Mission: FanExpo 2009
In case no one saw my Facebook status spam-updates, or wants (or cares, haha) about some of the fun details, here's my writeup.
I attended day 2 of the three day expo, and accomplished exactly 4 things. Which was all I'd hoped for.
First matter of the day was to find the Celebrity Autograph area in the dealer's room and secure an autograph from Mary McDonnell, aka. Battlestar Galactica's Laura Roslin. The room was basically one perpetual traffic jam, so I darted and weaved through the crowd 'til I found the right place. Celebrity autographs are for a fee, but that also meant Mary's line was all of 5 people long, and the fact that she was at this year's expo was basically why I decided to go, so no complaints from me. While I'm in line, a man walks by, carrying a little girl and encouraging her to wave at Mary, who smiles and entheusiastically waves back. "She's so pretty!" the dad says to his kid, and Mary, to the kid, replies, "No, you're so pretty!" Awww! My turn in line, and I'm probably grinning like a total goon, and looking like a happy puppy. Mary puts out her hand for a handshake. Glee! She comments on my facial piercings (HA! Say what you will about them, but they give me something noticible and memorable that I otherwise don't have), and starts signing a photo I brought along. Selective art nerd I am, I notice a bracelet Mary is wearing, and ask if I can be nosy and ask a question about it. Given the go-ahead. "Northwest Coast native style?" "Yes", and Mary tells me that it was given to her driver while she was in Vancouver, and how she never took it off except when she went swimming. "I love the Northwest Coast style", she says. And I think that is just about THE coolest thing ever. It's been my favourite art style since forever. Thrilled with this bit of trivia I'd learned, I was a very happy geek as I ran off to stand in line for a panel with J. Michael Straczynski.
JMS was, in a word, a riot. He good-naturedly teased most of the fans who lined up to ask him questions, and the audience took every possible opportunity to laugh at him, mostly because of a few unfortunate verbal slip-ups. I really, really wish I'd recorded some of his panel with my camera, because he had us laughing through the whole thing. Though, from the fans' questions that he took, there were a lot of people who wanted to be writers, so he finished up the panel with a gorgeous, inspirational speech on not being afraid to fail, on writing what you want, and not letting anyone tell you you'll never be able to make it. His panel was the only one I went to, but I think it'd be very, very hard to find a better one to attend.
There was a (free) signing session with JMS immediately after his panel, so I ran one floor down, back into the dealer room, through the crowds, and into his line... just as about 7 people in front of me, a guy turns around with a sign that says, "SORRY! I'M THE LAST PERSON IN LINE". Aw... sonnoffa...! So I sit down for a bit, and the line is just creeping along. Didn't look at all like I'd be able to poach a spot. Wander off for about an hour and a half, then go back to check; the signing is coming to a close, with only two legitimate people in line, a FanEx "bouncer" after the guy with the "LAST PERSON" sign... and then two hopefuls. I scoot into line after them, along with a couple other hopefuls. Someone talks to the "bouncer", and he's pretty adamant that he's not allowed to let the stragglers in, and two people leave. The rest of us keep hanging around for a tense half-minute, then... "bouncer" waves us over to JMS. Success! I got my season 1 Babylon 5 DVD box signed.
Mill around in the dealer room for a few minutes, then ask directions for my final goal: photo-op with Mary McDonnell. So I half run through the crowds, out of the dealer room, and upstairs, where I see that the line for photos starts at the room it's taking place in, goes down one wall, hits the corner and continues along another wall. I honestly figured I was too far back in the line to actually get in, but since I'd spent most of the day standing hopefully in lines, so I stick around. The staff and photographer must have the process down to an art, because about an hour later, I'm in! I a photo of myself standing with Mary McDonnell! So I grin like a goon, and thank Mary... who replies with a, "It was nice to meet you". Ohmehgawd!! Heh, I know, that's just good PR, but it was still a really, really, really cool nerd moment.
Phew! And that was my adventure. Posting scans of my Mary McDonnell and JMS autographs. Still waiting on the photo-op picture, but you can bet I'll come and triumphantly post a scan of it here.
I attended day 2 of the three day expo, and accomplished exactly 4 things. Which was all I'd hoped for.
First matter of the day was to find the Celebrity Autograph area in the dealer's room and secure an autograph from Mary McDonnell, aka. Battlestar Galactica's Laura Roslin. The room was basically one perpetual traffic jam, so I darted and weaved through the crowd 'til I found the right place. Celebrity autographs are for a fee, but that also meant Mary's line was all of 5 people long, and the fact that she was at this year's expo was basically why I decided to go, so no complaints from me. While I'm in line, a man walks by, carrying a little girl and encouraging her to wave at Mary, who smiles and entheusiastically waves back. "She's so pretty!" the dad says to his kid, and Mary, to the kid, replies, "No, you're so pretty!" Awww! My turn in line, and I'm probably grinning like a total goon, and looking like a happy puppy. Mary puts out her hand for a handshake. Glee! She comments on my facial piercings (HA! Say what you will about them, but they give me something noticible and memorable that I otherwise don't have), and starts signing a photo I brought along. Selective art nerd I am, I notice a bracelet Mary is wearing, and ask if I can be nosy and ask a question about it. Given the go-ahead. "Northwest Coast native style?" "Yes", and Mary tells me that it was given to her driver while she was in Vancouver, and how she never took it off except when she went swimming. "I love the Northwest Coast style", she says. And I think that is just about THE coolest thing ever. It's been my favourite art style since forever. Thrilled with this bit of trivia I'd learned, I was a very happy geek as I ran off to stand in line for a panel with J. Michael Straczynski.
JMS was, in a word, a riot. He good-naturedly teased most of the fans who lined up to ask him questions, and the audience took every possible opportunity to laugh at him, mostly because of a few unfortunate verbal slip-ups. I really, really wish I'd recorded some of his panel with my camera, because he had us laughing through the whole thing. Though, from the fans' questions that he took, there were a lot of people who wanted to be writers, so he finished up the panel with a gorgeous, inspirational speech on not being afraid to fail, on writing what you want, and not letting anyone tell you you'll never be able to make it. His panel was the only one I went to, but I think it'd be very, very hard to find a better one to attend.
There was a (free) signing session with JMS immediately after his panel, so I ran one floor down, back into the dealer room, through the crowds, and into his line... just as about 7 people in front of me, a guy turns around with a sign that says, "SORRY! I'M THE LAST PERSON IN LINE". Aw... sonnoffa...! So I sit down for a bit, and the line is just creeping along. Didn't look at all like I'd be able to poach a spot. Wander off for about an hour and a half, then go back to check; the signing is coming to a close, with only two legitimate people in line, a FanEx "bouncer" after the guy with the "LAST PERSON" sign... and then two hopefuls. I scoot into line after them, along with a couple other hopefuls. Someone talks to the "bouncer", and he's pretty adamant that he's not allowed to let the stragglers in, and two people leave. The rest of us keep hanging around for a tense half-minute, then... "bouncer" waves us over to JMS. Success! I got my season 1 Babylon 5 DVD box signed.
Mill around in the dealer room for a few minutes, then ask directions for my final goal: photo-op with Mary McDonnell. So I half run through the crowds, out of the dealer room, and upstairs, where I see that the line for photos starts at the room it's taking place in, goes down one wall, hits the corner and continues along another wall. I honestly figured I was too far back in the line to actually get in, but since I'd spent most of the day standing hopefully in lines, so I stick around. The staff and photographer must have the process down to an art, because about an hour later, I'm in! I a photo of myself standing with Mary McDonnell! So I grin like a goon, and thank Mary... who replies with a, "It was nice to meet you". Ohmehgawd!! Heh, I know, that's just good PR, but it was still a really, really, really cool nerd moment.
Phew! And that was my adventure. Posting scans of my Mary McDonnell and JMS autographs. Still waiting on the photo-op picture, but you can bet I'll come and triumphantly post a scan of it here.