An Array of Street Meets throughout March and April

Fresh off the heels of Monstermania/Big Event weekend, I had one short term goal: MaCaulay Culkin. The day I was going for Culkin, I got a tip for a couple of lower tier names. I figure might as well pick them up to make the most out of my day and to have something over nothing in case Culkin is a bust. 

First off I got a photo op with Rick Harrison from pawn stars at his hotel, then I got a photo op with actress Whitney Port at a store grand opening. Then it was off to Culkin. Sadly at the venue he did nothing for no one. Every time he came out he would still ignore everyone. We were only 3-4 people. 

It didn't help matters that the venue were being by setting their "wet floor" cones further away than they were legally entitled to. 

Thanks to craigslist, I got a cheap ticket to his show in the hopes that he would do some sort of signing, but to no avail.  

After the show, again still nothing from him. And we got into multiple clashes and scuffles with security. For instance one guy told the guard "I'm 1000% sure if we get closer there's nothing you guys could do to stop us" He responded "can't be more than 100% sure" to which the guy replied "ok, then I'm 100% sure" and the guard's response was "as long as we're mathematically correct" 

At one point the head security said we could not yell for the band anymore and that we had to go or he would call the cops. Of course we were on public grounds. One guy cursed the security guard out and after the curse fest I said in a VERY defiant tone, "go ahead, call the cops, we aren't going anywhere." And another guy responded "go call them when they come we'll see what they say about those cones you illegally have here". 

The security guard says he's going to call them and goes inside. Minutes and minutes pass and no cops ever come, and Culkin and his band finally left. As he was leaving it was ever so painful to see him do a combo or two with staff workers. 

We wanted to go to the next spot, but sadly it turns out they left town. So my day was essentially a bust. I can at least say I gave this my maximum possible effort in every shape or form. I really did want that combo so badly

Rick Harrison

Whitney Port  

Defeated and distraught at a wasted day and wasted money, I decide to set my sights low the next day in order to all but guarantee success. Namely, Kevin Eubanks, who I know best from his time in WCW. 

The venue which he was playing at is every combo hunter's dream. One door in and one door out Additionally, the door leads to a very public alleyway. The drawback is this venue is not so easy to mooch into cause you have the same guy always sitting down by the one door. 

The show ends, and I attempt to mooch, but to no avail. So I play the waiting game. 

While waiting we are informed by the venue staff that they're having lunch and they can ask the band if photos are ok but otherwise we can't wait. Total rubbish. Of course I try to be polite and I simply say that I can wait on the side away from the door after which they change their mind saying "ok you can wait". 

Finally, after spending more time by that venue than I had anticipated, Kevin Eubanks comes out! I ask for photo ops and he goes "sure" and is happy to take them. We then say we have items to get signed and I get my WCW book signed. I tell him "bet you don't sign too much WCW stuff" to which he replies "Oh I had a BLAST in WCW". To boot, I even got a handshake! A very rare thing outside of a paid setting. 

As can be seen by the smile in the photo op, he was so damn happy to be doing combos. He made our night, and we made his night. How I wish it were that way more often 

Kevin Eubanks photo op 

Signed WCW book

Next up was a day at the end of March when I had two choices. Steven Tyler of Aerosmith at an airport, or Jimmy Carter at another spot. Even though I already had Tyler and still don't have a Jimmy Carter photo op, since it was cold that day and the Carter spot also had a garage, I elected to go for what seemed like more of a guarantee, namely Steven Tyler. 

It is Indoors, he is a nice guy, and no secret service to potentially clash with. 

I arrive at the airport and two other long time graphers are there. Not too long after Steven Tyler shows up! He says he will only sign if we say how we found out the flight. I quickly say "a pap told me, really" and he replies "there's no paparazzi here" and then one other grapher goes "c'mon Steve just tell him the truth" and proceeded to give a quick statement on the magical research he did to find out. My reaction was this face 

Besides that though, Tyler was nice as can be, signing for everybody. I wish I had more stuff. I got him on two CD covers, my Permanant Vacation vinyl, AND the record itself cause he was signing so much. 

An interesting story regarding the vinyl, I had him sign it once before but it was in black and would barely show up on there. So I declared that a badly signed item, rubbed off the autograph, and salvaged the item. This time I was begging him to do it in gold, which at first he was like "c'mon just take what you can get" but finally agreed to do it in gold, and it came out AWESOME! I even got another photo op with him even though this photo op is a downgrade since he is wearing shades. 

While we were getting combos some random bystanders were gawking and taking photos with their phones. I find it interesting yet strange how they do not give a crap about a photo op and are just content with snapping pictures of. The hard work I put into getting info to go face to face with a celeb, yet these guys get it randomly by chance and could care less. I guess combos are a very acquired taste (as can also be seen by the comments in Joresky's yahoo news video). 

When leaving, me and the other graphers marveled at how easy that was and how it went so well. As one of them so accurately put it "usually you spend 2 hours and it goes bad, here we spent 10 minutes and it went well". 

This sweeping success was sadly tainted with a punch in the face. One guy at the Carter spot did in fact get a photo op with Jimmy Carter although for a reason I couldn't quite find out one other grapher at the spot failed to get him. And the one that did get him did have his child with him in the photo op. So that may have helped him get it. So I suppose it is possible that if I went to Carter I may not have gotten him. Tough decisions, what should you have and have not gone for, just some of the many trials and tribulations of combo hunting. 

Steven Tyler photo op

Steven Tyler autographs

I will end this write up with my first non-convention wrestling meet of 2014. This was a day in April when I had to choose between Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker. Both were landing in different airports at the same time. I decided to go with The Undertaker, since Hulk Hogan is around a lot more. 

This was my best shot ever at Undertaker, cause I was the only one there. Everyone else was at Hogan. He lands and I ask him to sign my magazine already signed by Paul Bearer and he does it. I ask for my CS2p Undertaker/Mankind figure already signed by Foley but he says "I gotta go". 

I persisted a little more, begged a little more, and he goes "did I not just sign, did I not sign" after which I put the figure away and say "ok you're right" then he goes "give me that, give it to me" and I hand him the figure and he signs it  as I thank him. The autograph on the figure turned out super awesome, MUCH nicer than the mag. The picture I took of it does not give it justice at all. 

I did not try for a photo op for a couple of reasons. First off shades and a beanie hat is a downgrade from what I have and second no one else was there to take it and selfies would be hard given how tall he is. Plus I figured I might have been pushing it if I did. 

Undertaker autographs

Monstermania, The Big Event, and more

So the trek begins. After some good sleep I pick up both Joresky  and one other friend and we head for Monstermania in Cherry Hill. Our plan was simple: Monstermania in Cherry Hill Friday, Rosie O'Donnell in Philadelphia after Monstermania Friday night, Big Event in Queens Saturday morning, then NYC through Sunday evening. Let us see how this played out (NOTE: IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY PLEASE READ MY PREVIOUS REPORT FOR MY PRE MONSTERMANIA ADVENTURE) 

Friday

We arrive at Monstermania, and Joresky is obsessed with getting the twins from the shining. It seemed pretty damn laughable to me that they would have VIP tickets, since they don't even have a page on wikipedia. But I wondered if the MM crowd would really kill themselves for them. Turns out that they didn't have much of a line to speak of. No more than a handful of people. While I don't recall watching The Shining it's something I do plan to watch so I figured I'd get the photo op just in case, since that did not cost too much. And if nothing else it's a novelty. For some reason one of the girls kept looking somewhere else each time a picture was taken, but after the third take I got an acceptable photo. 

Next up was Roger Jackson who voiced Ghostface in scream. Got a photo op. Then it was off to a last minute addition to the show which turned out to be a good one for me, John Heard who played Kevin's dad in both Home Alone movies! This photo op was a mooch 

Then off to my top want for this convention, Danny Pintauro. This way yet another addition to my Who's the Boss cast. He was friendly though struck me as gay. 

Let's see from the cast of Who's the Boss:

Tony Danza

Judith Light

Alyssa Milano

Danny Pintauro

Katherine Helmond

I am only missing the last one! 

Another realm where I did pretty good in racking up several cast members, Freddy Vs Jason! And  here I had the chance to add two more cast members. Namely Chris Marquette and Brendan Fletcher. I knew the vendors bringing them, as I helped them with NYCC passes a couple of years back. I got photo ops with both and they did not charge me. Though they charged one of my buddies for an autograph that he got, which was fair. So two free photo ops here, this made me happy. 

I ended my gets at Monstermania with a splitted photo op with Rusty Schwimmer from Jason goes to Hell. 

On another note, they setup Robert Englund differently this time. You had a virtual queue where you would take a ticket. You would then go in the room based on your number. Furthermore, a ticket would not guarantee entry to the room. 

After Monstermania it was off to Philly. We arrived at the venue for Rosie O'Donnell. I tried to mooch my way inside in case she was doing a meet and greet, but failed. It would have been pointless cause as I later found out there was no meet and greet. When the witching out came I had to fight my way to her and asked for a photo op and she did it  I could not believe it! Then I saw her start signing as I put m 8x10 next to her and she signed that saying she had to go. Joresky failed to get a photo op but got an autograph. We went to the next spot to try and get Joresky the photo op, but as Rosie went in the elevator her handler threatened to call the police on us. There was no sense in arguing as it was too late to get anything at that point. 

We then go to Queens, park right by the hotel for Big Event, and nap in the car.

John Heard

Danny Pintauro 

Full list of Monstermania photo ops

Rosie O'Donnell photo op

Rosie O'Donnell autograph

Saturday

We wake up, I wash up in the bathroom of the hotel, and we get in line to enter The Big Event.

Overall I would say great show by Brian Barth. My only gripe was the fact that the main room was a bit cramped. But otherwise everything seemed to go smoothly. 

 I only needed two people from there, Dennis Rodman and Taylor Hendrix. 

As we enter though I notice bWo shirted Thomas the Inchworm Rodman. A very cool and unexpected bonus, I got a photo op. 

For Taylor, she was doing a bikini photo op. I never get those mainly because I already have a regular photo op so I can't justify paying money. But in this case I didn't have the photo op, and it was $5 more than the regular one, so I elected to do that. And I had to wait till 1pm for that. 

Rodman finally arrives, and I get a photo op. First one is blurry so I get a retake. 

Later on in the day I notice he stood for a couple of photo ops. I called Joresky so we can attempt for standing photo ops, after talking to the handler we get standing photo ops, which is much cooler since you can see how tall he is. 

Next up was the Taylor Hendrix bikini photo op. Sadly I wasn't allowed to bring Joresky in to take my picture. You were escorted in the room, got the photo op, and escorted out. But Taylor shook your hand, posed, and was friendly. This ended my trek at Big Event. 

Good seeing everybody, and thanks to all who held up my sign. Also saw Terence and James from Legends of the Ring, who I chatted with and said hi to. 

And of course said hello to 

Full list of Big Event photo ops

Dennis Rodman standing phtoo op

Taylor Hendrix bikini photo op


Off to the city for our first target, Carly Rae Jepsen. She is the singer of "Call Me, Maybe"

It's a song I have heard and it is catchy. So I thought why not. Problem is at that spot on a Saturday it's a 50% chance she would be there. But wait, a well known female combo hunting Queen was waiting on the other side of the railing waiting. This pretty much confirmed that Carly Rae Jepson was in fact here. We wait and I get some photo ops with some names. We also see Fran Drescher who just waves and does nothing for no one. I already have a combo with her but I played the handicap card to try to get a friend the photo op, and she goes "sorry they won't let me". It is sad how somebody who used to be so nice has become. Wow just wow. 

When Carly Rae Jepsen came out she made sure to take care of everyone and did combos with everybody. I of course got a combo!

After this it was pretty much a slump. When the slump ended I got Pater Maloney who is essentially a convention level name. Then I got autographs from singer KD Lang. A total  name for me. She said "no selfies" but signed two items for me. Then it was off to a spot where I was hoping to get a good name in Emma Thompson‎. While there Joresky spotted Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt. Already have Jon never got Jennifer. I approached for the photo op and got a picture with her snuggling into him, making for a unique photo op. I also got another name. Sadly we found out Emma Thompson garaged it and that was one big score we were not getting .

Now it was off to get my car to meet up with the rest of my team at a spot in order to fish out information for the next spot. As I arrive, I see Joresky and other friends/allies. Turns out they STILL didn't find info for the next spot. My reaction was this face because the clock was ticking and we needed the info or we would end the evening with potentially less combos! As I scramble for ideas I phone Vanessa the Jersey Shore stalker to see if she has anything, as she is normally the Queen of all info, maybe a couple of notches below Radioman. Turns out she is on the other side of the building. I run there and meet up with her. Turns out she doesn't know more than I do Since Joresky tried on one side to find info, I thought I'd try the side Vanessa was on, but to no avail. Back to the side Joresky was on, I thought I'd give that side another shot. I walk down the street and BAM! Within inches I score the address of the next spot! My reaction was this face  and the reaction of the person I fished out the info from was this face 

As I found the info, I phone one other female friend/ally and told her the info. I also sent one member of our team to her car to make room in my car for Vanessa. And we headed to the spot! Interestingly, another friend of Vanessa who always gets info did not have this address. Vanessa asked if it's ok to give her the info since "she always finds out" and we said it was fine. 

On to the next spot, we see Lena Dunham who does nothing for no one. And we see a huge name in Taylor Swift who does nothing for no one either. Coming out, Taylor sneaks through the side and does nothing for no one, and Lena blows everybody off. 

Lena was disappointing not because she was a huge want of mine, but because it was a combo I was expecting to actually obtain 

Additionally, I was hoping to see Adam Driver in this spot. He is the main antagonist in the next Star Wars trilogy. Yet we did not see him at all. 

So with Taylor ignoring everyone, that's THREE huge disappointing aspects of this spot. 

Jon Hamm did photo ops after he came out to smoke, but I got him before (in addition to earlier on) so I didn't care for that. When him and Jennifer Westfeldt were leaving I did try to get a solo Jennifer shot but to no avail. 

This spot wasn't a total loss. Couple of us spotted an actor from Mean Girls and he was super nice. Even said his buddy was from the movie and got him in the photo op. Turned out to be a nice dual photo op with Rajiv Surendra and Daniel Franzese. And I got a couple of members of the band The National, including the lead singer. 

After a sub par day, it was off to sleep. 

Full list of post Big Event photo ops

Carly Rae Jepsen

Jennifer Westfeldt snuggles into her husband Jon Hamm

Sunday

After a less than ideal time sleeping in the car thanks to some heavy snoring I head out to meet Bryan Cranston from Breaking Bad and the upcoming Godzilla movie. While waiting for him I scored a photo op with James Eckhouse from Beverly Hills 90210. A nice bonus. Bryan then arrives and HE approaches ME and says hello. I ask for a photo op and he is more than happy to do it! Why can't others be that nice? 

A good start to the day. Then off to a spot for Patrick Stewart where I score an autograph. 

Now it was off to get a huge score and a huge want of mine, namely Liam Neeson from Star Wars, Chronicles of Narnia, and much more. 

After a good wait he arrives and is swarmed by guards, media, and much more. He goes inside the building, and we go inside soon after. After he speaks I manage to approach him ready to take a self blast asking him for a photo op and he goes "sorry I'm off the clock" my reaction was this face  For the second time in 2014 I get a huge A level actor that's been in Star Wars right in front of me, and for the second time in 2014 I get blown off! Wow just wow! 

While waiting for him to leave, we do manage to go into a little room and mooch some good food and drinks. Joresky was like "is this for everyone?" to which I replied "I don't know, no one told me it wasn't for me" as I was eating some sandwiches and some exotic looking sweets. 

Exiting was sadly not much better than entering, as he gets rushed into the car ignoring everybody doing nothing for no one. This would have been an epic meet. But it was not to be.

For the last spot we hope to see Andy Garcia and Ray Romano. Andy would be a cool get and Ray I got before but I had a nice Ice Age photo for him to sign. We score photo ops with Joseph Gannascoli, Michael Pitt, and Burt Young but upon further research find out that neither Andy nor Ray are going to be here. 

We hop in the car to rush back to Philly so Joresky can get a Rosie O'Donnell photo op. But traffic leaving the city was ultra bad that once out of the city we realized we would simply not make it in time. So we decided to call it quits right there and then. 

Full list of Sunday photo ops

Bryan Cranston

Patrick Stewart autograph

While the overall haul is nothing short of decent, it's nothing I would consider epic or extravagant. And it's not as if we didn't have a chance at extravagant. Extravagant just didn't pan out due to celebrities being bitches. How ultra epic would all this have been with Liam Neeson, Taylor Swift, and Emma Thompson photo ops 

My Pre Monstermania adventure

With the laziness and the cold getting the better of me in 2014, the time came for my first major combo hunting trek in 2014, the weekend of Monstermania in Cherry Hill and The Big Event in Queens. 

BUT I would actually have a warm up the Thursday BEFORE Monstermania.  

My first target was Chris Christie at a train station. I got there before he did, but sadly this was a total bust cause they snuck him in. 

Next up I go to a spot where Ariana Grande, Patti Labelle, among others were supposed to be. 

We see Melissa Etheridge and I try to get a photo op as she is being papped. But she goes "you can take a picture of me but not with me" 

As the meter maid arrives we have to move all our cars since we were illegally parked. Turns out we miss Ariana going in 

Coming out Ariana was being rushed into her car. One grapher does manage to get an autograph, but it is an Al Pacino style "a". 

Same deal with Melissa Etheridge. Rushed and does nothing. 

I was disgusted and disgruntled with everything I left and sat in the car thinking "dammit, why do they have to be such"

Just as I did that Patti Labelle fucking came out and calmly did combos with all who asked 

Defeated and depressed, I was not deterred. So I have dinner with a friend and wait it out. Nice of him to treat me for some $9 nachos.  

Back at the spot, we wait. First up is Patti Labelle. The doorman says she won't sign you can take photos. He also said no photo ops. I put my stuff away (which wasn't even for her) to make it look like I'm complying. Then when she comes out of the car I ask for a photo op and she says yes. Doorman tries to stop me but I say "she said yes" and I get a photo op. For one reason or another this photo op alluded me, so it was a nice conquest. 

Then Ariana's time comes. I did have an early morning flight on her but I didn't really feel like getting up early for a shot at her. Plus I had to get some sleep since I had 3 long days of combo hunting ahead of me. So this way my chance. Coming in, she is rushed and I get nothing. Not deterred I mooch my way in the hotel and others did the same! I get her to sign for me she goes "choose because I'm only doing one" and it's actually a NICE auto not a "Pacino" then I ask for a photo op and she goes "sure hon" and she POSES for me 

After this I run away before security tried to ban me. We were expecting Aretha Franklin, but I had nothing for her to sign and she generally doesn't do photo ops. Since I had some time, we tried a spot for Kathleen Turner to get my Who Framed Roger Rabbit laserdisc signed and maybe a photo op, but sadly never saw her. 

Patti Labelle

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande autograph

Coming up next, Monstermania, Big Event, and more.

Thoughts on Jeremiah's yahoo news comments, plus a couple of meets

I though I'd give some of my insight on the comments on yahoo news regarding their interview with Joresky 

The comments essentially reflect what I've been saying all along when it comes to how most people perceive the act of combo hunting. Let's face it, it is not normal. Bothering strangers on their space time and/or invading their private space for one's selfish desire for combos does not come across as something decent human beings do. And the comments of people who do not care for autographs or photo ops on yahoo news reflect that fact. 

For those who remember it, this opinion was also illustrated in the past in the CZWfans vs markedout.com feud. 

I myself put a comment on Joresky's video, here is a print screen of it:

Now to reply to what some on markedout.com have said: 

Regarding 1/2 of the thunderbuddies Djknightrida 

And I quote:

Still don't quite understand any of the "get a life" comments. So Joreskys life having fun meeting people is less of a life than them trolling and doing A, B, C or D with their extra time.

Oh you go put to bars every night, get a life.

You enjoy watching sports, get a life.

You spend hours knitting, get a life.

It's all perspective. Their own self loathing causes the negative responses

Danny boy, you don't ever see anyone make a yahoo news interview about someone watching sports, knitting, going to bars, etc. That's cause hunting down celebrities is NOT a normal pass time. Hence many of the comments. 

I also agree with Woodmo that what CMshowstopper AKA the other half of the thunderbuddies has said does not hold. People are not jealous of his photos, as they do not desire combos. I also agree with Woodmo when he said this, and I quote: 

The two points in the article/video that perhaps brought people to their negative reactions are as follows, at least in my humble opinion.

1) The working two jobs to support the hobby. That makes it seem more like an obsession, and I think people would react similarly if someone said they work two jobs to support golf, basketball, or any other activity they enjoy. Jeremiah and I have discussed this issue at length, and he knows my opinion on spending less on frivolous names and spend less time working, more time finding other ways to occupy his time.

2) The mention of succeeding is a feeling like no other. We in the hobby can understand the feeling, and while I wouldn't say it's a feeling like no other, it is always fun to succeed. But again to the casual troll that bothers to comment on a Yahoo story, that tied into the two jobs thing, makes it seem more like an addict getting a fix.

However, while this is no doubt a factor it does not explain ALL the comments. 

The following comment is a microcosm of most of the comments on the yahoo news video, and I quote:

I don't even almost get it. His hobby is take take pictures with strangers? That's just weird. He spends all that time tracking these people down. And his reward (assuming they don't blow him off) is picture that proves he was standing next to them at some point in time. So what? I don't understand the payoff.

I was tempted to say "Live and let live, he's not hurting anybody" But this seems more like a strange addiction than a hobby. I would think if he could get past this he could find something to do with his time that would be much more rewarding.

This comment does not address the fact that it seems to be an addiction or obsession of his. It simply denounced the actual act of taking a photo op with a stranger and finding that thrilling. Which backs up my argument that the concept is unusual for anybody outside this practice. 

I will end this commentary with two more comments I found on there:

What a sad and pathetic life this poor loser leads.

This guy represents everything thats wrong with todays society.

Now, to showcase a couple of meets that took place before the day where everything played out in my favor (see my previous report). 

First up, was an airport run for Ice Cube. I found it a little strange that he was incognito with shades and a cap whilst his bodyguard had an Ice Cube jacket on. His bodyguard was yelling at us but allowed us to get combos. So of course I listened to everything he said. Ice Cube himself was cool and took a photo op with me then signed. After he got his luggage we got more from him and I got another item signed. 

Photo op

Autographs

Ice Cube signing for me

Next up was somebody I met before, Mandy Patinkin‎, who I know best from the Princess Bride. 

Since I already had a photo op, I had 3 main objectives here. 1) complete my combo 2) virgilize him 3) get a photo op with non-bearded Mandy Patinkin. 

Sadly, objective #3 would be an immediate failure, as he sported a beard  To boot the photo op was a downgrade since he was wearing a beanie hat. He still signed both my photos and took a photo op. Since he was in a signing mood I also had him sign the back of my Princess Bride blu ray (the front is signed by both people who grace the cover, Robin Wright and Cary Elwes). 

Objectives #1 and #2 were completed! Success! 

Photo op

Autogtraphs 

a TRAITOR was KNOCKED out cold by BATMAN

Combo hunting has been relatively slow. In part due to the freezing cold, in part due to being too lazy to embark on what I view as "chores". 

But that being said, I had one full day of combo hunting and a couple of other scattered meets. For this report I will cover the full day and leave the others for another post. Cause this report I want to write it while it's nice and fresh in my head. 

Seth Rogen and Ben Affleck were both due in town. Both were due in the same building, different floors, at almost the same time. I started by looking for flights for both. I find incoming flights for both! Sadly, it turns out Affleck was flying into another state. 

Now I already have a combo with Ben but never got Seth. So my plan was simple. 

Try for Seth at the airport, if I don't get him I try for him at his event. If I get him I try for Ben at his event. 

Seth was due to land at 5:30 AM! But he's a good name that I don't have, I deemed that worth it. 

I start the drive at the crack of dawn and get a call saying his flight is 30 minutes early! Damn I better hurry, but I knew I had time to make it. 

I finally make it. We are three people, two graphers and a pap. Seth finally arrives with his girl. At first he hides behind the door as if he didn't want to come out, but he finally did. I approach and ask for the photo op and he goes "sure". He asks the pap to please not follow him cause he finds it embarrassing and to get his photos here and now. He also signs my three items! 

Photo op

Autographs

After this sweeping victory, it was time to sleep and rest up before heading off for Ben. It was oh so tempting just to sleep the whole day and say screw Ben since I have a combo, but I already freed up my day for this (mainly in case I didn't get Seth at the airport) so I figured I'd ride it out. 

I begrudgingly get up, head for the spot for Ben, and wait. It was a GREAT feeling going there knowing that I already had Seth. While waiting across the hallway I see John McCain! I approach and ask for a photo op he goes "quickly" and I got the shot! Now I had two photos for him to sign on me, just cause this was a spot where I knew it was possible to see him randomly. But I had no time to get them out as he went in the room. 

Two more graphers and a pap show up. One of the graphers is someone who I consider to be a Master combo hunter. We will call him KS. Ben finally arrives and we all go into attack mode. Ben is also accompanied by about 4-5 cops. Ben does nothing for no one. But one of the cops pushed KS and this caused KS to go off on the cop. Note this is not a rent a cop, but a real cop! He says that the cop had no right to touch him and this is a public hallway. One other cop responds that this doorway [where Ben entered] is not a public doorway. KS rebuffed that statement by saying that he was factually assaulted "all the way down there" (ie far away from the door). KS ended up having a polite conversation with a police Lieutenant, and I listened in just for educational purposes. 

At this point we weren't expecting Ben for at least an hour. So the pap, KS, and KS's disciple leave. I stay in the area but go away from the door. I come back and there's a whole new set of cops. Another grapher also shows up. 

Minutes later we see Ben walk the hallway again! I figure now is the chance since we're just two! The cops crowd on me and his publicist, a big fat female  gets in my face saying no! 

Now it was my turn to get in a spat with the cops. They tell me I can't do that and I say it's a public hallway. After an exchange of words the ring leader of the cops says he can kick me out of the building or I could stay. I told him I choose to stay and he says good choice. Since these were actual cops I kept my cool as much as I could and was polite, which I believe was smart of me. I so wish the other graphers were there cause if we were all there I would have been the least of these cops' worries. 

Time goes by then the ring leader of the cop comes up to me and he said they talked to the publicist and that he wasn't doing any combos with anyone today. Now it was time for another spat. It went something like this.

Me: Whatever the publicist said is never of any relevance to me. I'm going to wait it out and try when it lets out regardless. 

Cops: That's fine, but remember you cannot push or touch anybody. Understood? 

Me: Yes. And that goes both ways, no one can touch me either

At this point the cop has a look of shock in his face at the very smart answer that I gave. 

Cops: Right but if you're blocking a pathway we can arrest you for harassment

Me: When this lets out there will be more graphers that are coming, and some of the crowd that is in the room will be out, I will be the least of your worries at that point

Cops: Is that a threat? Are you threatening? 

Me: How am I threatening anyone? I'm simply stating a fact. You will have plenty more than me to worry about. I know how these things go as I do this across multiple states. 

Cops: Have you ever been arrested doing this? 

Me: No cause I always stay legal, just like I'm legal now on a public hallway. 

I then showed the cops my photo op with Seth Rogan at the airport this morning. 

Cops: That's fine but we are here to protect right now. We have a job to do. 

Me: You have a job to do, and so do I 

Cops: We're going to do our job 

Me: Good luck to you

And this comment enraged them more. 

Me: I'm simply wishing you luck, nothing more. Cause I believe you'll need it when this is done. And it won't be because of me. 

This spat went on for a minute longer till it ended, with more threats by them to eject me from the building. And I essentially stood my ground, very firm but very polite and courteous. This building is not much different than a public library. So I knew what I was doing. 

Not too long after this spat more graphers arrive just as I told them. This made me happy because now they would have more worries than me.

Then I see John McCain again, I whip out a photo I have already signed by Sarah Palin, and ask for him to sign it. He goes "I have no time" but signs it anyway. He did not take my sharpie instead used a black sharpie that he had. 

It was a nice feeling that no matter what happened I at least got a combo with John McCain, by pure chance no less. So my time here would not have been a total waste no matter what. 

Time passes by more, and John McCain comes out again. I had another photo and the disciple of KS had two time magazines. Same routine signs with his black sharpie. 

At that point I was also getting more nervous cause I was stretching the legal limit of how long I can actually park my car (for free). BUT the blasted thing FINALLY ended! At this point cops are scattered. KS and his disciple go into the room, and I follow. The room is crowded but we all get fairly close to Ben. We try and he ignores the three of us. That publicist bitch tells me "we've been through this before" and tells the others no as she pushes away all of us. KS lashes out on her "ok but DON'T TOUCH US"

As Ben prepares to leave through the back of the room KS and his disciple run outside. But I knew that outside the odds would be slim to none. So I attempt again. As he leaves I approach. I put on my best begging/pleading voice and my best begging/pleading face

I will not reveal the words I spoke to him, but what I told him was mostly true and with the said begging/pleading voice/face, it broke him down and switched him from "ignore everyone" mode to "being nice" mode. He responded to what I said then followed it with "to get me to sign your Armageddon photos". He actually SIGNED ONE PHOTO THEN THE SECOND PHOTO!! I shouted a THANK YOU and my reaction was this face

Some bystanders in the room had a chuckle about how the whole thing went, but I didn't care cause I got two items done. I had a third photo but I figure I'd just save that for whenever I see him out and about in the future. 

As I exited the room I, I still held up my 8x10s in hand with the autographs clearly showing. I then went up to the ring leader of the cops and I extended a hand shake to him as I uttered a firm "you have a wonderful day" whilst holding up my signed photos so he could see them. He looks at me with a non animated version of this face  as he ignored my handshake and uttered "thank you, I will have a wonderful day". He then proceeded to the door, and just as I told him earlier, he had a crowd, other graphers, and he was yelling "we need to have this hallway clear" and true to what I said, I was the least of his worries. Not interested in the chaos that was about to ensue, I simply left the building and ran to my car, as I saw no ticket on the windshield 

As I would later find out, Ben did nothing for no one leaving the hallway. 

John McCain photo op

John McCain autographs

Ben Affleck autographs

It should be noted that this "B" is his standard autograph nowadays, but before he used to give a much nicer "B~~A--" as you can see when I got him the first time

Despite the hardships, I consider this a pretty successful day. A first time celebrity meet, a random in John McCain, and some Ben Affleck autographs when all the odds were against me. 

And I actually consider myself as having graduated to another level of combo hunting, because I not only stood my ground against actual police officers, but I did so AND I was successful in getting what I came for. 

In addition to that, I defied a publicist bitch, and I even one upped a Master combo hunter (something one doesn't get to do all the time). 

This truly was my day in all respects