MARSCON 2021
http://marsconcomedy.com – http://www.marscon.com
Hilton Minneapolis/St Paul Mall of America – Bloomington, MN
March 12th, 13th, & 14th, 2021
Music Guest Of Honor ROBBIE ELLIS!
http://www.robbieellis.net & https://robbieellis.bandcamp.com
Making her MarsCon debut,
AMY ENGELHARDT!
http://www.amyengelhardt.com
And returning, these usual suspects:
BETH KINDERMAN
DEVO SPICE
IL NEIGE
INSANE IAN
THE GREAT LUKE SKI
TV’S KYLE & LINDZILLA
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:
The MarsCon Convention Committee has been making plans for both an in-person convention like usual, and a virtual MarsCon 2021 if large gatherings are still not going to be allowed in Bloomington MN during March 12th through 14th, 2021. Right now, that seems to be the most likely scenario, and if it is, the acts listed above have all agreed to perform concerts from home into MarsCon’s virtual convention video feed. Stay tuned to the websites and social media accounts of MarsCon (Minneapolis) and the MarsCon Comedy Music Track for updates.
A TRACK BY ANY OTHER NAME WOULD SOUND JUST AS DEMENTED
You may have noticed the “MarsCon Dementia Track” has changed its name to the “MarsCon Comedy Music Track”. This something I have been thinking about doing for a few years. The main reason I wanted to make this change is because, unlike other words that started in fandom circles that went mainstream (fanboy, pwned, cosplay, etc.), the term “dementia” as coined by Dr. Demento to mean “comedy music” (as well as sketches, stand-up, and/or other funny or odd audio that may be heard on “The Dr. Demento Show”) sadly has yet to catch on with anyone outside of Dr. Demento fandom.
Due to that, my assumption is that when someone new to MarsCon looks at the convention’s programming and sees the phrase “MarsCon Dementia Track”, they will either (1.) not have any idea what that means, or (2.) think that the track is about the medical condition known as “dementia”. I feel I owe it to all of the acts that I persuade to come out and perform at MarsCon every year to do everything I can to get them as large as audience as possible. I ran this idea past the folks following our track’s Facebook page, and there was nearly unanimous support to make the change. Lindsay Smith updated the logo for me, and I made the changes to our online accounts:
Website: http://www.MarsConComedy.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MarsConComedy
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MarsConComedy
People in the fandom are still going to use the word “dementia” to mean comedy music (etc.), just as the 79-year-old Dr. Demento is still doing every week on his online show. Heck, Dr. D. just released a new album which has the earliest comedy songs ever recorded (1895~1925), titling the album “FIRST CENTURY DEMENTIA”! I am just trying to get a few more butts in the seats at our track’s concerts by putting the words “COMEDY MUSIC” in our name, so that people who never found Dr. D.’s show but love the funny songs of “Weird Al” Yankovic, The Lonely Island, Epic Rap Battles Of History, Garfunkel & Oates, Rachel Bloom, Princess Rap Battles by Whitney Avalon, Flight Of The Conchords, Ninja Sex Party, Tenacious D, and the Aquabats will see the words “MarsCon Comedy Music Track” and think “Hey! I love comedy music! I should register for MarsCon and check that out!”
THE MARSCON COMEDY MUSIC SAMPLER PLATTER CONCERT!
Every November, MarsCon holds a Masquerade Ball to promote their convention happening 4 months later. This year it was a Virtual Masquerade Ball, and the MarsCon Comedy Music Track was asked to contribute by having a one-hour “Sampler Platter” Concert, which is now up on YouTube for all to see! The show features Beth Kinderman, Marc With A C, past Music Guests Of Honor Dr. Pinkerton of the C.O.G., Lauren Mayer, Devo Spice, the great Luke Ski, and MarsCon 2021’s Music Guest Of Honor Robbie Ellis!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJIctvjAouE
Follow the social media accounts of MarsCon and the MarsCon Comedy Music Track for status updates on MarsCon 2021. There will be a MarsCon 2021 Comedy Music Track Fund Raiser album with live tracks from MarsCon 2020 a.k.a. the last thing any of us did before society ended.
Music Guest Of Honor:
The 6th Annual 
In other news, the MarsCon 2015 Dementia Track Fund Raiser has been stalled out at 76% for over 2 weeks! Please help us hit our goal by ordering your own copy of this year’s Fund Raiser album today!
Besides having several hits on “The Dr. Demento Show”, Rob Paravonian is a standup comedian known the world over for his Pachelbel Rant and viral videos which have been viewed millions of times. Using music to get the laughs, Rob has opened for George Carlin and Lily Tomlin, has appeared on Comedy Central and VH1. Rob is an old friend to many of the participants of the MarsCon Dementia Track, and we are very happy to finally have him here as our Music Guest Of Honor. 