First Time going to LFCC looking for advice

[teskothemad]

hi there everyone me and my wife are travelling to LFCC for the first time and were wondering if i could get some answers to some questions

and of course ask any vetrans for tips and advice as well

 

1. photo shoots .. how may could you possibly fit in a day , how much warning do you get etc etc

2. how long would a talk last ?

3. is the layout easy to navigate ?

4. are there meeting points because i get the feeling that me and my wife will posssibly be seperated depending on guests etc

5. my wife bought me some photo shoot tickets can i still use them or are they name only ?

 

 

and just any advice, hints or tips would be greatly appreciated

Edited April 20, 2015 by teskothemad

[Wrong Name]

1. There are people who manage to fit in 20 per day but I'd say you'd need a gold pass for that. Anything under 10 should be possible and give you time for other things (just my opinion).

 

2. Usually 45mins but could go more or less depending on the guest.

 

3. This is the first time the summer one is at Olympia since I started going to these but usually it's pretty simple. Guests at the back and stalks at the front with photo areas spread out. They might release a layout map before the show but it won't have details like which guest is where or anything.

 

4. Not really meeting points, but there's always something (like a Batmobile, last year) where you can arrange to meet.

 

5. From what I've seen written on here, you'll be fine using them.

 

Best advise I can give is to plan what you want to do before you go. The talk and photo schedule is released around a week before the event so make sure you know where you need to be at what time. If you're planning to get autos as well, make sure you understand the Virtual Queue system (it's very simple) and head to get those tickets as soon as possible once your in to try and get as low a number as possible. And have fun!

Edited April 20, 2015 by Wrong Name

[GoldenGreen]

hi there everyone me and my wife are travelling to LFCC for the first time and were wondering if i could get some answers to some questions

and of course ask any vetrans for tips and advice as well

 

1. photo shoots .. how may could you possibly fit in a day , how much warning do you get etc etc

2. how long would a talk last ?

3. is the layout easy to navigate ?

4. are there meeting points because i get the feeling that me and my wife will posssibly be seperated depending on guests etc

5. my wife bought me some photo shoot tickets can i still use them or are they name only ?

 

 

and just any advice, hints or tips would be greatly appreciated

1. Having been going to these events since the first one in 2004, I'm working on the basis of booking no more than 10 per day.

2. Talk length could vary, normally would be at least 30 minutes, up to a max of one hour.

3. Difficult one to answer this year as will be in Olympia over a number of halls, but I hope so ! Hopefully things will be kept together, like all photoshoot areas in the same building for example.

4. Plenty of places that you can use for un-official meeting points.

5. Just need to have a copy on your phone of barcode for scanning or print off.

 

We are all moving a little into the unknown this year as the first Summer LFCC at Olympia and the first year there hasn't been early bird tickets as well as standard entry.

 

However, always best to plan out what you want to do before you get there in the main, certainly would advise to purchase any photoshoots in advance, get virtual auto queue tickets as soon as you get in, so you get lower numbers.

[Xenomorph]

 

3. is the layout easy to navigate ?

 

 

In addition to the answers given, I don't think the layout is especially good. The stalls at the front don't have much of a passageway between them and it can take a really long time to get past these, especially as they fill up with shoppers and browsers. If you plan on leaving the hall for some fresh air, add 10 minutes onto your expecting walking time to reach the back of the hall for photos/autographs. It's not difficult to navigate, just time consuming.

[Knitty Fred]

 

 

3. is the layout easy to navigate ?

 

 

In addition to the answers given, I don't think the layout is especially good. The stalls at the front don't have much of a passageway between them and it can take a really long time to get past these, especially as they fill up with shoppers and browsers. If you plan on leaving the hall for some fresh air, add 10 minutes onto your expecting walking time to reach the back of the hall for photos/autographs. It's not difficult to navigate, just time consuming.

 

 

Different venue this year so layout may vary. (I've only done London and Sheffield so far and they were completely different.)

[Zahariel]

Best advice to get is to wear comfortable shoes, you'll likely be on your feet for the better part of the day.

 

That and planning is key, photo shoot; talk and a rough layout are all expertly produced by 'Too tall' in the final week. If you know roughly where you need to be and at what times before you need to be there, you save time and stress on the day.

[Kymley]

Comfortable shoes and bring your own drink and food where possible

[Diane B]

First year for me too! Have got photo, talk and tickets booked for MJF - without knowing the timings how do you book other so that they don't clash - if you don't know timings until a week before - not sure how this works - thanks for any help in advance

[StuartG2198]

Unfortunately as you say the timings are not released until 7-10 days before the event so there is no way of knowing what's happening and when, so anything you book you sort of just have to hope they don't clash and if they do all you'll have to do is speak to a member of the crew who will be able to help you out

[Diane B]

Unfortunately as you say the timings are not released until 7-10 days before the event so there is no way of knowing what's happening and when, so anything you book you sort of just have to hope they don't clash and if they do all you'll have to do is speak to a member of the crew who will be able to help you out

OK - thanks - just did not want to book another two shoots @ £90 and it clash and be a waste - will have a think if I will chance paying out and chance a 'no clash'

[StuartG2198]

After doing these shows for many years I can honestly say I've never had any issues with clashes the crew are always excellent and approachable and will help you out so you don't miss out

[Diane B]

After doing these shows for many years I can honestly say I've never had any issues with clashes the crew are always excellent and approachable and will help you out so you don't miss out

Thank you

[Faerie Tanith]

My first time too so quite a few among the clueless this LFCC

[bobd_uk]

If you want any autographs then get your VTs first. Before anything else! Once you have those then you're set for the day and can work everything else out in your own time.

[Faerie Tanith]

This is going to sound really stupid and I apologize but what does VT mean?

[StuartG2198]

VT/VQ - Virtual Ticket/ Queue

[StuartG2198]

What are Virtual Queues and Virtual Tickets and how do they work?

 

To help cut down the amount of time you have to spend standing in a queue SM have introduced a virtual queuing system. When you go to meet one of the busier guests, instead of everyone standing in an "real" queue you will be handed a ticket with a number on it (your Virtual Ticket). This number is your position in the "virtual" queue. Only around 30 people stand in the "real" queue. You can join this "real" queue once your position in the "virtual" queue is reached. Think of it like taking a number in a doctors waiting room. You will know your position is reached when your Virtual Ticket number is called.

 

This system means once you have your VT for a guest you are free to wander around the event, join other queues and get other VTs.

 

This system is only used on the busier guests, for the quieter guests you will just join the "real" queue straight away.

 

Note: You do not pay for the Virtual Tickets they are free. You pay per autograph when you come back and join the "real" queue.

 

Note: Virtual Tickets are given out ONE PER PERSON, you will only be given one ticket. If you want to get a ticket for a friend there is nothing stopping you from joining the queue again and getting another ticket Just remember it will only be one ticket for each time you queue up.

 

Note: Only a ticket holder will be able to join the queue once their number is called. If you are planning to accompany someone (to take photographs or help carry bags, etc) you will still need a ticket, even if you are not planning on getting an autograph yourself. This does also apply to adults accompanying children.

 

Virtual Ticket numbers for guests will be announced (in batches of around 30) once the previous group of people in the "real" queue have their autographs.

 

Once your Virtual Ticket number is called you can then join the much smaller "real" queue. There will of course still be some queuing involved in the "real" queue! If you don't want to have to keep going back to the guests queue to see what number they are up to, you can check one of the white boards around the hall. These are kept up to date every 30 minutes or so.

 

The numbers shown are for any number UPTO that number. You can go up anytime after your number is called. So if you have ticket number 100 and the board is showing 200, this is fine, you haven't missed your turn.

[Faerie Tanith]

Got it, thank you. :)

[CyberdyneSystemsModel101]

What happens if the photo shoots you've bought in advanced clash? Will I be refunded if the crew can't find a way to work this out?

[Wrong Name]

What happens if the photo shoots you've bought in advanced clash? Will I be refunded if the crew can't find a way to work this out?

It's very rare that people don't make the shoots if they clash. If it does just speak to the crew and they will help you sort which ones to go to first and will try to rush you through so you won't miss anything.

[misskitten]

I once did 11 shoots and got autos from 14 different people in a single day (back in 2012 when I could only attend for one day due to only being off work for the weekend), it required mad planning and preparation (I had sandwiches prepared in individual zip-lock bags and ate while standing in line outside various shoots, I brought a couple of bottles of soda, but ran out towards the end of the day, but thankfully I knew some people and managed to get one of them to run and buy another one for me while I was stuck in a line, lol). It's not impossible, but you basically are standing in line all day long if you do something like that. If you are attending for different days, try to divide the shoots between the days to make it more comfortable for you.

If you are getting any autographs you ought to snatch up a virtual queue ticket for said guest before you do anything else, especially if it's a guest you suspect might get popular. You should manage to do it before you need to get in line for any shoots.

Check the schedule when it's posted and make yourself a personal schedule from it, noting at what time shoots and talks you plan on going to are happening, in which shoot/talk area it's taking place. Also check to see if there are any conflicting photoshoots going on, and if so prioritise guests that aren't doing multiple shoots in a day ahead of those that have - but also when you're there, do mention to the queue managers that you have conflicting shoots anyway, because it could be they advice you to go ahead with the other shoot first. It's not a huge problem to have clashing shoots, that just happens. I've managed to have tickets for shoots in all four areas at roughly the same time (that's a rare thing, though), and it ended up fine thanks to the help of the queue managers (though their eyes went a bit wide when I told them this, lol).

And also, do check in on the official event schedule that's posted around the different shoot/talk areas and the sales area, because sometimes things do get switched around and you want to stay informed in case they move something up on the day.

Other than that, stick to comfortable shoes (you don't really get to sit down much and there aren't really many actual seats to sit in outside of the talks), have something to drink with you, whether it's a bottle of soda or water or juice and something you can snack on, because you never know when you have time to head to the food stalls (which can get pricey) and how long the queue there is.

Layout, in my experience is usually stalls in the front and autographs in the back with photo and talk areas being around the edges. There's usually some kind of layout of the venue posted so you can see where the different areas are.

[1stmetalgod]

Its my second time going to london comic con, first time coming from olympia is there any disabled entry there? i am going with my friend who has a disability and we are coming from wales,we normally go to cardiff comic con and instead of getting in the big ques round the building we are normally escorted in with the staff and crew but no idea if this is a possibility to happen for this event.

[CyberdyneSystemsModel101]

Thanks guys!! Panicked momentarily when I saw how many I'd bought and thought "wait is this possible?!" 👍 feeling more excited than ever, especially as I nabbed a christopher Lloyd photoshoot ticket this afternoon too 👌