Event Vitals
How to Join the Horde
Why in God's name would anyone want to walk around pretending to be a bunch of silly, made-up zombies?
So what should I do? How do I dress up as a zombie? Give me some ideas or guidelines, for Pete's sake! I need some inspiration!!
Are there any rules to this Zombie Lurch thing?
Okay, so what should I expect to find at this 'Zombie Lurch?'
Are we allowed to do this? Is it okay to go tromping through DC as a Horde of the Undead?
Couldn't people mistake us for the real thing? Could some hapless zombie impersonator actually get hurt because of it?
Will there be food and/or drink provided for participants before, after, or during the event circuit?
*Will there be drugs or alcohol before, during or after the Zombie Lurch?
*How far should people actually go in pursuit of realism, here? (Are you guys really gonna EAT people???)
*Will there be violence of any kind at the Zombie Lurch?
*What about weapons? Can I bring a knife or gun/other weapon as a prop?
Will there be people attending who won't be dressed up as a zombie?
*Will people be allowed to videotape, photograph, or otherwise record the Lurch?
Can I bring my family/friends to the Zombie Lurch?
*Can I bring my kid(s)?
*Can I bring my pet(s)?
How political can I get with my "protest" signs?
How much does the Lurch cost?
So now that I know the deal, how do I spread the word?
YOUl Plus anyone else you want to bring or think might be interested.
A very unusual march around the Nation's Capital- (Washington DC), featuring a stumbling mass of the (artificial) living dead!
October 27th, 2007. Marching will begin at 6:00pm, w/a Pre-Lurch being held at the Lurch start-point @ 5:00pm.
On the National Mall, right next to the Washington Monument. We'll be right close to the entrance loop. :)
Well, there are lots of reasons, and people can join the Lurch for any and all of them! Some motivations might include:
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The general desire to have some creepy Halloween fun! |
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The love of the Horror genre. (Whether it be from books, TV, movies, comics and more!) |
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The love of the zombie genre in general. (Be it literary, comic, film or otherwise- inspired.) |
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The fascination with one particular realm of undead flesh-eaters. (Like the "Day/Night" or "Dead" zombies, or "real" undead possibilities.) |
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The general enjoyment of creepy fun stuff at large. |
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The enthusiasm for theatre makeup, movie makeup, fun FX, etc. |
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The love of movie monsters- new school, old school, and beyond. |
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The admiration of any chance to dress up, go out and be silly, or do something odd, unusual or out of the ordinary. |
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The love of "All Things Daaaaaaahhhhhk," horrific in nature, etc. |
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Any healthy (or, even mildly unhealthy) curiosity about zombies, the media they're found in, their various attributes, their fans, Horror stuff, and/or the people who love them. |
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An interest in making make a zombie movie- either on-site or otherwise. (Recruitment for actors, makeup artists, etc.) |
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The desire to increase "zombie visibility" in the public and the media. |
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The desire to make new friends, get together with people, meet intersting folks and explore new ideas. |
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The desire to have fun doing something both individual, as a group, and wholly, entirely, and utterly unique! |
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The inclination to see new (Freaky, fantastic, bizarre or interesting) things and have new experiences! |
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Even the slightest interest to see a bunch of people (weirdos) dressed up in funny clothes and makeup, imitating fictional movie-monsters. (I.e., the desire to spectate.) |
If any of these lurching motivations apply to you, or if you have one (or a bevy) of your own reasons, you might be a great candidate to come and join us for the Lurch around Washington DC! Some come just to shamble, to be silly, some come just to dress up and get in freaky, nightmarishly-fun horror makeup, some come out to spoof a "March for Zombie/Undead Rights" (which would be perfect in our Nation's Capital, and on Halloween no less!!). Some come with a cinematic effect in mind- (e.g. the enjoyment of the idea that there really -will- be a zombie horde lurching around the city), and some just come out to be with friends, enjoy a taste of Halloween, and/or create their own perfect idea for a member of the living undead. ^Crawl to the Surface^
This is for many the best part of the Lurch outside of seeing and meeting new friends- deciding what you want to be and dressing n' gooping it up! There is no "right" or "wrong" way to be a zombie, (as they're made up, ya know), so don't sweat this too, toooo much. Whether you're a fan of Romero, his former partner, or any one of the number of other zombie creators in books, film, TV and comics, or whether you make something all your own, the possibilties can be endless! There are -no- boundaries here (other than public nudity laws and the like), so use your imagination and BE CREATIVE!! (I know, lots of folks wanted to do the naked zombie chick from "Return," huh? ;))
Need more inspiration? Come as you think you would be if you got zombified, be your favorite character from your fave Romero flick, a Stephen King zombie attack or other already-depicted horror genre, or make up your own parameters and play away! Come as your own creative idea that would be particularly interesting, especially funny, unique or bizarre. Do what ever you please and go as simple or however far you want! (Although letting loose and giving the 'stume your all is very much encouraged, no one will be turned away for lack of grandeur, gore or imagination. Just give it your best shot.)
Remember: Elaborate, expensive, and highly intricate get-ups can be fantastic, but don't forget that you can do -a lot- with a few old, torn up or hand-me-down clothes, a little theatrical makeup and a novelty prop or two- even something from the pet aisle or hardware section at your local Everything Store. Just have fun, and play with props, ideas, clothes, makeup and even masks, prosthetics and wigs to make your look -just- what you want it to be! Come realistic, cheesy, beautiful or ghastly, just enjoy yourself and bring that to the Lurch. We can't wait to see what you come up with!!! :D ^Crawl to the Surface^
There are a few guidelines, but for the most part this is meant to be a fun, free-spirited and creative event. :) There are only a few "musts" concerning the Lurch. Those issues are cited below, indicated by an asterisk (*) before its pertinent question. The only "must/must nots" concern drugs/alcohol, "zombie realism," weapons, violence, videography/photography and kids. See below. ^Crawl to the Surface^
First off, fun!! But more specifically: There will likely be a gathering before the Lurch to get people together, have a little food n' drink to fuel us up for the walk, and give a chance for people to meet and greet & get into groups for the upcoming shamble. This time might also be used to work on makeup, clothes, props etc, or prepare in whatever other ways folks might see fit.
After that, a decently-sized group of various types of people, (hopefully in good humor as well as health), who will be in various types of zombie gear, will gather and head out for the Lurch. The idea is to shamble around a certain part of DC as a Horde of the Living Undead; some w/signs and banners, play-picketing for various Zombie rights. Others may simply shamble with the Horde, ever on the lookout for fresh brains and human flesh to surreptitiously devour as a mid-day snack. But above all else, expect to have a good, undead ol' time! ^Crawl to the Surface^
You betcha! Rest assured, by the time the Lurch takes place all proper authorities will be alerted, all necessary permits will be acquired, and we will have every legal and local right to shamble through the streets of DC. Hooray!!! That means cops and other officials will be alerted to our presence ahead of time and know we're coming, so that when they see us or possibly even get reports of our presence, they'll know it's just a bunch of silly people walking around playing pretend. :) ^Crawl to the Surface^
Not bloody likely. Some folks might mistake us for the real thing at first, but it's highly doubtful anyone will truly believe zombies are staging a march on Washington- carrying picket signs and shambling about with grunts of "what do we want? - Brains!!! When do we want 'em? BRAIIIIIIIINS!!!!!!!!" Plus we might even get a police escort if the authorities deem it necessary. IF that's the case, if in the unlikely event there seems to be any real trouble on the horizon, no doubt the officer or whomever is escorting us will snub the problem out before it even becomes one. So rest easy, and know you're safe with us. ^Crawl to the Surface^
Aside from the spectators? Perhaps. (Just kidding!!! NO genuine flesh-eating allowed at the Lurch unless it's a turkey sammich, people!!!) Seriously though, there may be a kind soul willing to provide food or drink at the pre-Lurch gathering, or folks may conversely bring food or order munchies at that time as they see fit. If desired people are welcome to bring water, sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages along with them during the Lurch. In addition, whatever non-perishable and stable snack-y foods folks might wish to bring to keep their energy up are welcome too. (Such as health bars, energy snacks, gum, things that don't melt or leak too easily, or get unmanageable when jostled or in varying temperatures.)
In the spirit of the Lurch, if people do want to much during the circuit, we HIGHTLY encourage people bring things like gummi worms and other gross-looking-but-perfectlyedible-delights. Fruit roll-ups might work in this vein too, as a matter of fact! (Think red, shiny ragged things dangling out of undead mouths.) ^Crawl to the Surface^
No. If participants want to get their buzz on before or after Official Lurch events, that's fine, but there are too many liabilities and chances for things to go wrong if alcohol is in the picture, and we want to make this a great event for -everyone,- not just the drinkers. Sorry! If you do drink prior to the Lurch, make sure you're not still inebriated when you get there, or you'll be asked to stay behind for the shamble. SUI (Shambling Under the Influence) could be dangerous to the shambler themselves, other participants, onlookers and may present other problems the Lurch just doesn't need. Plus even one person drunk off their nut could just really kill the mood- let alone cause a ton of other issues. We want to be lurching because we're a mass of the Walking Dead, not because we're about to barf up a case of Goldschlagger on the mean streets of the Capital. ^Crawl to the Surface^
No. (What you do on your own time however, is your own business.) All props, zombie paraphernalia and other gory elements used to contribute to the Lurch, used to enhance the "moooood," "look" etc. are to be 100% artificial!!! No chicken's eyes, pig intestines, or other such elements will be accepted into the Lurch. They get smelly, leaky, rotted and could cause legal problems w/the local establishments- problems we just don't need, even if we -are- supposed to LOOK leaky, rotted, smelly and mold-ridden. If that's the look you're goin' for, find a way to do it with inorganic matter. If you have a dried chicken foot or a real cow horn somewhere that you wanna use, that's fine, but pleace make sure it's safe, WELL preserved, and secured tightly to you- as well as defendable if you're stopped by the cops and asked what the heck you're doing with a bunny skull on your head. (Just because Grampa died after he said he'd give you everything doesn't mean you can hack off his hand and bring to the Lurch as a "really cool prop." Unless it's Karo syrup, gummi candy or other innocuous food-wares, please don't bring anything "questionable" into the Lurch. We're gonna get enough stares as it is. :) ^Crawl to the Surface^
No. Not on any level. Some shamblers might be out to startle the unwitting masses in the spirit of good-natured fun, perhaps surprising a passer-by or two, but no real violence will be tolerated whatsoever where the Lurch is concerned. (That goes for Lurcher-to-crowd as well as crowd-to-Lurchers!) This is meant to be a SAFE EVENT for everyone involved, Lurchers, on-lookers on the sidelines, policemen, etc. The local authorities have been alerted and we have been given permission to stage the Lurch. If anyone is given trouble in or around the Lurch, the authorities -will be alerted. No one at the Lurch should suffer anything more than their made-up wounds- or at the very worst, a minor scrape or bruise if (Heaven forbid) someone were unfortunate enough to fall down or trip during the shamble. And hopefully, we won't even see that! ^Crawl to the Surface^
NO WEAPONS WILL BE PERMITTED TO JOIN THE LURCH OR ITS CORRESPONDING EVENTS. That means no guns, knives, big lead pipes, or other objects that may even be perceived as weapons will be allowed to enter Lurch event space. (That also includes concealed stuff, too- so no sword-canes or other neat objects that could still get people in trouble!) If your zombie has a knife sticking through him, it better be a gag item, or you'll be asked to remove either it or yourself from the Lurch. It kinda goes along w/the whole "no violence" thing, kids. I know knives are cool and guns are great anti-zombie protocol, but even the look-alike stuff can get you in trouble here in DC, (especially after 09-11), and we don't wanna piss anybody off- especially the big guys w/the badges and very REAL guns. Besides, we'll be scary enough as a horde of the living dead- what do we need weapons for when we can take over society via our bare hands and gnashing teeth?
Seriously though, guys- it involves respect for each other, the area, and everyone around us to boot. We don't want to truly endanger -anyone- by our presence, period. Yes it sucks, but it's still the way it goes. Sorry if that spoils some folks' fun, but this is a "must." ^Crawl to the Surface^
Quite possibly. We encourage direct participation (i.e. joining up with the Horde and shambling around DC as a zombie), but respectful, interested spectators and considerate questioners are of course welcome. It would probably be better for all if bystanders did not move directly within or amidst the horde, as that might break up the flow of progression, disturb the shamblers (as well as the atmosphere and appearance of the group) and could interrupt the participant's experience, but approach on the sidelines and considerately hailing shamblers over should be no problem at all. ^Crawl to the Surface^
We hope to have one or two Official videographers or photographers on-hand to record the Lurch. (What memories this should make- and what an interesting scrapbook to show your grandkids!!) Other videographers, photographers and reporters are also welcome, but as a courtesy to participants' privacy it is requested that one ask permission first before snapping a shot or approaching a Horde-member w/a barrage of questions. (We love the attention and adore genuine interest, but we'd like to respect peoples' right to appear- or not- in whatever they choose; even if one's kind of "asking for it" in participating in this kind of event. ^Crawl to the Surface^
You bet your sweet patootie! All comers are invited to join in on the shambling! Or if they prefer, the more timid may of course simply watch from the sidelines. With participant permission people are encouraged to take photos, and frankly, the more the merrier! Bring 'em along, dress 'em up, gore 'em out! Maybe someone'll make a new friend, or be introduced to a new idea or genre they never knew they'd enjoy- or that even existed! ^Crawl to the Surface^
Sure! We request that anyone under 18 be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian, and that no one under 8 attend for their own comfort unless some sort of a stroller or other assistive carrying device is made available to them, though. (I mean, 6 year-olds can have a TON of energy, but they tend to tire out quick and then get upset when they can't rest- which they should be able to. Plus the smaller ones may be disruptive to you or your fellow shamblers, thus ruining their time, your time, and the time of your child. Please be considerate when deciding whether or not to bring your little ones!)
If your child will be shambling w/you, make sure they're able to handle being outside for an extended period of time, comfortably walk or ride w/you lurching the full route is difficult, and that they are supervised at all times. There will be no daycare services provided at the event, and no one wants to watch someone else's kid while they're trying to have their own fun 'cause that kids folks are off having fun somewhere else. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CHILDREN UNATTENDED. Not only do we want everyone to have a good time here, but we also have to remember that we are DC, people- and it may be a great place, but it's still a big, potentially dangerous city- let alone considering our nation's current political climate. Yes, we'll have the watchful eye of the "big guys" with us, and yes, the Lurch will no doubt be full of very sweet, nice people who'd never dream of hurting your kid, but they're not responsible for your children- YOU ARE. ^Crawl to the Surface^
All licensed assistance animals are most happily welcome! Outside of that, if you wanna bring Fido or Beppo your pet rat, bird, snake or whathaveyou, that's your choice; but please remember to be respectful of others and that they, like one's children, are YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. If Squash the chicken decides to poop on someone's shoes or Inky your three-legged horse decides to take a dump on the roadside, it's your job to handle it in a responsible, prompt and considerate way. No one wants to step in poo or get peed on, bitten, or otherwise bugged by a someone's hyper, disobedient or otherwise troublesome (at least to the event) pet, so please keep that in mind as you consider whether or not to bring Binky, Elvira, or Cletus. Moreover, crowds and unfamiliar surroundings tend to make most pets nervous. You might be forced to go home if Stinky's getting too frisky, frantic, or violent, nor do you want to freak the poor things out and bring home a sick or disturbed pet.
I myself will not be bringing my kitties, no matter how much I might wish to. After all, the animal's health and comfort is also important here too, and depending on the animal we might be asking more of them than we realize in requesting them to accompany us at the Lurch. (Bambie the narcoleptic dachshund might not appreciate getting stepped on if she falls asleep during the route, just as anythin.g wee might get tired during a long walking stint.) If your animal has not had their shots yet, don't forget to consider that there are likely to be other creatures present. (I mean, it's a city, right?) Bites or other encounters could be harmful to your pet, things that they might encounter if you're attention's averted. And remember- you still have to provide food, water and a place to "make" for your furry, scaled, or feathered companion, let alone lots of love and attention. Not to mention that doing so while covered in makeup or being unrecognizable to your friend might make it challenging, so think before you turn Brutus your pet Chihuaha into a zombie to accompany you at the Lurch. ^Crawl to the Surface^
We TOTALLY encourage creativity
and a sense of humour at the Lurch, but please try to stay away from extremely
controversial, delicate or obscene stuff that might cause the Lurch, its
shamblers, or even passers-by n' the local law enforcement folks any
trouble. Stuff like "Make voodoo, not war!" or "Glad to be
Gray" is fiiine, but unless one's signs are funny, spoofing Halloween,
zombie-ness or its originators (like Romero, authors/characters from fiction,
etc) in general, I'd shy away from getting toooo pointedly political. Yes,
I love standing up for what you believe in and making a statement, but as this
might endanger others and harm not just you but others around you, I'd suggest
veiling your points in clever puns, plays one words, etc. We don't want to
get ANYONE in the lurch in trouble, or have the event closed down, right?
(After all, this is more for fun, and there're LOTS of different beliefs out
there) so try to keep it light, folks! :)
If you choose to go the protest route, remember: This is mostly meant to be a
MOCK protest. But hey, if you're fun and clever, and aren't
heinously blatant about, or feel you can be wickedly creative w/o chancing a
slogan that might cause a fight, go ahead. If you're still not sure, you
could either pass it by the people at the LiveJournal community we have for the
Lurch, the MySpace community, or put up any ideas/questions as a bulletin for
the group or the personal MySpace Lurch page. (I mean, someone in
Wisconsin did something like "Hey, I'm undead, and I still vote.")
That stuff's okay, you just don't want to start any fistfights or protest
backlashes by the cops, get negative press for your or the Lurch, or potentially
incite something w/the assers-by/onlookers.
Please Note: If you choose to ignore our guidelines or simply not to read them and your picket sign is inappropriate, it -will- be removed from the Lurch. If you cause a large enough stink about it, so will you. Sorry, but that's just the way it goes. We don't want any one ruining the fun for the many who've come just for the fun of the Lurch!
Need more info? Check out our post about this and other sign ideas/guidelines at our LiveJournal Community Page. If you've -still- got more questions, feel free to just e-mail me, and we'll see what we can do to work it out. :). ^Crawl to the Surface^
THE LURCH IS ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! Since it's a non-sponsored, BYOS (bring-your-own-stuff) event, the Lurch doesn't cost a thing to attend or participate in.
We did however, just find out from the DC Parks service (the people who run our gathering spot- the National Mall) that we need a permit to congregate on their premises, as a group above 25 people. The event's still free and you don't -need- to donate to be allowed to come. The Lurch organizer is just poor, and although she'd love to take care of this herself, financially speaking, it's just a serious toughy given her current, broke-arse state. Will you help us get the permit w/a small donation of a dollar or two? Any help you can give would help a lot! But not worries.. if you can, many thanks, and fantastic! If not, that's okay too. :) Either way, we'd still love to see your grizzled faces at the upcoming shamble!!!
To donate via PayPal, click below:
Or if you'd prefer, just
show up @ the Lurch and hand the Organizer a buck or two. Every little bit
helps, and it doesn't have to be done electronically to have a big impact!
Thanks so much, and see you at the Lurch!!!
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D ^Crawl
to the Surface^
Easy! There are lots of simple ways to let other people know about the Zombie Lurch:
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Spread the word via the most effective form of advertising there is; word-of-mouth! Tell your friends, your family- let everyone know what the event is all about, when it's going to be, and how to find out more information through simple, day-to-day conversation. If you get stuck, just give folks our home page address and let us do the rest. Sound easy? It is! |
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E-mail. Think about the people you correspond on-line with through e-mail: Are any of them zombie fans? Horror buffs? If you've got people on your lists who'd be interested, put 'em all on one outgoing message and let people know the vital stats about the Lurch. A few phrases and key bits of info, hit "Send" and boom! you're done! |
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Instant messengers: Ever find yourself surfing the web and chatting simultaneously on AIM? Totally! Well that's a great opportunity to pass on the word about the Capital Lurch. If you happen to be surfing a zombie page, our page or another Lurch site, you could easily let people know about the event just by saying something like "hey, I just found this cool site" and forwarding them the link. What a snap! |
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Use networking sites like Live Journal, My Space, Hi-5 and Tribe.net! These places are -great- and offer a lot when it comes to passing on cool information. Make journal posts about us, your costume, your preparations and plans for the Lurch in your journal, blog or other space and put them into your blog, local, interest-based, networking or clique's community/group journal! there are -tons- of possibilities here, including crossposting and other community and interst sites. Plus, just by putting us in your Interests section, when people browse your page, they can explore what you like and learn about the Lurch to boot! |
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Your own personal web page: You can put us on your "Upcoming Events" calendar, link your web page to your blog and its entries involving the Shamble, or put our page up onto your own Links page. Just by linking back to us, friends and folks w/common interests are more likely to join you in what you enjoy doing, and maybe even join you at the Lurch! |
