HEAD LINE GUESTS CAN YOU HAVE TO MANY ? your input ?

[showmasters]

Hi everyone

 

We are working on guests for all our events in 2013 and we are working out what type of guests we should get. One thing that is coming up is how many of the bigger guests we should have attending our shows.

 

The thing is, we are getting a lot of good names offered to us and we like to keep a few spots clear until the week before the show as we sometimes get offered some greats guests very last minute.

 

Do we want to wait so that we don't fill up too soon on all the big guests spaces, or do we just go for it and book more A list guests than past years events, as the events can take a larger amount of 'bigger guests'?

 

Sometimes on the fprum people say that there aren't enough big names, and then around 2 weeks out people say please no more guests there are too many guests i cannot afford them all. So what do we do?

 

Over the last 3 years we have managed to book some of the biggest guests ever to attend events in the world and this next year is looking to be even better so we want feedback from you so we can take it in and make the events go the way that you want them to.

 

Last year we bagged bigger names that have cost a lot more money, and we have had to charge more for their autographs and photo ops, but you have had the chance to meet them because of this and it's been something that a lot of you have said you would be happy with. We have tried to deliver on this, and it has opened up the market of guests we can book because of this, and this is why now we are being offered more interesting guests. So could you all let us know your thoughts on this, and let us know what you would all prefer?

 

We look forward to hearing your thoughts!

 

Jason

[bobd_uk]

Personally I would say that you CAN have too many. People only have a finite amount of money and 20 guests at £30-50 would probably mean that many would not get auto's from people that they might have done otherwise.

[JacknDaniel]

Personally, guests are what bring me to the event. If you get them, I will come. I have attended events for 14 years now, and have met a LOT of people. I've been quite happy recently that I have pretty much met everyone I ever thought I would get the chance to meet. The only people that would get me really psyched about an event next year are the bigger ones, so I would say do what you have to to get bigger names. I am all for paying a slightly higher price if it means getting to meet the calibre of people that had previously been unavailable like Christopher Lee, Ian Holm, Dolph Lundgren, Chris Eccleston and other of the like that were on your polls a while back. Go for it.

Edited December 19, 2012 by JacknDaniel

[Squirtchy]

In my opinion, if a guest is there and I want to meet them, I shall, i understand everyone is different, what with money situations, time ect but for me, if there is a guest there i want to meet, i shall meet them! so the more the merrier

[Starbug]

I say go and get the bigger names we may moan but if the chance comes take it you may not get another chance to get them so if they are being offered I say take the chance bring them to one of the events next year I am up for it

[Count Fooku]

The more big names the better as far as I'm concerned, the better things in life tend to cost more money so if the only way to get the high end guests to the shows is to raise prices then so be it. At least that way each person gets to make a choice as to whether that higher price is worth it for them.

 

In an ideal world I guess you would want the bigger names announced as early as possible to allow time to save the extra money if necessary but if the choice is either a late announcement or no announcement at all I would always prefer the late announcement.

[Lambourne]

I say the more big names the better also, especially if they cover different fandoms. It means more people are going to get to meet their big, most wanted guests. Surely not all the headline guests will appeal to everyone so it shouldn't be a major issue, and if it is, tough luck, it's a very good problem to have!

[Avengers7]

Due to money constraints, I would prefer 4 or 4 big guests only. Worked well at LFACC in July.

[TerraHawk]

I think as long as you have 3 months notice to get the funds together, you can't have too many. But money spent on lesser guests would suffer.

[keithporter23]

The more big names the better I say - I don't think it's possible to have too many big guests is it?

 

Personally, i'd rather book a cheaper hotel room and make cheaper travel plans than miss out on meeting an amazing guest. As already said though (and I know it's not always possible) the more notice we can get, the more of a chance we have to save; the more we can spend.....

[CosmicAvatar]

If you've got the chance to get them, I say do it, so long as there's enough space and time to handle the potential madness, although as others have said, people may end up spending more on the big guests and the smaller guests may miss out. I found LFCC '12 pretty stressful at times because I had so many guests to meet, but of course this time there may be more breathing space because people who would normally be hanging around for hours waiting for photos will have been able to pick them up straight away.

[angelbacchae]

 

the thing is we are getting a lot of good names being offers to us and we like to keep a few spots clear till the week before the show as we sometimes we get offered some greats guests very last minute .

 

we do not want to fill up to soon on all the big guests spaces or do we just go for it and book more A list guests than past years events as the events can take more bigger guests ?

 

 

I have only been around for one year, but yeah, I noticed that some of your biggest guests are announced last minute. I like this, that even before few days of the event, you might announce a really big guest. So this is something I hope you continue to do.

 

And.. Yes please, more big guests! I may not always have money to have a photo shoot with all the guests that I like, but at least I will have their autograph! All your events that I have been participated, have already been great, but naturally more big guests brings more happy memories. Just remember to treat fandoms equally, don't concentrate on only some specific series when searching for guests in CollectorMania events. I would love to meet actors who don't usually attend to conventions.

[Starbug]

fingers crossed one of the guests that's being consided is Andrew Lincoln if he where announced I would die of happiness

[DavidB]

Always best to give people a chance to save up etc.

 

Limit it to 2 or something and there's no guarantee it'd be 2 someone wants anyway. Or sometimes there could be 5 and you want them all. But at least we have the choice and opportunity.

[sdad]

You may say that someone is "big" and I have never heard of them or at least have not seen anything they are in. So carry on as you were. Haven't you got a feel for it yet?

[danvader123@hotmail.co.uk]

big guests all the way and it will bring in more people to the shows, as I have shown some guests to some peopel I know amnd they dont understand whay people go to meet the extra or the guy behind the puppet and not the main characters. But I have explained to them that people are differnet and like to meet these kind of guests.So if you get the bigger name and stars im sure people will go.

[thepurplehoodedwarrior]

I think the more top guests the happier present customers will be, and also help bring in future customers. As long as they're announced earlier enough for people to spread the word and get the buzz going.

[Adam]

100% the more the merrier. If they are good names then fans will always pay no matter what.

[adam_bomb]

the more the better....a lot of these guests are once in a lifetime opportunities to meet so I have no issue spending considerable money on them

[nosfer2]

I welcome the idea of more big guests, but with the caveat that I hope the amount they charge for autographs won't be too big!

[Kuato_Lives]

If they are available then book 'em danno.

[catfromouterspace]

I think the more guests the merrier! I know some people are saying that smaller guests may suffer but I don't necessarily agree. If you want to see a particular guest enough you will. My definition of a big guest will differ to someone else. I've been attending Showmasters events for many years and I think that the big names can only be a positive thing, my only concern is that you will need more space to cope with the bigger footfall! Looking forward to who you are bringing to meet us next year! My big name suggestions would be Simon Pegg and Bruce Campbell please! :)

[bruces]

More bigger guests at shows is a very good thing. You have to remember that many people travel to these shows from all over the country. I live in Newcastle and have to travel to London / Milton Keynes for these events which is a long and sometimes expensive journey. Having bigger guests makes it worthwhile to travel and spend that extra money. There have been events that I have wanted to go to in the past but decided against it, simply because I was only travelling to meet 2 or 3 guests which just isn't worth the hassle of travelling that long distance to a show.

[Daniel]

I think it depends the individual. For instance if you had five headline guests from five different shows some people would only be interested in meeting one or two of them as they may not watch all the shows.

 

I have only been interested in some of the headline guests at recent events, but I saw that alot of people were, so next time there may be a headline guest that appeals to me and some attendees but probably not everyone.

[The Emperor]

The more Big name guests the better. If they are at a show and I want to meet them then I will.