Toxie

Will there even be much in the way of venue staff? It's not so much in the way of private property that can be locked up like Earls Court. I know there will be only the one main queue this year with all entry tickets being pre sold I am just concerned that venue staff/security will not have a clue how to organise this as witnessed in previous years. I posted earlier about the Stan Lee situation from last year (having to climb onto a disabled ramp!) and while I appreciate this is a different venue I just feel a presence of crew alongside venue staff outside before the event could allay any potential issues. Showmasters have used the venue before, so I'm sure they're aware of potential issues.

I looked at using Eventbright for a film screening I organised last year, if I recall correctly they charge a fee per ticket as standard. So while it's annoying, it's not Showmasters doing. (I might be wrong on the details, but I know using them would have worked out too costly for my event)

We're coming down from Stoke-on-Trent

An hour before opening has always served us well. Once the queues start moving you're in pretty quickly, it's just then a matter of brisk walk to get VQ tickets. This year with only two queues it should be much much easier first thing.

This crossed my mind recently too, although I understand implimenting it could be more difficult than it sounds!

I was rather surprised at the amount of noble reasons given for taking pictures ....

Yes their drivable, we saw Prime been driven to the venue on Saturday and Sunday from our hotel window :) A rather noisy bugger I might add!

I agree if photoshoots getting called by numbers was a certainty at all events, it would reduce the crowd traffic. In my years of attending events I've only ever known it to happen a few times in my particular shoots (I know it happens for others). That said I think crew members need to be a little quicker on upping the numbers, in one of my shoots (Summer Glau I think) a huge crowd could have easily been ordered, by the crew member asking for tickets in increments of 100, not 50. I understand it was to give people with a low number to get to the shoot, but in the meantime more and more people are joining a pre-queue and blocking the flow of people in the hall! I actually think reducing the amount of photoshoots taking place at events would make everyone's life a bit easier (although less profitable for Showmasters!) . At this event there wasn't really the space for the areas to all have a decent queue area. I imagine on paper they were all fine but after people have brought tickets on the day for shoots; all that careful planning went to hell :)

It may have been my friend Starbit Cosplay (https://www.facebook.com/StarbitCosplay) That's the Clara I thought the RevJT meant :)

I've not read Kenny Baker's book but the other two are great :)

Here are my photoshoot pictures from the weekend. I've never had this many done in a weekend before, goodness knows how the guests do hundreds in one session!

I assume that because of the size of this year's event there were a lot of new crew members, certainly there were some that seemed a little overwhelmed. All in all, I felt they all did a fantastic job in a difficult situation.

I had a similar conversation because of her :) Given that some guests wander around without anyone paying much attention to them (Dominic Keating at the bar for example), I assume an actor could throw on a costume and be treated like any other cosplayer!

I saw her too, not sure who she is though.

I thought everyone I met was great. My two big draws were David Warner and Sarah Wayne Callies and both proved to be fantastic guests. Despite not been able to hear very well David Warner actually engaged me in conversation

One of the Poison Ivy Cosplayers was stunning but I was far too shy to ask for a picture!

Here are my photo shoot pictures from the weekend. I don't normally make requests in photo shoots but I made an exception in this case ....

I've not read the entire thread so my apologies if I'm going over old ground. I would suggest the name of the early bird is re-named to simply the pre-paid ticket. Early bird implies that you get into the event ahead of time, which isn't really the case. My other suggestion is that all the photo shoot areas are set up on the same wall as each other, I realise this is probably to disperse people "advance queuing" but if everyone is there for the same reason, might it actually help the flow in other areas? They're really my only two bits of feedback

I've liked her in lots of things, so I'd meet her for sure :)

It's a great system, which I'll admit I was a little skeptical of until I saw the results! In my opinion there is a slight loss of quality; but it's completely offset by the fact you don't have to wait around for your pictures and then brave the scrum at the collection table. Most of all of course any problems with your image are spotted immedietly and a re-shoot is usually possible, which was the case with my Dean Cain picture.

I would have to concur with those who've said Dean Cain, he was a really great guest who seemed to have time for everyone. I just wish it had crossed my mind to talk to him about the TV movie 'Dead & Deader' and his cameo in 'Entourage'. He was really good with everyone on the photoshoot and made it a very enjoyable experience, I was grinning so much my eyes were shut on the first picture so I needed a re-shoot!

Great guests, this may have swung my attendance ...

Your photos look okay to me, I love the dress

ah love that last pic with hayden!! So I showed it to my mum last night .... Mum: (after seeing how pleased I was) Sorry but she's a bit out of your league. Me: Err yeah just a bit. Dream shattered by my mother