slim

High points: The punters who came to my stall with a smile and chatted, even if they didn't want to purchase anything. It's long days standing behind a table so nice to see happy people all being sociable and talking about the love of their various shows. Getting exhibitors through photoshoots fast so we can get back to our tables. I have Jason Mamoa, Duchovny and Tennant and only really queued for Tennant because his previous shoot overran slightly. Otherwise, I was in and out and back to my stool. This is nice. Mamoa and Tennant: even though we were told not to ask for poses with Tennant, or shake his hand, or talk to him by the woman running the line - he extended his hand for a handshake, he spoke and I watched him do some poses for people. He was a gent and Mamoa was happy enough to hug me - a request I made to annoy my wife when she saw the picture. Low Points: Duchovny seemed to be in a foul mood and just didn't want to be there. An unpleasant man. Can barely be bothered with a "hello" in a two second photoshoot. Hello costs nothing.

Apologies if you thought I was being "snotty" in my message - I was simply confused because people had said they'd had emails from Showmasters and yet I have received nothing. This is the first time I have had a guest cancellation and I understand the reasons - which are also perfectly fine. I am not pointing fingers as to blame, I am not trying to cause issues - as I stated in my message. I simply asked a reasonable question due to people receiving different emails. Had I meant to have received an email from Showmasters, for example, I know I would have had to reach out to them (and they would have likely replied after the event now). Now you are saying it is through Eventbrite, I know that's not the case. The reason I asked my question is because no one else - in all of these posts that I read - have stated the same issue and are instead talking of refunds. I do not think my question is out of line but thank you for the response.

Not wishing to add to the stress but has anyone else had nothing from Showmasters about a refund or even the fact Megan Fact cancelled? Yesterday I received an email reminding me to print the photo op ticket I have with her :S I appreciate S/M folk are working their bums off setting up now but I'm getting apprehensive that people have been refunded the wrong amount or at least heard they are due a refund, or that Megan has cancelled yet... according to my emails... I'm still having a photo. Huh... unless she cancelled for everyone else and is only seeing me?! (Yeah, wishful thinking)

Hi, Does anyone know how you get invited as a guest? I went to the London Film and Comic Con a couple of times, Cardiff a couple of times - all times as a trader but I want to go as what I actually do for a living... And that's an author. London had loads of authors but I didn't get to sit with them, instead confined downstairs to a stall in a dark corner. Considering this is my living, and I make a good one from it, I find it frustrating that I can't seem to find out who to talk to about it. I have emailed various names from Showmasters and, each time, never heard back. I've even offered information on my rankings (UK's number one Horror author for Amazon), details of how many books I sell a day, my Author's Guild membership number, publishers I've worked with, access to my reviews (over 10,000 reviews across Amazon) and - still I can't seem to get accepted as an author-guest. The reason I ask is because I want to do all of the Comic Conventions as I am getting new readers from them (and meeting current readers) and would like to be on their list of guests with the other authors or, at the very least, sitting with them and my book collection (of which there are over 100 titles). I figured - as this is the next event I wish to come along to, I would ask here in the hope someone night have a clue. Kind Regards.

... I'd love the Sons of Anarchy to rock up to one of these events. I mean it will be a while - and Charlie will be snowed under with films but... Still be awesome if some of them could be signed up.

Now we need Brad Dourif As for Freddy and Jason photoshoot together... That would be awesome but I'd be a bit miffed having just purchased a separate photoshoot for Jason (already got the Freddy one). Unless - of course - they'd be able to be combined...

Having this ticket to go with my Freddy Diamond pass! oooooh yeaaaaah

Sweet! Thanks. I hoped that was the case having spent £225 on the table and then over £100 for Englund :)

I purchased a ticket for Freddy but it says I need to buy another ticket to validate it (entry ticket I am guessing). Is this really the case as I'm not paying to get into the venue as I have a table there? Any advice gratefully received. Wasn't an issue last time I was selling in Cardiff as the one guest I'd booked cancelled.

I love the Back to the Future films. Probably my personal favourite trilogy but I don't think I'd go and see the stars without Michael being there and - given his condition - not sure he'd be up for it :S

Did you see the pictures of him at the conventions with Freddy make-up.... Honestly, I can live without a hat and jumper. He still looked scary as Hell. Currently gearing up to watch the first Freddy film with the wife - she has never seen them!!!

Robert Englund has stated before he doesn't like doing the full Freddy outfit because then he doesn't look like him, as such, but rather an imposter. I'm happy for him to wear whatever he wants so long as he has a glove and make-up. True fan here - just be great to meet him!

I'd want a picture driving the car with M.J. Fox as a passenger... Christopher Lloyd tinkering with Mr Fusion and Lea over the bonnet....

Got my ticket ordered for her too. So, so pretty....

Booked the diamond pass! When I was in Cardiff this year - I bought the auction lot for the Freddy hat he signed both as Robert and Freddy. I will geek out and wear this hat, and the replica glove I have for the photo.... That way... If he isn't in outfit... It's because I stole it from him

That would have annoyed me (Carrie Fisher). That's just rude.

Lena Headey wasn't the best, although it was one I looked forward to. Was a photo shoot and the whole thing was a production run to get people in and out as quickly as possible. I understand this but when I approached she asked how I was doing and wasn't even looking at me - just checking out the queue of people still waiting. Chewing gum was rude too. When I answered I was doing good and pleased to meet her - no acknowledgement as we got in position for picture. The picture was done and off I went. The only good thing was I got to hug her and she felt great to hug... George A Romero - nice bloke. Shook my hand, thanked me for coming to see him, I thanked him for all stuff undead and he laughed and said it was his pleasure. Had the picture done, shook hands again and wished me well. Very pleasant. Michael Madsen - looked REALLY bored as we were queuing. He shook everyone's hand, said hi to them put his arm around them and they were taken away. When I got there he noticed my tee shirt (a cross between Pulp Fiction and Dr Who) and said what a cool shirt it was, before making me open my proper shirt up so he could have a proper look. Spent a bit of time chatting about it - he hadn't seen one before but it was so cool...Then posed for the picture...For me - he was the best and, as I hoped, the king of cool.

I wouldn't bother. I went Early Bird yesterday. Got there at 9am and thankfully got in around 10am. The queue for pay on the door at this time was HUGE though. Probably the biggest queue I have EVER seen which - until that day - was claimed by a Michael Jackson concert back in 1991.

Had I visited during the day only as opposed to staying over the night before after a concert - I wouldn't have had deodorant with me. I knew it was going to be busy but I never thought it to be THAT busy and the fact there seemed to be very little air-con in there. It was such an uncomfortable few hours and - yes - I did have to give myself a freshen up about twice in that time. Thankfully once for my own piece of mind as I did two of my three photos in the morning when I was okay and cool and the next just before meeting Lena. Had I gone in without the ability to freshen myself up - I would have been mortified! Same can't be said for the guy in front of me. He STANK and - as a result his picture was of two people standing next to each other. My picture? Yep - having a bit of a cuddle. Lynx Effect really does exist.

The queue for the second photo-shoot (I pre-ordered and was 566) was horrendous due to temperatures in the room but once it started moving it was really quick - which should have had alarm bells ringing. When I got to her she seemed to be doing different pictures for different folks - trying to make them all look lively and fun (and they are) but it was really a question of "Hi, how you doin'?" "Good, thanks...You?" No reply as arms went around waists and then BAM photo done. Said - thank you but...Already asking the same question of the next guest. She is a really attractive woman though, tiny tiny waist and the photo was great so I got what I paid for but the 'hello' was a little disappointing considering the (brief) chats I scored with Michael Madsen (the king of cool) and George A Romero. George said hello, asked how I was doing, responded when I asked the same, thanked me for coming and hinted at another zombie project when I thanked him for all the zombies! He looked really frail though and I was surprised when I put him in IMDB and saw his age was only in the 70s. I thought you add another 20 years to that!! Michael was - again - a quick chat but I managed to get longer just because he decided to have a chat about my tee-shirt. And when Michael Madsen says you're wearing a cool shirt...Well - nothing can take that away. Back to Lena though - if you go for a picture - just pull a face because in my photo I smiled, unaware she was poking her tongue out. When I saw the picture, I was a bit disappointed because I would have matched her face

It's Lena Headey - the shoot in 566. The others are Michael Madsen and George Romero - nice weird mix there Sure I read somewhere that 'busy' shoots tend to be batches of 500 so figured 566 would be second shoot :)

Thanks - I'll venture up to the Madsen and Romero at the first photo session and see what's what :) Guessing the photo queues move pretty quicky: Hi, photo, bye, hi, photo, bye...lol

Okay, so this is my first convention. I have the early bird tickets and I purchased 3 photo-shoots. So - am I right in the many various threads that I have read that I need to join Queue A before 9am to gain entrance. And once inside I basically do what I want until close to the photo-shoot times? Now, there are numbers on the photo tickets. (150, 195 and 566). I'm guessing the two in the hundreds will be in the guests first photo-shoot and the high one will be in the second photo-shoot of the guest? When I get there, if busy, I will be given a virtual ticket to save me standing around and then I go off for a mooch and come back later when the number is called...? The thing is - how are the numbers called? I'm guessing it's going to be pretty loud in there and my hearing isn't the best at the best of times :S Don't really want to miss out on any of the shoots. Any clarification or confirmation of the above would be gratefully received. The whole thing seems somewhat daunting...