Fan Expo Dallas 2023!! Comic Con. Pictures and Report, making a weekend of it, haha! 0

[THE_BEYONDER]

On 6/12/2023 at 2:06 AM, TheCollector2016 said:

I went on Saturday, and let me say first everyone at the CGC booth was fantastic and helpful. Great staff.

My two celebrity auto goals were Rosario and Chevy Chase. Figured I'd be in at doors in the morning and out no later than 4 after some wandering around...it didn't work that way.

At 10 a.m., Rosario's booth indicated she wouldn't be signing until 2 p.m. Didn't think this would be too big of an issue, got Chevy knocked out in the meantime and circled back to Rosario's queue around 12:30 as I had no other hard plans and wanted to achieve this before exploring the con floor and maybe attending a panel, who knows.

Well, one con employee didn't like the length of the line, threatened everyone with the fire marshal and security, and broke the whole thing up, instructing everyone to return at 3. Yeah, that wasn't going to cut it. I remained in the area, at a safe distance. Around 1:30 or so, they began handing out "virtual queue" tickets, something that wasn't enforced very well as I observed others continuing to get in line, even at the wrong entry points. Rosario arrived around 1:45; I found myself in the queue around 2. The queue didn't move, at all, and then she went on a break around 2:30. I found out later someone was having 30+ items signed...which I think is extreme and shouldn't be allowed. She came back out around 3...and her sign indicated she would likely stop signing around 6. The line shifted a few feet approximately everyone 20 minutes - because it was like a 25:1 VIP to regular guest ratio. I thought this was a terrible way to organize things - it should be like TSA Pre-check, 1:1. Given that it certainly seemed like just about everyone with a VIP badge on Saturday was in line for Rosario, I didn't think it was going to happen given time constraints. Somehow, I got up to her at 5:20 p.m. I have no idea how much later she was signing, but I have to believe a lot of people did not get the autographs they paid for. If I hadn't joined the queue when I did, there's no way I would have made it. There has to be a better way to organize this system for headliner guests. 

Unfortunately, I had no time to even check out the rest of the con as my train out of downtown Dallas was departing shortly. I'm glad I achieved my goals, but didn't anticipate the whole day queuing.

 

 

What did you have Chevy sign?

[TheCollector2016]

On 6/12/2023 at 9:32 AM, Robot Man said:

I wouldn’t wait that long to meet the Holy Virgin Mary. And you paid for the “privilege”? 

People definitely waited even longer for Charlie Cox and Hayden Christensen...I heard Hayden was taking photos for 3-4 hours, maybe more, and hadn't even gotten to his autographs as of 5pm on Saturday. Seemingly, some headliners were definitely oversold, even in advance. Again, part of the issue is the system itself. I'm going to a con at the end of the month that looks like it has a different system. I'll be seeing how that goes, and if it's better, will certainly be advocating for Fan Expo to adopt it....otherwise it's going to continue to be a bit chaotic for Star Wars guests.

[TheCollector2016]

On 6/12/2023 at 9:48 AM, THE_BEYONDER said:

What did you have Chevy sign?

There's an SNL coffee table book. Had him sign that, I've been collecting cast autos in it for years.

[THE_BEYONDER]

On 6/12/2023 at 10:54 AM, TheCollector2016 said:

There's an SNL coffee table book. Had him sign that, I've been collecting cast autos in it for years.

Nice!

[Cman429]

I’ve been going to Fan Expo/Megacon for 7-8 years and that line waiting experience has always been a staple of their cons. Saturday’s especially are a nightmare as post pandemic it seems like the whole world wants to come on Saturday which is why unless a guest is Sat only I have no desire to even attempt meeting them. The problem is they run these celebs from panel to photo op to signing and everything runs long then backs up the next thing. And there’s no good answer because when they try controlling the crowd like with Hayden, who has shut off ticket sales weeks/months before cons, people whine about it. I don’t think there’s any good solution beyond what I’ve learned which is plan ahead, go multiple days, and always expect everything to take 3x longer than you plan. 

[TheCollector2016]

On 6/12/2023 at 10:08 AM, Cman429 said:

I’ve been going to Fan Expo/Megacon for 7-8 years and that line waiting experience has always been a staple of their cons. Saturday’s especially are a nightmare as post pandemic it seems like the whole world wants to come on Saturday which is why unless a guest is Sat only I have no desire to even attempt meeting them. The problem is they run these celebs from panel to photo op to signing and everything runs long then backs up the next thing. And there’s no good answer because when they try controlling the crowd like with Hayden, who has shut off ticket sales weeks/months before cons, people whine about it. I don’t think there’s any good solution beyond what I’ve learned which is plan ahead, go multiple days, and always expect everything to take 3x longer than you plan. 

As have I, but I've never seen it where it looked like people were going to miss out on their pre-paid autos. I've actually never pre-paid for an auto before this con and now it seems like the only way to go for headliners, even though the additional fees are bogus. I'd love to know how late she stayed signing given her sign said 6 p.m. and the con closed at 7 p.m. I was with people in line who had pre-paid other auto and photo ops at certain times, and they gave up on those to ensure they met Rosario.

I think there is a solution - and it's tiered (Group 1, Group 2) auto groups, just like the photo ops. The other con I'm going to later this month has that. Or perhaps some sort of numerical system where the order you purchased your auto is the order you get in line. Even though Hayden sold out months in advance, it still appears that he was OVERsold.

 

[mysterio]

On 6/12/2023 at 9:35 AM, Robot Man said:

Last time I saw a dog inside a Con…

 

There were multiple dogs inside the con, which I wasn't a big fan of. Made me worry for their safety in those shoulder to shoulder crowds, getting kicked or stepped on.

[Robot Man]

On 6/12/2023 at 10:35 AM, mysterio said:

There were multiple dogs inside the con, which I wasn't a big fan of. Made me worry for their safety in those shoulder to shoulder crowds, getting kicked or stepped on.

Exactly. Why people think it is a good idea to take their dogs to shows, even our out door flea markets is beyond me. My dogs would have been terrified. They are much better off at home. I would also hate to have to try and do a show dealing with dogs or little kids. Seems like people just can't go out into the world with their dogs or cell phone in hand...

[waynemel]

Thanks to all for sharing pics and stories.  Looks like a lot of fun and money spent  

How was the temperature inside?  Heard it was hot in Dallas but inside was too?  

[ADAMANTIUM]

On 6/12/2023 at 1:54 PM, waynemel said:

Thanks to all for sharing pics and stories.  Looks like a lot of fun and money spent  

How was the temperature inside?  Heard it was hot in Dallas but inside was too?  

When crowds were there it was room temperature despite valid ac, but out in the lobby were less crowds and cooler. I didn't sweat but for outside, and yes it was humid 

Edited June 12, 2023 by ADAMANTIUM

[musicmeta]

On 6/12/2023 at 1:54 PM, waynemel said:

Thanks to all for sharing pics and stories.  Looks like a lot of fun and money spent  

How was the temperature inside?  Heard it was hot in Dallas but inside was too?  

It was very hot outside but pretty cool inside.   Friday was not as cool as Sunday.  (I couldn't make it on Saturday).  

[TheCollector2016]

Apparently, Charlie, Hayden, and Rosario (at least) stayed quite some time past closing to sign for fans. That is awesome and kind of them.

But there seems to be a consensus on the overbooking and poor organization.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/166233487361017/

[The Commissioner]

I had a great time at the show. It was great meeting some boardies and putting faces to names. 

[mysterio]

On 6/12/2023 at 1:54 PM, waynemel said:

Thanks to all for sharing pics and stories.  Looks like a lot of fun and money spent  

How was the temperature inside?  Heard it was hot in Dallas but inside was too?  

That was the hottest con I’ve been at in a while, maybe ever. Sweated all weekend, which is unusual for just being behind a table. So hot. 

[D2]

Great posts. Fun to follow along. Thanks for this

[Ryan.]

On 6/12/2023 at 4:32 PM, TheCollector2016 said:

Apparently, Charlie, Hayden, and Rosario (at least) stayed quite some time past closing to sign for fans. That is awesome and kind of them.

Or they were contractually obligated to sell through a certain amount of signatures. 

[MattTheDuck]

On 6/12/2023 at 8:30 AM, TheCollector2016 said:

perhaps some sort of numerical system where the order you purchased your auto is the order you get in line

I'm pretty surprised this isn't how it's organized.  Even the DMV has that one figured out.

[TheCollector2016]

On 6/12/2023 at 6:29 PM, Ryan. said:

Or they were contractually obligated to sell through a certain amount of signatures. 

How would this have been tracked? Presales were done online, then redeemed for tickets. I didn't see anyone counting the tickets when they were handed over at the booth to ensure an exact amount of autographs were performed.

[1Cool]

On 6/13/2023 at 10:08 AM, TheCollector2016 said:

How would this have been tracked? Presales were done online, then redeemed for tickets. I didn't see anyone counting the tickets when they were handed over at the booth to ensure an exact amount of autographs were performed.

As long as the money has been handed over I don't think they really care if the person shows up to get the autograph.  The number of total autographs that were sold should be really easy to calculate if they sold them online.

[mysterio]

June 7-9 next year, mark your calendars!