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[Jhoan]

Cons aren't for me though. Sweaty nerds packed in a place is torture. If I were an actor, you'd need to pay me that kind of money to get me in there for a few hours.



ahahahahahahaha



Those flipped personalities.

I think it's worth putting up with BO and the risk of developing con flu to meet like minded fans for the experience. The smaller the con, the easier it is to navigate and get to see everything and conversely, the bigger the con, the harder it is to see everything.

Then again, after parties and events revolving around it means the general mass can get a taste of it such as with SDCC or NYCC. If I had to recommend a con to attend, I would recommend one of the PAX'es since it's easily my favorite con out of all the cons I've worked at.

And in response to your reaction of my post, sadly this happens often; William Shatner has a notorious reputation to be giant douchebag to fans. Schemmel realized that he would have gotten a bad reputation if he left things sour but I haven't forgotten. They told us to stop by their table at the end of their session and would sign anything we wanted them but I forgot and got caught up with work.

I love it when I see a celeb at a convention make it worth the money. I went to london comic con a few years ago and the guy who plays Hodor on got's was there, his line took forever because he would stop and talk to everyone even at one point doing a 10 minute recorded interview for some guys youtube channel, I tried to be quick when it was my time but he pulled me into a conversation and he was an absolute delight to speak with.

This is always great for fans but bad for the celebrity's handler/manager who try to keep them on a tight schedule funny enough and sometimes even con organizers if lines have been crazy. I was working Danny Glover's line last year and his handler said that he had a flight to catch even though there weren't any fans left at that point and it was his family members. He was a very, nice guy.

Although there was one angry fan who came up to me with his wife and wanted to see Glover when I told him it was done, went past me, and had asked Glover. Glover was nice to enough to take him and speak to him for a few minutes. I'm always surprised by the craziest and rare stuff that people get signed by celebs. That being said, I'm happy to hear that you were considerate but he talked to you for a while any way lol.

Rhode Island has a doozy of a con coming up and I was questioning "Why all of these big names for a small state convention?".

This is the answer.

More big names means even more big names means more money.

I've been to two. Enjoyed my time, had great experiences with who I went to see and didn't feel cheated out of my money.

Can't wait to meet Nolan North!

That's in November right? I know a few friends who have worked that con. That con attracts a ton of ex-Power Rangers . I heard from a few attendees that Amy Jo Johnson only does two con appearances because she a creepy fan who stalked her to every con and stopped doing it for a while. Smaller cons the best because the guests take their time to speak their fans and shoot the breeze for a while. In bigger cons, several celebs have a strict no photos policy such as Gillian Anderson. Have fun!

 

[border]

What the people who whine "But you shouldn't have to pay for an autograph!" always ignore is that none of these celebrities would even show up if not for the autograph money. I lived through the "free autograph" era and it was garbage. The biggest star that DragonCon ever got in the 90's was Mark Hammill. His film career was absolutely dead at the time and it was basically just a promotional appearance for Wing Commander 3.

Not to mention that if any of these people signed stuff for free there would be absolute gridlock and out-of-control lines full of people just looking to resell shit on eBay. At least charging fees lets the mega-fans get easy access to the and discourages resellers.

 

[BattleMonkey]

Yep, alot more cons popping up all over, and even small events are somehow scoring some semi big names now. These people try to pack in as many con appearances they can, it's alot of money to make now. The stigma that cons were for has beens is gone.

What the fuck at these prices.

Man, cons just keep finding more and more ways to squeeze every penny out of you.

But it's what gets people to go to the cons. You need star power to drive people to your con, you need to spend money. The bigger the stars they are getting now, the more money they need to cover their guaranteed fee

 

[Cybit]

I'm not sure if this is referring to a star laundering cash through the art market, or literally stuffing cash in the backs of paintings, and I'm okay with not being sure.

Using the tubes for posters and stuff to handle all the cash. I'm also not sure how much of this actually gets reported to the IRS either.

Anyway, for what it is worth, almost all of the CW stars are pretty amazing and pretty nice. Amell went over to one fan's house during a break for some homemade chili apparently. Amell is super nice to his fans and random people, he likes to screw with his coworkers though lol. He's the opposite of your stereotypical celebrity, lol. Gustin is as nice in RL as he is in Flash, and the SG-1 cast is unbelievably nice. We had to stop Chris Judge and Amanda Tapping from talking to random folks in the con as they were walking from panel to panel because they kept almost missing where they needed to be, hah.

Stewart's my favorite celebrity I've met in RL though. Dude is legitimately nobility IMO.

 

[MoonsaultSlayer]

I think it's worth putting up with BO and the risk of developing con flu to meet like minded fans for the experience. The smaller the con, the easier it is to navigate and get to see everything and conversely, the bigger the con, the harder it is to see everything.

Then again, after parties and events revolving around it means the general mass can get a taste of it such as with SDCC or NYCC. If I had to recommend a con to attend, I would recommend one of the PAX'es since it's easily my favorite con out of all the cons I've worked at.

And in response to your reaction of my post, sadly this happens often; William Shatner has a notorious reputation to be giant douchebag to fans. Schemmel realized that he would have gotten a bad reputation if he left things sour but I haven't forgotten. They told us to stop by their table at the end of their session and would sign anything we wanted them but I forgot and got caught up with work.


This is always great for fans but bad for the celebrity's handler/manager who try to keep them on a tight schedule funny enough and sometimes even con organizers if lines have been crazy. I was working Danny Glover's line last year and his handler said that he had a flight to catch even though there weren't any fans left at that point and it was his family members. He was a very, nice guy.

Although there was one angry fan who came up to me with his wife and wanted to see Glover when I told him it was done, went past me, and had asked Glover. Glover was nice to enough to take him and speak to him for a few minutes. I'm always surprised by the craziest and rare stuff that people get signed by celebs. That being said, I'm happy to hear that you were considerate but he talked to you for a while any way lol.


That's in November right? I know a few friends who have worked that con. That con attracts a ton of ex-Power Rangers . I heard from a few attendees that Amy Jo Johnson only does two con appearances because she a creepy fan who stalked her to every con and stopped doing it for a while. Smaller cons the best because the guests take their time to speak their fans and shoot the breeze for a while. In bigger cons, several celebs have a strict no photos policy such as Gillian Anderson. Have fun!

I think November, yeah. I'm from CT so I've only been to the ones in state. The biggest names in the last couple years have been Kevin Smith, Ray Park, Ernie Hudson and others.

In RI, they're getting Kate Beckinsale, Stan Lee, Ric Flair, and more (that I can't remember).

 

[bodyboarder]

I can't hate on it. If they don't do it they are leaving money on the table, and from the sounds of it a lot.

 

[besada]

So, for big nerds who don't want to pay the fees, I will reveal a secret to you. If you are in the con before the the con starts, you will get to meet and chat with, in a much more relaxed environment, all but the A-Listers. They show up to their booths early and then wander around like regular folk, while the hoi-polloi mill outside. It's pretty cool.

And retailers get in before the con starts. And your local comic shop is probably looking for help lugging all their shit to the con. I go with a friend of mine who's a publisher, and get a free badge, get in early, and all I do is watch the table so he can fuck off to network. I pick up lunch when they need it, and help carry promos and books. Piece of piss. And for that you get fre early entry, a great seat from which to people watch, and depending on the con, entrance into the retailer/pro suites. As a publisher, we get the pro badges, which is pretty great if you want to meet the stars without standing in line. You get to do it while having a free drink.

Make friends with your local comic shop.

 

[BattleMonkey]

Even smaller guys make decent money off appearances. Typically it's custom that cons pay for flight and lodging for their guests, so it's a cheap little trip where you hang out a few hours and make some money. Worked a con this past weekend and a VA for old GI Joe and Transformers cartoons had a table nearby, small event, not a big name at all, yet in 1 hour of people dropping by to chat and buy some autographed pics or take photos with the guy, he easily did about $300. Doing that for a weekend, that's some good take.

 

[Cybit]

Amell responded to the article on FB, doesn't seem too happy with it. Says he told them a lot more than what was printed. Calls it inaccurate.

I guess nobody working the cons would be happy with the title "Stars Getting Rich Off Fan Conventions".

Got a link to the response?

 

[xevis]

Edit: nevermind.

 

[explodet]

What the people who whine "But you shouldn't have to pay for an autograph!" always ignore is that none of these celebrities would even show up if not for the autograph money. I lived through the "free autograph" era and it was garbage. The biggest star that DragonCon ever got in the 90's was Mark Hammill. His film career was absolutely dead at the time and it was basically just a promotional appearance for Wing Commander 3.

Off topic, but man PC gaming-era Mark Hamill ruled.

 

[ZeroX03]

Got a link to the response?

Stephen Amell's Facebook

 

[Cybit]

Stephen Amell's Facebook

Looked there, couldn't find it. :-/

 

[ZeroX03]

Looked there, couldn't find it. :-/

It's the latest video?

 

[Schweinehund]

I'd be more excited to meet Morrison, Johns, Perez and a slew of other comic book writers & artists before the TV stars, or hell, even the movie stars.

 

[Cybit]

It's the latest video?

Ahh video. Kk will check it out when I get a chance.

 

[shintoki]

How much of that is from guarantees from the Con-owners? I would imagine their appearance fee is hefty in this context.

I'm not sure about Lee, but I do know Yaya Han's was about 2k for the appearance(For one day), on top of all expenses paid, and whatever she charges she gets 100% of. She was charging 30$ for an Autograph at the time.

I know typically more pronounced Guests can acquire 5k-10k, plus all the same amends as Yaya. But for a figure like Lee, Shanter, or someone else. I'm not really sure.

So, for big nerds who don't want to pay the fees, I will reveal a secret to you. If you are in the con before the the con starts, you will get to meet and chat with, in a much more relaxed environment, all but the A-Listers. They show up to their booths early and then wander around like regular folk, while the hoi-polloi mill outside. It's pretty cool.

And retailers get in before the con starts. And your local comic shop is probably looking for help lugging all their shit to the con. I go with a friend of mine who's a publisher, and get a free badge, get in early, and all I do is watch the table so he can fuck off to network. I pick up lunch when they need it, and help carry promos and books. Piece of piss. And for that you get fre early entry, a great seat from which to people watch, and depending on the con, entrance into the retailer/pro suites. As a publisher, we get the pro badges, which is pretty great if you want to meet the stars without standing in line. You get to do it while having a free drink.

Make friends with your local comic shop.

While it will be a big more work. Volunteering at a convention can also coup some nice benefits, specifically the more involved you get. I.E. Whatever parties they throw in the suites, anything they don't want to bring back home, etc.

 

[OdysseusVA]

"I cut out the middleman to become the middleman"

 

[Magnetic_North]

The ONLY person I hope to meet in person and get a picture with some day is Hideo Kojima. Pretty much my video game idol.

But otherwise? Meh.

But....I've always thought you were Kojima with that avatar....

WHAT IS MY LIFE?? IS THIS THE PHANTOM PAIN?!

who are you?? WHHOOOOOOOOOO!!

 

[Mighty Chin]

Hahaha that was my first thought.

 

[acheron_xl]

Fandom is such a racket.

 

[ZoddGutts]

Why doesn't RLM do cons anymore? They only did it when around they first started RLM. I'll pay hefty amount of money to kiss Jay and I'm not even gay!

 

[zer0das]

I got photos with Rose McIver and Christopher Lloyd because my friend wanted to meet at a con and I was like "Well, might as well celebrate." It was great, but I doubt I'll ever do it again if only because it meant I had to wait in a line for like two and a half hours.

 

[choco-fish]

. In bigger cons, several celebs have a strict no photos policy such as Gillian Anderson. Have fun!

Really?

We have a guy in my office and he had a picture taken with GA, at what I've always assumed was a convention? Is she like this with all photo ops with fans? I'm really impressed he got his pic taken with her now.

 

[TheChewyWaffles]

Arguably more famous as Wasp and her character in The Hobbit.

What? No way.

 

[RaidenXZ]

What the people who whine "But you shouldn't have to pay for an autograph!" always ignore is that none of these celebrities would even show up if not for the autograph money. I lived through the "free autograph" era and it was garbage. The biggest star that DragonCon ever got in the 90's was Mark Hammill. His film career was absolutely dead at the time and it was basically just a promotional appearance for Wing Commander 3.

Not to mention that if any of these people signed stuff for free there would be absolute gridlock and out-of-control lines full of people just looking to resell shit on eBay. At least charging fees lets the mega-fans get easy access to the and discourages resellers.

Lol and now at Fan Expo Canada in Toronto, Mark Hammill was charing $195 for a picture or autograph

 

[Sanjuro]

I don't see the problem with it. I feel like if I'm asking someone for an autograph, I should be giving them whatever dollars, change, and lint I have in my pockets. Doesn't seem right otherwise.

Bruce Campbell was probably the lone event I went anticipating an autograph session. He was screening his first directed film, Man with the Screaming Brain. He did a Q&A session. I had a comic book created for the film I was going to have signed. He went well over the scheduled time, so did some overtime. Waited in line after the Q&A portion and he asked what my Sophie's choice was. He was hinting at buying his new book and having that signed, so I just forked over the $20 and called it a day.

 

[Replicant]

Because people are going to be coming out in droves to see Stephen Amell.

Those Olicity scenes are not going to happen on their own. Please pay Amell and make it happen!

Spoiler

I'm just kidding. Please kill Olicity

 

[telasoman]

I think it's worth putting up with BO and the risk of developing con flu to meet like minded fans for the experience.

This totally exists. I managed to avoid it my first couple of years, but now the 2 weeks after every event I feel like crap.

We call it the con crud.

 

[Jhoan]

I'm not sure about Lee, but I do know Yaya Han's was about 2k for the appearance(For one day), on top of all expenses paid, and whatever she charges she gets 100% of. She was charging 30$ for an Autograph at the time.

I know typically more pronounced Guests can acquire 5k-10k, plus all the same amends as Yaya. But for a figure like Lee, Shanter, or someone else. I'm not really sure.



While it will be a big more work. Volunteering at a convention can also coup some nice benefits, specifically the more involved you get. I.E. Whatever parties they throw in the suites, anything they don't want to bring back home, etc.

I completely agree. It's so much fun to be part of the behind-the-scenes/'customer service magic to ensure that fans/attendees have a good time. The only other thing that comes closest to that is attending as Media depending on the con. I've met so many friends that I like to call another family and have so much swag that I've accrued throughout the years.

The perks are a nice bonus/thank you including the ones that pay as one gets free hotel and free food/drinks. I always tell socially awkward people that if they want a good way to get better at talking to people, work/volunteer at a con. One will never want to go back to attending one as a fan although I have a few friends that worked just to try it and went back to going as a fan again. Some people also do it for nefarious reasons and never volunteer/work a single shift.

But on the other hand, there's folks who've tried working the con and had an awful first experience. William Shatner made a friend of a friend cry after he wanted the line for his autograph his way but said she couldn't do it because upper management for the con instructed her to keep it the other way and what they say always goes. Later that night, she got assaulted by a crazy fan in the Main Theatre after asking him to move from the VIP section and he was not cooperating. It completely ruined her experience working the show and she didn't apply the following year.

Really?

We have a guy in my office and he had a picture taken with GA, at what I've always assumed was a convention? Is she like this with all photo ops with fans? I'm really impressed he got his pic taken with her now.

I should clarify: Not for photo ops since that's it's own separate thing so that was fair game but during autograph sessions at NY Comic Con, some celebs have a strict no photos policy and get cagey about it when people try to take selfies. Even has-been celebs at smaller cons get that way sometimes. Sometimes they'll allow fans to take a picture of them signing the item but that's the extent of it. In the case of say Giancarlo Esposito, he took pictures with all his fans.

I understand why that is (people can sell the photo to tabloids/websites, creeps, etc.), but other times, I don't when it's someone who hasn't acted in years. In the case of when the cast of a show is doing a group autograph session (usually after a panel where bracelets are doled out or won via an online raffle), there's a strict no photos policy enforced because there's heavy publicity/marketing in place.

What the people who whine "But you shouldn't have to pay for an autograph!" always ignore is that none of these celebrities would even show up if not for the autograph money. I lived through the "free autograph" era and it was garbage. The biggest star that DragonCon ever got in the 90's was Mark Hammill. His film career was absolutely dead at the time and it was basically just a promotional appearance for Wing Commander 3.

Not to mention that if any of these people signed stuff for free there would be absolute gridlock and out-of-control lines full of people just looking to resell shit on eBay. At least charging fees lets the mega-fans get easy access to the and discourages resellers.

I've seen the craziest lines for public figures/celebs who do free signings in the past and it was a nightmare to turn away so many fans that security had to be summoned to help.

This totally exists. I managed to avoid it my first couple of years, but now the 2 weeks after every event I feel like crap.

We call it the con crud.

So according to people that I've spoken to, some people say that the reason why people get sick after attending a big con is because the facility doesn't have good ventilation for the air, others say it's from coming in close contact with so many people and not washing one's hands, and others say to take Vitamin C pills to bolster up the immune system defenses during the weekend.

I found that taking Vitamin C pills while working a big con earlier this year throughout the weekend worked like a charm since I didn't get sick and made damn sure I always washed my hands every time I went to the bathroom even for something as minor as getting tissue for my nose. Although I jinxed it one year after working a con and got it. I've never gotten it after volunteering at food and drink festivals oddly enough, only at nerdy cons.