Course Catalog

Lead By: J.B Spector
1 hour

Saturday
2:30pm – 3:30pm

J. B. Spector, author of The Mer-Prince Adventures, is back! If you’ve read The Sunlit Curse and The Amethyst Tower, or even if you haven’t, you’ll enjoy attending this sneak peek preview of book 3, The Coral Castle. J. B. Spector himself will be reading two chapters of his upcoming book, and he will also be on hand for a Q&A for any merfolk who wish to learn more about his series! This will be J. B. Spector’s second year attending MerMagic Con and he is thrilled to be a part of this exciting event again!

Pre-Registration Required

Instructor: Nicole Riddick
1 Hour
Saturday 1pm – 2pm

Pre-requisites: Ages 18+

This workshop was created to help and guide the new generation of mermaid perfomers! In this workshop we will discuss the different levels of performance, from corporate big shows and festivals,to small intimate birthday parties, and everything else in between. We will discuss pricing standard breakdown, along with how to market and advertise yourself! The biggest set back from a Mermaid breaking into the performance world, is knowing if they should charge for their “passion” or is it ok to take a gig for free, be it for the connection, or getting your foot in the door. How do these decisions affect the mermaid industry in the long run!?

Instructor: Yamaya the Siren
1 Hour
Sunday 10am – 11am

Learn exercises and tools to improve your breathing and increase your breath holds in and out of the water (this will be a dry workshop).
In this workshop you will learn:

– Proper breathing mechanics to maximize your current lung capacity
– Relaxing breathing exercises to improve the way you breathe and increase your breath holds in and out of the water.
-Shifting your mindset towards breath holding: from anxiety to relaxation!
– How to implement a quick, simple, and consistent regular breathwork practice for long-term results

Please bring a yoga mat or other surface to lay down on.

Instructor: Laura Jones – The Sykesville Siren
1 Hour
Saturday 4pm – 5pm

While mermaiding is inherently risky, you can mitigate that risk with a well stocked save-a-mer kit! \nLearn about potential emergencies a mer can encounter and how to be prepared for (almost) anything. This course is valuable for mers at every skill level.

Lead by Morgana Alba
1 Hours
Sunday 4pm – 5pm

Join us at the main stage for announcements, raffle drawing winners, announcements, and a first look at next year!

Lead by Morgana Alba
1.5 Hours
Sunday 10am – 11am

Early Mer Gets the worm! Have questions about working in the mermaid industry? Meet professional mermaids from around the country for coffee (provided) and network with other industry pros in this informal session in the main stage area

Leigh Targaryen
Children’s Programming
1 Hour
Sunday 2:30pm – 3:30pm

Kick off your flippers and put on your dancing shoes or sport your human bare feet and join Miss Leigh in an underwater dance adventure. Children will start their journey with some gentle stretches and warm-ups while we prepare to delve into the sea to explore the movements of many aquatic friends. There will be dance games, songs, and stories. At the end there will be a mermazing dance party in the Octopus’ Garden. Don’t miss out on this fun and active panel! (please wear clothes that are comfortable to move around in!

Pre-Registration Required
Instructor: Merfolk Nettles
1.5 Hours
Saturday 9am – 10:30am
OR
Sunday 9am – 10:30am

Ages 18+

DND has landed on MerMagic Con’s shores! Join Merfolk Nettles and play an underwater-themed Dungeons and Dragons adventure. As adventurers from different Merfolk communities converge, danger lurks within the reef. Can they protect each other from the threat? What creatures will they encounter along the way? Find the answers to these questions and dip your fins into tabletop gaming.

No previous experience with tabletop is necessary, but the game is only available to those 18+.

All materials will be provided during the game, but players should feel welcome to bring their own dice/miniature/gaming tray/sketch of their character, etc. Character sheets will be available for multiple classes, but players will have the ability to customize their name and appearance within the confines of the game.

The game will be played in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition. Players should only sign up for one session as the same adventure will be played multiple times during the convention.  

1 Hour
Saturday 1pm – 2pm

Join Merfolk from all walks of life for a discussion on the trials, tribulations, and challenges facing the mermaid community today as we all strive to create a more inclusive world.

Instructor: Mermaid Chè Monique
1 Hour
Saturday 11am -12pm

Join the Society of Fat Mermaids for a fun discussion moderated by their founder, Mermaid Chè Monique, discussing their experiences as fat merfolk with have plenty of time for Q&A, so bring your questions.

This panel will discuss what it’s like breaking into the findustry. Their experiences working, how to cultivate a supportive online community, as well as tangible things like tail shopping, getting around on land, and buoyancy control. The conversation will be recorded for the Society of Fat Mermaids podcast, Fat Mermaids Make Waves.

Instructor: Cassie Parsons
1 Hour
Saturday 11pm – 12pm<

When performing on land or in the water, there is a certain gracefulness and flow that is useful to really give off that ethereal water creature vibe. Having an intro to dance gives you a practice of that flow and body positioning that you can take with you into your mermaiding.

Instructor: Mermaid Charlotte
1 Hour
Sunday 1pm – 2pm

When something goes wrong with your tail, do you know what to do? Join Mermaid Charlotte as we discuss some the most common tail injuries and how to fix them. This class will demonstrate how to approach and repair common tail injuries, such as:
– attaching or reattaching torn fins
– waist seam splits on silicone tails
– reattaching lost scales
– patching or repairing fabric tails
– working with pigmented silpoxy to repair paint scuffs

It is recommenced (but not mandatory) that you take this course before attending the “Tail Repair Clinic” which follows immediately after and in which you may actively repair your own tail.

Pre-Registration Required
Instructor: Blue Planet DC
1 hour

Saturday:
– 2:30pm – 3:30pm
– 4pm – 5pm

Sunday:
– 1pm – 2pm
– 2:30pm – 3:30pm

Prerequisites:

• Merling Ticket
• Strong Independent Swimmer
• Ages 7-12

Equipment
– You will be provided a tailskin and monofin from Mertailor
– You will need a mask and snorkel. Bring your own or rent one from SOS Diving in the vendor hall

The Discover Mermaid™ experience introduces simple mermaid activities in confined water (i.e., a pool or place with pool-like conditions), shallow enough in which to stand. It is designed as a flexible, informative, enjoyable, and controlled experience centered on letting you discover what it’s like to mermaid dive.

To enroll in a Discover Mermaid experience, you must be at least seven years old. You need to be in good physical health and comfortable in the water. No prior experience with snorkeling, skin diving, or freediving is required.

The PADI Discover Mermaid experience consists of two introductory phases:

After signing up for the PADI Discover Mermaid program you will listen to a briefing from your PADI Mermaid Instructor to learn the basics about being a mermaid.

Then a shallow water session in which you’ll wear a mermaid tail (and depending on the situation, perhaps other additional mermaid costuming) followed by mermaid swimming, going underwater and games.

Leigh Targaryen
Children’s Programming
1 Hour
Saturday 4pm – 5pm

Get you fins, phalanges, and flukes ready for the water with this movement and conditioning class.  Mermaid Sealeigh will take you through exercises geared to help build  the strength and flexibility important for mermaiding.  This class is designed for children 8 and up.  Please wear an outfit suited to movement. 

Bring a water bottle and a yoga mat if you have one.

From the Creators of “The Enchanted Teapot“
Children’s Programming
1 Hour
Sunday 1pm – 2pm

From the magic specialists at The Enchanted Teapot comes this MerMagic Con – exclusive party with interactive nautical activities for the whole family!

Lead by “The Enchanted Teapot“
Children’s Programming
1 Hour
Sunday 2:30pm – 3:30pm

Join us on dry land to take a photos with a real live mermaid and do a free craft! Ask all your questions and get some answers! 

Lead by “The Enchanted Teapot“
Children’s Programming

1 Hour
Saturday 9:30am – 10:30am

Meet and greet with the 1989 version of the mermaid princess! Bring magic to life for your little one with sinagalongs, dancing, story time and photos. 

Lead by “The Enchanted Teapot“
Children’s Programming
1 Hour
Sunday 11:30am – 12:30am

Meet and greet with the 2023 live action version of the mermaid princess! Bring magic to life for your little one with sinagalongs, dancing, story time and photos. 

Lead by “The Enchanted Teapot“
Children’s Programming
1 Hour
Saturday 11am – 12pm

Meet and greet with the wayfinder princess! Bring magic to life for your little one with sinagalongs, dancing, story time and photos. 

1 Hour
Saturday 9:30am – 10:30am

Have a top that isn’t quite “you” anymore? A tail you’ve outgrown? A crown you no longer wear? Are you looking for a new piece for your mersona? Meet on the main stage for a Mermaid Swap meet! See what treasures other mermaids have brought and make a deal!

Unique, individually owned, previously purchased, second-hand, items only. Absolutely no vending of original products allowed. Maximum 5 items.

Instructor: Captain Ironman
INCLUDED WITH THE OBSERVER PASS
1 Hour
Sunday 1pm – 2pm

When you see those pirates, bouncers and hawkers standing by and announcing a wonderful mermaid performer, do you think “I could do that!” . Come learn from two of the most experienced merwanglers in the country on the how too,when too, and why too’s of the job as well as a lot of our not so secret secrets to make it as pleasant and successful as possible!

Merwrangling 101 covers the basics of “icthiosapien” care from two of the talented pirates that have been doing it the longest. Learn what it takes to make a gig go from a slapdash event to a smoothly running machine in this basic class

Lead by Graceanne Taylor
1 Hour
Sunday 2:30pm – 3:30pm

Join us for a fun and educational game of Ocean Trivia! All ages welcome. Let’s learn together! This is a great activity for the whole family. Even if you don’t know the answers, we are all going to learn together. Make a team or a join a team.

Poolside
1 Hour
Saturday 12pm – 1pm

Join us as we attempt to get all our mers into a single photo!

Instructor: Nicole Zelek
1 Hour
Sunday 11:30am – 12:30pm

This enlightening session on mermaiding safety is a must for all enthusiasts and professionals. As an emerging and often poorly understood sport, mermaiding presents unique challenges that go overlooked by traditional diving and medical professionals. This class aims to fill that gap, offering in-depth knowledge about hidden risks associated with mermaiding, which are seldom discussed in conventional certification training.

In this session, we’ll address both immediate and long-term risks inherent to the sport – and how to mitigate them. The goal of this class is to equip you with practical measures and preventative strategies, in the hopes of making the mermaiding community safer (and therefore, more accessible). Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned professional, this session will provide you with valuable insights for a healthier, safer, more enjoyable, and sustainable mermaiding journey.

Instructor: Alexis Jennings
1 Hour
Sunday 2:30pm – 3:30pm

Prerequisites:

• Ability to swim independently in a tail without struggling
• Please bring your own tail and/or monofin

Learn how to properly execute a variety of mermaid tricks with a strong focus on proper technique to execute interesting moves in tail

Pre-Registration Required
Instructor: Jessica Gramc
1 Hour
Saturday 1pm – 2pm
or
Sunday 1pm – 2pm
Prerequisites:

• Bathing suit or a wetsuit (wetsuit suggested)
• No tails
• Age: 18+
• Ability: Participants must feel comfortable floating, holding their breath, & putting their head underwater for 30 seconds. 

Weight Belt Basics is for any merm or aquatic performer that finds themselves struggling to dive below the surface. In this hands-on course, we will cover all variables you will face when finding neutral buoyancy, how to use a weight belt safely, and help you find neutral buoyancy for your body.

This class is for every body that struggles with floating when they’re trying to sink. The first part of class is going over the variables that make up our personal buoyancy as merfolk and underwater performers, and the second half is weight belt safety and finding your perfect buoyancy.

This is a NO TAIL class for safety purposes.

We will have weights and belts available for class, but if you would like to BYOB (bring your own belt) you need to email mermaidcetea@gmail.com before class to get it approved.

Pre-Registration Required
Instructor: Tiffany Beckler
1 Hour
Saturday 2:30pm – 4pm

Participants will observe makeup applications for full face makeup and learn about products that will stay put during swimming. This class is not exclusively about Body Color Cosmetics but will utilize several makeup artist’s techniques to getting flawless applications all while being waterproof. Tiffany Beckler will answer any questions people have and demonstrate techniques that are more difficult for the participant to achieve a next level makeup look!

Lead by Morgana Alba
30 Minutes
Saturday 9am – 9:30am

Welcome to MerMagic Con!! Join us for last minute announcements, tips, and updates!

Instructor: Mermaid Charlotte
1 Hour
Saturday 11am – 12pm

Never touched a mermaid tail before? Thinking of making your first purchase or upgrading but don’t know which tail to choose? “What’s in a Tail?” is the class for you.

In this class you will learn about the basic anatomy of swimmable mermaid tails, and the differences and similarities of some of the most popular tails on the market. What are the pros and cons of a Spellbound or a Mernation? How stretchy is a Mythic? How stiff is the Fin Fun mono fin? This class answers all your questions impartially and even lets you touch examples of various tails on the market so that you can learn which tail might be right for you.