The Pink Lady

Not to mention the fact that it would result in even more congestion with lots of people hurrying to exactly the same place at the same time, with the really big guests.

Then I suppose you'd have the option of buying a Gold pass, which would give you priority over all VQ holders regardless of number for non-Diamond guests, especially since those are the guests we are talking about here. If queues run too short or dry up then they could be opened to higher numbers much earlier, rather than batching them in 50s or 100s. That would be equally as flexible as at present, enabling crew to keep each guest's physical queue at the optimum number, probably 20 -30. I saw only a few non-VQ guests on Saturday, so if you didn't want to join in the VQ system and limited yourself to just those guests with open queues it might have ruled out a lot of possibilities.

I'm really pleased with my autos - Benedict, Benedict and Mads on a Doctor Strange poster, and Cumbers as the first on my new Sherlock S4 poster, which I'll hopefully be adding to significantly at Sherlocked in October. Photos are a bit crap but you get the idea! They're not the clearest Cumbers autos I have but not bad considering how busy it was on Saturday!

I, too, was lucky and got autos from Diamond guests with VQ tickets - Mads Mikkelsen and Kevin Smith, and these were both on Saturday. Mads I managed to see late morning, I think, and Kevin by about a quarter to five.

Again, Diamonds and Golds always have priority over VQ holders, but no open queues would happen - so for some of the less well known guests where they might previously not have been so popular and therefore started with an open queue, all queues would be subject to VQ rules.

See my reply to you above - we mean all GUESTS should be on VQs, not open queues, which some started as. Golds would still have priority over VQ holders.

I think you've got the wrong end of the stick here - we mean all Guests being on VQs, not all visitors. So Gold would still have priority over general admission people, but all GA people would have to have a VQ for all guests, instead of some Guests starting with open queues and then having to move to VQ later when the lines get too long. That way all GA have the same chance, rather than those who just happen to be around the area when guests are changed to VQ and get early tickets that way. If having an auto with a particular person is important to you, you'd know to go to their auto area first thing to get your VQ.

I'd support this, too - then everyone knows where they are from the start and there are fewer grumbles for crew to deal with.

Other people have posted about this issue - if you look for Pamela's guest announcement thread you'll see it there, but it appears the flash setting was Pamela's stipulation. It might have been a choice of that setting or no photos at all.

Hear hear to that! Thanks for all your incredible patience, QS. And thanks to all the helpful crew yesterday who just about managed to keep everything under control under very trying circumstances. The numbers of people in the auto areas by the afternoons were unbelievable and queues were merging with those opposite and to either side, so we could have done with a few more assertive bodies to keep a gangway and sort the lines out a bit, but that would only have been possible if there'd been spare crew members, which there can't have been. I've never been to an event anywhere near as large as this before and it was much more organised than I thought would be possible given the numbers. I did everything I intended to do with minimal issues, and had a great time. Thank you.

But... But... Isn't that advantage exactly what Gold passes are intended to give you? Priority in auto queues in particular? You know by not having Gold, and paying much, much less for the price of general entry, that you'll be at the mercy of the availability and speed of signers, and that you take a chance on how many VQs they'll get through? It would only be 'fair' if everyone paid the same to get the same treatment, i.e. there was no gold pass, and everyone wanting an auto (apart from diamond pass holders from their diamond guests) was just on VQs. There will always be an element of risk for VQ holders, which is reflected in the fact you don't pay to get a VQ ticket but only when you're in the physical queue.

I'm not sure what the circumstances were of your wanting a refund lazydazy, but all tickets come with a clear statement in the T&Cs that they are non-transferable and non-refundable, unless the guests cancels. Given that this talk did take place, I don't know what you expected them to do for you. I'm sorry you received conflicting information but surely you knew what the situation was from the info you got when booking? I don't mean to be unsympathetic, and this isn't all aimed at you, but I've seen so very many posts leading up to LFCC grumbling about circumstances like these where people want refunds for things: booking photo shoots but not making sure they have entry tickets for the right day or session; thinking diamond passes include entry to the event; having a diamond pass but only attending one day or part days so complaining about missing out on things when it's clearly stated that diamond pass events take place across the three days; and myriad other issues. All that's needed to avoid all these situations is to read the copious amounts of information which Showmasters put out here and on the website to know what you are committing to. It was my first con but I managed to read the list of what was included in my diamond pass before I bought it and the requisite entry tickets, and I would never have dreamed of spending such large amounts of money without at least scanning the Conditons, which state very clearly that no tickets are refundable or transferable. Why ignore information which is literally staring you in the face as you are booking? Events like these can only be staged if organisers know they have enough money in to cover their costs, and can therefore secure guests, venue, and all the attendant costs. If everyone who suddenly decided they didn't like the schedule they had, and demanded a refund, Showmasters could well end up making a loss, and LFCC would no longer be possible. That would be a shame for everyone.

Thanks for all your wise and patient help! Look forward to thanking some of you in person at the weekend. Hope you get to have fun too!

Never too soon. Never. Though pants will be fresher if packed less than three months out. This is a public service announcement.

Woohoo!!! *does happy dance*

Thank you so much for a quick reply - and no need to be sorry, you are doing an heroic job with very little reward. I am amazed at your patience. Truly you are a Queen.

@Queen_Sindel I'm sorry to be a pain, but one quick thing. I had sent the store an email authorising someone else to collect my diamond pass on Friday, and given that person a letter of authority to do so. This was a couple of days ago, but I haven't yet had any confirmation from them. When I saw your announcement earlier on today that it had moved to in-person pickup only, I immediately changed my travel plans so I could get to Olympia myself before 6pm on Friday, to collect my Saturday Diamond pass. Now I see that it's still possible for someone else to collect, though they must have my original ID. As it's not possible for me to arrange this in time, I will still need to collect in person. My question is: do I need to email the store again to revoke the earlier arrangement, or do I just leave it? I'm anxious not to add to what must be a massive email backlog there, but I do want to make sure that pickup is still straightforward for both my friend, who won't now be collecting my pass, and for me when I get there later in the day. What would you advise? Thanks so much.

I've not been to LFCC before so I might be wrong, but I don't see why you couldn't collect your gold pass first, go inside and use your 5 minute advantage to get your VQ tickets, and then go back out to get your diamond passes? This sounds like it would work unless you're planning to use your diamond passes in the first few minutes after opening.

Well, he's seen ME before...

Oh yes!

Does this thread belong to the three of us now, d'you think? I reckon we deserve some kind of prize for keeping this forum alive... PS 105 days to go Still seems like a long way. BUT! That's lots of time in which to secure more brilliant guests.

Any of the above, please!!! but especially a certain one...

Yay! He was lovely the last time he was with us. Excellent guest!

Ah, cool, thanks. One less decision to make now!

People who have done this sort if thing before: do you think this will sell out, or is it likely I can rock up on the day? I know you can't predict, really, but the benefit of experience would be welcome. There are a few of these set shoots I'd sort of like as they're cheap and fun, but I won't know the shape of my day till we get the schedule so don't want to over-commit now. Thanks!