Rowan

CharliesAngel, I've said repeatedly I'd prefer to leave the whole argument for now. It seems you and others would prefer to keep dragging it up when there's nothing new to argue about. So I'm going to repeat one part of what I said one more time... The L3 situation ON IT'S OWN now looks to be fine. However as part of a wider situation I still have my doubts. I don't see any point in going over the arguments of the last few days any further than that, until more information comes in. Gandalf: read what I said again. I didn't say the L3 situation wasn't above board. I said I hadn't fully made my mind up yet. And the fact is I may never be certain. I'm just another fan who isn't privy to all the backstage wrangling.

Well you can see for yourself that I've been a member over a year. As for the new joiners, I think you'll find they've joined because they do have an interest in the issue. Otherwise why would they? I think you'll find they are people who are going to the other con, or in some cases folks who go to Showmasters, who want to let their feelings be known. As customers at conventions we do have a right to express our feelings about guest lists and business practices. Also if contracts have not yet been signed, then we have a real chance of influencing outcomes here...

Well, since you insist: I'm still not totally convinced that the L3 situation was all above board. Taken on it's own, everything looks fine now. But as part of a wider situation, I'm still not happy. So, I am waiting for further developements. Now, I think most people on this board would prefer to take a rest from the arguments, at least until there's some new information to argue about, don't you?

Nope, I wasn't talking about L3.

I'm afraid so *sighs* Yes it is and now we have pictures. (obviously Just waiting for people to ask for the pictures to go to another thread any minute). May I suggest the pictures move to another thread? (Specifically the guest announcements thread, since this is no longer about Torri)

Awaiting further developements...

I agree with you. Shutting up unless something new comes up... Halle-Bloody-Luia!!!!!!!! Don't tempt me.

Well yes, technically it was an agent that approached them. Are you saying they acted against your wishes?

I agree with you. Shutting up unless something new comes up...

OK, I didn't want to start another thread, because hopefully there isn't any more arguing to do! Plus I was mostly answering the stuff about Torri... Anyway, if I post anything purely not about Torri in future, I will take it to another thread.

Thanks to L3 for clearing up their position. I'd just like to point out that I was defending them based on their own statement, posted on their Yahoo group only the day before Showmasters announced Torri. In that statement they said that as far as they knew Torri was only doing their event. I guess that courtesy call was a last minute thing... but it appears to be the agent who was going behind people's backs. Meanwhile the count of guests booked for an event the same weekend as LFCC who have been approached has now risen to 3. Both Don S Davis and Michael Shanks have declined the offers to come to LFCC in favour of keeping their existing commitments. We are still waiting to hear Chris Judge's decision.

Um, you've not read all the threads have you? All I can say is... I wish! I think with all the things both organisers have said about each other... they are oscar winning actors themselves if they are!

I hope your Dad enjoys himself! It's just a shame it's on the same weekend and there's several hundred Stargate fans who won't be able to without missing something else.

Thanks to you and everyone trying to discuss this sensibly. Hopefully the other con with Torri will not be badly effected by this. But their ticket sales could be effected. My personal issue is more that the organisers of that con have been positive about Showmasters in the past. They probably could have worked something out for her to appear at both shows. Showmasters prefered to go behind their back. As for the situation with Chris... I can see why you would want to leave it until we see what happens. But some of us want to prevent things happening. If we left it and Chris did choose to go to LFCC then that would be the end of him appearing at probably 2 other organisers shows. By letting our opinions be known publically maybe we can prevent that. I'm not against Chris appearing at a future Showmasters event. In fact I hope he does, for the sake of the fans here that like their kind of show and would rather see him at Showmasters. But him appearing at LFCC this time would really benifit no-one.

Thanks for the answer. You posted while I was posting. And it is, in itself, totally reasonable. As fans we have no way of knowing how much trouble you put into trying to get a better date. I'm sorry though that overall I'm still getting a negative picture of your organisation. You are not giving me the impression that you are bothered or regret the clash. You say you have more to say at a later date, so I'll leave it at that.

Sure, it's not ilegal to book Atlantis guests the same weekend as a SG1 con. I'm just trying to ask, nicely, what the logic is. Seems to me it would be better business sense to do it another weekend and avoid making folks who may be fans of both choose. Does anyone really think that there's going to be an instant, massive fan base just for Atlantis? Of course not, it's going to be SG1 fans who get into it first. So why put the fans in the position of having to choose?

No I'm not an organiser. I have talked personally with both the other organisers (partly to do with something I'm doing for charity at the moment), and have picked up a few things about how things get run over the years. But when it comes to the present situation I'm just another fan. Thanks for thinking I might know what I'm talking about. That's kind of flattering. *G* And I'll take the oportunity to get in a plug: if you like Jr Bourne (Martouf), get over to his site and check out what his fans have been up to! I'm currently working on a Magazine, which will be sold to raise money for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

May I just ask why you are doing it at this event? I'm one of several hundred Stargate fans already commited to attend another event. If you want to do something for Stargate fans, wouldn't it make more sense to schedule it at a time when more of them can attend?

Yes, I do feel pretty disgusted right now with the way things seem to be going. I will be interested to see how things turn out, and if you can convince me I'm wrong then I'll admit it.

Vamps, Torri is appearing at another event which has previously been freindly to showmasters. Showmasters have booked her without consulting them, which could effect their tickets sales, and is not a nice way to treat folks who've been good to you. They have also made approaches to other guests appearing at another convention the same weekend as LFFC. If any of these guests accept it will not be another chance to see them, it will mean hundreds of fans being disapointed. Full contract details are not known to those of us who are not con organisers..., but there seems to be at least something in writing in every case. However, any contract may be breakable: yes, the person breaking it could be sued in theory, but can everyone afford to do that? You also have to ask who's benifitting. Not the fans. And I'm not convinced it's good business sense for Showmasters either. They'd get more Stargate fans attending on another weekend. But if they want to try and knock other con organisers out of business... Do you want that? Actually the only person who clearly has something to gain is the booking agent. She gets a percentage if Showmasters get a guest, but the rival on the same weekend don't use her. So it makes sense for her to try and get guests to change from the rival to Showmasters.

I think it would be all over Gateworld and a lot of other forums if he had.

!?!???!!! Very much doubt it... I think I would have heard...

True. Just there comes a point when you stop giving the benifit of the doubt.

Hate to tell you, but they don't have 'front rows', it's not that kind of event. You want the rival event for that!

They could have scheduled LFFC on another weekend rather than on the same one a rival con was already announced on, so allowing those who wanted to to attend both events. They could also only go for guests that where not booked at other cons, so giving fans more choice of guests. They choose to go into direct competition and to poach guests. Contracts... not clear what the situation is there in all the cases involved. But it appears that some parties are willing to break them if the price is right. For me the issue is not that anyway, it's that none of this is for the benifit of the fans, or the guests.