A round of NYC meets including one epic meet!

Fresh off a John Densmore signing I set out to NYC for some meets. The initial plan for day 1 was to try for Chip Zien (who voiced Howard the Duck) and then Christopher Lloyd. But then we got some info for a bigger event so we decided to leave Lloyd for another day. No big deal since Lloyd is a repeat meet. 

Anyhow, we stand at a spot for Chip Zien. The venue has two exists and we basically have to hope we have the right one. He has a common look and there were like 7-8 people that looked like they could have been him. Finally we actually get a confirmed visual, and he sees us with our Howard the Duck items. A first happened here. He smiled and then HE APPROACHED US  This has never happened before in any meeting attempt! The celeb approached us before we even asked! He then took his time to chat, to sign, and do photo ops. Essentially we were happy to get combos from him, and he was happy to be giving out combos. Why oh why can't every encounter be like that? Got him on an 8x10 and a Howard the Duck DVD already signed by Ed Gale. 

We head to the next spot. On our way I see Constantine Maroulis. He was doing combos with people, so I snagged a photo op. 

Arriving at the spot where we would spend a good chunk of the rest of the day, there was already a crowd and it was slim pickings at first. I got a couple of photo ops but nothing too huge. After it was over things turned around when I got a Cary Mulligan photo op! Emma Roberts snuck out when she saw fans. Joresky wanted to check out another spot, but my instincts told me to stay with the known rather than venture into the unknown. After all we at least knew who was in that building. After a couple of hours we were expecting mass exists. Katy Perry was coming out the back. But I chose to stick to the exit I was at since I prefer a shot at many rather than a shot at one. 

A very wise choice on my part, especially since Katy Perry only got a handful of people waiting there. I got Baz Lahumann who directed Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby. Piper Perabo from Cayote Ugly and Cheaper by the Dozen. Upgraded my photo op with John Leguizamo (FINALLY got a good photo with him). Just barely got a Kylie Minogue photo op as she was rushed (I snapped while being shoved/pushed didn't see what I was getting but got something half decent), got a combo with Cuba Gooding Jr, among others.

Then Oliver Stone walked down the street. He is someone I was never able to get a good photo with. So I run down away from the crowd I ask him. He had two Asian girls with him. He looks back to make sure no one else is coming then takes a picture with me!! This spot ended with a David Schwimmer photo op (from Friends), somebody who is usually a dick. 

Off to the next spot, where I also do decent. After a Kelly Rutherford photo op I got a PERFECT Gwen Stefani shot. Then got Danny Stong from Buffy. Wanted to upgrade my Michael Shannon shot but he was rushed into a cab and I screwed it up. No big deal though as I have that. Then got Nina Dobrev (again) and Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood).

Katy Perry did nothing and she come out. She says “You know I don’t usually do this" and got in her car. She was standing right in front of me 

Cuba Gooding was in a restaurant and I waited till he came out to get an autograph. Sadly my silver died and it came out bad 

But overall a very good day with both fresh and upgraded photo ops.

Chip Zien

Carey Mulligan

Piper Perabo

Gwen Stefani

David Schwimmer

John Leguizamo

Kylie Minogue

Cuba Gooding Jr 

Oliver Stone

Photo ops day 1 part 1

Photo ops day 1 part 2

Day 2 starts off rather slow. We see Peter Tork randomly at a restaurant but I had him already so didn't bother. Next spot we were expecting to see Kerry Washington. I had a photo op so I thankfully didn't need a front railing spot. I love how stress free "auto only" meets are. To my astonishment she came to the crowd and did combos. I got an autograph. Then I got a photo op with John Krasinski. At another spot we hope to see Jenna Fischer but we saw actress Marilu Henner (TV's Taxi). Got a photo op. 

Next up most my crew wanted to go to a spot where you couldn't even get close to a celebrity. Essentially you could gaze from across the street. Big whoop. Luckily I found some info on a Michael Keaton film shoot and managed to talk some sense into them to try for that instead, where you actually have a 50% shot as opposed to a 0% shot at getting close to anyone. 

We headed to the spot and it looked promising. After waiting a couple of hours we see Naomi Watts, but I already had a good photo op so didn't need to bother. Shortly after we see Michael Keaton! An epic name that is worth the entire ordeal! My first photo op was a self blast and he was not looking. I plead to him "it didn't turn out" he goes "let him take it" so I hand my camera and get a perfect shot. He replied "sorry I can't" when it came to autographs, but I got a photo op I've been wanting for a looooonng time! Everyone else thanked me for this awesome and wise decision that I made. After I got that photo op I was really trying to control myself from bursting out with joy. One old lady asked me who that was, I replied "that was Michael Fucking Keaton" in a controlled overjoyed voice. With the addition of Michael Keaton I am now missing only one actor that played Batman: Christian Bale. 

Over the the next spot we see a bunch of people running to a garage. We follow and it's the car of singer Nicki Minaj. She was willing to come out and do photo ops, she stepped out the car and the crowd began acting like true animals so she went back in her car. Now I am not president of the Nicki Minaj fan club but I've never seen a celebrity offer to go out of her car for photo ops. For the crowd to behave like they did, it is utterly disgusting. And coming from me of all people that's saying a lot. We declared the garage worthless as the crowd was running everywhere like a pack of wild dogs, so nothing good was going to happen. 

After this we went looking around for different spots. We found one spot with 5 or 6 fans waiting and Jennifer Lopez entered the building. One fugly female generated tears on the spot and J-Lo takes a photo op with her. After the photo op the tears disappeared and she laughed about it. Incredible how these girls do things. 

We then go to a spot where we had lots of success last year. It is semi blown but we did well last year. Sadly this year the setup was so bad you could really get nothing. The railings were setup where you couldn't get near anyone unless you go on the street and attempt as they enter or exit the car. Tried also pleading with Jennifer Lawrence as she walked down the street but to no avail. Some names we saw included Madonna, Katy Perry, Tobey Maguire, Jennifer Lawrence, Jennifer Morrison, among others. Only photo op I managed to get from this mess is Debbie Harry, the lead singer of blondie. She's looking all wasted in the photo op. HCIT.

Most of my crew decided to ditch this spot but since I saw Radioman out back I decided to stake it out. Last time I stuck with Radioman I got a Russel Crowe combo. I figured out Radioman was waiting for Leonardo DiCaprio. Sadly as I waited a couple of people did do stuff up front. Emilia Clarke did photo ops and Toby Maguire signed autos. Not sure if he did photo ops though (or if he would have). When the event ended more people were waiting for Leo. He comes out and the crowd is unruly. This is an auto only mission (as was expected). I got punched, I got shoved, and I had to yell and beg, but I managed to get an auto on my magazine. One of his friends who sounded gay yelled "OMG Leo just get in the car". 

I had to REALLY fight tooth and nail for that autograph, and my head and torso was aching for a couple of hours after that. For a short while my ears were even ringing. 

I then moved to the hotel where Joresky and the rest of my crew were stationed. It was looking dead. We were about to give up and drive off when Nicholas Hoult showed up! I had no idea who I was getting, but after I got him I was overjoyed! That's Beast in X-Men: First Class and Jack in Jack the Giant Slayer. He is a future A lister. So that was an awesome way to end the evening. 

Again, lots of hits and misses. Autograph wise it was sub par, but overall an awesome haul without Michael Keaton, and an epic haul with Michael Keaton. 

Michael Fucking Keaton

Debbie Harry

Nicholas Hoult

Photo ops Day 2

Autographs from both days

I broke another DOOR down

After a grueling weekend it was off to something a lot less stressful, a book signing at Soundgarden in Baltimore, MD. Namely that of John Densmore, drummer of the Doors. At the time he was the only living member of the Doors I still did not have at least one combo with. So I set out to rectify that. 

Generally it was one item signed for each book, plus a photo op. My two primary items were vinyl records already signed by Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger. I also saw a very nice looking vinyl and spent money I didn't have to buy that (though I made it up, more on that later). I thought it'd be awesome to add the other two (since Ray was alive at the time). Additionally I bought a Doors CD. 

I bought a total of four books, and I got all those signed plus 3 vinyls and a CD. John Densmore was very cool and had no problem taking photo ops, which was a big relief since photo ops didn't happen at the NJ signing. 

I sold 3 of the books on ebay and I got back all the money I paid for the books, the vinyl, and gas! Essentially I got a book, a vinyl, a CD, a combo, and 4 extras all for FREE!

Four books

Four books signed (I kept the one in blue)

Vinyls and CD autographs

John Densmore photo op

An epic but grueling 2013 weekend in late April

Fresh out of awesomecon and some sex, I geared up for yet another long weekend in lat April. It was full of hits and misses, full of ups and downs, full of successes and failures.

It starts with a Sharon Stone flight. She's someone I was never truly able to get a photo op with. So I try again. Sadly she was a bitch and did nothing for no one. Towards the end, after I gave up, she even yelled at a grapher who kept begging her for an autograph, and I quote "that's enough!!" 

This was the best I got out of this ordeal

I guess better than nothing. 

Off to a bad start, but lots more to come. 

The next day starts off with an event that features Sharon Stone plus a bunch of lesser celebs including but not limited to Patricia Arquette and Tim Daly (who voices Superman in the animated cartoons). As we were waiting down the street both Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde were spotted. Didn't need Jason but Olivia Wilde is someone that blew me off several times. How awesome would it be to score that photo op. As they saw the crowd they walked away, one grapher got an auto from her and I went up and asked for a photo op! She said YES!  I couldn't believe it! I got my photo op. I then told Jason that I got him before and I didn't need to bother him this time, then I shook his hand. 

After my success 3 others tried for the photo op but were shot down as she said they were trying to get something to eat! This day had very low expectations and I got an awesome random in Olivia Wilde! I then ran down about 2 blocks, away from the event as I rejoiced!

After that as I got autographs from Patricia Arquette, combo and extra from Tim Daly, and some other photo ops. Sharon Stone signed one autograph for an old couple.

After this I went to another spot but nothing was happening. One other grapher joined me and he had just come from a spot that I was thinking of waiting at but did not. He said he got Michael J Fox, someone I had before but had items for! No one knew who was inside that spot but he took a chance I stupidly did not. To add insult to this injury, we would both later find out that 5 minutes after Michael J Fox left that other spot George Lucas came out! So I missed both and the grapher who had been standing there missed Lucas! Sadly this spot was a total bust and it was time to call it. It was still an awesome evening as I got Olivia Wilde and some others but it would have been ultra epic if coupled with autographs from Michael J Fox and George Lucas. 

Olivia Wilde 

Photo ops from that day

Autographs from that day


Next day starts off early. This spot was at a private residence and sadly most were driving in so access was impossible. I did get three good things out of this round. I improved my Jay Roach photo op (director of Austin Powers movies and Meet the Parents) and I got an autograph from Kevin Spacey. He did not do photo ops but I had one already so that was of no issue to me. Also got a Michael J Fox autograph who was really shaking as he was signing.

Next I try some hotels. As soon as we arrive me and one other guy spot Kevin Spacey just talking with friends. Now this was a rare situation were you actually had the chance to be respectful and calm. We go to the car, get our items, an approach. We ask politely and he says "one minute". One of his people tried to tell us he's not signing but we rebuff by saying Spacey himself said one minute. As we wait he did one per person. I would see one other person at that spot, namely Kate Mara. Contrary to other reports she was NOT eating lunch. She was sitting with others who were eating, but she had nothing. I tried asking for a photo op cause there was another spot I wanted to get to. She said to wait till she's done. I said ok. Sadly I blinked and when I looked again she was gone. While I would have seen other people there had I stayed (including Kate Mara), I had to get to another spot where there were bigger fish to fry. 

Also, at the Mara/Spacey spot one other grapher who was there told me how he could not wait till this event was over and done with, and I fully agreed with him. 

Now at the next spot is where the major work and fruitfulness began! This spot is chaotic cause tons of people are there and celebrities just come from everywhere. First score was a photo op with MC Hammer, which took some chasing after to get. I saw Speilberg and defied the rope line for him but no success. I was then asked politely not to do that again. At this point I figured I can only do that for someone worthwhile. In front of my own eyes I saw a guy in an air force suit with fake medals and a bullshit story go up to Barbara Streisand and get a photo op (one of the most impossible photo ops to get). I could have crossed the rope line and perhaps gotten it, but she wasn't worth getting ejected for. It was very slim pickings at that point but I scored autographs from Claire Danes, Jeremy Renner, and Hayden Panettiere (didn't need photo ops), combo and extra from Olivia Munn, Kate Walsh photo op, among other things. Others like Katy Perry did a photo op or two but I wasn't able to get her. Gangnam Psy of all people was a total asshole. At one point I saw George Lucas and of course if THIS isn't worth defying every rule in the book for, nothing is. So I left my area, fought a crowd of people, and asked for an autograph. He yells NO  Now in any other situation this would be a begging on my knees type situation. Sadly in this one I had to cut my losses and fall back or get kicked out. Fall back I did. 

Now it was calm again, I had 3 hours of rest. I was hungry but did not want to leave the spot and did not want to order food there as it cost a pretty penny (over $10 just for a plate of wings, screw that). So I went to the bar, got some free nuts, and drank some free water. This would quench my hunger for the evening, and the price could not be beat. Free is free. 

Chaos starts again, and everything is speedy. First score is an MC Hammer autograph (he said he would do just one). I also see Michael J Fox and get two more items from him. He was REALLY shaking badly. Also upgraded my photo op. He also signed 3 things for one other guy. I then shook his hand thanking him and telling him what a childhood fan I am. I did legit feel bad for asking for autos, but not bad enough to supersede my selfish desire for combos. 

Tried begging Sofia Vergara but to no avail ("sorry I can't"). Same with Streisand. NJ Gov Chris Christie did nothing for me despite my best begging. His bodyguards told me enough. In the total chaos I apparently I missed Nicole Kidman, Michael Douglas, and Ian McKellen all of which did sutff  but I would remedy one of those later. Also George Lucas blew people off at first then actually signed for one person. So I missed him as well. But there was no way one could be everywhere. 

This spot was tapped out, it was off to the next one. Next one was even more brutal as they made everyone stand across the street. Throughout the evening it was clashes between hired security and graphers, with curse words being thrown. Some that we saw but could not get included Hayden Pannettierre, Patrick Stewart, Julie Louis Dreyfus, Sophia Vergara, Claire Danes, Olivia Wilde, Ed Helms, among others. And celebrities were usually swarmed with fans. 

When Kerry Washington came out me and two others defied security and went up to her as she signed. The guy goes "seriously?" She signed for me and one other guy then the third guy she goes "that's not me". Autograph wise I also scored Conan O'Brien, Mathew Perry, and Tony Goldwyn (didn't need photo ops with them or Kerry). 

Despite the grueling nature of that spot, I would score two of my greatest photo ops for that weekend. The first would be Michael Douglas who was swarmed. I could not believe how I got that photo op but I did! Considering his age and health, this is a mega score that negates all failures that weekend. Due to concentrating on the photo op I was not able to score any autographs. 

Next up I got a photo op with someone I had no idea who he was. I always go by the "get now ask questions later" philosophy. And this is a great example of why it pays off! Turned out I got none other than Bryan Singer, director of Superman Returns, X-Men movies, among others! This is a HUGE score. Sadly with that victory came a defeat, namely the fact that Ian McKellen was right there with him and I didn't realize it 

Aside from that got Connie Briton, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau from Game of Thrones, among others. Almost got Natalie Dormer‎. As I was getting the photo op her handler pulled her away and photo op came out blurry. 

The night ended with Jay Roach signing my Meet the Fockers DVD (already signed by Ben Stiller) which he marked out for. We got up early the next day to try another spot but security tried to say we couldn't ask for combos on the public sidewalk. They threatened to call the cops and I dared them and told them let's call the police. When they realized they weren't dealing with an amateur they're like "do we really want it to escalate to that?". Normally you always work with security even if they're in the wrong, but they wanted us to not ask for combos. I informed them that we would be doing just and that is simply not open for negotiations regardless of their desires. We did see Alan Greenspan but no one else. He is not looking in my shot but I didn't care as I had him already. I also informed all the guards that if they tried anything I didn't like I would not hesitate to press charges, especially if they tried to knock my items out of my hand. 

While I was willing to fight tooth and nail at that spot, we came to the realization that there was nothing really worth fighting for as the party was winding down and no one was showing up. Additionally two other graphers were sitting across the street before we came and they had seen no one. So we tried one more spot then cut our losses. 

Jay Roach

MC Hammer

Michael J Fox

Bryan Singer

Michael Douglas

Photo op list part 1

Photo op list part 2

Autographs part 1

Autographs part 2

Michael J Fox autographs

Meet the Fockers DVD

All in all while there are certainly some regrets and some screw ups, overall I cannot complain. It had the potential to be beyond epic, but still epic as it stands, if nothing more just for the Michael Douglas photo op.

My quick visit to Awesomecon

On April 20 I decided to make a quick visit to Awesomecon. The guest list was almost non-existent, but I was never able to catch Billy West at con. So I decided to hit it up prior to a Saturday night sex date. I normally hate mixing sex with meets but I figure this is a guarantee and I only need 2 people from the guest list, I should be in and out pretty quick. I also put 2 hours in the parking meter.

I arrive around 1 pm and it seems the two people I want (Billy West and Phil LaMarr‎) are doing Q&A sessions so they won't be at their table all the time. Booooo! I guess it's great for people who go to these things for more than just autographs and photo ops. But for me, very very inconvenient and hindering. 

I find myself to Billy West's table and wait in line. He finally arrives. The sign said $20 autograph includes free photo with, and $10 for only a photo op. After the first few people go through the line the guy in front of me wanted a combo but is asked for $30! He points out what is stated in the sign and I bring the sign to show them the evidence. They honor the $20 combo price and I ask for the same thing. Got my Futurama figure signed. Got the photo op and Billy West was nice as can be about it, even taking off his glasses. After I got my combo Billy asked his handler to take care of the sign. His handler took down the sign and blacked out the part that says free photo op with the autograph.

After him I stand in line for Phil LaMarr‎ who plays Hermes in Futurama. Sadly he was running late due to his Q&A and my meter was running out. Plus I had to get to my sex date 

Eventually he shows up, I get my photo op, rush to the meter. Thankfully no ticket. I then head to my sex date. I was a little late but it was of no consequence. 

Signed Fry figure

Billy West photo op

Phil LaMarr photo op

The sign after I got my photo op (the other blackened area is $25 for a recorded message and he told his handler he wasn't up for that).