72 replies to this topic

[Donkey]

keithporter23, on Sep 26 2011, 02:16 PM, said:

Be grateful you have anybody related to space turning up at all!   We attendees who go for the Hollywood legends, have been sorely let down this year.

I guess there are many confused people this year.

The show has gone from two, down to one a year. We were told when it got cancelled, that due to them having more time to organise it, the line-up would be impressive. There were then lots of threads asking for suggestions....

There's no hollywood star, theres not the usual WW2 guests either, reunions.... etc, etc.

Maybe those fans have given up! and thats why its just us space fans arguing amongst ourselves.  

Something somewhere isn't right, maybe Showmasters are too focussed on the bigger London events, maybe something else. I just hope that next year we can get the balance right, and the wow factor back.....

[Count Fooku]

keithporter23, on Sep 26 2011, 02:16 PM, said:

We attendees who go for the Hollywood legends, have been sorely let down this year.

That might be a bit unfair. The group of people who could be classed as genuine Hollywood legends, i.e. those at the Tony Curtis/Ernest Borgnine level is not a huge pool to fish from and it may just be that the costs associated with those guests or their willingness to attend a signing event in the UK might make their attendance harder to arrange for the organisers of this show.

[Donkey]

Count Fooku, on Sep 26 2011, 02:39 PM, said:

That might be a bit unfair. The group of people who could be classed as genuine Hollywood legends, i.e. those at the Tony Curtis/Ernest Borgnine level is not a huge pool to fish from and it may just be that the costs associated with those guests or their willingness to attend a signing event in the UK might make their attendance harder to arrange for the organisers of this show.

But we know there ARE Hollywood legends on the autograph circuit, just as we know there ARE moonwalkers.

It's just how you get them in the net. I'd rather be bitching that its going to cost me £x more to meet somebody significant, than having to wait another 12 months to see a line-up matching this one.

As with the space guests the time is now ticking. One show a year doesn't leave us many opportunities.

[conqueen]

Ive just had the letter , and i can say i'm more than happy with the alternative photo shoot. Yes i booked to see Buzz, but the alternative shoot in my eyes more than makes up for it. Plus it give me something to look forward to for next year!

Those of you complaining ... guests have always appeared at shows subject to work commitments, so if you book just on the basis of one guest its at your own risk.

This is clearly stated on the website's home page.

"All guests subject to work and other commitments. Guest are charging for
autographs. Not all guests signing on all days"


Just be glad the caliber of guests remains high , and you can still see Buzz next year!!!

[Donkey]

conqueen, on Sep 26 2011, 03:12 PM, said:

Those of you complaining ... guests have always appeared at shows subject to work commitments, so if you book just on the basis of one guest its at your own risk.

I do get flustrated with comments like these, hindsight is such a wonderful thing.

Maybe you should have reminded us about this when this post was made?  

Dave Phillips, on Apr 4 2011, 06:47 PM, said:

Hello everyone
I have been swamped with questions on the Buzz Photo shoot so here are my replies to all.

The photoshoot is limited so please order early
You will need to order an entrance ticket to take part in the shoot. I will not be posting any photoshoot tickets out.
When you order a photoshoot ticket it can be used for either sat or sun.Hope that helps
Dave Phillips

[chippy30]

I'm really disappointed as Buzz for me was by far the biggest guest attending and has been advertising his appearance on his own website for weeks if not months (he still is tonight) so it's mysterious the conflict has only just surfaced. And also to a lesser extent Scott Carpenter as he's one of the 2 surviving Mercury 7 astronauts...

I'm still looking forward to meeting Edgar Mitchell and Bruce McCandless and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed there's no further disappointments.

As for replacements, only another moonwalker will really feel adequate - Gene Cernan, Dave Scott, Harrison Schmitt or Alan Bean would be great. What's Neil Armstrong up to on 15th? That would make up for it!! ;o)

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation charity set up by the Mercury 7 based in Titusville are attending Autographica and I've previously ordered from them and been very impressed, so whilst it's not replacement for meeting people in person, I'll certainly be checking their stand in a few weeks for some great items, saving on postage from the US.

[conqueen]

It seems like you think i am staff ... i am not, i am an attendee.

Why should i have posted this after a staff member lets people know about tickets being posted, how would it have been relevant?

FYI

I only posted this as it frustrates me when people clearly get angry at a cancellation then complain about it in such a way as to state that as the star is under contract they MUST attend, when all advertisements / information given prior to booking state there attendance is subject to other commitments!


You are right hindsight is wonderful thing, but so is thinking positive:

The organisers have kept everyone informed at all times and have offered those affected either a full refund, to use the ticket next year having already booked Buzz for Autographica 2012 or to have the 'special shoot! this year. In my eyes they have been more than fair with attendees.

And yes i am dissapointed that i will not meet Buzz this year, but i understand that things happen, and will look forward to his appearance next year.

Donkey, on Sep 26 2011, 03:28 PM, said:

conqueen, on Sep 26 2011, 03:12 PM, said:

Those of you complaining ... guests have always appeared at shows subject to work commitments, so if you book just on the basis of one guest its at your own risk.

I do get flustrated with comments like these, hindsight is such a wonderful thing.

Maybe you should have reminded us about this when this post was made?  

Dave Phillips, on Apr 4 2011, 06:47 PM, said:

Hello everyone
I have been swamped with questions on the Buzz Photo shoot so here are my replies to all.

The photoshoot is limited so please order early
You will need to order an entrance ticket to take part in the shoot. I will not be posting any photoshoot tickets out.
When you order a photoshoot ticket it can be used for either sat or sun.Hope that helps
Dave Phillips

[yahweh70]

Donkey, on Sep 26 2011, 01:24 PM, said:

yahweh70, on Sep 26 2011, 12:02 PM, said:

Hang on.. would you rather have to choose which one you plump for, and miss out on 90% of the guests.. and pay through the nose for the privelege, or get a few of them, and get them all, for near enough the same price as getting one in Tuscon.

I'm not really sure what your point is here?. Are you trying to say you prefer having less guests at a time?. Given that we now have one show a year, and time isn't on our side. I fear you should really stop and think about it a little harder. If you really want to meet them all.

Whilst I agree that Autographica isn't a 'Space Show'; it seems from the traffic on the forum, that thats where the core interest is - and therefore almost the entire show rests on getting these guys on board.

I don't actually consider the Arazona prices that scandalous. If it means either meeting them, or not meeting them - I'm in. I do wish sometimes the pricing was a bit more transparent though. It's hard to figure why some are so much more expensive, and others much less.

As I said maybe its time to get contracts that actually mean something; and go all balls out to make the next few shows something special. If rising prices a little bit means that we get events to remember, tell us thats the plan, and it actually is going to happen (not like some of the promises before) - and lets go.

Err, some folks have a meagre budget to spread amongst many genres of interest. Not everyone JUST goes for a Moonwalker.. just like not everyone goes JUST for Ernest Borgnine-quality folks. Not everyone has thousands of pounds to spend on one show. Some folks do other shows, and other calls on limited finances.

Ok so you think spending a grand to get a few moonwalkers is OK. Not everyone can afford a grand on one area. Not everyone can afford a grand, period. You might have just one Space-related show a year. Some are more general autograph hunters, so getting a Moonwalker is a luxury one has dangling, carrot-like.

Case in point that price can have an effect.. General Tom was cheaper last time, but wasn't, as far as I could tell, as busy as his more expensive '1-time-only' appearance a year later. Complaints about the prices Dave, Jim, etc charge. They are usually SO far greater than other guests, even the TC's of this world.. they get huge 'traffic' on here, not as positive as you seem to imagine it would be.

If you are so sure that getting every astronaut on the planet is such a great idea, and would make you a killing. I'm sure there are ways to start your own show. Get them to charge what they want.. and expect a lot of footfall, and hardly any takers. Then come back on here, and give us a report from your Bahamian Island you bought on the profits..

I prefer to have a wide range of guests. That is Autographica. Having a Space-Show is not Autographica. Having a couple of Space guests mean that any budget they wish to assign to them, can mean more than one item can be signed per guest. Lets say one has a poster on the Apollo11 movie..and a canvas.. means both can be signed by one person, rather than one by two..

Donkey, on Sep 26 2011, 03:28 PM, said:

conqueen, on Sep 26 2011, 03:12 PM, said:

Those of you complaining ... guests have always appeared at shows subject to work commitments, so if you book just on the basis of one guest its at your own risk.

I do get flustrated with comments like these, hindsight is such a wonderful thing.

Maybe you should have reminded us about this when this post was made?  

Oh for God's sake! Thats standard practice. Check out the EMS site, Collectormania, (other shows do exist but we can't mention them on here). They ALL say Guests are subject to work commitments. Overruns, Reshoots, Redubs.. whatever form they take.. if the guest's employers have a reason to keep him/her, or the agent gets informed of a booking clash, and the bigger legal team are getting hot'n'heavy.. then there has to be give and take.

[Donkey]

yahweh70, on Sep 26 2011, 10:19 PM, said:

Err, some folks have a meagre budget to spread amongst many genres of interest. Not everyone JUST goes for a Moonwalker.. just like not everyone goes JUST for Ernest Borgnine-quality folks. Not everyone has thousands of pounds to spend on one show. Some folks do other shows, and other calls on limited finances.

Ok so you think spending a grand to get a few moonwalkers is OK. Not everyone can afford a grand on one area. Not everyone can afford a grand, period. You might have just one Space-related show a year. Some are more general autograph hunters, so getting a Moonwalker is a luxury one has dangling, carrot-like.

Case in point that price can have an effect.. General Tom was cheaper last time, but wasn't, as far as I could tell, as busy as his more expensive '1-time-only' appearance a year later. Complaints about the prices Dave, Jim, etc charge. They are usually SO far greater than other guests, even the TC's of this world.. they get huge 'traffic' on here, not as positive as you seem to imagine it would be.

If you are so sure that getting every astronaut on the planet is such a great idea, and would make you a killing. I'm sure there are ways to start your own show. Get them to charge what they want.. and expect a lot of footfall, and hardly any takers. Then come back on here, and give us a report from your Bahamian Island you bought on the profits..

I prefer to have a wide range of guests. That is Autographica. Having a Space-Show is not Autographica. Having a couple of Space guests mean that any budget they wish to assign to them, can mean more than one item can be signed per guest. Lets say one has a poster on the Apollo11 movie..and a canvas.. means both can be signed by one person, rather than one by two..

Whilst you can give me this lecture about peoples spending. My core point is still true, either we get them here so they can sign, or we use your method and they never come. As I've pointed out now too many times, with the new one show a year, we only have a few shows left.

Are you really surprised that Tom had less traffic. The previous appearance was billed as the last ever. If you really wanted it, or even you were even on the fence - my bet given you were told it was the only chance you'd get - you'd buy one. Hence demand was less.

Collecting moonwalkers is very addictive, and everybody involved is probably at various stages of trying to obtain the illusive complete set. Given the prices it surly puts off the 'average' collector. I'm sure like collecting random Bond girls, you're either 'in', 'out', or 'joining' (ready to spend too much time arguing on internet forums )

Is my post really that outrageous that I should 'start my own show'. I've said that maybe for a 'special show' we should maybe consider paying a few pounds extra. Not hundreds, not thousands.... a few pounds!. So we don't get this type of line-up again.

Some people are so mean.

Edited by Donkey, 27 September 2011 - 06:44 AM.

[yahweh70]

So the amount of money Jason/Dave will lose will be astronomical, as their total fees won't be nearly covered, but hey, thats Ok, a few folks will have done the full set, or as close to the full set, as possible.

There are often plenty of arguments that the show is too heavily Space biased, but hey, Donkey wants the full set of Moonwalkers for a last hurrah, as Jason/Dave have to sell everything and move into a caravan.. I hear theres a plot in Essex coming up for rent soon..

Autographica is a more specialised but general autograph show. It is NOT a SPACE Autograph show. By that I mean it hosts guests that the likes of LFCC would not normally handle, although Diana Rigg would seem to be more Autographica than a mega-show like EMS. The odds of shows like Collectormania being able to realistically handle the likes of Dave Scott, and the lack of knowledge outside their specific genre fanbases (No Who, no Weedon, no Trek, no this no that.. OMG paying that much for someone that hasn't got a series on US network TV?)

Like I said.. if you want to meet them all, set your own one-off show, and I'm sure Basildon Council will be able to find you a paved area to set your pitch up afterwards..

[lukeowl]

If we can't have Buzz Aldrin, how about getting Buzz Lightyear in his place?  In fact, we could have Buzz Lightyear and Santa Clause all in one - I give you Tim Allen....

[Count Fooku]

That's a very warpy suggestion

[lukeowl]

Count Fooku, on Sep 27 2011, 01:22 PM, said:

That's a very warpy suggestion

It would make sense though.

[showmasters]

It makes a lot more sense than some of the suggestions i have seen in this thread.

[Catweazle]

showmasters, on Sep 27 2011, 01:44 PM, said:

It makes a lot more sense than some of the suggestions i have seen in this thread.

My 6 year old daughter would be happy with this (Buzz Lightyear), and my wife and I would also be happy (Galaxy Quest)! Win win suggestion!

[Count Fooku]

lukeowl, on Sep 27 2011, 01:33 PM, said:

Count Fooku, on Sep 27 2011, 01:22 PM, said:

That's a very warpy suggestion

It would make sense though.

If we can't get Tim Allen for the show then I think we should get Lukeowl to dress up as Buzz Lightyear and/or Santa at the event. The key question being would Timelord pay for a photoshoot with him.

[Donkey]

yahweh70, on Sep 27 2011, 11:50 AM, said:

So the amount of money Jason/Dave will lose will be astronomical, as their total fees won't be nearly covered, but hey, thats Ok, a few folks will have done the full set, or as close to the full set, as possible.

Some how the American shows can have roughly 10-20 of them at the same show, but expecting more than one in England at a time is pushing the boat out, and asking people to go bankrupt.

Even I'd be foolish to think that we could do anything like the Space show line-ups quoted. But now we have one show a year, its more important that we raise our game a little. In terms of time, every show now counts. I also clearly stated that the prices will rise a little too.

At the end of the day my suggestion was to get significant 'space guests' and 'hollywood stars' bums on seats!. Something American show's are doing a whole much better than us right now.

Autographica should be the worlds! (europes? :) ) leading Autograph show. Is it?, look at our line-up!

Edited by Donkey, 27 September 2011 - 02:58 PM.

[showmasters]

Hi Donkey
Who is this We all the time.
We should raise our game.

As you are nothing to do with this show or the decision making please stop reffering to We

Every one of the posts you have made on this forum are negative you do not have a positive word to say about the show or any guest there.

So please inflict your sarcasm and negative waves away from this topic as it is quite obvious that you will never like the line up no matter who we have.
Some of us are trying to organise a show here and do not have time to Bitch and Moan constantly.

Now if it is o.k i would like to concentrate on running the event
Dave Phillips

[Count Fooku]

reddragon, on Sep 27 2011, 04:16 PM, said:

Dave you are doing an excellent job. The line up is brilliant as far as I'm concerned - Bond girls, British Stars, American guests and pilots.

Echoed

[Donkey]

showmasters, on Sep 27 2011, 04:13 PM, said:

Hi Donkey
Who is this We all the time.
We should raise our game.

As you are nothing to do with this show or the decision making please stop reffering to We

Every one of the posts you have made on this forum are negative you do not have a positive word to say about the show or any guest there.

So please inflict your sarcasm and negative waves away from this topic as it is quite obvious that you will never like the line up no matter who we have.
Some of us are trying to organise a show here and do not have time to Bitch and Moan constantly.

Now if it is o.k i would like to concentrate on running the event
Dave Phillips

Don't these events operate differently to shops or other businesses  'We' being people who support the event, people who are passionate about it, and show enough interest to want to sit here all day and debate a way forward. But if you're unhappy with the term, I won't use it, its just 'you' and 'us' sounds a bit odd.  

I'm not negavite either (I was even suggesting to put prices up!). I'm happy that I'm going to meet a few of the guests there. I'd just be more excited if I was going to meet more.

It seems debate though isn't welcome. So lets cut this shot. I hope that next year is a bit more to mine and others liking.

Edited by Donkey, 27 September 2011 - 03:30 PM.