DragonCon 2018 Parade

[FANGS]

DRAGON CON BROADCAST INFORMATION

The 2018 parade will once again be televised and streamed live on Atlanta’s CW and our own DCTV.

CW Info: Live Broadcast, Saturday 9/1, starts at 10:00 AM,. This coverage is scheduled to stay live on air through the entire parade. Live Stream on atlcw.tv also starts at 10:00 AM.

Rebroadcast, Saturday 9/1, 10:00 PM. This broadcast will be edited to fit the time slot.

Channel 69 (check your listings for DVR and other recording settings, etc.)

DCTV info: Live Broadcast, Saturday 9/1, 10:00 AM, Rebroadcast, TBA throughout the weekend

Closed circuit in Host Hotels only (Hyatt Regency, Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, Sheraton Atlanta, Westin). The parade coverage should be available through the new DC Streaming Membership option as well.

REMEMBER

1. We ARE Dragon Con! I know this goes without saying still please be on your best behavior while on the route. Don’t do anything that will later embarrass our con or yourselves. Our Parade Guidelines, published each year, remain in effect regarding behavior along the route, costumes and props, etc.
   
   
2. Note that you will be removed from the parade without warning if inappropriate behavior or any violations of our Guidelines are witnessed by parade escorts.
   
   
3. THE CW CAMERA AND ‘BROADCAST BOOTH’ LOCATION IS NOT A PERFORMANCE STOP. Let me repeat that – NOT A PERFORMANCE STOP. Please keep moving. Do not stop to “mug” for the camera or otherwise hog air time with a demonstration or performance of any kind. We want to get the entire parade into the 1 hour of air time (including commercial breaks) that we have. YOU MAY BE BANNED FROM PARTICIPATING IN FUTURE PARADES IF YOU CANNOT ABISE BY THIS.
   
   
4. There may be pauses between sections as you approach the CW’s booth to accommodate pacing. Look for the “STOP” and “GO” signs. Watch for and listen to instructions you get from parade team members.
   
   
5. The security and mechanics of the parade will be once again be tight. Please be prepared to move out and/or hold when directed. Be aware of your surroundings.
   
   
6. Enjoy this unique and shared moment. Have fun! Be the parade we’ve always been. Celebrate everything you are that makes Dragon Con so incredible!
   

 

[FANGS]

 

[FANGS]

2018 PARTICIPANT STAGING: How To Get There

Address: 607 Peachtree Street NE – North Avenue Presbyterian Church, Parking Lot

The church is located on the corner of Peachtree Street NE and North Avenue. There is a large Bank of America hi-rise directly across the street from the church and the Fox Theater is in the next block North of staging. If you walk by the Fox, you’ve gone too far.

WALKING FROM THE HOST HOTELS:

Starting at Hyatt Regency, the church and staging area are approximately 8 blocks North of the Hyatt Regency’s front driveway. That’s a turn to the right leaving the Hyatt. Stay on Peachtree Street. You cross over I-75/85 and continue until you cross Linden Avenue. The parking lot entrance will be on your right about mid block.

Starting at the Westin, you’re just a few blocks away from the Hyatt Regency. Walk to the Hyatt and follow the Hyatt route.

Starting from the Marriott Marquis, Atlanta Hilton or Sheraton Atlanta, make your way to Peachtree Street and follow the Hyatt route OR take Courtland Street. It’s an 8-9 block walk, depending on what hotel you begin at. The Courtland Street route will bring you to the backside of our staging area. There is a back entrance to the parking lot at Courtland and North on the left hand side of the street.

Please check your parade section’s (approximate) location on the staging map as it is a multi-level structure and there may be a ramp (incline or decline) or stairs to navigate to get to the correct location. The Peachtree Street entrance gets you to the street level parking lot. The Courtland Street entrance gets you into the garage area underneath.

If you are not in the host hotel area and planning on walking, please refer to local maps to get you there.

MARTA:

Take MARTA to the NORTH AVENUE STATION, located on West Peachtree Street. Exit the station onto West Peachtree and turn left onto North Avenue at the corner. Walk one block on North Avenue up to Peachtree Street and you’ll see the parking lot entrance just across the street.

UBER/LYFT/TAXI:

All are an option and can get you to staging.

DRAGON CON SHUTTLE SERVICE:

A special “express” shuttle will operate from 7:30AM – 9:30 AM on parade morning. This shuttle is for parade participants only. There is only one pick up point (behind the Marriott on Courtland Street) and only one drop off point (on North Avenue between Peachtree Street and Courtland Street). DO NOT TAKE ANY SHUTTLE, PARADE OR OTHERWISE, THAT DEPARTS THE MARRIOTT AFTER THE SCHEDULED 9:30 AM PICK UP.

The regularly scheduled Dragon Con Shuttles will also drop off at the North Avenue location however unless you board at the Marriott or Sheraton, there may be numerous stops before getting to our staging drop off point. DO NOT TAKE ANY REGULAR SHUTTLE LEAVING THE MARRIOTT OR SHERATON AFTER 9:15 AM.

DRIVING (non-parade vehicles):

Please refer to local maps or your GPS for the best route to take to get to the general area. There is parking in the general area but we do not provide or reserve it so you’re on your own in finding it. We also cannot provide parking for vehicles that are unloading parade vehicles or props, etc. Unload and move along. Please be aware that if you park near staging and the parade’s launch, your car will be a mile away from where the parade ends (Marriott Marquis).

PARADE VEHICLES:

A separate email will be sent to group contacts and parade registered drivers with instructions on when and how to come to the staging area. You will be on the street with active traffic until just before launch. Be prepared for some shuffling as we get you into place and please be patient with us while we do so. J

 

[FANGS]

There you have it folks.....a wall of information. Here's the UBER important stuff.

1. You MUST be on my list to get a wristband.
2. If something changes during the con and you can't come, you MUST message me. You can do so here but Facebook is best.
3. If you are marching with us AND you are on my list, you MUST meet us at our pre-Parade Meeting Location - we will have the same meeting location as every year - in front of the escalators on the Registration Desk level of the Marriott (Lobby Level) just in the middle of the two main entrances. THE LAST SHUTTLE IS AT 9:30. WE WILL MEET AT 8:00 AM AND LEAVE TO THE SHUTTLE LOCATION AT THE BACK OF THE Marriott (down two levels from where we will meet) NO LATER THAN 8:45. DO NOT BE LATE!
4. You MUST have a weekend or Saturday DragonCon badge. You cannot march without it and your wristband.
5. You CAN bring a prop weapon but you MUST get it peace bonded BEFORE the parade (aka Thursday or Friday). If you do not get it bonded, leave it in your room.
6. You CANNOT bring a weapon that is capable of firing ANYTHING.
7. You WILL listen to our handlers.
8. You WILL keep up - groups have been punted from the parade for dragging behind.
9. You WILL NOT EVER teabag anyone. Ever. I don't care if someone begs for it or if it's just another 405th member.
10. You WILL NOT EVER point your weapon at people.
11. You WILL stay hydrated. If a handler insists on you having a drink during the parade listen to them. They will see you suffering before you feel it so please listen.
12. You WILL have fun.

We're going to need a couple of volunteers for the banner. Speaking of which.... Asgardianhammer will the banner be there?

We're also going to need all of you to heap praise and thanks to our handlers, Eve and Jenn and on Blaine who as always will be there to fix your gear on the go.

Any questions??

 

[Asgardianhammer]

I will make sure it is present and accounted for! I will be gathering all of my DragonCon stuff that will be accompanying Church for the day this weekend. Also SunnyLadybug087 also has offered to be a handler as her armor is not ready.

 

[crackhead09]

I’ll have an extra with me for Saturday if spots are still open.

 

[FANGS]

Sooooo.....the good and the bad.

Thank you to all of you who signed up and showed up. If you signed up and let me know that you weren't able to come, thank you. For those of you who signed up and didn't show up and didn't let me know......that's super not cool of you.

I think overall the parade went well. It seemed to have a better flow than usual and we didn't get the long pauses and end up causing us to spread out too far.

We did have a few incidents of weapon pointing and at least one of pretending to tea bag. When this was addressed, the person stuck their tongue out at the handler. Also super not cool.

I want to give a big thank you to our handers for keeping on top of things and a huge apology for having to put up with someone sticking their tongue out. I also want to give a huge thank you to Blaine as always for being able to fix people on the fly and helping to keep people hydrated.

Thank you to Barry for shouting out instructions for all to hear!

For the rest of you, thank you for being so engaging with the crowds and bringing smiles to faces. You made a lot of people very happy, so thank you!