FEDCON 15 - My Review

[fedconusa]

FEDERATION CON 15 – My Review

 

Part One

 

 

Well, after 15 years (including that hidden year) of Dirk Bartholoma’s marvelous convention gift to Europe, another show 15 ends no different than in previous years. A weekend of high expectation was rewarded with a new hotel and an even bigger convention layout for those who knew of our previous home, The Maritim Hotel in Bonn.

 

As in past years, I like to add my take on the week’s events to better give the fans a sense of belonging, not just to the convention itself, but as an insider on the inner workings of putting on the greatest event in Europe.

 

Before getting on the plane to leave Orlando behind, I was notified that one of our actor guests was at the new hotel wanting to know where the registration for his room was. I was surprised that any of them showed up on a Monday prior to the event and wondered who this could be. Turns out Patrick Kilpatrick was signed to appear at FC way back in August 2005, a very early time of the year for us to lock in guests, and with our concentration on another show 2005, we understood how he could have slipped through the cracks. To top it off, I had no idea who the hell Patrick Kilpatrick was! verwirrt I had to look him up. Nonetheless, he accepted our apology, got himself a room and experienced the new hotel before many of us arrived (some of us knew the layout from another show last October).

 

With the truck arriving a few hours after most of us on Wednesday, we decided to visit our friends at our favorite spa in the hotel. Massages and pool play was enjoyed by me, Dirk, Tom and our new buddy, Patrick Kilpatrick. It's the only time we get to relax, sort of the calm before the storm. Patrick turned out to be pretty cool and thank goodness we expereinced no "butt scenarios" like the one that occurred during another show last year. Once the equipment arrived, the boys got busy and I went up to my room for a nap. *lol* No, I’m just kidding. I went to the bar. Zunge raus

 

Watching the ENTERPRISE Bridge come together was amazing. These guys spent 40 hours assembling it in the main party zone area and it turned out to be the highlight of the weekend. I had no idea it would end up looking the way it did. Imagine. A full size replica of Kirk’s bridge along with its Chekov and Sulu at another show 15.

 

 

With the economy the way it was, a few guest cancellations, the immoral activities of two board members (one a friend, the other a sad mistake) and the change to a different city, we wondered what the impact on this year’s event would have on us. Thankfully, none of those factors played a part in this year’s event with fans understanding the truth rather than listening to evil mob oriented slander, traveling a bit farther away to attend posed no problem and coming just for a certain actor actually didn't exist. I love these fans.

 

another show had become a much bigger event than another show in terms of attendees. There was a noticeable decrease in attendees this year and we expected that, but we actually made out a lot better than had been anticipated and was finally happy at what we had seen. The fans sang praises to the another show Team, the actors and scholars (You rock Alexandra!), and the hotel staff. Personally FC15 was not my personal favorite but was different somehow. I was more relaxed, had just as much fun, especially Sunday night, and it turned out that we're a bit more better at this than we thought. The another show Red Shirts our tops on my list. They handle the crap, the abuse, the long hours standing and the crowds. They are are soul (in a sense) and I will forever honor them as my true personal heroes every year. Thank you all! respect

 

 

 

 

In the past, Federation Con started out as an all-Trek convention but intelligently included more sci-fi to offset the ever decreasing Trek market. It was a smart move and there was no going back. Trek is dying and until something can boost its appeal, multi-genre events are the key to a successful business future. Thus our guest list for this and previous years. I hope a new movie and maybe an additional series will help revitalize Trek fandom but at this point, it needs to rest for a few years, possibly 5, and come back stronger than it was in the 80's / early 90's.

 

This year the hotel staff took their notes they had gathered from experiencing our another show attendees and event and improved on what they had learned. Oliver (our hotel liason) has been to a past FC and RC and knew what to expect but as always with people who do not understand us (I guess we're X-Men), the staff last year was...shall I say...a bit shocked! This year the front desk people no longer looked at us with strange and amazed eyes, (well, there WAS that Wookie walking the lobby), we were no longer freaks and geeks and all because people like us showed people like them that we were probably the nicest group the hotel staff had ever met. It took them a while to discover that, a whole six months, but they discovered it nonetheless.

 

 

The OPENING CEREMONIES was a bit short and weak but spectacular as usual. The opening trailer by Admiral and Guido was genius and I hope we can use them again some day. Nessi’s brilliance was expected considering I couldn’t understand 80% of what he was joking about onstage. I have complete and utter confidence in Nessi’s talents and from the audience reactions, so do they. More about Nessi later.

 

 

As for the intros, Stela (my boss) passed me my guest announcement list and as I looked at it, I wondered why Walter was being introduced last instead of George. Besides, Walter joined the crew in ST's second season. It was explained to me that he was FedCon’s FIRST ever guest and he deserved to be honored as such. I agreed and had him pop out last as so ordered. The crowd went nuts!

 

 

 

With Keren’s support backstage and our fantastic Tech Crew providing a new and fantastic “onstage toy†this year, the ceremonies went off well. The decorations on the stage were marvelous and I wish I could remember the group of ladies who gave us such wonderful features for this year’s stage but they are goddesses in disguise.

 

I’m still a little green on who the BUFFY and ANGEL guests were since my roots come basically from the STAR TREK Universe but it was nice to have members from such shows as LOST, BABYLON 5, BEASTMASTER, X-FILES, FARSCAPE, STARGATE join members from STAR TREK for all the fans to appreciate. The ceremonies went off well as expected which immediately went into the first main actor panel of the weekend, the lovely Gates McFadden.

 

 

The rest of the weekend had your host of talks, panels, autographing, video watching a few strange incidents and a kick ass finale. I’ll elaborate a bit more on those in Part 2 of my next report.

 

 

My personal thanks to those people who had the guts to have a conversation with me, flash me a smile and who assured all of us that they are a lot smarter than a few of us imagined. It's not my intention to break up any friendships (as a pathetic misguided little girl would profess) but I do worry about the capabilities of individual thinking when overwhelming proof tells no lies. Fandom means the appreciation of an idea, a thought and a vision....not any one person. another show brings together those free thinking persons willing to enjoy their hobbies without the need of a t-shirt, a warped logo or a corrupt leader. This year's event proved a lot to me and I have regained my faith from the numerous opinions I have received.

 

 

Stay tuned for Part Two of my Review.

 

 

FEDERATION CON 15 – My Review

 

Part Two

 

 

Probably one of the most exciting things that happened during the convention was in sort of two parts. Our well known comedian and another show Staff member by the name of Nessi opened the show with a bit of standup comedy.

 

 

Even though all of it was in German, I had a number of people providing me with translations and was quite impressed with Nessi’s form. One thing did happen that has actually become historic and I’ll try to explain. As far as I could tell Nessi made a bet with the audience. This bet consisted of Nessi requesting the fans to do one thing and he’ll do another. Nessi said that if 200 fans came in costume to the party area and sang row, row, row your boat, he’ll come out on stage during the Closing Ceremonies naked with guitar and sing a song. Of course like Nessi, I didn’t think that 200 fans could or would do what he asked but it looks like we both were mistaken. I actually prayed that this not happen only because of what the consequences would have been if it did. More on that later.

 

The rest of the convention saw entertainment of all sorts. There was a split dealer’s area, one upstairs and another in a warehouse setting behind the Main Hall. I didn’t have a chance to speak to the dealers at the end of the convention to see how they had done in sales but I’m sure they will return next year since many of them have told me in the past that this was their most profitable show. I saw some fantastic products this year. New things such as a 3D face sculpturing program that captures your face and displays it in a Lucite cube. Sorry I didn’t get a chance at doing that. Looked cool. PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO had a huge setup as always and SCI-FI CHANNEL looked good as well. For the first time this year, CHRISTY’S Auction House advertised some never before seen items that made their debut at another show.

 

 

I never really hang around for the panels. I’ve heard many of the answers asked by the fans before and pretty much sat in on the 40th Anniversary panels. Good stuff. I really enjoyed George’s since he came out of the closet this year and has created a storm of media back here in the states. He’s gotten so much work since coming out that I wonder if controversy makes you the center of attention these days. *lol*

 

 

I think the second 40th Anniversary panel with the TNG, Voyager, DS9 and ENT guests were a bit boring and I had wondered if I had moderated that panel would it have moved it along a bit. I picked up a few complaints about it and felt bad a little. Something new to learn from though.

 

The autograph session went quicker than I’d imagined. Stela and Matt have gotten it down to a science and I commend them for that.

 

The hotel food was awesome although I did hear of one complaint that we were having the same thing everyday. I didn’t notice nor did I have a lot of time to eat. On Wednesday and Thursday I took in that 6th floor Brazilian Steak House again. My first time was during another show and I couldn’t believe the amount of meat you get in one sitting. Wow! Good thing my room was on the same floor. J

 

One of craziest women I have ever met was Gigi Edgley. What a nut! She was such a ray of sunshine. This girl had us laughing all weekend long and her finale during the Closing Ceremonies was brilliant!

 

 

The Photo Sessions on the ENTERPRISE BRIDGE proved to be the most popular photo op throughout the entire hotel and convention spaces. With Walter and George doing both single and dual appearances at their respective stations onboard the USS ENTERPRISE proved to be a memorable event for souvenir hounds everywhere. I can’t remember the last time I saw so many flashes going off. That memory will stay with me for a long while.

 

 

Part Three will have the parties and the special shows.

 

FEDERATION CON 15 – My Review

 

 

Part Three: THE REVENGE OF THE NESSI

 

 

Let’s jump forward a bit. Let’s go to the CLOSING CEREMONIES. The reason I need to do this is so I can get off my chest what must have been one of the most memorable moments of any another show. In fact, short of the year when I came out in drag, as Marcella, I thought I WOULDN’T BE ANY MORE EMBARRASSED THAN I WAS DURING THIS ONE ACT. To say I was embarrassed was not necessarily true because I was sort of proud. Like a Father watching his son join the family as the class clown.

 

NESSI!

 

 

Nessi has entertained us with his brand of humor for a few years now. Being the opening act before the official start of the CLOSINGS has been Nessi’s rightful place amongst us. Nessi’s funny. Nessi’s cute. Nessi’s……..well, Nessi’s……ummm……..hmmm….wow……ok, NESSI’S NUTS!!!!

 

As previously mentioned, Nessi lost a bet between the fans and himself. It was time to pay up and it was something I WAS NOT looking forward to seeing. As we stood backstage, a few of the actors slowly arrived to receive basic instructions and finally, an explanation from me as to why that guy over there in the corner was taking his damn clothes off! Of course I explained as best I could but advised them not to leave the backstage monitors or maybe make their way out to a seat in the audience for what would definitely be a mind altering experience.

 

 

As I approached Nessi (with rubber gloves on *kidding*), I told him how proud I was of him. I told him this from a distance, with my eyes closed and written in big letters on a piece of paper *lol*. Nessi acknowledged with a scared smile on his face. I wondered if he knew how I felt?

 

 

 

OK! Showtime!!! Since much of this is a blur, because of my mind being wiped clean of uncomfortable situations in my life by default (sort of an anti-virus brain program), I explained to the audience once again why we were being subjected to this form of punishment. Many of you invited it, wanted it, expected it and needed to be paid a debt owed to them. Well Oooook! You asked for it. “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DAMEN UND HERREN………NESSIIIIIIIIIiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!

 

 

I heard a few groans from the audience as I left the stage because of the apron Nessi was wearing and the agreement was full nudity. Ok…maybe they were right but as I turned around watching Nessi approach the mike, a blinding light hit me straight in the eyes and nausea set in as Backstage Keren lifted me on her shoulders having just blacked out from the shock. I thought, “The ……audien….the audience…..must….uh…. save……..the audience….â€

 

 

Nessi’s performance was riveting. It was joyous. Nessi’s singing was fantastic, unbelievable, amazing…..AND THEN IT HAPPENED!!!! I received a BETTER look at what struck me before.

 

I had heard of people being struck by lightning but never actually conceived what it could feel like. As I entered the stage to congratulate Nessi, I noticed that he was really in a hurry to exit the stage but we would have none of that! Nessi walks toward me and I calmly put my arm around his shoulder, making sure NOT to look down, and escort him BACKWARDS towards the stage center. Making sure not to look down again, I held Nessi as a hostage to make absolutely sure that those who had worked hard to get to the Party Zone, amongst hundreds of people, would receive payment as originally agreed upon by the…………………..LOSER!

 

 

As the crowd roared, clicked cameras and applauded, I knew it was time to release Nessi to the laughter and applaud of the actors backstage. I knew Nessi wasn’t finished because now he had to answer to the people who were watching in horror on the monitors. As he walked out, I made the huge mistake of looking back, seeing what many of you saw and then it hit! My eyes felt as if they had been stabbed with red hot knives and my brain was on fire. I saw matching pairs of white flesh engulf my mind and immediately removed my glasses to soften the effects of insanity and madness. My first impression was to make a joke of it (“I’m sure Nessi is tired of being the butt of your jokes….â€), but wiping my eyes dry made me say something else. “That’s a lot of beefâ€. That’s right, I said it and it was purely unplanned. I SAW Nessi’s butt! I’m scarred for life!!!

 

 

To end this in absolute honesty and respect, my admiration for Nessi is boundless. Nessi can do no wrong and I admire a person whose desire to entertain, at the risk of failing, is above his concern of actually doing that, although Nessi has never failed us. To come up with such a brilliant idea, to create an actual “event†of which our participants openly welcomed and executed, is worthy of my personal applauds and kiss on the cheek. Nessi has shown us that, for the sake of entertainment, he had no problem taking one for the troops!

 

 

We salute you Nessi and we look forward to further bets on your behalf (not be-hind) and hope that you lose many of them. respect respect

Coming soon: Part Four: Parties and more.

[Brueckl]

All photos are from my website: another show-Photos.de

Here you can find photos from another show 2 - another show 15.

Edited October 1, 2006 by Fedcon-Photos