Raylenth

I'm not disagreeing but just pointing out additional info. Mark has other things scheduled over the weekend that are not displayed on the schedule because they are part of the VIP package exclusives.

For everyone who will be starting to travel in the next few days, stay safe and I hope your flights ect are smooth and on time. If you are flying keep an eye out for any lemons and if driving, look for yellow cars.

FYI Aerinah, in case you are thinking of going to Mark's sunday shoot as an anlternative option, ithe Mods have said that this is not allowed. You have to go to your shoots on your scheduled days. Personally even with the clashes it causes I wouldn't try and go to Mark's Sunday one as you will be turned away and I wouldn't risk not getting it at all. The mods are aware of our concerns and 1) I'm sure it's been passed on and 2) they have said it should be possible to get everyone through the shoot before Ben's talk. I too am also worried and have the same opinion as you but I'm trying to positive about it as I really don't want to spend the whole week stressed about it. I'm just hoping it will all be fine.

Yes, the mods will probably advise speaking to the crew in the photo shoot area as soon as possible in the morning.

I've done one for A but cannot post it as it won't let me.

Hard to judge, but I'd think it wouldn't be too bad. Everyone may be fairly spread out as to when they register and as long as there are no issues with ID's/validation I don't think it will take long to register everyone? Hand over paper ticket for scanning, show id, get checked off list and handed pack?

That's a good idea Nomi, easier to read than my schedule for A. I might try that myself as it is easier.

We were supposed to get an email, but I found it on the website. Slhomitz, just go as soon as you get in at 9am, that's what I'm going to do, we don't have anything else on then anyway. If they do do his auto's in order, A will be behind the VIP's so we will be the first lot.

Jeez QS, likewise sorry about that. I hope you enjoy the football and as the non football fans can only say due to complete lack of knowledge "Go your local team!"

I haven't had that info yet. The show only opens at 9 so just go straight there when you are let in.

No need to apologise, I get it, as I said in another post I to will be really annoyed if it doesn't work out. I will probably be next to you talking to the crew in the photo shoots to hopefully get through in time. Well spotted, I didn't see that before, however looking at it, given that her solo shoot is scheduled for 1.5 hours, which is the longest I've seen, I guess they have done that deliberately and will she will just come out of her shoot for the group, and then go back after. As the group tickets haven't sold out she might only be gone 15/10 mins tops so people in her solo queue won't have to wait long.

I get it, I really do but everyone has clashes, groups A, B, C, D ect.....I get what you are saying about the Platinum ticket, it's why I bought it as well. You were always going to have to wait in line though. Your ticket doesn't give you the right to go to the front of the queue at any point and never has. 150 in A will be processed quickly. It just means we will be in the first group's when called in order which we are, and gives you the right to join the back of any auto queues, with priority over the other packages, without having to get a VQ ticket.

I refer to my earlier comment about TooTall and lightsabers... if you see that lovely gentleman you'll know what I mean. I have asked for clarification if there will be some accomodation for group A if they arrive when C has already been called. I honestly don't think there will be - definitely not taken to the front. But as this seems to generate concern I wanted to ask. Maybe group A would be sorted in (that's what at the other events is being done with Gold Pass holders arriving late), but if it happens that's the maximum. There won't be all 300 group C in line anyway as soon as the group is called. Everyone has different things to do and won't arrive exactly on the dot. Well okay, I can actually see a lot of people camping out at the BC shot. If you're in line before the shoot closes you will get your photo. At the other events we always say "please don't leave it to the last minute, guests may leave if no one is coming for a while." But with the scale of this event I don't quite see that happening. I appreciate the clarifications and your willingness to check on expediting Group A, since we have a lot of conflicts both days. However, since there is only ONE Gatiss photo op Saturday, I believe absolutely that everyone in A and C will be in line promptly. This is what I mean by being inflexible. If you're so sure the photo ops can be done more quickly, what is the problem with letting us get them Sunday instead? Adding 150 (or less) people would only add a few more minutes to his time on Sunday, according to what you've been saying... My question was not answered about the group photo. It's only allotted half an hour, it could be over very quickly. So, should I go to that first, or go to Una's and hope I'm done before the group shot is done? I might not make it to get in line if I am at Una's photo op. And I want both. I can give up Gatiss and Brealey solo, since I get them in the group, but I AM NOT giving up Una's photo op (and her second session is during a panel, so....another conflict). This is stressing me out big time. I'm sorry you don't understand this. I am spending major money on this con coming from the US. I have been to a lot of cons. Nothing ever runs as smoothly as the schedule presupposes it will. And again, yes, thank you for volunteering your weekend time to deal with us neurotics, lol You will get a seat in the Ben talk as seats are being held open in the Platinum section for any who may be late - I'm sorry for saying this and I don't mean any offence but you are just going to have to accept that you probably won't be in the front, but frankly that was unlikely anyway. We all are going for different reasons and there will probably be a few people with Plat tickets who will eschew what else the package offers in order to prioritise all the Ben stuff and who will linger in the area in order to be first in. We are all in the same boat. You will get into the Ben talk. Leave the earlier talk and go straight over to Una, talk to the crew about the group shot and once done go and get that done. I've got the same tickets as you and that's what I'm planning to do. Regarding the 30 mins scheduled for the group shot remember that as it's quite expensive not as many people will be going for it. It certainly hasn't sold out yet. When done go and queue for Mark. I have been panicky myself but think it will be more or less ok. Yes I may have to leave a talk or 2 later a little early but I will do that, it's what happens when you have so many guests. I refer to my earlier comment about TooTall and lightsabers... if you see that lovely gentleman you'll know what I mean. I have asked for clarification if there will be some accomodation for group A if they arrive when C has already been called. I honestly don't think there will be - definitely not taken to the front. But as this seems to generate concern I wanted to ask. Maybe group A would be sorted in (that's what at the other events is being done with Gold Pass holders arriving late), but if it happens that's the maximum. There won't be all 300 group C in line anyway as soon as the group is called. Everyone has different things to do and won't arrive exactly on the dot. Well okay, I can actually see a lot of people camping out at the BC shot. If you're in line before the shoot closes you will get your photo. At the other events we always say "please don't leave it to the last minute, guests may leave if no one is coming for a while." But with the scale of this event I don't quite see that happening. I appreciate the clarifications and your willingness to check on expediting Group A, since we have a lot of conflicts both days. However, since there is only ONE Gatiss photo op Saturday, I believe absolutely that everyone in A and C will be in line promptly. This is what I mean by being inflexible. If you're so sure the photo ops can be done more quickly, what is the problem with letting us get them Sunday instead? Adding 150 (or less) people would only add a few more minutes to his time on Sunday, according to what you've been saying... My question was not answered about the group photo. It's only allotted half an hour, it could be over very quickly. So, should I go to that first, or go to Una's and hope I'm done before the group shot is done? I might not make it to get in line if I am at Una's photo op. And I want both. I can give up Gatiss and Brealey solo, since I get them in the group, but I AM NOT giving up Una's photo op (and her second session is during a panel, so....another conflict). This is stressing me out big time. I'm sorry you don't understand this. I am spending major money on this con coming from the US. I have been to a lot of cons. Nothing ever runs as smoothly as the schedule presupposes it will. And again, yes, thank you for volunteering your weekend time to deal with us neurotics, lol The problem is that there's other people waiting for the Mark Gatiss photos too and the additional number of people can't be dealt with on Sunday. Really, the crew has done this for a number of years now. If there had been a way to pull over more people to Sunday it would have been done that way. As I said before, Mark's doing other things which are not on the big schedule. He won't be sitting around twiddling his thumbs in the meantime. Sorry, I overread the other question. Too much going on here - I'm being bombarded with e-mails too and some people actually found out my phone number and are calling me at home too. >< The clash you're asking about: go to Una (you'll be at the start anyway) and tell them you have the group shot. Same procedure was recommended with the Mark shot and the Benedict talk, That's what I will be doing.

How the auto's will work: The 8x10 are not included in the auto price or in your gold allotment, that is for the signature only. As the 8x10's are officially licensed Showmaster have to charge a fee of £3 per picture. You do not have to use them though, you can get your autograph on your own items. Each guest has a fee per auto so for example, Mark is £20. If you get 1 auto from him on an item you have brought with you, you pay £20, if you decide to get it on an 8x10, it would be £23. As you get 5 auto's included in your package if you decide to use that voucher with an 8x10, you will only pay £3. I hope that makes sense. That reminds me actually, I'm planning on getting some 8x10's signed so will get some £1 coins out from the bank to make it easier on the desk crew.

Unfortunately I believe you about both situations.

Looks that way. Mark in particular is going to be one of the busiest guests as he's got the group shoot and the set shoots as well in addition to the VIP exclusive stuff. I'd go to the Mark shoot first to get him done in the morning, then Lars/Louise as they have shoots later if it really does go wrong. Just means no leaving the Mark queue if the talk has already started then, sorry guys But looking at what has been said about the timings and given that all the crew working the shoot know that speed is of the essence, hopefully it should be ok.

I know and thanks for that, I was just having a silly moment. I guessed the invisible statue would probably be a transparent figure of some sort but the image of just an empty base with the retailer pretending an invisible statue really was on it just popped into my head. It's lovely seeing people so passionate about things, like you with all the figures you have. Whilst memorabilia like that doesn't do it for me I do get like that with the things I like - I couldn't stop grinning yesterday and even blanked out for a few minutes at work when my cast signed Imitation Game poster that I won at auction turned up in the post.

Looks that way. Mark in particular is going to be one of the busiest guests as he's got the group shoot and the set shoots as well in addition to the VIP exclusive stuff. I'd go to the Mark shoot first to get him done in the morning, then Lars/Louise as they have shoots later if it really does go wrong.

Doubt it could happen this way especially now at this late stage but an idea would be to have 3 'rooms' in a line with one guest in each, we go in, dump bags, photo with guest 1, go into next section, guest 2, next section guest 3 and out. You get them all done in quick order and only have to queue once, thus cutting down the time massively.

Destructo, all we can do is go to the shoot and queue, if you have to leave to get to the Ben talk leave and try and fit what you've missed in later. There's nothing else we can do, the mods are aware of all our concerns and I'm sure it's been passed on.

Yeah... but you're not understanding the depth and complexity of my need for the Martin action figures. I've bought all 3 size Bilbo action figures (plus the invisible one) all 3 lego Bilbos, all 3 Pop figures, one of the lead miniatures made for wargaming, some little mini-chibi and both Heroclix Bilbos. I've also got the Arthur Dent and a Pirate With a Scarf. "Instead" is not an option. Oh heaven's I really do need to go to sleep. I can't stop giggling over this jhw. I've got visions of your 'invisible' Bilbo just being an empty plinth.........

And if everyone in your group 'shows up early' to be among the first? They all want to get to the talk too, you know. I am an old pro at this, and I see many issues with the three photo ops right before Benedict's panel, and I'm in Group A. I'm stressed and I definitely feel bad for people in B and C. The crew are old pros too. And they know everyone wants to get to the Benedict talk. It will be fast, I realize it's your first event over here and you can't really compare. I've done a number of US events and have seen the mess that some call "photo session". It's much more organised here and the sessions run much more smooth. I can't make your worries disappear unfortunately. But it will be nowhere as bad as you seem to expect. We are all trying to keep you (and others) from worrying too much. Actually Showmasters really do know how to run an efficient event. Aside from all our worries over the schedule, when I do think back to all the LFCC's and Collectormania's I've been to they really are run very well, especially the last couple of years now with the rapid picture printing.

If you're not fussed about the auto's that are included, get something signed anyway and think what an excellent present it would make for someone.

A lot of people, especially those who are coming from a long way away will be arriving on Friday and staying in hotels in the area. By being able to register on Friday it gets it out of the way and means we don't have to all arrive at really early times on Saturday to get it done. Also it means that you don't have to carry all your goody bag items around with you all day which you will have to do if you register on Saturday. I'll take mine home on Friday and leave everything I don't need at home. You don't have to register on Friday if you don't want to, it just means if you do, when you arrive on Saturday you'll just have to show your ticket and can go straight in.

Yeah, hopefully it won't take them too long to let us know about Louise (Though I'm going with what's on the current schedule) and Ben's autos.