A Fun Sci-Fi Weekend.Jul 26 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line How could I ask for more? A great time, and lots of fun all weekend. Are you a Sci-Fi Fan? Would you like to obtain Autographs from the Actor's and Actress's themselves? Would you enjoy a day, or weekend away with fellow Sci-Fi fans, discussing various Sci-Fi topics? From Star Trek To Babylon 5. FarScape to Buffy, Angel, Xena, and more. This is the place to be. What is it? Toronto Trek. A fan run 'trek' convention, and as the name of it suggests, it caters to the Star Trek fan, but they do not stop there. Where is it. You can find more information at its website, http://tcon.icomm.ca. It is held in Toronto Ontario Canada, once a year, ussually mid-July. Who Can I see? You meet new friends. I, Myself have been attending for over 7 Years, and there are faces and friends i do not see the rest of the year, and instantly I know them, and they know Me. How Much? The prices are outlines on the Website, but start at $25 USD or $35 CAD for advanced preregistration (til July 31st 2001), it then goes up for 'preregistration' and then again at the door. People look at me slightly odd when I tell them where I go on the only weekend i schedule off each year, and more then that, the only time off i ever insist on making sure I have. I do not think people realize what a person can get out of such a event if you open your mind and allow yourself to be enveloped by the Experience. I have found I have met a nice range of 'Stars' from my favorite Sci-Fi shows, some I liked in person, others I discovered where less then pleasant. A brief list of star's I have met, and AutoGraphs I have collected as a direct result of attending. 1. ST:TOS. Grace Lee Witney, 'Yeoman Rand' 2. ST:TOS, ST:TNG, ST:VOY, ST:DS9, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, yes the one and only. From her voice being used for the Computer, to being Nurse Chapel, she has always had a part, no matter how minor, in the Star Trek Universe. And she played Luaxanna Trio in ST:TNG. 2. ST:DS9, Armin Shimmerman, 'Quark'. I actually just met this person this year, he is nothing like his character, I managed to speak with him for a few minutes while a autograph dried, a pleasant person, and very much down to earth.... *pun intended ;) * 3. ST:VOY, the list continues, The nameless Doctor, Tom Paris (Character Name) and more.... (I will update it here when i get a chance to go through my autograph book, which needs to be re-organized yet again). Not into Star Trek? how about Babylon 5? I have so far collected and met the following. Claudia Christian, (Ivonova), Jason Carter, (Marcus), Jeffery Willerth, (Kosh 1 and 2), (Byron), (Delenn), (Catagia) also known for a daytime Soap, (Londo Malari), and (Vir) to name but a few. Oh, before i forget, a cast member of 'Taxi' who is also on B5, He plays the character of Zack. Recently, I got Tim Choate's (Zathra's) autograph, and his version of events leading up to the creation of his character are not only amusing, but I could hear him retell it a hundred times. Not into space faring shows? how about Xena or Hurcules? We have had Calista, also the 'Love Goddess' and this year Salemoneos whom just disappeard but they never killed him off.. You do not have a picture to bring? The dealers room has them aplenty, average $9.00 Canadian (about $6.00 US) and a wide variety, in character and out, 'glamour' shots, and ussually from a variety of the works that the actor has been in. And although i shy away from buying autographs from dealers, they are in abundance also, the GOOD dealers even offer a free Certificate of Authenticity, full money back offers, etc. You might be siting there, and thinking, oh, is that all you do all day? file through a 'Dealers Room' and wait in line for autographs? No, there are speaking engagements for each 'guest' (actor) twice over the weekend, both Saturday and Sunday. There is also a mulitude of "OTHER" events, a Masquarade, A dinner with the Guests, 10-Forward ConSuite for Everyone to kick back, relax and watch some Sci-Fi, Free Pop and Chips while you do to boot. The cost of the weekend was still a little steep for me when i startetd attending, so I got in the habit of Volunteering, for 12 Hours of my time, I have gotten a Pin, a Shirt, 'Crash Space' for the 2 nights, and $10 Off my next years registration for each of the previous years (except the first year of course where i did not get $10 off the weekend ;) ). Doing this I thought *I* might loose quality time wanding the halls doing fun stuff, but there is always someplace and needs a hand, and if you turn up early enough (Friday Morning) there are lots of ways to get your Hours in early, or even Sunday Night, during teardown. In all there is about 200 Hours of 'Programming' for attendee's to participate in, Gaming, Panels, Video Room, even a Anime Video Room has cropped up lately. I for one, always make sure I fill out the suggestion/feedback form they hand me in the program booklet (Which every star will autograph for free btw). This is how they know what to do for the next year, and how they did to satisfy what everyone wanted to see. For the most part, you get One autograph for free, not including the program booklet, for this you get a AutoGraph card, good for one autograph from each of the contracted stars. The last 3 years we have also had surprise non-contracted stars show up. This year, although I missed them, some people from Lexx attended and 'crashed' the Lexx panel that was held. The attendee's are excellant, the Guest are always great (with minor hiccups which are to be expected), Armin Shimmerman (Quark) for one refused to stop signing until all his fans had recieved at least one. The hotel is great, a onsite Bar and at least 3 Resturants, Room Service, and its right across from Toronto International Airport (Pearson International), Even a convenience store and a ATM Machine. If your into a good time, and like to get some autographs, or are going to be 'in town anyways' on the weekend of the next convention, I highly suggest you stop by, they even have a 2hour pass so you can get a sneak peak at the experience. (Does not include autograph cards :P ) Check the site out from time to time, sign up to the newsletter, and youi never know, maybe that star you really would like to see WILL be contracted next year, or maybe not, and they will still show up. Its not UNHEARD of. (The actor that played Rom from DS9 did one year, and we only found out he was there with his girlfriend, who was a guest of the convention, so he decided to sign some autographs.) Good luck, and I hope this has given you New and Fresh Insight into this ONE FAN run Sci-Fi Convention.  |
| Read all comments (2)|Write your own comment |
