Whedonesque : Comments on 13545 : Scott Allie announces 'Dinner with Joss' charity auction.

Damn. Those tags really sum up the situation for me!

Excellent. I'm glad Joss is starting hiw own fundraiser. He has a lot of fans who would pay a lot of money to sit down and talk with him. What a treat that would be! Too bad I'm not rich.

A nice message from Scott. What a great guy he is. I'm happy I got a chance to talk to him after the show on Friday, and ask him about more Fray. I hope Portland can have him as a guest again next year.

electricspacegirl | June 25, 22:14 CET

this is an excellent idea, but as silly as this may sound, i had more fun this weekend with Jane Espenson to last me a lifetime. good luck to you bidders out there. i'm sure i don't have to tell you it's for a great cause.

death is my gift | June 25, 22:34 CET

I can haz Joss? The question is....will he fly to the UK?

bubblecat | June 25, 22:41 CET

That depends if enough of us take advantage of the current exchange rate to make it worth him flying over...

Craig Oxbrow | June 25, 22:48 CET

Checks wallet ... scratches head. Nope, not enough to even contemplate trying to bid on this, no matter how great. What I would do, if Joss would do this again at some point, is buy raffle tickets for the same occurrence. I really think it would be possible to earn more for Equality Now, than limiting the bidding to the four or five highest bids on eBay.

But props for offering your company up to the populace, Joss.

Tonya J | June 25, 22:54 CET

Yay! This means that Joss is coming to Comic Con!
I'm not rich enough to win a seat at the table, but at least I can bid a bit in the early rounds and help drive the price up quickly!

embers | June 25, 23:08 CET

I agree Tonya, I could never afford to be one of those 5 people but there's no reason he can't make the auction a "dutch auction" raffle.

With the current "top 5" bidders winning format, I'll bet the winning 5 bids raise between 5,000-10,000 dollars. And thats fantastic but...if they sold raffle tickets for $25 or $50 per ticket, I'd bet they could raise $50,000-$100,000. The math is simple, 2000 bidders at $25 is $50,000! (How many Whedonesque members are there right now?)

alexreager | June 25, 23:13 CET

This is nifty - what a smart idea from Joss - I expect folks with very deep pockets will be winning these special "My Dinner With Joss" opportunities. I can't even work up any jealousy, as 1) we'll be mostly away from computers on vacation during the auction dates and 2) I have no money left after buying the Serenity FEP set Friday night in Pasadena... Otherwise, I'd be on this like white on rice.

I 'spect Joss'll tell us a little more about himself, eventually... (That's an interesting idea for the future, Tonya, the raffle... though I'm thinking that'd involve so much more fuss and organizational labor to pull off, and this way Joss et al. don't have to do nearly as much pre-planning work...)

(And death is my gift, can you tell your story on the whedonesque CSTS report thread? Would love to hear about your Jane Espenson-y goodness experience...)

QuoterGal | June 25, 23:15 CET

I think the raffle notion also runs into potential issues with things like interstate gambling laws (since a raffle in essence is a "game of chance").

The One True b!X | June 25, 23:19 CET

QuoterGal:
I am in the process of a write up of the entire weekend that I will post in my blog. Since I can't link myself here I'll probably just have to copy the story and comment in the CSTS report thread.

death is my gift | June 25, 23:19 CET

Go, Joss! I think he's following his own advice from the Dua Khalil thread and doing something.

Music | June 25, 23:21 CET

If it goes well, I hope he'll consider doing it again next year here in San Diego during Comic-Con. That will give us all time to start saving up for a bidding war!

Tonya J | June 25, 23:35 CET

I can haz Joss?

Kay, you should get this thing just for getting a cat blog pop culture reference into Whedonesque.

gossi | June 25, 23:35 CET

I've had dreams like this. Honestly.

CaptainB | June 25, 23:40 CET

Kudos to Joss for walking the walk!

TonyaJ and alexreager:
That was the first thought that occurred to me as well--lots of folks paying a certain amount for a chance would make it a possibility for a lot more folks, and it would likely raise quite a bit more money than a straight up auction.

theonetruebix:
A valid point about "game of chance" restrictions, but it could be done, if carefully. But QuoterGal is right that it would be a lot more fuss and bother to put it together that way. The timeline is pretty short at this point (one month), so I think file this under "maybe next time". Although, if some shiny browncoat group bids on and wins one of those seats, and then turns around and takes donations for Equality Now, with a chance at the prize as a thank you for donating, I would be making lots of donations.

ThereUR | June 26, 01:02 CET

It would've been more complex but probably not much (in the UK random selections with a prize qualify as a 'lottery' too so the competition runners simply also ask a - normally trivially easy - quiz question in order to turn it into a 'game of skill').

Still, rules will obviously vary globally, nevermind interstate, so maybe Joss et al just didn't want to rule anyone out because of gaming laws in their country ? Good bidding to everyone anyway, quite a prize and quite a cause, sounds like a win-win.

Saje | June 26, 01:53 CET

ThereUR, now that's an interesting thought... the hypothetical Browncoat group could buy it and use its organizational apparatus (& possibly media sponsor-donors) already in place to sell raffle tickets for a shot at dinner with Joss.

I like the sort of - well, democratic-lottery aspect of it, while raising even more money than originally possible... I know nothing of gambling laws - although I believe the Canadian CSTS organizers were unable by their laws to do raffles without a great deal of work...

And think about it - even Joss would get to experience more suspense about his dining pals - not knowing 'til the raffle draw which potential members of the unwashed masses it will be his pleasure to dine with. :>

QuoterGal | June 26, 01:55 CET

That´s great idea, but like lots of people here I have not enough money to even start bidding. Hell, I couldn´t even buy a ticket to the US at the moment. *sighs*
Nevertheless I wish Joss good luck and hope he raises lots of money.
Btw, I still dream of Joss doing a screenwriting class one day... I`m sure one could learn lots from him and people probably would pay money for this.
Not that I could afford this, but hey...

Kessie | June 26, 01:57 CET

I wonder what the comparative costs would be between, on the one hand, bidding to win, and, on the other hand, simply trying to assume the identity of one of the winners.

I suppose the latter is identity theft and the costs would include, oh I don't know, jail time.

The One True b!X | June 26, 01:58 CET

... not knowing 'til the raffle draw which potential members of the unwashed masses it will be his pleasure to dine with.

As a friend said earlier today about something totally unrelated: I'm stuffing a sock in my mouth right now to stifle the laughing...

Tonya J | June 26, 01:59 CET

the hypothetical Browncoat group could buy it and use its organizational apparatus (& possibly media sponsor-donors) already in place to sell raffle tickets for a shot at dinner with Joss.

I like this idea. Almost as much as I like thinking of the random questions I would ask him.

On preview: now the nefarious schemes come out! I will admit that upon reading:

I think the raffle notion also runs into potential issues with things like interstate gambling laws (since a raffle in essence is a "game of chance").

My first thought was: "Chance wouldn't have to be a factor."

;) Again, not worth jail time. Or scheming some other deserving person out of a chance. But in an alternate universe in which I was evil...

Sunfire | June 26, 02:18 CET

"And first out of the tombola ... the tall lady wearing the frilly Kaylee dress in row 4, yes you madam ... oh, i'm sorry sir, it, err, must be the lights". Cue Joss shaped hole in the wall ;).

I suppose the latter is identity theft and the costs would include, oh I don't know, jail time.

Yeah but to really do the analysis we'd have to know how much. I mean, if it's only, like, a couple of years ...

Saje | June 26, 02:22 CET

Saje, I like to think Joss wouldn't run away from a man dressed as Kaylee. This is the man who likes to write Mal into women's clothes, after all.

Brief derail: The best Wonder Woman I've ever seen (lasso, bracelets, everything) was not technically a woman.

/derail

This will be the first time I pay attention to anything happening on eBay, by the way.

Sunfire | June 26, 02:30 CET

Well, chances are good he'll be at Comic Con. Good to hear it. I was wondering.

leiasky | June 26, 02:43 CET

Too bad about my whole in-debt-up-to-my-eyeballs thing, because that would be the best birthday ever. Guess I'll have to be content with my recent local Can't Stop the Serenity event. And with saying, "Good on you, Mr. Whedon, sir! Go, you!"

Looking forward to reading all about it--and maybe seeing the movie--eventually. At least one of those five lucky, rich, & charitable people had better be a good writer with a retentive memory.

Maeve | June 26, 03:23 CET

Hmm. Um, has it always said things like "fully posable" and "Disclaimer: anecdotes not guaranteed to be hilarious"? I saw a completely different page the first time I followed the link. It was mostly just a placeholder. Now there's funny text and Joss with a lightsaber. Huh.

Sunfire | June 26, 04:29 CET

The text in there is new since this morning when Scott's column linked to it.

The One True b!X | June 26, 04:33 CET

I noticed that too. Very humorous this page now, but what is this "quasi-celebrity" malarkey I ask you?

Tonya J | June 26, 04:38 CET

My guess is that the graphics come from auctioncause.com, who are handling the auction. To me, the copy itself reads like Fine, Uncut Jossian Prose:

MY DINNER WITH JOSS

Bid to win a place at quasi-celebrity Joss Whedon's private dinner! This Comic-Con weekend, Joss will take five winning bidders to a swank San Diego restaurant for drinks and dinner in a private room. Three hours of intimate conversation, hilarious anecdotes and dark, awkwardly personal secrets. (Not to mention a little swag.) It's a fan experience like no other, to benefit Equality Now. Any subject you like is on the menu (not the actual menu; that'll probably just have food). For three hours, Joss gets to be your biggest fan.

Dark Horse Comics has generously provided the venue, and with help from MySpace, have set up this auction on eBay, run by Auction Cause. All of these organizations rock.

Equality Now fights gender-based injustice and atrocities worldwide. The work they do is crucial and they therefore rock the hardest.

Joss Whedon is the creator of some show about vampires. He is very hungry.

(Disclaimer: Anecdotes not guaranteed to be hilarious. Sometimes he just goes on and on.)

Ahh, crap, I want this.That. Them. Those. I really want to go have tea and dumplings and lissen to Joss talk piffle. I don't care if he goes on and on.

Takes a lot of manure to grow those tender seedlings...

[ edited by QuoterGal on 2007-06-26 02:27 ]

QuoterGal | June 26, 05:02 CET

alexreager, raffles are indeed great at raking in the cash. But as Bix points out, they're technically illegal, since they're considered gambling. Most of the "raffles" you see at conventions are actually just donations with thank-you prizes. It sounds like an insignificant distinction, but the real difference is that you have to give a ticket to anyone who asks, regardless of whether or not they've donated, in order for it to be above board. And if you're doing it online instead of in person, the chance of abuse escalates rapidly.

However... what you probably could do is have the members of your local Browncoat groups pitch in toward a collective bid, and draw straws within your group to see who gets the dinner should you win. That way the non-rich would still stand a shot at it, and the local folks would end up paying if you win the auction, and at that point they're just sponsoring a friend rather than losing a raffle.

Also, if you're seriously considering buying one to redistribute (through whatever means) you really should check with the organizer first, to see if they are ok with this. It would be terrible if you went through all the trouble only to find out at the last minute that it's non-transferable.

RayHill | June 26, 05:30 CET

However... what you probably could do is have the members of your local Browncoat groups pitch in toward a collective bid, and draw straws within your group to see who gets the dinner should you win.

And it's clear already that a number of local Browncoat groups are considering this.

The One True b!X | June 26, 05:40 CET

We got around the raffle issue at the PBP by having it be a 'fishbowl' or Chinese auction: people donated money for which they received tickets. They then could drop those tickets in fishbowls or receptacles next to a prize and if we drew their ticket out later, they got that prize in appreciation of their donation. We did, however, hold a silent auction but that's a whole other ball of wax.

Joss is a peach for doing this and I, for one, am going to see if I can dig up some spare funds to bid on him...er, dinner. ;-) But I'll be at Comic Con with my kids as well; wonder if I get to bring them or if I can ask Kai to babysit- LOL!

OzLady | June 26, 06:16 CET

Kessie | June 25, 22:57 CET

Btw, I still dream of Joss doing a screenwriting class one day... I`m sure one could learn lots from him and people probably would pay money for this.

Kessie, you got this DVD right?
Joss Whedon: The Master at Play DVD from Screenwriting Expo 4. See product description.

Anonymous1 | June 26, 06:25 CET

I'm really trying to figure out how toat least be at Comic-Con this year. The cost of the con is easy. But with only a month to go, finding hotel cost is tricky. And I'm not sure I could persuade on the time off from work issue (even though I only took a total of one day and 2 hours during the run up to the charity screening).

The One True b!X | June 26, 06:26 CET

wonders if I can sell my house that fast.

Just kidding! I certainly will bid, and I already will be at Comic Con, but I know I won't be able to bid high enough to win. Still, it's an awesome thing for Joss to do.

Mal'sGal | June 26, 06:35 CET

Bix - keep checking hotels. Call them directly. As the Con gets closer, people start to cancel their reservations.

leiasky | June 26, 08:25 CET

It's not about finding a hotel. It's about affording one on a month's notice.

The One True b!X | June 26, 08:39 CET

Unplugged wishes he had money of any kind at all.

UnpluggedCrazy | June 26, 09:46 CET

Anonymous1: Yep I do. Though I rather meant something like a weekend course cause one can never learn enough.

Kessie | June 26, 14:32 CET

Bix, check the San Diego forums at TripAdvisor (dot com). If you search for "Comic Con" within those forums, there was someone who had recommendations for hotels for under $100/night even around CCI time. If my suggestion is too unclear, feel free to drop me an email and I will send you a direct link (and no, I don't work for TripAdvisor; in fact, they just failed to hire me for a job but I still like their site :-).

I'm going to bid on this item, but I have realized there's next to no chance I can afford it. Oh well. :-(

OzLady | June 26, 17:01 CET

That Jossian prose has its intended effect: it makes we want to bid my non-existent cash for this.

b!x: Is there a local Browncoat group in that area? Might someone have a spare room? Seems worth a shot anyway.

However... what you probably could do is have the members of your local Browncoat groups pitch in toward a collective bid, and draw straws within your group to see who gets the dinner should you win. That way the non-rich would still stand a shot at it, and the local folks would end up paying if you win the auction, and at that point they're just sponsoring a friend rather than losing a raffle.

That is such an awesome idea. ETA: Assuming, of course, that the win is transferable.

[ edited by Sunfire on 2007-06-26 15:27 ]

Sunfire | June 26, 18:24 CET

What is Joss going to be doing at Comic Con, besides this that most of us have no chance at? Let's get on this, people. Unwashed masses want to know!

dreamlogic | June 26, 18:36 CET

Zeitgeist should go and point a little webcam at the table in the restaurant and do a pay-per-view thing.

Caroline | June 26, 18:42 CET

If the restaurant has access to a couple of office phones, they could conference call at least another 6 - 8 of us in. Stares down the accusatory looks Hey! I'm just sayin'. And you'd still have to bid for it!

Tonya J | June 26, 18:50 CET

That's the best idea yet, Caroline. Video the dinner with the Joss 5 & the man and then charge for the download. All money going to EN.

RavenU | June 26, 19:17 CET

What is Joss going to be doing at Comic Con, besides this that most of us have no chance at? Let's get on this, people. Unwashed masses want to know!

Well, it would be a good place to announce something about Goners, if there's something to announce. We are, after all, a few weeks out from when he said he'd know in a "few weeks".

The One True b!X | June 26, 19:38 CET

He will probably sign at some comic booth...but those are almost never announced in advance, and I always miss them....

He should do a Q&A. I mean, Kevin Smith didn't have squat to promote last year, and he did a free-for-all hour! Joss could fill twice that with his coveted piffle.

Unwashed masses want to know!

Dreamlogic, you've definitely been to a Comic Con, I can tell!

Rogue Slayer | June 26, 20:01 CET

Dreamlogic, you've definitely been to a Comic Con, I can tell!

Well, you try to stay fresh-smelling in a Chewbacca costume, in the SoCal summer. The dry cleaning is very expensive.

If he's at a comic booth, it's got to be Dark Horse or Marvel, or both. That's a start. I totally agree about the free-for-all hour. I was very entertained by Kevin Smith without being a big fan. Joss would be...better.

dreamlogic | June 26, 21:07 CET

As I doubt there's any way I could afford the dinner, even if I donated my rent, I'm going to make a direct donation to Equality Now (of less than my rent) and *imagine* getting to have a three-hour sitdown with Joss. Mine won't be as good (no spontaneity, no actual authentic Joss dialogue except for pre-existing quotes and no interesting things brought up by other people at the table that I'd never think of on my own -- well, actually, *nothing* that I wouldn't think of on my own, due to the nature of this), but it's in the budget.

Shapenew | June 26, 21:17 CET

I'm going to make a direct donation to Equality Now (of less than my rent) and *imagine* getting to have a three-hour sitdown with Joss.

I think you should do more than imagine. Act it out, and post it on YouTube. ;)

The One True b!X | June 26, 21:25 CET

I'd watch.

I'd also do the "group bid" thing and draw straws for a chance, but my local Browncoat group pretty much consists of just me. Which would guarantee that I'd pull the shortest straw, but there would be no need without the group funds to bid with ... stupid vicious cycle of reality.
But this is such a cool idea! I'm actually giddy for the yet unknown winners already.

NYPinTA | June 26, 21:49 CET

I'm finally going to ComicCon with Sam and Fuzzy this year...
I wonder if bidding all my food/swag money would be a good idea.
Not eating for a week and no Con impulse buys vs. sitting down with Joss.
I think you all know what the winner would be...

Most likely no hope of winning but at least I can say I bid, and maybe be the highest bidder for 2.6 seconds.

Jack | June 26, 21:50 CET

dreamlogic If he's at a comic booth, it's got to be Dark Horse or Marvel, or both. That's a start.

What, you don't think we could have Joss at our booth? Tables A7 and A8 people. California Browncoats. We already have some signings lined up, although not Joss....yet.

And there are plenty of cool announcements coming soon. Very soon.

danregal | June 26, 22:15 CET

Why, oh why, am I not a bazillionaire?

Betsy | June 26, 22:15 CET

Zeitgeist should go and point a little webcam at the table in the restaurant and do a pay-per-view thing.

Ha! :) Nice. It would make a nice (and fitting) companion to the last webcam event, right? /chuckle

zeitgeist | June 26, 22:16 CET

theonetruebix: I think you should do more than imagine. Act it out, and post it on YouTube. ;)

Oh, my, gods, b!xy, you've given me such an idea - not the Youtube thingy - that I'm plotzing here, I'm all verklempt. I just wish I had the extra six hours or so I'd need to do it...

QuoterGal | June 26, 22:19 CET

Sorry, danregal. Of course he'll visit the Browncoat booth. And of course I'll miss it, even if I go, like I did two years ago when I was fracking working there. /whine

dreamlogic | June 27, 02:44 CET

No worries. I just endlessly pimp the Browncoat table and will use any reason to talk about it :)

Sorry to hear you missed him. Last year he did a walk by (slowly as the crowd moved with him) so it was much harder to be there when he made an appearance.

danregal | June 27, 03:22 CET

June 25 2007