REPORT ON CHARLOTTE NWA FANFEST
- 08/16/2007 (1:58:37 am)
- Mike
….
Since everyone else has been doing so, I figured I would also note my observations and take on the weekend. This is a long one though.
In July, I decided to attend this show and bought my ticket, reserved the hotel (didn’t get the cheaper rate unfortunately, however $120/night wasn’t too bad) and booked a 5:00 pm flight out of New Jersey.
Thursday, I packed up my figures and old Apter mags to be signed and headed to the airport. The worst airport experience of my life- an 8 hour plus delay, 6 hours at the airport, 2 hours on the runway. I should consider myself lucky however because all other US Air flights, before and after mine, were canceled. So at least I got to Charlotte.
Arrived at the hotel around 2:30 am ish, checked in and learned that registration would take place at 6:00 am Friday morning. Remembering the long line for registration last year in Maryland, I went downstairs at 5:30 am. Already there must have been at least 25 people in front of me. By 6:00 am, the line after me continued to grow.
Registration started a little late and they started doing it by VIP number, which no one had told us they would be doing. Since I had a higher number, there did not really appear to be any reason for me to have been down there by 6 am, since they had prepared registration packets for only the first 50 or so VIP #s. However, the guys at the desk, Tommy (who was just a really great guy) and the other guy with the glasses, changed this up and would ask you for your number, then go to the back to have your packet prepared. About 15 minutes later or so, you would get your materials. The registration process was longer than I had hoped but at least it was over.
I bought the combo photo opp packet, only because it seemed to work out financially based on who I wanted pictures with. That probably was a mistake, based on Tommy Rich and Chris Cruise no shows, as well as the missing photo opps (I am still waiting for a number of them to surface). I do think the quality of the actual photo opps was down this year. My Ron Garvin turned out very blurry, Steve Williams looked like he had some weird thing on his nose, the lighting didn’t look great in a lot of them, and the color seemed off as well. I’m not sure if this was the fault of the room, the photographers or what- makes you wonder if they even really tested the room to make sure that it was optimal for pictures. This should not be taken as a major complaint, just an observation that I thought the quality of the photo opps was significantly better last year in Maryland. And I got fooled this year, just like last year, when I was told the photo opps would be numbered. It was not a big deal because the photo opps moved very quickly- I will just know for next year that they are not numbered, no matter what I am told ahead of time.
I have the same problems with the 8x10s for sale that everyone else did. By posting them on the site in the weeks leading up to the show, I was really excited about purchasing a number of 8x10s to get signed. At least ½ to 3/4 of the ones I wanted were unavailable. However, I will say that the ladies behind the table were very nice to me, especially the older lady, who I know went out of her way to try to track down 8x10s of the 4 horsemen for me. Unfortunately, they did not have any to sell, which I found baffling considering this was a 4 Horsemen show. However, I appreciate her effort in looking for me.
Prior to the show, Greg assured me that they would have plenty of 8x10s of all featured talent available. I don’t know what happened but this was my major complaint from Maryland. I would have expected that this would not have been a problem this year also. Considering Greg could have made approximately $150 from me on 8x10s ($5 each for 30 8x10s), plus other people as well, it doesn’t make any sense why they did not have them available. My lesson is learned however - next year I will make sure I have in my possession all 8x10s that I want before I go to the show.
Whether they were supposed to sell them or not, I was able to purchase some 8x10s from other vendors that I was able to get the legends to sign for me.
However, I did purchase the Horsemen poster and the event poster from Greg. They both look awesome signed, the event poster especially with signatures in silver, although for some reason Penny and Judy Martin signed it in black.
Regarding the signings, the lines seemed to move slower than last year. Was this a security issue, was this talent signing slow, talking to fans or fellow legends, or was this fans taking to long or having extra items? I don’t know but the lines did crawl very slowly. However, the panels worked out for me, and I pretty much got signatures from everyone, aside from the first panel, when George Scott, Penny Banner, Judy Martin, Gary Hart and Rip Hawk had enough of signing and left the table even though they were only up to VIP number 260 or so. I did catch Gary Hart, Penny and Judy just as they were getting up and caught Rip Hawk later in the weekend so I only wound up missing George Scott. I really had nothing for him to sign anyway, other than an 8x10 I bought from Greg, which can now be tossed away.
However, and this is not meant in a harsh way, I think it is an absolute disgrace for legends to get up and leave the signing area because they have had enough. The first panel left before the 3 hour signing was over. I know legends left the 2nd and 3rd panels at some point, leaving some very disappointed fans (this was after I had already received their signatures). And they were all staying for most of the weekend. If there is a plane to catch, that is one thing. But if you are there for the weekend, you stay signing on that panel until either 1) the fans are finished; or 2) Greg Price tells you the signing is over. If you cannot do that, don’t come. Don’t sign on. It simply is not fair to the large numbers of fans (a lot of who were VIPs) who missed out on signings. Bret Hart had a plane to catch last year in Maryland so he had to leave. Not a great situation but understandable. Not so understandable for those who just felt like being done. Stay home next year if you cannot do what it is expected at a signing.
More positive notes, I thought the dinner was awesome. I sat with Hurricane and Talia Madison (who is really beautiful) and some great guys from NYC (probably the only 2 non-Yankee fans that live in the Bronx). The food was much better than I would have expected. Regarding the actual ceremony, these kinds of things are generally hit or miss. They can be brutally boring or they can be interesting. This one was very interesting. I actually debated skipping the dinner since I was so tired from Thursday night’s late flight but I went and I really enjoyed it.
The wrestling matches Saturday night were also really fun. I had a great seat in the 3rd row, on the aisle by the entrance ramp so I got some great pictures of legends coming and going. I am not a fan of the current product so I never attend matches. Watching these guys was, however, a lot of fun.
Regarding the individual legends themselves, I agree with everyone that Ole Anderson was tremendous. When the first panel all got up to leave, Ole stayed to sign until the last fan was finished. All legends can learn something from Ole, that’s how they should have acted. Lex seemed genuinely happy to be there, as did Dustin. I love Jim Cornette and the MX, although for some reason, on the signing panel, Jim Cornette grabbed my Eaton/ Lane 2 pack and signed it (does that add to its value or decrease it?, though I doubt I’ll ever sell it). My favorite panel was the last one, as I truly enjoyed Tully, Doll, JJ, Eadie and Darsow. Really nice, tremandous people.
The vendors and the guests they brought in were awesome. Big time props to K & S for their package deal, the talent they brought in and the service they gave us. If you pre-ordered, Ken and Steve brought you to the front of the line. Steve was great taking pictures, even though my camera was a little tricky. He made sure that the pictures came out to my satisfaction. I was very happy with the Les and Butch Reed package deals as well. Although I thought they were a little pricey, the guy running the South Atlantic booth was really nice. Not suprisingly, Terence from LOTR was awesome as usual. It was a lot of fun to meet Honky (I had previously met OMG and Corp. Kirchner and will be meeting Ron Bass later this month so I passed on them). Terence ran his booth like he does his LOTR shows, orderly and smoothly.
The Arn photo/ signing also went smoother than I would have expected considering his demand and Arn was great about signing whatever you asked. Bill Paley was also great with Sgt. Slaughter. I got a great picture of Sarge placing me in the cobra clutch. That was probably my favorite picture of the weekend, along with one of the Jim Cornette holding the tennis racket around my neck, while the MX throw punches and knees my way. Just some really fun pictures.
I also bought the new Bruiser Brody book from the Crowbar Press table (don’t remember the guy’s name but he was enjoyable to deal with too). So far, a very interesting book. Also got some great 8x10s at this booth.
I do feel that some things could definitely have been run smoother, the photo opp situation being one of them. However, I also felt that fanfesters were a little out of control in their whining over the fact that the photo opps did not come out as quick as they wanted. I wanted my photo opps pictures back to me in time for the signings as well, but I showed respect to Greg’s workers and I in turn received respect from them. Repeatedly crying, whining and being rude about it was not going to get you the photo opps out any faster. It was not the end of my world to not have the photo opps signed. Some fanfesters, not all, continually acted like it was the end of their world. I understand you paid for something and you want what you paid for. But you have to move on at some point and focus on something else.
This also goes for 8x10s for sale table. People were so rude to the ladies at the table. I understand why people were upset but again, you have to voice your concern in a respectful manner and move on. Crying about it, which I heard many people do, isn't going to make them magically appear. We all learned lessons. Next year, we will all obtain our 8x10s before we get there. I may also choose to have some of the photo opps taken with my own camera to ensure I get the picture.
I felt that Greg was around and available all weekend. I was able to find him most of the time I needed him. And I did have concerns and issues all weekend, which I voiced to Greg. But I did so politely and with respect. Greg addressed and resolved everything for me that he could and I appreciated it. My advice for the future is when things aren’t going your way, deal with the staff in a polite manner, voice your concerns to the appropriate person and hopefully things will be resolved for you. I am not going to get all upset because Judy Martin did not sign the photo opp I took with her (actually I still don’t even have my Judy Martin photo opp picture). Instead, I am happy with all the photos I got with the legends, with all the sigs I got, and all of the other enjoyable experiences of the weekend.
Final props to Tommy at the registration desk. Any questions I had, if Greg could not be located, Tommy was the one to go through. He dealt with a lot of people complaining to him and I thought he treated everyone with respect. I left a number of items to have signed with him and he made sure I got everything back signed. I was very pleased with how that process worked out. Thanks to Tommy for making sure that all got worked out for me.
To me, this show was all about the Horsemen. I had the opportunity to meet, take pictures with and get things signed by Tully, Ole, JJ, and Arn. It was awesome. The Q and A was a lot of fun with those guys.
To me, this show was all about the Horsemen. I had the opportunity to meet, take pictures with and get things signed by Tully, Ole, JJ, and Arn. It was awesome. The Q and A was a lot of fun with those guys.
Thanks to Greg Price for giving me this opportunity. The legends at this show probably would not sell up north, which is where I am from, so this was probably the only shot I would ever have at meeting the Horsemen, Magnum, Nikita, Garvin, etc. There were certainly some things that should have been run a little differently, however, I was very happy with the weekend and had a great time. I would not hesitate to attend another fanfest, however, it is all going to depend on who Greg brings in. Having been to the last 2 fanfests, I, for one hope that Greg brings in at least 2/3s new guests. I have a 4 Horsemen poster that is signed by 4 out of the 5 people on it- if Greg can bring in that 5th person, I’d be the first one to buy the ticket.
Mike
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