a weekend where I got STONED

So I set out for another 3 day ordeal in early March. One main focus was the Amazing Spiderman 2 film set. By all reports Andrew Garfield and Shailene Woodley (the new Mary Jane) were on set. Personally I wanted Emma Stone cause I already got Shailene as a "you never know" name a couple of years back. I got this picture with Emma but as you can see it was a picture I needed to correct. 

I did bring photos for both to sign cause again, you never know. 

We arrive on set Friday afternoon with good news and bad news. Good: Emma Stone and NOT Shailene Woodley is filming. Bad: The spot was blown and there were too many people 

Additionally, Radioman was there. When I said we should stay where he does he waited a couple of minutes then threw a rock at me and threatened to throw a bigger one if I didn't stay away from him (he never did).

Neither Emma nor Andrew do anything, Andrew even sneaks out the back. Emma did tell me "I'm in a hurry we'll do it later". 

We then leave the spot to try for other stuff. I tried for Barry Manilow but he did nothing for no one (though I had a photo op already). 

By the time we got to Tom Hanks the crowd was huge. After it dwindled we waited more for Tom Hanks but it seemed like he snuck out another way. I did however get a Christopher McDonald photo op. 

So far nothing eventful and a total bust. But I didn't lose hope yet. 

After conveying with my team mates I make the decision to go back to the Spiderman filmset. There's still action, still the same big ass crowd. So there is hope. I go to park my car so it's 110% legal and come back and RUN as I see Emma Stone doing photo ops. She was going back to her trailer but after some begging and some pleading managed to score the photo op! I thank all that is holy for that photo op, as it saved my evening and would turn out to be the best thing I got all weekend. Sadly, Joresky was without the photo op. And I still needed autos from both her and Spidey. The best option was to stake it out up until the last minute. 

While it was freezing cold, there was a Chase bank nearby. The bank was closed but they had a small section where they house an ATM. One of my credit cards is a Chase card so I could use that as a "key" to open that door. By that time the crowd dwindled to about 10 teenage Asians who spoke good English. And we waited indoors in that small area. The movie crew looked at us as if we were insane (and they had a point). 

While waiting we all BS'd about life, celebrities, Spiderman, Star Wars, Radioman, among other things. While doing so we opened the door to other people using the ATM. Should also be noted that they refereed to Radioman as "boom box man" then I had to explain to them all the legend that was Radioman. Their reaction was this face  when I told them how celebrities love him. 

Here's where it got heated. At one point two people came in, and they did look drunk. One of them began to threaten and order us all to leave. Joresky and the teenage Asians began to trickle out bit by bit. But since the guy had no legal right to kick us out I stood my ground. Besides me also one of my crew members remained seated on the floor. The guy goes "oh you're not leaving, do you know what I can do". He begins to threaten both of us more with things like "do you know what I can do" and "oh you don't know who I am, do you". As I give him a stare down. But his bark was worse than his bite. After both of us refused to leave him and his buddy just walked out and then everyone else trickled back into the warmth. 

The witching hour finally arrives. More of the regular NYC crew show up and both Andrew and Emma are about to leave. It's 6:20AM Finally they begin to do stuff! I manage to get two from Andrew though one of my dark items is signed in black, sadly enough. But the Walmart exclusive figure came out well. And I got Emma on a nice 8x10, completing my combo with her. Didn't bother with an Andrew photo op as I didn't see his current look as an upgrade from what I had. It was a lot of wait and a lot of agony, but thankfully worthwhile in the end

So now it's Saturday morning and time for The Big Event. I find a free parking spot about a block away. Two members of my crew decide to mooch a breakfast buffet at a hotel, but since I'm without sleep and I'm probably not going to get another chance to sleep, I elect to take a nap in the car before the convention (as does Joresky). It was painful to forfeit free food, but sleep is more important

We then head to The Big Event. This was actually a nice soothing convention for me. Why? Because I did not have to stress about combos AT ALL. I actually didn't need anybody. I did get one photo op in Jen England just to get something, but otherwise I was just there for moral support for Joresky and to say hi to all the convention goers and promoters that I got to meet over the years. It was good to see everybody, even felt nostalgic seeing my old foes. Namely and . I was actually glad the former was there cause I had something on me that I wanted to show him for a while. I did have a chance at NYCC last year but I had to rush to a spot so didn't get to do it. I showed him my passport that explicitly stated my city and country of birth. He looked at the evidence but then said he never doubted I was born in this nation but I pointed out that he factually did after one of my earlier markedout.com youshoots. 

After the big event we go to try for more celebrities. We try for Barry Manilow again but again he does nothing. I end up with a combo and extra from Christpher McDonald, a combo with Peter Scolari (Honey I Shrunk the Kids TV Show), and a combo with Courtney B Vance (Final Destination 5). For the main man himself Tom Hanks, I manage to get an awesome autograph but sadly no photo op. I got the best one he did that day. Then we move to a spot where I hope to see Ben Walker and Scarlet Johansen. Of course I was not expecting to get Scarlet but I was aiming for Ben Walker. Since he had a starring rule in a Tim Burton movie, he is a good "you never know" name. Turns out they BOTH snuck out. Scarlet I expected to but Ben Walker? WTF? Really? 

It wasn't a total waste as I got a Ciaran Hinds photo op (he had roles in a good number of movies). 

Then we get to the final spot for the evening. Sadly there no big stars in that spot. I did get a photo op with Al Franken and Norman Reedus, but I decided that no one there was worth standing out in the freezing cold for. Instead I stayed in the (relatively) warm car and I got a hand job from a girl that I've frequently seen when hunting for combos in NYC. After the hand job I took a short nap and Joresky waited in the cold and got who he wanted. At this point it was 4AM and we drove to NJ and parked at the hotel parking lot for the Monkees convention. 

It was now Sunday and for the first time ever I actually did not sleep well in the car (due to the freezing cold). But it was now time for the convention. This convention would have two black marks. First off Robbie Rist decided to leave early on a Sunday. Even more painful when we found out he had breakfast early and we could have probably mooched him. And second we were told David Cassidy would do free photo ops after making his stupid boring speech, but that did not happen. Essentially that meant Joresky paid the admission fee for one scrub. I tried to get back some admission money based on that fact, but instead they kicked me out of the convention. However, by that time I got all the other names that I came for, so I had little to gain by fighting this further. 

I got photo ops with Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz from the Monkees (already have the deceased Davy Jones). And I got a combos from Susan Olsen who played Cindy Brady (my 8x10 is now only missing Marcia Brady) and a combo from Ron Dante (who sings the Suger Suger song) on my vinyl. 

Before getting ejected, the convention promoter (who actually made the announcement for photo ops) claimed that she was doing this for 11 years and I am the first complaint. Even if true, judging by the facebook page of the Monkees convention I was hardly the last complaint as a lot of people were upset. And rightfully so. At least at Chiller if someone is not doing something they explicitly write it on their website. Not so here. 

David Cassidy was LISTED on the website as a regular guest. It wasn't until I called via phone did they say he was sunday only and only doing photo ops. Eventually they did add the "sunday only" tag  on the site. But no mention of what he is or isn't doing. Then at the show we are told he would do photo ops and that the pictures would be taken with their camera and uploaded to facebook. Sounded like they had it all setup. But as we know none of that followed through. Only in the convention scene do you get ripped off then get ejected for it. 

We thought about trying for David Cassidy at a hippo but we figured if he's that much of a dick in a convention setting it is pointless to even try. As I would later find out apparently someone I know tried him at a hippo one time before and he got cursed out. So we made the right call here.

In order to salvage the day we try to go try for Tom Hanks again. But turns out he isn't even out. Then we go try for Ben Walker again. We figure out which door they sneak out from. Joresky spots Ben and I run after him and get a combo  Then we see them rushing Scarlet out. While that doesn't make up for how the day has played out, it was nice to at least get a cherry on top. After this I decide to be the bearer of bad news and tell people that both Ben and Scarlet snuck out and they won't be seeing them. This ends a grueling weekend with lots of ups and downs, but worthwhile as I got Emma Stone who I've wanted for a while and a very nice Tom Hanks autograph, among other things.

Full list of photos part 1

Full list of photos part 2

Emma Stone photo op

Ron Dante photo op

Look whophotobomed the single photo op I got at Big Event

Now for some autographs:

Walmart Exclusive Spiderman signed by Andrew Garfield

Photos signed by Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone

Tom Hanks, Christopher McDonald, and Ben Walker signed photos

Archies vinyl and Brady Bunch 8x10

a trip down to the COUNTRY

After a break from meets I set out to meet LeAnn Rimes in late February. Her husband Eddie Cibrian who is also an actor was also flying with her. 

Both were overall friendly. Him more so than her. He even asked me "how do you do it, what's the secret?". 

I ended up with a combo and extra from her, and a combo from him. 

Overall a nice rare stress free meet. 

LeAnn Rimes

Eddie Cibrian

Autographs

And yes, I do realize the photo I had him sign is a little fruity and seems like something someone else  would get signed but honestly I found no high rez images of him. 

I STEPPED on a NINE YARD VIPER in SAN FRANCISCO

Fresh out of the January ordeal, I set out for some meets in early February.

The celebrities were Tony Bennett, Chris Rock, Adam Scott (Step Brothers, among others), and Amanda Peet (The Whole Nine Yards, Saving Silverman, Identity Theif, among others)

Tony Bennett I got before but always good to get something signed by him.

So I ventured out. I had to make up some white lies to mooch my way into the event, but mooching I managed to do! Sadly, turns out Chris Rock left early and no one managed to get him as he was rushed out. Not a huge deal as I have a photo op.

After it was over I manage to get Tony Bennett to sign my album and a combo from Amanda Peet. When asking for an auto she was reluctant but did it. Outside the event they immediately sneak out Amanda Peet and no one else was able to get her! Luckily in the event the cameras were rolling and she was in a predicament so she felt obliged to do the combo. 

I wait to get an Adam Scott photo op but they rushed him away. I was then caught on my lie. Having already gotten my main want (Amanda Peet photo op) I simply leave without incident. After leaving I see Adam Scott walking about and doing photo ops. I manage to grab one.

Randy Orton was flying into town for his auto show appearance and I had a flight for him. Since I was already in town to get celebrities I figured might as well put in the extra time to get an Orton autograph on the WWE_E v2. I waited and he came out. I asked for the auto and he gave me one of the nicest Randy autographs I ever saw. I was going to get a photo op but after I got the autograph he put a hood on. Since hooded Randy Orton isn't much of an upgrade from this I just let him be. Hard to believe that this man once caused me so much pain and suffering for so long, and now I am just getting his autograph as a bonus. 

All in all a successful trek, and a breath of fresh air after my previous ordeal. Got an almost impossible combo in Amanda Peet, a photo op with Adam Scott, and an autograph from an aging Tony Bennett. Then I topped it all up with a very nice Randy Orton autograph on my new WWE_E. 

Photo ops

Amanda Peet

Adam Scott

Autographs

Tony and Amanda

Randy Orton

First disaster weekend of 2013

Over the years I've received a lot of criticism of "not enjoying it" and "viewing it as a job" when out hunting for combos. Most (but not all) of this criticism stems from people who don't actively do it much and do not realize the hardships that come with the territory. While there are times you strike out with A-list combos, this report will be a very good example of why it is not all roses and honey. 

This 3 day ordeal took place at the end of January begins on a Saturday. The evening was initially supposed to end with an event featuring Jessica Alba. Upon driving into the city I find out that Jessica Alba was wining and dining in Paris, France. WTF? 

I scout out at a spot then arrive at a hotel where Chris Cornell from Soundgarden was spotted. While there I see a car that is most likely going to be driving some A list celebrities. Shortly after another car pulls up and I see actor and rapper Common, who was a want of mine as he was in a couple of movies I like. Most notably Terminator: Salvation. He was cool and I got a photo op while he went in. Sadly did not have time to get my 8x10s. 

Then that impressive car goes around back to the docking bay of the hotel and goes inside. It's obvious that whoever is there decided to avoid fans. Turns out it's both John Mayer and Katy Perry! Combos with both would have made my weekend, but this was obviously not to be, and just the beginning of the hardships that lay ahead of me. 

As Common was leaving the hotel I did manage to get two 8x10s signed. With no Chris Cornell in sight I decide to leave the spot. I checked out the venue were Alba was supposed to be at since other celebrities were supposed to be there, but after inspecting the situation I decided that no one there was worth risking that kind of time and decided to call it an early night and gear up for the days ahead ($5 in parking gone to waste) 



Sunday starts off with an event at a spot where I historically succeed when it comes to combos. I stand there and my first gets are Chita Rivera and Rita Moreno. I then receive word of a restaurant where Rosario Dawson, Kerry Washington, and Eva Longoria were dining. I was debating whether or not I should leave my post and head there. I stupidly decided against it. One reason was that I already had photo ops with all three and would get Rosario and Eva to sign for me when they came to this event (did not have any merch for Kerry). 

Of course, as I would later find out of the three only Eva showed up and used the garage. Another celeb I wanted to get autographs from was Antonio Banderas (already have a photo op) and he also used the garage. Saw Mario Lopez but he was a dick and did nothing (also have a photo op with him). Jose Feliciano, my top want for this event, used another door but not the garage, and I got photo ops with a bunch of who names and names I didn't really care for. One name I did get that I had 8x10s for was Wilmer Valderrama (Fez in That 70s Show). I got him to sign two for me and failed to get a photo op (though I didn't try hard as I have one already). 

So far a big bust, out of all this nothing extravagant photo op wise and only a couple of Fez photos signed. 

Then I make probably my single biggest mistake for the weekend: I left this spot to try out other spots that were less sure. By the time I got back the event was over (made the rookie mistake of not double checking the running time) and could have had my Jose Feliciano combo! 


Apparently someone also did get Mario Lopez to sign but only after running up to his car and some major begging/pleading at the car window. 

Furious, upset, disgruntled, humiliated, defeated, and depressed do not even begin to describe how I felt at that point in time. We then scout out a Bill Clinton spot but turns out he didn't even show up 

There was a spot with Jamie Foxx but considering how much of an asshole he is we decide not to waste our time further. 

After checking out some other spots all we manage to get is Vincent C Gray (mayor of DC) and NBC announcer Brian Williams. Then called it a night.



Like the other days, monday started off very slow. Spotted two buses at a hotel and turns out it was Soundgarden's bus. Waited for hours and didn't see any signs of the band members. I got a tip where Paula Abdul was eating, so I rushed there. Unfortunately the area was blocked off and I figured by the time I went through security to enter the vicinity of the restaurant, she would be gone. Went from spot to spot with no luck. 

Even tried one spot where we were expecting to see the singer Kesha and we saw two NYC collectors waiting. Eventually left that spot and found out later that the NYC collectors only succeeded in getting autographs after many hours (and no photo ops). Went to one hotel and upon arrival Stevie Wonder is getting into his car. His handlers were helping him get into a van. I didn't bother to ask him for a photo op as I had one already. No one else had the courage to ask. I later see Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas but didn't bother with him as I had a photo op and no merch on me. So far the day was a complete bust but there was one last beacon of hope, a spot with a bunch of mostly lower tier celebs including a major want of mine, Kristen Dunst. There was another big venue with huge names, but best to go where you can actually get stuff, not where it's impossible. 

Unfortunately, Kristen Dunst cancelled out and was not in town! Another defeat. Even some other celebs that were supposed to be there did not make it. Alyssa Milano stayed in LA and Paula Abdul did not show up. Most of the celebs showing up to this I already had so it was mostly an autograph mission. 

To add to this, it was getting colder and colder. 

This was the last stand and the whole thing was now drunk and salvage. 

Thankfully, salvage I managed to do. 

I did get one first time photo op that I wanted: John Leguizamo who played Luigi in Super Mario Bros and Sid the Sloth in the Ice Age movies. Got three autographs from him. The only other time I met him he signed but didn't do photo ops. I also got a Taraji P Henson photo op, among others. 

Autograph only scores (already had photo ops) were Tim Daly, Matt Bomer, David Arquette, Richard Schiff, and Wayne Knight. 

At one point I was waiting on the side for the Goo Goo Dolls, and in doing so missed another chance at a Tim Daly autograph, adding to the many defeats of the whole ordeal. 

The last three that came out were Omar Epps, Marlon Wayans and Evan Handler. Evan did photo ops no problem, the other two I didn't manage to get. Omar was a dick and didn't get anything signed (already had a photo op) and failed to get a Marlon photo op. After this I was just happy to go home. 

Photo ops

Common

John Leguizamo

Taraji P Henson

Full list part 1

Full list part 2



Autographs

Common and Wilmer part 1

Common and Wilmer part 2

Final Salvage part 1

Final Salvage part 2