Department for Kewl Events
GATE DAYS
November 1 - 3, 2002
Ludwigshafen, Germany

Report and pictures
submitted by Cordula P.
Translation: The Doc
Our very special thanks go out to Cordula and her hubbie Horst for reporting back from the 2nd Gatedays in Germany. Cordula has been the last-years winner of two tickets for the 1st Gateday (with Michael Shanks), and she was kind enough to note down her adventures, taking pictures (and wearing PK shirts!) - thanks a lot!
All in all I'm convinced that 98 % of all fans - including us - had a hell of a fantastic weekend - it was awesome! Sure, some things didn't work out, but I think that's to be expected at an event of this size. So let's start with the critic so we can dive head-first into the praise soon! :-)

At times the organization seemed a bit chaotic, one of those "left hand not knowing what the right is doing" things. For example the tickets for the photo shooting: most people were under the impression that they were allowed to take the pictures themselves. If that had been the case, then, of course, EUR 10 (about $ 10) would have been very expensive. Then we've been told the tickets for the photo session were actually the tickets for the autograph signing. In between, somebody told us the pictures were all pre-signed already, which, of course, was nothing but a rumour. Very confusing! The real tickets for the photo session were sold later on, also for EUR 10, if you wanted a picture with one guest only, for all of the guests you had to pay EUR 55. For me, EUR 55 for a picture sized 3" x 6.5" showing a computer animated Stargate in the background was too expensive, and I felt it was ugly, too.
Cordula and Douglas "Dougy" Arthurs ("Heru'ur")
"Why was I never featured in PInk Khaki?!? It's not fair!!!"
Christopher Judge ("Teal'c")
Peter Williams ("Apophis")
JR Bourne ("Martouf")
Douglas Arthurs ("Heru'ur")
Lynn Smith (location manager)
N. John Smith (producer)
A compliment for the schedule: all through Sunday, they were almost always on time. I'm still wondering, though, about the announced game where some people were supposed to be Goa'uld, and some their hunters. I have no idea whether they went through with the game finally, at least I didn't hear anything about it.

A very negative experience was the catering situation - something, I have to point out, which has NOTHING to do with the organizers of this event, and can't and shouldn't be blamed on them. The owners of the convention centre had insisted that neither food nor drinks were allowed on the premises, so the security had to check all backpacks and bags for edible content. So, after a while, bottles and sandwiches started to tower in the lobby. Of course this didn't help to increase the sales for the owners of the place - after all you could just walk out, grab your bottle or sandwich and eat outside! Definitely much ado about nothing. And you can't blame anybody, specially not the many students who were there, for their unwillingness to to pay EUR 2.50 + EUR 1.00 deposit for a bottle of water!!! Same with the food - so it didn't come as a surprise we all ended up in the McDonalds close by. Actually, McDonalds should pay Mark (of Loge Fan Events) some kind of commission, because I bet they sold 500% more that weekend! My husband ordered a MacGyver, by the way. Have a guess where his mind was! ;-) (Good to know this didn't happen to me, or I'd never heard the end of it!) :-)
And as we're already talking about MacGyver ...
The price-level was, as far as merchandise (mugs, pictures and all kind of "souvenirs") was concerned, not "discount", but not overly expensive, either. However, I was not too enthusiastic about the offered choice in merchandise. Which was good, or I'd gone home with an empty purse!

But these small things didn't ruin at all everybody's enjoyment. Everybody was really in the mood to party, so I'm pretty sure most will keep this weekend in great and cherished memory - including us!  Some people, more experienced con-goers than us, told us that, compared to other con's they've been to, the Gatedays were really running smoothly.
LOGE-Fan-Events looked pretty much like a "family company" to me, as there was a very warm, familiar atmosphere all through the weekend. It was obvious the "stars" enjoyed themselves, and they took every opportunity to talk to the fans. Things really took off when on Saturday night the VIP-party and the "normal" party were merged (due to lack of party spirit a the VIP-party!)  I was later told that Christopher Judge was a gifted limbo-dancer, and J.R. Bourne and Peter Williams had performed a perfect table dance for the fans (no information, though, if any clothes were shed). "Dougy" seemed to have put his pride into playing vampyre and biting every female throat available, and all of the stars stayed much longer at the party than they'd originally intended to.

And what did we do while everybody was having a big party?
WE MISSED IT! Boohoo!
Thwarting the vampyre ... no big deal for Apophis!
Another great thing to mention is that nobody had to leave without an autograph, though I think 3 hrs waiting time for a signature are pretty tough. The delay was due to Peter Williams, who chatted with every fan and took pictures instead of signing the photos, so the queue got longer and longer by the second. But he stayed to the bitter end, and I could bet he brought home a big fat tendinitis as a souvenir! And of course there was Douglas, who much prefered to run around outside and chat to the fans, so Brian had to go out again and again and call him back to the signing (it was fun to watch this!)

Despite some trouble we had previously to the con (there was a problem with the booking of our tickets), I will most probably book a ticket again if there should be another Gateday. But I would never pay EUR 400 for ticket no. 1, even if it was for charity! Hm. Ok. If they'd auction off a meet-and-greet with Richard Dean Anderson, I couldn't guarantee I wouldn't (man gönnt sich ja sonst nichts, hehehe!)
"Afrophis"
The charity-auction was really interesting. It's fun to see how much some people are willing to pay for souvenirs! I really don't know what's so special about a program of the first con in London, said to be signed by all the guests.
First I haven't been there, so I have no personal memory on the event, and second I can't know for sure the signatures are real. But some people actually paid about EUR 70 - 100 for this. But if it's worth it for them, that's ok, of course.
It was also great that J.R. was allowed to auction off some items for his own charity of choice. He's born to be an auctioneer!  It was interesting to see that in the beginning nobody wanted to bid,  but as soon as somebody (mostly the girls!) started, everybody joined in. Things almost escalated into a fight in the lobby over the ticket no. 1 for the day with Amanda Tapping after the auction! "If I don't get it, nobody else should, either!" Well, what can you say about this ...
One thing I wasn't happy about were the raffles. They sold two complete sets of numbers, which means 2000 raffles, so I was told, and there were 20 prizes to win. So this meant that there were two prizes for each number, which lowered the chances for the other numbers even more. This aside, some winning numbers were obviously decided before,  and some, they just "chose" ("And now we take number ...") I think selling one set of numbers and then have somebody to draw the winners would have looked more professional.

So, now I stop with the "about", or this report turns into a novel! Now I have some tidbits which you'll most probably come across at every convention!
Running Gag on Saturday

Question to N. John and Lynn: "Is there a 7th season?"

Answer:  "We just don't know it right now. There would be a decision in about two weeks."

Question: "What's about a Stargate-Movie?"

Answer:  "If there is a 7th season, we surely wouldn't have the time to film a movie!" (that's logical, isn't it!)

Question to J.R.Bourne (about 1h later!)

"Is there a 7th season?"

Answer: "I don't know yet!"

Question: "If there is a 7th season, would you take part in it?"

Answer: "????" (rolls eyes)

Question to Peter Williams (2 hrs later!)

"If there is a 7th season, would you take part in it?"

Answer: "I really don't think so, because I'm already dead!"
(Finally a straight answer, lol!)
N. John Smith and Lynn Smith - two cuties
The Classics

Question to Christopher Judge (for better comprehension in phonetics). "Ei sinkk ju hef a werri gud anderstending wis each aser, or not?"

Answer: "???" (very, very puzzled expression)

Question to Lynn: "From a scientifically point of view, a worm hole only works in one direction. So how could Daniel Jackson in episode 256327 (or something like this) put his hand in the worm hole and draw it back again?" (Argh - she's a LOCATION MANAGER!!!!)

Question to Peter: "Boxers or slip?"

Answer: "Guess what!"
(there's ALWAYS somebody who has to ask this, isn't there!!!!!)
Duct tape - the only way to ensure somebody else beside
Chris Judge will be able to say something!
Ah yes, and let's not forget the gentleman who, due to constant drinking, was a little confused, but still insisted to ask J.R. a question:

Man: "My English is not so good ..."
J.R.: "Tell it in german. He will translate
          it to me."
Man: " ... "
J.R.: "What do you want to know? Something
         about my life or about the work at the
         Stargate-studios?"
Man: " ... "
J.R.: "Hey man - are you sure, you know,
         where you live?!?"
But also the guests had some questions for their fans. Especially Christopher!!!!

Chris:

"I always have to shave my hair, to represent the character of Teal'c. That's a lot of work everyday. But I'm sure, if there's a 7th season, you wold like to see Teal'c with hair! Is this true?"

Audience (almost unisono):

"BALD HEAD!!!"

Chris (whining):

"But it hurts and my skin is always getting red and sore!"

Audience:

"BALD HEAD!!!"

Chris (sighing):

"Ok, bald head then!"

So I guess the chances to see Teal'c in season 7 with long silky curls are close to nil. And I can't even say I'm sorry!


Now, that's finally it! I can only repeat that it was a fantastic event, we met very nice people, the organization was very good, the guests friendly and open, and we'll be back!

Cordula P.
"Regulations? What regulations?!?"
Two very happy (Gate) campers!
Related Link:
LOGE FAN EVENTS - GATEDAY

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