman hosts a pub quiz with the gentleman behind Elephant Larry, the popular sketch comedy group.  Get inside the minds of five of America's greatest nerds with your team of trivia stars.  Have a beer.  Earn valuable bragging rights.

Rifftrax Workshop
 Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy and Mike Nelson of Rifftrax will lead a seminar on writing your own riffs.  It's like MST3K fantasy camp.

Sketch Writing with Elephant Larry
 Elephant Larry are one of America's most succesful sketch comedy groups, and they're also experienced sketch comedy teachers.  Learn to write sketch comedy in just 90 minutes with EL!

Yoga for Comedy Nerds
 Neal Pollack isn't just the author of "AlternaDad" and "The Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature."  He's also a yoga practitioner.  Join him for some talk about how a comedy nerd came to yoga, and a bit of yoga for beginners.

The cancellation deadline for MaxFunCon has now passed.  However, we do still have some folks on the waiting list.  If you are registered but for any reason can't come, email me at jesse@maximumfun.org.  No promises, but if I can fill your slot with someone from the waiting list, I can refund your registration, less deposit.

Thanks to the generosity of Matt Haughey of Metafilter, we were able to offer two full scholarships to MaxFunCon this year.  We decided for parity's sake to give one to a fella and one to a lady, and we got dozens of applications.  We asked only that you actually need the scholarship to come, financially speaking, and that you tell us why you'd like to come.  A cartoonist named Rosie was the winner - the panel decided that her entry, about giving up a career in geology, working for Big Oil, to pursue creativity was worth of a free ride.  She writes on her blog about what it was like to win, here.

Chef Julia Crookston will be our in-house cooking instructor at MaxFunCon, and she'll be helping us make delicious zucchini pickles in her workshop. Her cooking tip for today: experiment with making your own salad dressing. It's easier than you think.

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