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GENERAL

0. !!UPDATE - THESE FAQ ARE OUT OF DATE!!
They have NOT been updated since our record attempt on September 6, 2009. Please keep that in mind if you are reading them. If you want information on what happened with our event, PLEASE go read THIS PAGE.

1. What Guinness World Record™ are we attempting to break?
According to Guinness World Records™, we are trying to beat the "Largest 'Thriller' Dance" record. This is referring to the most people doing the dance simultaneously in one location.

2. Who currently holds the Guinness World Record™ for this?
Students at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA currently beat the Guinness World Record™ in April, 2009. They hold the Guinness World Record™ as having 242 people dance simultaneously in a field to "Thriller". We have to beat is 242 participants. We hope to double that. Click here to watch the William and Mary video.

3. What about the 1500 plus CPDRC inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Cebu, Philippines?
While they did have a large number of people dance, not everyone was doing the actual full dance. In addition to that, they were not trying to beat a Guinness World Record™ and did not complete all of the necessary preliminary Guinness World Record™ paperwork. They were also dancing to the wrong version of the song. The correct version is the 5:58 single version of "Thriller". However, kudos to them because they were awesome! Click here to watch the CPDRC Inmate video.

4. What about the 4,000 plus people who danced at the same time with ThrillTheWorld.com?
The record that ThrillTheWorld.com holds is for the number of people dancing all over the world. Our record is for Largest "Thriller" Dance in one location, simultaneously. Special thanks to ThrillTheWorld.com for their tutorials, because that is the version we are LEARNING.

5. What do we have to do to hold the current Guinness World Record™?
We have to have more than 242 participants. We hope to have atleast over 500. A few days before we attempt to break the Guinness World Record™, a city in Mexico is hoping to beat the record as well. If they accomplish this record, we hope that they will only hold it for a couple of days before we SMASH it! ;) To participate in ours, SIGN UP!

6. Will Guinness World Records™ actually have a judge at Dragon*Con?
To hold a Guinness World Record™, a judge does not actually have to be present. However, to accomplish such a goal, potential record breaker organizers have to do many tedious, specific things in advance and at the event to satisfy the requirements set forth by Guinness World Records™. This includes video and photo from many angles, signed releases, signed logbook, and many other things. The people who currently hold the record, The College of William and Mary with 242 participants, used this method in attempting to beat the record. They attempted in April and heard back from Guinness in May that they were the record holders. Not only that, but it costs a whole lot to fly over someone from Europe.

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DRAGON*CON MEMBERSHIP

7. Do I have to have a 2009 Dragon*Con Membership to participate?
Yes. Originally, this was an independent event, but we have gotten the official Dragon*Con blessing. We are now an official Dragon*Con event! However, that means you have to have a membership.

8. Do I have to have a 4-day pass/membership? Are single day memberships available?
No, you do not have to purchase a 4-day membership. If you are coming to Dragon*Con just to participate in this record breaking event, single day memberships are available. 4-day passes are available in advance. See Dragon*Con's Official Site for more information. Single day passes will be available at the event. Dragon*Con Membership registration will be at the Sheraton this year. We highly recommend that if you choose to buy a single day pass, get there EARLY. You don't want to miss REGISTRATION for the record attempt, one of the mandatory REHEARSALS, or the actual record attempt. 4-day passes are $100. A one day pass for Sunday will be $35.

9. If I have registered for a Dragon*Con Membership, does that mean I have registered for the event?
No. To register to dance with "Thriller", you must be a Dragon*Con member. Once you have accomplished that, you must register for the record breaking attempt. More information here: SIGN UP!

For more information on all of this, please see Dragon*Con's Official Site, The Daily Dragon, or the Dragon*Con LiveJournal.

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LEARNING/DANCING

10. Do I have to already know the dance? Are you going to teach it?
We want to really push you to LEARN the dance in advance as it will make things much easier. When dealing with such a large group of people, we want things to be as easy and smooth as possible, for everyone. Click HERE to find out more about LEARNING the dance early. However, whether you learn the dance early or you want to learn it at one of our mandatory REHEARSALS, you still must attend one of those rehearsals. As it said: mandatory. We need to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Even if you are a professional at dancing the ThrillTheWorld.com version, there will be other valuable information you will need.

11. What if I just can't dance?
Nonsense! Whether you are a professional dancer, a Dance Dance Revolution novice, or someone who has two left feet, we want you! You don't need to have a lot of skill to have a lot of fun!

12. Which version of the song will we be dancing to?
Do NOT learn the music video version. That is INCORRECT. We will be dancing to the 5:58 minute single version of "Thriller". The song is available on iTunes and anywhere you can get the album Thriller. Though, do NOT get the version from Number Ones. It's actually shorter and not up to Guinness World Record™ guidelines.

13. Why should I learn the dance early if you are just going to teach it at the convention?
When dealing with such a large group of people, we want things to be as easy and smooth as possible, for everyone. If you know the dance like the back of your hand, you can VOLUNTEER to be a helper. You will serve as a "beacon" for the dancers who might not know the dance as well as you. You can click HERE for a list of other reasons of why you should LEARN the dance early! http://www.dragonconthriller.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7

14. What if I have limited mobility and I can't do some of those moves?
For those people wanting to participate who may have limited motion and may have trouble executing some of the more difficult moves, alternative options will be provided during the REHEARSALS. These moves will not only make things a little easier for those participants, but they will still be in sync with the actual dance, resulting in a fluid dance acommodating those of all skill levels! Think of workout videos. You always have six people doing the normal routine, but there's always a seventh doing a "lite" version of the moves. We will have something similar to that.)

15. What if I have decent mobility, but bad knees? For example, I'm going to have trouble with the beginning crawling part?
Whether you just have bad knees or you will be a Stormtrooper who only has trouble with that first part, have no fear. Lisa, 1/3 of The Thriller Team and our resident dancing diva, is contemplating having several starting positions/options. She will come up with a way to make it look deliberate and fitting to the dance. For example, some people would be fully on the ground while others may slump over. She will devise a master plan!

16. What if I will be wearing a costume that hinders a lot of my movement?
If your costume is going to hinder a LOT of the movement, don't wear it and find another costume!! For costume thoughts, tips, and tricks, click HERE.

17. Are we going to have someone counting and saying the steps during the dance?
Possibly. We WILL have strategically placed "beacons" who are people who know the dance very well. If you get lost, you can look to them for help. To avoid that, LEARN the dance very well early!

For more information on dancing, join the FORUMS and ask/read any threads in the DANCING DISCUSSION.

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COSTUMING

18. Do I have to costume?
All COSTUMES are welcomed and encouraged. Feel free to dress up as a zombie or any other costume you would find at Dragon*Con - Dr. Who, Dr. Horrible, Spock, Six, Harry Potter, Jack Sparrow, Whoever! How about mix the two? Zombie Obi-Wan? All costumes are welcome! Besides, think of how great it would be to see stormtroopers dancing among zombies? ;) Maybe even be Shaun of the Dead and pretend to be a zombie? Either way, we do encourage that you wear some sort of costume to embody the Dragon*Con spirit, but it is certainly not required or expected by any means! We'll just be happy you're there. For costume thoughts, tips, and tricks, click HERE.

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VOLUNTEERING

19. What kind of help do you need? How do I volunteer?
For everything you need to know about volunteering, click HERE.

20. For the people helping with dancing, how will the other dancers be able to pick us out of the crowd?
We are working on a couple of different things and we are open to hear your ideas!

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SIGNING UP/REGISTRATION

21. What do I have to do to sign up?
Click HERE to read more about how to SIGN UP.
Basically there are three steps:
1) Join the FORUMS and sign the "PLEDGE TO PARTICIPATE"
2) Print out the OFFICIAL RELEASE FORM, fill it out, bring it to the con and turn it in at REGISTRATION.
3) Turn in the Official Release Form and show your ID at the Registration Booth at D*Con.

22. Is it necessary for me to join the forums?
No, it is not necessary. However, if you already know about it and you want to participate, it is very important for us, as well as Dragon*Con, to have a good solid number before we get Dragon*Con. So, join the FORUMS and sign the "PLEDGE TO PARTICIPATE"!

23. What if somebody wants to participate, but they didn't know in advance?
That's okay. We will have REGISTRATION at the convention, as well as OFFICIAL RELEASE FORMS there to sign. They can go to the REHEARSALS and LEARN the dance there. So, it is okay for those who don't know in advance to participate.

24. What is the point of the "Pledge to Participate"? Is it really necessary especially if we can just SIGN UP at the convention?
You're excited about doing this. We're excited about doing this. We all want it to go well. For everything to go as smoothly as possible, we need as many people as possible to sign the pledge in advance. That way, the officials can have a good head count before we get into the "walk ins" signing up. The better idea we have, the smoother things will runner. If you have already signed the PLEDGE TO PARTICIPATE, it may help to expedite your REGISTRATION process so you can get back to other convention activities. Not only that, but if you join the FORUMS, you can help lend your ideas to a lot of the planning process, learn of more details, volunteer, hear the latest news, and be a big part of one of the biggest events to ever hit Dragon*Con! This is the first year for it to happen and we want you to be a huge part of it!

25. Where can I download the Official Release Form?
Right HERE!

26. What do I need for the Official Release Form?
Read it. Fill it out. Bring it with you to Dragon*Con and turn it in at the appropriate REGISTRATION times. When turning in your release, we need to see a form of identification just to prove you are just who you say you are. If the participant is under the age of 18, a parent may sign the release from home, but must attach a copy of their ID. They may black out their DL number if they like.

27. Can people under the age of 18 participate?
Yes! We'd love for you to participate! You still do everything the same, but there's one stipulation with the OFFICIAL RELEASE FORM and REGISTRATION: If the participant is under the age of 18, a parent may sign the release from home, but must attach a copy of their ID. They may black out their DL number if they like.

28. When and where will Registration take place?
Those times and locations have yet to be announced. There will more than likely be a table set up where you will turn in the OFFICIAL RELEASE FORM, show your identification, and complete your REGISTRATION. Be sure to join the FORUMS to sign the "PLEDGE TO PARTICIPATE" and you will know as soon as those times and locations are posted.

29. Will we get ribbons like the parade participants get?
Yes! We currently have 1,000 ordered. ...which is another reason you should sign the "PLEDGE TO PARTICIPATE", so we can order more if it looks like they are needed! Once you have fully completed registering, you will receive your ribbon. You will either receive it then or after you have gone to one of the mandatory REHEARSALS. 

30. Didn't I hear that I could register at the rehearsals?
Yes, but it is WRONG. We originally thought that you could register at rehearsal, but that has since changed. REGISTRATION will take place BEFORE the REHEARSALS. Do not register at the rehearsals!

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REHEARSALS

31. Are the Official Rehearsals REALLY mandatory?
Yes! A lot of people think they know the dance, but we are doing a very specific version. This version satisfies Guinness World Records™ standards to break this record. Even if you know the ThrillTheWorld.com version like the back of your hand, there is still a lot of information you will need to participate that you will get at the REHEARSAL. To pull off something of this magnitude, we're going to need to make everything go as smoothly as possible.

32. Do I have to attend ALL of the Official Rehearsals? Or just one of them?
Just one. It's only mandatory to attend one of the Official REHEARSALS. However, you are totally welcome to come to as many as you like!!

33. You say "official" rehearsals, but are there "unofficial" rehearsals?
Yep! These may be impromptu random rehearsals. You can get a full list HERE.

34. What if I can't make it to one of the scheduled official rehearsals?
Am I not allowed to participate? At that moment, it seems that way. We just have to make sure you know the dance. It's a very complex dance, but easy once you get it. Don't get discouraged right now if you can't attend one of the scheduled REHEARSALS. The chances of us adding more are likely. Continue to check THIS LIST for dates and times.

35. When and where will the rehearsals take place?
See those details HERE.

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GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™ BREAKING ATTEMPT

36. When and where will the Guinness World Record™ breaking attempt take place?
It will take place on Sunday, September 6, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. at the Sheraton in the Grand ABC Ballroom (3rd floor) Sheraton.

37. I heard it was in the Marriott Marquis Atrium Ballroom? Is that wrong?
That was one of the locations scouted for us. Like a lot of things in the final weeks leading up to a convention, plans change. No big deal. Check back here or at the FORUMS often for the final plan.

38. Wow, what a horrible time! What about The Masquerade?!
There are always many things happening at the convention at the same time. This is taking place an hour before the Masquerade. If you want to be a Guinness World Record™ breaker, we implore you to join us. If you can not decide between watching us or the Masquerade, I'm sure you will be able to check both out on D*C TV. However, we have yet to hear whether or not our event will be televised live, but we hope! Want to watch our attempt in person? Don't plan on that quite yet. We are not doing this as a performance, but a record breaking attempt. Depending on the number of participants we will have, spectators probably will not be allowed. So, do not count on being a spectator. Keep checking back for details in case that changes.

39. Are you even going to get enough people to dance if you do it right before The Masquerade?
Yes. Absolutely. We need to beat 242 dancers. We are aiming for 500-600 dancers, but hopefully more! Let's say 30,000 people attend D*Con. Let's overestimate and say 20,000 people want to watch The Masquerade. 5,000 people want to do other things, leaving 5,000 who want to dance in "Thriller". Even with The Masquerade happening an hour after our start time, we would still have 4,757 more people participating in our event than we need to break the previous record. These numbers don't represent anything realistic, but merely to prove that the placement of this event wasn't a huge mistake, like some people have expressed. Two-thirds of the con-goers could go to the Masquerade and we would STILL have more than enough.

40. What if I just want to watch and not dance?
What do spectators do? We are not doing this as a performance, but a record breaking attempt. As much as we would like to have spectators, it does not look hopeful. However, our attempt will be shown on DC*TV. Keep your fingers crossed!

41. Is anyone going to be cast as Michael Jackson's part? What about the girlfriend?
No, for a number of reasons. The main reason is because we are not dancing to the music video version. We are dancing to the single. The focus is on breaking the record, not a theatrical performance, per se. If you want to dress up like Michael from the video, go ahead! You are totally welcome to wear that costume. We just won't have one individual to play the part.

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CHARITY

42. How are we going to be able to benefit Dragon*Con's 2009 charity, The Georgia Chapter of the American Alzheimer’s Association?
We are going through a lot of ideas and we welcome yours! We are thinking of possibly having all dancers donate $1 to participate, which isn't mandatory. We can all spare $1, right? If 500 people participate, that's $500 that the American Alzheimer's Association didn't have and we're doing something wonderful! If you have any charity fundraising ideas, click HERE.

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AFTER THE EVENT IS OVER

43. Will we automatically be Guinness World Record™ holders if we have more than 242 dancers?
No. We have to send back all of the forms, footage, and other things and wait for Guinness™ to get back with us for the official announcement.

44. How will we, the dancers, find out?
The website and FORUMS will stay up for a long time. Keep checking back for announcements and footage!

45. Do we get anything for participating?
A memory you can tell for years and years to come! Hang on to your ribbon for a souvenir and not to mention the viral videos to spread after this!

46. Will there be a video on YouTube?
Absolutely! Check back to the site after the event. Video will be posted soon after the event!

47. Will I have my name in the Guinness Book of World Records™?
There is never a guarantee that GWR will even put it in a book, so don't assume it'll be published. We haven't even beaten the record, yet! Guinness™ will most likely list it as "Kimber, Lauren, and Lisa with dancers from DragonCon broke the record with 500 dancers on September 6, 2009." That is not for certain. We are unsure whether Guinness™ will be able to list everyone individually or not. However, the site will remain up for a long time and we can guarantee to recognize every single person individually!!

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PRESS

For anything and everything to do with press, please click HERE.

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GUINNESS

For anything and everything to do with Guinness World Records
AFTER THE ATTEMPT (updates and things), please click HERE.

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DON'T SEE YOUR QUESTION? ASK IT ON THE FORUMS!