LONDON EXPO Saturday 18th May 2002
Transcript of a Mini (tape) interview: Interviews by Heather Stewart-Cameron [Husky].
Interviewees: Clare Hughes from Liverpool, Liz Birchall from Doncaster - attendees and Peter Williams [Apophis] - guest signer.
HSC: I am at London Expo Saturday 18th May and I'm talking with Clare Hughes and Liz Birchall who have been attending the show, and I'd like to see what they think of it, so first of all I'll speak to Clare. What would you like to say, Clare? What do think of the Expo in general?
CH: I think it was very nice, everyone was really friendly and I've had a lot of fun here.
HSC: Was there anything you particularly liked or disliked about the general layout that you can tell us about?
CH: The café. I didn't like the fact that it was upstairs; you have to really find it, and the way that you had to find your way around all the queues that were all queued up to go and see the stars - it was really disorganised.
HSC: What did you like about it?
CH: Umm ….. no sorry - the layout was kinda crap.
HSC: Which was the most interesting for you about the Expo that you were looking forward to seeing when you arrived?
CH: Alexander Siddig. [HSC: and did you get to see him?] I did! I got to hug him!
HSC: So what was he like?
CH: He was lovely, a lot better than a lot of stars who were at the convention [Expo] - not mentioning any names (CH made barfing sound here).
HSC: That's Anthony Daniels (C3PO) to you and me. He is a bit of a ---- technical problems ---- , but we won't go into that because this is a personal opinion, so thats that. I am now going to turn my attention to Liz Birchall, who is Clares friend, and see what she thought of the Expo. Liz?
LB: Oh, I've really enjoyed my day here. Think I'll second Clare on how nice Alexander Siddig was; also Richard Biggs and Peter Williams who were both extremely nice. What I would say is that it would have been a lot better if they had let you know what the prices for all the photos and also who you were actually queuing for before you'd actually been in the queue for hours!
HSC: On that point, I did actually make a comment in the Visitors Book outside the entrance to the Exhibition, to say that very fact, because I found that very difficult as well. There were lots and lots of queues, but you had no idea what you were queuing for until you asked someone who was already some way further along the line of the queue, and also the queues were very mixed up, there were no proper lines of queuing, so it was quite difficult to tell who was queuing for whom. The toilets were also very difficult to get to as well, so I will second Clare's opinion on having to go through lots of mazes of corridors on that. Is there anything else you'd like to add on the general layout, Liz?
LB: Yes, there was plenty of space around the dealers' areas; I thought it was good that you weren't all trying to cram in; you could actually go and look at a stall without being jostled, which was good, and if you were trying to move past people, you could, so I thought that the Dealers area was pretty well organised.
HSC: Did you think that there was a good mixture of stalls for people who were interested in particular things, for instance trading cards etc, and the autographing stuff. Did you think it was a good mixture, Liz?
LB: Well, trading cards did seem to predominate, but they usually do. It is a big area of the Sci Fi fandom, so you can expect there to be a lot of those, but there is a lot of stuff for other people as well; it did seem to be more of a Buffy and Stargate mix rather than anything else.
HSC: But you're both a Buffy fan and a Stargate fan, I do believe?
LB: Yes, Buffy and Stargate (laughs).
HSC: Can you tell us anything about your obsession with Spike? Or … Marsters?
LB: Mr. James Marsters. I refuse to accept the fact that I am obsessing about James Marsters/Spike! (pretends mock indignation).
HSC: So that's why you are wearing a very beautifully beaded wristband which says 'Spike' on it, which is very high quality and Liz made it herself. Not to say that you are in any way obsessed or anything, but you know, it shows, Liz!! (both laugh).
HSC: And over to you again, Clare. What did you think of the overall layout and , er, the actual stalls?
CH: The stalls were all very nice, and well set up, the people that were manning them were all really very friendly and ……[we all kinda spoke at once here]…
HSC: Even Peter Williams, he mentioned something about how he knew he was in Britain because of all the queues, which was quite a pointing [pointed] remark. It has been very interesting to see all that. There were some people dressed up; there was a Klingon and a Dax type character at the entrance and various Spike 'impressionists' you might say. Also the guys from 'Robot Wars' on BBC2 tv were there with their machines of death, and they were also extremely friendly and willing to chat and there were some cars. [In the centre of the exhibition Hall] There was a Batmobile and a Bat motorbike and a car that looked as though it was a car from 'Noddy' and also the car from 'The Flintstones', so that was quite interesting for those with small children. It was quite spacious and the area outside the actual exhibition Hall was also very spacious, although not nearly enough seating, but you do get an impression of the Expo area. That it is very light, modern. Very clean, I have to say. The Ladies' toilets were very clean, once you found them; everything seems very clean and it is clearly labeled so you can't really get lost, so that was a plus. So I would say the overall impression of the three of us about the London Expo is that everything is great, except that the queues are clearly marked as to whom they are for, and it would be nice to know how much money you actually need for things and one other point that I personally would like to add is that when you come in and get your ticket, it would be nice to have a list of whats available on the various stands, and who is available at the show in terms of who is doing the autographs so you know who is available. That let it down somewhat, but otherwise …. And Liz has got something to say now, so II'll pass you back to her again….
LB: Yeah, it's just about talking about getting a list when you come in, it might have been an idea if not only would they provide us with a list of who, but how much there, it would have been a good idea.
HSC: As an alternative to boards, you mean? [LB: Yeah]. Yes, that's a good point. I think it would be very good to have some kind of a what you might call a 'menu' of what's available on the door, because you do get some freebie gift bags when you come in which is advertising, so they may as well do that at the same time. The price is very good; I think £6 is quite reasonable for entry to one of these things. What do you think, Clare?
CH: I think it is very reasonable. I think it is very helpful as well that they (the Hall) are located very near the cash machines because if you are really stuck for money (and you DO need money) then you can actually get some. That was a major problem at SG-4 (a Stargate convention which we all attended, which is how we met, held at the Heathrow Park Hotel in February 2002).
HSC: At SG-4, which is a convention which we attended in February, unfortunately, despite people asking for it for the past 3 or 4 years, there are no cashpoint facilities any where nearer than the actual airport itself; you can't get them at the local newsagents, you can't get them at banks, nothing - you have to go all the way into Heathrow, which is a pain in the Aspidistra, I have to say. This is the end of the interview for today: we are going to be celebrating Clare's 18th birthday tomorrow, and we are going to get smashed at Page's Bar, so there will be more interviews with Star Trek characters galore tomorrow.
