The Goblin Ball 2014. What can we say? So many astonishing guests and so many amazing adventures were had on the evening of the 14th of July 2014. The realm of Ember Rule was a far cry from the Ice Kingdom and everything was so different. We offer a reflection on our past and give hint to the future of THe Goblin Ball in 2015.
Photos in this post are on behalf of Ellen Duffy Photography who provided the photoshoot for the evening! Be sure to check your shots here!

The Goblin Ball: Ember Rule was phenomenal all thanks to our guests and the artists involved. Lizzie Sharp provided the makeup crew who created the creatures who inhabited the event and the photographers made all of our guests feel special.

Guests were welcomed to a Goblin Marketplace that had several amazing artisan stalls including Nightshade FX and Roseberry bay soaps.

Pintina arrived, forcefully returned to face a family of Gods who were quick to forgive. Guests were invited to choose her fate - Bless or Damn. In the end Pintina was presented at the end of the Walk of The Gods and Blessed with Demi Goddess status.

Through the evening Animata String Quartet played renditions of songs from Game of Thrones to Labyrinth allowing our guests to be immersed in the romance of the evening. Lamplight Circus and Lee from Melbourne Magic festival provided the wandering entertainment  and Shimmy Bliss once again proved hypnotic. Omega kept the Gods inferno pumping with song requests in a red lit room of DOOM!

The Quests were more popular than we had intended with over 200 quests being completed before 10pm. Next year we will grow this side of our guest experience and maybe making things a little harder and more immersive!

By the end of the evening as guests had grown weary of photoshoots and adventures we closed the doors at 12. Pintina had double crossed Ember Rule by stealing the heart of the God and left  a clue beckoning us to follow her to Terra Bayou.

Next years adventures will surely be interesting as we explore The Power of Voodoo!

Just Who were these Ringmasters who ran around the venue?
You may have seen the 5 Ringmasters running around the venue and sometimes talked to a few. But what were their roles on the evening?
The Ringmasters are actually the production crew who have been working hard (sometimes up to a full 12 months before) to make sure the event runs as best as it can.
The story line of the Ringmasters isn't something that was accidental. The Ringmasters are here by appointment of Jaggies - a mysterious figure who may be revealed in an event or two - but all you need to do is remember to seek them for help and fun on the evening.
The Ringmasters were all amazed by everyones efforts on the evening and we can't wait to see you again next year!

Pintina
Congratulations, thanks to our guests Pintina survived another Goblin Ball. Last year the brat Princess schemed and harassed our guests to make sure they felt uncomfortable. This year with the possibility of being granted Demigoddess status, Pintina grew up a little and with some handy positive PA from the Acolytes from the realm of Ember Rule Pintina reached that goal - only to double cross Ember Rule at the final moment replacing the Gods heart with a Voodoo doll. This could only mean we must follow her to Ember Rule and experience the Power of Voodoo in 2015!


The Acolytes
Our VERY valuable volunteers for the evening were wonderful in supplying help to the guests who were a little lost to find their way! Even the Guards of Ember Rule who provided Fire twirling and Belly dancing made quite the impression. Next year who can we expect to help our guests through Terra Bayou?

The Quest Masters worked tirelessly at taking our guests on adventures and making sure their motives where known.

Hasina made sure her love of Pintina won over the crowd and successfully won over the hearts of the guests.  Would the fact that Pintina double crossed Ember Rule sway her devotion?

Amak from The Ice Kingdom was unsuccessful and grew in anger toward Ember Rule. We wonder if he will attempt to travel to Terra Bayou to gain revenge. 

Bodhisattva was key in gathering guests runes to expose the future and she was able to use this information to expose that Maude was intending to steal the Gods heart - but did she know more than what she was letting on?

Maude - framed or foe? Next year as we travel to Terra Bayou we may see more of what he was attempting to do with the God's heart.

Paiva the Fire Goddess was awaiting the return of not only her God but also of Pintina. When Ebon came with the promise of forgiveness the were able to accept Pintina into her rightful place of Demi Goddess. 
Do they have forgiveness in their heart (the one left between them) to see past Pintina's shortcomings to allow her to reclaim her place in the family at a later stage or has Pintina escaped with the blessings, and the heart?

The Walk of the Gods at 10pm was amazing! There were so many fantastic costumes however Tracy and David (who came as a tree!) were the ones who the Gods bestowed the Title of Gods Honored. They took home a skull from Nightshade FX and double passes to next years trip to Terra Bayou. (Photos of the Tree Sentinel to come!)

So where do we go from here?

Terra Bayou is a world of New Orleans inspired Voodoo where we can be sure to see our Demigoddess Pintina explore and attempt to complete her next ulterior motive, but what could it possibly be?

Next year we bring an authentic New Orleans flavor to the Goblin Ball that includes Voodoo, southern charm and a little touch of death. Lets just say it won't be such a walk in Ember Rule for our dear Pintina. The Swampland of Terra Bayou awaits. Will you be invited to walk the Grand Mardi Gras for the Barons of Terra Bayou?

For updates and news be sure to follow The Goblin Ball on facebook and join The Power of Voodoo event!

We love feedback and it's all been wonderful however if you would like to give inclusions for next year feel free to submit them at The Goblin Ball page and we will do our best to consider your requests.

This year we have a HUGE army of photographers at The Goblin Ball. 
Snapping guests are the likes of Matt from PMD studios, Kavita from Kapana photography, FreshPhotography and even GoreJess photography will be making an appearance. Ellen Duffy is not forgotten and has an amazing portfolio that even YOU could be added to!

Ellen Duffy is managing the photo shoot (photobooth) area in The Goblin Marketplace this year and making sure to capture people in their finery. She will also be wandering the event looking for some interesting characters to capture.

We thought we would catch up with Ellen Duffy from Ellen Duffy photography to work out how you can get the best photo from The Goblin Ball as a guest.

What so far has been your favorite event to photograph and what made it so exciting?

The most exciting that springs to mind would be the All Hallows Eve party in October last year, I’d never met more inspiring and creative people in Australia before that night. I started the night not knowing anyone and shyly bringing out my camera, then after a fantastic conversation with a white ice queen (who happened to be the organiser’s mother) following a glass of wine, I couldn’t put my camera down. I’d finally found a group of people that instead of having to disguise my weirdness, they embraced me the more strange I became! Every photo from that night popped for the crowd was as vibrantly electric and sparkly on the outside as they were on the inside. I follow them everywhere with my camera now!

You have an astounding studio portfolio too. Do you think this helps your event style in bringing an additional creativity?

I was trained in studio portraiture and weddings by two completely contrasting photographers which was an accidently fantastic happenstance and allowed me to one week focus on how to control every aspect of the light in a studio, to very quickly know how to set up a shot using one light during a wedding out on location, and having this balance in my photography is so important. I definitely prefer event photography to studio for I’m consistently excited by the challenge of each day- you never know what the lighting will be, how the patrons will accept you being there, what backgrounds you have to work with, etc. If anything I feel that my event work has helped me in the studio, for I have a lot less to worry about in the studio. It’s rather freeing being a control freak in a studio, then having the universe control you when you’re on location.  

If I saw you at the goblin ball, what should I do? Should I say hello or should I give you some crazy ideas?

Firstly, ALWAYS say hello. Even if you were a stranger I’d most likely say hello back then give you a cuddle (I feel people should hug first, talk later).  I’m very much always up for hearing crazy ideas but I come with a brain bursting full of them as well- with our powers combined we will create AWESOME!! Want me to photograph you hanging upside down whilst blowing bubbles out of the long pipe? I’m your girl. Want to interpretive dance with your friends and have me document it whilst I’m lying on the ground? Done. Never done acro yoga and want to give a go with your friends because you’ve had couple of drinks and you think the time is right? I’ll be there. Then I’ll photograph you falling over because that always entertains me.  

As a guest, what tips can you give me to be a good event model for the photographers on the evening?

Already as you’ve arrived you look SENSATIONAL and you’re picked what character you’d like to be for the evening, so EMBRACE IT! Always think, what would your character do? You in no way have to stand there with good posture and smile sweetly for the camera. Believe me, the more you let go and have a ball (see what I did there?) and stop caring about what anyone else thinks, the more fun you’ll have. If you’re not in the mood for a photo, feel free to tell me to leave in your fabulous character voice, and I will bow low and exit appropriately. But really, it was your fault for looking so good it made me want to stalk you with my camera.

What are you looking forward to most at the goblin ball?

I’m looking forward to seeing some of my cos play friends looking sensational, to helping people get out of their shell’s and have a laugh with me and my baby (my camera), to putting the camera down at some point and having a good dance (apparently my dance style looks like 1930’s crossed with old man dancing crossed with a minor fit), and to do my very best at creating some fabulous memories for you to look back when you’re old and showing your grandkids photos of how super cool you used to be.

HOW FABULOUS! Fabulous Femme have been running a competition for two passes to the Goblin Ball 2014 and the entries have exceeded 700! That is AMAZING! 

Fabulous Femme and The Goblin Ball partnered to give their readers a chance to win a double pass to the most magical evening in Melbourne for the month of June. If you would like to try your hand at winning make sure you enter at the Fabulous Femme site following this link.

Remember that tickets do tend to sell out before the event and booking early is a must as there are no tickets at the door so maybe enter to bring some friends along to avoid disappointment.

The talented Souri will be there on the night to document the evening and photos will be taken by Fresh Photography!