Poll Destination Star Trek Europe Convention 2016

[DimesDan]

Let's keep this about the post, not the poster, please. Accusations about the poster are crossing that line.

And yet each and every post the poster has made in this thread has been of a negative nature (I wouldn't go as far as defamatory, but it is very close) I was speculating as to why each and every post has been like that and why @Admiral Bear hasn't enlightened those wondering why he feels this way.

Indeed I am. My experience of Showmasters events has been good.

Good to hear, if I was still in the country, I would seriously consider going as that Friday is my birthday.

 

[The Old Mixer]

And yet each and every post the poster has made in this thread has been of a negative nature (I wouldn't go as far as defamatory, but it is very close) I was speculating as to why each and every post has been like that and why @Admiral Bear hasn't enlightened those wondering why he feels this way.

He's free to criticize entities outside this board, and you're free to question why, but that can be done without getting personal about it.

 

[DimesDan]

He's free to criticize entities outside this board,

If it was just mere criticism, but it doesn't seem to be.

and you're free to question why, but that can be done without getting personal about it.

Again, speculating, if @Admiral Bear believes I am attacking him and getting personal, I apologise, but I am merely curious as to why he has shown such negativety to the organisers of the event.

 

[The Old Mixer]

if @Admiral Bear believes I am attacking him and getting personal

I believe you were attacking him and getting personal. A mod told you to knock it off. End of public discussion. Further comments to PM.

 

[jamestyler]

She cancelled on sunday and their was no one in their office. And since most people already knew she cancelled anyway, It would of been unprofessional of them to announce her cancellation without first contacting her agent for official conformation of that.

When a guest straight up says they're not going to be there, it's done. And that sort of thing isn't a secret that only she knows. Previous commitments would have been informed. I've dealt with appearance cancellations before - rule of thumb is when someone who people are paying money to see says they're not gonna be there, you tell the people paying money as soon as you can.

I'd be forgiving to some, but there have been several instances with this organiser where guests for events have been announced with neither them or their agent knowing about it. From conversations/dealings/business stuff I assume it's a case of jumping the gun and in others it's a case of unnecessary delay - but one organiser in particular involved has shown a consistency in his disregard for the customers, and personally.... those customers are paying your mortgage, they should be held in higher regard and it wouldn't hurt to have someone on the team who's actually good at PR and dealing with people.

Even a "I've heard about this, I'll check in with the boss before making further comment" saves the day.

Personally I don't like telling people to boycott or blacklist anyone, It doesn't hurt to be cautious and aware of both the positives and negatives when you're spending a large amount of money. A lot of people have had good times, a lot of people have been burned (personally, I'm still out of pocket from refused refunds from years back which I know I'll never see).

Indeed I am. My experience of Showmasters events has been good.

There seems to be a different vibe in different areas. London is always a priority so they get the best show. Glasgow was openly admitted to be low priority, and the mood isn't even close to exciting. It's more like paying to meet your mates at the pub. MCM saw the hole in the market and basically stole the area with far bigger results and the atmosphere is electric.

The difference between even Milton Keynes and their low priority gigs is astounding. Which is a real shame and doesn't look to be improving any time soon.

 

[cultcross]

I'm giving MCM a go later in the year. Heard good things.

 

[jamestyler]

I'm a big fan of MCM. I'm sure it has negative feedback as well, but from my experience it's customer service (both online and on site) is top notch and the mood for the events I've attended have been far better. They seem to constantly adapt and listen to feedback as well, which has shown here in Glasgow to an amazing response.

It might seem like a small thing, but the layout they have alone makes a massive difference. Though I also have high hopes for a new con opening later this year in Edinburgh - at the least I hope all this forces Showmasters to raise their game here before they become obsolete this side of the wall.

 

[Admiral Bear]

Though I also have high hopes for a new con opening later this year in Edinburgh - at the least I hope all this forces Showmasters to raise their game here before they become obsolete this side of the wall.

Most of the big name guests for Glasgow are now being cancelled. Shitemasters have always been dead in Scotland, especially since Joiner went on his forum and slagged them all off for not turning up after one of his Glasgow events was even emptier than usual.

 

[jamestyler]

Most of the big name guests for Glasgow are now being cancelled. Shitemasters have always been dead in Scotland, especially since Joiner went on his forum and slagged them all off for not turning up after one of his Glasgow events was even emptier than usual.

Oddly, my wife mentioned some cancellations to me earlier. I'm not surprised in the slightest. I imagine Marsters will stay on, but Carl Weathers - and a rebrand with absolutely no comic content considering thats the prime market in Glasgow right now - is already a sour note.

Strangely, I think I recall that event. Though there's been many anti-Scots rants and it' hard to keep track :/ A group started a seperate forum years ago just so they could comment without being deleted or instabanned :/

 

[Admiral Bear]

Whooo whooo! We finally have an event related post after 2 1/2 months.

A montage of Shatner, Takei and Koenig accompanied by a presumably sarky "This is looking to be quite a show " comment.

John 11:35.

 

[Admiral Bear]

Fans and prospective attendees are now being openly trolled by the Showmasters Goon Squad for asking why there have been no guest announcements or updates of any kind for the last 3 months.

 

[Admiral Bear]

No new main cast guests announced for nearly 5 months. No updates from Shitemasters for 3 months. Nichelle Nichols now announced for NY Comic Con on the same weekend as DSTE. People now starting to spit blood on Facebook and the Goon Squad forum.

Two people with more money than sense have even admitted to buying the £3K Admiral package, and they're now about it. No sympathy. Sympathy is for fools.

 

[DimesDan]

Whooo whooo! We finally have an event related post after 2 1/2 months.

A montage of Shatner, Takei and Koenig accompanied by a presumably sarky "This is looking to be quite a show " comment.

John 11:35.

Fans and prospective attendees are now being openly trolled by the Showmasters Goon Squad for asking why there have been no guest announcements or updates of any kind for the last 3 months.

No new main cast guests announced for nearly 5 months. No updates from Shitemasters for 3 months. Nichelle Nichols now announced for NY Comic Con on the same weekend as DSTE. People now starting to spit blood on Facebook and the Goon Squad forum.

Two people with more money than sense have even admitted to buying the £3K Admiral package, and they're now about it. No sympathy. Sympathy is for fools.

So do you have a link or is this all just supposition? And what exactly is your problem with the organizers given your low opinion of them?

 

[jamestyler]

So do you have a link or is this all just supposition? And what exactly is your problem with the organizers given your low opinion of them?

I havent read much (any) of it, but it's not hard to find:

https://www.facebook.com/DestinationStarTrek/?fref=ts

And forums: Often cleared out.
http://showmastersonline.com/forums/index.php?showforum=356

 

[DimesDan]

but it's not hard to find

I'm sure it's not, but to be honest, I would rather the links are supplied when making such gradious complaints than I go searching for them.

 

[jamestyler]

I'm sure it's not, but to be honest, I would rather the links are supplied when making such gradious complaints than I go searching for them.

^ Thats all I have in my head now.

I don't mind as much not having links. I always find it odd posting multiple links to convey opinion. It's almost like having a chat with a mate in the pub with several print outs under my arm to back up everythingI'm about to say.

 

[DimesDan]

I always find it odd posting multiple links to convey opinion.

Given the posts are peppered with digs at the organisers and what they've supposedly done in the past, that's why I have asked multi occasions for an answer and for links.

 

[Starkers]

Originally posted this as its own thread until I saw this thread existed!

I’m going to the Destination Star Trek on the Saturday and, given my con experience is fairly limited, I was hoping to get some advice re which guests might be worth trying to see (and who to avoid!) I went to the London Comic Con back in July and had a disappointing photo experience with Famke Janssen (second favourite Bond girl) as did 99% of people who’d paid for the privilege and I thought this time I’d try and do some research first.

I’ve heard conflicting things over Shatner, that he can be very good or very standoffish, but I think I have to go for having my photo taken with him, he’s Captain Kirk after all! Other than him I’m likely to try and have a photo and/or autograph with Alex Siddig given I was always a huge Bashir fan, and the notion of having a picture with Robert O’Reilly in full Gowron makeup on the bridge of a Klingon ship appeals as I have a suspicion he might be really good fun.

Beyond this I don’t know (money’s a factor obviously) so any advice would be appreciated, in particular whether it’s best to go for a photo op or an autograph with certain people (going back to the London experience I got Michelle Gomez’s autograph and with I’d had a photo with her as she was a hoot, and I should have got Famke’s autograph as I suspect it would have been a slightly better experience)

 

[Admiral Bear]

Shatner is supposed to have mellowed in recent years. You'll get no interaction with him at the photoshoot as the who process is a cattle market. He just sits there a la Famke with the same fixed glazed smile on his face while the punters stand next to him, one after the other. You may get more out of him in the autograph queue, but he signs like a robot, and SM autograph queues are worse than cattle markets. Both Avery Brooks and Scott Bakula had very public issues with the way things were being handled at the first DSTL in 2012.

A lot of the photos themselves are poor for both framing and actual quality of print. Shitemasters use amateurs to take the photos, and most of them can't set up a professional photography stage and rig to save their lives. I suggest you have a hunt around on Google for some of the TNG cast photos from the second DSTL a couple of years back that illustrate how these goons think you should set up a £250 photo op. They've also never used the NEC, so the lighting in there will be new to them, and they'll be no professional set up. If you have a bad quality photo taken, don't put up with it. Complain immediately and get a retake. I've seen £60 Shatner photo ops taken by SM clowns with white flashes all over them because they've not set the lighting up right, and the fans didn't complain.

Alexander Siddig. Met him a few times many years ago. Top bloke. Very personable.

Never met Bob O on his own without JG. They usually come as a pair when they're very good company. The make up isn't likely to be good. It's strictly fan level costuming and makeup. The Klingon Bridge op may be worth it for you, but personally I wouldn't.

Expect nothing from the event itself. I urge you to read the reviews, particularly of the first event which was an utter disgrace. There was nothing to do for free once you paid £30 to get in, people didn't get what they'd paid for, refunds were refused, and legal action ensued. The second event was little better.

There have been no guest announcements of any note for the last 5 months, and no information from Shitemasters for this Birmingham event. The fans have been complaining for months, and it's now starting to get nasty.

There but for the Grace of God go I.

 

[Starkers]

Thanks. I've been on the forum so have seen people complaining about a lack of guests. Personally I quite like the line-up but like I say I haven't done many of these before and I appreciate the comment upthread to the effect of "Who hasn't got Shimmerman's autograph" well I haven't!

I appreciate they put more into London but I thought that was quite enjoyable. The actual photo with Famke was good quality, and a friend of mine got pics with Mads Mikkleson (who was awesome judging by the pics I've seen as was Jeremy Renner) Michael Emerson and Sylvester McCoy that were all good.

If I was dithering about Siddig you might have stopped any of that, and even though I know Shatner isn't going to give me a bear hug I'll still likely go for something, from a pragmatic point of view I'm not sure if I'll get the chance again.

I didn't figure the makeup would be studio quality, I suppose its just that O'Reilly is likely to be more recognisable as Gowron than as himself. The lack of updates is a tad worrying, but at least it's within driving distance so we won't be booking hotel rooms or train tickets as we did with London.

Any other advice re who's a good value guest and who best to avoid?