Alpha Con - Part 2...
Okay… let’s get started with Friday, since I’m sure more people are interested in the Convention stuff than everything that happened beforehand… so yeah… now the „real action“ starts… kind of… ;-)
Like I wrote in the first part, we got up around 6.30 and got ready (aka having breakfast, getting dressed, putting make-up on and so on)
The huge problem was me feeling even worse than the day before aka REALLY sick. My throat hurt, I could barely breath, my nose was running and it was just NOT a good condition to go to a Con, but what other choice did I have? And the girls relied on me. So I took some medicine again, hoping to SOMEHOW survive the day. I had decided a while before I wanted to wear my new “petticoat dress”… which really wasn’t that cheap, but I have to say, contemplating now, after the Con: it was probably the best decision ever, because - as strange as it might sound - this dress gave me probably some of the greatest moments of the whole Con… but more about that later.
We left around 7.30 - got to Wiener Neustadt to get Fabiola - and afterwards went directly to Voesendorf. This time I decided to park at the huge parking lot of the Shopping center that was pretty much close to the “Pyramid Convention Center” - and definitely closer than the so-called free parking spot because we only had to go through a passage underground and were there, so instead of driving around to find the free parking spot again, I just parked there and I also did that on Saturday and Sunday. That just by the way.
We arrived at the Convention center around 8.45 and - OF COURSE - there was AGAIN a huge queue. Which the Security people soon split in 2 queues, 1 for the people already registered, 1 for the people who still needed to register, so Isabel and me had to kind of “split up” with Kasia, Viktoria and Fabiola. And OF COURSE they didn’t start in time, as planned.
What else is new?
The day before they had said registration starts at 2 and it started at 3.45 - this time they said they would start in between 8.30 and 9 and started around 9.40 - JUST GREAT, isn’t it?
That was by the way my "Gamma Bracelet", the 2 tickets for the Party Friday and Saturday and a Necklace I bought after registering, because I fell in love with it and since then I've been wearing it ALL the time.. I'm so in love with it ;-)
I never found out why they didn’t start in time or what took them so long since they were already there and sitting inside, just not letting anyone in.
That was supposed to be the Friday "plan"... ;-)
Fortunately for me and Isabel we “had” Alfa Tickets and so were two of the first being let in for registering. But then OF COURSE the next problem came up. We had to go to the information desk, because of course we didn’t really have tickets since I WON them… and that was AGAIN a HUGE chaos, because NO ONE know about this “competition” thing and they ran back and forth to find something out. I mean, the guy there was really the cutest and trying his best to help us, but he didn’t know about the wins and he had no idea what to do and the first time he just came back to tell us he hadn’t found anyone and we have to wait… and the second time he came back he told us we had to wait for Svetlana (one of the organizers of the Con), because SHE knows everything… oh Boy…
It took a while for her to get back to us but in the end we got the Alfa wristbands and all the photos and autographs included in the package and we were able to go to the Panel room. And there the NEXT problem occurred. Every Alfa Ticket had a fixed seat… well… except us, because I fucking WON the tickets and no one knew where to “put us”… so again, the helpers were running back and forth, no one really knowing what to do with us until someone came telling us “just sit where it’s free”… I mean, WTF? All the seats should have been assigned, so we had NO idea where to sit.
We sat down in the first row on the first 2 seats but OF COURSE it didn’t take long for the “respective owners” of the seat to show up so we got to the next to seats and when THOSE owners come, to the next and so on… seriously, it was confusing and in fact: Isabel and me never really had “fixed seats”, always just sat down where it was free. Okay, it worked out like that, but that should not have been necessary and was just “additional stress”…
Also: Opening Ceremony SHOULD HAVE started at 10.00 - but OF COURSE it didn’t. In the end it was 11.15 when they FINALLY started. More than an hour later than it was planned. And of course for that reason the Michael Malarkey Photo Shooting that should have started at 10.15 (right after the opening ceremony) did NOT start at that time either. Michael Malarkey, Nathaniel Buzolic and Ian Bohen were the only 3 guests already there on Friday (and part of the opening ceremony) - and Jamie Christlow, the so called MoC (although he wasn’t on the stage much, so I don’t know what Alpha organizers meant with MoC, because all he did was announcing them). After the opening ceremony they said who wanted to have a picture with Michael Malarkey should go to “photo studio 1” now…
(pictures of the "opening ceremony")
HAHAHA… seriously… PHOTO STUDIO… right…
You know what the so-called-photo studio was? A corner in the hallway. Right next to the registration table. Just parted with a dividing wall on one side and NOTHING else. A small table there, a pretty small space, a dirty wall, an ugly tile floor and even a light switch in all of the pictures. Isn’t that awesome? I mean, SERIOUSLY… WTF? That was one of the first WTF moments I had at this convention.
They said they had planned it differently, but somehow the “Pyramid people” hadn’t cleared the room and so everything had to be done in the hallway.
Apart from that: OF COURSE there was no “promised background”… I mean, beforehand everyone was freaking out because Svetlana (one of the organizers) had promised a purple background and said she even created it herself and that it’s beautiful and a lot of people were afraid their clothes wouldn’t fit with the color of the background. Guess what? They all worried for nothing, because there was no background. EVER. Not only not the 1st day…
Well… to get back to the report: I had 2 pictures with Michael Malarkey, Isabel and the others didn’t (Isabel sold hers), and so I had to go to start queuing alone… which wasn’t really that much of a problem, although I have to admit I was a little bit nervous…
First were the Alfa VIP tickets (there were 30 of them, even more expensive than the “normal” Alfa Tickets) and when they were down it was the Alfa Tickets and yeah… my heart was beating like crazy and I felt like I was about to pass out any second. Especially since adding to the nervousness it was also incredibly hot.
I had my coupons ready and the 2 pictures of the poses I wanted to do with Michael and when it was my turn I walked over to him and he looked at me and the first thing he said was “My god, you look awesome, that dress is beautiful” - so well… I can say Michael completely rattled me with that and when he greeted me with a handshake all I could say was “thank you”… and he was smiling at me saying “you’re welcome”.
I’m just glad it only took me a minute to compose myself and then I showed him the pictures and said “Can we maybe do those poses if they are okay with you?” - he said “we can do the one, but the other one I rather not do, if you can accept that” - he was extremely nice and polite about it - (it was kiss on my forehead, just in case you were wondering), but I mean, that’s completely okay for me that he didn’t want to do that, and so I asked “Okay, can we then hug for the 2nd picture?” and he smiled at me again saying “Of course, darling”. He was seriously SO extremely sweet and nice and I don’t think he thought I was crazy for wanting a pose like that, but it was only his 2nd convention at ALL, and he’s not used to do all this posing…
Anyways… for the first pose we held each others hand, looking into each other’s eyes smiling and that one turned out quite nice I think.
(That's a scan of the "paper photo", the quality is AWFUL, even though it might not be that visible on that picture, but I can't wait to get the JPEG and be able to print it!)
The 2nd one was a normal hug and I even like that one - as far as I can tell since I only got a very crappy quality picture, more about that later - and when the 2nd picture was done Michael said “It was nice meeting you”, and again he shook my head. I mean, seriously, how polite and sweet IS this guy? It was completely awesome, and thinking that he complimented me on my dress and my appearance STILL gives me goose bumps, because it was something I did ABSOLUTELY NOT expect and I’m also not that good with compliments to be honest… but it DID make me happy… and it was just really nice… He didn’t have to do that…
(That was the 2nd "paper photo" - apart from the crappy quality (like really crappy, you can see the spots on our skin, it was so awful) I'm really happy with how it turned out!)
After Michael’s photo Op I went back to the panel room since Nate’s panel (Nathaniel Buzolic - in case you’re wondering) was supposed to start at 11 (which of COURSE - no, not happening, since it was already about 11:45 when I left Michael’s shoot) and went back to the 1st row waiting - and that was probably the first time I REALLY noticed the heat and it got hotter with the minute. It was absolutely awful, you can believe me.
There were about 30°C outside already and there were problems with the air conditioning. We found out later that for some STUPID reason Alpha Organizers built the stage right above the air conditioning (seriously, what idiot would do that?) and so it didn’t really work because the stage kind of blocked it.
I was dripping wet at parts during the panels, and it was NOT good for my circulation, I can tell you that!
Anyways… Nate’s panel started around 12 - so again ONE HOUR TOO LATE - but it was a really good panel - if you ask me. And Nate is a really great guy, saying some awesome things. He’s a pretty positive guy and it’s infecting. He also said we should always try to make the best out of a bad situation and that this is one of his mottos for life. That he always tries to see the positive things in situations, no matter how bad things get.
It was actually a pretty good thing to say.
He was also talking about Claire Holt a lot. It almost felt like he has a huge crush on her. I mean, like seriously. He was basically gushing about her. He was asked if Kol was alive who his girlfriend should be and he was like “Rebekah” - and someone said “But you are siblings” and Kol was like “who knows what Esther was up to?” - and I doubt that was a spoiler, but it was just his opinion and his wish that he rather would hook up with Rebekah than with anyone else. He also said Claire is one of the most awesome people he had ever worked with and I don’t know… I felt like the two of them are very close. I heard that Nate talks about her quite often and that whenever he does, he’s saying good things. It was pretty much adorable, but also felt kinda wrong to imagine Kol and Rebekah *lol*
I always wanted to meet Nate because I heard he’s such a great guy and I can confirm that: he’s pretty awesome and his panel was really good.
(a few pictures of Nate's panel - the one photo with the girl in front of him and him standing on a chair he was asked how it felt like to film with Jared Padalecki. He was Jared Padalecki in the scenario, and the girl was him *lol* :P Made sense =D)
Afterwards there was some kind of “break” (which had been planned, but actually, that panel break should have been between 12 and 1 - in the end it was between 1 and 2.
I bought a sandwich at the Convention center (a pretty expensive sandwich) and water (even MORE expensive water - a 0.5 l bottle for 3,60 € - for SIMPLE WATER, this is CRAZY!) and sat down outside in the grass with Kasia, Isabel, Viktoria and Fabiola. Who I kind just had “found again”. Especially Kasia and Isabel don’t know Vampire Diaries or are not interested in them and so they had been in the Shopping Mall during Nate’s Panel and the photo shoots and such. I mean, the Friday program was pretty loose anyways, and so there was time in between.
Next panel after the break was Michael Malarkey’s and it was one of 2 panels where I asked a question, although I was literally shaking during it and way too afraid to make a fool of myself (I think I didn’t :P)
Michael’s panel started around 2 (instead of 1) and I was EXTREMELY looking forward to it. I mean, some of you MIGHT have noticed it, but I have become a HUGE fan of that guy during the past couple of weeks. Ever since he appeared on “The Vampire Diaries”, and it was just so interesting what he had to say and it was also great to find out more about him. Like that he never was that much of a TV-Actor but more theatre and stuff and that he always loved music and such.
He was also asked (several times btw.) to sing a song since he makes so great music, but whenever someone came up with that he gave the same answer: that he wants to separate music and acting and that he’s here as an actor and that he will answer any question concerning his acting and his roles, but that he’s not going to sing. Which I completely understood and thought was really great. Also that he never went off his point of view and just stuck to his opinion. Not everyone responded all too good to that (some called him an idiot and arrogant because he wouldn’t sing a song for them even though he’s also a singer), but I felt he had a point and I could totally understood it.
(a few pictures of Michael's panel)
Afterwards there was the “actual lunch break” - which I used to find out what’s going to happen next. The program said that Nate and Michael BOTH would have photo ops after the lunch break, but I mean, they only had 1 room.
You know what they told me? They will do it alternately. WTF? Next WTF moment. They said they will do it like first Michael takes a picture, then Nate, then Michael again, then Nate, until everyone is through. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? How the hell should THAT have worked? *rolleyes* Oh god, seriously, this was SO messed up and I just couldn’t believe they were serious.
In the end it was that Nate started the whole “process” for about 30 minutes, then they switched, Nate left and Michael took pictures the other 30 minutes (there was 1 hour planned), which meant, I could go and take my 2 pictures I had with Nate… and again - that was (despite everything else) a really, really great experience.
Like before they started with the Alfa VIP people, afterwards Alfa, so I didn’t have to wait long (I don’t even wanna imagine what would have happened if I would have been stuck with the Gamma Ticket. The mere thought is awful now!) and when it was my turn and I walked over I got the next compliment. Nate said “That’s a really nice dress” and even though it wasn’t as overwhelming as Michael’s compliment (because seriously, it was Michael fucking Malarkey!) - it was still nice. I thanked him and - just like before with Michael - I had 2 small pictures with me, showing them to Nate asking “can we please do those poses?” and he looked at them, smiling at me saying “yes, sure, of course”.
The first one was a “Titanic Pose”… not the one with the arms stretched, but shortly afterwards with Leonardo’s arms around Kate’s hips and them looking at each other. Nate took the pictures saying “let me hold them since your hands are above mine so we won’t see the photos on the picture” (which was so adorable!) and then we did the pose. The 2nd one was some kind of “dance move”, and this time I took the pictures in my hand (since my hand was on his back and so they were also not visible) and yeah… the told me “it was nice to meet you” afterwards and I “went away”… and I was kind of in heaven, because he was SO nice and sweet and adorable =)
(my 2 pictures with Nate - again, CRAPPY quality, a scan of the "paper thing" - sorry)
After that I rushed back into the panel room since it was time for Ian’s panel (actually, the photo ops and the Panel should have started the same time, but I think you can guess already: That didn’t happen either… *lol* Ian’s Panel HAD already started when I got back in, though…
It was about 3:45 when I went back in and I watched the rest of his panel. AND asked the question I was dying to ask him ever since the Season Finale of “Chicago P.D.” - although his answer was KIND OF confusing to be honest… ;-) And I think he didn’t exactly know how to answer - WHY? I found out later during the autographs.
If you’re interested which question I asked him: I was referring to the last scene of the episode, asking him what he thinks and if Stillwell is really capable of killing someone. He told me he can’t tell me that (which yeah, I kind of expected), but I asked him “Okay, I get it, but do you think he’s a good guy?” and Ian said “He does think there is some good in Stillwell”… so he didn’t exactly gave me an answer but what he said DID make sense, because he also said things like “sometimes good guys do bad things” - I don’t know if that meant Stillwell is a murderer or something else, but he did have a point…
(Ian's Panel :D)
After Ian’s Panel it was time for the first autograph session this weekend.
And of COURSE “only” Ian, Nate and Michael were there.
Again they started with the VIPS, but then things got kind of out of hand.
They let in the first Alfas - Isabel was standing with me in line - and while the line for Michael (who was the first one sitting in there) was kind of short, Nate’s got longer and longer, and so they were only letting people in that wanted Michael’s autograph and told “us” (since I was one of them) that we have to go to Michael first and then line up for our next autograph. Well, okay, no problem. Isabel didn’t get in, though, because she only wanted Ian, and Ian’s line was quite long too… so yeah…
It was EXTREMELY unorganized if you ask me and while the line for Nate was the longest, barely anything happened with Michael and Ian.
Anyways… I didn’t need Nate, so I just got in line for Michael, there were about 3 people in front of me and when it was my turn there were only like 2 people behind me. The assistant wrote down my name and when Michael finally looked up at me he said “oh, it’s you again, how are you?” and I replied with “I’m pretty hot” - and he replied “Oh, I can imagine, you must be sweating in that dress” - and I replied “Yes, I definitely do” and then he said “but it’s worth it, because it’s such a beautiful dress” - which means, he AGAIN complimented me on my dress… I mean, really… and he OBVIOUSLY remembered me (or rather he looked like he did!). I then told him that it’s a shame that he took down all his music videos from youtube and that I was used to going there every day and listening to his voice, but he explained to me that he did it because he would go to the studio next week (aka this week) to record some of his songs, because he wants to make a CD. Which yeah, of course makes sense, even though it’s still said. He also “promised” that it would be worth the wait and that the studio versions will be great. I also asked him if he plans on doing more concerts in Europe and he said he’s love to, but since he’s a series regular on The Vampire Diaries now, he probably won’t really find the time anymore this year, but that he definitely wants to do more concerts.
(that was Michael's autograph btw.)
I thanked him for everything (and of course for the autograph) and said good-bye and wished him a nice day and a good time in Vienna and then I got in line for Ian…
Which means now it was the first “face-to-face” time I got with Ian.
Again, I didn’t have to wait very long because most people were STILL standing in line for Nate (I understand, he’s a nice guy, and I think he’s great, but I didn’t need his auto, so… :P) and when it was my turn - again - I had to spell my name for the assistant and because there were like no people standing behind me I thought I’d use the chance to have a little chat with Ian. I asked him how he is and he told me that he’s great, asking me how I am and well - same answer than before - I told him that I’m hot, and then HE was also starting to compliment me telling me “your dress looks beautiful” and yeah… I’m sure I blushed. I thanked him and then decided - so what - to pick up the question I asked during the panel again but started differently. I told him that I love his role in “Chicago P.D.” and asked him if he already knew how important his role in Season 2 will be. And then he looked up at me, looked me up and down and said “It was you asking me about Stillwell in the panel, wasn’t it?” and I was like “yeah, that was me” - and he said “I remember you” and smiled at me. And then he said that Season 2 of “Chicago PD” hasn’t even started filming yet, and that even if he wanted to say ANYTHING, he couldn’t because he hadn’t read a single script yet and that he has NO idea how big or small his role for Season 2 will be. But he thinks that it might be quite important with all the things going on. And then I asked him if he could imagine it was Stillwell killing Jin or if he rather thinks it was Voight, and then he said “You know what? I think it was neither” and I was answering “Oh my god, that was exactly what I thought. I thought after that phone call Jin made that he is mixed up in something else and that it was someone completely different” and he said “I think you’re on a good lead here. Of course I don’t know, and maybe in the end I will be the killer, but I really don’t know. I don’t think so, though”.
So yeah, that was a pretty nice conversation I had with him and I was just really thankful for the time I could spend with him and that no one was rushing me, that no one was telling me I had to hurry and leave or something like that.
I then told him “I will see you at the photo op in quite a bit” and he replied “We’ll be taking a picture together?” and I replied “Yes, of course” - and he said “Oh, I’m very looking forward to it, I will definitely remember you. See you later, darling”…
Yeah, you can say I left a happy person when I walked away from him.
(that was Ian's autograph - of course :D)
Unfortunately, after me, not many people were let into the autograph room anymore, and Isabel - despite being Alfa - had no chance of getting her Ian autograph O.o I mean, how crazy is that? She told me afterwards that after me they only let people in for Michael anymore, no matter what ticket category they had - which makes no sense, but after everything that had happened during this convention so far, also wasn’t really surprising…
Last program point after the autographs was Ian Bohen’s first photo shooting and so Isabel and me went to “photo studio 1” (I still think it’s a joke calling it like that!) to get in line. A few people were already waiting there and it took quite a while for them to get started, because of course they first had to finish with the autographs and that took longer than expected. The shooting should have been from 5.00 to 5.45 but in the end it only started around 7. Not that much of a problem, but still…
Again, it started with the VIPs, then Alfa and Beta and Gamma and AGAIN I had a picture of a pose I wanted with Ian…
Which now is not that easy to explain, but it’s some kind of “dancing move” with a bit of “bending over”… it’s really difficult to explain.
Anyways…
When I walked over to Ian he DID remember me, because when he saw me he smiled and said “Hey darling, there you are” and then he wanted to hug me and I looked at him and said “I’ve actually printed out a pose I wanna do, if that’s okay with you” and he looked at the picture and then at me and then he said “sure, but I’m now really scared I might drop you” O___O which got ME kind of scared, even though I’m sure he was just joking, but I said “Okay, then please don’t drop me”, and so he “bent me over” (I don’t know how else I should describe it) and held onto me very tight, and I held onto him very tight, and I only heard people around squeal, and yeah… obviously people liked what I did with him, and believe me, I liked it too *lol*
This guy has a pair of the prettiest eyes ever. Like seriously. They are so blue and deep, and he has such a nice smile and he is just so charming and he complimented me so much and I really had some moments with him I think (not in a romantic way, don’t worry, I’m not losing my mind thinking I’m going to marry Ian Bohen, but it were moments that I’m always going to treasure, moments that will stay in my heart forever, and it meant a lot to me that he treated me like that and was just such a gentleman and so really nice to me).
After the picture was taking he “helped me up” again and then said “It was nice meeting you, darling, have a nice evening” and then I went away and… well… had to get some air first, because I felt kind of dizzy after that moment, because damn… it happened all soo quickly and I was so mesmerized by his eyes and I couldn’t believe how adorable he was and yeah… I was actually pretty much on cloud 9, I would say.
(so... that was my first photo op with Ian - I took 2 in the end because I spontaneously bought a 2nd photo with him after that! and again, it's the scan of the crappy paper photo, but still... OMG)
I went outside waiting for Isabel and shortly afterwards we finally also found Viktoria, Kasia and Fabiola again.
We went to McDonalds to get something to eat (which was also right after the passage underground) and chatted quite a bit and literally ALL of us were worried about the next day.
I mean, it had only been 3 guests and it was already SO chaotic. There would be 10 the next day and after all the chaos of the day we were REALLY worried that things could get out of hand. They couldn’t handle 3 people at the autographs and created a huge mess, how would they handle 10? We weren’t exactly hopeful to be honest… and I was seriously scared things wouldn’t work out the way they should…
After eating the only thing still “on the plan” was the “Rock’n’Roll Party” that was planned to start at 9 p.m. - I already wore my Petticoat Dress and didn’t plan on getting changed (nor did I have clothes with me anyways), but had I known they would fry us in that fucking glass pyramid, I would have never worn that dress. (although, thinking about it now, as much as I sweated, I also don’t regret it!)
Isabel, Kasia and Victoria had clothes for the party in my trunk and so we went to Kasia’s friend Agata’s room (she had a room in the Convention Hotel) for them to get dressed and around 9:15 left her room to get to the party and guess what we saw outside?
YES, A LINE OF PEOPLE. Because OF COURSE the party did NOT start at 9 p.m. as planned.
HUGE SURPRISE :D
Seriously, if it wasn’t so sad I would laugh about it…
It was around 9.30 when we finally were let in and could go to that “party room”, but really? I didn’t last long in there. It was freaking hot, it was muggy, I’ve been feeling like crap the whole day and barely could breath, so I told the others they should just party and I’ll go outside and wait for them since this is just too much for me. Besides: Feeling as sick as I felt, going to the party was probably not a good idea to begin with, but what was I supposed to do?
Isabel and Fabiola didn’t want to leave me alone, and so we all went outside (the party was in the same room the autograph session had taken place hours before) and so we sat there talking, and they both told me they didn’t plan on staying long either, because the party sucked, the music sucked and it was just not much fun. Viktoria joined us shortly afterwards and she wasn’t very happy with the party either, and so around 11 we decided to go. Even Kasia was okay with it, saying that it’s probably for the better and that maybe if we go home earlier that day, I would feel better next day and we could stay longer at the Blacklight Party.
We went back to Agata’s room to get the stuff Isabel and Viktoria left there and on the way back found out that Michael Malarkey had showed up at the party, but that he didn’t stay long because fans were crowding him and obviously not very respectful towards him. Jamie was there too (Jamie Christlow - so-called MoC), but they both stayed for like 10 minutes, so I don’t think I missed very much.
A girl even told me the next day that the music was just too loud. That he was staying at their table for a couple of minutes telling them SOMETHING but neither of them understood him or knew what he said afterwards so… yeah… makes a LOT of sense ^^”
So we left around 11, or maybe 11:30 to go home, brought Fabiola to her youth hostel and then went to my place where we all took a shower and went to bed.
At least we could sleep an hour longer the next day since we wouldn’t have to leave until 8.30 (meaning we could sleep until 7.30) - so that was the first day of the Con…
And I can assure you, that was just the beginning… and instead of getting better, things just got worse… But more about that tomorrow, since it’s now already 11 and I’m tired and I wanna go to bed “early” tonight… if you wanna say so… ;-)
If some of you really read that: congratulations, you made it through… ;-)
And to end this whole post an information about the "photos": it took almost 2 days to get them printed. Those 4 photos (the only ones I got "printed" out of my 15) were ready on Saturday evening, and they were the only ones that got printed. The others didn't, because after seeing those pictures everyone was complaining and no one was happy with the quality. Skin with spots and on paper and such, so they decided not to print the others anymore AT ALL... so now we have to wait and we can get the digital version for FREE...
Which yeah - is nice - but still not really good enough, if you ask me... but since everyone else ise happy with this solution... well... At least I can print them within the next couple of days AND maybe show you the "real version".
IF Someone is interested in the "real thing" that is ;-)