Visions '96 Convention Update (long)
George Fergus
Since membership prices go up $15 at the end of October, I thought it would be
appropriate to post this information about the convention next month.
==========================================================================
VISIONS '96
The Unconventional Television Convention
==========================================================================
Dates: November 28 - December 1, 1996
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Hotel: Hyatt Regency O'Hare
9300 West Bryn Mawr Ave.
Rosemont, IL 60018
(847) 696-1234
room rate: $73 per night [you must say you're with Visions]
==========================================================================
The is the 7th year for Visions, a fan-run convention that allows you to
interact with your favorite celebrities from various British and American
TV shows. It features multiple simultaneous autograph, photograph, and
Q&A sessions, plus examples of our guests' work in several video rooms
and many other activities throughout the weekend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONFIRMED GUESTS*
from BABYLON 5: Claudia Christian (Ivanova)
[e-mail me for a list of Claudia's TV/movie credits]
Richard Biggs (Dr. Franklin)
from BLAKES 7: Michael Keating (Vila)
Stephen Greif (Travis I)
from DOCTOR WHO: Colin Baker (6th Doctor)
Sarah Sutton (Nyssa)
Lalla Ward (Romana II)
Deborah Watling (Victoria)
Philip Segal (producer of recent BBC/Fox movie)
Jonathan Blum (creator of the video 'Time Rift')
Paul Cornell (author of 6 Doctor Who novels)
Gary Russell (former editor of Dr Who Magazine
and author of 3 Doctor Who novels)
from FOREVER KNIGHT: Ben Bass (Vachon)
from ROBIN OF SHERWOOD: Mark Ryan (Nasir)
*guests may cancel at any time due to conflicting professional commitments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
COSTUME CONTEST & FAN CABARET
Our Friday night fan-only Cabaret will give you a chance to show off your
talents and/or costume in a similar to our Saturday night celebrity-only
Variety Show. For more info please send a SASE to us (P.O. Box 1202,
Highland Park, IL 60035-1202), attention Jennifer Kelley, or e-mail
to lore...@aol.com.
CELEBRITY LUNCHEON
On Saturday we have a luncheon where each celebrity hosts a table of 10 fans.
Sorry, the luncheon is now SOLD OUT.
VARIETY SHOW
On Saturday evening we present a variety show at the cost of $20 per person.
This consists of a performance of some kind by each of the celebrity guests
-- singing, dancing, stand-up comedy, dramatic reading, or whatever. Not
everyone who attends the convention is interested in this, which is why
we make it an optional event. Tickets can be obtained at the con itself,
but people are let into the hall in the order their tickets were purchased,
so earlier purchase by mail gets you better choice of seating.
VIDEOS WANTED
In addition to our two usual Video Rooms highlighting the work of our
celebrity guests and other television items we think you will find of
interest, we will again be offering a "Fan" Video Room. We've had a good
response in previous years to fan-made versions of Doctor Who, Red Dwarf,
Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Prisoner, Mystery Science Theater 3000,
and Monty Python's Flying Circus. If you have something you'd like shown
in this room, please send us copy of your tape no later than October 31.
ART SHOW
For info, send a query to Jackie Paciello at the Visions PO Box or via
e-mail to pha...@aol.com.
BEGINNERS GUIDE
We are again distributing The Visions Rookie Guide. It explains
how and why things are done at Visions and other media and science fiction
cons. If you would like to know what the difference is between a fan-run
convention and a commercial convention, or what you can do to make your
attendance at Visions one of the highlights of the year, please send us
a business-sized SASE with postage for 2 ounces for your free copy. It
is also available by e-mail from fer...@xnet.com, and from the Visions Web
Page at http://www.xnet.com/~tardis/visions.html
VIDEOTAPES FROM PREVIOUS CONVENTIONS
Custom-assembled videotapes are available of events from Visions '90-'95.
We can mail you a catalog if you send us a business-sized SASE. It is also
available by e-mail and from the Visions Web Page as described above.
THURSDAY VIDEO ROOM HOURS
Many attendees last year didn't realize that our video rooms are open on
Thursday (Thanksgiving) evening to help entertain those early arrivals who
aren't attending the Contributors Party with the celebrity guests. The
rooms will be open from approximately 6:00 p.m. to midnight.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEMBERSHIP PRICES (refundable if you are unable to attend)
3-day: $60 until 10-31-96 $75 at the door
2-day: $50 until 10-31-96 $65 at the door
1-day: $40 until 10-31-96 $55 at the door
contributing [VIP] membership: $60 in addition to regular membership
(gets you into a Thursday night party with the celebrity guests)
Dealers Room Only [DRO] membership: $5 at the door (1-day)
variety show ticket(s): $20 (no membership required)
celebrity luncheon ticket(s): $30 in addition to regular or DRO membership
fan dealer table [limit=1]: $40 in addition to regular or DRO membership
pro dealer table(s): $250 per table
supporting [non-attending] membership only: $25 [autographed program book]
t-shirts: up to XL $12 (2XL $14 3XL $16) until 10-31-96 (add $2 at the door)
visit our web page for a chance to win a free Visions tee-shirt!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPICAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Unlike some other conventions, the celebrity guests spend almost all their
daytime hours interacting with the fans. On each of Visions' three days,
each guest typically does at least one Question & Answer session, one
autograph session, and one photograph session. However, exact appearance
times are not worked out until the last minute, so a complete agenda is
generally not available ahead of time.
Registration Thursday 6pm-9pm [for pre-registered only]
Friday 8am-5pm, 6pm-9pm
Saturday 8am-5pm
Sunday 9am-2pm
Opening Ceremonies Friday 9:30-10:30am
Closing Ceremonies Sunday 4:30-5:30pm
Panels, Autographs, Photographs Friday 10:45am-6pm
Saturday 9:30am-6:30pm
Sunday 10am-4pm
Dealers Rooms (Pro & Fan) Friday 10am-7pm
Saturday 9am-7pm
Sunday 10am-4pm
Video Rooms 1 & 2 Thursday 6pm-2am
Friday 10am-2am
Saturday 8am-2am
Sunday 8am-4pm
Art Show Friday & Saturday 10am-8pm
Art Show Awards & Auction Sunday 9:30am-noon
Contributors Party Thursday 8pm-10pm [$60 additional]
Masquerade/Costume/Performance Contest & Show Friday 7:30pm-??
Celebrity Luncheon Saturday 12:00pm-1:30pm [$30 additional]
Charity Memorabilia Auction Saturday 1:45pm-4pm
(our charities are the Lambs Farm and the Make-a-Wish Foundation)
Celebrity Variety Show Saturday 8:30pm-12:00pm?? [$20]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US
world wide web:
http://www.xnet.com/~tardis/visions.html
regular (post office) mail:
HER MAJESTY'S ENTERTAINMENT
P.O. Box 1202
Highland Park, IL 60035-1202
electronic mail:
re memberships: Rober...@aol.com (Bob McLaughlin)
re video orders & fan panels: Ausf...@aol.com (Lisa Albergo)
re costume contest/fan cabaret: lore...@aol.com (Jennifer Kelley)
re art show: pha...@aol.com (Jackie Paciello)
other queries: fer...@xnet.com (George Fergus)
telephone answering machine with current convention status:
847-405-9461
discounted air fares to Visions arranged by Total Travel Management:
800-458-9237 [they can also make hotel and car reservations for you]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be added to our electronc mailing list for any important last-minute
info, send e-mail to fer...@xnet.com.
><-------------------------------cut here------------------------------------><
VISIONS '96
Send Check or Money Order to: Travel Info: (800) 458-9237
HER MAJESTY'S ENTERTAINMENT Hotel Info: (847) 696-1234
P.O. Box 1202 Visions Info: (847) 405-9461
Highland Park, IL 60035-1202
Enclosed is $_______for ___ __-day memberships indicate: Fri( ) Sat( ) Sun( )
plus ___variety show tickets ___luncheon tickets ___supporting memberships
___contributing memberships ___t-shirts (size_____)
Name(s): ________________________________________ Enclose SASE for info on:
Volunteering [ ]
Address: ________________________________________ Fan Dealers Room [ ]
Ordering Videotapes [ ]
_________________________________________________ Fan Panels/Workshops [ ]
Entering the Costume Contest [ ]
Phone: _______________________________ Beginner's Guide to Conventions [ ]
Placing an ad in the Program Book [ ]
E-mail: ______________________________ Contributing to the Charity Auction [ ]
I volunteer for:_______________________________________________________________