#i passed on a con tabling offer and am waiting on a couple of apps too

[mintjeru]

once in a blue moon a popular artist will follow me and every time i'm ???

[geektalknews]

Helpful Tips If You Are Attending Heroes and Villains, or any convention really.

Photo by Fortress Photography If you are any kind of a fan, no matter the genre, you love attending conventions. This year for the second year in a row, we had the pleasure to attend Heroes and Villians Fan Fest in our hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. This year was a little different tho, they were teamed up with the Walking Dead fan convention Walker Stalker Con, so basically comics on one side and zombies on the other. We at Geek Talk News wanted to make a survival guide to help you out in case this was your first ever con, or just needed a refresher course.

Getting Inside the Convention: 

Photos By: Fortress Photography You will want to hit the floor as soon as the doors open, you will want to arrive early regardless of whether you purchased your tickets online or on site. Side Note: We recommend buying tickets online. And friend them on all the social media sites, because they run sales very often of buy-one-get-one-free tickets. And even a buy-one-get-3-free ticket. So there is no reason to pay full price for a single ticket. There will be signage, Fan Fest staff and volunteers to direct you to where you need to go. There are people designated just to answer your questions, so don’t be afraid to ask. Once your online purchase is complete, you will receive an email confirmation with a QR code. You must present this code via printed email or scanning your smartphone in order to receive your “ticket” at the event. Please note: Heroes and Villians tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. As well, tickets cannot be applied towards future Heroes and Villans Fan Fest Conventions. You will need to exchange your ticket voucher for your pass/lanyard or wristband. We also recommend picking up your lanyard/wristband early if that is an option. Ticketing usually opens up the day prior to the start of the Con. This info will be posted in the Fan Fest app (which I found useless since they did not update it with our particular venue) and on the Heroes And Villians Fan Fest Website.

Photos By: Fortress Photography Picking up your pass is a one time, per con process. Once you have your lanyard you will skip ticketing for the remainder of the con. Do not lose your lanyard or wristband, they can not be replaced.  You will need to make sure your pass is visible at all times to the HVFF Staff, Event staff and HVFF Ambassadors. Once again, it is required for entry into the con as well as which lines you will be directed to for each celebrity. The largest crowds in ticketing are early before the con opens to the public.  Once you arrive you will be put in one line and be taken in groups to the ticketing counter. The lines will seem overwhelming; however, this process goes fairly quickly. If your arrival time is prior to your ticket’s entry time and you already have your lanyard, you will then proceed to another line depending on your ticket level.  Once the doors open for your ticket level you will proceed to security. Security may involve metal detectors and bag checks. If you are a cosplayer with a fake weapon or if you bring a fake weapon to have autographed (i.e. Lucille), then you will have to make sure a con ambassador inspects and zip ties your fake weapon before entry. Please refer to the Heroes and Villians props & cosplay policy on what is/is not allowed inside the convention.  In Nashville, we were not allowed to bring any open beverages, like coffee, through the doors. There are usually separate doors for entry and exit. There is only one point to enter and you must through the security checkpoint each time you enter the con floor. The good folks at HVFF take the safety of their attendees, guests, and staff very seriously. Even tho at one point the fire alarm did go off, and nobody did anything, but that is a discussion for another time. The con floor opens to VIP, Gold, Platinum and Media and hour an half earlier than it does for those holding GA tickets.

Ticket Levels:

Photo by Fortress Photography Heroes and Villians have 4 different ticket levels- Platinum, Gold, VIP & General Admission. Each ticket comes with its own perks so think about which option is the best fit for you before you make your purchase. Platinum & Gold passes have the most perks but they are the most costly and sell out first. A General Admission ticket gets you in the door but there are no perks other than access the Vendor Alley and Panel Discussions. Depending on who you want to see, sometimes buying a GA ticket is better especially if you can get it on sale and split the cost with other people. And then add on the photo ops and autographs, which is what we did. I found that the price of the VIP tickets for some of the celebrities was more than the price of a ticket to the San Diago Comic Con, and to me, that seems a bit much. But that's just me.

Lines, Wait Times and Meet & Greets:

Photos By: Fortress Photography. Crowds Lined Up For John Barrowman Waiting in line is something that you will have to do. There are thousands of people, I mean family members, attending the con with you so waiting is just part of the process. Wait times can vary from one minute to an hour or more depending on the celebrity. Sometimes you get lucky and there is a minimal wait time or no line at all!  Lines are formed by ticket level; Platinum & Gold pass holders go in line together, then VIP followed by General Admission attendees. There is also a line for folks with Disability passes but that line location varies from table to table. If you have an extended wait time, get to know the people around you! We met so many great people, forming friendships over a common bond is what the con is all about. A meet and greet is simply your opportunity to wait in your designated line and meet the celebrity and give them money for and selfie and an autograph. If I sound salty, I am a little, cause I personally think it's a little insane on how much they charge for just an autograph from a working actor. Some celebrities hug and/or shake hands and some do not. Some will come out from behind the table while others do not. It is very important to respect each celebrity’s boundaries and follow the instructions given once you get up to the table. You will be asked to put your phone away at most tables and you will not be allowed to film your interaction with the celebrity guest. If you purchase a selfie (if available) you will be allowed to keep that phone out but you will be asked to hand it to the ambassador taking the photos. It becomes quite costly to purchase something at every table; especially with the average price of a selfie or autograph being around $40. Meet & greets are a great option for those trying to stick to a budget. Other than the celebrity guests offering pre-sales, most are open to meeting a small group of 2-4 people at a time who are purchasing an auto or selfie. So if you and your three friends go in on a $40 selfie at the celebrity’s table, that is only $10 each! (Please note: You will only be able to use one person’s phone or camera). This is also great for couples and families 

Parking at the Convention:

It is important that you allow time for parking. You also need to work this expense into your budget. We advise you to get there as early as you can, the parking garage is your best bet (all day $15) but it fills up fast. Other than that you will have to pay by the hour or all day for $20-25 depending if anything else is going on downtown.

Cold Hard Cash:

Honestly, this is one of the biggest things that many people are taken back by the fact you will need real paper money at a con. While Heroes and Villians Fan Fest takes plastic for ticket sales and vendors may take your card, celebs do not. If you want a selfie or autograph you have to purchase that in line and it is cash only. There are ATMs at the con but fans were told that each time using the ATM at the Nashville con there was a $5 fee (with additional fees from your bank) and the maximum withdrawal per transaction was $120. With the average price of a selfie/autograph combo being $60, you will be standing in line at the ATM after just two celebs! So make sure to take some cash and save it for the celeb tables. We found that most of the tables in the Vendor Alley and Food Court accepted cards. Heroes and Villains Fan Fest is Definitely worth the price just for the experience of being around people like yourself, who enjoy the fandoms, and the quirkiness that makes us geeks.  After all "It's not just fandom...It's Family". Well, that wraps it up for this year, if you have any comment or questions leave it below. And if you went to HVFF this year did you enjoy it? Let us know. Read the full article

[agreyhoundingreece]

Roaming Around Athens

After months of saving and predicting monthly expenses abroad, I failed miserably at budgeting out money for one thing—transportation. It is one of those things that is easy to forget in the shuffle as you meticulously calculate how much you’ll be spending on clothes, food, souvenirs, flights, and the other “fun” stuff. However, I discovered very quickly that transportation to these shops, supermarkets, and airports adds up faster than I thought. So, after spending two months in Athens as a college student abroad (and on a budget!) I have devised a list of the most popular means of transport here and the pros and cons of each…

Metro/Train:

Here in Athens, these words are synonymous, both referring to the very cheap and efficient underground network of lines that can take you pretty much anywhere within an hour of the city, and maybe even farther. Living in a neighborhood about 25 minutes northeast of the center of the city, I have turned to the metro many times to get me downtown for a cheap price. It takes no more than 15 minutes to walk to your local metro stop, which are easily found on any maps app, and once there, the machines are easy to use. The alternative I usually opt for is the 24-hour pass for 4.50 euros since this allows me to have unlimited access to the stations for an entire day, ideal for sightseeing and traveling for things of a tourist-y nature. The other tickets range from 0.90 euros to 10 euros, and can get you anywhere from 5 minutes away to all the way to the airport, which is usually a 25 minute drive. This mode of transport is most popular among locals as well, with lots of commuters, teens, and business people using it on a daily basis. It runs as early as 5:30 AM and the last train leaves at 12:30 AM. Definitely the way to go if you are interested in saving money and exploring all day!

Bus:

Probably the other most popular mode of public transport, it is heavily used by locals and is extremely affordable. The bus stops are clearly marked on street signs, and buses always have their line number and destination lit up brightly on the front of the bus. Many times, it is convenient because the buses have you pay once you have already boarded, rather than requiring you to purchase tickets ahead of time and find a location to purchase them from. This is also a great alternative for heading downtown for the day, getting to the airport (on the x95), or for getting to school in the morning. The fares are always very reasonable in price, but the one downside to the bus is that it is often unpredictable as far as arrival time and it waits for NO ONE. This is the way to go for those on a strict budget.

Uber/Taxi:

For people who prefer private transportation services or are in need of transport right from their current location, there is always Uber. This has been a reliable mode for me as I return home from a night on the town with friends or don’t want to waste time walking to the metro if I need to get to the airport on time. My friends and I will split the fare, making the trip still very reasonably priced in the end. However, Greece has a popular app called Taxi Beat, not found in the U.S., and it works just like the Uber or Lyft apps, except that it summons a taxi rather than a driver in their personal car. Taxi Beat is great for shorter rides of a couple miles or so, and usually ends up being lower in price than Ubers. Since school is a 20 minute uphill walk in the mornings, I often grab a Taxi to get there, only spending a maximum of 3.50 euros to get there. Taxis are the best alternative for short travels and getting somewhere when experiencing a time crunch. I have also enjoyed many interesting conversations with local taxi drivers who barely speak English! The taxis usually have Wi-Fi available and are always willing to help with suitcases or luggage. Unlike Uber, they accept cash or coins, and are very appreciative of tips. Taxi Beat is probably my favorite way to get around since it is cheap, convenient, and fun!

Ferries/Air Travel:

As far as longer distances are concerned, ferries are one viable option that are frequently used since Greece is a nation full of islands. For travel to some of the most common island destinations like Santorini, Mykonos, Karpathos, and others, ferries are very affordable (ranging from 30-80 euros round trip depending on where you sit on the boat). This is a fun way to see some beautiful mountains, waters, and horizons on the way to your destination. The length ranges from 2-8 hours, but is very manageable due to the ability to walk around deck and the option to get a bed, table, more comfortable seats, and the offerings of snacks and drinks. In addition to ferries, airfare can be extremely cheap if you go through certain airlines. The college student staple has become RyanAir, an airline known for its cheap prices. For trips within Greece and Europe in general, this is the best option because it is only around 60-70 euros for a round trip. That being said, there are certainly no extra frills, but there is always the option to pay for extra benefits like priority boarding, extra bags, seat selection, meals during the flight, and other things. RyanAir has been my saving grace as I travel from country to country throughout the semester and I have never had a negative experience with it!

 Coming from one college student to another, I hope this article has helped anyone who intends to travel to Athens in the future. The city has so much to offer, and the transportation options make it easy to explore and experience some unforgettable things.