From
the KAG DCO
Greetings,
all! As Kerla has announced, I'm KAG's new deputy
(for some reason, I can't help but picture little Alexander in a cowboy
hat). In that position, one of my primary functions will be
to assist Kerla in preparing KAG for our big 20th Anniversary bash at Marcon next year,
KAG ATTACKS! We have much to do, and less than a year to do
it!
In the last issue, I started to talk about costuming. When we
get together next year, we want to look our best. Everyone
should be making it a priority to upgrade their uniform before
Marcon. When we get together for our big group photo next
May, will you be wearing Feddie pyjamas with your headpiece?
Will your prosthetic look like one of those Denebian snot-critters died
on your head? Will your armor be made of cardboard and duct
tape? Or will you look like you just stepped off the set?
Remember that quality is more important than complexity of
costume. If all you can manage is a TOS Klingon, then do
that, but do it well! Take the time to do a good makeup job:
dark brown foundation with fu manchu and thick eyebrows (it's better to
use glued-on hair than drawing it on). Make sure your gold
vest has finished edges. Wear a belt with a proper Klingon
belt buckle (if the originals were made of bubble wrap, how hard can it
be to make one?). Use the sleeves of an old leather coat to
make some knee-high boot spats. Accessorize; add a holster
for a disruptor or knife, if you have one.
Enterprise-era Klingons are almost as easy. You'll need a
headpice of course (unless you are doing a fourth season "Klingon
augment"). There are a number of different methods to make a
head piece; whichever you choose, just make sure it doesn't look
totally lame. Make sure your head and face color
matches. Spend the money for a reasonably good
wig if you're able. Cheap halloween wigs turn into snarled
rats nests after
a single wearing, while even a few extra dollars spent can dramatically
increase the wearable life of your wig. As for the rest of
the Enterprise klingon look, it mostly consists of different bits of
brown leather and some silver mesh fabric. Not too difficult
to put together.
The most popular (and most difficult) option is the grey uniform
armor. If you are going to go this route, make sure the
person constructing your uniform knows what they are doing.
Take the time (and/or spend the money) to do it right. If you
are going to all the trouble to assemble a fully-armored look, you
don't want it to look crappy. Wear appropriate sleeves,
pants, and boots (or boot spats). Don't forget details like
the belt buckle, gauntlets (and fingerless gloves), and accessories.
If you're going to do a variant look (not copied from onscreen), then
make sure it can be identified as Klingon. Often all it takes
is the right silhouette and choice of materials and
accessories. There's nothing wrong with being a "pirate
klingon" or a "goth Klingon", but that doesn't mean just wearing a
pirate shirt or a goth dress with a rubber forehead. The
whole outfit should have the Klingon aesthetic in mind, in terms of
cut, colors, and fabrics.
Remember that the time spent to improve the look of your uniform will
pay off, not just at Marcon, but at every event you do
afterwards. If KAG is to continue to bring in new recruits,
we need people to look at us and say "Wow, those guys look cool!", not
"Wow! Those guys look lame!"
There's lots of other stuff to do to get ready for Marcon, like making
banners, preparing presentations, arranging carpools, stuff like
that. But we'll leave that for another issue.
- Admiral Krikor
zantai-jechwI'
(Krikor Ajemian)
Deputy Commander, KAG
[email protected]
