cunningham1471

Keep checking as it will keep changing. A few years ago I went to an event in Norwich. that weekend was the longest year of my life. What a boring city Norwich is! I was looking at tickets and thought return tickets from London £9 that's good I'll get some when I get my money. Three days later they had gone up to £34. I thought sod that I won't go. By pure chance about 2 months later I thought I'll look and see what it will cost now. Wahey! Same train leaving the same station from the same platform at the same time... £11.30 so I bought my ticket. I've also managed to get away with a cheap ticket by using my history. And to this day I still don't understand it. I looked at the price of a ticket at work and it said £8.25. I didn't want to put my credit card details on my work computer so thought I would wait until I got home. When I got home I had saved my search for that destination in my favourites the night before. Hmm not what I was expecting ticket price £6.70. I thought have a go it probably won't work so hit buy ticket expecting the price to change. It didn't so I carried on with the transaction and got charged £6.70 for my ticket. Result!! I took the dog for a walk diverting to the nearby train station to print my ticket off and yep it said on it £6.70. When I got home I went back to the webpage to buy a ticket, this time not using the favourites so it was a new approach from a search engine (Google) and the price for that trip said £8.25 the price quoted that morning. I've tried doing that since and it has never worked sadly. Whether it was a glitch or the god of travel was smiling on me that day I don't know. So I would suggest keep an eye on the prices as they are likely to keep changing between now and then. It's just a matter of taking the right price and hope you don't find out later if you waited a few days it would have been cheaper. I've had it and it does annoy you.

A reunion of the cast of "Soap" would be fantastic. That has to be one of the funniest TV comedies ever. A Tiswas reunion of Sally James, Bob Carolgees, John Gorman, Lenny Henry and Chris Tarrant (unlikely) would be great..... This is what they want!! You could even get people to bring buckets to fill wit water to try and set a world record for the most people doing the bucket of water song. If you could get them for October how about an 35th Anniversary of the original cast of Grange Hill? That show ran for years and is a part of people's childhood so long term you have a lot of people to go for The cast of Press Gang

Paul Michael Glazer (Starsky) is touring the UK in Fiddler on the roof next year so depending on dates, he may be a possible guest for one of Showmasters events even if it isn't in London or even if David Soul and Antonio Fargas aren't interested.

The cast of The Murdoch Mysteries would be appreciated... thank you!

Thank you Ted and 18blue78. I'll decide nearer the time if I'm going to stay up there overnight, when I know who is appearing which days. I'm going for the Space 1999 and the Bond women. It's annoying that Nicholas Smith is Sunday only. If more names are added and it makes it worth staying Sat-Sun I'll consider it. I just wish I was interested in boxing. I may even know who half of them are.

Thanks Count Fooku. I've been to the hotel before, it's nice, but the food is pricey... Fish Finger Sarnie, £10 YIKES!!

Hi Gaffer, Thanks for the reply. I was looking at possibly doing the earlier train on Saturday, but it makes the day even longer as I would have to be up and out at 5.30 to get to Euston. Owing to disability speed walking and lots of standing about does me no favours at all, so a long day takes it out of me. It's a shame that the price of hotels in general are so steep it really adds up the overall cost or I would have stayed over for sure. I'm toying with the idea of doing the "are you nuts run" and travelling up and back to London and doing the same again on Sunday, but the cost of the travel for both days is less than one night in a hotel or B&B for one night.

Diane was on TV not long ago on Big Brother's Little Brother or some show like that. I think she is a life coach or something now. She was talking about the dreary contestants spouting cobblers based on what everyone can see if they watch the show.

Mark Lester Ron Moody The Von Trapp Children from The Sound of Music Chitty Chitty Bang Bang reunion WWF - Demolition WWF - Howard Finkel WWF - Bobby "The Brain" Heenan if he is well enough to travel WWF - Mean Gene Okerland WCW/WWF - Lex Luger WCW/WWF -Road Warrior Hawk Jim Dale - Carry On Angela Douglas - Carry On Barbara Windsor - Carry On/Eastenders The Cast of New Tricks

Now if Showmasters wanted to be sneaky they could try and get David Beckham, Alan Shearer and Gazza as guests to push people's loyalties even further. Personally it's footy and I couldn't care less even if England make the final. I didn't even know Andy Murray was in the final let alone that he had won Wimbledon until the day after. Sport = Zzzzzzzzz

Hows about Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin aka Robert Vaughan and David McCullum as guests? I think these two would be a good couple to get that would appeal to people of certain age... ok an old git like me!

Hi, I know that this is near impossible, but can anyone give me a best guess estimate of the number of people that attend Autgraphica? I've only done the LFCC and that draws tens of thousands, last weekend 80,000+. I know this event doesn't draw anything close to that, likely not even a third of that. I'm thinking of coming to this event and am trying to work out if I need to stop over Friday night or if I can come up early Saturday morning from London hitting the hotel about 9am and get to see the people I am interested in.

If you are thinking reunions. Police Academy (30th Anniversary) One of the biggest comedies of the 80's that spawned soem ropey sequels. Dynasty (25th Anniversay of the show ending) The Cosplayers will have a field day with the shoulder pad dresses lol Tiswas (40th Anniversay) This is what they want! If you really went for it you could get people to bring buckets and create a world record for the most people performing "The Bucket of Water Song" in one place. If that odesn't get you on local TV news I don't know what will. The Tomorrow People (35th Anniversary of the original show ending) As there is a US version being made, it may get some interest in the past the same way Doctor Who did. The Dukes of Hazzard (35th Anniversary) Sadly Boss Hogg is no longer with us but The Duke brothers and of course the lovely Daisy are. Quantum Leap (25th Anniversary) "Oh boy!"

I think the reality is this issue will never go away unless drastic changes are made. I say drastic because that is exactly what it would be. 1) Too many Earlybird/Prepaid tickets are sold hence the queues getting longer and longer and resulting in slower movement of the line. Answer: Restrict the number of tickets sold to 100 max. Each ticket is numbered or has a barcode. At the entrance the number/barcode is read and ticked off on a laptop saying that person is in. The barcode is the best and faster option if it can be scanned and it would help stop photocopies being used. Result - people complain they couldn't get a ticket, won't line up to pay on the door so don't bother going. 2) Too many people attending now so the venue can't deal with so many people coming using seperate doors with different types of tickets. Answer - Have one day as prepaid tickets only, no on the day sales. On the other day haev it pay at the door only. Result - People will complain that some guest are only appearing on one day and so they have to buy two tickets (as weekender tickets will no longer be issued) and they don't wat to line up why can't I buy two prepaid tickets one for each day, it's inconvenient, I don't want to line up to buy a ticket (when they are lining up anyway to get in the door) blah blah blah. Both would work, both will be wrong and upset people. However if something is going to change it needs to be accepted that some people are going to be angry and upset but tough titties! Showmasters are in a no win situation with this one. Can imporvements be made? Yes of course. Better signage, better explanation on the description as to what the ticket is and means. Rather than call it an Early Bird ticket just call it and advance purchase ticket. and clearly print on the ticket this doesn't guarantee early entry and you may not get in quicker than on the day ticket sales. Someone suggested megaphones. I agree this would help, from experience of the chaos that happens with people not knowing which line is which, however this too causes a problem. if I lived near the venue and I had people on megaphones disturbing my morning from about 8am I wouldn't be too happy and would start making complaints to the venue, the local council etc. It would be annoying at anytome of the say, especially first thing in the morning. The perfect venue would be somewhere like the O2 in London, but way too expensive. Not only are they equipped to deal with vast numbers of people, they can have electronic boards above the entrance saying whilch line is which, there are plenty of places to get food etc, lots of seating inside the arena for people to rest if they need too and best of all, should megaphones be needed to be used outside the venue there is a good distance between it and local housing so it would causse less disturbance for local residents. It's just a shame it costs so much to hire.. If used occasionally.. one megaphone used once, making one announcemnet every half an hour I could probably live with at a stretch. Continuous every 5 minutes would p**** me off very quickly.

It does seem a very strange way to put on and promote an event, under the circumstances. I mean sure, dozens of events are ran that way, but they don't have successful forums and huge mailing lists to rely upon. To virtually ignore your primary marketplace, let others pass the messages on for you, seems very odd indeed. Unfortuately this is standard way of doing things by the looks of it. I had booked for "The Games" and the OUAT/Grimm conventions. Both boards were dead, no news, despite lots of requests as to what is happening and the status of the cons and then suddenly cancelled. I was looking at the first Lords of Time con and saw a similar pattern on there as well so didn't even think about buying a ticket. That event did go ahead but that isn't the point. The complete failure of psoting anything and update news on your own forum is a big mistake and wrong IMO. It's the main reason that I will no longer even consider going to a ME convention. Cancellations happen, guests have to withdraw, that happens and it can't be helped, but promoting and notifying is the responsibility of the person or company that is running the event. Getting that wrong gives a bad impression. Getting that wrong and then cancelling events looks worse. Getting it wrong, cancelling events and blaming lack of ticket sales can be devestating as it makes the person or company look inept. I realise that for this event the reason wasn't owing to ticket sales, but I'm sure you understand the point I am making.

Hi-de-hi reunion Allo Allo reunion The children from The Sound of Music (guessing Christopher Plummer and Dame Julie Andrews is no chance) The Pensive children from The Chronicles of Narnia films The cast of New Tricks (not sure you would get James Bolam though)

Add me to the list that would love some Charmed guests.

David, I agree with pretty much all that you have said. It's a no win situation on either side unfortunately. The cost of advertising is expensive, thats why I said about having the names of ME events as a bar at the bottom on the Collectormania or Movie Mart adverts. Of course if an seperate advert was done for ME nothing says that it has to be pirely for one convention. It could be sectionlised (is that a word?) and have all the ME events to appeal across the board to the widest encatchment. Logging on every two weeks to see a new name is silly and likely to be unrealistic. Even if it is successful to start with there will only ever be a limited number of guests. 6-10 (if you are lucky), unlike a Collectormania where you could have 50+ guests. I don't think anyone thinks that they are getting told BS, I certainly don't. However I do think it's reasonable that if a person has purchased a ticket and is unable to get a refund (should they want one because they have to wait months to do so) feels like they would like to see some progression of activity of the event's planning in whatever form it takes whether guests, hotel code, party themes or something else, even if it's just changing the website a bit after 5-6 months so it looks fresh. If the website is the same month after month it looks like it's been created and forgotten. As we both agree it's a no win situation, but I do feel that as this is a common occurance it's something that needs to be looked at and addressed in some way. Regular monthly competitions where the winner has to have purchased a ticket even if it's between the competition and the start of the con perhaps? Nothing massively expensive. As the guests have a variety of photos to be signed. One could be a full set of all of a guest's photos all autographed. with a few guests that one can be done a few times. Or perhaps an exclusive photo/poster signed by all the guests. A free photo shoot with a guest. Something like these whilst not as exciting as a guest announcement and won't stop the requests for more guests to be named, it does at least help a bit during the long months leading up to the con where it's dead and nothing appears to be happened and the con is being forgotten by the organisers.

As I have posted previously, and mentioned above by Queen Sindel, things can get blown out of proportion. Things can get misunderstood. That is why I took great time to explain what I was trying to do as you had taken away the complete opposite to what I had meant in my head. You are, in your own words, new to conventions. That is why some of us are doing our best to help reassure you. There will be people who will vocally share your concerns, and sometimes that can heighten the concerns of a person in your position who is new to the convention scene. Yes, some events have not happened. Some have been postponed. It happens. But, and this is where some people have seemingly chosen to ignore history, Showmasters and Massive Events have run many many events. I do look forward to seeing more announcements for this event as it will mean people like yourself, both new to the convention scene and a little spooked that there has been little activity on this event since it was announced, will have something to smile about. That is assuming people new to conventions know of the history. I knew the name Showmasters and Collectormania years before I ever went to one of their signing events owing to their advert in Empire Magazine and the like. I had no idea they ran themed conventions too. I had never heard of Massive Events and only found out they were connected to Showmasters after joining this forum. When I talk to people about going to conventions ME isn't the name that people mention, there is another one, which I'm not allowed to mention that people think it is probably being organised by. IMO a far bigger problem is the poor promotion of the events by ME and other organiser/promoters. It appears that it's being relied on word of mouth by attendees and fans. As I have said I had no idea about ME and their themed cons. I stumbled upon it when I went on another website that lists cons that are happening. I found a couple of others too. I was planning on going to another two other events both of which ended up being cancelled owing to lack of ticket sales. Both IMO down to lack of promotion. I never saw any promotion for any other than their website and their own forums. It was down to the fans to post news on other forums. One managed to sell a total of 47 tickets over 6 months despite having announced 2 guests intitially and adding two more later on. I then found out they were running another con. How did I find out? They mentioned it on their forum when replying to a question about refunds for the cancelled con. The other con that had been announced a few days previously. Hold on a minute, I'm following you on Twitter and we are friends on Facebook, yet I knew nothing about this new con. How does that happen? How did 150 tickets get sold so quickly? Ahhh right they posted on a forum for that series. That's fair enough but has completely shut out anyone who doesn't use that forum. Us fans are more than happy to spread the word and help promote if we can, it benefits us in the long run as the conventions are more likely to go ahead and be more successful, but more visibilty for the cons needs to happen too beyond mentions on forums and a feeling that the organisers of the various cons are actively promoting it as much as possible even though they are doing so many other things, which we know and accept.

1) Budgeting reasons - How can I budget for the weekend if I don't have a clue how much one of the three biggest expenses is? Ticket bought... done! I can look up now how much the train fare from London to Birmingham is even if I don't get the ticket until a few days ebefore the event.... sorted. I can work out how much the food in the room to reduce more outgoings on meals... sorted. But the room, which is likely to be more than the cost of the ticket and travel combined? No idea. Even if they don't give out the code, would it be so hard to say what the negotiated room rate is so people can budget for it ready for when the code is announced? 2) There are a limited number of rooms. As I am going on my own I will want a single room, What if I don't get one? I can either get a twin/double (if there are any) which costs more for me. I can get one and then try and find someone who wants to share. Great I'm now sharing with someone who I don't know and may not get on with. I once worked at Butlins many years ago. I had to share a room with someone. Ok, but would prefer not too. He seemed nice enough, then Ooe weekend I went home to see the family. When I returned Monday morning I found the guy I was sharing with had been sacked. He was going around the camp pinching women's underwear from the washing lines and had them all in the case under her bed. Not the kind of person I really want to share a room with even if he did make sure that £10 I loaned him was left with the personel department, shows how long ago it was Human Resourses didnt exist! I've been doing some research of the surrounding area and found places that are likely to be cheaper than the hotel even with the discount, but I haven't booked it not only because the event may get cancelled, not that its an issue as this place is ok with early cancellation, but because I am aware that the discount is given on the presumption that a set number of rooms will be booked. If they aren't it can cost the promoter. Should I actually care though? As I say, if I'm not being given what I need to book at get a room cheaper, then it's not my fault is it? I've given myself a date in late January. If there is no code been announced I will just book a room elsewhere.

It's fine saying that other guests will be announced nearer the time and not to worry but that is just part of the problem. Guests would at least show activity. Since the event was announced it's been pretty much dead. That is why there are rumours that the event isn't going to happen. Where is the hotel code? Where are announcements about themes for the party if there are going to be themes? More importantly where is the advertising of the event(s) Guests being announced excite fans and they decide if they want to go or not. How about an experiment for next years Collectormania. Announce one guest then announce no more for months and months just saying we have signed contracts from 50 people but we aren't saying who they are. Then a month before the show announce them all. I bet their will be rumours galore saying the event isn't happening despite the success of all the other shows and the reputaition that Showmasters has. Also when they annonce their next TV series based con lets all agree to go but not buy a ticket or book the hotel room until 2 weeks before. We can say "Don't worry" and "It'll be alright" or "just be patient." And of course remind them about how things happen right near to the event such as Nathan Fillion being announced. That will work. That's ok the event will still go ahead and not get cancelled owing to lack of sales.... "The Games" anyone? That got cancelled owing to lack of ticket sales. For weeks (not months owing to date it was announced) people kept saying what's happening with The Lords of Time event? Nobody is being announced. Of course it went ahead and that is great, but that doesn't take away that leading up to it people were very concerned at nothing being announced like with "The Games" and now with this event. How many months have passed since this was anounced? People do understand that guests can't be announced until contracts are signed etc but couldn't they have after 2-3 months said that the party theme on Saturday is? Around 6 months after it's announced tell us the hotel code and then 2-3 months after that reveal another party theme? Not as good as having names of guests but better than nothing and showing that the event isn't being classed as secondary to Collectormania and the like. Let's face it that is where the money is. The number of attendees at the signing events is huge compared to these themed cons. Simon said that he wished people would differentiate between events. If he means between this and say Collectormania the problem is they are both refered to as conventions. That is why I refer them to as signing events and themed conventions or themed weekends. It would be clearer if SM and ME had seperate websites and forums to keep them a part. As it stands I would welcome one or two guest announcements but I'm not waiting for them. If they happen they do. I'm hoping it goes ahead but am expecting it won't. It will be a nice treat if it does. I know I will get a refund if it does get cancelled so not stressed about that. However if this does get cancelled then I will get a refund and not transfer my booking to another con like I did "The Games" to this one. I'll likely just do the signing weekends only and avoid the themed conventions. To me SM are well organised and well run, but ME is another matter. My event gets cancelled, it happens. Another gets cancelled, it happens. That I get and understand. However the lack of promotion in general (it seems like its the fans that are expected to spread the word to promote it) and generally keeping the fans, some of whom have purchased tickets, informed and tjust saying not to worry, have patience, isn't good at all.

Ok pretty straight forward for you then mate. When I get back from work this afternoon I'll post the details on here

Bu no means the cheapest route but there is now a cable car that runs from the Excel up over the river to the O2 (Sod the London Arena Title) and then there are a few options of buses from there... 161, 422, 472, 486 (woolwich barracks and walk down into Woolwich past the town hall) Other option is bus to Canning Town and then the Jubilee Line to the O2 and the buses back into Woolwich. If you are armed with a flame thrower for protection you could try and get to North Woolwich and it's still open at the times you are travelling you can walk under the river through the tunnel (rather you than me.. sods law the lift will be out and it's a hell of a lot of stairs either side too) which brings you out at the back of the Waterfront Leisure Centre Was it specifically Woolwich you need or elsewhere?

Not practical though. You have to get people who are available and there would be no guarantees you'd be able to get the kind of spread you want. Generally they try and get a good mix but can only take who is available at any given time. Appreciate others are finding this show great but for me there's only 2 or 3 people of any interest so probably just going to be a one-dayer for me if it stays like this. But I'm not complaining about it, I spent far more than intended at both CM and LFCC (well over £500 just on autos, not accounting for photos) at each, so a nice low-key cheap event is a plus for me at the moment with DSTL, HW4 and Chevron all coming up in consecutive weeks too. Someone will always complain there isn't enough from this or that show/film/genre which I don't understand. If there's people you want to meet then great but if not then just accept it and wait until the next one. I'm not sure that getting the right spread woud be too big a problem as there are so many people that can be asked if they are available and interested. As I said it doesn't have to be from the same old shows. As you would have no doubt seen, there seems to be an neverending list of names requested from a whole variety of shows that are away from the sci-fi/fantasy/cult genres. There will always be stars from some shows that attract more fans than others, but there are so many others that people are missing out on that could be an option as a guest. There isn't a person on these boards that doesn't have fond memories of shows or stars from their childhood or the past that they would love to meet. Equally wilh the film genre, reducing the number of TV stars would open up the chance of getting more actors/directors etc. and even looking more at targeting a film. For example next year is an anniversary of the 25th anniversary of the film Hellraiser. How cool would it be to get as many of the cast and Clive Barker all at the same event? It's also the 50th anniversary of the film Summer Holiday. Getting Cliff Richard may not be possible and Richard O'Sullivan who suffers with poor health would make him very unlikely to attend, but getting the rest of the gang back together? I mentioned it as a suggestion elsewhere, reuniting the surviving cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang would be popular. As would getting the actors that played the Von Trapp kids in The Sound of Music. These kind of all together at an event could potentially be very lucrative business as they would be seen as now or never chances.

I think it would be good if next year for a trial, they could look at doing a split with the ratios for this and LFCC. At each event have an 60%-40% or even a 70%-30& in favour of mostly films people at the LFCC (as film is in the title) and then a reverse with this event being more TV people. This may allow people more access to people from either group and possible names of people that are less likely to get invited as there are fewer places available, especially people not from the genre shows.