Friday Convention Update

Do any of your remember the telephone game? You know, you tell someone something and then they're supposed to pass it on and then by the time it gets back to you the message is so altered that the original message no longer had any of its original context?

Xena Convention 2013

The rumors are not rumor anymore! I can confirm that Creation is holding a Xena Convention in 2013 at the Burbank Marriott Hotel. :D

Creation's survey offers a glimmer of hope

XENA fans are getting a glimmer of hope this holiday season with a survey prompting fans to offer their opinions about whether or not to continue the conventions after 2012.

It is not surprising that Creation is doing this. After all, no sane fan would say "no" to ending the conventions, well maybe at least one sane fan but this sane fan opted for number three because I'm not selfish. While fans want option 3, it's a bit like asking people at Yankees Stadium if they're Yankees fans. obviously people are going to go with that final option of keeping the conventions going.

However, I think some fans might read too much into this survey.

It has been suspected that Creation, while ending the annual Xena Convention seems like a wise business move, might switch to a much more economic form of convention that combines several properties into one convention. Something similar to the Strong Women of Sci-Fi Conventions (which is one of the options on the survey) from about a decade ago. These conventions contained a mixture of actresses from popular conventions into a two-day convention. Option 2 offers the best economic opportunity for Creation and gives fans a bit more of a selection at a convention.

If Creation were to continue the conventions, they need to rethink the convention experience. It is hard to keep fans interested in the same actors appearing every year with the same stories to tell, or even new ones from their new roles, etc.

One of the things that some fans would like to see at a convention is a panel discussion with the creative staff behind XENA. At the 2005 convention, Rob Tapert and Chris Manheim did a panel discussion and similar panels appeared at subsequent conventions with R.J. Stewart. Liz Friedman, who's been MIA these past few years, was always a fan favorite.

Coordinated actor panels (for example, the CLEOPATRA 2525 panel at the 2010 convention) also are a fan favorite; as well as a panel of the Men of XENA would be a great sell. Get Ted and William up on stage along with David Franklin and see things turn into a riot on stage.

Actors, while they should have an option to promote their new projects, shouldn't use the stage for political, religious, or enlightenment posturing. In other words, be mindful of the audience's sensibilities. Sending "supporters" into the crowd to get them rise up and jam is one way to annoy portions of the audience who don't dig such a thing. People go to conventions to get entertained, not get converted.

The pricing of conventions is too tough to tackle because of the different payments made to the celebrity guests. Actors should be made FULLY aware of what is being charged to the people coming to the conventions. This might prompt a reduction in fees charged to the fans.

Autographs and photo-ops are fine as they stand for the most part because of fire regulations prevent anything other method than what Creation is already using to herd people through the line.

Creation is taking the time to rethink ending the Xena Conventions, and that is not something to take lightly. At least they're listening to fans. That say something about them as a company, even if they still end the conventions.

Internet Thievery!

Someone has saw fit to create a flickr account to post photos taken from the 2008 Burbank Convention. Not only did they use Steve's photos, they also used KT's photos that were published on the AfterEllen website.

This is just wrong!

I don't know what possesses some fans to do this. I don't. And I don't think I want to know really. It's just sickening.

That's why I watermark my photos to prohibit some lowlife fan from taking my photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenlsears/
This is not STEVEN L. SEARS and I suggest emailing flickr to get the account removed.

Burbank 2008 Quick Thoughts

Even though I didn’t travel to this year’s convention in Burbank, several members of the Xena Online Community (XOC) made the pilgrimage to the Burbank Airport Marriott January 25 – 27.

It seems to have been a pleasant experience for many first time convention goers and veterans alike. For some, it was their first Burbank Convention after having attended over conventions last year (Secaucus and Chicago).

However, like with most Creation Entertainment conventions, something always seems out of whack with how they do things. In all fairness to Creation, I think it’s how they have to do things because of laws and other things they have to contend with when hosting a Convention.

This time around, there seems to be an issue with the music videos. In the past, participants have been able to submit on two videos. The only caveat was that only one video could win. This year (2008) they changed to only allowing one (though some did submit two videos). Somehow, someone managed to win twice apparently.

Now, I’m not going to sit here and call into question Creation’s thinking. Perhaps, they didn’t know they had awarded gift certificates to the same person. (Giving them the benefit of the doubt and no doubt, they’re looking into the issue.) Nor am I going to call for them to be crucified. There are worse evils in this world (Davis Merchandising being the biggest culprit) when it comes to ‘Xena’ licensees. I can only hope Creation gets to the bottom of the issue and fix it.

Were you at the 2008 convention? Let me know your thoughts. Also, be watching this blog over the next year as I post updates to the 2009 Convention held at the LAX Marriott. I'll be there, with bells on! :D

News from the Convention

It's not suprising that R.J. Stewart received a little flak of over "A Friend in Need." Although, it seems to me that people would be better off realizing that they can't change what happened and it's really no use in crying over it six and a half years after the fact. But, whatever.

Another interesting tidbit is that Renee's appearance on Army Wives will be a month or so long and that she'll play a character unlike what we've seen in the past and definitely not like what the fans are used to seeing. She'll be playing the agressor and will be in a position that some wish she would have been in while on Xena.

Lucy apparently hit a deer with her shiny Prius. Oops. Glad she's okay and the deer, according to her, was okay. She's got a "monster truck" loner. (Psst, Lucy. You're like all the rest of the Hollywood types. Let's hope your monster truck is fuel efficient.)

In probably what was the not so surprising moment from the convention... Liz Friedman was not disappointed that X and G never kissed. "I think we did what was right the for show," Friedman said.

Fugate to appear at Burbank Convention

Katherine Fugate has signed on to appear at the 2008 Burbank Xena convention.