Kicking off July with a few meets

Started July with comedian and actor DeRay Davis. He has quite a few movie credits such a Barbershop, Scary Movie 4, GI Joe Retaliation, among others. Came out of his show and I got the op no issue. 

DeRay Davis

Next up, an event I was on the fence about doing and didn't even print for cause I was not going to do it as there was no one I really needed. But in the end I caved because I wanted Rachel Platten who sings the Fight song. Sadly we saw her 3-4 times and each time she just either ignored photo op requests or just looked back and smiled and waved. I'll probably never listen to this song again.

It wasn't a total waste though. Gloria Gaynor was nice. I got her then got her again when she was all dressed up. Upgrade over my previous shot. Got country singer Jake Owen (fresh). Got a combo from actress Cynthia Erivo. Saw Chita Rivera she stopped before I got there didn't really try to get her as I got her before. 

Singer Mickey Guyton came out and said she would do it coming back. She is pure pokemon for me but since I wanted my stay here to be as fruitful as possible I decided to wait since this was practically a guarantee. And true to her word when she came back she was nice as can be and I got a fresh op.

COVID reared its ugly head but thankfully it didn't affect me. Yolanda Adams who I have a couple of photos with already did mask shots which I didn't bother getting. And Keb Mo used that as an excuse not to stop, but I have him before. 

Gloria Gaynor

Full list of photo ops

Autograph

Next up, went to the airport for gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles. I was commissioned to get some autographs from her. On the same flight was her fiancé Jonathan Owens. They showed up both of them, holding hands, no mask. I ask for the op they agree. I wanted to get in between but they didn't want to let go of each other's hands. So I just stood next to her for the op. Sadly they refused autographs and said they would only do ops.

Tried again when they went to baggage asking for just one each but they declined. They were seated and still holding hands.

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens

Meeting Paul Anka

I set out to meet a music legend, Paul Anka. He wrote the song My Way and has hit songs like Put Your Hand On My Shoulder, Diana, and others. Given he is 80, that is a real treat. I heard good things about him but wasn't sure about the venue since it is largely on private property. 

When it was the witching hour, he was nice as can be, the venue didn't give us crap, he signed and took photos with all. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Imagine, so many young artists these days use COVID as an excuse or are assholes to begin with and refuse to greet fans. Yet Paul Anka, 80 years old, a true class act. 

Paul Anka

Autographs part 1

Autographs part 2

Atlantic City Classic Rewind and CSA Show

I decided to do Classic Rewind in Atlantic City. They had many cancellations and that of Ellen Travolta hit me hard. But despite that I decided there were decent enough names still left to get. 

First up, Tracey Gold from Growing Pains. Then one of my top wants at this show, Heather Matarazzo from The Princess Diaries, Scream 3, The Devil's Advocate, and more. After this another top want of mine, Richard Tyson, who was the villain from Kindergarten Cop. 

Then I got Garette Ratliff Henson from Mighty Ducks and Casper. And finally Kate Flannery from The Office. I wanted to get more names but sadly they were priced too high for names of their caliber and I had no one to split either the op or the combo price with. It was heart breaking. The names I skipped were Aaron Schwartz (Mighty Ducks) and Marguerite Moreau (Mighty Ducks) from my main want list. And Natanya Ross (The Baby-Sitters Club) and Sam Horrigan (Little Giants) from my "maybe" list.

Richard Tyson

Heather Matarazzo

Full list of Classic Rewind photos

Next up, CSA show. I go Saturday with Tim Tebow as my main want. Someone I know is getting 2 autos. So I get the table op. Tebow is nice as can be.

I then wait at the main CSA show hotel to get actor Tom Guiry. He was in the 1994 Lassie movie, The Sandlot, Black Hawk Down, and lots of other stuff. While waiting I get a couple of sports names. Football players Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi portrayed him in a movie so I guess it's a half decent name for me) and Bob Lilly. Tom Guiry then showed up and was nice as can be. I then leave the hotel. Spoiler alert this effort would end up being a waste. More on that later.

Tim Tebow

Full list of photo ops

Next day I go again to CSA show. This time my goal is to get a nice shot with a masked Rey Mysterio. My mask shot from 2007 is over the table. Plus he is always wearing a different mask. Luckily I run into someone I know with 15 items to get signed. While waiting for Rey another guy I know has multiple items for both baseball player Alan Trammell and actor Tom Guiry. So I tag along and get ops with each just to do something (rendering my effort for Tom the day before as a waste).

When it's time for Rey we go through and he signs and we get great photo ops with a masked Rey Mysterio.

Alan Trammell

Tom Guiry

Rey Mysterio

An array of meets in June

The day starts with DL Hughley at a comedy show. I got him at an airport in the past but he didn't take the mask off at the time. So I aimed to rectify that. He finally arrives and does ops. I manage to get an autograph too. This marks the first time I correct a mask photo op.

Later in the evening I went to another venue with the main goal of getting actor Omari Hardwick. I arrive there and maybe 5 minutes later I get that op. Then I get actor Terrence J. I see Rick Ross but was unable to get him as he wasn't trying to stop. Also get a few more names while there. 

Full list of photo ops

Autograph

On an evening decided to check a spot where combo hunters were waiting. I missed usher by like 5 minutes but I got him before. I get names I never heard of such as Anderson .Paak. And I get another photo op with TI.

Full list of photo ops

Next evening I have one aim. Justin Timberlake. I find out where he's staying so I wait there. I see Pharrell Williams. He does a couple of ops including one with a little boy but wasn't able to get an upgrade as he was not being friendly. It's ok I have a decent shot with him from NYC. I get another photo with TI this time no shades. 

Sadly we wait for Justin and never see him. Then find out one person waiting at the venue got him just walking out. Perfect shot. PUNCH.

To salvage the evening I figure I would try to go to another spot for an upgrade with Teyana Taylor. My shot with her she riding on the back of her husband who is a football player. I wanted her just by herself. While waiting I get one rapper and one basketball player neither one of which I heard of before. She finally comes out but sadly I get a shades shot and I'm making a face cause security was trying to stop me. It's a valid shot but I don't count it as an upgrade. This night is essentially a bust.

Full list of photo ops

After the bad taste of the hotel the night before, I figured I'd try the venue to see what can be had. After walking around by complete Luck and MIRACLE I manage to fish out the side where singer and actress Ashanti is coming out. I wasn't even looking for her specifically that's how lucky I got. That's a solid name for me since she was in a few movies. So I figure I'd station myself there. Her set finally ended and eventually she came out. She did car shots with everyone. Sadly she is wearing shades at night. Not the greatest shot but valid and it counts. I'll take it.

Ashanti

Next up, wait for the band Def Leppard. I met them before but want a better shot with the singer Joe Elliott. 

I get another shot with Phil Collen. See Rick Allen but don't really need him. We see Vivian Campbell as he walks his dog multiple times but he wasn't having it. That sucks cause I never got a photo op with him. Then we see both Rick Savage and Joe Elliott going for dinner. They say they will do it when they get back. 

They get back and I get upgrades with both of them. So that's good. 

While we waited for them someone spotted former politician Tom Daschle going out for a walk. Got a photo op with him too.

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

And last an event with both Stephen Spielberg and John Williams. I have them already but always good to get more autographs from them. I wasn't expecting it to happen and predicted they would garage them. And indeed that happened.

While waiting I get actor Richard Thomas but I already have him. Politician Jennifer Granholm is spotted and we get ops. Apparently Daisey Ridley was also in attendance she must have walked by us. But I got her before. 

Go to another spot for actor Sean Penn. See him about 20 minutes later but he is a dick as expected and doesn't stop for anyone. Waited some more and he came out for a smoke, but still wasn't having it. Disappointing but not surprising.

After this bust of an evening I go to a music venue to try and meet Bowling for Soup, best known for their song 1985. There were other bands there but I'd never heard of them. I ask around and find out that 3 members of Bowling for Soup are there. Two main members (Chris Burney and Jaret Reddick) and a barely valid member (Rob Felicetti). We wait and wait and we are told no one else is coming out. Everyone waiting leaves but I stay. I'm waiting alone at this point.

Eventually I see Chris, call him over, super nice guy. Then not long after both Jaret and Rob come out. I shout for them. They do a "socially distant" op but it turned out great (Jaret told me the spot to stand).

Rob Felicetti and Jaret Reddick

Chris Burney

Full list of photo ops

an A list movie meet and legendary instrumentalist musician

So Matthew McConaughey was in town and combo hunters were waiting at a spot. I rush to the spot but sadly don't make it in time as he leaves and does multi combos. PUNCH!

Thankfully one guy I knew was with him at the next spot. So I rush there, park super illegally across the street, and barely make it. He comes out while it's raining and I plead for the op. He does that but declines us autographs. This is a huge upgrade from my shot in NYC which is borderline invalid.

Matthew McConaughey

Next up, a flight on legendary guitarist and instrumentalist musician Joe Satriani. Kirk Hammett of Metallica was actually his student. Go to the airport and he is nice as can be signing and sketching for everyone. Sadly he does mask ops. So when he's done with baggage I follow him outside to try and plead for a no mask shot. He does it but socially distant. Not the greatest shot but valid and counts. I'll take it.

Joe Satriani take 1

Joe Satriani take 2

Autographs

Awesome Con and pre Awesome con meets

 The day before awesome con I had a train for musician Laurie Anderson. I admit I am not too familiar with her but upon looking her up and checking her work she seemed pretty legendary. And since I had good info I figured it was worth going for. While waiting I spot actor Giancarlo Esposito coming in for awesome con. He happened to be on the same train as Laurie. I got him years ago and wanted an upgrade but didn't want to pay con prices! So what a nice bonus to get him here by chance! He was cool about the op. Laurie was friendly and did multi combos for anyone who wanted.

Giancarlo Esposito

Laurie Anderson

Autographs

Next up, Awesome con! Thankfully I only needed 4 names and none of them had COVID ruining the ops. Others there did but no on I needed. Ace comic con was bringing Shang-Chi actors and had their own section so this was a con within a con. How novel.

First op I would get an op with Chinese actress Meng'er Zhang from Shang-Chi. Then Sylvester McCoy from Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Didn't get him in the past so given his age glad to have another chance. Then I got Shang-Chi himself who I failed on in NYC last year. Rounded up my time in awesome con with actor Wilson Cruz.

Simu Liu

Full list of photo ops

Scattered movie and music meets to round off May

The Who were on tour. I already met Pete Townshend on a previous tour and failed on a Roger Daltrey photo op when I went to his book signing in NYC. This tour, Pete (who is normally a nice guy) was using the COVID excuse and Roger was doing autographs and photo ops for $100 each (no combo pricing). This was an opportunity to get this music legend who is normally an asshole. I wait at the hotel during check outs. 

Arrive at the hotel and there's others waiting. One guy had $1300 to spend, one guy had $500, and there were others who had money too. I only had $100. When it was go time they lined us up. I allowed the big spenders to go ahead me, which was a good strategy. Cause when I just asked for a photo op I wasn't charged! Score! Or in the words of the Battle Droids from the prequal era Star Wars.....Roger Roger! After I got the op I simply ran away before they could realiz what transpired. 

Roger Daltrey

Next up, got a tip for an event with a couple of actors from the new Top Gun, Greg Davis and Glen Power. Could use an upgrade with Glen and never got Greg. Arrive at the venue. There's a car that I think is theirs. That car moves and I'm wondering why. Then it hit me that there's a side door people could leave from. Unfortunately I realize that too late (I hadn't been here in years). I also get word that they left the venue. But by miracle I get the hotel info via social media! I rush there and find that same car waiting. 

I quickly try to park and find a not so legal spot. I run there and just as I'm getting there they are both coming out! I ask them for ops and the driver tries to stop me but I completely ignore him. Both of them are nice as can be. 

Greg Davis

Glen Powell

Next up was a music venue for singer and actor Jesse McCartney. I already have him but I was with others who wanted him. So I went. Got the opening acts Casey Baer and Jamie Miller. Not sure who they are but you never know one day. Then got a combo with Jesse. 

Full list of photo ops

Autograph

Next up I went to the Johnny Depp hotel. Didn't see Johnny but got his lawyers.

Camille Vasquez

Benjamin Chew

Next up an event with a bunch of people, mostly people I met. It would be off to a good start as I'd get Joe Mantegna (update), singer Pia Toscano (fresh), and a combo with Gary Sinise (upgrade). Then the venue people start giving us crap. I stand up to them but figuring they could prevent celebs from stopping we all decide to go to the hotel.

The hotel I would get fresh names in Jack Everly and Alfie Boe (though I don't really know them) and updates and autographs with Mary McCormack and Jean Smart. Sadly a name I wanted Gil Birmingham didn't stop. Saw Dennis Haysbert and Norm Lewis, they didn't stop but I have them. And country singer Craig Morgan walked by us. Overall it was sub par.

Full list of photo ops

Autographs