Cultman

I agree that people will be dissapointed at this stage and think they have a right to be concerned. I know you are trying to put a balanced and considered side across DavidB, which is only fair but I think people really need to hear it from Showmasters. I also think that most attendees will not take much solice in the fact that Showmasters are not infallible and make mistakes (of course this is true, of Showmasters as it is of anyone), but if things don't work out they are more than happy to take our money as Showmasters do not offer refunds (as with lockdown). I know and understand some of the proposed reasons for this which have been mentioned many times in the past. However, most who bought a ticket myself, and partner included would frankly be very angry if all we got for our £150 ish each (plus hotel, food etc) was 2 guests one of which we have already met. We bought our tickets and made our arrangements, again in good faith that the event would go a head and as has previously been stated would be 4-6 guests.

People were worried about the lack of guest announcements for C13, but then (in my opinion) it was the worst showmasters event for guests in sometime (since I have been attending them). There were very few guest and even less still that you would refer to as 'main' or 'important' guests. This is meant in no way as an offence to those guests who play a lesser role in films and shows as they can still be very good. I think people do have some cause for concern, my partner and I have booked 2 nights in a hotel in MK, which I know is always a risk especially before many quests have been announced. However, we will go and enjoy the break if little more. Unfortunately after the 'limited' success of C13 and the way C14 is appearing to be headed. I don't think we would book the time of work or book hotels in future and I am sure we are not alone. This of course will have a knock on effect for the events as fewer people will be staying there and spending their money. I think it is also important to put this in context, C14 is not the only show that seems to be lacking guests at the moment, and I appreciate there is still time for a lot of the events, but I would imagine that to get the 'really good' guests must take some planning and potentially months of notice which few of the shows have left. I appreciate this comment may come off sounding very negative and I apolagies for that. Both my partner and I look forward to these events and the guests we may get to met. Unfortunately we are beginning to have some serious concerns regarding the viability of going to these events anymore as just to get to them cost a fair amount of money, that with fewer guests makes it seems less worth while. We are also concerned for the future of these events as there is a real feeling of showmasters having over stretched themselves (albeit in an attempt to create more variations and better shows as much for the patrons as for themselves). However, I do live in some hope that perhaps the guest announcements are being saved until closer to the time in an attempt not to get people hopes up and trigue the usual 'conspiracy theories' that surround any cancellations. As others have commented on this and other threads we do need time to budget for guests, make travel and accommadation arrangments as well as time off from work. Plus lets face it we all enjoy the run up and the announcements almost as much as we enjoy meeting the guests, the anticipation goes a long way to making the whole experience.

Tramp

I have went for Buffy/Angel Crime Star Trek I think all of those would be best as they are and on their own rather than mixed together as they cover a lot shows and guests. I also think that you have to becareful mixing shows in a convention style event as you could very easily lose the spirit of the convention. However, and I know I will be in trouble for saying it, and I mean no offence to Jason and all those working hard for these events; but I feel that before any more conventions and new shows are considered there needs to be a lot more work on the consitancy of the current shows. I as have a lot of others feel that there may now be too many shows and conventions for the team to cope with. There is a concern that the last few shows haven't had the planning they deserved/needed and as a result the numbers and quality of guests and the shows have decreased.

Although you are right that showmasters may not directly benefit from this inaction for example, by way of ticket sales it is still miss representing the show and it's guest line up. I think at this stage it is much more a question of showmasters intergrity. As I know you are aware there has been a lot of question, particulaly in recent times, as to showmasters honesty and intentions regarding the announcement and cancellation of guests. I think that situations such as this; were a guest has cancelled over 2 weeks prior and yet showmasters, are still activily advertising that guest's appearance and promoting one of their events off the back of this, goes a long way to explaining and re-enforcing those views. I also beleive as others have mentioned that should a guest / agent realise that they are still being used to promote an event that they have in fact cancelled / withdrawn from, it may well make them harber a resentment to attending this or any future event. Which personnaly, as someone who has never met Patrick Stuart and would very much like to, concerns me.

I could not get on with the matress or pillows at the Park Inn, way to soft, if there had been more than a few inch of floor space I think I would have resorted to sleeping on that. I think I got a maximum of 6 hours sleep over the whole weekend and sadly not due to all the partying.

we are not saying they are behaving badly its just people need to know that if the fans act cool around the guests they will stay there longer and this will get back to the other guests that the party's are cool places to hang out and chill and then more guests will stay with us and have fun at the party i did try to put this over to the fans when i went on stage at the start of the event gut its something that will take time to get right but the fans at Eclipse were a cool bunch and i think it will all work out better at the Eclipse 2 jason I'm not sure if anyone may have suggested this already, but I think it would perhaps be best that you have a VIP section perhaps at the back of the room where the guests can go to chill out and where attendees know they are not to bother them. This would allow them to feel they can have somewhere to retreat to if they get a bit tired or want a break without having to resort to leaving completely. As I know you have said before this should be a fun time and a party for the guests as well. My partner and I attended both parties but found not just at the parties but throughout the weekend people didn't really mix, and although we all would cringe at the idea of some sort of group activity. I do think something to try to allow those less confident attendees a less scary way of connecting with others would be a good idea. As you have freely admitted there are some real areas for improvement, however I genuinely felt how important this event was for you and how much work you and all organizes and crew put into making it happen. I was very impressed that you could admit that not everything had worked and that you clearly made every effort at the event and for future events to learn from this. I would also like to say that both my partner and I have bought tickets for eclipse 2 so I can assure you we were sufficiently impressed to come back again.

Yes although considering this was annouced a week ago. Patrick is still on the website, which a lot of people will use. I appreciate it has been a busy time for Showmasters, but I do think that they need to make a point of keeping that front page up to date. I appreciate people won't be buying tickets for this event, however as you stated people will still be booking accomadation and making plans.

I have managed to get a good screen shot (in the sence of a clear shot of Christine no other people etc) however I just cant seem to get a good resolution out of it.I have tried printing it out at 10x8 size and it isn't amazing. Picture I can email (if you have a suitable email you wish to disclose) you a full copy of it incase you want to have a look see if you can use it. Should anyone else want to try I found the best picture to be in Birthright part II Chapter 4 between 17.23 and 17.24 minutes.

I did see one guy talking to him on the Saturday.

I am working on one. So might be able to sort out a screen print for you.

His photo and plastic photo protector was missing from the large eclipse board, although I am still not sure we wont see his cancellation thread come Monday evening, it probabaly has just got misplaced

Well good for you

I don't think it has been a very good week for anyone with all the cancellations

I dont think the very busy trams are really practical. Nottingham is quite rough, and busy. Carrying large items to get signed and dressing up could be a problematic. You often dont get a seat on the trams and even park and ride has limited spaces for such a busy city.