"Diamond passes" was a great idea, but...

[john.bttf]

Hi,

 

First, i would like to say I'm a big fan of how Showmasters manage their events. (Diamond pass, gold pass VQ tickets, nice photoshoot...) It works very good ! (We can always complaint, but it work very well for BIG events !)

 

I like also the "Diamond pass", to have the guarantee to get the autograph of your favourite guest, photoshoot, and talk.

 

 

 

But I think "Diamond pass works", because it's new.

 

what will happens when a Diamond Guest come back a few year later, and he still be a Diamond Guest (If Sigourney Weaver comes back for example) ?

 

I have already a photo with her, ans I don't want a new one (especially on the classic blue screen).

and I just want a new autograph on a other poster/object.

 

 

Can we imagine in the future, a new pass "Autograph guaranteed", for a "Back Diamond guest" ? (but not a package with the photoshoot / talk)

A good way to "save" money... LOL

 

 

We can easily know how much an "autograph guaranteed" wiil cost : The price of the autograph + the priority.

 

For example if Tom Wilson comes back :

 

His Diamond pass cost 155 £

- 45£ autograph

- 45£ photoshoot

- 20£ Talk

- 10£ (mug and print ?)

 

==> The priority cost : 35£

 

So an "Autograph guaranteed" pass will cost : 45£ + 35£ = 80£ (instead 155£ for a full package)

 

 

 

What do you think about that ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Wrong Name]

This is something that has been spoken about many times since the Diamond Passes were introduced 2 years ago as there are already people out there that aren't interested in the photos or other parts of the pass. Adding more types of passes ends up making things very complicated for SM and the volunteers on the day at the events. For this reason I can't see SM adding more types of tickets. Your choices will basically be buy the diamond and either get the extra photo or don't and take the loss, or risk getting the VQ ticket without the pass as it is now.

[wjbleming]

Suppose you could get a 2nd photo and do a different pose, even, it doesn't have to be exactly the same as your first one.

[john.bttf]

This is something that has been spoken about many times since the Diamond Passes were introduced 2 years ago as there are already people out there that aren't interested in the photos or other parts of the pass. Adding more types of passes ends up making things very complicated for SM and the volunteers on the day at the events. For this reason I can't see SM adding more types of tickets. Your choices will basically be buy the diamond and either get the extra photo or don't and take the loss, or risk getting the VQ ticket without the pass as it is now.

 

Yeah it could be true, but SM don't have to make a totally new pass.

 

It could be a diamond pass, but just with the small logo "autograph" on it. (so it's not complicated for the volonteers, they just to make the small hole on the pass, on the logo) :-)

 

The problem is not for now, because they are no coming back yet, but SM have to think when a Diamond guest will come back, the classic diamond passes will not selling so easily a second time.

[john.bttf]

Suppose you could get a 2nd photo and do a different pose, even, it doesn't have to be exactly the same as your first one.

 

It could be true for a classic guest.

 

But certainly not for a diamond guest where you can just pose next to him and hear the volonteer : "NEXT !"

[Chazzley]

I believe that if they are a big enough guest that will guaranteed be busy all weekend non-stop then they should still have a diamond pass.

You have to remember that the attendee's want all have attended when the guest was previously there.

 

EDIT: Only put half my post

 

I think they should just stick with a diamond pass, it gets too much when cons add in all these different passes.

Edited January 3, 2017 by Chazzley

[john.bttf]

I believe that if they are a big enough guest that will guaranteed be busy all weekend non-stop then they should still have a diamond pass.

You have to remember that the attendee's want all have attended when the guest was previously there.

 

EDIT: Only put half my post

 

I think they should just stick with a diamond pass, it gets too much when cons add in all these different passes.

 

 

Of course, if Sigourney Weaver comes back, she still be a Diamond guest. And for all the visitors who come to see her for the first time, it will be great they can buy a classic Diamond pass (full package)

 

But for those who already meet her, SM can propose an other ways to get her autograph, no ?

 

Or you just want to pay 400£ every time ?

 

 

Put or remove a logo on a Diamond pass is not so complicated, no ?

 

 

 

==> Diamond pass are GREAT, don't remove them ! (just think a way to imrpove it in the future ;-) )

Edited January 3, 2017 by Queen_Sindel

[Wrong Name]

 

This is something that has been spoken about many times since the Diamond Passes were introduced 2 years ago as there are already people out there that aren't interested in the photos or other parts of the pass. Adding more types of passes ends up making things very complicated for SM and the volunteers on the day at the events. For this reason I can't see SM adding more types of tickets. Your choices will basically be buy the diamond and either get the extra photo or don't and take the loss, or risk getting the VQ ticket without the pass as it is now.

 

Yeah it could be true, but SM don't have to make a totally new pass.

 

It could be a diamond pass, but just with the small logo "autograph" on it. (so it's not complicated for the volonteers, they just to make the small hole on the pass, on the logo) :-)

 

The problem is not for now, because they are no coming back yet, but SM have to think when a Diamond guest will come back, the classic diamond passes will not selling so easily a second time.

 

Only having a small change like that would make it harder for the crew to spot the difference and more likely that people would try to sneak into the photoshoot. Hopefully the crew would notice but it would still be wasting time when they are on tight schedules. Also, as great as the crew are, there have been issues in the past with some of them knowing what is or isn't allowed with the different types of passes which has caused some issues (see reviews in past years threads).

 

The other thing about introducing another new pass is that it will again de-value the gold pass, and the full diamond for that matter.

 

(on a side note: remember you can't talk about any none SM events on this forum)

Edited January 3, 2017 by Wrong Name

[john.bttf]

 

 

This is something that has been spoken about many times since the Diamond Passes were introduced 2 years ago as there are already people out there that aren't interested in the photos or other parts of the pass. Adding more types of passes ends up making things very complicated for SM and the volunteers on the day at the events. For this reason I can't see SM adding more types of tickets. Your choices will basically be buy the diamond and either get the extra photo or don't and take the loss, or risk getting the VQ ticket without the pass as it is now.

 

Yeah it could be true, but SM don't have to make a totally new pass.

 

It could be a diamond pass, but just with the small logo "autograph" on it. (so it's not complicated for the volonteers, they just to make the small hole on the pass, on the logo) :-)

 

The problem is not for now, because they are no coming back yet, but SM have to think when a Diamond guest will come back, the classic diamond passes will not selling so easily a second time.

 

Only having a small change like that would make it harder for the crew to spot the difference and more likely that people would try to sneak into the photoshoot. Hopefully the crew would notice but it would still be wasting time when they are on tight schedules. Also, as great as the crew are, there have been issues in the past with some of them knowing what is or isn't allowed with the different types of passes which has caused some issues (see reviews in past years threads).

 

The other thing about introducing another new pass is that it will again de-value the gold pass, and the full diamond for that matter.

 

(on a side note: remember you can't talk about any none SM events on this forum)

 

(on a side note: remember you can't talk about any none SM events on this forum)

Sorry, i didn't knew :-(

 

 

Goldpass is great too, i don't want goldpass being removed.

 

I can't afford all the diamond pass for all the guest. But for one or two it's perfect to have the guarantee.

 

We will see in the future, if they are a "coming back guest" i will take my chance with a goldpass and the VQ tickets. But certainly not pay 400£ for a package (if I've already done the photoshoot)

[Raylenth]

What may seem like a small thing to an attendee isn't necessarily from an organisational point of view unfortunately.

 

There is another way auto's are kind of guaranteed without buying a diamond pass and that's the pre order service - yes it's not perfect as you can't give it to them to get signed and collect at the event (understandably why you can't collect at the event though) so if there are a few guests from 1 show/film you want you either have to use pre order for all or none. You also don't get to meet the guest but you will get their auto.

[john1980]

I suppose one solution would be different coloured passes like bronze, silver, gold, diamond with different with different perks included.

 

Different coloured passes would be easy to spot for volunteers

[natedammit]

I still feel like being able to buy an autograph ticket the same way you do a normal photoshoot ticket would be great, a guaranteed autograph especially with bigger guests, keeps queues down, no one has to rush when let in the building to get a VQ ticket and also don't have to rock up at stupid o'clock. Keep the VQT in play for those that may want to try on the day or don't have the money until the event but for those that REALLY need to meet that guest they have the knowledge in that they have that and they can just rock up and join the back of the queue.

 

The reason it works for photoshoots but not autos is that SM know how long x amount of photoshoots take. Autographs vary wildly between different guests.

[john.bttf]

 

I still feel like being able to buy an autograph ticket the same way you do a normal photoshoot ticket would be great, a guaranteed autograph especially with bigger guests, keeps queues down, no one has to rush when let in the building to get a VQ ticket and also don't have to rock up at stupid o'clock. Keep the VQT in play for those that may want to try on the day or don't have the money until the event but for those that REALLY need to meet that guest they have the knowledge in that they have that and they can just rock up and join the back of the queue.

 

The reason it works for photoshoots but not autos is that SM know how long x amount of photoshoots take. Autographs vary wildly between different guests.

 

 

True, it's always the answer we get : "we don't know how many autograp a guest can sign per day".

 

It's true... but SM seems know how many Diamond pass sells. So, they know the number minimum of autograph can be sign too.

 

So, it's possible :-)

 

I agree with Mr Luthor : a autograph ticket will be great too !

[Queen_Sindel]

Are you guys really trying to get everything on pre-order?

 

The year LFACC sold out we had so many People discovering the Show only shortly before who were sad it sold out, there were even walk ups on the day who were turned away.

 

Imagine yourself in this Situation. Your dream guest, you can't come due to reasons out of your control, things Change last Minute and you can come, boom everything sold out.

 

The more time is taken by pre-orders the bigger the Chance is that someone who can't pre-plan or who is making a spontaneous decision misses out.

 

The number of Diamond Passes is not determined by the amount of autographs. It's various factors. SM know they have to sell a certain amount of Diamond Passes to make things work. That is the main starting Point. This is definitely one of the situations that has been mentioned in a Prior post, attendees sometimes underestimate things. There is much more backstage thinking going on than we all anticipate.

 

And even those calculations they are really doing very carefully can end up biting them in the butt, like when circumstances Change - Robert Englund make up shoot anyone? - or a guest signs slower than anticipated. *cough* Christopher Lloyd *cough* Someone mentioned in the Carrie Fisher Tribute post that they missed her because she had to leave early. That happened more than once.

 

I understand guarantees are nice. But the more of such guarantees you sell the bigger the risk you take to leave fans disappointed. Upset fans who missed out are not giving a good Impression of SM. "Why didn't you know before?", "Why did you sell that many then?" etc.

 

The last info I have on the autograph ticket question is a bit dated, but the "it won't be done again" is still valid as far as I know. It did not work out for various reasons. Don't ask me what those reasons were, I am just paraphrasing a Statement from TooTall. he couldn't get into Details back then, so even if I knew I would not be going into Details now. Some things belong backstage.

[john1980]

I still feel like being able to buy an autograph ticket the same way you do a normal photoshoot ticket would be great, a guaranteed autograph especially with bigger guests, keeps queues down, no one has to rush when let in the building to get a VQ ticket and also don't have to rock up at stupid o'clock. Keep the VQT in play for those that may want to try on the day or don't have the money until the event but for those that REALLY need to meet that guest they have the knowledge in that they have that and they can just rock up and join the back of the queue.

Isn't that the purpose of a gold pass though

[Raylenth]

Are you guys really trying to get everything on pre-order?

 

The year LFACC sold out we had so many People discovering the Show only shortly before who were sad it sold out, there were even walk ups on the day who were turned away.

 

Imagine yourself in this Situation. Your dream guest, you can't come due to reasons out of your control, things Change last Minute and you can come, boom everything sold out.

 

The more time is taken by pre-orders the bigger the Chance is that someone who can't pre-plan or who is making a spontaneous decision misses out.

 

I just meant if someone really didn't want to buy a Diamond pass it was another option, I appreciate what you are saying though.

[john.bttf]

Are you guys really trying to get everything on pre-order?

 

The year LFACC sold out we had so many People discovering the Show only shortly before who were sad it sold out, there were even walk ups on the day who were turned away.

 

Imagine yourself in this Situation. Your dream guest, you can't come due to reasons out of your control, things Change last Minute and you can come, boom everything sold out.

 

The more time is taken by pre-orders the bigger the Chance is that someone who can't pre-plan or who is making a spontaneous decision misses out.

 

The number of Diamond Passes is not determined by the amount of autographs. It's various factors. SM know they have to sell a certain amount of Diamond Passes to make things work. That is the main starting Point. This is definitely one of the situations that has been mentioned in a Prior post, attendees sometimes underestimate things. There is much more backstage thinking going on than we all anticipate.

 

And even those calculations they are really doing very carefully can end up biting them in the butt, like when circumstances Change - Robert Englund make up shoot anyone? - or a guest signs slower than anticipated. *cough* Christopher Lloyd *cough* Someone mentioned in the Carrie Fisher Tribute post that they missed her because she had to leave early. That happened more than once.

 

I understand guarantees are nice. But the more of such guarantees you sell the bigger the risk you take to leave fans disappointed. Upset fans who missed out are not giving a good Impression of SM. "Why didn't you know before?", "Why did you sell that many then?" etc.

 

The last info I have on the autograph ticket question is a bit dated, but the "it won't be done again" is still valid as far as I know. It did not work out for various reasons. Don't ask me what those reasons were, I am just paraphrasing a Statement from TooTall. he couldn't get into Details back then, so even if I knew I would not be going into Details now. Some things belong backstage.

 

 

 

"Are you guys really trying to get everything on pre-order? ;)"

==> No. I said in my first post : I like the way SM manage their shows. It works very well. This post is an ideas to improve things.

 

"The year LFACC sold out we had so many People discovering the Show only shortly before who were sad it sold out, there were even walk ups on the day who were turned away."

Imagine yourself in this Situation. Your dream guest, you can't come due to reasons out of your control, things Change last Minute and you can come, boom everything sold out.

==> Sorry, but it's howthe life works. Can you come at a concert without a ticket and hoping to see your favourite singer ? that is the same for a comic con. If it's sold out, it's sold out. And if it's sold out, it's because Showmaster make a great work with BIG GUEST.

 

The more time is taken by pre-orders the bigger the Chance is that someone who can't pre-plan or who is making a spontaneous decision misses out.

==> I prefer make plan in advance, i'm sure i'm not the only one. If someone want to come with no plan the day at the comic con, he take risk to miss a lot of thing.

 

The number of Diamond Passes is not determined by the amount of autographs. It's various factors. SM know they have to sell a certain amount of Diamond Passes to make things work. That is the main starting Point. This is definitely one of the situations that has been mentioned in a Prior post, attendees sometimes underestimate things. There is much more backstage thinking going on than we all anticipate.

==> True. But finally, they know the maximum they can sell.

 

And even those calculations they are really doing very carefully can end up biting them in the butt, like when circumstances Change - Robert Englund make up shoot anyone? - or a guest signs slower than anticipated. *cough* Christopher Lloyd *cough* Someone mentioned in the Carrie Fisher Tribute post that they missed her because she had to leave early. That happened more than once.

==> True. That's why Showmaster don't selling too much Diamond pass. They sell the right number, and let the rest of the time for all the other visitor with a VQ ticket, and it's great.

 

I understand guarantees are nice. But the more of such guarantees you sell the bigger the risk you take to leave fans disappointed. Upset fans who missed out are not giving a good Impression of SM. "Why didn't you know before?", "Why did you sell that many then?" etc.

==> Believe me, I'm more upset to miss a guest because there is NO guarantee.I really prefer an organisation like SHowmaster. if not : I make all the travel, eurostar, Hotel... just to miss it. No, SM doing great with diamond pass ! :-)

 

The last info I have on the autograph ticket question is a bit dated, but the "it won't be done again" is still valid as far as I know. It did not work out for various reasons. Don't ask me what those reasons were, I am just paraphrasing a Statement from TooTall. he couldn't get into Details back then, so even if I knew I would not be going into Details now. Some things belong backstage.

==> Ok ;-)

 

 

[Sam_Carter96]

I, personally, have found diamond passes to be completely unnecessary so far if you have a gold pass.

I've met Michael Gambon, Jack Gleeson and Jeremy Renner without a diamond pass for any of them. I'm so glad I didn't buy any as it's saved me a lot of money.

When they first announced diamond passes I thought if I was going to meet the guests I wanted at all (without a diamond pass) then I'd have to wait until towards the end of the day, or I'd have to wait for the second day of the guests' attendance. (i.e. have to wait until the sunday afternoon), but I met Michael, Jack and Jeremy all before 1pm on the Saturday.

I haven't completely ruled out diamond passes (I'd get one for Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams or Chris Evans) but for any other guests I just stick with the gold pass and get low VQTs.

 

If diamond passes just came with autographs then I'd be more likely to buy them, I just have no interest in the talks or photos so they're way too much money.

[Persephone1]

I suppose one solution would be different coloured passes like bronze, silver, gold, diamond with different with different perks included.

 

Different coloured passes would be easy to spot for volunteers

You say that but my only complaint from last year's event was that the volunteers hadn't got the hang of the fact that the only people to get priority access to a diamond pass guest are diamond pass holders. They were routinely allowing gold pass holders access to the diamond guests queues without a VQ ticket keeping those with low VQ numbers waiting a long time. Their inability to get this right already devalues the diamond passes. They'd never cope with more passes offering different benefits

[john1980]

I, personally, have found diamond passes to be completely unnecessary so far if you have a gold pass.

I've met Michael Gambon, Jack Gleeson and Jeremy Renner without a diamond pass for any of them. I'm so glad I didn't buy any as it's saved me a lot of money.

When they first announced diamond passes I thought if I was going to meet the guests I wanted at all (without a diamond pass) then I'd have to wait until towards the end of the day, or I'd have to wait for the second day of the guests' attendance. (i.e. have to wait until the sunday afternoon), but I met Michael, Jack and Jeremy all before 1pm on the Saturday.

I haven't completely ruled out diamond passes (I'd get one for Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams or Chris Evans) but for any other guests I just stick with the gold pass and get low VQTs.

 

If diamond passes just came with autographs then I'd be more likely to buy them, I just have no interest in the talks or photos so they're way too much money.

Im the opposite i think diamond passes are worth the money for the peace of mind, and largely anyone i buy the pass for im interested in what they have to say.

 

Having done 13 autos, 13-15 photos and 5-6 talks this year without gold Im not convinced by them, however I'm tempted to upgrade to gold this year for the talks and as a test to see what difference they actually make

[Chazzley]

The term "Don't fix what isn't broken" comes to mind.

How the tickets and passes are done at the moment is fine, Diamond pass guarantees you an auto and a photo, gold pass gives a much higher chance to get an auto and GA it is down to if you get up and in the line early enough.

Let's say they were to add a new pass in, would they have an auto pass for a guest along side the diamond pass or reduce the diamond pass numbers?

Doing both would effect other areas of the con e.g. photos and other tickets.

 

I know of other cons that have 5+ tiers of tickets, this makes the GA queues for an auto about 3 hours long and ends up with a lot of unhappy attendees being turned away as they couldn't afford to spend £100+ per guest to get an autograph even though they got up at the crack of dawn to join the queue.

[RoryMcGarrett]

The only time i was allowed to go with Diamond Passes was during Jack Gleeson photoshoot as I had some clash and the lovely man let me go as one of the first ones

[Queen_Sindel]

 

Are you guys really trying to get everything on pre-order?

 

The year LFACC sold out we had so many People discovering the Show only shortly before who were sad it sold out, there were even walk ups on the day who were turned away.

 

Imagine yourself in this Situation. Your dream guest, you can't come due to reasons out of your control, things Change last Minute and you can come, boom everything sold out.

 

The more time is taken by pre-orders the bigger the Chance is that someone who can't pre-plan or who is making a spontaneous decision misses out.

 

I just meant if someone really didn't want to buy a Diamond pass it was another option, I appreciate what you are saying though.

 

 

My response was more directed at the autograph tickets, not your suggestion.

 

I can see what the pre-planners are trying to say too. But SM have always said that one thing the events should never lose is the chance to be spontaneous. And everything that has been suggested so far is taking away from that too much. The fact that the event has grown so much has already killed some of this with photo sessions selling out early more and more often.

 

Some of the suggestions are definitely an idea should something besides the Diamond Pass ever be implemented. But Persephone has already said it, the crew isn't even fully used to the Diamond Pass yet. Implementing yet another level now is way too soon and has too much potential for confusion.

 

And the suggestion "just make them look like the others, all you have to add is one word" definitely won't work. Sounds totally reasonable from the perspective of an attendee, I agree. But unfortunately not everyone out there is honest. The more similar two completely different passes are the more potential for someone trying to alter the cheaper pass. Fakes have happened before.

[TerraHawk]

 

Imagine yourself in this Situation. Your dream guest, you can't come due to reasons out of your control, things Change last Minute and you can come, boom everything sold out.

 

 

That's the situation already for the diamond guests though, isn't it?

 

Imagine the situation where person A wants to be certain of autographs so gets the diamond but has no interest in the photos. Person B turns up at the last mo and is desperate for the photo, Person A can't sell, or even give their spare photo to person B.

Edited January 3, 2017 by TerraHawk

[Queen_Sindel]

 

 

Imagine yourself in this Situation. Your dream guest, you can't come due to reasons out of your control, things Change last Minute and you can come, boom everything sold out.

 

 

That's the situation already for the diamond guests though, isn't it?

 

Imagine the situation where person A wants to be certain of autographs so gets the diamond but has no interest in the photos. Person B turns up at the last mo and is desperate for the photo, Person A can't sell, or even give their spare photo to person B.

 

 

Diamond Pass Guests are different in my view because it's always been said that without the passes the guests would not be attending at all. As I said before, my post was mainly in Response to asking for autograph tickets and more ticket Levels.

 

All Diamond Guests have done photos for non Diamond Pass holders, the photos are not exclusive. The photosessions selling out is a General risk unfortunately which I tried to cover in the post you quoted a part of.