Half Life FAQ

the cyberpunk font and colors are sometimes so hard to read - here's a nice plain text FAQ!
Find your way back to the main page here: https://halflifechi.carrd.co/

What is this?Half Life is a full immersion interactive cyberpunk experience. It’s aiming to be part dance party, part night market, part renfaire. This first run is much smaller scale than that. If you’ve ever wished nightclubs were like those in Cyberpunk 2077 or Blade Runner, then you’re in the right place. Half Life presents you with the full spread: a themed DJ set from a venerated replicant, vendors and booths with in-universe goodies, interactive games and alternate reality components, a cohesive set design, and an unbeatable atmosphere. For this first run, it's downsized into a 40-person space. For future runs, we'll expand the scope to match that vision!What is “full immersion”?Half Life puts you into a cyberpunk world. Once you enter the space and show your ticket, you’ll be in our world, not 2026 Chicago. Props, set dressing, lighting sound, characters, the full works. Think renfaire. Think Disney World with a DIY punk’s budget. To partake in this world, we’ll ask you to dress the part.How should I dress?I know seeing a rule like “everyone must be in themed costumes/clothes” can be intimidating, but trust me! It’s actually really easy and incredibly cheap. The full immersion of Half Life means we need everyone on board, and that includes our lovely attendees. Here’s some things to consider:If you don’t know what to wear, go simple! Layers are great. Simple additions like patches, goggles, harnesses, or jackets transform an outfit into cyberpunk. Thrift stores are your friend.Consider the color palettes of your faction. If you’re lost, center your costume around them! Add it to your makeup, an accessory or patch. Go crazy with your hair. You do not need to follow the faction description 100%, it's just a guide!Be comfortable. Dress to dance. Rave wear, industrial, goth, and more fit the bill. Add an accessory or two and you're golden.Neotropolis, an incredible cyberpunk event out west, has great costuming resources that you can find here.This isn’t a cosplay event. You can totally use Cyberpunk 2077, Blade Runner, Star Wars, and more for inspiration, but please don’t dress up as a character from one of those IPs.If you're wearing a mask, be able to take them off! You’ll need to show your face at the door.What will I be doing?At the core of Half Life is the dance floor where DJ Flesh Bot, a venerated replicant, will be spinning the best industrial, dark techno, and EBM beats. Take breaks and get to know the denizens of Half Life.Is this queer?Cyberpunk, as a genre, is one of the queerest things around. This event is queer-centered and run by queer folks. Bigots begone.Why do I have to pick a faction?To put you in our world, we ask you to think about why you’re here and what your place is in this world. Half Life isn’t just meant to be looked at, but engaged with. Each faction gives you a different way of engaging with Half Life. They can influence your dress, how you chat with other attendees, or interact with our vendors and actors. You do not need to follow the faction theme 100%. If you're a Transistor, you are totally allowed to wear leather!Who’s making this?Half Life was conceived by Venn, a local Chicago trans dyke and immersive event nerd, and produced by a team of freaks and weirdos:Venn @ventrueminisHaven @havenscostumes@soundinsect & @videowasteFlesh Bot @djflesh_botYasmine @xbruja.estrellaBrooce @zoomdoomfloozyThis is not some capitalist moneygrab; this is made for Chicago weirdos by Chicago weirdos. We’re probably losing money on this - it’s worth it.Is this a LARP?No. While I encourage you to immerse yourself in our cyberpunk world, play around with the factions, and consider your alternative self’s place in Half Life, this isn’t a LARP. You aren’t playing a character - you’re an alternative version of yourself, or perhaps even the truest version of yourself. Express yourself. Explore yourself. Expand your horizons.Is this a dance party?Yeah! At its core, this is a dance party with extra steps. We think those extras are pretty awesome, but we have a fantastic DJ with a kickass dance floor at the center of this event. While taking water breaks, you’ll be able to enjoy the other activities present.Do you use AI?No. We’re artists and creatives. Clearly and loudly: fuck AI.What about accessibility?
The venue is ADA accessible.We are intentionally avoiding flashing lights or extreme lasers to make this event more available to those with epilepsy, but it is still a high intensity dance club environment. Please reach out to us if you have any additional accessibility concerns.