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how did today go?


indio
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I enjoyed the event today. I travelled from the Wakefield area so had quite a long journey but with the exception of Bob Wall all the stars who I wanted to see were in attendance.

 

I had quite a long conversation with Del Henney about 'Straw Dogs' and his TV show 'Fallen Hero' from the 1970's. He was a very nice man and because there were not so many people in attendance early in the day it was comfortable and I didn't feel pressurised to cut my time short with the guests, unlike the London ComicCon event earlier in the year! I hope the number of people increased as the day wore on though to make it worthwhile for the guests.

 

I also met Sally Thomsett, Carol Cleveland and Dave Prowse so it was a very successful and pleasant day for me. :)

 

I hope other people had similar experiences.

 

Thanks

 

Rob

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I must admit, I was dreading today, with so many cancelations and strange guest list, But it was a really nice day. Very quiet inside but all the guests were relaxed and very chatty. Managed all my photo shoots very easy without any problems. It was good to meet Dave from Showmasters too.

 

Managed to pick up a flyer for next years dates in Birmingham they have it listed for Friday 18th September - Sunday 20th September 2015. Also Jerry Ross 7 Time Shuttle Astronaut has been announced for April's Show at Heathrow.

 

Overall an enjoyable day, glad I attended.

 

Thank You SM :thumbup:

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Cleveland (nice)

 

Wayne (nice)

 

Baker (seems I awoke Mr Grouch in his afternoon nap and he turned sour. Please do us a favor and stay at home , you're here to meet fans , not to nap)

 

Prowse (all right)

 

Possibly the worst con I've been to since Wall and Vijay cancelled (I hope they will be back) , it didn't feel worth it considering all the time it took (from London with bus , plus flight from Oslo , plus domestic flight Norway & another 2 hrs bus....it adds up)

Edited by 007 spells Bond
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It was very quiet today. I'm used to seeing the Apollo astronauts with big queues, but there were no big queues today.

Was a bit disappointed with the Al Worden lecture (no fault of his). It was delayed for about 20 mins because they couldn't get the laptop to show on the projector. In the end he started without it. Eventually they got it working, although adverts for the Hilton hotel kept popping up and obscuring his slide show.

He was a very engaging speaker with a great sense humour. I had to leave early because I had a photoshoot with Roberto Duran. So for £30, I had a long wait and a short lecture.

 

On the plus side, It was great to meet Tom Stafford and Al Worden and my Photoshoots turned out great!

Great to meet Roberto. I'm a big boxing fan, so when he was announced, I was hoping for a few more boxing guests.

 

One of my highlights from the show was talking to Carol Cleveland. Such a lovely lady. Had a talk about the Monty Python o2 shows and got a photo with her at the table.

 

Overall I enjoyed myself but something did seem to be missing this year. There wasn't quite the same buzz as there usually is. I hope it returns next year.

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One of my highlights from the show was talking to Carol Cleveland. Such a lovely lady. Had a talk about the Monty Python o2 shows and got a photo with her at the table.

 

 

 

Carol was the highlight of the day for me too. A really wonderful person to meet. One of the best guests that I've ever met.

I'd like to see her become more of a regular at SM shows, not just Autographica but some of the others too like CM. I'm sure she'd be popular at any event.

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Cleveland (nice)

 

Wayne (nice)

 

Baker (seems I awoke Mr Grouch in his afternoon nap and he turned sour. Please do us a favor and stay at home , you're here to meet fans , not to nap)

 

Prowse (all right)

 

Possibly the worst con I've been to since Wall and Vijay cancelled (I hope they will be back) , it didn't feel worth it considering all the time it took (from London with bus , plus flight from Oslo , plus domestic flight Norway & another 2 hrs bus....it adds up)

My god! :no: what a journey to get there. I feel guilty now because i live in Birmingham and because the guest list was poor ( for me) i couldn't be bothered to travel (25 minutes). Anyway have a safe journey home. hope it hasn't put you off coming again.

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I was wanting to attend the event today with my wife as we live only 30 miles from Birmingham and so travel is easy. We have attended events in the last few years but I have been increasingly concerned about the declining quality of the guest list and so I will not be attending this year. I have a lot of respect for the organisers but they must now realise that this event is on a downward spiral and it either neither needs a complete re-think and a fresh injection of ideas and energy or it is in danger of ending altogether. I would suggest that new guests that have not previously attended this sort of event, are approached and that there is such a bank of good quality guests built up that even some last-minute cancellations do not spoil the party. I understand that costs need to be kept down so the event makes a profit but I just think so much can be achieved with some fresh-thinking and imagination. I would hate for this event to die. I will never forget the brilliant experiences I have had in the past, including being a guest on Leslie Nielsen's table at the VIP dinner.

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I was wanting to attend the event today with my wife as we live only 30 miles from Birmingham and so travel is easy. We have attended events in the last few years but I have been increasingly concerned about the declining quality of the guest list and so I will not be attending this year. I have a lot of respect for the organisers but they must now realise that this event is on a downward spiral and it either neither needs a complete re-think and a fresh injection of ideas and energy or it is in danger of ending altogether. I would suggest that new guests that have not previously attended this sort of event, are approached and that there is such a bank of good quality guests built up that even some last-minute cancellations do not spoil the party. I understand that costs need to be kept down so the event makes a profit but I just think so much can be achieved with some fresh-thinking and imagination. I would hate for this event to die. I will never forget the brilliant experiences I have had in the past, including being a guest on Leslie Nielsen's table at the VIP dinner.

I totally agree with this. I really wanted to attend the event as like yourself I've got some great memories of past shows, but I just couldn't get enthusiastic about the guest list at all, ( probably with the exception of Carol). I've posted prior to the show that I thought the guest list lacked imagination for which I got moaned at but I think it did tbh.

I too would like to see this show rebooted but it seems whenever you say anything even approaching criticism on this forum your posts are deleted and you are accused of being negative. I doubt very much Showmasters will listen but it seems that this show is on a downward spiral and I know for a fact there where many people I'm in contact with who didn't go this year because of lack of appeal on the guest front. I'm sure some had a great time but yesterdays show as but a shadow of former offerings, such a shame.

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One poor guests list, does not mean Autographica is on a downward spiral.

 

the last 2 in Birmingham i enjoyed immensely as they had a great Space: 1999 theme.

 

I Think Autographica needs to slowly move away from Bond and more into classic American / British TV.

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It is very interesting to read the views of Autographica's customers and hopefully Showmasters do have the grace to accept negative feedback as well as positive (after all their future depends on giving the customer what they want just like any other business).

 

I for one enjoyed my experience at Autographica and achieved everything I had set out to do. Jack Lousma was very good and spend generous time with each guest despite a modest queue at his table, as did Vance.

I found the lectures very informative and entertaining too.

 

A big well done to Showmasters for getting these astronauts to the show. Brand & Stafford both look quite frail and it is a credit to them that they are still willing to travel from the US to meet us. Al on the other hand still acted as though he was 40!

 

My only point of feedback for improvement is the smooth running of the lectures. Vance Brand's needed the generous intervention of an audience member to get his video film shown (the member running to his car to get his laptop).

Al Worden's lecture was delayed by 20 minutes due the the inability to get his presentation on screen.

I know glitches happen, but at £30 a lecture, I would expect the organisers to have done better preparation that, particularly as they still expect the guests to finish on time in order to keep on schedule. Lecture attendances were small enough without short changing those that did attend.

 

Ending on a positive, I enjoyed myself and the astronauts announced so far for next time are a mouth watering prospect.

 

Kind Regards Kev

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Mmmmm.... 'the glass is half full or half empty, or more likely who's been drinking my beer?' I thought this years second Autographica very good. I got the six auto's I wanted - I wanted/got Tom Stafford (about 6 punters in front), Jack Loosma (again about 6 punters), the two UFO girls and SR-71 chaps. It was very relaxed and after a trip of some 150 miles (I consider it a local) I found everything I needed. Got the Earlybird ticket and was done by 11-ish. Thing is about queues - if some one you want has a queue go to someone else you want with out a queue. And work around the room. Tom Stafford seemed more relaxed this time (and cheaper!) he signed my 'We Have Capture' and held it up with out prompting when I asked for a pic. This I found very gracious of him and sporting (I saw he had his gold Speedy...). up next the SR-71 guys, I couldn't get away, they where very chatty and wanted to tell me allsorts, just wish I had more time (The Blackbird community are well worth collecting) The two UFO girls where a great hoot, had a laugh with them. Jack's queue was about 6 long in front of me, and although some folk chatted may be a bit longer than necessary I wasn't fussed. I saw/heard Al Warden say to Ed Gibson 'why the miserable face?' that was funny. I watched Vance Brand - he didn't look well and his writing hand/wrist was strapped up. I guess it reinforced that these guys are not getting any younger sadly... Jack was brilliant, signed me book (a little concerned he used a black marker as it bled slightly through the page to Jim Lovell's auto, would have preferred a ball point) he was interested in my book and when I flicked the page he commented that he had had dinner with the Lovell's only last week. I think and its a personal thing, that perhaps we had tooooo much at previous Autographicas and perhaps these last few have been pitched at the right level. Plenty of room, airy rooms with places to stand and chat - all in all I was in there about 2-1/2 hours. Carparking at a tenner and use of the cash machine at 1.75 was a bit steep. I'll be back next year, just got to collect more scape metal and vane evilbay for dosh and funds! well done Showmasters with out you guys I wouldn't have 46 astronauts in one book... Thank You...

 

Oh, I used a camera with out flash, I guess the guests must get a bit tired of super novea going of in there face all day. My Fuji has a stacking facility and as long as the subject keeps very still it gives brillent results. Got to check them on the tin-brain... ;o)

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One poor guests list, does not mean Autographica is on a downward spiral.

 

the last 2 in Birmingham i enjoyed immensely as they had a great Space: 1999 theme.

 

I Think Autographica needs to slowly move away from Bond and more into classic American / British TV.

 

What would us Bond fans do then? It's the only show that get there rare bond guests who had minor roles.

 

I think the Bond guests were brilliant yesterday. Bond is what I go for.

 

Seems to be that autographica can't please everyone.

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I only managed to attend today (Sunday) so can't comment on the whole event but I enjoyed my day.

 

I don't know why but this is one of my favourite venues & with my Early Bird ticket I was able to get all the autographs I was after before 11:00.

 

Jack Lousma was also on great form happily chatting to everyone he met.

The same with Vance Brand although it is a shame to see him with a brace on his arm. I hope this is only a temporary thing.

 

Tom Stafford was the main reason I came to the show & was excellent to meet. I always like to get autographs on photos a little different from the norm & Gen. Stafford took an interest in the one I'd brought for him to sign

 

Because of the Dave Scott & Ed Mitchell postponement I was able to exchange their photo shoot & lecture tickets that I had ordered for the Tom Stafford lecture & photo shoot.

Amazing doesn't come close to his lecture. Possibly a little on the technical side, which I didn't mind, but he was still able to convey the emotion of space exploration. His segment on Gene Cernan's "Space Walk from Hell" brought home to me the human side of human space flight.

 

During the photo shoot 'The General' (as Al Worden greeted him at the end of his lecture) was pleasant & welcoming. A real, old fashioned, vastly interesting gentleman.

 

The show itself was on the quite side which I don't mind at all. I enjoy the relaxed, pleasant atmosphere & seeing some familiar faces (you never know I might speak to some of them one day!).

There has been a lot made of the guest list. While there were some regular guests you can't accuse the organisers of being unimaginative or lazy. This event was originally built on astronauts, of which there were plenty, & the big name guests of yesteryear were a welcome later addition.

Remember the organisers only ever tell us who is coming & not who they have approached. I can imagine the 'we have asked' list to be massive & we, the paying punters, have to accept that not everyone we want to meet is going to come to one of these type events.

Also the only reason we get to meet these amazing people is because the events are profitable. I don't expect a financial breakdown but I'm sure this event has at least broken even.

 

Well done to everyone involved for another great event & thank you for the wonderful experiences. I'm already looking forward to the next one.

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It were quiet today Sunday, but that was good - no big queues, and a relaxed unhurried atmos. All the showmasters people I spoke to, and in fact all the folk on the stalls as well, were friendly and helpful. Tom Stafford and Al Worden were great. The bond girl Caroline Halon? was gorgeous. Hotel bar prices hair whitening as usual. Only complaint was someone hogging the questions at the end of the Tom Stafford lecture. But enjoyed the day and look forward to next years.

 

How did the Saturday dinner go? It's one thing I never see any reports on on the forum.

 

Cheers

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I can't add a much to what 18blue78 said as my experiences of the weekend were very similar, great guests, nice relaxed atmosphere, superb lecture by Tom Stafford and came away with some great memories. Many thanks to the organisers for putting on another superb show and looking forward to the next one already.

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