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TerraHawk

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Posts posted by TerraHawk

  1. 2 hours ago, Raylenth said:

    Everyone would get there at dark o'clock three weeks prior to get low VQ's and he still wouldn't have got through many so someone with a ticket of 150 say, who had hope, may have still been completely out of the running.

    That's what we used to do. I could see by how Peter spends time doing doodles etc for fans overseas he wouldn't be one to be rushed. Still its interesting all the pre-orders for the Doctors appeared to get signed. So getting the pre-ordered autographs took priority over virtual, and as it was a close thing for some diamond holders, pre-orders must have got done ahead of some of them too.

  2. 4 hours ago, natedammit said:

    Or they could just leave it as it is and we can put up with a bit of inconvenience.

    Well never mind if people miss things they've already paid for because they are stuck in other queues, it's only their money after all. :rolleyes:

    Of course the more efficient the queues are, and the less time wasted, the more chance people have to spend money. That's not a bad thing, is it?

  3. 3 hours ago, Raylenth said:

    This.  They will still have to update the whiteboards in the queue anyway.  Not saying it's impossible but the constant updates in twitter would be a nightmare, your phone would be constantly pinging and you would have to check it every message that came through.  I can't be online all the time as it's battery draining and my connection is spotty so I need to check the boards anyway.  

    You wouldn't need constant updates, just a round up once ever 20-30 minutes. If it kept 25% away from the queues until their turn it would be easier for you to get to the boards to check.

  4. 7 minutes ago, autographfan said:

    But if they're willing to pay for a diamond pass, why shouldn't they get priority over a fan with a VQ ticket?

    And to play devil's advocate, if the dealer hadn't turned up with 10 signed items to sell, then 10 real fans who couldn't make it to the event will have missed out on getting their favourite actor's autograph...

    And of course in this case that still wouldn't have meant VQ 1-10 would have got their chance either, the guest would have just signed 10 less things.

    • Like 1
  5. 24 minutes ago, RomeroSavini said:

     if you are out to make cash from them- go away.

    The hate by many bigger stars towards reselling signatures is staggering for good reason. 

    It's something of a black market, and a catch 22. Fans want the auto of a new big time actor and are prepared to pay, someone will take advantage and sell to them. Actor then sees someone is profiting then refuses to sign, so those already signed are a rarity and shoot up in value. Dealers then try harder, its become worth their while. At least at an event the actors are compensated for their time.

    Limit them to 5 items they just bring 4 friends. Line is even slower.

    James Earl Jones is apparently happy to sign a few for free, the more he signs the less they are worth. But unless you are lucky enough to meet him you're back to relying on a dealer again.

    If Chris was fed up with dealers, are we sure they weren't for Showmasters Sales - the preorders. He's bound to have been a popular sale, and the £5 on top regular price is hardly anything when a guest is that much to start with. And they will already have paid.

  6. 2 hours ago, Naboo79 said:

    h.

    - Dealers. Why are they even allowed? At least put a cap of, say, max 3 autos per guest.
     
    - It’s 2018 folks! A more modern system is possible! Maybe have an electronic panel that everyone can see and that is updated regularly, and then have an app or website with VQ info so you don’t have to physically visit the queue to get updated.
    One more thing. I must say I’m curious why SM booked so many wrestlers and Star Wars extras. They sat around with nobody visting them almost every time I passed by them. It can’t be good business for anyone if they get so little attention from the attendees. I felt bad for these guests that they sat with noone visiting them most of the time.
     

    We aren't allowed to talk guest fees but do some basic maths, the Star Wars extras aren't going likely to be on a lot. You only need one  or two dealers getting 50 items and that's probably paid for them*. The rest is pure profit. Since some people will get posters, DVD covers, books, cards, figures, they don't need to be busy all day to make it worth their while. Otherwise they wouldn't try so hard to get new names. Every time I think there can't possibly be any more to get they seem to dig out a few; but the fact they seem to be getting non-UK guests now (which can cost more) I do think we are getting towards the end now, at least for me.

    I had a funny experience with my Star Wars autos at the event. I only get a book signed and thought Mike Quinn had signed it 20 years ago, I must have met him. But looking, seems he never had. Until Sunday.

    * so the dealers have their uses.

    Obviously an app would make a lot of sense, but lets face it they've only had QR codes a few years, they seem to be a decade behind.

     

    I'd like to make a suggestion actually, a  sort of compromise, a way of providing the info on the cheap.

     

    How about a dedicated twitter account for number status-  A showmasters live perhaps. Only need a few people to keep revising the numbers, its basic info that would be probably be logged anyway in any other business.

    • Like 2
  7. 1 hour ago, TWDStuff said:

    Only real low was the amount of Funko Pop stalls, I reckon 50% of the stalls were selling them. I get that they are popular and i get that if someone has paid for a spot then they can sell whatever they want but it would be nice to have more variety in the stalls. 

    Funky pops and Fudge, I think there were at least three Fudge stalls. I didn’t see (or didn’t find at least) anyone selling Blu-rays and only a handful of DVDs which was unusual. Had a few I was after, guess I’ll hit eBay instead. Seems whenever I take spending money to buy merch, there’s none, if I don’t have the cash there’s loads. 

  8. 2 hours ago, Jonjon said:

    I don't see how that would solve the problem quite frankly.

    Hotels sell out, choices become very limited and can get VERY expensive, especially at this time of year, travel isn't as discounted at short notice as advanced fares.

    Shoots and packages sell out with very popular guests, so don't see how this solves the problem.

    If an event is cancelled and you picked a cheaper room or seat without free cancellation you wouldn't get your money back there either. Ultimately your entry ticket is just that - entry to the event. Even if its no longer worth your while going, the event is still taking place. I do sympathise, no one like's to write-off £50. Somethings you have to cut your losses and chalk it up to experience. They used to say never book for one guest.  

  9. 3 minutes ago, fanowaty said:

    You can and I thought about it. It's a solution to get one, but I really enjoy the experience of getting it, even if that's only like 10 seconds.

    He's done two signings in the past month (Westminster after it was said there was no chance of him being here) and another, so hopefully that would have taken some of the pressure off. And if you do miss him perhaps visit his website ;)

  10. On ‎15‎/‎07‎/‎2018 at 1:27 PM, Chris1970 said:

    Pre orders I can accept, all part of it. But traders... there should be a limit of 5 for auto’s. 

    Not sure I've ever seen the limit imposed, but its rare for me to get a big guest. I remember the David Tennant signing many moons ago had the £45 (price) times table on display, up to 20. But with such a limit the trader will just get a second pair of hands, or get a second VT, perhaps even a different day, it doesn't really speed things up

    On ‎15‎/‎07‎/‎2018 at 5:48 PM, homerj said:

    I agree - I had a diamond for John Cleese last year and didn't meet him until 4.30. They had to cut the queue and say diamonds only.

    I remember a few years ago meeting Ian McDiamond and being behind someone with 50 items. He went through them quickly but then the dealer (im presuming he was anyway) wanted a chat!

    That's the thing, one guest can sign 50 things for one dealer much quicker than they can meet 50 people getting one thing each. If they are 50 copies of the same photo they can almost do that on autopilot. Individual dedicated photos in different colours with a few words for everyone takes longer. I think dealers within reason prevent prices going even higher. I could imagine one dealer paying for one of the smaller Star Wars guests alone.  

     

    On ‎15‎/‎07‎/‎2018 at 7:57 PM, Queen_Sindel said:

    There are special rules for dealers which I am not totally familiar with. I do know that in general crew members are being asked to tell them to come through at a quiet time, and same goes for pre-orders. Sometimes that doesn't always work, because for one day guests as John Cleese there is no quiet time. We go through this pretty much every show because someone is upset because it happened in their line.

    It is a fine line which SM are trying to balance. 

    I'm surprised they aren't done behind the scenes, or even in their hotel rooms for the multiday guests. Quieter for them and under less pressure not seeing queues of people waiting for them.

  11. 1 hour ago, The Friendly Dalek said:

    I've already got his auto and I generally don't get multiple autos from one person... 

    I get DVDs and CDs signed, plus trading cards etc. I must have over 50 things signed by Frazer (Sophie over 100), could find another 5 without trying. But I doubt I'll attend on Sunday, its just too awkward to get to on a Sunday and I'm only 20 miles away.

  12. 3 hours ago, Sam_Carter96 said:

    But when I’m travelling all that way and paying for a hotel I need a decent number of guests to make the trip worthwhile (even if autos and photos are a lot).

    Currently at the lowest number of guests out of every Collectormania: Milton Keynes and LFCC I’ve been to. 

    Yes there's no point spending 3 figure sums on travel and hotels to then spend 2 figure sums on guests.

    Fortunately for me, I just do Doctor Who and original trilogy Star Wars. Despite not getting Chris or Peter -  or even having anything for Pearl to sign - the list I drew up the other day is long enough for me to be looking to cross a few off it if I don't really need them. 

  13. Chase and Juliet have definitely been. Big Finish themselves had a stall at LFCC one year (Chase was with them) but unless you knew they were there they were hard to find, and they didn't bother going again.  I usually get a Big Finish or two signed at an event. 

  14. 2 hours ago, RomeroSavini said:

     

    Mind you even Channel 5 in the UK had amazing viewing figures. Bet the BBC felt like idiots getting outbid on that.

    I doubt it; they aren't as big on US imports as they were back in the 90s. And even a big hit for 5 wouldn't even make the top 10 for BBC2. It's all relative - even the big successes like The Walking Dead & Game of Thrones don't have that big an audience in the UK compared to mainstream shows, but no one can deny they are huge. X-Files was huge for BBC2 back in the day, so it moved to BBC1. But there's more channels now... and Netflix etc.

    Back to this event, maybe you can have too much of a good thing. Its going to be a tough year to beat - unless they can get big Avenger, or big Star Wars guests. 

    People have been asking for David forever, but if they've already spent diamond prices on others it creates a dilemma for them. Even Chris hasn't sold out yet.

  15. That's a bit of a pain, my normal route too. I've walked from Earls court to Waterloo before (not even my longest walk through London) but I think it will be too hot to do that again

    22 minutes ago, CosmicAvatar said:

    Ack.  Thanks for the heads-up.  I think I'll be able to get by via the District Line instead, fortunately, although it might affect my arrival time.

    Yes, District down to Wimbledon might be an option 

    1 hour ago, VikingGrrrl said:

    No no no no no no no! I need that train to get to the airport! :crying:

    That might work for you too - District (change at Earls Court) down to Wimbledon, then an 5-7 minute train over back to Clapham Junction.

    • Thanks 1
  16. 20 hours ago, The Friendly Dalek said:

    If we want to leave the venue in order to go and get food or something, do we have to get our hand stamped, or can we just show them our entrance ticket again in order to get back into the building?

    You get stamped I think, I expect a lot of people normally buy on the day.

    • Like 1
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