Saturday, March 2, 2024

El DeBarge, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Anna Sawai

 After my political endeavor I would go for singer El Debarge. He is probably best known for the song "Rhythm of the Night". Wait at the venue and one of his guys said it's been a rough week and he may or may not stop. He came out was friendly but not overly friendly. I manage to get the op but no autos. 

So I rushed to the next stop where I managed to get him to sign. Then his people tried to stop me from getting another auto but I successfully defied them and got the auto. His guy said he would call security on me if he saw me again and I replied "that's fine". This was rougher than I imagined for El Debarge as I heard good things about him. But later I found out his mother had died a week earlier so I guess that would explain it. 

El DeBarge

Autographs


At the end of February there was a flight for legendary Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada. On the same flight was singer and actress Anna Sawai. Arrive and wait and finally they arrive. First get is Anna and she is super nice even said "I took off my make up" but does the op. Then I get Sanada who was super nice for the op. Both did one each as their handler stopped us. 

We later when to another spot at the airport. By luck Anna was in line on her own and we racked her. Then we tried again for Sanada and barely got one more for him as we were yelled at.

Overall this is a sweeping success and I consider Sanada my first big movie name of 2024 and my best meet of 2024 thus far. 

Anna Sawai

Hiroyuki Sanada

Autographs

Thursday, February 29, 2024

A rare political report

I usually don't do much political meets, and when I do they are usually one off. But towards the end of February, I would attend a political convention to see what could be had. I had a few people I wanted but didn't dedicate all the time to get them all. But I did get some top wants in the time I did dedicate.

First day would be short and sweet. I arrive and I find Naomi Wolf doing a book signing. I never heard of her. But it was a free book signing. So I got a free signed book and a photo op. That doesn't happen very often. 

Then I got Steve Bannon who was cool for ops. Walk around and see a big want of mine, Lou Dobbs! He was very nice and I got a combo. Then I see Natasha Owens all dressed up getting ready for sound check. She is known for the "Trump Won" song. I got the op. Then I saw another want of mine, the MyPillow CEO Michael J Lindell. He was nice and got a combo. 

Then got ops with Sebastian Gorka, Frank Pavone, Fernando Lisboa, Tanya Posobiec, Matt Schlapp, John Fabbricatore, Jack Posobiec, and Robert Wallace Malone. Then got another good score, Tim Ballard. The movie "Sound of Freedom" is based on him. Ended the day with Vince Fusca.

Lou Dobbs

Natasha Owens

Michael J Lindell

Full list of Day 1 photo ops

Autographs


Next day was a little longer and a little rougher than the previous day, but I managed to come out on top for the most part. Starts off slow with Matthew Whitaker, Vanessa Broussard, Hung Cao, Italian far right politician Manlio Messina, Richard Grenell, Tom Fitton, Forgiato Blow, Jerrod Sessler, and Dennis Mayo. 

I tried for Argentinian president Javier Milei after his speech but sadly he was mobbed so could not get him. I did get Kari Lake who was nice. So score right there. I wanted to get Vivek Ramaswamy but he snuck out. And while I didn't know it at the time I got a photo op with Santiago Abascal the leader of the Vox party in Spain! 

Then I get Margaret Byfield and Coleton Furlow. But I was disappointed the day was pretty much done and I didn't see one of my top wants, director and actor Eduardo Verastegui. He directed Sound of Freedom and also was in Mall Cop 2, among other things. But since I had time to kill before going to try for El Debarge I thought I'd look around as a final Hail Mary. While doing so I got a photo op with John Tabacco. 

Then I looked around at nearby restaurants to no avail. I met up with other photo op seekers at the restaurant/bar inside the hotel and I spotted Kari Lake but I didn't bother her. Then lo and behold entering the restaurant to eat was the man himself, Eduardo Verastegui! Wow luck like that doesn't happen too often! He was super nice and I got a combo. Also saw Patricia McCloskey and Mark McCloskey sitting down having a drink and thought why not I'll get them again. Also got a signed photo they give out. After this it was off to try for El Debarge (which will be in another report).

Kari Lake

Santiago Abascal

Eduardo Verastegui

Full list of Day 2 photo ops

Autographs

Thursday, February 1, 2024

First wave of 2024 meets in January

First combo endeavor of 2024 was a little rough. While I didn't come out empty handed, I didn't succeed on my primary objectives. I arrive at the hotel to try for Martin Scorsese. I have him but could use a better shot and autos. Sadly, he blanks there and also the venue where he used the garage. 

Now trying the venue on exit I needed a photo op with actress Lily Gladstone, but she was completely mean and blew everyone off as she left. Another fail. Martin garaged out and some people tried at the next spot where they failed.

It wasn't a complete waste because leaving the venue I got two actors, namely Tatanka Means and Janae Collins, making my first and second photo op of 2024.

Went to another spot where I was hoping to see Neil Patrick Harris and actress Denee Benton, but never saw them.

Tatanka Means

Janae Collins


Next up is a little more exciting. There was an event with actors Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, Barry Keoghan, and Nate Mann, and producers/writers John Oloff, Gary Goetzman, and Kirk Saduski. Out of all those, I got Barry in NYC but never met the others. So there was lots of room for fresh meets. 

Start at the hotel, and as they all come back I am sadly alone. This is where I need people to distract as they enter the front door. They arrive and I had to act quick. I ask Nate and he declines. Then I ask Callum and get the op! Officially on the board as he was the #1 name I needed.

Next up I decided to go inside the event. After the event I get Anthony Boyle leaving the state and get declined by Nate. Sadly I should have left the area quicker cause they walked in another area I could have had more chances. Big screw up on my part. I only got writer Kirk Saduski. 

Then I wait outside by the vehicles. First up Barry is walked to the vehicles. I get a slight upgrade (clean shaven). Then Anthony Boyle comes out and I score a better shot than the one I just got. Both were super nice. I wait some more hoping to see Nate and the other 2 producers but it starts to rain and they take the cars to the loading dock where I have no access. I decided to call it right there rather than try again at the hotel and be blown off by Nate.

While it was not a clean sweep, I would say this was definitely a success as I got the main two I needed (Callum and Anthony) and then some.

Callum Turner

Anthony Boyle take 1

Kirk Saduski

Barry Keoghan

Anthony Boyle take 2


Next day I went for a meet and greet with LaTavia Roberson. She was an original member of Destiny's Child and on the first two albums. Now admittedly this is more of a "Pokémon" meet for me. But it was a guaranteed meet AND it was free. And after that I could go to another spot I wanted to hit up anyway. If this were a paid meet I wouldn't have done it. And if I had to wait for a chance outside a venue I wouldn't have bothered. But it was a guarantee and the price was right. 

Arrive at the meet and greet and as I pull out my 8x10s the photographer wants to take photos of me holding them. When I got up to her she was nice as can be. Got the op and when I presented my 8x10s she asks where I got them and goes "I haven't signed an autograph in a long time" as she signs and as her people film and take photos. Although for someone who was seemingly happy to sign autographs she gave a one letter autograph on one of the 8x10s. I'm not complaining just seemed a bit odd for her to do that. This marked my first autos of 2024.

She then hugged me and even kissed me on the cheek. This was shocking cause it is the first instance of a celeb kissing me at a signing. Then got some free food and free desert and left the place. Wow, it is a shame that more meets can't be this pleasant and more celebs can't be this nice. 

Off to the next spot where I hope to upgrade my Neil Patrick Harris photo op and get a photo op with actress Denee Benton. After waiting a while finally see Neil who does ops with all but refuses to sign. Then finally see Denee who nastily declines ops.

LaTavia Roberson

Neil Patrick Harris

Autographs

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Final meet of 2023: Aqua

For my final meet of 2023, I chose to do the Aqua meet and greet. Under normal circumstances, I would have tried to get them for free, but it was after my long grueling weekend, and I had other non-combo related endeavors going on. So I sadly had no time or energy to dedicate to this. The meet and greet took place before the show. They lined us up for ops first. All three were friendly and as I came to shake Lene's hand she initiated a hug me instead. I know she did the same for everyone, but most female celebs don't hug male fans. So that was nice of her. 

Then we lined up for autographs where I got the poster they provided signed plus two 8x10s I printed. Wish I bought vinyl instead. If only all concert meet and greets were like that. You got all the band members. You got to say hi to them. You got to use your own camera. They had a good standing setup. You were able to get autographs. It is a sad reality when things like that are all so rare for meet and greets that cost so much money. For the most part I cannot in confidence buy concert meet and greets because it seems at least half the time you will get a blurry op, some of the members won't be in the op, or something will go wrong.

After this I had to go put my camera back in my car because they weren't allowing it for the concert. But sadly, I went to my car to leave as I had no time or energy to dedicate to the concert. I tried to sell the concert ticket but to no avail. Then I tried calling some people I knew to give away the concert ticket but to no avail.

Combo wise, this officially ended 2023 for me.

Soren Rasted, Lene Nystrom, and Rene Dif

Autographs

Monday, January 8, 2024

The long agonizing weekend in December

Day 1

Ahead was my most dreaded weekend of December. Before dabbing with anything related to that, I would go for football player Joe Theismann. He was also in a couple of movies so I thought why not. Wait for him at the airport and he did the combo for me. Nice guy.

I went to the next spot to see if I could get singer St Vincent. I saw Joe Walsh leave but didn't need him at that point. Never saw St Vincent but we think she snuck out the other side.

Next up to the train station for Lin Manuel Miranda. I've met him before so this was basically for autographs. Got my items done. He did ops but I waited to go last and by that time he wasn't in the op mood so mine didn't come out. It's ok as I have ops from before. Later on in the day I would find out during that time at another spot people got Barry Gibb coming in. My top want for the weekend. That hurt bad at the time. 

Next up I go to another spot for Billy Crystal coming in. As he is in the van I barely manage to get two autographs. One on an 8x10 and another on my Monsters Inc DVD already signed by John Goodman. I have an op from before so this was a success! 

Queen Latifah flew in and on the same light was Bob Costas and Rob Reiner. Never got Bob and needed autos from the rest. But I wasn't there. I did intercept Rob at another spot and got autographs. Checked out another spot and went home to rest up for a long weekend. 

Joe Theismann

Full list of day 1 photo ops


Day 2

Start my trek early and it started slow. First get Chloe Bailey (update). Then composer Marc Shaiman (fresh) who actually seems like a decent name cause he did music for quite a few movies.

Then I got ops with Cynthia Erivo (repeat), Jamila Mustafa (fresh), Bob Costas who has been in some movies (fresh, plus auto). Saw Ariana DeBose this time got 8x10s done, no need for another op).

Then Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah, Renée Fleming, Dionne Warwick, and Billy Crystal all showed up. Dionne and Renee ignored both ways (sadly need a Dionne op and autos). But on exit I managed to get Queen Latifan and Billy Crystal to sign for me. Would have liked a better Queen Latifah shot but wasn't able to get one. Billy Crystal wasn't trying to do ops but it's ok I have a great one. Then the man of the hour for the whole weekend, the lead singer and sole survivor of the Bee Gees, Barry Gibb. My heart broke when he first went on the side opposite me and did combos. But thankfully he came to my side and I got a great op plus my two vinyls done! SUCCESS! 

After that I got names I largely wasn't familiar with. Going in I got 2 members of the Clark sisters namely Karen and Dorinda. Both fresh. Also got MC Lyte (repeat), Monie Love (fresh), Yo - Yo (fresh), D-Nice (repeat). Missy Elliott was around but we never saw her as she snuck out. Clive Davis declined (have the op but needed autos).

Leaving I got Jacky of the Clark sisters (fresh) but Twinkie (who is on a wheelchair) wouldn't stop. I also got a combo with actress Kerry Washington (repeat).  

The country group Little Big Town left and refused to stop. This was a waste of an extra 2 hours and that ended the evening. 

Barry Gibb

Full list of day 2 photo ops


Day 3

Next day starts with Jay Leno (update and autographs), Mickey Guyton (update), Sheila E (update), Tituss Burgess (update), Christine Baranski (update and autographs), Debbie Allen (update), and Whoopi Goldberg (update and 4 VHS tapes signed).

Also got Chloe Flower (fresh), Lin Manuel Miranda again. Got him to sign and do an op. But two scumbags deliberately photo bombed me (it's ok I have ops from before). Also got Rob Reiner to sign for me again. 

There were sadly some failures. One was watching Robert Deniro and Gloria Estefan signing in the other side and skipping my side. Have them both but needed autos. Actress Dove Cameron declined ops. This would have been a fresh op. And Clive Davis declined some more. Twinkie of the Clark sisters also declined the whole day.

The next phase of the day begins in the evening. This phase is usually horrible and most everyone declines. But I actually got some coin despite this. I got Michelle Lee (update), Jennifer Crystal Foley (Billy Crystal's daughter, fresh name and actually a valid actress), Ashley Gibb (fresh, one of Barry Gibb's sons), Michael Buble (update), and a Queen Latifah autograph.

A combo hunter then noticed a car sneaking at another door, we went to that door and it was Robert Deniro! I got him to sign me an 8x10 before he shut it down. Dave Chappelle was also there but he wouldn't sign my 8x10s and I didn't need another op with him. So I just helped out another combo hunter get a vinyl signed. 

On to the last phase of the evening, I would do pretty solid. First, I finally got Twinkie Clark. She goes "he's been asking me for a photo all day". And she agrees to do ops as long as the wheel chair doesn't show. Then I upgraded my ops with the other Clark sisters, Jacky, Dorinda, and Karen (they are all dolled up now compared to yesterday). Also got dolled up grades with Kerry Washington, Yo Yo, and Mickey Guyton. Got a photo op with Ego Nwodim of SNL fame (update). 

Meg Ryan came out and did no ops but I scored an autograph on my Harry Met Sally 8x10 that I got Billy Crystal on. Glady Knight came out and was actually stopping. I have two ops with her. One sub par op and one great op. So I had no need for a photo op. I got my 8x10s done and I let others get the op. 

Dionne Warwick somehow did one photo op with someone who pleaded with her but did nothing else. I scored an autograph from Amy Grant. She barely did that thankfully I didn't need an op. Sigourney Weaver wasn't doing ops but I managed to get a VHS tape and Alien blu ray done. 

Dove Cameron sadly snuck out. When D-Nice came out with actress Jennifer Freeman (who is an actress) I tried asking Jennifer for an op but she looked at me like I was insane and just ignored me.

I would also get more ops I'm not familiar with. Namely Grandmaster Caz, Sway, Heather B, and Rapsody (final fresh street op of 2023). My final street combo of 2023 would be an update with Gloria Estefan who racked it out as I got 3 CDs done. 

Jennifer Crystal Foley

Kerry Washington

Full list of day 3 photo ops part 1

Full list of day 3 photo ops part 2


Now let's take a look at the autographs obtained the last 3 days:

Autograph haul part 1

Autograph haul part 2

Autograph haul part 3

Autograph haul part 4

Autograph haul part 5

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Final Con of 2023: Wrestlecade

For my final con of 2023, I would attend Wrestlecade in North Carolina. I was not going to go. Didn't have very many wants. Needed a better shot with Bugsy McGraw, didn't have Bobby Blaze or Jack Victory so needed those. But someone else expressed interest in going, and my philosophy was if he goes, I'll tag with him. If he doesn't go, I won't go. He ended up going and I tagged along with him. And I'm glad I did, because names I needed that were not announced appeared there!

First guest I get is Bugsy McGraw, upgrading my shot from 2009. Got a combo from him. I also got Jimmy Valiant to sign the same item as Bugsy. No need for another Jimmy op.

Then a photo op with Jack Victory (wearing shades). Then I go for Rick Link, a rare name that was not announced for the show. Then get a photo op with Bobby Blaze. I then go to Matt Hardy's son King Maxell. I show him and Reby Hardy the broken Hardy group op from years ago at MCW and they got a kick out of it. The younger brother of Maxell even wanted to see the op. Maxell was just a baby. I got an update with King Maxell form baby to toddler. And his  little brother looked like he wanted in on all the photo op action. So I setup a group shot with both of them plus Reby Sky and they were all happy to do it.

Then I go for a solid WCW name that I don't have and was not announced! Namely Scotty Riggs! Wow how awesome! He was doing group shots with Buff Bagwell and they had the WCW tag belts. So I got that American Males photo op! 

Next I show Izzy Morena our photo op from Wrestle Con in 2019. She got all excited and said we have to do an update. So she gave me a free photo op. That was nice of her.

Then I go for Violent J of the Insane Clown Posse. I actually do like many of their songs so I wish it were both of them. Then Xia Brookside from NXT UK. And finally go back to Jack Victory cause I see him without shades and I get a free no shades shot with him.

I also got Kane to sign my WWF magazine that I got Undertaker to sign in early 2023.  

Bugsy McGraw

Rick Link

Bobby Blaze

King Maxell

Reby Hardy and King Maxell plus one

Buff Bagwell and Scotty Riggs

Izzy Moreno

Violent J

Xia Brookside

Jack Victory

Autographs