tanusspijek

Since Gentle Giant are just releasing a Kabe bust - its about time I got that Kabe signed photo.

Agreed. A really nice and chatty guy.

Would have loved to have said Karen Gillan but had to leave at midday on Saturday so ran out of time - My first time meeting Sophie Aldred and she was lovely and chatty so she is my fav of the weekend. Other than that, Sarah Sutton & Louise Jameson were also really nice.

I think its great that we have a mixture of bigger and smaller guests - not everyone wants to spend the day waiting in queues and some of my best experiences have been with the smaller less busy guests. The only one's I've really felt sorry for were Nicole de Boar and Chase Masterson - walked past their windy tent at the last CM and they never had anyone with them for ages so popped in for a signature and a chat and ended up chatting for approx 15 mins with the pair of them about DS9 and what they've been up to since.

Really looking forward to this and the date is perfect for me personally. Also prefer the EC2 venue as the Olympia venue wasn't great imo. Found it hard to find the enterance and it seemed cramped inside. Here's hoping its even half as good as this years LFCC.

I had ticket approx 650 but had to leave round midday so gutted that I couldn't get a signature from Karen - managed to give mine to somene else that hopefully got theirs but hoping that Karen does another signing soon as listening to peoples positive experiences she'd be a fine guest to get back......gutted!

I can understand Karen being hidden from view otherwise they'd be a big problem with crowds just clogging up the area. I've seen it with other big guests in the past, you cannot walk past or through that area as so many people hanging around. Try getting a ticket when there are 200 hundered people just hanging arounf. Its not as if people have a quick look and move on, rather they loiter in the area for ages and surely it then starts becoming a health and safety issue. I'm not blaming anyone as its human nature to want to have a look at a guest (and I'm as gulity as anyone) I'm sure SM have a decent reason for shielding that area from view.

Had a great day but was shocked how big the early bird ticket queue was and also I had to leave at midday and the line still went round the side and front of the building - where did all these people come from? Anyway, got a VT for Karen roughly about the 650 mark and she had to go for her photo's, break and talk so was told she wouldn't be back until approx 4pm so gave my ticket to someone else. Anybody know roughly what number she got to with the signing? Also, first time I've met Sophie Aldred - she is so friendly!

I wasn't aiming my previous post at anyone who had more than 1 or 2 items signed as its your money - personally I got one signature on my poster and I was 100% happy. Its more people who are moaning about personal signatures and why there sometimes isn't enough time to personalise items especially when some people are bringing 5 or 6 items to desk. (I'm talking the unusual marquee guest) With the big guests then I think there should be some sort of rule if there just isn't time to get through everyone that they limit the items or don't personalise items so everyone can get at least something. I personally didn't think that Alex's day was that bad - not half as manic as it was when Patrick Stewart was signing at the LFCC - a lot of collectors thought they'd not get the signature they waited all day for (me included)

I'm afraid that is the going rate for a guest that at the moment, is the Doctors current companion and I'm surprised SM have actually managed to get her so I feel quite lucky she is going to do it. If you don't want to pay that much then either get just one signature (instead of 3 or 4) or don't bother at all. I'm pretty sure there will be many collectors with 5 or 6 or 7 items to sign so they can keep one or two and sell the rest on E-bay which won't help the situation. Its going to manic on the Saturday.

Also what happens if I've paid an extra £5 for my name on it and I see someone who hasn't paid the extra ask the star for a name and they do it - it leaves the whole system open to abuse. I'd stick to the rules but there are many who do not and put pressure on the guest for a name or a picture. I think it should be clear from the start (on the website and leaflets) that the price is "whatever" and it will be no names and just a signature so fans going can decide whether they want to get there early or not. Personally, my DW poster has loads of personal messges from the guests and Alex is the only one so far who hasn't personalised it but I'm just happy to have her signature on it. If collectors are so fed-up with what happened with Alex (and its not a new thing - I remember the same thing with Shatner, Nimoy and Stewart) then I'd say avoid the upcoming Karen Gillan signing at LFCC as that will be exactly the same (a small time window for signing - inbetween her photos and breaks) plus a large amount of people wanting her signature. I'm afraid there is no great way to do it when there is such a demand but only a small window for signing - maybe stopping people getting lots of items signed is the way forward (a girl in front of in the Alex queue had 5 or 6 items to be signed including a poster, pics and a dvd sleeve) which held everyone up. If people had possibly just one or two items at most to sign then it would speed up the queue slightly.

Daniel is a top guy. Urge anyone who hasn't met him yet to do so whenever you can. First guest ever in my years of going to CM's that actually came up to me for a chat (mainly about the crappy football and how cold I was) Star of the day imo.

I was gutted I couldn't back today (Monday) to see her. I was there on Sunday and planned to come back today to get her and Nicole to sign my DS9 poster but couldn't make it. Herself and Nicole didn't seem that busy on Sunday and seemed to chatting between themselves most of the time when I saw them - were they busy? I always feel bad when a guest is there but there are no fans at their desks. Hopefully, Chase (and Nicole) will be invited back again in the future.

Agree with quite a few others - its all about the experience. Been doing the CM's from near enough the start and I only have a couple of pieces that haven't got my name on - Patrick Stewart and Alex Kingston (PS on a Tempest poster and AK on my DW poster) Not a bad number considering the amount of signatures I have so I find it odd that people complain about the odd guest who has to rush due to amount of signatures or time constraints. Even though rushed, I found Alex Kingston to be really nice and she found time to ask me about my poster and the signatures on it. I'd rather have a non-personalised picture than a personalised picture but the guest was rude.

Had my DW poster signed at approx 4pm - it was quite clear to me on the signs that there was no personalisations or photographs/videos - it was my decision to go ahead and have my poster signed even though she didn't sign my name - no problem there imo. Even though rushed, she chatted to me and asked my about my poster and signatures - I found her to be quite nice. I've had a similar experience with a signing with Patrick Stewart at LFCC where to rush everyone through, you just got a signature - and then, we were made quite clear beforehand what was happening. With Karen Gillan coming up at LFCC then I'm expecting the same due to amount of signatures and time constraints. I just cannot see what the problem is?

Met Alex Kingston, John Leeson, Peter Davidson and Daniel Logan on Sunday. Heard bad things about people who have meet AK and JL but all the guests were really nice and AK gave me a hello and asked me where I had gotten my DW poster from and what signatures I had so cannot understand all the negative comments about her (I met her at about 4pm and she still seemed chatty and friendly) Star of the show though was Daniel Logan - he actually approached me whilst I was watching the football and we chatted about football, weather, twitter and the recent con's he has been to. A really nice chatty guest and the first guest I've ever had who has come up to me for chat, its usually vice versa. Meant to pop back today (Monday) to see Levar, Gates, Nicole and Chase but couldn't make it, absolutely gutted!

Had a fantastic day on Sunday (was planning to come Monday too but couldn't get out of work early enough) Met Alex Kingston (surprised at all the negative feedback as meet her quite late on and see said hello and asked me where I bought my DW poster from as she liked it and asked me what signatures I had - even though rushed she seemed friendly and it seemed the actual staff were rushing people not her - which is understandable so everyone can get something signed) John Leeson (again heard negative things about him before but he was very friendly and we chatted for a few minutes and he also asked me what signatures I had on the poster) Peter Davidson (again a fantastic guest and on top form as usual) Daniel Logan (I was watching some of the football before going to see him and he actually came up to me and started chatting about the football and the weather - odd, never had a guest come up to me before and start randomly chatting. A really nice guy) Was planning on popping down today to get some ST stuff signed by Levar, Gates, Nicole and Chase but haven't had the time today sadly to pop back. Absolutely gutted as saw Nicole and Chase had no line at all but didn't have my DS9 poster with me - were Nicole or Chase busy at all over the weekend? I feel bad when I see a guest sitting there with no one visiting them. Again, really enjoyed myself but thought the organisation for Alex Kingston could have been better - it seemed more of a scrum around her area than an actual line and no one knew what was going on - makes me worry for the upcoming LFCC and Karen Gillan signing - it will be madness! Also remembering the good old days at the shopping centre (which is no fault of SM) but I feel as though over time the stadium may start putting guests off - don't know if SM could let us know what the actual guests think of the stadium format? I go to all venues and do enjoy going to MK but wish there was a better venue than the stadium (its too exposed to the weather and wind) But seeing certain guests out in the wind and cold makes me think "will they be back"

She was def my guest of the day. She was so lovely and chatty and genuinely was happy to be there.

I saw the Catwoman, great outfit.

A talk by Tom? I'd be there in a second lol. Trouble is, have SH a hall big enough to cram everyone in?

There were a few people asking the crew member why the line was taking so long (and it did cross my mind also) but she said that Tom was spending 10mins plus chatting with every fan and they did try to hurry him but he wasn't having it. It just made everyone in the line dying to get their 10 mins with Tom. I def got my 10min plus lol.

As I've recently started getting back into my old classic Dr Who. Any Who guest is ok in my book especially if its Sylvester McCoy, Peter Davidson, Paul McGann or Sophie Aldred (or come to think of it - any of the companions would be alright ) I know Matthew Waterhouse is already on the list! I look on in jealously at 10th planets line-up at their upcoming con - but Newcastle is just too far for me to travel.

Don't post too much on here, rather browse than post but felt the need to post regarding Tom Baker. Visited CM on Sat (met Colin Baker and a few others) and wasn't going to come today but decided at the last minute (around 2pm) that I would pop down there to see Tom as I've missed him so many times before. Glad I did! One of the nicest guests I have ever met. Even at the late time the line was going slowly as he was spending so much time chatting with fans - and I don't think anyone minded. Anyone who hasn't so far met him, I'd recommend him to anyone - he tells the funniest stories and seems to be genuinely enjoying himself.

Too expensive, too dark, nowhere to sit and food too expensive and not half as enjoyable as Collectormania at MK. Most of the crowds sitting around on the floor in the dark waiting to get a autograph that they probably won't get. Patrick Stewart was nice though did feel sorry for him as I don't think he had a chance in hell of ever reaching the 1000 mark. I'll be giving LFACC a miss from now on and I'll be sticking to the more superior Collectormania.

Myself and the wife got there at 9.45am and was intially shocked to hear that Patrick was only doing 4 hours.....we paid the £20 and joined the queue immediately and still only got ticket 680. I thought the in show information was a shambles as we did not even know what we were intially queuing for and when my wife popped to the front of the queue to find out, a member of staff was abusive to her and told her to join the queue. Also the staff (I know they had a hard job) but they were constantly shouting at people and I even heard the F word a few times even though most people were only trying to find out what number they were up to.........a large board or a message over the tannoy might have been nice as a guy shouting what number they are up to was just not good enough, when you did get close enough to actually hear him......he told us clear off! The lighting in most of the hall was terrible and the queuing space for the bigger signing stars (eg Patrick and the Heroes actors) was not enough..........why not move down some of the Star Wars signers next door and leave more space........utter shambles.......I'll continue to go to the Collectormania's in MK but doubt whether I'll ever do the LFACC again. We did manage to get Patrick's autograph (on a RSC Tempest poster) but it was touch and go as they were going to close the line at any moment. Patrick was nice enough and when he saw the Tempest poster was genuinely interested and replied "ahhhhhh" when he saw the poster and asked us if we enjoyed the Tempest and if we had seen him in any others and we told him that we'd recently seen him in two shows in Citcester and he was genuinely interested which was nice. I think he did want to chat further but of course, with him needing to go at 2pm and other people in line, it did not seem right to hang about too long. He did look up and give us eye contact and gave us a little smile so all in all, happy with actually meeting Patrick. Another gripe, as mentioned by someone else..........autographs should have been limited to maybe 2 per person so more people would have had a chance to at least get one autograph. I saw one guy go up with 5 posters and 3 books (which in my eyes, took maybe the chance of at least 3 to 5 more people who didn't get one that maybe could have) basically.... - better inshow information regarding signing numbers (not just a guy shouting!) - more space for the queuing - lights anyone? - less abusive staff (using the F word at customers is not nice especially in ear shot of kids!) I do feel sorry for the people who did get tickets, queue and pay their money but did not even get close to getting his autograph.......a lady we chatted to had only gone to get Patrick's autograph and her ticket was over a thousand. How long have Showmasters known that PS was only doing a few hours?........I did not find out until after I had queued up for my ticket. Sorry to moan in this post but compared to all the other Collectormania's I have been to (nearly all of them) this was a utter shambles.