melliott1963

Have to say I had a good day today at the show. Yes, it was a lot smaller than the July show, and as a result, I did have a lot of time waiting for my photoshoots, having been round all the trade stands numerous times. This was basically because I was able to get the autographs I wanted nice and quickly, so it’s a good reason. I had photoshoots around 5:00pm and by this time, the hall had really emptied and as a result was very comfortable for a change. I would have preferred more variety of trade stands, but can’t really complain at all. Just hope this becomes a regular show, but maintaining this smaller size.

Did you see the chaos at the David Tennant photoshoot area last year? I’ve never seen such a badly organised queuing system and the staff on duty didn’t seem to know what other staff members had done. One young girl staff member started letting a load of people who had only just turned up and only had normal tickets push in front of a whole crowd of us with diamond passes and who had been queuing for ages!!! Quite how a fight didn’t break out I don’t know! So they’ve still got a hell of a lot to learn if that’s anything to go by.

I hope that enough time is allowed for everyone who buys a photo shoot ticket to actually get a photo, especially those with later batches.

But she wasn’t doing that. Rather than get the people who had just turned up with Diamond Passes to the end of the Diamond Pass queue, she halted all those at the front of the queue who had been waiting ages, and slipped the new line in. Because at the time the queue was moving really slowly, other people were then just coming along and joining this new “feed” that the girl had made. She was totally clueless about the chaos she had just created. As for the time difference, I would estimate this actually added at least 10 more minutes wait time, which is hardly negligible, and anyway, is totally missing the point! Someone did tell me later that after I had left, the “main organiser man” came along and kicked off to the crew about the total disorganisation.

After the chaos I experienced on the Saturday of last year’s show, I was initially reluctant to attend this year. However, I thought I’d give it another try.... Highs: Saturday’s show, for me, was a really enjoyable experience. It seemed well organised and I was able to attend all my photoshoots and get my autographs comfortably and still had plenty of time to look around the dealers stands. Even during clear times of stress, most guests I met were polite and displayed a genuine interest in meeting you. A huge “Thank You” to Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi who agreed to stay late to ensure all Diamond Pass holders got their autographs. Lows: Sunday! Having experience how well run everything was on Saturday, I was looking forward to Sunday. Oh dear! If anything, it was even more chaotic than the Saturday last year. The blond crew girl, wearing a green top who caused utter mayhem in the David Tennant Tardis Photoshoot queue. Many of us had been in the queue for half an hour before the shoot was meant to happen, and the crew members had got us all organised so as a result, I was right near the front of the line (we were alI Diamond Pass holders). Just as the line started to move, this blond girl appeared out of nowhere and ordered that we all wait and she started letting people, who had only just turned up, join the front of the queue (they were other Diamond Pass people, not Extra Help guests). She refused to listen to all the complaints that we’d been waiting ages and that we ourselves were Diamond Pass guests, and as a result of her actions, there was nearly a fight break out. The ridiculous overselling of Diamond Passes for some guests. I thought the idea of Diamond Passes was so that a “select few” who were happy to pay more, had priority treatment. However, with the overselling, it basically means that we don’t receive any special treatment other than it’s now the only way to get to meet some guests!

Just wondered what are the chances of me, as a Diamond Pass Holder, actually getting Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi’s autographs today? Keep getting told by the staff to come back later, currently 5:00pm. As a Diamond Pass is a guaranteed in person autograph, will Matt and Peter be staying until all Diamond Pass guests have received their autograph? And if not, then what happens?

I got my diamond pass. Now how do I break the news to my wife???

There’s a cafe in the basement you can go to. Of course lots of other places nearby. This is quite a low key event compared to larger similar events and I’ve never had the need to get here really early. I usually stroll in some time around 10:30am and get the autographs I need and can be out again within the hour, sometimes half an hour! Yes, Tom Baker will be popular, but he attended just over a year ago and I just joined the queue close to the time he was due to attend and saw him within the hour.

That's fine. Just didn't really want the autographs without actually seeing the people albeit via the photo shoot.

If we have pre-ordered autographs and now the people have cancelled, do I assume these orders will now be cancelled?

Ok thanks.

Sorry, edited to say Saturday

So, I have (among others) the following for Saturday: James & Oliver Phelps, Batch 1, 9:20-9:35 Ian McDiarmid, Batch 1, 9:30-10:00 Derek Jacobi, Batch 2, 9:30-10:15 Christopher Lloyd, Batch 3, 9:30-10:30 Benedict Cumberbatch, Diamond Pass, 9:45-11:45 How on earth am I going to be able to attend all these? With Benedict, as I have a Diamond Pass, do I assume I can go to his session after the others and, assuming all the other Diamond Pass people have gone through, go straight to the front of the queue, or will I have to join the back of the queue?

Thanks. Have just paid my postage

So can I be clear? You're saying I should just place another order which just contains the postage?