Fiddleford H. McGucket
El Dandy
My Mind's been gone for 30-odd years! Can't Break what's already broken!
Posts: 8,748 
|
Post by Fiddleford H. McGucket on Aug 3, 2013 15:04:25 GMT -5
Howdy All! I'm posting from the lovely Charlotte Hilton! Site of the 2013 NWA Fanfest! I've gotten pics with Midnight Express & Jim Cornette, Raven (And Autographs), and Ivan Koloff w/Baron Von Raschke! Gotten a Cornette Face Shirt and a few DVDs from Highspots (Dreamer/Raven 6-disc and The Many Adventures of El Generico) (The Dreamer/Raven Feud one I got signed by Rave & The Flock). I also got "Ripped off" by The WRESTLING SUPERSTAR Himself VIRGIL!
Just mostly checking in and saying that this is the most fun i've had as a fan in a LONG time!
Best Regards,
Brian Alexander Mulligan
(Kevin Cline)
|
|
vivix
ALF
Strike Hard Strike Fast
Posts: 1,077
|
Post by vivix on Aug 3, 2013 20:57:02 GMT -5
Howdy All! I'm posting from the lovely Charlotte Hilton! Site of the 2013 NWA Fanfest! I've gotten pics with Midnight Express & Jim Cornette, Raven (And Autographs), and Ivan Koloff w/Baron Von Raschke! Gotten a Cornette Face Shirt and a few DVDs from Highspots (Dreamer/Raven 6-disc and The Many Adventures of El Generico) (The Dreamer/Raven Feud one I got signed by Rave & The Flock). I also got "Ripped off" by The WRESTLING SUPERSTAR Himself VIRGIL!Just mostly checking in and saying that this is the most fun i've had as a fan in a LONG time! Best Regards, Brian Alexander Mulligan (Kevin Cline) Need the Virgil story |
|
Fiddleford H. McGucket
El Dandy
My Mind's been gone for 30-odd years! Can't Break what's already broken!
Posts: 8,748
|
Post by Fiddleford H. McGucket on Aug 4, 2013 0:52:41 GMT -5
Not much to tell...He was set up Outside the main Area and charging $35 For an Autograph of an old WWF/WWE Production photo and pose w/The M$Belt.
Considering the Convention was $19 and Photo ops started at $16 it was a bit of a ripoff.
Hell, I told Doink (Ray Apollo) about that and he just looked aghast that he had the audacity to both (A) Be there and (b) charge that much.
But on the plus Side, I got to meet The Flock and see them Wrestle some local Talent
|
|
|
|
Post by KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! on Aug 4, 2013 1:03:34 GMT -5
Not much to tell...He was set up Outside the main Area and charging $35 For an Autograph of an old WWF/WWE Production photo and pose w/The M$Belt. Considering the Convention was $19 and Photo ops started at $16 it was a bit of a ripoff. Hell, I told Doink (Ray Apollo) about that and he just looked aghast that he had the audacity to both (A) Be there and (b) charge that much. But on the plus Side, I got to meet The Flock and see them Wrestle some local Talent So the organizers didn't even book Virgil and he is just leeching off the fanfest? Why am I not surprised? |
|
|
|
Post by "Playboy" Don Douglas on Aug 4, 2013 1:53:43 GMT -5
Virgil always books vendor space. He is not a guest of the convention itself, but like Highspots & the like, he books his own table for a fee and does his business.
I'll have some more on my experiences of the weekend, including a few photos, in the coming days. I have a long week ahead of me between the rest of my vacation and 2 11 hour work days once I return, so I'm not sure exactly when it will be. As usual, I've had a great time. Not nearly as many photo ops as I usually get, partly due to finances not being as strong and partly due to a fairly lackluster selection of vendor guests, but some great "one of a kind" type moments.
|
|
SOR
Unicron
Posts: 2,611
|
Post by SOR on Aug 4, 2013 2:40:57 GMT -5
20 bucks to even get in is a bit steep considering a lot of minor celebrity conventions are 5-10 dollars and you can usually meet 1 or 2 legitimate celebrities.
16 dollars minimum for a picture is insanity also
|
|
|
|
Post by jason1980s on Aug 4, 2013 6:48:46 GMT -5
I wonder if Virgil even makes money. He has to drive to the show, book a hotel, pay for the vendor space.
Unfortunately $20 became the norm at conventions with the lowest price I've seen for admission $15.
|
|
|
|
Post by "Playboy" Don Douglas on Aug 4, 2013 8:10:51 GMT -5
It's important to note that photo ops at Fanfest are done with professional grade cameras, you receive an 8.5x11" print (sometimes signed at no extra cost, depending on the talent's schedule) and a couple of weeks later, you get the digital copy at no extra cost.
The pricing this year basically broke down as $16 for individuals, $21 for tag teams & small groups (like one I got with the Midnight Express and Jim Cornette) and large groups (Midnights-Cornette-Rock n Roll Express, for instance) being $41.
Most conventions I've been seeing have charged about $20 to get in, and then autographs are extra. Sometimes they'll do a pic for free if you buy an autograph, sometimes not then, but it's strictly with your own camera and there is no print involved. Yes, you pay more for the VIP pass at Fanfest, but you get into 2 Q&As (Magnum TA & Tully Blanchard and Jim Cornette this year), 2 autographs from every featured guest (usually between 30 and 40 guests; this year split it at 35) admission to 2 live wrestling cards featuring a mix of legends, top indie talent, and rising local talent, plus any other events that go on. This year there was a pool party and a karaoke event hosted by Father James Mitchell. I saw Glacier sing "The Ride" by David Allen Coe. Pretty unique experience.
And while, no, the average person on the street may have no clue who Baron Von Rashcke is, meeting him was a big deal to me. Plenty of people have no clue who James J. Dillon is, but when I opened that envelope and saw that I would be having dinner with him at the Hall of Heroes ceremony, I was more excited than I would have been if it had been everyone on the cover of US Weekly for the past month.
It's all about your personal experience and what it means to you.
|
|
Fiddleford H. McGucket
El Dandy
My Mind's been gone for 30-odd years! Can't Break what's already broken!
Posts: 8,748
|
Post by Fiddleford H. McGucket on Aug 4, 2013 8:29:33 GMT -5
Oh yeah, not to give the Wrong impression at all...it's been a HOOT! Seriously, aside from Virgil's shenanigans (Which stuck in my mind because it was my first experience at ANY con) everyone's been super-nice and wonderful. The Photos are WONDERFULLY printed, And honestly, I'm the guy that NEVER buys merch outside of stuff like this
|
|
|
|
Post by "Playboy" Don Douglas on Aug 4, 2013 8:42:23 GMT -5
Yeah, with Virgil, I've learned to just act like he isn't there. He actually slapped me on the shoulder Friday as I walked by and I just kept walking.
|
|
vivix
ALF
Strike Hard Strike Fast
Posts: 1,077
|
Post by vivix on Aug 13, 2013 2:02:41 GMT -5
I think next time I run in to Virgil at a convention I'll return the favor and charge him for an autographed picture or just verbally berate him.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2013 8:52:12 GMT -5
I couldn't make it to this one, so I would like to see pics of people who went to it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2013 10:25:27 GMT -5
Oh yeah, not to give the Wrong impression at all...it's been a HOOT! Seriously, aside from Virgil's shenanigans (Which stuck in my mind because it was my first experience at ANY con) everyone's been super-nice and wonderful. The Photos are WONDERFULLY printed, And honestly, I'm the guy that NEVER buys merch outside of stuff like this Interacting with Virgil was your 1st convention experience ever?! ......well, just know that it's all uphill from there, sir.  |
|
|
|
Post by The Masked Heel WAS WRONG on Aug 19, 2013 1:29:21 GMT -5
I want to hear more about the weekend. I hate never being able to go to these and more than likely never will since next year is the last year.
|
|
|
|
Post by "Playboy" Don Douglas on Aug 19, 2013 10:09:08 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by The Masked Heel WAS WRONG on Aug 19, 2013 10:36:01 GMT -5
Man...Jerry Jarrett looks like an old woman now.
|
|
