NCIS Fan Fest #2

[vonny67]

Bravenet has small guest maps where you can place a small pin saying where you come from, only thing is the code needs to uploaded to here I think.

Anyway I'm coming over from Falkirk, Scotland, United Kingdom.

What about everyone else, I see on the first page of this thread there are only about a dozen of us I think, are there any more? If so get your name to Nici and she will add you to the list.

Anyway I can foresee a good 5 days and very much looking forward to it all and meeting everyone.

[Nici]

Minnesota here! I think last year I was the only Minnesotan (well for the fans ... Pancho doesn't count! hehe)

Anyway, I realize will have a new thread before the fest so maybe in the next thread by our names in the first post I will put where everybody lives by their usernames ... that way y'all can see just how far everybody is coming

[Deleted]

vonny67 said:

What about everyone else, I see on the first page of this thread there are only about a dozen of us I think, are there any more? If so get your name to Nici and she will add you to the list.

That's what I'd like to know. How many people came last year? It seems odd to only see twelve of us coming - there's got to be some people going from other NCIS communities or it wouldn't be worth holding (financially I mean).

[mollokoplus]

Folks from FoN, folks from here, folks from European message boards, folks from TV.com, folks from LJ.

[Deleted]

About how much cash should I take for booths, auctions etc.? Are there other booths to buy stuff besides the online raffles?

[Nici]

meg said:

About how much cash should I take for booths, auctions etc.? Are there other booths to buy stuff besides the online raffles?

It all depends on how much you want to spend. Each character will have a booth and have their free gift bags and tickets to buy for the raffle. They also have the booth for Operation Gratitude and maybe one more. Not sure. They also have the silent auctions on the same day as the raffles. That was fun to see all the stuff you could try and win.

[Deleted]

Are the character booths the same as the online raffles, or is there other stuff there too for purchase?

Also, what kind of auction items are there? And do you have some cost examples?

[mollokoplus]

I don't remember there being other stuff there to purchase, just the raffle tickets. Stuff laid out for the silent auction. Freebie stuff from the character booths, as Nici said. But then, who knows for this year? Maybe there'll be more stuff there, maybe other people with stuff to offer.

[kiki]

Hi guys! It's been awhile since I've posted... in fact so long that I had to reregister since I couldn't remember my s/n, etc. Anyway, I'm thinking about doing the Fan Fest this year since I'll be in LA that weekend anyway and had a few questions...

For the set visit do they shuttle us over or do we drive ourselves? And how long is the visit (what time did you go and leave last year, etc)?

Thanks in advance. ;D

[mchnelson]

Kiki, you have to register to go on the set visit. This does not mean you either have to stay at the hotel or turn up at the other things. Judging by the amount of people who went on the set visit, I'd say a few, maybe locals, did this. Not sure when they would have registered. I was staying at the hotel, so obviously registered and got my badge Thursday evening. We then gathered outside the hotel on Saturday morning at about 10.15, for the 10.30 set off in the busses to the set. After making sure that NO ONE had cameras or camera phones, off we went. I think we left about fourish, but I'm sure someone will remember the real time. Back to the hotel for a quick bite to eat, we were not really hungry, since we'd been fed at the set, then into the hall for the raffles etc. Other than the booth goodies which were free, you could not really buy anything except for Operation gratitude Tshirts. You bid on the auction lots, but could buy an auction lot outright if no one had bid on it and you were prepared to pay the asking price, usually about $300. I was surprised that there was nothing to buy like Tshirts, caps or photos etc. But it is run by fans for other fans to meet each other as a charity raising event, so is not really a commercial enterprise. Knowing this year how many goody bags the booths have to make up, and that it is all done by the runner of the booth, it would be difficult, not to mention prohibitively expensive to make multiple Tshirts and things. How would you know what would and would not sell like hot cakes, big risk to take. I like to thank the booth runners from last year and the ones who are doing it this year.

BTW maybe this is a good opportunity to ask.
What would we like to see at the Fan Fest for sale? Perhaps if there are one or two overwhelming things we'd all like, it might be worth the risk of getting them made.

[kiki]

Thanks mchnelson! ;D

Yeah, I know I have to register and plan to shortly. I was just wondering about the timing on Saturday for the set visit since I have plans later that night. But based on the outline you gave, assuming it stays somewhat close to that for this year, it looks like it might be a go for me. ;D

Could you give me the lowdown on the other night's activities as well? And what kinds of items are up for auction? Thanks again... I really do appreciate it.

[Deleted]

mchnelson said:

Kiki, you have to register to go on the set visit. This does not mean you either have to stay at the hotel or turn up at the other things.

But once you're registered for fanfest, you are registered for the set visit, right?

[mahannie57]

I'm from Denver, Colorado and will be arriving about 2:30pm on Thurs afternoon, so if it's a dinner type thing I'm totally in!

As for stuff to buy.... I'd love to have anything NCIS (the show) related stuff, such as t-shirts, etc. Although I am working on something of my own to wear.... ::thanks mchNelson for the inspiration, because of the shirt she wore last year::

The freebie stuff for the character booths was very cool and I can't wait to see what they've come up with for this year!

As for the stuff up for auction, there were items that were given to the cast and crew such as bowling shirts and duffle bags with nice embroidery on them as well as autographed episode scripts included with just about each item (which was very nice of the producers to include) and a whole bunch of other stuff that I forgot cause I couldn't afford it once the bidding got started

eta: If you are registered at the Fanfest you are also registered for the set visit. The deciding factor for me to go last year was the fact that we got to go behind the scenes (and once there, I got to sit in all of the main characters chairs in the bullpen! Thanks, Sara!)