LFCC Experience Feedback

[Kerl]

Going to add my own experience with the con this year seeing as it seems to be on everyone's minds.

First of all, I appreciate the hard work that has gone into organising and carrying out the weekend on the whole. I attended the Sunday on my own but thoroughly enjoyed myself and overall everyone else seems to be fairly content with their experience, aside from some issues. I also appreciate that it is a much larger event this year with more guests (celebrities and attendees), a new larger venue and with those factors come more problems.

 

I did feel that organization could have been improved upon in some areas. The ground and first floors were horrendously busy to the point where I almost missed a few photoshoots and barely had the time for food. Meanwhile, the upper floors with the comics were really quiet with wide open spaces. Seemed very much like everything had been crammed into the first two floors while the others were just an afterthought/overflow. The building was painfully warm but given the amount of people and that it was over 20 degrees there isn't much can be done, air con or not.

 

On the whole, the staff I have so much praise for - with special mentions to a few who went above and beyond for me. One member of staff (an elderly Asian woman in a blue crew shirt on one of the entrances) did everything she possibly could to get me transport from the venue. I had less than an hour to get to Victoria Coach Station or I'd be stuck in London with no transport or accommodation and she tried so hard with me. She tried flagging down taxis, checked the bus schedules, checked about train lines, and tried phoning a taxi especially for me. Easily spent 20 mins trying to help before I eventually managed to get a taxi, getting to the station by the skin of my teeth so for that I'm unbelievably grateful and give so much praise. Made me feel so special.

However, on the flip side there were one or two staff that (although it didn't cause me an issue in the end) did come across as apathetic. I explained to one or two members of staff that I had clashes and that I had concerns and needed help if I were to attend both. I was then told that there was "nothing they could do. You'll just have to queue up like everyone else". On one hand I appreciate this, it is frustrating when someone gets bumped ahead and yes, at the end of the day I had the same ticket as everyone else so had no inherent right to prioritization, but it frustrated me that no advice or help was offered to relieve the stress.

 

The guests were great. Special mention to James Remar who signed my collectors edition Dexter box set even though he was on his way to dinner, taking the time out to chat to me about the box set and the show as well as being really approachable in the photoshoot. Worst guest I met had to be Trevor Steedman as the way he looked at me when I presented my Alien-Prometheus box set to be signed was as though I was bothering him, not saying a word to me the whole time (not even hello) and made me come away feeling a little disappointed.

 

One random point to conclude, I was excited to get a photo with the T-1000 prop that was in the entrance, but when I finally found it it was missing the head

 

On the whole though I had a fantastic day and (provided the right guests) I would love to attend again in the future. Well done again to Jason and the rest of SM. Hopefully all feedback is read and built upon to continually improve and grow!

[collectorbob]

I wanted to give my feedback on the event as it was my very first con and thought others might find it useful for future reference.

 

- The gold pass queueing was very straightforward - absolutely no issues whatsoever. Getting inside the venue early certainly helped to do things before the rest of the guests came in.

- Friday was the easiest day - it was busy, but manageable. Saturday was too manic - you were literally trying to have to move through people to get to areas and yes, arguably, there were times where H&S could have come into it, but I'm not that pedantic. Even one of the crew was trying to emphasise about H&S. I think the use of queue barriers is a good idea, as someone else suggested. Sunday was a little quieter.

- The gold pass ensured I got all of my photo shoots done really quickly for Neve, Lea and Chris. The only guest I didn't have a diamond pass for was Sigourney Weaver but I got to see her within 15 minutes.

- Although there were a fair share of restaurants on site, there was, to my knowledge, just one main kitchen with a small seating capacity - this was not adequate for such a large contingent. The quality of the food was sub-standard.

- I do agree some of the crew lacked a bit of knowledge and could do with extra training. However, they were not rude about the lack of information. They were all very friendly. If its the same bloke someone was talking about at photo 'a,' saying they wanted to punch his lights out due to his demeanour, I found him to be one of the best crew there was at a photo booth - then, this was the only booth I used mainly, apart from the prop booth.

- The talks were well handled, if perhaps a little short. I got to ask Neve Campbell a question - that was a bonus. I wouldn't mind seeing the footage from that panel.

- Meeting all the guests with the diamond pass was awesome - no major issues there at all. The queue situation at the photo shoot was perhaps a little manic, but never had any issues worth shouting about.

- Some of the public were a little rude, but that's to be expected.

- The autograph area, perhaps, as someone else pointed out, was in the wrong place for some of the signings. That said, meeting some of the guests there was a good experience, esp. meeting Zach Galligan and Frances Lee McCain.

- Meeting Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox was an awesome experience, if I only had like about 10 seconds with each, which was to be expected and was as much as I expected. Its just surreal to have met them. Was wonderful.

 

Overall, the pros far outweighed the cons of the event and I would be back again to an LFCC when I get enough money together :) Great job, Showmasters!

[FurryHamster]

Just as an aside - I saw the T 1000 on Saturday afternoon and the head was there - just it looked very sad and was looking at his/its feet. So if a con-goer can kill a T-1000 by breaking his neck then Judgement Day can be avoided and we are all saved.

[Raylenth]

Collectorbob, the footage from the talks doesn't get released unfortunately.

[Kerl]

Just as an aside - I saw the T 1000 on Saturday afternoon and the head was there - just it looked very sad and was looking at his/its feet. So if a con-goer can kill a T-1000 by breaking his neck then Judgement Day can be avoided and we are all saved.

 

I didn't find the prop til around 1pm on Sunday so I'm assuming that head finally gave way sometime Sunday morning. Bit gutted cause I'd seen photos of it and really wanted a selfie with it but that can't really be helped

[collectorbob]

Collectorbob, the footage from the talks doesn't get released unfortunately.

 

That's a shame! I would've liked that as a further memento of my day and I would have been quite willing to pay for that footage of the panel as well - a real shame. Perhaps a pointer for future events if people want to buy footage of the panels, especially if they asked a question. Disappointing. However, only a small grumble amid what was a fabulous weekend.