Expectations of Guests

[chris_mk]

I don't think many people would kid themselves that the people we are talking about turned up for the fans and not the cash.

Please explain to me why a succesful actress/writer/screenwriter would be doing this JUST for the cash?

[scojoe]

I don't think many people would kid themselves that the people we are talking about turned up for the fans and not the cash.

Please explain to me why a succesful actress/writer/screenwriter would be doing this JUST for the cash?

Because they are no longer successful actors/actresses and it's good money for a couple of days work. When was the alst time Billy Dee Williams had a film out that he could make good money at. This is what a lot of theses celebrities do for a living now.

Some of the bigger guets that still have good careers find it another good income. So why not.

 

Val Kilmer, who is bigger than anybody we are talking about here, recently said that very thing in an interview. Something like 'it's a great way to make $50000 for a days work when you're not working' Nothing at all to do with meeting the fans.

 

I'm sure some of the guests get a thrill from it but don't kid yourself that they all do. Some of them hate doing it but rather like the money it brings in.

[Megafan]

Please explain to me why a succesful actress/writer/screenwriter would be doing this JUST for the cash?

 

 

Without being rude of cocky i'll tell you a fair and honest opinon of it then.

 

Far as successful, yes you can be. But i also know writers/screenwriters or said actresses go book signing inwhich they too regardless of their success do book signing where they charge money. They may also give some of the profits to their favorite charities, other any kind of needful cause of their own choice (i.e. any pet project for the community etc.)

 

Or despite their successes, of any previous work. they haven't even started their next one off yet. and haven't found any work to do. It does happen. Thus, they may want to do a signing while they plan some kind of other venture or get a call from someone. nothing worng in them doing a signing multiple times throughout the year, if they so chose.

 

But sometimes, you get the feeling they do so, cos they've fallen into it as a habit or when they do so it's because they signed to do it then, missed out on a opportunity elsewhere and it was too late to change any of their plans at the last minute. Some maybe so busy doing work, went told by their agent of a convention, they do so to meet fans but aren't so use to meeting them at events. Regardless of WHO you are in life famous or not. You've either got social skills or not.

 

Yes their will be the other side of that coin and guests will meet many fans without social skills either. But if that was the majority conventions wouldn't be so enjoyable to go to in the end. And business couldn't last very long.

 

I just don't kid myself when people aske for huge A-list stars to attend conventions, when it most likely isn't possible. Very few may do signings. But most of them won't be able to because they get paid millions of dollars and at that rate, no headliners running cons could pay their fee for attending a convention. As i'm all to sure there is a very complicated business side to it all.

 

Con organisers don't have it easy so i don't outright blame them.

 

They themselves have to deal with guests and any odd requests they want. But as you said Chris_MK Many factors come into it. which may result in grumpy guests at cons which we've talked about.

 

Later

[GoldenGreen]

I think this is a really interesting debate, so here are some more thoughts.

 

You pay your money to get a signature on a signed item, that is all, you don't pay your money to get a chat with a guest, or a photo with them.

 

This is what I mean by expectations. If you go to these events expecting the minimum you will not be disappointed. If the guest is friendly or chatty and poses for a photo then great, but that is extra.

 

On the occassions the guests are distracted, they are not doing it purposely, it is normally because another guest or a steward says something to them which distracts them. Sadly, you only have a few seconds with each guest so there is little that can be done about this.

 

I will return also to tiredness, and jet lag if I may. I have travelled to the USA a number of times, and have been hit by jet lag numerous times, sometimes so bad, all I can do is go to sleep to get through it. If the celebs have turned up at the event, despite suffering the symptoms then I see this as a positive, because if it was me, I wouldn't be there, payment or not. If they have felt unwell, and still signed solidly for hours on end, there is no way they are going to be bright as a button.

 

I don't know, only Carrie or Elijah themselves know how they get affected by Jet Lag. What we do know is that Carrie Fisher, despite obviously struggling at times, persevered and got through and signed for one thousand ticket holders on Saturday, and probably not far off on Sunday.

 

She could have had a much easier time, and just said I will only sign 200 for example, other celebs do. She didn't , she was genuinely trying to sign as many items for people as was possible. So o.k. maybe, people didn't get much time with her, but under the circumstances she got through a lot of autos, and I for one was happy at the end of the day. Sure, it would have been great to spend some time with her , ask her about her movies and her writing career. The best way to do this though, would have been to have arranged a Q and A with her, and the same with Billy Dee Williams, where they could have been more relaxed and in their Natural element on the Milton Keynes stage.

 

At the end of the day, if you were lucky enough to get a signed auto from her, then you have got what you were supposed to get.

 

Lets move on, and look forward to the LFCC2 and C7, and go into these events excited, but also perhaps with lessons learnt.

[Father Coop]

I guess you are someone who took that post to heart. Maybe a guilty conscience?

 

Father Coop...he will stand his ground against message board bullies like MegaFan!!!

 

 

 

If thats your reaction to a simple direct question. Then it's you who can't take his own advice about the "Pot calling the kettle black". whatever.

 

Message board bullies?

 

Take a chill pill, and don't try to play that game. with that one you've already cast the first stone and made yourelf out to be what you claim. Far as "message board bullies" go

 

I have insulted no one and healthily debated like everyone else from my point of view. I have said before and will say again that I respect people's views whether I agree or not.

 

 

Yet you cast such insluts as message board bullies........right? -

 

I guess you are someone who took that post to heart. Maybe a guilty conscience?

 

 

Nope, just aired my opinons strongly.

 

And before you come back with some comment of "You are not reading mine or other's posts correctly...don't bother...I always read posts fully and comment faitly in my opinion. I am open to criticism but not blinkered insults like yours.

 

What insults???....eh you've got me. Your open to criticsm alright, but aren't responding to it very well.

 

I have insulted no one and healthily debated like everyone else from my point of view. I have said before and will say again that I respect people's views whether I agree or not.

 

You don't agree with me but once again said this. Father Coop...he will stand his ground against message board bullies like MegaFan!!!

 

Hmmmm...seems you grow to anger, too easily. You respect posters opinons but can't end a post without making lame claims such as that. For someone who claims they respect other views you certainly show little tolerance when challenged. And i am reading your posts correctly. since you comment faitly as you call it. then give this some consideration before you respond with yet another bully claim. (where did you get that anyways?)

 

If anyone has been rude then it is yourself with your orders to me.

 

Such as? Quit as in lay off or quit as in this kind of agressive agruing from you. Wasn't going anywhere or solve anything?

 

I guess you are someone who took that post to heart

 

What like you've just taken mine. Indeed. And what pray tell, sends a louder message to everyone on here. "Message board bullies" or strong opinons being debated.

 

Nah, i'm sure everyone will see "Message Board Bully" speaks volumes doesn't it. about your attempt to paint me as a bad guy?! Sad attempt, pity you had to try that tactic. pretty rich coming from a poster saying he respects views whether he agree with them or not. You didn't agree with me what did i get.

 

"Message board bullies" what in the hell brought that up! -

 

Now if you don't mind i'm done.

 

Scojoe, i agree with you. as for everyone else nice debating it with you to.

 

Father Coop? "Message board bullies"? heheh .heh heh heh. Please relax. and don't try to "sell" something that ain't right about me.

 

Think you've shot yourself in the foot with that remark. And sold yourself short. See i don't have to respond back to you, like you did to me. You shown yourself to be very ignorant of things you claim you do but don't. And don't have to lower myself to your level. Everyone here will see what your said "out of the blue" and towards me. There is nothing to win in this so why bother.

 

Which is enough to end this before you blow it out of proportions yet again and say i did something i didn't.

 

Later

MegaFan...it seems you want to WIN THIS discussion between us, and before I leave this string alone for the sake of others not interested in our differences in opinion I have a few closing comments. If you choose to play the game you suggest I am then so be it, but it will be a game play in vain as it seems very much that you just cannot accept certain things.

 

1. I stand by the message board bullies comment as I feel your comments come off as that. I am a 34 year old man who has learnt lessons through his life and will stand up for himself and stand by comment she makes unless he feels he has made a mistake.

 

2. The way you have picked out certain paragraphs or lines of text is taking things out of context and making it look different from what it is.

 

3. I do respect your comments, as I do others. If I did not I would not bother to even quote them or respond to them. I ignore ignorant people. Gosh, did I pay you a compliment there

 

4. This string was started as a discussion and if you go through each post then you will find people who will interpet them in different ways. I have had several e-mails form people who have made positive and negative comments about us both and the way we are discussing this a matter. I have as much right to discuss and debate these issues as yu and anyone else unless Showmasters say otherwise.

 

5. Regarding anger and the such like, I am and have been so far from that in his incident as anger does not help things. If I come off as that then I am sorry you feel I have.

 

In closing I must reiterate that I am in no way perfect. But, I do feel comments you made came off as being a bully. If you do not like that then there is nothing I can say or do to change that. I am not saying you are a bully full stop as that would be wrong. But I have stopped posting on some message boards as the content is both discusting and bullying. I do not wish to leave these boards as they are the total opposite to the board I left.

 

As a show of making peace I will extend the hand of peace and agree to disagree?

 

Father Coop...no tag line needed!!!

[Rowan]

You pay your money to get a signature on a signed item, that is all, you don't pay your money to get a chat with a guest, or a photo with them.

I think you've just summed up why sometimes debates like this go round in circles. Thing is, while getting the autograph may be the main thing to you, to some of us it isn't. To some people meeting the guest is the main thing, and if they had to choose between eye contact, and getting to say hello or getting an autograph, they'd probably ditch the autograph. To me and many others the autograph isn't the point, it's just a momento of the meeting.

 

If I was organising an event with Carrie in the future, I think I'd be tempted not to sell 1000 tickets, but to sell less, and make sure she was under less pressure to sign fast, and so could actually say hello to everyone. Because that's the way I'd prefer it.

 

I've suggested this in another thread, so I'll bring it up here.

 

I think maybe what we should do is have two types of session: one for those that want to say hi, and one for those that just want to get there stuff signed and get onto the next person.

 

So, say start the day with the standard tickets. People get to say hi, maybe get a photo, but not chat for long (still not time for that)

 

For part of the day (maybe a couple of hours at dinner) the session changes to an 'express' session. No talking to the guest (in fact you'd probably give your stuff to a helper and not be able to go right up yourself), as many items as you want, maybe slightly cheaper. But it would be the guest getting handed stuff to sign fast, no interaction, like a factory production line.

 

Wonder if it would work?

[Megafan]

I think you've just summed up why sometimes debates like this go round in circles. Thing is, while getting the autograph may be the main thing to you, to some of us it isn't. To some people meeting the guest is the main thing, and if they had to choose between eye contact, and getting to say hello or getting an autograph, they'd probably ditch the autograph. To me and many others the autograph isn't the point, it's just a momento of the meeting.

 

 

I agree right with you there Rowan. I also like to point out your other metaphor i found strikingly intelligent.

 

But it would be the guest getting handed stuff to sign fast, no interaction, like a factory production line.

 

Or the over used Cattle Hearding term i've heard at every CM event.

 

I attend cons to meet stars, get stuff signed. as well as the brief talk. I was raised with manners. Why should we act all "Draconian". The day i see fans moving to a con like robots and get a signing and move off coldly without any sign of emotion. will be the day we live in a Toltarian society where emotion is outlawed and it's nothing but money.

 

I can get a signed autograph from a 'specialised' comic book shop or online. But it ain't the same feeling as actually meeting said guest in person. Sorry you believe fans should just put down the money and take the autograph and leave GoldernGreen. But many of us find the hearding method, inhuman if we are to stand for a long time only to be treated so coldly at the end of it all.

 

I can understand the crew wanting to do a good job and all. and the organisers earning back all the money they put into hiring and paying out everybody/crew/stars/the place etc, for the event weeks in advance.

 

But it won't add up to anything if many people are disappointed at the end of it all.

 

Treat it as a business all you want cos yeah, in the real world things do need to be under consideration and certain goals any particular organiser, sets out to meet. But the moment you shove, This is the way it is, deal with it arrogantly into your own customers faces. Sure they may not like it and they can't do anything to change it there and then. But they can spell out and say to others by' "Bad-Word-Of-Mouth" about your convention. And they way it handles things with meeting the guests.

 

Surely if you want the best for CM serious debating like this from reasonable posters can benefit it in the end, by discussing and adding logical ideas rather than lousy infighting with nothing really being said and going round in circles.

 

Megafan.

[Megafan]

MegaFan...it seems you want to WIN THIS discussion between us, and before I leave this string alone for the sake of others not interested in our differences in opinion I have a few closing comments. If you choose to play the game you suggest I am then so be it, but it will be a game play in vain as it seems very much that you just cannot accept certain things.

 

Oh dear....?

 

What am i to do.

 

Oh well. let me put the cork in and finish this. Nice and civil like.

 

What i said.

 

Think you've shot yourself in the foot with that remark. And sold yourself short. See i don't have to respond back to you, like you did to me. You shown yourself to be very ignorant of things you claim you do but don't. And don't have to lower myself to your level. Everyone here will see what your said "out of the blue" and towards me. "There is nothing to win in this so why bother".

 

And then there is yours above right?

 

Yet again, you missed something. Otherwise you would have seen this "There is nothing to win in this so why bother". which you responded with.

 

MegaFan...it seems you want to WIN THIS discussion between us

 

**SIGH** Nope.

 

1. I stand by the message board bullies comment as I feel your comments come off as that. I am a 34 year old man who has learnt lessons through his life and will stand up for himself and stand by comment she makes unless he feels he has made a mistake.

 

You and everyone else here are quite within their rights to defend themselves and back their points of view to anybody else. So age really has nothing to do with it. People on this board all have various ages. I'll stand up for myself 24/7 a day. Doesn't mean i sling it in everyone's face does it? or anybody else for that matter.

 

2. The way you have picked out certain paragraphs or lines of text is taking things out of context and making it look different from what it is.

 

Wrong again, i answered them, in order of importance to my responces to you. No hateful i'll get him for what he said, was on my part at all. But i do like to argue things out in a civil manner rather than ram home a point.

 

I'll stop there cos we want to stop the circle of What he just said don't we?

 

Agree to disagree? fair enough then.

 

Just so others can see that both sides to an arguement doesn't have to end, in vicious hateful squabbles.

 

Don't know what you'll say, but i have no vendettas against you o.k. just that some arguements then to be very, very, passionate. Being too serious or too stiff in various opinions then's to drive posts well past all the points that were all covered and brought up.

 

Later then Father Coop.

Edited October 6, 2004 by Megafan

[GoldenGreen]

 

 

I can get a signed autograph from a 'specialised' comic book shop or online. But it ain't the same feeling as actually meeting said guest in person. Sorry you believe fans should just put down the money and take the autograph and leave GoldernGreen. But many of us find the hearding method, inhuman if we are to stand for a long time only to be treated so coldly at the end of it all.

 

It is not that I believe fans should just put down the money and get the autograph, what I have said is that you should just have this as a realistic expectation for an event like Collectormania, particularly for the busy guests.

 

I would have loved to have had the chance to ask Carrie and Billy Dee Williams a whole host of questions, but I knew even before the event this wouldn't be possible, which if you look back at some of the old Star Wars threads is why I was asking for a Q and A session with them.

 

They were always going to be popular, and hence not have much time per person.

 

In this situation, I am afraid, it is really all about getting the autograph and getting as many people through as possible. This has got to be better than only a few people meeting Carrie and loads of others going home disappointed with no auto, and not even the chance to see her, all be it for a few seconds, or take a photo of her signing.

 

If I take Nick Brendon for example, in the MK Centre, I got a signed photo of him as Xander, but my real enjoyment came from seeing Nick on stage in the Buffy Q and A talk.

 

In terms of future expectations, there are always going to be 2 or 3 really busy guests at these events, and there is only really one way that you can run it, to get as many people through as possible.

 

I would just ask Showmasters, that they consider whereever possible inviting these guests to do a Q and A session as well, whether it be Collectormania or the London Film and Comic Con.

[jesterrace]

Some of you seem to be under the possibly false impression that you have been to a Convention - CM is not really a Con at all , just maybe a signing event with stalls and talks added .

 

If it was a Convention , I would agree with you about the point of the shows ( Hell , I agree to some extent anyway that wiith CF and BDW just a simple sign that they had even noticed you were there would of stopped all of this discussion in it's tracks ) because people would of paid to enter and then would probably of got to meet and get autos in order of ticket purchase - and you could of probably had enough time to ask a question etc , because there were less people there .

 

You personally ( I am here mentioning Megafan and Rowan and am not having a go , merely answering points you 2 made ) may go to have some sort of connection with the guests , but ALL you pay for at this event ( and not just this one - try loads ) is the autograph - there is no guarantee of conversation or photo , all of this is extra .

 

I also would like something more , and USUALLY get it , but I know that when a guest is as busy as Carrie was it is not likely to happen - and if I get it that is great .

 

One thing on here that I find slightly cynical and also annoying is that as soon as you do not get the extra , certain people have jumped straight on the idea that this guest or that one is only interested in the money . Not one person who comes on here actually knows either CF or BDW probably , so a lot of guesswork is going on - I know someone mentioned jetlag and another mentioned a bad hotel room , but all of these seem to be rumours .

 

I have to say that I can also jump to conclusions about things - I do not know if ANYBODY had a good experience with BDW but having heard a couple of the questions that he was asked on the first day I wonder what sort of mood I would be in - who in their right mind would meet an actor in a CM atmosphere which is supposed to be friendly and fun-packed and then ask him a very political question about being the only Black actor in Star Wars ? I do not know how this affected him , but wouldn't have thought it was in a positive way - my conclusion .

 

I have to say that Carrie tried a lot harder than Billy - like I said a lot of people had good meetings with Carrie , but did anyone have a nice , friendly meeting with Billy ?

 

But no matter how they tried , I will not jump to the conclusion that either ( or for that matter ANY ) of the guest's MAIN reason to be there was to pick up a nice paycheque - some of them surely were , but I DO NOT KNOW who , so I won't have a shot in the dark - it is not polite .

[Rowan]

It's true, what you actually pay for, at the moment, is the autograph. Therefore, at the moment, anything else is a bonus. And if stars sign head-down to get thousands of people through we don't really have a right to complain.

 

What I'm saying is that most attendees actually pay IN THE HOPE OF getting a real meeting: eye contact, a hello, maybe a photo with the guest.

 

What's actually being sold, and what the fans are hoping to get don't always fit.

 

If I was organising an event, I'd want to make sure that attendees get what they actually want. And to be honest, if that means less attendees through, then so be it. I think my point is relevant whether you are talking about a full-weekend convention or a signing event.

 

It does sound to me as if some of the guests (Carrie in particular) were being pushed to sign as many and as fast as possible. It sounds to me as if maybe they'd have been happier, and the fans they met happier, if they hadn't been put under that strain. Someone made the decision on how many tickets to sell IN ADVANCE. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't 1000 tickets (as we've heard for Carrie) a lot more than had been handed out for other guests in the past? If so, someone planned that Carrie would not have so much time with each person that met her...

 

I do think money is a factor. I've heard SM's are paying 3 times the fee for some guest that other organisations have offered them. Just hearsay maybe, but if it's true SM's are paying high fees, then that has to be made back somehow...

[chris_mk]

*applauds Jesterrace*

[chris_mk]

If I was organising an event, I'd want to make sure that attendees get what they actually want. And to be honest, if that means less attendees through, then so be it. I think my point is relevant whether you are talking about a full-weekend convention or a signing event.

 

It does sound to me as if some of the guests (Carrie in particular) were being pushed to sign as many and as fast as possible. It sounds to me as if maybe they'd have been happier, and the fans they met happier, if they hadn't been put under that strain. Someone made the decision on how many tickets to sell IN ADVANCE. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't 1000 tickets (as we've heard for Carrie) a lot more than had been handed out for other guests in the past? If so, someone planned that Carrie would not have so much time with each person that met her...

 

I do think money is a factor. I've heard SM's are paying 3 times the fee for some guest that other organisations have offered them. Just hearsay maybe, but if it's true SM's are paying high fees, then that has to be made back somehow...

But that's Jesterraces point, because this isn't a con, you can't restrict the number of attendees going through, without having a LOT more people on here complaining that CW and BDW were spending too long chatting that they missed out.

 

Handing out 1000 tickets doesn't eman 1000 people saw her. I suspect 1000 was just a convenient number (perhaps the book fo tickets comes in 1000's)

 

You are also still making assumptions that you can't prove.

 

You assume there's been a decision made on how many people the guests HAVE to see.

You assume that the rumour that SM are paying three times the fee of other organisations is true (I'm sure SM would love to hear what the source of this rumour is)

You assume SM even get a cut of every photograph sold (i've been to conventions where the organisers have definitely NOT taken a cut!)

[Rowan]

I think in one of the other threads the person who sat with Carrie one day was saying that at dinner time she was worrying that there were 1000 tickets handed out and she'd only done 300 or something. To me that means that Carrie felt there was a target, and that she was under pressure to acheive it. Maybe she put herself under that pressure, I don't know.

 

Does anyone know how many tickets were handed out for popular guest at previous events? I'm under the impression it was less, but maybe I'm wrong.

 

High fees: I think SM's know where that rumour comes from, don't worry

 

Con or not, you CAN restrict how many people go through the line. Choices CAN be made. Organisers can choose in advance how many virtual tickets to allow through, how fast to push people through... of course the the actual result may be different on the day. But you can make choices of how many people you want to go through the line and how you are going to do it. You can moniter how fast the guest is signing and tell them to stop taking photos or even to stop talking if the target is not being met. (If the guest is willing to co-operate of course *G*)

 

OK, lets try a metaphor.... I'm selling foot massages. Usually I do 5 minutes per massage. One day I know it's going to be bussier than usual. So I decide to cut the massage to 3 minutes, which is not long enough to do the job properly, but I'm still going to charge for 5 minutes. Is that fair? Or do you think I should still do 5 minutes, give proper massages, and accept that not everybody who wants one will get a massage?

[chris_mk]

I think in one of the other threads the person who sat with Carrie one day was saying that at dinner time she was worrying that there were 1000 tickets handed out and she'd only done 300 or something. To me that means that Carrie felt there was a target, and that she was under pressure to acheive it. Maybe she put herself under that pressure, I don't know.

 

Does anyone know how many tickets were handed out for popular guest at previous events? I'm under the impression it was less, but maybe I'm wrong.

 

High fees: I think SM's know where that rumour comes from, don't worry

 

Con or not, you CAN restrict how many people go through the line. Choices CAN be made. Organisers can choose in advance how many virtual tickets to allow through, how fast to push people through... of course the the actual result may be different on the day. But you can make choices of how many people you want to go through the line and how you are going to do it. You can moniter how fast the guest is signing and tell them to stop taking photos or even to stop talking if the target is not being met. (If the guest is willing to co-operate of course *G*)

 

OK, lets try a metaphor.... I'm selling foot massages. Usually I do 5 minutes per massage. One day I know it's going to be bussier than usual. So I decide to cut the massage to 3 minutes, which is not long enough to do the job properly, but I'm still going to charge for 5 minutes. Is that fair? Or do you think I should still do 5 minutes, give proper massages, and accept that not everybody who wants one will get a massage?

Again, your example doesn't fit.

 

If people had travelled several hundred miles especially to receive a foot massage from you (a world renowned foot amsseuse I guess) and you were ONLY going to be doing it on that day, then yes, I'd cut the time down.

 

You example fails, because those unsuccesful in receiving a massage, can always come back tomorrow, or next week, or three weeks on Tuesday.

[GoldenGreen]

Con or not, you CAN restrict how many people go through the line. Choices CAN be made. Organisers can choose in advance how many virtual tickets to allow through, how fast to push people through... of course the the actual result may be different on the day. But you can make choices of how many people you want to go through the line and how you are going to do it. You can moniter how fast the guest is signing and tell them to stop taking photos or even to stop talking if the target is not being met. (If the guest is willing to co-operate of course *G*)

 

Collectormania is definetly not a Convention.

 

Yes, you can restrict the tickets you give out, but that means less peeps get an autograph.

 

At the end of the day, would you rather have not got an auto, seen Carrie at all ?

 

The way it works currently means that you can give the most people the opportunity to get an auto.

 

There is also a business aspect to this as well, Showmasters have to pay Carrie a fee to attend, cover transport, accomodation etc and they make their money back from the autos sold . If they only sold 100 autos, they wouldn't cover their costs , and they would then go out of business, so where would we be then ?

 

If it is a choice of this method or none, then I would rather do it this way, and at least I have now met Carrie, got some signed photos, and one photo of me by the table whilst she was signing.

 

Alternatively, you can always wait until Carrie does another book signing, but then you won't necessarily be able to get Star Wars stuff signed.

 

There are plusses and minuses with all the options, and short of having dinner round at Carries place, some people will never be happy.

[Rowan]

Yeah but if I cut it down, it's not a proper massage, and I've got my rep to guard. So sorry, but if you can't make the effort to get there early, you aren't getting your massage!

 

Look, if you paid for a tour of London which included going to the Tower, and on the day you were told 'no Tower, and no you can't have a reduction, that way we can take twice the number of people round', you'd be annoyed.

 

If you paid for a 3 course meal, and only got two you'd expect to pay less, not be told 'don't be selfish, if you don't clear that table fast there's other people won't be able to come in tonight'

 

If people expect to get an autograph and a smile, and they only get the autograph, then why shouldn't they be annoyed?

 

If the organisers are thinking that all they are selling is the autograph, then maybe we should be telling them 'No, we want actual eye-contact/hello included'. Maybe what we should be doing in this thread is deciding what's the bottom line. What we are prepared to accept for our money. You may be prepared to pay to see the top of a star's head as they sign. Personally I don't count that as meeting them, and I want to meet them.

[Rowan]

GoldenGreen, I'm not going to reply in depth to yours, because I think I've covered a lot of it in what I wrote at the same time you were posting!

 

But: I think what you got from Carrie is more than could be expected as my 'bottom line'. If everyone got what you got I don't think anyone would be complaining. But if all you'd got was an autograph and the chance to see the top of her head - no eye contact, no hello, ignoring anything you said - would you feel you'd got what you paid for? Would you still say you'd met her?

[chris_mk]

Yeah but if I cut it down, it's not a proper massage, and I've got my rep to guard. So sorry, but if you can't make the effort to get there early, you aren't getting your massage!

 

Look, if you paid for a tour of London which included going to the Tower, and on the day you were told 'no Tower, and no you can't have a reduction, that way we can take twice the number of people round', you'd be annoyed.

 

If you paid for a 3 course meal, and only got two you'd expect to pay less, not be told 'don't be selfish, if you don't clear that table fast there's other people won't be able to come in tonight'

 

If people expect to get an autograph and a smile, and they only get the autograph, then why shouldn't they be annoyed?

 

If the organisers are thinking that all they are selling is the autograph, then maybe we should be telling them 'No, we want actual eye-contact/hello included'. Maybe what we should be doing in this thread is deciding what's the bottom line. What we are prepared to accept for our money. You may be prepared to pay to see the top of a star's head as they sign. Personally I don't count that as meeting them, and I want to meet them.

Ok, so the massage thing doesn't really work... and as for you London tour.... in my opinion, CW IS the Tower... so If you've come to Milton Keynes only to be told you can't see her (because she's spent all day with a lucky few visitors,) you're going to be annoyed.

 

The same goes for your three course meal.... your examples seem to be supporting MY case that it's important to receive what you've been told you can have... which in the case of C6 was an autograph... WHICH YOU GOT!

 

Where do they say you can chat away with them, where does it guarantee ANYTHING other than an autograph?

 

If you're EXPECTING more from the most popular stars, then you are quite possibly going to get disappointed. That's YOUR error for having unrealistic expectations.

[infanusunus]

I thought all the guest I meet try to give you as much time as they could with holding up the queue to much

I you can get a auto and a picture

you done great.

 

 

 

a little chat as well thats extra well done...

[GoldenGreen]

If people expect to get an autograph and a smile, and they only get the autograph, then why shouldn't they be annoyed?

 

If the organisers are thinking that all they are selling is the autograph, then maybe we should be telling them 'No, we want actual eye-contact/hello included'. Maybe what we should be doing in this thread is deciding what's the bottom line. What we are prepared to accept for our money. You may be prepared to pay to see the top of a star's head as they sign. Personally I don't count that as meeting them, and I want to meet them.

Why would you expect to get a smile ? Harsh I know, but all your money gets you is the signed photo.

 

If you expect a smile whenever you go and buy anything, you must be constantly disappointed. Would you rather a fake smile and welcome, like you get in America ?

 

I can't remember exactly what Showmasters say on their flyers, but I guess it is something lilke "Meet the Stars" or similar.

 

What does meet mean ? Different things to different people.

 

If you don't know already, after going to many of these events you will find that you are not always going to get a smile , or a chat with the celebs.

 

Basically, the choice is this, for a guest such as Carrie.

 

1/ They cut down the autograph tickets down significantly , and you get more time with Carrie, but boy will you have to pay for it. Are you prepared to pay £100 for example so you can have a chat with her ?

 

2/ They keep the price down, get as many people through as possible, so understandably she is going to be busy signing and not have much chance to chat or acknowledge people.

 

They have to cover the cost of the guest some how, otherwise they will lose money, if they lose money, then no more Collectormania's.

[chris_mk]

1/ They cut down the autograph tickets down significantly , and you get more time with Carrie, but boy will you have to pay for it. Are you prepared to pay £100 for example so you can have a chat with her ?

... and if this your preference, then you'd be better off going to an ACTUAL convention!!

[GoldenGreen]

GoldenGreen, I'm not going to reply in depth to yours, because I think I've covered a lot of it in what I wrote at the same time you were posting!

 

But: I think what you got from Carrie is more than could be expected as my 'bottom line'. If everyone got what you got I don't think anyone would be complaining. But if all you'd got was an autograph and the chance to see the top of her head - no eye contact, no hello, ignoring anything you said - would you feel you'd got what you paid for? Would you still say you'd met her?

Rowan

 

Our replies over lapped, but most of what I said covers the point you mentioned.

 

This whole thread is about expectations, what I have been trying to set out is that some people do not have realistic expectations of what will happen at one of these events.

 

Whether this is right for you or not, well, that is up to you to decide, but at least you now know this may happen again and can decide whether or not to attend in the future.

 

In terms of whether I would say I met her, I would say that I have.

 

GG

[Rowan]

Yeah but if I cut it down, it's not a proper massage, and I've got my rep to guard.  So sorry, but if you can't make the effort to get there early, you aren't getting your massage!

 

Look, if you paid for a tour of London which included going to the Tower, and on the day you were told 'no Tower, and no you can't have a reduction, that way we can take twice the number of people round', you'd be annoyed.

 

If you paid for a 3 course meal, and only got two you'd expect to pay less, not be told 'don't be selfish, if you don't clear that table fast there's other people won't be able to come in tonight'

 

If people expect to get an autograph and a smile, and they only get the autograph, then why shouldn't they be annoyed?

 

If the organisers are thinking that all they are selling is the autograph, then maybe we should be telling them 'No, we want actual eye-contact/hello included'.  Maybe what we should be doing in this thread is deciding what's the bottom line.  What we are prepared to accept for our money.  You may be prepared to pay to see the top of a star's head as they sign.  Personally I don't count that as meeting them, and I want to meet them.

Ok, so the massage thing doesn't really work... and as for you London tour.... in my opinion, CW IS the Tower... so If you've come to Milton Keynes only to be told you can't see her (because she's spent all day with a lucky few visitors,) you're going to be annoyed.

 

The same goes for your three course meal.... your examples seem to be supporting MY case that it's important to receive what you've been told you can have... which in the case of C6 was an autograph... WHICH YOU GOT!

 

Where do they say you can chat away with them, where does it guarantee ANYTHING other than an autograph?

 

If you're EXPECTING more from the most popular stars, then you are quite possibly going to get disappointed. That's YOUR error for having unrealistic expectations.

Chris, you are quite right to say that all you are actually paying for is the autograph. My point is that people actually expect more, they usually get more, and if less is then offered in order to get more people through, then maybe they are entitled to feel they got short changed.

 

You are taking the metaphors too literally, but... If you went on that tour, you'd expect a reasonably comfortable bus. If you went to a Jamie Oliver restaurant you'd expect nice seating not trestle tables in the car park. Maybe what you pay for is the tour and the meal, but most people expect the trimmings too.

 

In fact some people may choose to go on a certain tour not because of where it takes them, but because they know they have nice comfy busses. Some people may go to Jamie's restaurant rather than another not because of the food, but because they know it's a nice atmosphere.

 

I personally buy an autograph as much to meet the guest as to get the autograph. It's usually part of the deal, so why shouldn't I expect it to be part of the deal?

 

To me it's up to us as attendees at these events to define what we are willing to pay for. If there's too many who are willing to pay for the dirty bus and the trestle tables in the car park, then that's what is going to be provided. Why should organisers make sure their guests take even 10 seconds to say hello to attendees, if they think they can make more money pushing people through like cattle? Showmasters may not be prepared to give their customers shoddy service like that, but maybe there are others waiting in the wings that would. And if we, as customers, accept it, then in future there will be higher fees for guests, greater profits for organisers, and worse deals for us as customers.

 

It's up to us to say 'This is what we want from a guest'.

[Rowan]

GoldenGreen, I'm not going to reply in depth to yours, because I think I've covered a lot of it in what I wrote at the same time you were posting!

 

But: I think what you got from Carrie is more than could be expected as my 'bottom line'.  If everyone got what you got I don't think anyone would be complaining.  But if all you'd got was an autograph and the chance to see the top of her head - no eye contact, no hello, ignoring anything you said - would you feel you'd got what you paid for?  Would you still say you'd met her?

Rowan

 

Our replies over lapped, but most of what I said covers the point you mentioned.

 

This whole thread is about expectations, what I have been trying to set out is that some people do not have realistic expectations of what will happen at one of these events.

 

Whether this is right for you or not, well, that is up to you to decide, but at least you now know this may happen again and can decide whether or not to attend in the future.

 

In terms of whether I would say I met her, I would say that I have.

 

GG

I totally agree that people are often urealistic. I don't expect more than a brief eye contact/acknowlegement/hello/smile, and if I get all of them and a photo and/or a conversation then that's a bonus.

 

It sounds like many people got the 'reasonable minimum', you included. In fact you probably got more than I'd see as the reasonable minimum.

 

I guess what is worrying me is that some people here seem happy to lie back like doormats and say guests signing head down and ignoring them is acceptable. If it really is to you, fine. But if too many people take that attitude then that's what we can expect to get in future, because why shouldn't organisers and guests provide a shoddy service if there's people prepared to pay for it?