Author Topic: WonderCon 2013 Reviews  (Read 29001 times)

Yzrfan

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WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #75 on: April 07, 2013, 08:53:37 PM »
We were there, but waiting in lines.

Offline Transmute Jun

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Re: WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #76 on: April 08, 2013, 07:45:18 AM »
A big difference between WonderCon and SDCC. At WonderCon, these guys are standing around bored, with nothing to do!


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Re: WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #77 on: Today at 01:41:33 AM »

Offline Bernie Lean

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Re: WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #77 on: April 09, 2013, 10:19:42 AM »
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Gentle Giant was at WC in 2012, because they had the exclusive 3D Yoda for the release of Episode I in 3D.

A big company like Gentle Giant wouldn't vendor at a big event such as Wondercon just because of 1 Star Wars event since they also make collectibles for Marvel, Harry Potter, Sucker Punch, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, etc. I've talked to reps at Gentle Giants and overall the buzz they got at Anaheim Wondercon wasn't what they anticipated so that's why they declined to vendor this year.

Yzrfan

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WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #78 on: April 09, 2013, 10:26:17 AM »
Did you see the there booth in 2012? They only had one item for sale that year.... Yoda.

Offline Bernie Lean

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Re: WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #79 on: April 09, 2013, 10:33:45 AM »
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So I know I'm not a regular on this forum, but I do pop in once in a while.  So here's my two cents, for what it's worth. 

Pros
-Loved the Arena - every seat was comfortable and had a great view
-The panels were brilliant this year!  There was only one panel I wasn't able to get into and I knew the chances were unlikely to get in as I was leaving one panel and rushing to get into another back-to-back.  Also, CCI opened another room for the viewing of Doctor Who when they realized they were going to have to turn away masses of people.  Kudos for that!
-As someone mentioned earlier, loved the fountain area in front of the convention center so cosplayers and media/photographers could have their heyday.
-Again as someone else mentioned earlier, there were lots of great costumes this year.  I am not a cosplayer, but as a seamstress I can appreciate a good costume.  In the past, people have worn things bought at Party City and called it a costume.  But I really saw a step up from the past. Serious costuming - Niiiiiice!
Cons
-I was really disappointed with the selection of vendors.  I am guessing this was due to the convention being on Easter weekend.  There were numerous vendors who were there last year that did not attend this year and I was greatly disappointed.  And while the floor was larger and there were more vendors there seemed to be unnecessary repetition.  Do they really need two large t-shirt vendors and two large robe vendors?  I know they have this at ComicCon, but that's such a huge facility.
-The regulations at the private wristband signings were too restrictive. One had to win a ticket-pull to get the wristband, which set the numbers usually at 100 winners.  When you got to the signing you were not only restricted to what could be signed, but you couldn't even take a picture (for a memory of the event) from the line.  I can understand no photos once you get up to the signing table, but no photos from the line?  And they were very serious with repercussions; I saw security pull people's badges who had "broken the rules" and were escorted out of the convention.  The joy and synergy I've felt at other signings were completely absent from the WonderCon signings I experienced this weekend.
-The restrooms were way too small!  Every restroom I visited only had 4-5 stalls, with a line of ladies waiting.  Also, I don't mean to be gross, but the restrooms that were in the middle of the exhibit hall were completely misplaced.  Every time I was on my way to Dark Horse Comics and had to pass the men's restroom, oh my! A most unpleasant wall of putrid odor would hit me.  Honestly, I don't know how the staff at Dark Horse made it through the weekend!
So those are my thoughts - that's just how I experienced it.  WonderCon is no ComicCon.  But I do love it and hope they keep a version of it in Anaheim!

It seems like you've never attended a ticketed signing through Wondercon. Unlike the Arrow signing which is handled by DC, the ticketed signings for Hollywood casts have a no photography and no signing of personal item policy. If you break these rules you will have your badge taken away from you. This is stated multiple times so those that try to be slick and slip a photo in deserve to have their badge taken away from them. CCI doesn't bluff on this and the ones that find out the hard will remember for the next time.

You may think it's not "fan friendly" but those are the rules so either follow the rules or accept the consequences. The Arrow signing was done in an open space at the DC booth on the exhibit floor so that's why there's plenty of photos of Steven and the cast online.

Yzrfan

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WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #80 on: April 09, 2013, 10:41:52 AM »
Dude why don't you chill out. They were simply stating what they had observed. Maybe they had never attended a signing before WC,  but who cares. We are all here to talk about things. That's the reason for this forum.  There are several old pros and many new people here.

Offline Bernie Lean

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Re: WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #81 on: April 09, 2013, 10:49:01 AM »
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Dude why don't you chill out. They were simply stating what they had observed. Maybe they had never attended a signing before WC,  but who cares. We are all here to talk about things. That's the reason for this forum.  There are several old pros and many new people here.

Just stating from previous experiences at Wondercon. I meant to malice or ill will at all from my comment and observation. It's a wonder why people have such thin skin when the rules put out by CCI don't go in their favor.

Yzrfan

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WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #82 on: April 09, 2013, 11:18:46 AM »
Why don't you review your last post. Don't know if you meant to say you meant to malice or if it should be you meant no malice. everyone here has one thing in common, we are all very passionate about our cons.

Offline alyssa

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Re: WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #83 on: April 10, 2013, 06:12:54 AM »
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<snip> Unlike the Arrow signing which is handled by DC, the ticketed signings for Hollywood casts have a no photography and no signing of personal item policy. If you break these rules you will have your badge taken away from you. This is stated multiple times so those that try to be slick and slip a photo in deserve to have their badge taken away from them.

sounds like you've been to a lot of Hollywood cast signings...i've always been curious about such events.  How do they work?  I always go for the comic/author signings so am clueless.  I happened to wander by the Fox booth last year when a signing was occurring it was a mad house with no seeming organization. 


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CCI doesn't bluff on this and the ones that find out the hard will remember for the next time.

I was under the impression that it was the booths/management policy's not CCI's...  I find it hard to believe that CCI restricts who a fan can take a picture of. Of course CCI deals with fire lane/line issues...but i find it hard to believe cci would in force a rule on one booth but not another.

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Offline tehlilone

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Re: Re: WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #84 on: April 10, 2013, 08:04:19 AM »
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I was under the impression that it was the booths/management policy's not CCI's...  I find it hard to believe that CCI restricts who a fan can take a picture of. Of course CCI deals with fire lane/line issues...but i find it hard to believe cci would in force a rule on one booth but not another.

I've never seen anyone get their badge taken away. I've just seen people get reminded (yelled at) by booth security.

Some of the larger booths with cast signings will be really strict with signings. They've gotten more strict in recent years. Sometimes you'll get into a more relaxed signing though. I'm usually very considerate and hurry thru without really talking to the celebrities. But, I decided to be bad last year for the first time and had SOO much fun talking/taking pics with them. It helps when you're one of the first ones going through the line since the posters get stuck a lot more since there's no flow yet.

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Offline Applescruff

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Re: WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #85 on: April 10, 2013, 10:54:13 PM »
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It seems like you've never attended a ticketed signing through Wondercon. Unlike the Arrow signing which is handled by DC, the ticketed signings for Hollywood casts have a no photography and no signing of personal item policy. If you break these rules you will have your badge taken away from you. This is stated multiple times so those that try to be slick and slip a photo in deserve to have their badge taken away from them. CCI doesn't bluff on this and the ones that find out the hard will remember for the next time.

You may think it's not "fan friendly" but those are the rules so either follow the rules or accept the consequences. The Arrow signing was done in an open space at the DC booth on the exhibit floor so that's why there's plenty of photos of Steven and the cast online.

Yes, you are correct, I have limited experience regarding ticketed signings through WonderCon.  As a So Cal resident this year was my second WonderCon.  Last year I participated in two ticketed signings; one was on the floor for Fringe; the other was a private signing for Once Upon A Time. However, I certainly do not recall that (Once Upon A Time) private signing to be nearly as restrictive as the ones I experienced this year. My only other experience with CCI is Comic-Con and certainly the vast majority of their "Hollywood" cast signings are NOT private signings, occurring either in booths on the floor or in the Sails Pavilion.  (I am aware that they do have private signings at Comic-Con; I've just never attended any of them).  I find it an interesting paradox that CCI would hand their "Hollywood" cast signings at two of their conventions in polar opposite fashion. Perhaps it might have been advantageous to have been told during the actual ticket pull at WonderCon that the signing was going to be a private signing.  My guess is that I was not the only fan who assumed the signing was going to be a "Comic-Con type" of open signing.  Be aware, I am not disputing CCI's ability to have rules for their private signings or that they should or should not enforce them.  My only point is that, in my opinion, their rules for the private signings are excessively restrictive and unnecessary.  Also, FYI, I am no newbie to the convention and/or autographing scene.  2013 will be my 16th Comic-Con and I've been attending conventions, movie premieres,  book signings, and private autograph parties for approximately 35 years so I do believe I have enough experience to be able to determine fan friendly from fan unfriendly.  (In all my years of experience the only other signing that I have attended that was this restrictive was for Sir Paul McCartney). With all that said, I still had a fantastic time at WonderCon.  However, I will also stand by my statement that WonderCon is no Comic-Con.  Live and learn. 

Offline alyssa

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Re: WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #86 on: April 11, 2013, 03:52:27 AM »
i really think it's a mistake to assume CCI is handling those signings.

It is my understanding that signings at booths are handled by the booth.  CCI can restrict things like where the line forms & the like but has no say in how the details are handled. 
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Yzrfan

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WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #87 on: April 11, 2013, 05:56:35 AM »
I just think one person was trying to stir things up here.

Offline Khaaaaaaanh!!!

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Re: WonderCon 2013 Reviews
« Reply #88 on: April 11, 2013, 07:17:16 AM »
Moral of the story is to pay attention to the rules and don't assume anything.

...and if you're gonna get your badge revoked, make sure it was at least worth it. ;)
...you had me at hello...

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