Walking through a Wall of Water

This morning was interesting to walk outside the house. There was a fine mist in the air that makes it feel like you are walking through water to get anywhere. We turned on the AC for a short time to get the wet feeling out of the house. I wish it would rain if it is going to rain. I feel like a plant being misted when I step outside.

Someone asked me my opinion on what happened in Chicago this weekend with a convention that John Barrowman was suppose to attend but cancelled due to an ankle injury. Here it is for those who want to know.

I feel for the organizers since I haven't seen that much bad luck for a set of guests in years. My sympathies go out to Kai Owen and his wife for their loss. My sympathies to Mr. Barrowman for the damage to his ankle an injury I know hurts like heck and is more than just a sprain. Tom Price was there but had injury due to a collision with a cyclist. If none of those things happened, it would have been an amazing weekend for those who paid through the noses for various tickets that they would have talked about and some would lord it over those who were not there.

However the organizers, who apparently were the crew that ran the Barrowman autographing at SDCC, need to learn how to be more polite and tolerant of the people they want to buy their "product". I understand going into a defensive posture because your entire convention has gone rather off the rails in less than a week before the event. Just know how you talk and react to anyone is going to be told to everyone.

I had heard some rather gruesome tales at how people were treated at SDCC. I understand they wanted to get as many people through the line as possible but the tactics they took were rather draconian. (You may not look at John as he signs your photo? Really?) Considering what people were paying, polite goes a long way. I have worked a lot of autograph lines in my time and I have always found that a little sympathy goes a long way to some good will.

That carries to your e-mail and posting on your website. Don't shut people down who are asking reasonable questions and learn to deal with the unreasonable with aplomb. You are the face of the convention and you set the tone for how you will be responded too.

The fans need to calm down a little too. This is not JumpCon, FedConUSA nor Flanvention. The product was not delivered because of shady dealing or too many promises. The product was not delivered due to injury and illness. Stop and think. If the talent had shown up as advertised, this would have been a weekend you would probably never forget. You would have the photos you wanted with John and the autographs and those stories that tend to get blown out of proportion over time.

There needs to be some give and take on both sides to sort this out. You are not going to make everyone happy in this situation but you might improve your reputation both as a fan and as a convention creator. And, yes, there will be the vocal few that will never shut up about how they were wronged but there are always a couple of those no matter how smoothly the convention goes or how many people are made happy. Just look at what SDCC, NYCC, and DragonCon have to deal with on a yearly basis.

I am grateful that the water has stopped misting from the skies so I can step out and not feel like I am swimming.

Walking through a Wall of Water

This morning was interesting to walk outside the house. There was a fine mist in the air that makes it feel like you are walking through water to get anywhere. We turned on the AC for a short time to get the wet feeling out of the house. I wish it would rain if it is going to rain. I feel like a plant being misted when I step outside.

Someone asked me my opinion on what happened in Chicago this weekend with a convention that John Barrowman was suppose to attend but cancelled due to an ankle injury. Here it is for those who want to know.

I feel for the organizers since I haven't seen that much bad luck for a set of guests in years. My sympathies go out to Kai Owen and his wife for their loss. My sympathies to Mr. Barrowman for the damage to his ankle an injury I know hurts like heck and is more than just a sprain. Tom Price was there but had injury due to a collision with a cyclist. If none of those things happened, it would have been an amazing weekend for those who paid through the noses for various tickets that they would have talked about and some would lord it over those who were not there.

However the organizers, who apparently were the crew that ran the Barrowman autographing at SDCC, need to learn how to be more polite and tolerant of the people they want to buy their "product". I understand going into a defensive posture because your entire convention has gone rather off the rails in less than a week before the event. Just know how you talk and react to anyone is going to be told to everyone.

I had heard some rather gruesome tales at how people were treated at SDCC. I understand they wanted to get as many people through the line as possible but the tactics they took were rather draconian. (You may not look at John as he signs your photo? Really?) Considering what people were paying, polite goes a long way. I have worked a lot of autograph lines in my time and I have always found that a little sympathy goes a long way to some good will.

That carries to your e-mail and posting on your website. Don't shut people down who are asking reasonable questions and learn to deal with the unreasonable with aplomb. You are the face of the convention and you set the tone for how you will be responded too.

The fans need to calm down a little too. This is not JumpCon, FedConUSA nor Flanvention. The product was not delivered because of shady dealing or too many promises. The product was not delivered due to injury and illness. Stop and think. If the talent had shown up as advertised, this would have been a weekend you would probably never forget. You would have the photos you wanted with John and the autographs and those stories that tend to get blown out of proportion over time.

There needs to be some give and take on both sides to sort this out. You are not going to make everyone happy in this situation but you might improve your reputation both as a fan and as a convention creator. And, yes, there will be the vocal few that will never shut up about how they were wronged but there are always a couple of those no matter how smoothly the convention goes or how many people are made happy. Just look at what SDCC, NYCC, and DragonCon have to deal with on a yearly basis.

I am grateful that the water has stopped misting from the skies so I can step out and not feel like I am swimming.