Basil

A Star Cops guest! Fantastic!!! Any chance of Trevor Cooper Popping by as well? Basil.

Uni-Poscas are fine but need more care with leeks and drying time because they use water based ink. I use them at signing events but not at stage doors or premiers because of this. The big brother of the Posca the Uni-Paint and is by far the best pen I've found. The blue and green I have are very reliable even after long intervals without use. http://www.durablesupply.com/unipainmar.html or your site but only 8/12 colours.. http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Uni_Paint_Marker_PX-20.html

What you have to remember is your dealing with peoples perception of the event even if the facts are exagirated it shows how the atendee felt. We all know you weren't running an event at 15 dealer tables that would be rediculous. What that person is really saying however is that their perception of that issue is that there were not enough tables. Deleting a post instead of saying "there were actually 150 tables for dealers but I understand from you're post that you would like more next time a) however the next event can't support any more or b ) I'll make more available for dealers next time". Points are made and dealt with and everyone moves on. Deleting post just gets people angry and then badmouthing happens on other places where you have no control and no way to answer any points/accusations and your dream takes a large step backwards. You can't control what people think or what they say elsewhere but here you can manage it. I know that the good people at SM have run some of the best shows in the world, I've been proud to attend many of them I've been attending most for 6 years+ now. That's the problem. People see the name "Collectomania" and know that it means "quality event" so when an event is run which is dissapointing it is more so because of the very high expectation of the attendee. In this way you are a victim of your success. As for "Give us a chance" well I think all posters have and most of us continue to do, as I said great guests, well organised (from what I could see anyway) and a very bad venue. I'm very glad to hear from another thread that this was not your first choice venue which makes me feel a lot better. I was under the impression from previous comments that this would be the events new home! If I can ask, whats happened with the MK centre? I'm sure it was said elsewhere but if someone could post a link I'd appreciate it. Basil

Thought I'd come out of lurking to add my thoughts. 1. Great guests especially the legend who is Ben Browder. 2. Good organisation. Staff knew what they were doing and were professional as always. 3. Terrible venue. This was teh first Collectomania where I left before lunchtime. No talks due to the weather, no food to talk of (as I wont spend £6.30 on a small burger and chips) and it was cold to the point where the two ladies I was with were visabily shivering and I wasn't far off that. Didn't do any photoshoots as we couldn't stand waiting for an hour for the photos to be developed (£40 that I didn't spend). Sorry to be negative but with the old venue your clients had the choice on finding a coffee shop or having a mooch around the shops while waiting for their autograph numbers to come up. By moving you've taken away the comfort that the shopping centre gave us, even the guests were huddled under blankets in the nooks and crannies they were stuck in. Then there's the feel of the place, a circular thin corridor with a small room of it? Some people may like the novelty of having an event in a football stadium but as a Sci-Fi fan who hates football why do I want to be at a football stadium? I ended up at the MK centre to have lunch and then straight home. This is normally the "in and out" technique I use for other shows. Quite seriously I wont bother doing more than this if Collectomania is run at the stadium again. I agree completely with Pete (pdt1984). You can't stop negative comments. If you delete the posts then other forums and old fasioned word of mouth will soon drag the name of Showmnasters down from the heights we all want it to be. If there's a specific problem as a buisnessman you need to address it. We don't expect you to be able to act on unreasonable complaints but not adressing concerns at all is just bad customer service which is something you don't want to be known for. So the hall will be big enough for all the signings and dealers or do we have to pray for good weather? On the upside we've still got LFACC at a good venue (indoor location shops and food just up the road, plenty of space for talks etc). Basil

Some of the Farscape actors who haven't done UK sigings before (at least to my knowledge) like... Tammy McIntosh Raelee Hill Paul Goddard Melissa Jaffer David Franklin And of course Ben Browder. Basil.

A LOT more Farscape guests please!! Basil.

There's a 2 page review of LFACC in Septembers TV Film Collectables magazine. It's all posative of course and the pictures capture the good fun that this event was. I was also glad to see some of the (non -profit) fan run stands were given a mention i.e LOTNA (London Sci-group) and the laser tag Live Action Role Playing stands. Has anyone seen any other printed reviews? Basil.

Technicaly thats true however there is no Circle or District line this weekend despite no strike action. This is due to planned engineering works. The only way to Earls Court is the Picadilly line so plan your journey with that in mind. Pic line also has no service from Cockfosters to Amos Grove. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravelnews/r...ll-weekend.html Basil.

Great idea!!! Count me in!! Basil

I said it before and I'll say it again... BRING ON THE MARINES!! Basil

The whole point of these events is to see your item being signed so you know its real. I would not touch a pre-signed photo. Yes this was the "McDonalds" of autograph queues, everything was slicker so they could get everyone through. I think they were expecting 4000 on Saturday alone. I'm sure if Elijah signed like this there would be a lot less dissapointed collectors. Also if you can get so many people through the queue its more likely that SM can get there money back without having to increase prices. 4000 people spending £25 is better than 1000 people being signed for £100. Most of the people I saw go through the Shats queue (I went through twice) just acted like sheep. The people who did bother to talk to Bill got a polite response and a smile even though he was obviously very tired. This shows that SM can get the big stars and get EVERYBODY who wants an autograph through the queue. I can't wait to see who they get for C9!! Basil

I wish more signings would be like William Shatner. A short Queue for a big actor, no waiting while the fangirl in front of you trys to give them presents, or gets a photo taken with every member of the family or has to stop to tell them there life story etc. Just concentrating on what the event is about- getting the autograph. £25 for William Shatner- A bargain!! Well done all at SM and the Shatner himself. Basil

I met her at a book signing and she signed a 10x8 as well as her book for me. I doubt she will do a media type signing though. Basil

It dosn't bother me either way. The exception being a group photo/book where space is at a premium. Basil

I agree completely. Basil

The London Sci Fi group LOTNA meets that night as well at the Horseshoe Inn near London Bridge station. A bit out the way I know but there will be 20-30 Sci Fi fans already going and if need be we can turn the music up loud as we have our own area. http://www.lotna.org.uk/ Basil

At the ROTK prem everyone who arrived before midday were moved out so th ebarriers could be put up. They got the same chance at the end as the people who had just turned up. Basil

OK guys reality check. I turned up at Collateral at around 5.30PM and I still got Tom Cruise, Jamie Fox and quite a few others. These people will sign where they like for as long as they like so its not as if you have to wait in line with a ticket. Tom has said he will be looking at beating his record for the ammount of time signing at a premiere. He will be signing for over 2 hours. The barriers will probably not be put up untill the afternoon (Sin city was around 4.00PM). To put them up earlier blocks off public access and local shops suffer. Star Wars was the only overnight barriers I have seen put up (park side only) and I don't see War of the worlds pulling that sort of crowd. Ask Jamie about the Collateral barriers as he tells me they went up in mid afternoon. I turned up for the League of Gentleman Premiere today at 5.30PM and got front row without a problem. Poppy dear you always panic about being late but panicing others will only lead them to standing around all day. Yes you will need to get there before 5.30PM to ensure a spot but 8.00AM?? Thats a litle extreme. Basil

I turn up early and wait an hour to two hours to ensure I get everyone on one day. If you're not there in time then you may not get through as a lot of people found with Elijah. You're right under 500 is the norm but I don't want to have to travel up from Kent on two days because one guest was popular and I could'nt get through. 86 now. Just got Nancy Cartwright (voice of Bart Simpson). Basil

Yeah that sucks, but the rewards are worth it. So far this year I have 85 different celeberirties autos inc Angelina Jolie, John Travolta, George Lucas and Kylie. If you know when a play finishes then you won't be waiting that long. How long would you wait at a SM event for a celeb? It's no different really as your ticket number may not even be called. Ah yes I see the apology. Matter dropped. Basil

There is more to collecting autographs then events. My lord of the rings book has the following... Sean Bean and Ian McCallum from theatre stage doors. Orlando, Dom, Billy, Liv, Pete Jackson, Karl Urban, Bernard Hill, Howard Shore, Barry Osborne, Fran Walsh and others from premieres. Elijah, John Noble, John RD, Sean Astin etc from Collectomania style events. Viggo from outside his hotel when he was promoting another film. Christopher Lee after "donating" £20 to the store manager at Christophers autobiography book signing. And whoever mentioned the spelling mistakes: GET A LIFE. Basil

I'm not worried as I have them all allready lol. Though Ian Holm, Miranda Otto, Hugo Weaving and David Wenham would be most welcome. Basil

I was there and got an auto from Orlando. Anthony Stuart Head was also there and the new Doctor, David Tennant made an appearence. Basil

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would NOT pay for a pre signed photo. My autos must be witnessed and preferably signed with my pens (sorry SM silver sharpies don't do it for me) for me to be happy. I don't care if the guest dosen't have time for a chat , photograph or personalisation but if the auto is not signed in my (or Mrs Basils) presence its not worth getting. I'm going to have nightmares about this now. Basil

I had a great time today. The worst thing about this event is that its popular, hardly a bad thing though as it means you can get better guests for us. Photos are getting better on the whole but Dean Stockwell were still fuzzy and Nichelle Nichols were really bad. Apart from that I had a blast. Basil