my schedule for the big honkin' convention in vegas

I just got my schedule for the Big Honkin' Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, and I'll be reading from The Happiest Days of Our Lives on Thursday, August 9, at 6:45 in the evening. There will be signings before, after, and all day Friday and Saturday, but the performance is on Thursday. At 6:45. Awesome time slot, ain't it? I'm sure all the people who can't come in until the weekend are as thrilled as I am, but I had nothing to do with the decision.

Creation will only cover two nights of hotel, so If I want to stay until Sunday to meet more fans, I have to pay for it myself. I find this outrageously lame and insulting, so I won't be staying through until Sunday. Something about paying my own way to appear at a convention really annoys me, and makes me feel like it's "pay to play," which I'm not going to do. It's not the money, really, as much as it is the principle, you know? (Note that it's not just me. This is, apparently, Creation policy for everyone who is, as we say, "second tier or less" in this particular world).

However, I'll be there from about 1pm on Thursday until they close up shop and kick us all out on Saturday, so I'm confident there will be plenty of chances to meet up and talk with WWdN:iX readers.

I should have all my books, and maybe even copies of Just A Geek: teh Audiobook, as well as a limited-edition, convention-only chapbook of all my TV Squad TNG Reviews to date. There will, of course, be the obligatory photomagraphs and automagraphs.

I wanted to do a poker tourney, but I without knowing well in advance how many people are going to play, it would be hard to convince the Hilton to block off some tables and give us dealers and a Tournament Director. In fact,it's a damn unreasonable request, and I'm not going to make it. Instead, I think we'll just end up asking them to open one or two semi-private tables to spread a mixed game on Friday night. I'll have the final details on that once I get to the con.

If you're coming to the show, would you visit the Eventful page I made and let me know? I'm trying to get an idea of just how many readers are going.

Comments

[Tara]

Sorry about the lousy time slot for the convention. You know if there was any way for me to be there Thursday night I would:(
~~TARA~~

[rmd]

i am making an obscene yet dismissive hand gesture in creationcon's direction RIGHT NOW.

just so you know.

[Bitt Faulk]

Wil, I know you've probably heard this a thousand times before, but I thought I'd take this opportunity to say it myself. I am about your age and watched TNG religiously when I was a kid. At the time I thought it was super-cool that there was someone my age on TV who wasn't the irritating sidekick. I loved your character.

Recently I've been watching some TNG reruns on Spike and G4. While I have to say that I now kind of understand where the "die.die.die" people were coming from, you were something of an inspiration at the time, and, even now as an adult, Wesley is not irritating to me at all. Although I'm sure that most of those people were expecting Wesley to be the cute kid, and then hated the idea that he was as competent as the adults, as a kid, I thought it was wonderful to show kids that kids needn't be second-class citizens.

However, one of those channels is currently showing Season 2 episodes, and even if you were the annoying-kid, Pulaski is 100 times worse. By far. I actually physically give her the finger every time she shows up on screen. And thinking back to how I felt at the time, I don't think my opinion has changed much.

Now, Diana Muldaur may be the sweetest person in the world (though, based on every character I've seen her play, I'm guessing not -- feel free to correct me), but Pulaski was a total bitch and added nothing to the show at all. Whereas Wesley was an inspiration to me, and, I imagine, to many other kids our age. (I don't know -- maybe Pulaski was an inspiration to all the hardcore bitches out there.)

I can kind of understand the dislike of Wesley, even if I never felt it myself, but I cannot understand the lack of intense hatred for Pulaski. Why all the bile was reserved for Wesley I'll never know.

I had intended for this to be positive for you, Wil, but looking back, it seems more like a rant against Pulaski. Regardless, I really enjoyed Wesley as a kid, and you/he helped inspire me to be the person I am today. (Actually, that may not be the greatest compliment, now that I think of it.)

[Allstar]

I am most definitely excited for the convention. I'll be there on Wed., so I will for sure be stopping in to see you on Thursday!

[Dave Westbay]

I have already posted at the Eventful page, but I thought I would comment here too. I arrive in Las Vegas on Thursday morning, so I am somewhat relieved that your appearance isn't until later in the day. I was concerned that they might schedule you early and I might miss your reading if I got stuck in airport hell.

As for the poker tourney, I'm sorry there won't be one but not surprised, since the logistics are tricky at best. A mixed game on Friday night sounds like a good idea, and now I can look at possibly making plans for the rest of my time in town. I'm thinking of seeing Second City one night; anyone want to join me?

[bugs]

Just more evidence that Creation sucks. It's a shame that they have gotten so big that it's not about the fans (or even the guests) anymore; it's all about profit margins and the rest be damned.

[Starr01]

I had to TOTALLY agree with Bit Faulk's post above. I had never heard/seen anyone else say what I have been thinking for years LOL It really made me feel better.

Wil, I want/need to make it to a Trek Convention one year but it won't be this one :( When I do, I will make sure it will be when you are there.

[1BigBank]

Dude I would love to be there for four simple reasons:
1 - I've never been to Vegas
2 - I've never been to a Trek con before and I'd love to say Keplah to a Klingon
3 - I rarely play poker live
4 - Last but not least, I'd really enjoy meeting ya because you're a cool dude!

Even though I do have the time to get out there, I just don't have the fundage. So have a great time, sell lots of books, knock'em dead at the reading, and say Keplah to all the Klingons for me.

Be cool bro,
Uno Grande Banca.

[Bitt Faulk]

Heh. And now the other channel is up to "Reunion", the one where they introduce Alexander, the actual irritating kid on TNG. (And Family Ties.)

Also, I notice you're listening to a bunch of old-school Cure. You might want to check out The Prids, if you haven't already.

[Fraize]

I saw Aaron Douglas at Shore-Leave a few weeks ago, and he went off on how much Creation Entertainment sucks. In particular, he hated how fans were shuffled through autograph lines like cattle, being told to keep the chatter down to a minimum, and nickel-and-dimeing the fans to death.

What amused me was, there were Creation Ent. employees in the audience - I recognized them when I went to a Creation-run event the very next weekend. The CEO welcomed the fans to the show, and immediately tried to do damage control regarding their autograph policy - "nobody's going to be rushing anybody through the autograph line... that's just a little bit of superior customer service we're working on..." and then proceeded to auction off autographed photos.

They're douchebags, but they seem to get the good guests, so what's a fan to do?

[Tom]

Is it just me? I can't get the 10steps links for the Just A Geek audio book to work...

[Craig Steffen]

Well darn it.

This sounds like a fun time, a good chance to meet the man behind the blog. If I'd realized that you were appearing there, I probably would have come. Too late now, I think.

I'm planning to go to PAX, but I expect much less cool places to meet up and do poker and stuff since you're the headline act.

[ProudTexasWoman]

"And now the other channel is up to "Reunion", the one where they introduce Alexander, the actual irritating kid on TNG."

Let's not forget that he had as little say in the character as Wil did on his...

[Bitt Faulk]

Let's not forget that he had as little say in the character as Wil did on his...

Very true. I'm not attempting to malign the actor, but, rather, the people who blame Wesley for being a lousy character when there are so many more to choose from that are much more deserving. Wesley may have had irritating qualities (to them), but at least he wasn't Cousin Oliver, whereas Alexander clearly was.

[Kristy]

Yeah, I can't get the audiobook link to work, either. Woe!