Bev

I agree; that's why I was up at the crack of dawn for CM13 and was happy to queue like everyone else to get what I wanted. And I'd do it again. But not if I'm then expected to shell out £100. That's taking the P. i. s. s., Nicky! By the way, is there a black market in Photoshoot tickets (sent out in advance)?

Stars don't have to be "A" listers to have stalkers and nut-jobs following them around. Most famous people have over-enthusiastic "fans". And that's where the pre-ordered "premium" tickets would come in useful (names/addresses) - unless they were so devious that they gave a friend's details. Security is ALWAYS an issue at these events; didn't someone try to pinch James Marsters' bum at CM14?

Gillian Anderson (for my husband!)

Hmmmm. SM manage to sell photoshoot tickets in advance... I wouldn't be prepared to queue at the venue before doors open, AND queue for an autograph, AND hand over £100! I'd do it for £20-25, but for big money I'd expect a little pampering. Perhaps they should stick to the Golden Ticket idea, or some sort of premium package.

I'd be prepared to pay £100 for the right guest BUT with the provisos that the signing took place somewhere a little exclusive (and hopefully at the new venue there will be enough room to have the signings well away from the gawpers) and that we could maybe purchase numbered tickets in advance to avoid having to get to the venue at the crack of dawn and then queue for ages. I recall the chaos (although very well handled by Showmasters!) at CM14 with John Barrowman - can you imagine the frenzy for Harrison Ford et al.? Having said all that, I agree with the poster who said that most A-listers are good signers anyway: probably the most gracious "celebrity" I've ever met is Sir Ian McKellen, and he has NEVER refused me an autograph at the stage door (even on a theatre ticket!). I think most of them would prefer to give a genuine fan a free autograph than charge £££ at a convention. But in principle, yes, I'd pay for the right guest.

Please take your little spat elsewhere, ladies and let's keep this thread for good memories of a great CM13!

Grow up, please folks. There's enough of JB to go around all his fans (even the greedy ones). But it's a bit rich being critical of others attending multiple concerts - how would you know unless you were there too?

It was like a conveyor belt from the start, but it wasn't quite as insane as the situation you describe. Glad you got your autographs anyway

His "regulars"? Hope they haven't crossed the boundary from fans to stalkers.......

I'm not having a go at you personally, but I think it's the height of bad manners to take a photo of a guest while they're signing an autograph for you. Surely it's only polite to engage in a little conversation, even if it's only "Hello, thanks for the autograph". That's what I did, anyway; eye contact and a few personal words were more important to me than a photo to "prove" an autograph's authenticity, which is what other people want. Just my opinion, I realise not everyone will agree. Also, yes, John and Eve WERE signing at the same time, early on in the day, before John's photo session. And they were personalising.

Some girls were telling my husband that they'd taken tickets for Eve and paid the £15 for an autograph just so that they could go down her queue and take photos of John.

Well put! I wonder how many people bothered to say "Thank you" for their autographs? I did - then I told him he was "wonderful"! Made him smile anyway!

Thank you for filling me in, I had no idea. I left at 4.30; I'd got my photo and autograph, and had a lovely day. Plus I was skint and knackered! I honestly can't get to grips with the mentality of some people. Judging from what you've said, it could have turned quite nasty. Poor JB! Maybe "big" guests should have a separate parking area if they are driving themselves, or a driver to drop/collect them, or a "minder" at the very least. Too Tall would have been perfect!

Really?? What happened??

My only suggestion for the photo distribution would be to have areas on the tables clearly labelled with the card numbers. It need only be a bit of paper with "Card 20" written on it, then people could match the number with the one on their slip of paper and there might (?) be less pushing and shoving. Whether this would be practical with 600+ images is another matter. On the whole, apart from a few mishaps, the whole thing went very well. It just needs patience, manners and a sense of humour at all times. Really, SM, you coped remarkably well with Barrowmania

Probably the same people who were going round telling everyone else that they were so-and-so's BIGGEST FAN

John was definitely personalising early on. He didn't after the photo session, because he was trying to sign for as many people as possible. I think £20 for an autograph from JB is fine, personalised or not.

The problem here is that some people can't separate fiction from real-life. Because these celebrities are in our homes, pretty much on demand, thanks to DVDs, some people think they know James/John/whoever *personally*, and that's when this inappropriate behaviour crops up. My husband attended a charity "do" with Gillian Anderson about 3 or 4 years ago. Tickets to the event had to be purchased in advance, and there was also a photo shoot (again for charity). When I told him what happened to James, he remarked that Gillian's "minder" was present all the time, and the photographer told each person that the shoot was strictly hands-off and there was to be no physical contact at all with Gillian.

I really can't believe the rudeness of some people. Did this actually happen? We pay our £20 or whatever for the privilege of having our photo taken with someone whose work we admire; it doesn't entitle us to anything more than that. If people don't grow up and behave in a mature fashion, guests like James and John will stop doing these events.

RMC001, John was personalising autographs at the beginning, before the photo session, but afterwards he wasn't personalising so things moved a lot quicker

How can you miss your slot? The numbers are always "1 to XXX". As long as your number is below the high number, you can go into the queue at any time, surely?

My husband was acting as my "driver" for the day, and while I was having the time of my life with JB, he was busy buying X-Files bits and pieces, especially some lovely photos of Gillian Anderson He was really thrilled to have found them

A big Thank You from me too: especially to JB, who was amazing!

Thanks to all the Crew - it was my first Collectormania, and you were SO helpful and friendly! Well done