con guide - SwampCon

Welcome
Love is in the air! SwampCon returns to the University of Florida for our fifth year,
delivering our old favorites and some new surprises to anime, science fiction,
and gaming fans from here and afar.
This year, our theme is love, and not just romantic love, but platonic love. The love and
unity that binds families, friends, lovers, and our fandoms are on full display.
This year we focused ourselves on adapting to a mostly new team, keeping the traditions
we have held strong, and being willing to open ourselves to new ideas. How many
conventions have produced a dating sim, of all things, as part of the lead-up to the event?
It’s never been an easy process; we’ve faced setbacks, letdowns,
and despair in making this dream come to life.
So for this year, we’re wearing our heart on our sleeve. We hope you enjoy our labor of
love, and we hope to continue making this labor of love for years to come.
table of contents
Map ... 4
Guests ... 6-7
Events ... 9-12
Scavenger Hunt List ... 13
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4
guests
richard lee byers
Richard Lee Byers is the author of over forty fantasy and horror novels
including Pathfinder Tales: Called to Darkness, Blind God’s Bluff: A Billy Fox
Novel, The Reaver: The Sundering Book IV, Black Dogs (first in his new “Black
River Irregulars” trilogy), and the “Impostor” series. His novel The Spectral Blaze
won Diehard GameFAN’s award for the Best Game-Based Novel of 2011.
bill hatfield
Under the name William Hatfield, he writes science fiction, LGB&T fiction, and
short stories that span many genres. Tough Crowd is the third book in his
science fiction series, Fists of Earth, following the initial Captive Audience and
sequel Duel Roles. As Bill Hatfield, he is a professional musician, playing piano
and singing classic rock and more. William relishes the opportunity to create
interesting and challenging characters that never cease to amuse and surprise him
with their inherent independence.
dookieshed
Hunter Hughes, aka Dookieshed, is a popular YouTuber and the creator of
the “Pokémon will F*** You Up” video series. He is the mastermind behind
Mega Man March, in which he dedicates an entire month to the Blue Bomber.
He also happens to be a UF grad who grew up right here in Gainesville! He
enjoys making video game reviews and Top 10 lists, and has been known to
accidentally film his videos in his underwear.
pikabellechu
PikaBelleChu has been cosplaying for over 16 years and has created over 80
costumes to date ranging from original Pokemon inspired gowns to Disney,
SciFi and other anime characters. She has appeared at many Pokemon events
with her Pikachu inspired VW Beetle and is most known for gaining a spot in the
Guinness Book of World Records in 2008 for having the World’s Largest Pikachu
collection with over 20,000 items of the famous electric mouse.
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guests
Alyson Tabbitha
Alyson Tabbitha is a cosplayer, artist, and YouTuber. She started costume
making in 2006, and “officially” cosplaying to conventions in 2014. More
recently she started uploading helpful makeup and cosplay related tutorials to
her YouTube channel. Whether it’s as a guest, contest judge,or regular attendee,
Alyson usually attends and supports local conventions to cosplay and make
friends! At the end of the day she is just a girl that really likes to play dress up.
jezzabellgem
JezzabellGem is a Florida based cosplayer, costumer and prop maker as well
as a ‘positive cosplay’ and ‘anti-bullying’ advocate, and the founder of Heroes
United Against Cosplay Bullying. To her, cosplay is a powerful creative outlet
that isn’t just fun — it’s a positive platform that can help channel inner strength
and help participants discover how to feel good about themselves, embrace their
uniqueness and learn new skills along the way.
more devine designs
More Devine has been cosplaying for 2 years and is a self taught seamstress.
Although mostly known for her Korra and Poison Ivy cosplay, she enjoys doing
more obscure characters or popular characters’ not obscure outfits such as
Jasmine’s Peasant outfit or Pocahontas’s ballgown from the 2nd movie. As far as
genre goes she’s willing to cosplay all of anime, comics, and cartoons, though likes
to do nostalgic cartoons mostly.
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events
AMV CONTEST
Are you a connoisseur of Anime
Music Videos or simply a fan
of watching AMVs? Everyone is
welcome to come out and enjoy
the amazing works that have been
produced by attendees like you!
You’ll also get to see the judges’ 1st
place picks for AMVs out of genres
like Comedy, Action, and Romance.
SUNDAY, 11AM-12PM
REITZ UNION AUDITORIUM
black butler cabaret
Join in on the mystery as Ciel and
Sebastian attend the Viscount of
Druitt’s Drag Ball at Swampcon
2016. When Ciel’s guard is down for
searching for the notorious killer,
Jack the Ripper, he gets kidnapped
into a very dangerous situation.
Will Sebastian be able to save the
Earl? Find out!
SATURDAY, 10:30PM-12:00AM
REITZ UNION GRAND BALLROOM
COSTUME CONTEST
We’re proud to announce the return
of the Costume Contest, featuring
some of the best cosplayers from
both near and far! This year’s
judges will be our featured cosplay
guests: Jezzabellgem, Alyson
Tabbitha, and More Devine Designs.
Registration at the info desk closes
Saturday evening.
SUNDAY, 4:30PM-5:30PM
REITZ UNION GRAND BALLROOM
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events
fanmade vocaloid
hologram concert
Come see virtual idol Hatsune Miku
and fellow Vocaloids make their
return this weekend at Swampcon
V! Produced and presented by fans,
join us in celebrating the music we
live and the community we love.
SUNDAY, 2:30PM-4PM
REITZ UNION GRAND BALLROOM
maid cafe
Your favorite maids and butlers are
back and cuter than ever! Come
be entertained by their dancing
and games while being served free
sweets and drinks. Take solace in
the relaxing atmosphere that the
maids have created for you!
SATURDAY, 11AM-2PM
SUNDAY, 11AM-1PM
REITZ UNION GRAND BALLROOM
noise complaint
Noise Complaint is a group of
professional tap dancers who
perform full sets of choreographed
dances as characters from video
games, comics, cartoons and anime.
Their show brings to life epic battles
and famed alliances and combines
it with entertaining choreography
and catchy rhythms!
SATURDAY, 6PM-7PM
REITZ UNION GRAND BALLROOM
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events
project cosplay
Have you ever wanted to create a
costume, but just didn’t have the
time or materials? Join us in Project
Cosplay where audience members
work in teams to build a costume
within the hour out of all kinds of
materials and parts. The winning
team will receive a prize!
SUNDAY, 11AM-12:30PM
WEIMER AUDITORIUM
promstuck
At Swampcon V, join us in the
Grand Ballroom on Valentine’s Day
as Promstuck celebrates all kinds
of love. Show off your moves and
own the dance floor! Run for either
King, Queen, or Jack of Prom, and
win a cool hat! You won’t need a
matesprit or kismesis to end your
night on a high note!
SUNDAY, 8PM-10PM
REITZ UNION GRAND BALLROOM
SUPERNATURAL
SCAVENGER HUNT
Hunt down the listed items like Sam
and Dean and post the photos and
videos to your social media using
#SwampCon2016 and #SPNHunt.
Get creative and you just might take
home a prize! Scavenger Hunt List
can be found on pg. 13
SUNDAY, 2PM-3PM
WEIMER AUDITORIUM
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events
drag show
Nicki Mirage hosts this stunning
showcase of talent from local drag
performers which will leave you
speechless! Come watch them strut
their cosplayed stuff across the
stage and through the crowd! This
year, SwampCon is going to be a
bigger Drag than ever! Remember
to bring your dollar bills and show
the performers some love!
SATURDAY, 8PM-9:30PM
REITZ UNION GRAND BALLROOM
whosical
The Doctor and his companion,
Donna, will face off against
Moriarty once more while making
new friends and meeting a new
enemy. This Musical is a drama/
comedy show where various genres
(superheroes, animes, videogames,
etc.) come together into one
performance. Allons-y!
SATURDAY, 4PM-5:30PM
REITZ UNION GRAND BALLROOM
VIPs at SwampCon V are the individuals who
donated toward a VIP tier during the IndieGoGo
campaign, are volunteering at SwampCon V for a
specific amount of hours, or are our special guests!
VIPs receive access to specialty seating and may
skip the lines for main events! Consider donating to
our fundraising campaigns or volunteering at the
event next year to receive this special perk!
INDIEGOGO VIP RECIPIENTS CAN PICK UP THEIR VIP BADGE
AND OTHER AWARD PERKS AT THE INFORMATION DESK ON THE
2ND FLOOR OF THE J. WAYNE REITZ UNION.
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special thanks
TO OUR INDIEGOGO CONTRIBUTORS
Annie Pullliam
Brandon Laines
Brooke Ragland
Cody Estes
Dariel Wimberly
Derek Delago
EJ
Emily Stanton
Garth and Ellis
James Rogers
John Christopher Wright
KayAuss
Keely Durbak
Larry L Creager
Lauren Ragland
Liz Lee
Max Dunevitz
Megan Jones
Nicholas Cavallaro
Paula G Williams
Rick Ferreria
Robert Witt
Sammantha
Savannah Madley
SWAMPCON STAFF
Annie Pulliam
Derek Delago
Elias Quintos
Emily Tran
Gabriella Fagundez
Henry Lao
Lawrence Chan
Martha Felts
SWAMPCON DESIGN TEAM
Ariel Terrazas
Emily Tran
Gabriella Fagundez
Lisha Yang
Lucas Azoto
Martha Felts
Pye Naing
Max Dunevitz
Megan Jones
Robert Witt
Scott Lathikhone Rattana
SWAMPCON VOLUNTEER CAPTAINS
Henry Lao
Lucas Azoto
Megan Jones
k you for coming to
Than
Swam
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Michelle Kleeburg
Rachel Morton
Scott Lathikhone Rattana
pCon V
!