Hello,
I've been FEDCON GmbH's Master of Ceremonies for 12 years now and would like to post some sort of appreciation at the quality of people I have met at our events over the past years and especially at FEDCON XVII.
Fandom has evolved very little over the 22 years I have been a member of any convention organization. Having served for various groups here in the U.S., fans have remained loyal to their causes and interests with the same degree of infactuation as they had during the first STAR TREK conventions in the 70's.
Fandom continues to remain strong as long as there is science fiction, and even if some apocalyptic catastrophe destroys our resources for sci-fi, fandom will always find a way to emerge from that, stronger than ever.
Let me tell you a little bit about this year's event. FC17 was one of our most successful conventions in FEDCON history. We are still evaluating if it was as big as our past shows with Shatner or Nimoy. If not, it's pretty damn close.
FC17 hosted participants from 26 countries. 26 COUNTRIES. No other event in Europe and probably in the U.S. has such a rainbow of attendees. We are proud of that and you should be proud also. Even though FEDCON was full this year, having completely sold out on Saturday (Samstag), it did not feel uncomfortable. Fans were everywhere in the Maritim Hotel, enjoying all that it and Fedcon had to offer. It was pretty freakin' cool! Costumes of all sorts were seen in the hallways and in even outside on the grounds of the hotel. If you weren't bumping into Colonial Raptor pilots, you were slamming into Emperial Stormtroopers (which I wouldn't do again if I were you). We even had an All Terrain Armored Transport vehicle (AT-AT) stomping thru the hallways. WOW!
FEDCON is the best Europe has and if you're used to signing shows, you know that your best value for your money was at FC.
We are very proud at what we produce every year but I want you to understand that it is neither easy or satisfying for all. We experience bumps in the road every year and there will always be a fan who will actively seek out something to complain about and walk away angry, no matter how much we try to make it up to them. It's life. We can't make EVERYONE happy but those that are not are in a club all by themselves.
I guess the most incredible thing that I had experienced was the opinion of the fans after Patrick Stewart canceled. We received "almost" no complaints from our attendees on that news. It was if they didn't really cared because the guest list was incredible enough. The fans wanted to be at FEDCON and if Patrick couldn't make it this year, "Oh well". That stunned us. About the actors we DID have. Mary was difficult to obtain but once we got her signed, what a pleasure she ended up being. Mary was awesome. Our other actors were as equally awesome and during our farewell dinner on Sunday night, they loosened up to share to us what an incredible time they had at this event. Their honesty and openness was displayed to the staff during that time and they will help us convince others to come to Germany. All of our actors this year were as gracious as our actors from FC16 and we are proud.
The fans in Europe are both intelligent, gracious, beautiful, and cool. Never would you see such a party atmosphere at cons in the States. The ratio of drinkers to non-drinkers in Europe is higher than the States also. I don't know if that is a good thing but I do surmise that there are more drinkers overseas than there are in my country. Smokers as well. America is practically a non-smoking country. For good reasons of course. Some of the questions being asked the actors are fantastic except for those few ***** questions that seem to crawl out from under the rocks. There's always a strange person or question asked at every Fedcon and the fans actually find it as enjoyable as the answer to come soon after. Fans are special. Fans are funny.
My personal experiences with both fan and actor is pretty interesting. Some things I could never share with you but I hope to write a book someday because I have more stories about conventions, actors and fans that could fill a library. I prefer to keep most of my experiences private until I think it is appropriate to release them and would not cause harm amongst those I have spent time with. You may have to wait another 20 years.
Our plans for FC18 started before FC17 but we hope to top this year's event just as we had hoped to top FC16. I guess we did but not without the help of old friends and new ones who had came to us for the very first time. All GOLD TICKETS for next year's event is sold out which is an amazing thing. There are plenty of other priced tickets available but I would work fast to obtain them if you have not already. Looks like we're headed for another full event. As for actors, I mentioned onstage about my experience with a certain actress but nothing is guaranteed until I have it in writing. The list of who the fans want to see is extensive and it takes a lot of our time to seek out those actors. It's not as easy as some would have you believe. It's tiresome and frustrating but we wouldn't be doing it if we didn't like it now would we?
Overall, FEDCON's attendees deserve to be entertained. They contribute a lot of hard earned cash to spend time with us and our expenses are mind-blowing but somehow we seem to come out on top. As far as I am concerned, I am paid only for my air fare and my hotel and a few meals. That is all I have asked for because I do not consider myself a professional. I have a great home and a wonderful life here in Orlando, Florida and a long overseas flight to Europe would be the last of my interests but it is the faces of the fans that gets me out of the pool or ocean, out of the lines at Disney and come to you! I do this for fun and I try to entertain and make happy those that have made me just as happy by seeing the smiles on their faces. Especially the children. <yum yum> That's my payment. My reward. Fans are very special people and the world looks to us for the continuation of their technological and creative future. I look to you for the continuation of my fun!
Thank you Sci-Fi Channel and all of you for allowing me to speak my piece here.
Marc B. Lee
Master of Ceremonies
American Business Manager
FEDCON GmbH
I've been FEDCON GmbH's Master of Ceremonies for 12 years now and would like to post some sort of appreciation at the quality of people I have met at our events over the past years and especially at FEDCON XVII.
Fandom has evolved very little over the 22 years I have been a member of any convention organization. Having served for various groups here in the U.S., fans have remained loyal to their causes and interests with the same degree of infactuation as they had during the first STAR TREK conventions in the 70's.
Fandom continues to remain strong as long as there is science fiction, and even if some apocalyptic catastrophe destroys our resources for sci-fi, fandom will always find a way to emerge from that, stronger than ever.
Let me tell you a little bit about this year's event. FC17 was one of our most successful conventions in FEDCON history. We are still evaluating if it was as big as our past shows with Shatner or Nimoy. If not, it's pretty damn close.
FC17 hosted participants from 26 countries. 26 COUNTRIES. No other event in Europe and probably in the U.S. has such a rainbow of attendees. We are proud of that and you should be proud also. Even though FEDCON was full this year, having completely sold out on Saturday (Samstag), it did not feel uncomfortable. Fans were everywhere in the Maritim Hotel, enjoying all that it and Fedcon had to offer. It was pretty freakin' cool! Costumes of all sorts were seen in the hallways and in even outside on the grounds of the hotel. If you weren't bumping into Colonial Raptor pilots, you were slamming into Emperial Stormtroopers (which I wouldn't do again if I were you). We even had an All Terrain Armored Transport vehicle (AT-AT) stomping thru the hallways. WOW!
FEDCON is the best Europe has and if you're used to signing shows, you know that your best value for your money was at FC.
We are very proud at what we produce every year but I want you to understand that it is neither easy or satisfying for all. We experience bumps in the road every year and there will always be a fan who will actively seek out something to complain about and walk away angry, no matter how much we try to make it up to them. It's life. We can't make EVERYONE happy but those that are not are in a club all by themselves.I guess the most incredible thing that I had experienced was the opinion of the fans after Patrick Stewart canceled. We received "almost" no complaints from our attendees on that news. It was if they didn't really cared because the guest list was incredible enough. The fans wanted to be at FEDCON and if Patrick couldn't make it this year, "Oh well". That stunned us. About the actors we DID have. Mary was difficult to obtain but once we got her signed, what a pleasure she ended up being. Mary was awesome. Our other actors were as equally awesome and during our farewell dinner on Sunday night, they loosened up to share to us what an incredible time they had at this event. Their honesty and openness was displayed to the staff during that time and they will help us convince others to come to Germany. All of our actors this year were as gracious as our actors from FC16 and we are proud.
The fans in Europe are both intelligent, gracious, beautiful, and cool. Never would you see such a party atmosphere at cons in the States. The ratio of drinkers to non-drinkers in Europe is higher than the States also. I don't know if that is a good thing but I do surmise that there are more drinkers overseas than there are in my country. Smokers as well. America is practically a non-smoking country. For good reasons of course. Some of the questions being asked the actors are fantastic except for those few ***** questions that seem to crawl out from under the rocks. There's always a strange person or question asked at every Fedcon and the fans actually find it as enjoyable as the answer to come soon after. Fans are special. Fans are funny.
My personal experiences with both fan and actor is pretty interesting. Some things I could never share with you but I hope to write a book someday because I have more stories about conventions, actors and fans that could fill a library. I prefer to keep most of my experiences private until I think it is appropriate to release them and would not cause harm amongst those I have spent time with. You may have to wait another 20 years.
Our plans for FC18 started before FC17 but we hope to top this year's event just as we had hoped to top FC16. I guess we did but not without the help of old friends and new ones who had came to us for the very first time. All GOLD TICKETS for next year's event is sold out which is an amazing thing. There are plenty of other priced tickets available but I would work fast to obtain them if you have not already. Looks like we're headed for another full event. As for actors, I mentioned onstage about my experience with a certain actress but nothing is guaranteed until I have it in writing. The list of who the fans want to see is extensive and it takes a lot of our time to seek out those actors. It's not as easy as some would have you believe. It's tiresome and frustrating but we wouldn't be doing it if we didn't like it now would we?
Overall, FEDCON's attendees deserve to be entertained. They contribute a lot of hard earned cash to spend time with us and our expenses are mind-blowing but somehow we seem to come out on top. As far as I am concerned, I am paid only for my air fare and my hotel and a few meals. That is all I have asked for because I do not consider myself a professional. I have a great home and a wonderful life here in Orlando, Florida and a long overseas flight to Europe would be the last of my interests but it is the faces of the fans that gets me out of the pool or ocean, out of the lines at Disney and come to you! I do this for fun and I try to entertain and make happy those that have made me just as happy by seeing the smiles on their faces. Especially the children. <yum yum> That's my payment. My reward. Fans are very special people and the world looks to us for the continuation of their technological and creative future. I look to you for the continuation of my fun!
Thank you Sci-Fi Channel and all of you for allowing me to speak my piece here.
Marc B. Lee
Master of Ceremonies
American Business Manager
FEDCON GmbH
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