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[Avengers7]

Well, have just arrived back - what a wonderful weekend.

 

Positives

 

Excellent guests - Burn, Eve, Tom were brilliant!!

 

Very, very helpful crew.

 

Chairs to sit on in main hall

 

Casino night

 

Photoshoots.

 

Copy of timetable in pack and large version on wall

 

 

Negatives

 

Have to say, most of these were to do with other "conventioners"

 

Haven't some of these people heard of deodrant!

 

Two ladies in front of me in the Siobian q who must have talked to her for about 10 minutes while we were all tutting behind!!

[Boneshaker24]

OMG - Great - Supper - Smashing......

And for us - still not over.. Going to the cooldown party in 30 mins.....

 

And ohhhhhh Burn --- Eve --- Kai --- ,

 

They were oh so great.

 

And well worth the cost, so G121 & G122 have already bought HUB3 Gold passes ......

 

 

Got my glad rags on ,,, so got to run -- party to go to and get -------

Merry...

 

 

[TRUKid]

As with The Hub, let's keep all constructive criticism in one place - how about just here!?

[TurkFox]

I had an epic time! Very few complaints really.

 

- Why no Haribo at the gold pass reception? I was very disappointed!

 

- In future, is there any way of stopping the same people clinging to a guest ALL NIGHT? We saw one surrounded for hours by the same people. We only wanted to ask a couple of questions or have a quick chat, and finally at 2am we got him over - only for the vultures to swoop in and steal him off again moments later, glaring at us as they did so. Also, my friends went to say good night to him and he was literally pulled away from them by the people in question!

 

- I had no idea Eve was only there for one day until I saw the schedule when it was put up - could this have been made more apparent beforehand?

 

- Not exactly many guests at the gold drinks reception. Not SM/ME's fault if the guests couldn't make it, but I know myself as others were disappointed at the turnout.

[Avengers7]

Role on the next one - lets keep positives and negatives to one topic please

[cazbutler]

Role on the next one - lets keep positives and negatives to one topic please

 

 

Positives -

 

Thank you for making the passes with rounded corners it was greatly appreciated x

 

Thank you x 10000 for raffling off 2 places per intimate encounter as I got to go and never would have been able to afford this otherwise

 

The incredible effort that went into organising the carnival night it was awesome

 

Schedules in packs - thank you

 

Making sure that everyone got autos and photos from Eve and Burn

 

The whole weekend was amazing

 

 

 

 

 

Negatives (only tiny things though) -

 

People being able to buy many tickets this morning and letting other people into the queue (other than partners) although understand this can't be monitored.

 

I agree with Turkfox that some people did hog the guests although guess this may be the luck of the draw and up to the guests but others should not be made to feel intimidated for approaching guests. I am sure people dont like to be interupted but if you with them all night its to be expected lol. I had to approach a guest for someone else who felt they could not interupt the people who had been round them all night.

 

Could we have the rows reserved for silver as they were for gold as standard people were jumping in the spare seats before the silvers could get to them (when people went for intimate encounters etc).

 

 

I have already booked my gold ticket this morning and cant wait to see John and Co in Oct

[ilovejohnbarrowman]

I really can't list all the positives there's just too many.

 

The whole thing was AMAZING!!

 

 

But a couple of negative points

 

 

People were hogging the guests alot at the parties, and being quite young, I felt pretty intimidated going to talk to them or say goodbye, and when we tried the people who hogged them would like push you out of the way a bit

 

And it would have been nice to have a few seats reserved for silvers lol.

 

But I got close to the front anyway so I wont complain too much

 

But thanks guys! The weekend was BRILLIANT!

[Madeleine]

Positives...

 

Brilliant weekend. Great guests, splendid parties. Thanks!

 

You changed most/all of the stuff we had an issue with last time: the rounded passes, the big schedules, and having everyone seated to watch the sketch - thanks!

 

First con ever where I never once had to ask a steward a question about what was where and when and how. That says a lot for the standard of the organising.

 

The Freak Show was such a lark. Well done to the people who dreamt it all up.

 

Nice friendly atmosphere.

 

 

Negative...

 

When someone is chewing gum, all their ickky slurps get picked up on any microphone they happen to be holding at the time. Guests who haven't used a mike before night not know this.

[Blackbird]

Positives:

 

Burn Gorman

Tom Price

Matt Rippy

Gareth David-Lloyd

Kai Owen

Phil Ford

Siobhan Hewlett

 

All of the SM crew.

 

Freak show!

 

Randy!

 

 

Constructive criticism:

 

I know their schedules might have prevented this, but I think that it would have been more desirable for both the audience and the guests concerned had Siobhan and Roderic done a panel together. I felt for them, as they'd really not interacted at all with anyone else from the show during the filming of their episode, and I thought that Roderic, in particular, felt a bit lost.

 

 

Suggestion:

 

I love, love, LOVE the fact that you had a writer there! However, he wasn't given the chance to do a panel that everyone could watch, and I think that was a real shame. Many more of us than might at first appear to be the case are really interested in writing, particularly the writing of Torchwood episodes, and I heard a lot of people complaining about the way Phil was programmed. (Besides, he got mobbed in the bar and in his autograph line, which must mean he was pretty popular. ) Could SM please have a writer or three at The Hub 3 and maybe do a panel with them as a normal featured event?

[Massive Events]

Positives:

 

 

Suggestion:

 

I love, love, LOVE the fact that you had a writer there! However, he wasn't given the chance to do a panel that everyone could watch, and I think that was a real shame. Many more of us than might at first appear to be the case are really interested in writing, particularly the writing of Torchwood episodes, and I heard a lot of people complaining about the way Phil was programmed. (Besides, he got mobbed in the bar and in his autograph line, which must mean he was pretty popular. ) Could SM please have a writer or three at The Hub 3 and maybe do a panel with them as a normal featured event?

 

We will defintely be looking for more writers for future events and we will also look at putting them on stage as Phil was so popular and such a great guy that I agree, an onstage panel would have been excellent!

 

Mark

[lams9999]

I had not done a ME event since the first Eclipse and have to say that I've been really impressed by the organization. The event ran very very smoothly, schedule perfectly on time and all the comments and improvements that were suggested by then were definitely taken on board. Well done guys !

 

The actors themselves were really lovely, special mention to Eve which was so sweet, to Tom which was speaking French very well and to Burn who was absolutely charming during the brief time I had on sunday morning before I had to leave. But everyone was really friendly and funny.

 

The crew was very very helpful and helped me go through all my autographs and photo shoots despite the fact I had to leave at noon on sunday. Thanks a lot guys.

 

I also appreciated all the efforts put into the organisation of the saturday party. This freak show was amazing and very funny! The stalls inside the main hall were also a lot of fun.

 

My only drawback of this week-end is about that girl who I gently left pass in front of me in the queue

for Eve's autograph and kept talking for about a minute while Eve was already signing my autographs Could people please appreciate that when you receive your autographs from the guests, your time is over ? Fortunately the majority of people attending those cons are not like this.

 

In summary, I had a great time at the Hub 2. See you at the Hub 3.

[kingbantam]

Really well run enjoyable con and brilliant crew as ever (there was one occasion where manners seemed to go out of the window and they were surprised consequently to get an equally rude response, but these things happen - everyone is human after all. I would also comment that perhaps whispering to each other throughout one of the intimate encounters is not the best idea when people are trying to listen to the guest but it didn't seem to spoil people's enjoyment particularly as the guest was garrolous, but maybe something to think about).

 

The freak show was amazing. Brilliant idea and kudos to the crew for doing it especially after a long hard day and lovely to see so many con attendees dressed up.

 

The stage seemed much higher this time which was good news.

 

Highlight for me was Burn who was just so lovely and interesting to talk to and its always nice to see Kai and GDL, but all the guests were great.

 

Clearly a huge amount of hard work had gone into organising it all. Oh and Malcolm, you are a fab photographer - the pics are lovely, I don't know how you do it (and I will forgive you for scaring the pants off me when we were stood outside the freak show) ...and who ever photoshopped the group shot needs to have words with the BBC and give them a lesson in how to do it, its come out really well.

 

Thanks to everyone involved.

[Scruffy]

................and who ever photoshopped the group shot needs to have words with the BBC and give them a lesson in how to do it, its come out really well.

 

Thanks to everyone involved.

 

SJ is brilliant on photoshop, she is a genius

Edited March 16, 2009 by scruffy

[kingbantam]

................and who ever photoshopped the group shot needs to have words with the BBC and give them a lesson in how to do it, its come out really well.

 

Thanks to everyone involved.

 

SJ is brilliant on photoshop, she is a genius

 

Totally agree. Its an incredible job she's done on that group shot IMO.

[goddessmaat]

It was so so much better than the last one, Showmasters and the crew were brilliant.

 

The system for bags during the photos was fantastic, much better than having to dump them all off.

 

There were a couple of downsides to my weekend; I totally agree with TurkFox about this was the same people clinging to a guest the whole evening. My friend and I really wanted to talk to one particular guest during the Saturday night party, we waited clearly and patiently for over an hour and had to watch him being pawed and crowded. He must have SO much patience to put up with that and was never less than polite. Since we needed to get up early to get tickets for the next Hub we had to leave around midnight and never got a chance to talk to him at all during the convention. People may say we could have pushed in, but that would have been rude and impolite and we didn't want to do that.

 

The other issue I had, again with the convention goers is people bringing young children. I'm a parent myself, and small babies I can understand, there was one lady there with her child and he was gorgeous and sweet, as was she the whole weekend. I felt however that some brought their children purely for the attention value - maybe I'm wrong but that was the impression I was given by some. Why bring kids who are too young to watch Torchwood and clearly have no interest in it whatsoever.

 

Also, the autograph queues are really not the place to have a long chat with the guests, a few words and a joke sure, but someone in front of me in the Phil Ford queue monopolised him for ages.

 

But Showmasters you were fabulous - let's cross the Barrowman Line again in October - See you there

 

Terri

(pterodactyl lady)

Edited March 16, 2009 by goddessmaat

[cazbutler]

It was so so much better than the last one, Showmasters and the crew were brilliant.

 

The system for bags during the photos was fantastic, much better than having to dump them all off.

 

There were a couple of downsides to my weekend; I totally agree with TurkFox about this was the same people clinging to a guest the whole evening. My friend and I really wanted to talk to one particular guest during the Saturday night party, we waited clearly and patiently for over an hour and had to watch him being pawed and crowded. He must have SO much patience to put up with that and was never less than polite. Since we needed to get up early to get tickets for the next Hub we had to leave around midnight and never got a chance to talk to him at all during the convention. People may say we could have pushed in, but that would have been rude and impolite and we didn't want to do that.

 

The other issue I had, again with the convention goers is people bringing young children. I'm a parent myself, and small babies I can understand, there was one lady there with her child and he was gorgeous and sweet, as was she the whole weekend. I felt however that some brought their children purely for the attention value - maybe I'm wrong but that was the impression I was given by some. Why bring kids who are too young to watch Torchwood and clearly have no interest in it whatsoever.

 

Also, the autograph queues are really not the place to have a long chat with the guests, a few words and a joke sure, but someone in front of me in the Phil Ford queue monopolised him for ages.

 

But Showmasters you were fabulous - let's cross the Barrowman Line again in October - See you there

 

Terri

(pterodactyl lady)

 

 

Okay, I do actually feel the need to defend myself here. I love my daughter so much that it hurts my feelings to be accused of using her as a way to 'get attention'. I have a situation at home where by because of the demands of my job I have to work full time and every second with my daughter is precious. Yes, as I am the bigger fan my husband did spend more time looking after than I did, for instance during the talks but the reason I bring her is purely because if I dumped her on someone else for the weekend we would miss each other.

 

Yes she probably does draw attention as she is very sweet and does have the ahhh factor but my daughter enjoyed being fussed over and she thoroughly enjoyed the parties. If she had been really miserable at the last hub than I would not have brought her. She also really enjoyed have her photo taken and it is a nice thing for me to have and show her when she is older - it made her feel like a princess for the day.

 

Are you suggesting that if my little girl was ugly I would have left her at home? lol

 

I am coming without my husband for the next hub 3 as he has to work more saturdays now and as its only in Birmingham I can stay at home. This means that I can pick and chose when to have my daughter there, for example I will take her home in the afternoon for the talks and then bring her back for the parties. I will still continue to bring her as long as she is enjoying it and showmasters keep things family friendly.

 

I am very sad that you had the impression that I had exploited my child but I hope now you understand that you have taken her being there in completely the wrong way. I am just defending myself here and do not want to turn this into an argument.

[Persephone1]

I thought it was a wonderful event - really liked the vibe of it and how well organised it was. Considering that you had two guests who were each only doing one day every single person got everything they wanted and with relative ease.

 

Kai and Gareth were both an absolute delight and it was lovely seeing them again. Kai kept making me blush he was so excited about the present I gave him.

 

Highlight was definitely the intimate encounters with Gareth and Burn. Burn especially as I don't think they'll be many opportunities to see him. He was garrulous and charming and had thought about his character so much. It was just a joy to speak to him.

 

I have to say I was enormously impressed at the Saturdays night entertainment. The freak show was completely hilarious and the free candy floss and circus stalls were amazing. I (like lots of others) tentatively went up and asked how much it cost and was astonished that it was all free. Wonderful, wonderful job and everyone looked amazing!

 

I know everyone is complaining about people hogging the guests - and yes inevitably of course that happens. I nearly doubled over with laughter when I went into the other bar on Saturday night and saw the simply insane crowds around Matt Rippy and Phil Ford - I've no idea how they coped - I would have been hideously claustrophobic in that melee. It was also really uncomfortable watching people trail Gareth and Gemma from poker table to pool table to dance floor - give them a bit of space people!

 

But end of the day if the likes of Matt, Phil and Kai are quite content to stand there and chat it's not really up to ME to drag them away. Matt admitted on Friday night that he's a terrible mingler so I guess people just need the confidence to go up and introduce themselves. Which is immensely hard to do I know - but better to take a chance and feel silly then complain about not being able to have that moment afterwards.

 

And finally many thanks to Malcolm for making me look fab in all my photos and SJ for her mad photoshop skills - like an idiot I asked whether Burn had shown up on the Saturday night and whether they'd done the photo then! The group shot was amazing!

[goddessmaat]

I do not mean everyone by any means. It was really great to see families there and people with children, I thought that at the last one also.. Maybe I will bring my son to it if he wants to come. I don't intend to turn this into an argument either, but that is my views about some and I also know that I'm not alone in thinking that.

 

Are you suggesting that if my little girl was ugly I would have left her at home? I don't think I said that; for some I felt that the simple factor of having a child there, no matter what the age or appearance, was enough.

Edited March 16, 2009 by goddessmaat

[lams9999]

Have to agree about the same people following the guests everywhere they go. I didn't really feel the need to chat with them during parties, so wasn't too bothered but found it really funny that you could tell where Kai or Matt were standing in the bar area only by looking at the density of the crowd

 

Oh and of course, as for Persephone, my highlight of the week-end was this intimate guest encounter with Eve. It was a wonderful intimate chat and a fantastic memory I will never forget

Edited March 16, 2009 by lams9999

[cazbutler]

I do not mean everyone by any means. It was really great to see families there and people with children, I thought that at the last one also.. Maybe I will bring my son to it if he wants to come. I don't intend to turn this into an argument either, but that is my views about some and I also know that I'm not alone in thinking that.

 

Are you suggesting that if my little girl was ugly I would have left her at home? I don't think I said that; for some I felt that the simple factor of having a child there, no matter what the age or appearance, was enough.

 

I loved the fact that there were other kids there for my daughter to play with. Most people were absolutely fantastic about her being there but I did feel myself getting glared at occasionally, unless that was the paranoia setting in...

 

I think you probably know as a parent that some people dont like kids though full stop and I guess thats their look out. I do think though that when she is old enough to understand rude things she will be banned from the talks till shes 30 LOL!!!

 

 

Are you suggesting that if my little girl was ugly I would have left her at home? I don't think I said that; for some I felt that the simple factor of having a child there, no matter what the age or appearance, was enough.

No you didnt say that, that was my attempt at humour - there are no ugly children they are all angels

[goddessmaat]

Have to agree about the same people following the guests everywhere they go. I didn't really feel the need to chat with them during parties, so wasn't too bothered but found it really funny that you could tell where Kai or Matt were standing in the bar area only by looking at the density of the crowd

 

We called them Kai's 'little ducklings' at the Saturday night party

 

Oh my photo's if anyone's interested - there are rather a lot of Matt

 

http://s122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/to.../The%20Hub%202/

[Persephone1]

I loved the fact that there were other kids there for my daughter to play with. Most people were absolutely fantastic about her being there but I did feel myself getting glared at occasionally, unless that was the paranoia setting in... blink.gif

 

I think you probably know as a parent that some people dont like kids though full stop and I guess thats their look out. I do think though that when she is old enough to understand rude things she will be banned from the talks till shes 30 LOL!!!

 

People bring children to events like these for a wide variety of reasons. Yes traditionally some people do indeed bring their children for attention and there is no point in pretending otherwise- one of this weekend's guests in particular always has to put up with a certain child trailing him around (often at highly inappropriate venues) which the child's mother actively encourages - but well that's life isn't it. Some people hog guests, some do what they can to get a little bit of extra attention.

 

But one person's behaviour doesn't reflect badly on everyone there who decided to bring a little one to the event. Personally I think it's quite fun to see kids at the event but I don't know how they don't get bored stiff and the talks aren't appropriate for little ones at all. I could understand it more at the Hub 1 and indeed at the next event because kids will understandably want to see Captain Jack - but not so much at this one.

[forgiveninasong]

Brilliant first convention for me! The organisation, helpfullness and sheer enthusiasm from all the crew and organisers was brilliant and helped make me feel less freaked out and panicky!

 

But I have to agree with the consecus on this thread; there were a particular group of conventioners who hogged certain guests ALL through Saturday night's party. Not cool. Did you not read your convention manuals? Other people have spent a lot of money to go to these things, and it was just downright embarassing watching the behaviour of some people. In future, just back off and let others have a chat with the guests, instead of crowding round them and basically pinning them to walls and stuff.

 

Grrr.

 

ANYWAY. Definitely want to go again, and hope to meet so many more people, old faces and new!

[cazbutler]

Brilliant first convention for me! The organisation, helpfullness and sheer enthusiasm from all the crew and organisers was brilliant and helped make me feel less freaked out and panicky!

 

But I have to agree with the consecus on this thread; there were a particular group of conventioners who hogged certain guests ALL through Saturday night's party. Not cool. Did you not read your convention manuals? Other people have spent a lot of money to go to these things, and it was just downright embarassing watching the behaviour of some people. In future, just back off and let others have a chat with the guests, instead of crowding round them and basically pinning them to walls and stuff.

 

Grrr.

 

ANYWAY. Definitely want to go again, and hope to meet so many more people, old faces and new!

 

At more than one point Matt was cornered by about 50 people lol - he seemed to be enjoying himself though

[forgiveninasong]

Brilliant first convention for me! The organisation, helpfullness and sheer enthusiasm from all the crew and organisers was brilliant and helped make me feel less freaked out and panicky!

 

But I have to agree with the consecus on this thread; there were a particular group of conventioners who hogged certain guests ALL through Saturday night's party. Not cool. Did you not read your convention manuals? Other people have spent a lot of money to go to these things, and it was just downright embarassing watching the behaviour of some people. In future, just back off and let others have a chat with the guests, instead of crowding round them and basically pinning them to walls and stuff.

 

Grrr.

 

ANYWAY. Definitely want to go again, and hope to meet so many more people, old faces and new!

 

At more than one point Matt was cornered by about 50 people lol - he seemed to be enjoying himself though

 

Oh yeah, Matt was obviously a popular choice of guest. I just wish people were considerate. Maybe the should think that others want to talk to the guests.

 

It's no wonder that Kai and Gareth stormed off from their poker thing on Friday night. Honestly...2 rows of people, right up against their chairs. Gareth looked so mad, I thought he was going to snap.