Gatecon
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You might not want to start this conversation....... 
However.... if you intend to go to any convention.... Gatecon included...... you need to go with a totally open mind. Don't take to heart the hysterically enthusiastic postings from many of those on the lists about the absolute blast they had at the convention and the actors (stars as these people call them, although they're far from that) they had deep and meaningful conversations and interaction with.
The reality is that, unless you volunteer as a helper, have VIP tickets or know someone who knows someone, you are simply going to a sort of 'theatrical performance' where you sit in a large auditorium and listen to a lot of questions and hear the answers from the actors, writer, production people up on stage. Some of those questions will be thoughtful, most will be very banal. Very ocasionally one of those actors will come down into the audience and sort of interact with members of the audience, but only under the protection of about three or four members of security. Then again, the actors will mainly stick to those in the front rows who hold the VIP seats.
After the Q & A sessions, as these performances are called, the actors will then withdraw to do the picture sessions. These cost extra on top of your flight, hotel and convention fee and you will hve to stand in very long queues. You get about two seconds with the actor (as long as it takes for a photo to be taken) and the same happens with the autographs. It's usually done in ticket number order, so if you have ticket number 999 out of 1,000 tickets sold.... you have very little chance of getting the autograph. Obviously the actors are not going to sit there forever and sign items.
If you want to catch up with others from the internet mailing lists and forums, I strongly advise making VERY solid arrangements beforehand. There is NO fan liaison set up by the con organisers and if you ask anyone on registration or among the staff, they will just stare at you blankly as will the hotel reception if you don't know the persons proper and full name. It's no use going up and saying do you know "Gatenerd?". Even though the con people do actually have a list of people's names and the nickname they are going by, which is usually their internet handle they will still look at you blankly.
The best thing to my mind is to try to infiltrate one of the more hysterical hugging bunches, because they tend to be those who have attended the con before and have a little social circle already set up. However, they don't appear to take people under their wing willingly. I sort of hooked up at the beginning with an English guy, but he was hooking up with a group he had met the previous year. When they arrived I didn't then see hide nor hair of him.
Don't go as a lone attender and expect the atmosphere to be welcoming. For the most part, the regular Gatecon attendees are a friendly bunch over the net, but guardedly hostile in person, unless it's with someone they have met before. However you might be lucky and find some that are welcoming. When they read this posting they will probably go out of their way to welcome you! LOL LOL LOL
Don't expecting to meet the actors. This is NOT what the convention is for (which surprised me because it's what conventions were originally devised for, of course they are now a business, even thought the organisers are volunteers themselves). You will see them wandering to and from the auditorium surrounded by bodyguards. If they want to go to the toilet, you will be kept outside until they have finished, even if the pee is running down your leg.
Do make sure you know identities beforehand.
Do make sure you have enough money to entertain yourself when the con day ends. Unlike Wolf Gatecon do not organise any kind of social event to try to get the fans to mix socially. The only event which is before the con is Sekh's Party and you pay extra for that too. As you do for the Bus Trip. Take the latter if you want a sightseeing Vancouver experience, but don't expect to get into the studios, the bus stops outside and if you're very lucky, some of the cast will come out and talk to you through the chain link fence. Like viewing animals in a zoo. For the most part the bus will take you to the sights where Stargate was filmed. Great if you're into that sort of thing, boring if you're not. I would check out local transport and go off by yourself, then you can see whatever you want to see.
The organisers themselves, Allen particularly, put a great deal of effort into making this a positive experience, but they are hampered by the vast number of tasks they have to perform. The staff last year were extremely rude to those of us who did not have VIP tickets, but hopefully since I made comments to that effect this year, Allen and Co will make sure that this doesn't happen again.
The thing that makes this convention experience really worthwhile, is the beautiful city of Vancouver itself and the surrounding areas.
It can be a positive experience if you go with these thoughts in mind. I wish someone had told me all of this before I went. I still would have gone, but then I had a job interview there also, so I had no choice really. The best thing about the trip was getting the job and seeing Vancouver. And meeting up with a lovely German lady who was a con loner like me.
However.... if you intend to go to any convention.... Gatecon included...... you need to go with a totally open mind. Don't take to heart the hysterically enthusiastic postings from many of those on the lists about the absolute blast they had at the convention and the actors (stars as these people call them, although they're far from that) they had deep and meaningful conversations and interaction with.
The reality is that, unless you volunteer as a helper, have VIP tickets or know someone who knows someone, you are simply going to a sort of 'theatrical performance' where you sit in a large auditorium and listen to a lot of questions and hear the answers from the actors, writer, production people up on stage. Some of those questions will be thoughtful, most will be very banal. Very ocasionally one of those actors will come down into the audience and sort of interact with members of the audience, but only under the protection of about three or four members of security. Then again, the actors will mainly stick to those in the front rows who hold the VIP seats.
After the Q & A sessions, as these performances are called, the actors will then withdraw to do the picture sessions. These cost extra on top of your flight, hotel and convention fee and you will hve to stand in very long queues. You get about two seconds with the actor (as long as it takes for a photo to be taken) and the same happens with the autographs. It's usually done in ticket number order, so if you have ticket number 999 out of 1,000 tickets sold.... you have very little chance of getting the autograph. Obviously the actors are not going to sit there forever and sign items.
If you want to catch up with others from the internet mailing lists and forums, I strongly advise making VERY solid arrangements beforehand. There is NO fan liaison set up by the con organisers and if you ask anyone on registration or among the staff, they will just stare at you blankly as will the hotel reception if you don't know the persons proper and full name. It's no use going up and saying do you know "Gatenerd?". Even though the con people do actually have a list of people's names and the nickname they are going by, which is usually their internet handle they will still look at you blankly.
The best thing to my mind is to try to infiltrate one of the more hysterical hugging bunches, because they tend to be those who have attended the con before and have a little social circle already set up. However, they don't appear to take people under their wing willingly. I sort of hooked up at the beginning with an English guy, but he was hooking up with a group he had met the previous year. When they arrived I didn't then see hide nor hair of him.
Don't go as a lone attender and expect the atmosphere to be welcoming. For the most part, the regular Gatecon attendees are a friendly bunch over the net, but guardedly hostile in person, unless it's with someone they have met before. However you might be lucky and find some that are welcoming. When they read this posting they will probably go out of their way to welcome you! LOL LOL LOL
Don't expecting to meet the actors. This is NOT what the convention is for (which surprised me because it's what conventions were originally devised for, of course they are now a business, even thought the organisers are volunteers themselves). You will see them wandering to and from the auditorium surrounded by bodyguards. If they want to go to the toilet, you will be kept outside until they have finished, even if the pee is running down your leg.
Do make sure you know identities beforehand.
Do make sure you have enough money to entertain yourself when the con day ends. Unlike Wolf Gatecon do not organise any kind of social event to try to get the fans to mix socially. The only event which is before the con is Sekh's Party and you pay extra for that too. As you do for the Bus Trip. Take the latter if you want a sightseeing Vancouver experience, but don't expect to get into the studios, the bus stops outside and if you're very lucky, some of the cast will come out and talk to you through the chain link fence. Like viewing animals in a zoo. For the most part the bus will take you to the sights where Stargate was filmed. Great if you're into that sort of thing, boring if you're not. I would check out local transport and go off by yourself, then you can see whatever you want to see.
The organisers themselves, Allen particularly, put a great deal of effort into making this a positive experience, but they are hampered by the vast number of tasks they have to perform. The staff last year were extremely rude to those of us who did not have VIP tickets, but hopefully since I made comments to that effect this year, Allen and Co will make sure that this doesn't happen again.
The thing that makes this convention experience really worthwhile, is the beautiful city of Vancouver itself and the surrounding areas.
It can be a positive experience if you go with these thoughts in mind. I wish someone had told me all of this before I went. I still would have gone, but then I had a job interview there also, so I had no choice really. The best thing about the trip was getting the job and seeing Vancouver. And meeting up with a lovely German lady who was a con loner like me.
Hi Indy babes....... I haven't been online a lot.... having chemo treatment for the past four months! Since SG3 in fact! How the devil are you me dear?
I did try to make an effort with folk. I went and started conversations and smiled and talked to people in the hotel corridors. I even tried to start a conversation with people sat next to me during the Q & A sessions, only to be met with a sort of 'who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that?' sort of attitude.
I ended up sitting on my own at the back, and the fact that I was fed up must have shown, because the only con staff member who was nice to me, a guy called Jadar, came over and actually asked if I wasn't enjoying myself! I told him quite frankly that no I wasn't, and that so far it had been a waste of the con fee. I wasn't so much bothered about the fact that we were kept apart from any contact with the guests.... I could have lived with that, had the other attendees made an attempt to be friendly.
I think that my English accent didn't help much perhaps. the moment I opened my mouth any American fans I talked to clammed right up. Which threw me totally, because I have lived and worked in the US and generally found Americans to be the most friendly and welcoming people I have ever met.
At least at Wolf, the place was teeming with the friendliest folk I have met.... a wee very drunken Scotsman in a kilt had us all in stitches. People just wandered up, joined your little group and talked about everything under the sun. Wolf Events put on a disco, which was held in a huge cold auditorium, but at least it gave people a chance to interact with others. We were still kept apart from the guests completely and the Q & A sessions were just as banal and stupid as they were at Gatecon, but there was NO hostility from the staff, they were friendly helpful and co-operative, especially the lady who seemed to be in charge of reception. There were no VIP tickets, seats in the auditorium were first come first served. The only little perk the first 250 ticketholders had was that they got to attend the cocktail party. But no preferential treatment was given to them during the con than that.
I left there having made some new friends....and felt a lot more positive about the experience than Gatecon.
I did try to make an effort with folk. I went and started conversations and smiled and talked to people in the hotel corridors. I even tried to start a conversation with people sat next to me during the Q & A sessions, only to be met with a sort of 'who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that?' sort of attitude.
I ended up sitting on my own at the back, and the fact that I was fed up must have shown, because the only con staff member who was nice to me, a guy called Jadar, came over and actually asked if I wasn't enjoying myself! I told him quite frankly that no I wasn't, and that so far it had been a waste of the con fee. I wasn't so much bothered about the fact that we were kept apart from any contact with the guests.... I could have lived with that, had the other attendees made an attempt to be friendly.
I think that my English accent didn't help much perhaps. the moment I opened my mouth any American fans I talked to clammed right up. Which threw me totally, because I have lived and worked in the US and generally found Americans to be the most friendly and welcoming people I have ever met.
At least at Wolf, the place was teeming with the friendliest folk I have met.... a wee very drunken Scotsman in a kilt had us all in stitches. People just wandered up, joined your little group and talked about everything under the sun. Wolf Events put on a disco, which was held in a huge cold auditorium, but at least it gave people a chance to interact with others. We were still kept apart from the guests completely and the Q & A sessions were just as banal and stupid as they were at Gatecon, but there was NO hostility from the staff, they were friendly helpful and co-operative, especially the lady who seemed to be in charge of reception. There were no VIP tickets, seats in the auditorium were first come first served. The only little perk the first 250 ticketholders had was that they got to attend the cocktail party. But no preferential treatment was given to them during the con than that.
I left there having made some new friends....and felt a lot more positive about the experience than Gatecon.
Attending Gatecon 2001 was my first time at attending a convention. I went alone not knowing what to expect. I
went with the feeling that if things didn't go well, I could always go sight-seeing or save money and go back home.
As it turned out, I met a number of very nice people who helped
explained how things went during the convention, and helped
answer any questions I had. I didn't go with the intention of meeting any of the guests. I went to hear what they had to say, hear of any behind the scenes/technical stuff, and if possible get my picture taken with one of the actors. Well, I certainly got all that!
There may have been one or two rough periods, but on the whole it was a very enjoyable time for me and I made several new friends. A number of these people I continue to email to. I
have already purchased my tickets and made hotel reservations to return this September.
Just go with the intention of having a good time. Take enough money with you. Make room reservations ahead of time. Would not recommend bidding on anything at the auction unless you're a lotto winner. Cost for food was very reasonable. There are plenty of sights to see and tours are available through the hotel if you choose to go before or after the convention. Hopefully, Gatecon will have the bus tour available again. We had a lot of fun on that. Be sure to find out what you have to do when you leave Canada. There are certain things you need to declare and if you fly out, you have to pay $10 CAN cash as an airport tax (is that what they called it?).
pettygrew
went with the feeling that if things didn't go well, I could always go sight-seeing or save money and go back home.
As it turned out, I met a number of very nice people who helped
explained how things went during the convention, and helped
answer any questions I had. I didn't go with the intention of meeting any of the guests. I went to hear what they had to say, hear of any behind the scenes/technical stuff, and if possible get my picture taken with one of the actors. Well, I certainly got all that!
There may have been one or two rough periods, but on the whole it was a very enjoyable time for me and I made several new friends. A number of these people I continue to email to. I
have already purchased my tickets and made hotel reservations to return this September.
Just go with the intention of having a good time. Take enough money with you. Make room reservations ahead of time. Would not recommend bidding on anything at the auction unless you're a lotto winner. Cost for food was very reasonable. There are plenty of sights to see and tours are available through the hotel if you choose to go before or after the convention. Hopefully, Gatecon will have the bus tour available again. We had a lot of fun on that. Be sure to find out what you have to do when you leave Canada. There are certain things you need to declare and if you fly out, you have to pay $10 CAN cash as an airport tax (is that what they called it?).
pettygrew
thanatossg9
Watcher
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2001
- Messages
- 50
Gatecon 2001 was my first con in many years, and while I did enjoy myself immensely I did have a few.....shall we say.... difficulties.
Like Anni I did find those who attended gatecon 2000 to be a VERY closed group(I hesitate to say it but the "holier than thou" attitude was present on more than one occasion). Not that everyone was unapprochable...far from it. I met a few people who had attended the previous years con who were quite friendly and fun to be with socially. I still talk to them via email and we look forward to partying again this year. Except for a few difficulties I would still say that most people at the con were friendly....but it is a little more difficult when you're there by yourself (like me). Not being an overly friendly person I found that I often had to suck it up and go up to complete strangers (eveyone!) and make the effort to be friendly. I'm glad I did.:wave: :rolly2:
On the topic of cost.....I did not find Gatecon to be that expensive. I live in Alberta so it's a fairly cheap flight for me to BC and I stayed at a hostel (unless you plan on staying in the MOST disreputable place imaginable, do your research CAREFULLY). All told, not including the flight and the Gatecon ticket, I only spent about $600 and I was in Vancouver for 10 days. For me that was cheap.
On an older topic that many Gategoers from last year are familiar with (and I promise to try not to belabor the point)....if there is a draw this year for a studio tour that you buy tickets for at registration...GET THERE EARLY AND ASK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE DRAW!!!! I discovered later that many of my acquaintances, as well as myself, arrived on the first day of pre-registration, registered, and asked if there was anything else we should know about.....every one of us was told no...so NONE of us were able to buy tickets for the draw (although I'm sure many of the volunteers had a great time). This year I will ask directly and I would recommend that you do too. (I'm not bitter at all...why would you think that?:nuts: :reyes: :upto: )
I will be at Gatecon this year and I plan on making an even bigger effort at friendliness this year...I am going solo again, because none of my friends at home scifi geeks, so I would be happy to meet any other loners. :rolly2:
Enough from me...
What follows next will be those from Gatecon (and they know who they are) who are telling me to shut up already about the studio tour draw. They're probably right but I never could resist a good bitch session:evil: :naughty: :upto:
Like Anni I did find those who attended gatecon 2000 to be a VERY closed group(I hesitate to say it but the "holier than thou" attitude was present on more than one occasion). Not that everyone was unapprochable...far from it. I met a few people who had attended the previous years con who were quite friendly and fun to be with socially. I still talk to them via email and we look forward to partying again this year. Except for a few difficulties I would still say that most people at the con were friendly....but it is a little more difficult when you're there by yourself (like me). Not being an overly friendly person I found that I often had to suck it up and go up to complete strangers (eveyone!) and make the effort to be friendly. I'm glad I did.:wave: :rolly2:
On the topic of cost.....I did not find Gatecon to be that expensive. I live in Alberta so it's a fairly cheap flight for me to BC and I stayed at a hostel (unless you plan on staying in the MOST disreputable place imaginable, do your research CAREFULLY). All told, not including the flight and the Gatecon ticket, I only spent about $600 and I was in Vancouver for 10 days. For me that was cheap.
On an older topic that many Gategoers from last year are familiar with (and I promise to try not to belabor the point)....if there is a draw this year for a studio tour that you buy tickets for at registration...GET THERE EARLY AND ASK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE DRAW!!!! I discovered later that many of my acquaintances, as well as myself, arrived on the first day of pre-registration, registered, and asked if there was anything else we should know about.....every one of us was told no...so NONE of us were able to buy tickets for the draw (although I'm sure many of the volunteers had a great time
). This year I will ask directly and I would recommend that you do too. (I'm not bitter at all...why would you think that?:nuts: :reyes: :upto: )I will be at Gatecon this year and I plan on making an even bigger effort at friendliness this year...I am going solo again, because none of my friends at home scifi geeks, so I would be happy to meet any other loners. :rolly2:
Enough from me...
What follows next will be those from Gatecon (and they know who they are) who are telling me to shut up already about the studio tour draw. They're probably right but I never could resist a good bitch session:evil: :naughty: :upto:
CynVision
CO, RDA's Leather Brigade
I went alone like KMG and it was my first con too. I felt a tiny bit lost. On the other hand I understood the convention process because of my time working theater shows for a number of years. A con is like Anni has been saying on a few threads. It's a show. A performance of a unique sort.
One way or another you should use the con as an excuse to tour the city it is in, rather than think you're going there to meet any of the stars in any REAL way. You're going to spend just as much time out of the hotel as in it during the day. Finding a good place to eat and people to take supper with is good. My first few days were pretty empty because I'd arrived early and then again events of 9/11 had changed the travel plans of plenty of folks. I know the bit of Richmond, BC around the hotel rather well now.
By all means arrange things on the Internet to meet up with people you want to meet up with. I still think Gatecon needs a big whiteboard in the lobby for messages.
Once I met up with people ( and maybe I hung out with them to excess and they just were nice to me ) I had a better time. Also jumping into any special events announced by roomies or the Gatecon staff can be beneficial. I was brave and ended up on a special event. But there were other little groups meeting nightly in rooms to talk about stuff. Take the bus tour of the city. I met some folks there. Approaching other lonely looking folks is something to try doing...
Volunteering might be a way to get involved but on the other hand it will cut into time you might spend actually seeing the events. If you want the full scope of the con, opt out of that your first year. I couldn't recommend it to a con newbie with a light heart.
One way or another you should use the con as an excuse to tour the city it is in, rather than think you're going there to meet any of the stars in any REAL way. You're going to spend just as much time out of the hotel as in it during the day. Finding a good place to eat and people to take supper with is good. My first few days were pretty empty because I'd arrived early and then again events of 9/11 had changed the travel plans of plenty of folks. I know the bit of Richmond, BC around the hotel rather well now.
By all means arrange things on the Internet to meet up with people you want to meet up with. I still think Gatecon needs a big whiteboard in the lobby for messages.
Once I met up with people ( and maybe I hung out with them to excess and they just were nice to me
) I had a better time. Also jumping into any special events announced by roomies or the Gatecon staff can be beneficial. I was brave and ended up on a special event. But there were other little groups meeting nightly in rooms to talk about stuff. Take the bus tour of the city. I met some folks there. Approaching other lonely looking folks is something to try doing...Volunteering might be a way to get involved but on the other hand it will cut into time you might spend actually seeing the events. If you want the full scope of the con, opt out of that your first year. I couldn't recommend it to a con newbie with a light heart.
imported_Aphrodite
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2001
- Messages
- 253
..I've not been to any cons yet...can't really afford it. Hey Anni, I thought you were from the US!
Hey Anni, I thought you were from the US!CynVision
CO, RDA's Leather Brigade
It might have been white but the notes you tried putting there fell off in the breeze of everyone walking by and the lobby doors wooshing open. Needed to be an erasiable whiteboard or someting you could tack the message into so it couldn't fly away.
I do like the idea of a fan consierge (sp?). Match names to badge numbers and the like with screen names on the Internet. The thing with that Best Western Hotel is, and in come cases it's a good thing, but they seemed to be big on room number privacy. You had to know the person's name to dial them on the in-house phone, I think.
sha'uri's smile
Gate Groupie
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2001
- Messages
- 167
Hello, and good evening. I've been to both Gatecons and have been to many other cons for other shows. I've gone alone and with groups of friends. I've seen it all, from small gatherings that are intimate and real, to huge cons that have almost a thousand people. I've been treated every way imaginable, and I can't say it will always be a wonderful experience, but...........I do have to say that of all of them I've been to, the people that run Gatecon do try harder to make sure the fans have fun, get to meet the guests, get pictures and autographs, and have a good time.
The VIP ticket thing is something I've only ever seen at other huge events but I guess it works when you plan to have alot of people and not enough time for everyone to get to do everything. If you pay more, you get more. Fortunately last year a few guests stayed to make sure everyone got an autograph, I know Peter Williams did. Some had commitments to get to and couldn't stay and others had early flights to catch and needed sleep. They are pushed hard and work almost non-stop when they're at the cons, they do get to have some fun but it's not enough, it's mostly work and they're always "ON" when they're in the public view.
I had the fortune to volunteer last year with security and at the charity auction and I know how hard they work. I know how hard the volunteers have to work to make sure it all goes well and the guests feel safe and everyone can have fun. It is alot of work and by the second day everyone is tired, hungry, overworked, overwhelmed, confused, bored, frazzled, and exhausted, yeah people get testy, but they really tried to be nice, it's hard when you're asked the same question literally 500 times, to be nice every time you answer it to every person.
I think it is one of the best cons I've ever been to for allowing you to get close to the guests. It's the only one that has ever had a cocktail party where you can just hang out and talk to the guests and actually have a personal moment with them. Also being able to get a professional photo with them is rare too, with so many people wanting to do this I'm amazed they ever get it all done, again, hard work for everyone, imagine taking pictures for 3 hours straight, smiling on command, or taking picture after picture, loading roll after roll of film and keeping it all straight, it's a miracle anything goes right. How Richard can see straight after taking that many pictures is beyond me.
You may not get to spend alot of time with the guests, or you may not get the best seat for the panels, you may not make it to the cocktail party, but there are other chances to meet guests and make friends. Sekh's party is fun and yeah you pay for it but it's worth it, we had alot of fun last year. You do have to be a little involved, a little aggressive if you want to meet people or find out what's going on, but mostly people have been pretty nice. There are lots of clicks and groups totally, but if you get on the boards you'll find your click. I've found that at other cons they had their own parties in the hotel lounges and even got some of the guests to come, so, hey, get involved, ask questions, check out websites, find the party people and go for it.
If you can't go to the cocktail party that doesn't stop you from stoping by and peeking in, hey you can get pictures from the hall just fine. I ran into Alexis in the hall coming in and he stopped to say hi. They are all very nice, (the guests) and I've found will go out of their way for a fan. Just remember they sometimes do have agendas to follow, or have places to be so they can't always stop for a picture but it never hurts to ask, always ask. If you have a gift for them that's one way to get an up close and personal moment at a panel or at an autograph or photo session.
If you have a bad camera and can't zoom all the way in to get a good picture and you're sitting way in the back, you can slide up to the front at the sides to get a quick nice shot and then go back to your seat too, if you're nice about it and not real obvious no one would stop you. The volunteers aren't there to ruin it for everyone, believe me I had to attend 3 meetings about it and they want everyone to have fun. I did notice a few problems with communication about some rules and that made people mad and caused some problems so I'm sure next year they'll have that better figured out. It's all a learning curve for these guys and I think they're doing pretty well so far.
I will be going this year as well and expect it to be much better. Do look out for a white board by the reception tables, hopefully that will be better used this year. Communication amoung 500 people that are spread over an entire hotel that's as wide spread as this one is difficult at best so just remember to ask questions, check in often, don't just stand in line, ask what it's for. If you ever feel left out remember there's lots of other people like you there that are waiting for someone to say hi to them too.
Don't be afraid to strike up a conversation with people around you, that's how I met my best friend. Standing in an autograph line at a Highlander con like 8 years ago. We've gone to like 7 cons together now and counting. Smile, talk, ask questions, get involved, have fun!!! You don't need alot of money to go but enough to be comfortable. You can definately go to the auction which is the most fun of all and enjoy the antics of everyone and you don't ever have to bid on anything. Just watching is fun and entertaining in itself. The bus tour is good if you like that kind of thing but if you have a car it's cool to just go and see it all for yourself, it's a beautiful city. And the night life is amazing.
Well, I've gone on long enough, if you have any questions please feel free to ask, I even have a website with all my pictures from the cons too. Go to: http://kimsadventures.com have fun!!! SS
The VIP ticket thing is something I've only ever seen at other huge events but I guess it works when you plan to have alot of people and not enough time for everyone to get to do everything. If you pay more, you get more. Fortunately last year a few guests stayed to make sure everyone got an autograph, I know Peter Williams did. Some had commitments to get to and couldn't stay and others had early flights to catch and needed sleep. They are pushed hard and work almost non-stop when they're at the cons, they do get to have some fun but it's not enough, it's mostly work and they're always "ON" when they're in the public view.
I had the fortune to volunteer last year with security and at the charity auction and I know how hard they work. I know how hard the volunteers have to work to make sure it all goes well and the guests feel safe and everyone can have fun. It is alot of work and by the second day everyone is tired, hungry, overworked, overwhelmed, confused, bored, frazzled, and exhausted, yeah people get testy, but they really tried to be nice, it's hard when you're asked the same question literally 500 times, to be nice every time you answer it to every person.
I think it is one of the best cons I've ever been to for allowing you to get close to the guests. It's the only one that has ever had a cocktail party where you can just hang out and talk to the guests and actually have a personal moment with them. Also being able to get a professional photo with them is rare too, with so many people wanting to do this I'm amazed they ever get it all done, again, hard work for everyone, imagine taking pictures for 3 hours straight, smiling on command, or taking picture after picture, loading roll after roll of film and keeping it all straight, it's a miracle anything goes right. How Richard can see straight after taking that many pictures is beyond me.
You may not get to spend alot of time with the guests, or you may not get the best seat for the panels, you may not make it to the cocktail party, but there are other chances to meet guests and make friends. Sekh's party is fun and yeah you pay for it but it's worth it, we had alot of fun last year. You do have to be a little involved, a little aggressive if you want to meet people or find out what's going on, but mostly people have been pretty nice. There are lots of clicks and groups totally, but if you get on the boards you'll find your click. I've found that at other cons they had their own parties in the hotel lounges and even got some of the guests to come, so, hey, get involved, ask questions, check out websites, find the party people and go for it.
If you can't go to the cocktail party that doesn't stop you from stoping by and peeking in, hey you can get pictures from the hall just fine. I ran into Alexis in the hall coming in and he stopped to say hi. They are all very nice, (the guests) and I've found will go out of their way for a fan. Just remember they sometimes do have agendas to follow, or have places to be so they can't always stop for a picture but it never hurts to ask, always ask. If you have a gift for them that's one way to get an up close and personal moment at a panel or at an autograph or photo session.
If you have a bad camera and can't zoom all the way in to get a good picture and you're sitting way in the back, you can slide up to the front at the sides to get a quick nice shot and then go back to your seat too, if you're nice about it and not real obvious no one would stop you. The volunteers aren't there to ruin it for everyone, believe me I had to attend 3 meetings about it and they want everyone to have fun. I did notice a few problems with communication about some rules and that made people mad and caused some problems so I'm sure next year they'll have that better figured out. It's all a learning curve for these guys and I think they're doing pretty well so far.
I will be going this year as well and expect it to be much better. Do look out for a white board by the reception tables, hopefully that will be better used this year. Communication amoung 500 people that are spread over an entire hotel that's as wide spread as this one is difficult at best so just remember to ask questions, check in often, don't just stand in line, ask what it's for. If you ever feel left out remember there's lots of other people like you there that are waiting for someone to say hi to them too.
Don't be afraid to strike up a conversation with people around you, that's how I met my best friend. Standing in an autograph line at a Highlander con like 8 years ago. We've gone to like 7 cons together now and counting. Smile, talk, ask questions, get involved, have fun!!! You don't need alot of money to go but enough to be comfortable. You can definately go to the auction which is the most fun of all and enjoy the antics of everyone and you don't ever have to bid on anything. Just watching is fun and entertaining in itself. The bus tour is good if you like that kind of thing but if you have a car it's cool to just go and see it all for yourself, it's a beautiful city. And the night life is amazing.
Well, I've gone on long enough, if you have any questions please feel free to ask, I even have a website with all my pictures from the cons too. Go to: http://kimsadventures.com have fun!!! SS
Hey, Anni,
I hear and understand your comments about Gatecon and things. Yes, it's tough to meet and greet fellow fans at these events. At Wolf SG4, I milled around the lobby of the convention centre while my friends went to the cocktail party because my badge number is way over 250. I had no problems chatting with lots of friendly UK and European fans. I found most people very friendly. I spent a lot of the Q&A sessions with a Londoner who was really nice about explaining how Wolf Events worked because he had been to many of them before. We kept bumping into each other in the line-ups and at the Q&A sessions.
You just suck in a good breath and say cheery "Hi!" Then at the Closing Ceremonies on Sunday evening, I think I scared off a really cute guy with my approach. <shrug!!> After a short chat, he took off! Vanished! Did he think I wanted to take him home in my suitcase? It was funny, actually. Easy come, easy go in the "making friendly overtures" department.
About you and me, I'm sorry we didn't make more definite plans about meeting at Wolf SG4. I guess I should've worn my "xst" badge. I made it and wore it at Gatecon and had gotten a few positive IDs and "Hellos" from other Forum posters. When I wore it at "An Evening with Michael Shanks" on Jan 26, I got a few slightly rude/strange (? I couldn't tell?) comments, so I decided not to wear it at Wolf SG4. But we should meet at the next Gatecon or when you come to work in Vancouver.
And I go to cons with no big particular expectations. I do enjoy the Q&As, I do enjoy the autograph and photosessions. I do know that the actors are there to work and are "on show". I do not expect to get up close and personal with any of them, although I did have a good chat and a hand shake with JRBourne at Gatecon 2001 (it was before the encounter with his chest, but that is a different story.....). It was a chance meeting in the elevator on the way up to my room. He came across as a friendly guy, but I didn't expect anything less. He was "working".
And I did all the con things because I wanted to. I went on the bus tour of my own city even though I was born here and I know of many more on-site shoot locations than was seen on the bus tour. I had a terrific time and chatted with out-of-town fans. I could point out to them the "other locations" that was not mentioned by the bus guide. The weather was great and I felt mellow. I did the photos. I got the autographs. I talked to some really nice people..... like CynVision ( Hello to CynVision! ); I talked to some not very nice people. Like I said above, easy come, easy go. Sometimes I was by myself, which is OK, too.
I hear and understand your comments about Gatecon and things. Yes, it's tough to meet and greet fellow fans at these events. At Wolf SG4, I milled around the lobby of the convention centre while my friends went to the cocktail party because my badge number is way over 250. I had no problems chatting with lots of friendly UK and European fans. I found most people very friendly. I spent a lot of the Q&A sessions with a Londoner who was really nice about explaining how Wolf Events worked because he had been to many of them before. We kept bumping into each other in the line-ups and at the Q&A sessions.
You just suck in a good breath and say cheery "Hi!" Then at the Closing Ceremonies on Sunday evening, I think I scared off a really cute guy with my approach. <shrug!!> After a short chat, he took off! Vanished! Did he think I wanted to take him home in my suitcase? It was funny, actually. Easy come, easy go in the "making friendly overtures" department.
About you and me, I'm sorry we didn't make more definite plans about meeting at Wolf SG4. I guess I should've worn my "xst" badge. I made it and wore it at Gatecon and had gotten a few positive IDs and "Hellos" from other Forum posters. When I wore it at "An Evening with Michael Shanks" on Jan 26, I got a few slightly rude/strange (? I couldn't tell?) comments, so I decided not to wear it at Wolf SG4. But we should meet at the next Gatecon or when you come to work in Vancouver.
And I go to cons with no big particular expectations. I do enjoy the Q&As, I do enjoy the autograph and photosessions. I do know that the actors are there to work and are "on show". I do not expect to get up close and personal with any of them, although I did have a good chat and a hand shake with JRBourne at Gatecon 2001 (it was before the encounter with his chest, but that is a different story.....). It was a chance meeting in the elevator on the way up to my room. He came across as a friendly guy, but I didn't expect anything less. He was "working".
And I did all the con things because I wanted to. I went on the bus tour of my own city even though I was born here and I know of many more on-site shoot locations than was seen on the bus tour. I had a terrific time and chatted with out-of-town fans. I could point out to them the "other locations" that was not mentioned by the bus guide. The weather was great and I felt mellow. I did the photos. I got the autographs. I talked to some really nice people..... like CynVision ( Hello to CynVision! ); I talked to some not very nice people. Like I said above, easy come, easy go. Sometimes I was by myself, which is OK, too.
sha'uri's smile
Gate Groupie
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2001
- Messages
- 167
Hi XST, JR Bourne is great, he really is a nice guy, just a regular old nice guy, sweet and honest, likes to have fun and talk and kid around. Actually they all are wonderfully down to Earth people and love to talk and stuff it's just they can't always do that because of the schedule of the con. But like I said they give you chances to just talk at the cocktail party and sekh's party and autograph and photo sessions.
I love Jay Acovone, we've gotten to know each other over the past 2 cons and he's incredibly nice. He'll stop whatever he's doing and come over and say Hi to ya if he knows ya. Chris Judge is that way too, he loves to kid around and hang out with the fans, it's just too bad he couldn't make it to last years con.
I try to not get my hopes up too high either and not worry about what I'm gonna do or where I'm gonna sit, it takes the fun away. I have more fun when I'm not worrying about what's gonna happen next. I sleep in most every day and miss some stuff but I figure they have alot of the same stuff on different days so I can miss one panel and catch it the next day. Also if you go to the dealers room or art room you might run into a guest there. They like to see that stuff as much as we do. I know Don Davis had an exhibit of his artwork in the dealers room last year, and he was there to chat with people about it for a long time. So, keep the faith, there's so much to do, if you give yourself the chance, you can have alot of fun. Don't let the rude people get you down, it's their problem not yours. I always ignore them, shake my head and smile and say to myself, too bad they're not having as much fun as I am. Funny how your attitude can change with a smile and a realization that your happiness does not depend on anyone else but yourself. Party on!!!! SS
I love Jay Acovone, we've gotten to know each other over the past 2 cons and he's incredibly nice. He'll stop whatever he's doing and come over and say Hi to ya if he knows ya. Chris Judge is that way too, he loves to kid around and hang out with the fans, it's just too bad he couldn't make it to last years con.
I try to not get my hopes up too high either and not worry about what I'm gonna do or where I'm gonna sit, it takes the fun away. I have more fun when I'm not worrying about what's gonna happen next. I sleep in most every day and miss some stuff but I figure they have alot of the same stuff on different days so I can miss one panel and catch it the next day. Also if you go to the dealers room or art room you might run into a guest there. They like to see that stuff as much as we do. I know Don Davis had an exhibit of his artwork in the dealers room last year, and he was there to chat with people about it for a long time. So, keep the faith, there's so much to do, if you give yourself the chance, you can have alot of fun. Don't let the rude people get you down, it's their problem not yours. I always ignore them, shake my head and smile and say to myself, too bad they're not having as much fun as I am. Funny how your attitude can change with a smile and a realization that your happiness does not depend on anyone else but yourself. Party on!!!! SS
sha'uri's smile
Gate Groupie
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2001
- Messages
- 167
You bet I'll be there, with bells on!!!! Got the time off for vacation already, I'm set. Hope to see you there, I always love to meet new people!! Later, SS
AdministratorWo
Member
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2001
- Messages
- 10
Gatecon Volunteers
As to volunteering for Gatecon the first time you ever go... well I would have to beg to differ with the assumption that volunteering will detract from a first timers enjoyment/fulfillment of the con experience...
I only ask my volunteers to give 4 hours total of their time during a 4 day convention... & they only work more if "THEY DECIDE TO DO SO"..... I know most of my volunteers personally... why? because they & I have made the effort to search eachother out... I may not know everybody by sight but I sure give it one heck of a try to do so... & there are folks on the Gategoers list who give of their own time & materials to make badges for anybody who requests one... helps with the name status... many of us know eachother by our nics not by our real names...
In short... come to Gatecon & have a great time (despite what some folks have to say)...
FOR ANNI: I imagine that you were one of those who tried to go against convention guidelines & got called on it... cuz if you had tracked me down I would have done my best to hook you up with others on their own or of the same interests...
As to volunteering for Gatecon the first time you ever go... well I would have to beg to differ with the assumption that volunteering will detract from a first timers enjoyment/fulfillment of the con experience...
I only ask my volunteers to give 4 hours total of their time during a 4 day convention... & they only work more if "THEY DECIDE TO DO SO"..... I know most of my volunteers personally... why? because they & I have made the effort to search eachother out... I may not know everybody by sight but I sure give it one heck of a try to do so... & there are folks on the Gategoers list who give of their own time & materials to make badges for anybody who requests one... helps with the name status... many of us know eachother by our nics not by our real names...
In short... come to Gatecon & have a great time (despite what some folks have to say)...
FOR ANNI: I imagine that you were one of those who tried to go against convention guidelines & got called on it... cuz if you had tracked me down I would have done my best to hook you up with others on their own or of the same interests...
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