autograph/photo sessions

[StarGazer03]

Rowan or Richard, can you 'splain how the autograph sessions work please? I know they charge X amount of dollars, how do we pay? Cash? Plastic ok? so on; do we pay upon registering, or before the session?
I think some answers like this will help newbies like me and others better be prepared for what we will need to do and when and how.
Same for the photo sessions, please.
Thanks in advance- it IS appreciated!
Harry

 

[Elainec]

Being a newbie to this event as well, yes I'm curious to know how it will work.

I would imagine that it would be difficult to allow people to purchase photo tickets at registration as I understood that they would be taken in ticket order and not purchase order. You could buy your autograph items before, as again my understanding is that they do these in ticket order.

My questions are similar - do you pay for things in one lump or separately at each guest table, and if you can buy all your autographs and/or photo tickets in one go, what payment methods will you allow, for example will you accept traveller's cheques?

How do you work the autograph sessions, again my understanding is that you are only allowed two items to be signed, one can be a personal item - but do you pay for this - and if you don't have a personal item to have signed, can you still have the two autographs - again, I presume that only one item will be personalised - is this right?

Because the number of attendees is much greater this year, and I know that the actors are only around for a limited amount of time each day for photos/autos, is there a limit to the number of photos you can have with each actor? For example, if I wanted an individual with Michael and Chris, could I then also have them in a group shot and a shot with just the two of them?

If these sort of questions could be answered on here, or even as part of the registration pack (presuming you don't purchase auto/photo tickets at this stage), and also the cost of autos/photos with each guest, it would help everyone to decide who to buy tickets for, rather than trying to decide under pressure once you reach the guest. This would also keep things moving along at a slightly faster rate if everyone knows who they want and how much they are spending, and also what order the guests are signing in, it shouldn't take as long for people to be ready.

Whilst I know that you guys are very experienced that organising this event, I would presume that sensible suggestions wouldn't go amiss.

I have been a steward at a few things over the last couple of years, including a general signing event in the UK a few weeks ago. The queues for the actors signing was very long, and in order to speed things up, we walked along the queues telling people what they could do, ie have a photo with the actor, and asking if they could have cameras and autograph items ready so that we could keep the queue moving. At no time did we push anyone along and tell them they had chatted for too long, but because people knew that there was a queue and we were trying to get everyone through, they were very co-operative, and by 1.00pm the queue had been reduced to 0, with all fans leaving happy.

Anyway, back to my questions at the top......

Ta muchly

Elaine

 

[Rowan]

From the Gatecon website.

-=Photograph and Autograph sessions=-

Entry to these sessions is by ticket number. Gatecon can NOT guarentee that all attendee's will be able to get into any session. Daypass ticket holders will be allowed entry once all of the SuperPass holders have been through. TriPass ticket holders will not be allowed entry to these sessions.

Gatecon cannot guarentee what guests will be available for these sessions, or how long they are able to participate.

In the autograph session you may have TWO items signed per actor - one personal, but the second must be an official item. This means either a photograph purchased from the guest at their table, or from the Gatecon dealers table only.

"Official item" does not include photos bought from other dealers, nor the convention magazine, convention t-shirt etc. Those are personal items.

-==-

Okay, to try an elaborate on this and 'please' remember, this isn't my area of expertice [ I'm registration, not sales], I'm going on what I remember from over the last four years.

Nothing is purchased at the registration table. Period. I am not set up for sale and have no cash box. Funds are handled either in the dealer's room or, in certain situations like the photo shoot, in the photo session room.

Photo session: You usually purchase your photo session 'chits' at the door as you come into the room we've set asside for the session. There isn't a set price for all photos, that I know of - last year Michael's ran a bit more than some of the others. I 'believe' that there is a 'actor' price for each photo - that is, if you have three folks in the photo with you, there is a seperate charge for each - but DON'T HOLD ME TO THAT! I usually get singles when I get a photo. Hopefully Richard will jump in here on this one as he wears the 'Lead Photographer' hat along with his many others. Photos are digitally taken and we try to have them back before the autograph session the nect day so you can have them signed, if the actor is with us on Sunday.

Autograph policy is covered above in the clip from the web site. We don't charge for the second autograph - the one on your personal item, but either an item purchased at the actor's table *or* one purchased from our Dealer's Room is required to get in the que. This helps cover actor costs for the con.

As I said, hopefully Richard will jump in here if I've got anything terribly wrong. I run registration, not sales.

Rowan

 

[heimdall]

Hi,

Just to ask an old question which no doubt has been asked before. A lot of the things on the site are quoted in US dollars, so if we pay cash for things do we pay in US or CDN dollars?

Just wondering as I need to get my cash before flying out.

Also can we use credit cards for things?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[Rowan]

Whose Monies and How Much

The prices at Gatecon are usually listed as US currency/Canadian exchange and it's usually a safe guideline to allow for such. So figure a $15 dollar photo is $15 US, not $15 CAN.

I 'believe' credit cards have been accepted in the past, but I don't run that aspect of things and will need to check it out.

Please note: Using a credit card really slows down the line and makes it harder for us to insure everyone gets their chance. it's faster with cash. You might consider making an ATM or bank withdraw before the photo session. There's an ATM machine in the hotel [back by the Thursty Turtle Bar, as I remember] and there are several banks within a block or two of the hotel.

Rowan

 

[Elainec]

Okay, I'm going to ask a really stupid question now.

If the show is filmed in Canada, and the convention takes place in Canada, why are the photo tickets, etc priced in US dollars?

Ta muchly

Elaine

 

[Highlander II]

On 'why is it in US $$' - not sure - you'd have to ask Allan or one of the other members of the C4 -


And stepping in to help Rowan here - (I don't work the photo room, but I've been through it twice... so got this down pretty good unless they change it on me) -

These photo prices are per the email Richard sent out recently:

Photos:

Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping and Chris Judge: $25.00US
Everyone else: $15.00US

Autographs:

prices for additional items and such will depend on the actor(s)


How the photo room works - yes, they do accept credit card, or, they have the last two years. I don't expect this to change, but they had problems with the CC computer last year, so they might make some alterations. But, here's the gist - you stand in line... and stand and stand... then you're let into the photo room one or two at a time, depending on space, and pay for your photos -- it's a good idea to know EXACTLY who you want photos with BEFORE you get to the 'order' station so you can tell them quickly and they can write it down quickly (there should be a sign posted outside the photo room with a list of everyone who is in the room, so you can get your list all set in your head before you go in)... next, you sit in the rows of chairs, winding around as ppl go through, waiting for your turn... (this can be fun and a bit on the warm side, so bring something to fan yourself)... next, the quick and fun part - takin' the photos with whichever actor(s) you choose -- sometimes, if an actor is needing to leave - they'll pull a number of ppl to take photos with that actor, then have everyone sit in queue again to go through the other actors... it just depends on what's going on and who needs to go where when... once you're done with photos - you leave to go do something else.

It's rushed, crazy and fun! There's really no way to say exactly WHAT happens during the photo sessions, b/c it's NEVER the same... well, except the crazy part!

They also ask that you not get autographs in the photo room, since this ties up the actors who need to be taking photos...

Erm - think that's pretty much everything -- just keep asking and there's probably someone who can answer---

 

[Elainec]

Thanks for the information. I understood roughly how things worked, and I plan on paying cash for all of my photos and autographs - I'd worked everything out though, and then I realise that I've worked it out wrong!

I wasn't having a go at Rowan, and hope that she didn't think I was, as I've said before, this is my first ever Gatecon (but not first convention) so I'm just trying to find out as much information prior to arriving as possible.

Ta muchly

Elaine

 

[heimdall]

And I was just trying to find out if I had to get a ton of US $ as well as my CDN $ for my trip

So to be on the safe side better get a couple hundred US $ at the weekend :rolly2:

Paul

 

[StarGazer03]

my thoughts exactly---bring lots of dough!
DOH!

 

[skydiver]

how the photos have worked in the past, price wise...and i bow to richard if he corrects me

say you want to get one with amanda, chris and michael....that'll be $75....and it's $75 if you get one group shot or three single shots

the charge is per actor in the photo, not per photo.

Me? i tend to go for group shots, easier to hang on the wall

all things being in alignment, the photos SHOULD be back sunday.....BUT, London Drug down the street has to process hundreds of rolls of film. they do thier best. some come back earlier, some later. just be patient and keep coming back and checking

One thing to remember, once you set foot in the best western, you're on Con Time and it's usually a case of 'hurry up and wait'

 

[heimdall]

I'm not that bothered about getting my pictures autographed. I just hope that Amanda and Teryl are there so I can get a picture with both of them

Paul

 

[Elainec]

Originally posted by heimdall
I'm not that bothered about getting my pictures autographed. I just hope that Amanda and Teryl are there so I can get a picture with both of them

Paul

I have a feeling that the organisers might be a little inundated with Minnie and Terlene (sp?) photo requests. That's another two required, one for me, one for my friend.

See you over there Paul - have a safe trip.

Elaine

 

[Rowan]

AT & TR

Originally posted by heimdall
I'm not that bothered about getting my pictures autographed. I just hope that Amanda and Teryl are there so I can get a picture with both of them

Paul

Both are still on the 'confirmed' list & scheduled to be there on Sat, photo day.

Rowan

 

[Highlander II]

skydiver covered the part I forgot --

Group shots -- last year, when they started out - they weren't allowing group shots - or, not 'disallowing' them, but trying to 'not' do them so that 'popular' actors weren't tied up all the time in groups when 5 ppl in line just wanted the one photo with this one actor... they might do something different this year... just depends on lots of things.

A lot of it is 'play by ear' - whatever happens to work at the moment in time that they're doing stuff - that's what they do... it's wacky, it's crazy, it's really hot in that room, but it's a lot of fun - and while you're waiting - you get to talk to all the ppl sitting in the chairs around you - ppl you might not have talked to otherwise - not b/c you didn't want to, but b/c you didn't have the opportunity. And sometimes, Sarah Douglas comes over to 'sit with her ppl'... Or, Teryl comes through with cookies.


and my post above was kind of a general 'overall' for anyone who's interested -- (and about 90% of my posts are snarky... )

 

[Rowan]

Group shots

Yeah, it all depends on how fast things are moving, what's happeneing, etc as to what's allowed.

I love my group shot with Brent Stait [Ferretti], Steve Majak [Makepiece] and Michael.

But it's also the only photo I've gotten in a couple of years...

Rowan

 

[Highlander II]

Re: Group shots

Originally posted by Rowan
I love my group shot with Brent Stait [Ferretti], Steve Majak [Makepiece] and Michael.

But it's also the only photo I've gotten in a couple of years...

Rowan

We are gonna have to make sure you get a couple photos this year!!



Really -- whatever it takes!!

 

[Rowan]

S'Okay!

It's okay, HII ... honest! C4 and Ladytree take good care of me. I got the one I wanted last year. I've been thinking of calling it "Three Gorgeous Guys and Who?!?".



I think I'm going to count pennies this year though and try for a couple. I have one of Amanda and Chris [seperates] from the first year they were with us back in 2000. And I'd love another with Teryl [have one from 2000]. So, maybe two doubles? One with the 'Gorgeous Gals of Stargate' and one with the 'Gorgeous Guys'.

That'll work for me.

Rowan

 

[Highlander II]

Oh - I know they do --


Gorgeous Guys and Gals? hey - why not --- give it a go!!

 

[skydiver]

i want to do two groups, a 'girl power', me, teryl and amanda

and a nightwalkers, me, chris, amanda and corin (presuming he's there, if not i'll take what i get)