Bellevue WA Collector's Expo '98 day 1
~T
Got to Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue with no problems today. No traffic
tie ups, no line into the parking garage, all went smoothly. This had me
a bit nervous. Show opened at 11am, and all were lined up with badges
waiting to get in. They took your ticket with your seat assignment and
put it a plastic badge holder... It all takes place in one big room. This
show is put on by an outfit called Dreamwerks. Their first show in the
PNW. There are about a dozen dealers with various Trek, Herc, Xena, B5
etc stuff. T shirts videos, action figures magnets!!! < and of course,
beanies!!! what no HW?> I found a Space Ghost Coast to Coast magnet!! woo
hoo. CD's cards those Trek plates and lots of publicity stills, some
signed some for you to get signed. Some of the stuff of the posters are
gorgeous, I wish I had room for it all. There was a striking BW portrait
of the bridge crew of TNG, no uniforms no make up, just the actors.
Actually the pose reminded me of an assignment we had in school, LOL If
he comes down on the price, I may relent and get it. Its actually
reasonable, $40, but you know how you get cheap sometimes?? LOL
As I walked around the 'room' I came upon a gentleman at a table signing
photos of MORN!! It was indeed Mark Alan Shepherd, filling in for Kari
Wuhrer. That was fun, now I have to go to the new apt, in the morning and
find my Morn AF!!! He and Campbell are doing both days. I had brought my
Bruce Campbell as Autylocus photo I found in Canada, and my Capt Janeway
with Torres card. Got a Janeway photo as well. <sigh>
The seating was indeed reserved, I was in the 2d row, middle of stage!!!
If I didn't screw up the 'toy' camera I should have some awesome stuff.
Shepherd was amusing and interesting. Campbell was a scream, I was
laughing so hard, I kept forgetting to take pictures. His signing was
handled orderly, one row at time from the reserved section, then any gen
admin folk. The gen admin folk really lucked out, since the reserved
seating was not full. The security folk had great costumes kit bashed
from Star Trek, Star Wars, Warriors, you name it. They did a nice job of
keeping the riff raff out of the posh seats. ;-p
While he <BC> was signing they had an auction of signed photos and various
stuff. The best part was when Campbell decided to add to the piece. ie.
a signed photo of Kevin Sorbo now has a Campbell inscription "I can beat
his doughy butt" the Xena clock, "To Xena, thanks for last night" and
the best one, David Hasselhof in Boxing Gear, with the new inscription, "I
can definetly beat his dimpled butt" I really wanted that one, but when
it got into the $60. range I balked, what was even funnier was Campbell
bidding as well. One very funny guy.
Kate Mulgrew was incredible. Very serious, very together, and dressed all
in freakin' white!!! Now I'm shooting high speed BW film. I don't like
using flash in these situations I think its rude popping that strobe in
people's faces. They get intimidated enough but my long lens! However,
she stood behind the podium which was against the wall/curtain, instead of
the white movie screen they'd been showing previews on. During Q&A, she
had lots of young women, thanking her for being their role model... It got
quite Opra-ish at times. And again the gen admin folk lucked out big
time, she agreed to sign for everyone.
Tomorrow: Majel Barret, who -will- be signing as well as speaking, and
Claudia Christian. woo hoo. Hope she brings those bw sword posters!!
none of the dealers had them. Campbell and Shepherd will do their schtick
again as well. I've never been to any thing like this before and enjoyed
it immensely. It was small, uncrowded and relaxed. Hope Sunday is
similar, my seat is again in 2d row center. I've got my Ivanova and Nurse
Chapel ready to go.
more later....