niceblokejohn

Bought my photoshoot with the Delorean :)

I remember during Celebration Europe, all the big stars sat in the bar with their families, a really memorably moment in life seeing them talking about old times (we had wandered in by chance!). Chatted to Mark Hamill, had a pic with him, and watched them all in a big circle chatting away. Then on leaving, saw Anthony Daniels sat on a sofa outside the bar, near the reception with a couple of fans - very separate from the fun going on in the bar/restaurant.

How about having say VQ tickets 1-500 in the Stan Lee part of Earls Court, and 501-1000 in the other guest part of Earls Court. The die-hard Stan Lee fans can queue up in the Stan line, and the people who want Stan, but are there for many others too, can queue with their friends in the "main" line?

Hi - had a great first day - many thanks to everyone. Tomorrow I have 5 captain photo shoots (tickets already in hand). However, I see two times for each captain, some of which clash - which should I attend? I'd like to do other stuff, talks etc, but am concerned if its running on a number system I'd wait through the first session and not have my number range be called, then have to go again later in the day. Do ticket number ranges get stated beforehand/online/at the start of the session, or is it flexible on the day? If you have a lower number, can you still attend the second shoot? Thanks :)

I'll be wearing my Star Trek/Wars mash up t shirt one day, and Star Wars ones the rest (apart from a quick change for the Saturday record attempt!). Looking forward to the confused faces!

Hi all Will we be allowed to take cameras or camcorders into the parties? With Chase doing the all star revue etc, it would be good to get something to look back on, and I know both are fine during the day event, but if the party is being held outside of excel(?) there may be different rules? Any help appreciated! :)

Thank you to the superb cosplayers I got photos of over the weekend - here's 3 from today:

Digital cameras and modern software should make this easy. How about the following (and if it gets used, a free VIP pass please Showmasters )? Staff at entrance check ticket and at same time check to see if the person also has an accompanying "digital copy" ticket. Photo taken on digital camera, connected to e.g. Adobe Lightroom. Photo is almost instantly transferred to a PC via this software - this is automated and can be measured in mere short seconds, if that (added bonus that photographer can check that it came out fine, versus looking at smaller screen on back of camera), and second person sat at the PC then saves to a USB stick. Heck, set up a macro so its all done in a keypress on the PC, so no possibility of user error once the photo is on screen and a clean USB stick is in the drive. USB stick is then given to customer as they leave the area. Second person could even be an event volunteer to keep costs down. No further work needed after the event. Or you could buy an event USB stick, which when presented at the shoot when your ticket is taken allows you a digital copy with each photoshoot also. Therefore rather than pay £5/£10 a few times, you pay say £25 up front, and only get the one USB stick. Added bonus - more event photos on facebook etc, more exposure, more guests next time...

Just cancelled my travelodge booking online, and booked the Novotel - another 50 quid odd more (after cashback) but much easier! Did you book travelodge online or over the phone - if you paid 50-60 per night, I'd assume you booked the flexible rate that you are able to cancel in full?

If you can change to a closer Hotel, I would. It'll be a bit more expensive but take away sme of the worry. Premier Inn is filling up fast but probably the best choice. Wish I could but Travelodge (who I wil never ever again for other reasons) don't do refunds! I beg to differ , for £1.50 you have cancellation insurance, not that I would want to cancel it anyway but better safe than sorry Wouldn't you have booked a flexible rate room - I haven't seen any saver rates, non refundable, rates on there for the Excel Travelodge opening in August? I'm looking to cancel mine and go closer

Wow! What a bargain! Just keep in mind its two stops away on the DLR. Didn't realise myself until I booked it for myself and my son. Should be OK as it doesn't open until 21st August 2012. Haha see I didn't know this, shows I haven't researched it I think I shall find out know Hi - are you sure about this? I booked it also, and to me it looks like its sat right between Custom House and Prince Regent DLR stations on their website, so a very short (few 100m?) walk away. Ah - but Dockside Road is further east - so their own website is wrong? 1016 Dockside road is even to the east of the Royal Albert DLR!

Will that picture be available as a choice for signing on the day? Saves me having to find one beforehand if Showmasters are able to please confirm?

There was also a post before today where someone referred to the Fools and Horses trio photoshoot - that prompted me to check for a cancellation notice on the forum but there wasn't one, so I assumed they'd got it wrong. Seems not. The 3 there were great though - very nice guys!

Got to say, loved the outfit also! Massive thanks (both to you and to Wonder Woman!) for letting me get my photo taken with you - a much better picture than the one of Shatner I originally went for Think the following sums up the reactions of all around you when you bent forward pretty well! Had a bit of a mess around with one of the pics - even with my poor Photoshop experience, think the subject makes up for my lack of skill! Here's looking forward to the next LFCC and the shiny performance dress! (Showmasters - can the cosplay olympics next year include a trampoline event.... pleeease... )

Quick question - could I get a photo of me and the other half (both in the pic at the same time) for the £25, or does that make it £50 for the one photo? Fingers crossed its not the latter!!

I went today, and she was one of the few you could readily photograph due to where she was sat. She was talking to someone but spotted me with the cam and gave me a big smile - pic came out great :)

Cheers all - really looking forward to it now (apart from the drive ...)

Thanks, if so that'll make my life easy - all 3 I want in the same area

Hi all I'm going up to MK tomorrow (driving up on my own - normally have the other half there to be in charge of the camera!) and the main person I'm going for is Kate Mulgrew. As she's only there Monday, I'm guessing she may be the busiest on the day. Assuming her signing area is already set up, could someone let me know where her stand will be - e.g. which door, is it Costa side of the hall or not etc :) Thanks

Here's one I like - its entitled "a picture's worth a thousand words"...

I got the strangle too :) Best pic I've ever got at an event! Me laughing my head off, him pulling a scary face, one hand on my neck, the other doing the freddy hand

Sorry, my reply above could've been clearer - the missing word is "great"! On mine it looks like its spelt greet, but its definitely your missing word I reckon :)

great :)

Didn't see it mentioned above, but don't expect any form of conversation either, even one sentence. When I went through (first hour, before open queue) his head stayed down the entire time, and he was signing my picture whilst I was 3 people away. I asked to shake him by the hand, put my hand out, and he didn't even look up, and the manager woman gave me an awful look. That's rude, just a "sorry, we've got to keep the queue moving" would've done. And with the open queue being announced 3 times in 15 minutes, he really could've afforded to spend more time talking to people. The whole area was strictly no cameras, not even whilst in the queue. If JCB is the woman next to him, she needs to chill (and put on something more respectable - I saw her near the start of the show and took her to be one of the roleplayers, a bra with a see through lace top is not really appropriate when you've got children coming to see the guy you're representing). I got up at 4am to see him, and I only just got back home - that's the last time I buy All Bran (hey, I just clicked - maybe she needed a bowl!) Robert Englund was a gent - I couldn't believe how slow the queue was, but you knew it was going to be worth the wait and he was superb. I was laughing my head off! Both he and Erika I thought were absolutely genuinely happy to see their fans. Both offerred me their hands to shake as well, which was really nice :) My list if you're going tomorrow would also include Adam West and the lady from Battlestar Galatica - Tricia Helfer. All personalised, all happily allowed pictures, and all had a short chat and were worth £25 themselves (although all were £15-£20!). Erika and Tricia were dressed very nicely and both still looked absolutely stunning. I have some pics and vid of William Shatner though - if SM allow people to include pics of him in their C8 pic collections online (linked from here) in light of the no camera in queue policy I'll post some up. Oh, before I forget - a big well done to SM for how his entrance was managed. Everyone behaved and all managed to get some good pics.

I take an A4 folder, with those see through pockets in, each of which has a piece of plain A4 in. When I get the auto, I let it dry (read - blow on it wildly) then put it in, with the auto facing the white paper. Always worked for me so far, and when I get home/back to hotel, it goes in the plastic auto holder they sell at 1+ of the stalls for £1 each (DON'T put it straight in, the ink will smear!) (so if you see someone struggling with a camera, auto, folder and rucksack - that's me! lol )