Donkey
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Posts posted by Donkey
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It may have met it's targets from a financial point of view, but as has been pointed out elsewhere, to run with too many big Astronaut guests may financially hurt Autographica and Showmasters. There is no guarantee of expanding bigger and meeting costs. You need to be careful at the best of times, let alone in the current financial climate. I think that Dave, Jason and Paul have proven that can be trusted to protect and build Autographica for the long haul.
There's no fun in playing safe Simondo! :)
I'd like hollywood legends and moonwalkers, not background stars and shuttlers!.
Lets get this back to the 'worlds greatest autograph show' again next year!.
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It explains why his potential signing fee has increased so much, all those tickets to Broadway Musicals and fashion guides can't be cheap.
Weren't you seen in the West End a few nights ago (see other thread).
Is there something you want to tell us?
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If it went well financially is there any hope of two shows in 2012?
Maybe we should get Fred to talk to all of the other moonwalkers, so we get more than one next time! :)
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We were able to check wrist bands and passes as people approached signing tables and photo shoots with very little problem.
Whilst I appreciate the responce, I struggle to believe that this was carried out as discribed. The fact that it was even mentioned in a meeting makes it even more puzzling.
As I wandered around I can only recall seeing a handful of luminous bands. Mine everybody elses was tucked under the sleeve of my jumper, and nobody ever challenged me to see it. It seems bizarre that an event that struggles to break even, has seemingly non-existance ticket checks.
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I went today, and had a pleasant experience.
Although not as good as the Birmingham venue, the free parking outside does compensate.
It really is a maze inside, in fact I only found the dealer room by chance (and this isn't my first time!).
I felt a bit sorry for Johnny Johnson too. He seemed completely isolated.
The checking of wristbands was non existent. After the ease to get in free last time, this really should have been tightened.
Whilst I loved the relaxed style of the event. Turn out seemed generally very low. Other than the space guys which provided a small buzz around the place, the rest looked very quiet.
The general feel of the event did feel so much more friendlier, at Birmingham with the 'security' it often feels more about ego's and power trips. But the two ladies on Edgar's stand couldn't have been more friendly, personable, or helpful. The lady on the front desk was also warm and welcoming.
I was done in a few minutes. I have no idea what you guys do over the whole weekend. Maybe you were all at the bar?.
I can't believe its another 12 months until the next one.
I'm pleased with my autographs. Cheers Dave.
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How can anyone answer that based on attending today unless they visit a paralel universe where Buzz did attend ??
My original question was intentionally vague, so not to open a can of worms.
But what I was getting at, was that following the high level of debate about the guest list.
Are numbers lower than usual, the same, or even higher?.
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How was it in terms of numbers of attendees?
Did the lack of Buzz etc make any difference?.
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large parking lot
Car 'park'!.
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I was only thinking today that apart from the massive cancellation of Buzz, it had been almost too quiet!.
This only made me more nervous that you were keeping some secrets.
I'm glad to be proved wrong.
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I hate West Ham.
I'm glad they didn't get their hands on it.
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Nice, autographs then photoshoots followed by Liverpool v mancs then back for astro talks in the afternoon. Sounds like a good day (as long as the football goes the right way!)
Count + Sky Sports I'd never believe it!!
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Shouldn't this be made a 'sticky' at the top?.
It's already sinking down the page.
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Here are my pics :)
Who is it that you're dressing up as?.
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I don't think Showmasters could put an event on and SOMEONE that doesn't have a problem with it!, I wanted to go to Collectormaina Glasgow but I couldn't as so far away but did I have a 'problem' with it, hell no! I accepted it and let the people in Scotland have some fun!!
This isn't just a 'few people' living in the extreme areas of the country though.
This is anybody living north of London!.
Collectormania Glasgow tiny in comparison to any of the shows they run, and is therefore not a show many on the whole would consider travelling large distances to go to.
As Dufrese said, we're not judging the show, only its poor choice in terms of location.
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Only if you're coming by public transport. Actually there may even be direct coaches there, but trains I'll admit mean a change in London. But if you're driving it's a breeze - M25 and no problems with London traffic.
Most people from the north, will be coming either from the M40, or M1, or from the west the M4.
Whilst its not 'difficult', its just inconvenient, and a puzzling choice.
What time is anybody not staying over, going to have to get up to have a reasonable chance of getting an autograph?.
Thats the first time I've ever heard anybody going clockwise ever say 'no problems with traffic' and 'M25' in the same sentence.
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Wow! thats such a horrible place to get to, for anybody north of London.
I guess the local people, and those who are in it for the weekend are fine.
But surely this might put off day ticket holders, or more casual fans; epecially if there is danger of queues, etc.
How about expanding Collectormania Milton Keynes?, I guess thats all too late.
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'10,000's"
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Look, you kept on thinking that EVERYONE was ONLY ever interested in astro guys.. It's an AUTOGRAPH SHOW. What part of AUTOGRAPH show meant 'If you ain't been in Space, you're not coming in!'? If Jason spends his budget on JUST Moonwalkers, then folks like me who do the AUTOGRAPH show to collect AUTOGRAPHS of Film stars, Pilots etc, and the occasional astronaut.. won't go.
If you want a mega lineup of Star Trek folks, do a Star Trek con, Buffy, a Buffy con, Stargate.. a Stargate con.. Space, a Space con.. Autographica is NOT a SPACE convention. Get past that bit, THEN we can have a debate, which apparently you seem to think is off limits on here. YOU might JUST go for Moonwalkers and think they breathe-out di-lithium crystals. Myself, Count and reddragon, and I dare say quite a few of the Autographica regulars.. don't.
Read my posts again. Whilst they did primarily talk about the moonwalkers, I regularly talked about Hollywood stars, and the guys from the war. If I then say where are these on the guest list, I get told I'm being negative.
All I was arguing was that we have less time to meet these guys and now one show a year, so lets get them back on board, and you all kicked off against me!.
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Look Donkey, it's simple. Even simpler than the concept that guests are subject to work commitments. Even Health problems. Don't be an ASS. (How much do I get for the Bingo card there.. LOL)
That show in Tucson was a SPACE ONLY show. It had bigwigs from NASA, it had scientists talking about stuff that would baffle you, if you can't grasp the idea an autograph show might have non-SPACE guests, and the idea that some folks don't have an AMEX black card every time they want one.
The costs of flying folks internally within the US is a pittance compared to using Virgin Atlantic, BA etc etc. (Other airlines also exist, but as they're all in groups, wouldn't matter anyway..)
Maybe if you went to a few other shows, you might realise that paying 200 bucks a throw is a bit of a stretch for most folks, especially if theres 10 folks each asking that. But then, we don't all have Daddies christmas bonus from Goldman's waiting for us under the Xmas Tree, eh..
The Yanks pay a pittance for gas, pay a pittance for food.. they have the relatively spare disposable income, despite their economy being more screwed than any around the Agean Seas. Hmm.. pay mortgage, or get 5 Moonwalkers autographs.. Have somewhere to live, or 5 autographs.. hmm tough choice.
Ok so the organisers of the SPACE autograph show had that many guests, asking megabucks. Heard any reports back from your Astro-pals on how busy the place was? Did the organisers take one hell of a beating?
If you're SO sure that having that many astro guys asking that much a throw in the middle of a screwed up economy is such a money-spinner. DIY.
I hear Pluto Nash2 is being shot.. might need a lead actor, now the other Donkey is doing the Academy Awards..
It seems I now deserve insulting. Cheers.
This is fast becoming 'you lot' and 'me', thats certainly not what I wanted. I just wanted some debate because I was interested and a fan of the show, and the guests it brings over.
I can't comment further sorry.
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Hi Donkey
Who is this We all the time.
We should raise our game.
As you are nothing to do with this show or the decision making please stop reffering to We
Every one of the posts you have made on this forum are negative you do not have a positive word to say about the show or any guest there.
So please inflict your sarcasm and negative waves away from this topic as it is quite obvious that you will never like the line up no matter who we have.
Some of us are trying to organise a show here and do not have time to Bitch and Moan constantly.
Now if it is o.k i would like to concentrate on running the event
Dave Phillips
Don't these events operate differently to shops or other businesses 'We' being people who support the event, people who are passionate about it, and show enough interest to want to sit here all day and debate a way forward. But if you're unhappy with the term, I won't use it, its just 'you' and 'us' sounds a bit odd.
I'm not negavite either (I was even suggesting to put prices up!). I'm happy that I'm going to meet a few of the guests there. I'd just be more excited if I was going to meet more.
It seems debate though isn't welcome. So lets cut this shot. I hope that next year is a bit more to mine and others liking.
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So the amount of money Jason/Dave will lose will be astronomical, as their total fees won't be nearly covered, but hey, thats Ok, a few folks will have done the full set, or as close to the full set, as possible.
Some how the American shows can have roughly 10-20 of them at the same show, but expecting more than one in England at a time is pushing the boat out, and asking people to go bankrupt.
Even I'd be foolish to think that we could do anything like the Space show line-ups quoted. But now we have one show a year, its more important that we raise our game a little. In terms of time, every show now counts. I also clearly stated that the prices will rise a little too.
At the end of the day my suggestion was to get significant 'space guests' and 'hollywood stars' bums on seats!. Something American show's are doing a whole much better than us right now.
Autographica should be the worlds! (europes? :) ) leading Autograph show. Is it?, look at our line-up!
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Err, some folks have a meagre budget to spread amongst many genres of interest. Not everyone JUST goes for a Moonwalker.. just like not everyone goes JUST for Ernest Borgnine-quality folks. Not everyone has thousands of pounds to spend on one show. Some folks do other shows, and other calls on limited finances.
Ok so you think spending a grand to get a few moonwalkers is OK. Not everyone can afford a grand on one area. Not everyone can afford a grand, period. You might have just one Space-related show a year. Some are more general autograph hunters, so getting a Moonwalker is a luxury one has dangling, carrot-like.
Case in point that price can have an effect.. General Tom was cheaper last time, but wasn't, as far as I could tell, as busy as his more expensive '1-time-only' appearance a year later. Complaints about the prices Dave, Jim, etc charge. They are usually SO far greater than other guests, even the TC's of this world.. they get huge 'traffic' on here, not as positive as you seem to imagine it would be.
If you are so sure that getting every astronaut on the planet is such a great idea, and would make you a killing. I'm sure there are ways to start your own show. Get them to charge what they want.. and expect a lot of footfall, and hardly any takers. Then come back on here, and give us a report from your Bahamian Island you bought on the profits..
I prefer to have a wide range of guests. That is Autographica. Having a Space-Show is not Autographica. Having a couple of Space guests mean that any budget they wish to assign to them, can mean more than one item can be signed per guest. Lets say one has a poster on the Apollo11 movie..and a canvas.. means both can be signed by one person, rather than one by two..
Whilst you can give me this lecture about peoples spending. My core point is still true, either we get them here so they can sign, or we use your method and they never come. As I've pointed out now too many times, with the new one show a year, we only have a few shows left.
Are you really surprised that Tom had less traffic. The previous appearance was billed as the last ever. If you really wanted it, or even you were even on the fence - my bet given you were told it was the only chance you'd get - you'd buy one. Hence demand was less.
Collecting moonwalkers is very addictive, and everybody involved is probably at various stages of trying to obtain the illusive complete set. Given the prices it surly puts off the 'average' collector. I'm sure like collecting random Bond girls, you're either 'in', 'out', or 'joining' (ready to spend too much time arguing on internet forums
)Is my post really that outrageous that I should 'start my own show'. I've said that maybe for a 'special show' we should maybe consider paying a few pounds extra. Not hundreds, not thousands.... a few pounds!. So we don't get this type of line-up again.
Some people are so mean.
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Those of you complaining ... guests have always appeared at shows subject to work commitments, so if you book just on the basis of one guest its at your own risk.
I do get flustrated with comments like these, hindsight is such a wonderful thing.
Maybe you should have reminded us about this when this post was made?
Hello everyone
I have been swamped with questions on the Buzz Photo shoot so here are my replies to all.
The photoshoot is limited so please order early
You will need to order an entrance ticket to take part in the shoot. I will not be posting any photoshoot tickets out.
When you order a photoshoot ticket it can be used for either sat or sun.Hope that helps
Dave Phillips
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That might be a bit unfair. The group of people who could be classed as genuine Hollywood legends, i.e. those at the Tony Curtis/Ernest Borgnine level is not a huge pool to fish from and it may just be that the costs associated with those guests or their willingness to attend a signing event in the UK might make their attendance harder to arrange for the organisers of this show.
But we know there ARE Hollywood legends on the autograph circuit, just as we know there ARE moonwalkers.
It's just how you get them in the net. I'd rather be bitching that its going to cost me £x more to meet somebody significant, than having to wait another 12 months to see a line-up matching this one.
As with the space guests the time is now ticking. One show a year doesn't leave us many opportunities.
thank you to everyone that attended
in Autographica 17
Posted · Edited by Donkey
But I'm not the one saying I'm the 'Worlds Largest Autograph Show'
Judging by the last show, how is this now a true and honest statement?
Lets get back on track! :)