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Kaiya

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  1. Hi Nathan - it was you! I easily went through that VQ twice over the course of the day - all very organised! Thanks again
  2. Definitely come next time :) My best friend came with me - she loves Data, but beyond that hasn't seen any of most of the serieses. She had a cheaper day than me but enjoyed it nonetheless! That pretty much sums it up and also sums up the right approach imo to the problems - I think when a lot of people complain all they really want is to hear that they've been heard, understood, and that where there were issues, attempts will be made to resolve them. I had a great time. Of course there were issues, but I'm happy that SM etc. now know about them, and thoroughly I'm looking forward to repeats of this event where practice will make perfect!
  3. I think Brent's popularity was underestimated and caused issues both with the free talks and photo shoots. I wonder, if he had not attended whether there wouldn't have been the same drive to get tickets first thing or huge photo shoot queue. Other people's photo shoots were more managable, and getting talk tickets more gradually would occured as is apparently usual for SM events. Well, they know about it now! However I'm delighted he did attend highlight of my existance, let alone weekend!
  4. https://twitter.com/BBCWatchdog - well spotted. I just tweeted back with the link to the poll as I did enjoy it and have been on cloud nine since. Yes there were issues, but there are issues with with the pub I had lunch in - nothing will ever be 100% perfect.
  5. We were one of the first people in the Brent photo proto-queue - there were about five of us waiting for the queue to start while Denise's shoot was finishing. A queue naturally formed behind us. One of the crewmembers came out and said that they'd be calling people in in groups of 50, as per the number of the ticket. As mine was in the 400's I went to sit down and wait. However they never called any numbers, so as people started walking in freely after Denise's had finished I did so also, and was probably about the 50th person in the line. Crewmembers directed us where to stand and didn't ask for ticket numbers or specify which tickets were allowed in, so it was totally random at that point. Can't comment on what they did after that but the first batch in the area were certainly uncontrolled, but perhaps with an excess of 700 tickets at least (that's the highest number I saw) trying to run a queue by numbers is not the best way to go about it - not everyone will turn up on time.
  6. All in all, a good convention :) Photo sessions and autograph areas were very well done in my opinion and the staff were great! Re: stage B specifically, while it may work for other events like this, with this convention offering them on a 'first come first served' basis is not fair - fair is giving everyone an equal chance to obtain them, rather than only those who can get to the venue before dawn. Either by selling them just before the show starts or allocating them randomly somehow, or giving paid options so people can buy them in advance if they want to guarantee a ticket and keeping some by to give away free on the day. Something has to be better than the ridiculous queue at the start of the day. The only good thing about that queue is that when we heard the talk we wanted was sold out, we went to get autographs, and even the Captains had open queues as so many people were absorbed in the Stage B queue! EDIT and I went on Friday so the issue hadn't been resolved by then.
  7. I met Brent three times (two autographs and a photo), he was just lovely - I thought he was great for initiating conversation even if you were struck dumb! I agree it was hard to really interact with Kate, Patrick and Bill (didn't meet Avery or Scott) due to the limited time, although I heard Friday was better as it was less crowded, but they were all very polite and Kate called me sweetheart which made my day Denise was also really nice, despite me having a non-specific photo for her to sign, and let me have a photo with her at the autograph desk. Michael and John were quiet and perhaps abrupt but I put it down to me having really rubbish photos for them to sign (Michael's was just a spare picture of the Enterprise I had) and plus I was standing there struck dumb anyway. I'd like to meet them again just to do so without being such a lemon on my part. This was my first convention and the first time I've met anyone famous (bar meeting the Anorak from CBBC once ha), and next time I plan to be much more prepared on what to bring and what to say! I'd also make more of an effort to meet some of the others like Andrew and Nana - I really didn't expect to be able to get through so many autographs in one day, I thought I'd have to be selective! So in answer to the question - Brent was the star for me. EDIT - and re: handshaking - some people just don't like it. I can't stand it!
  8. No idea if these things every get back to the person concerned, but for the record, the chap organising Brent's VQ on Friday was fab - very polite, but also very realistic about how our VQ numbers equated to wait duration. He wasn't afraid to tell us to come back in two hours or whatever, and his estimations were generally spot on. Since I went through the VQ twice for Brent we must have spoken 6 or more times over the day from just after 9am til about 3.30pm, and he was in control, polite and informative every time. Thank you!
  9. Maybe that's the key - I didn't meet you but I did smile and talk positively to at every crew member I spoke to and bar the woman who stamped my hand without bothering to smile or speak to me, I had positive and/or jokey chats with every crewmember I spoke to! They were all helpful at the least and friendly otherwise. I generally worked under the assumption that everyone was more over worked and more tired than I was
  10. I think this is a really good point. I voted yes because I did enjoy the day, but that's because the highlight for me was autographs and meeting the guests. If I hadn't been able to afford that, I would have felt thoroughly ripped off. I felt that for what I paid overall (entry + autographs) I got good value, but I think what I'm doing there is splitting the £30 entry fee as an opportunity to get the autograph/photo shoots I got, rather than viewing it as an entry fee. EDIT almost viewing the entry fee like the parking fee - a necessary to get what I wanted in terms of autographs/photo/meeting guests. If I hadn't got any of that for my fee, I would have felt it wasn't worth it.
  11. While I agree with a lot of the points raised and agree things could have been done better, I wanted to quickly give a positive perspective on my day today. We only had day tickets, which I think was a good idea - with the exception of trying to get into stage B talks, I don't think more than one day was required. With the exception of the woman who grabbed my ticket and stamped my hand without a single word, smile, or anything, every single crewmember I met was friendly, polite, helpful and chirpy. Even when one didn't know the exact answer for us (e.g. where the fake money could be bought from) they knew approximate info, and admited it was approximate, so we could use it to get at least close to where we needed to be. The chap running Brent's VQ was by far the star of the day - he was very good about providing people with realistic times to come back for their VQ slot, and despite running one of the more popular VQs we saw him just after 9am, and then repeatedly throughout the day until 3.30pm and he remained in control and proactive constantly. We didn't eat in the hall, the prices were inflated, so we popped out to the concourse for lunch - can't really complain about inflated bar prices where there are normal priced alternatives! The stage B issue was an issue - I would have loved to see Brent Spiner talk but unfortunately so did a lot more people who got there slightly earlier. I think for someone like Brent there should have been paid options that could be purchased in advance, even if free tickets were also available. We did get to see a Stage C talk which was ok, although we were only there to pass the time while waiting for a VQ to progress. The museum etc. did seem to just be someone's personal collection rather than organised displays. The other random things around and the merchandise didn't really interest us much. The photoshoot was very smoothly run. Love the instant printing thing. I do think a themed background would have been more fun - the blue mottled background does make it look a little like a school photograph! But all in all the staff were great, we met a couple of new friends, the autographs and photo shoot sections were a success and my only real disappointment was not getting to see Brent Spiner's talk. I think knowing what to expect by reading this forum did help me manage my expectations but I think for £30 entry, I think the price was about right. Brent himself though was absolutely lovely - meeting him (three times!) totally made my day :)
  12. I saw Patrick, Kate and Bill. All were very busy and fast understandably. It was so noisy (and I speak too quietly - was shy!) so Patrick couldn't hear me properly but he did try to respond to my waffling. Kate was lovely - called me sweetheart when I clumsily tried to compliment her on her hair, and was very smiley, plus she was willing to personalise whereas that wasn't offered with Patrick and Bill today. Bill was actually sweet - he looked at me like I'd given him a kitten and said "thank you so very much!" - I'm not sure what I was being thanked for but I thought it was lovely anyway! Certainly not aggressive or dismissive. Favourite? Not sure - probably Kate as I got the impression had I been able to think of a sensible thing to say, she would have been happy to interact.
  13. Very much in favour - didn't get to see any guest talks due to the stage B issues so would love to see some.
  14. Thanks for the speedy reply! Ah good to hear card is ok - cash would not be so great to carry around! So just to check I understand as I hadn't heard of the autograph vouchers before: I go to the autograph area, I pick up a VQ ticket, I wander off until I see my number called. Then I go back, hand the VQ ticket in and join the queue. Then we pay halfway along the queue?
  15. Quick question - when paying for autographs do they take cards or do you need cash? Apologies if this is asked and answered elsewhere.
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