Dragon*Con, part 2
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Since I couldn’t actually get inside Dragon*Con on Saturday, I decided to get up early on Sunday and head back. I got there at 8:30am this time and was in by 9.
My first stop was a Q&A session with Peter Meyhew (Star Wars’ Chewbacca), as well as a couple of lesser known actors from the Star Wars movies.
The panel I really wanted to see was with Buffy the Vampire Slayer alums such as Nicholas Brendon (Xander), Andy Hallet (Lorne, from Angel), Clare Kramer (Glory), and James Leary (Clem). But it started two hours later in the same room, so I decided to check out the Star Wars Q&A to pass the time.
There was 5 or 6 people already lined up for the Buffy panel, and I couldn’t figure out what they were doing. Unfortunately, I soon found out.
When the Star Wars panel was over they made everyone exit and you could come back in if you wanted to see the Buffy panel. Except that when I walked out of the room I immediately saw why those people showed up two hours early. There was a line 3 or 4 people wide all the way out of that room, down the hall, out the hotel door and around the block.
So, needless to say, I missed the Buffy panel.
Missing really the only panel I was that interested in, I decided to check out the Dealers/Exhibitors area. Nothing really that I was interested in having, but I was able to find a couple of Christmas gifts.
I then headed over to the Walk of Fame, where all the Sci-fi celebs sit in booths and sign autographs. There were quite a few notables in attendance, including Ray Park (Darth Maul and X-Men’s Toad), the aforementioned Nicholas Brendon, and Serenity/Firefly’s Alan Tudyk (Wash) and Summer Glau (River). Summer, Alan and Nicholas were by far the most popular ones there.
There were a few celebs that weren’t quite Sci-fi related, but probably have overlapping fan bases. Such as Traci Lords and Mike Jones, better known as Virgil from WWF fame.
The ones I really could figure out were Erin Moran, Don Most, and Anson Williams. What are Joanie, Ralph Malph and Potsie doing at a Sci-fi and gaming convention?
Overall, though, I didn’t like the Walk of Fame. In fact, it left a bad taste in my mouth about the whole convention. For me, seeing some of these people was to be the highlight of the event. (That and taking pictures of geeks dressed like pirates and Star Wars characters.) But when I got into the Walk of Fame area, I realized that everyone was charging for their autographs. Many also charging for the privilege of snapping a quick photo with you. I guess I should have expected that, but I really didn’t count on them charging $20-$40. Especially since it cost $30 just to get into the convention.
I started thinking, is there any celeb that I like enough to spend $25 to have him/her autograph a head-shot? I mean I am a big fan of a lot of celebs, but what’s the point of a quick “hi”, handshake and “what’s your name?” as they scribble it on a head-shot and the guy next to them takes your money? Don’t get me wrong, I realize they are there to make a buck and I don’t blame them for that. But it just wasn’t for me. It felt cheap and fake.
I saw many celebs just sitting there with no one coming up to them. Mira Furlan, who plays Danielle Rousseau on Lost looked extremely bored. I made a dozen or more laps around the area and never saw anyone at her booth. I also didn’t see anyone come up to the Happy Days gang. Even Anthony Daniels didn’t attract that much attention. I felt bad for them. I would have loved to gone up, shook their hands and said “hi, I’m a fan of your work.” I really am a fan of all of their work. I grew up watching Happy Days and would have enjoyed chatting with those guys. Or talking to Furlan about what it’s like to work on a show like Lost. Does she ever spend time trying to figure out the mystery too?
But I can’t afford to spend $20 a pop to do that. (Again, I already paid $15 to park and $30 to get in.) And I’m sure others felt the same way. So you walk in, decide how many autographs you are going to pay for, and the less popular ones sit there. I bet some of them wouldn’t have minded having someone walk up and chat without buying a photo as long as you didn’t get in the way when a paying customer came up. But you don’t know.
Next year I’ll probably go back because my friends didn’t get to get in, and walking around with them would have been more fun. We had fun on Saturday without getting in. But I don’t think I would ever pay again if I were going by myself. Most of the fun can be had just walking around outside (and the parts of the hotels where you don’t need a badge) and just people watching. The lobby of the Hilton was a great place to see people in costumes.
The best place, though, for people watching was the Food Court in the mall next door. It’s very surreal to see a group of Pirates sitting around a small table eating Chick-Fil-A.
