Last week, I learned that San Francisco’s Steampunk staple, Clockwork was pre-empted by The Cat Club for the month of November. Rather a shame since the event was due to fall on the auspicious night of Friday the 13th, but alas! it seems that we will have to celebrate the power of human superstition elsewhere!

I do not know why Cat Club preempted Clockwork, but can only assume that they had a “better offer” for that date. It’s a Friday night in San Francisco, so any good venue (such as Cat Club) must have a million other proven options. However, they would never do this to an established regular night and I’m equally certain that this cancellation has left MzSamanatha, Club Clockwork's otherwise indomitable promoter, feeling a bit down. Given how hard Samantha has been working to find a new home for this event to take residency, I hate to see her feel discouraged. Worse yet, I would hate to see her give up.

I’m concerned that the future of Club Clockwork is uncertain, and I am loathe to see the Bay Area Steampunk community lose another regular event that is devoted to our aesthetics and tastes. Thus it is for two reason that I write this:


1) in hopes that management of The Cat Club read it and insure us that Club Clockwork will be back at Cat Club in December (and provided we can earn it ensure us a regular spot in their monthly line-up), and

2) I truly would like to rally support for Samantha to let her know that the community is behind her and we will be there for her in force WHEN the next Clockwork happens and we will continue to give our all to support her through this until things are running, well, like Clockwork.

I hope that we’re offered a second chance to show The Cat Club what an awesome group we are, but I’m also wary as December is typically a difficult month for club nights- what with the coming holidays, and competing with corporate parties for venue space. But if we choose to, December would actually be a perfect month for Club Clockwork! With “The Great Dickens Christmas Fair” in full-swing, many members of our community are here and in the full spirit of costume and revelry. We could very well get good enough attendance even through a difficult month to have a fantastic event! Not only would this be a tremendous morale boost for MzSamantha, it would show Cat Club that the community is worth supporting and hopefully prevent them from preempting us again in the future. And then we will have one more place in the Bay Area to disseminate our influence upon the world (and to enjoy each others' company)!

Looking at my calendar, it seems Club Clockwork is back at Cat Club in San Francisco on Friday, December 11 of 2009. What say you? Will you pledge to join us in our Steampunk festivities? If you're in the Bay Area, all you have to do is come out and join us! Please pledge to attend below, and I would love to see you all there!

Or if you’re not local, please re-post this and spread the word to help us keep Clockwork ticking on 2nd Fridays in Cat Club's permanent line-up! Also, if you’re NOT in San Francisco, but want to check-out The Dickens’s Fair, we could make the weekend of Dec 11th a Steampunk invasion! You could come out and celebrate with us on Friday night, then join us at the Fair on Saturday and/or Sunday.

But please, whatever you do, pledge support and forward this on to friends!

Astra Kim - TempestedBird