Huh, wonder what that's all about.

MySerenity | February 02, 03:15 CET

The ticket sales aren't doing well so they aren't able to afford his fee. Just like last year with Andy .. and Mark Lutz ... and Clare Kramer ... and Nick Brendon. This is why I won't go to a MR convention again.

[ edited by Desilu on 2006-02-02 01:42 ]

Desilu | February 02, 03:29 CET

This is the main reason I wouldn't buy a ticket to MR. They have too much of a history of cancelling guests. Last year they canceled Andy, Mark, and Clare, the year before they canceled Tony Head. This year it's Alexis. It's just not worth the risk.

jewel | February 02, 03:48 CET

I don't see the point in announcing guests you know you can't pay for and just "hoping" it works out. Typical of MR.

JusticeDemon | February 02, 03:54 CET

That's cold! I feel bad for Mr. Denisof, and Alyson Hannigan. If this is true, it doesn't seem like a good way to handle business. :-(

ETA -- I hope gossi is correct and there is a cancellation fee.

[ edited by billz on 2006-02-02 02:14 ]

billz | February 02, 03:58 CET

Well, if the actors agents are clever, MR should have to pay a 'bailing out' fee - so the actors get paid for doing nothing at all.

gossi | February 02, 04:01 CET

Before we pile on MR - which is probably not a good idea anyway, - are you sure, Desilu, that the ticket sales/fees are the reason behind the cancellation? It's not that I disbelieve you, just prefer solid facts to speculation. It is a matter of record, however, that Moonlight Rising has had a spate of guest cancellations, alas. (Alas for the fans who bought and went without knowing about the no-shows, that is).

SoddingNancyTribe | February 02, 04:06 CET

SNT - Yes the promoter has been hinting about canceling someone do to poor ticket sales and not having the money to pay his 1 day fee. So no surprise it was going to be Alexis.

I just feel sorry for all those $700+ ticket holders who bought the ticket on Alexis being announced alone back in August.

[ edited by RavenU on 2006-02-02 02:18 ]

RavenU | February 02, 04:10 CET

"Yes the promoter has been hinting about canceling someone do to poor ticket sales and not having the money to pay his 1 day fee. So no surprise it was going to be Alexis."

Just my opinion, but I don't think MR will ever be the same since they aren't getting JM anymore. I think with James as a guest, they had a guaranteed showing.

Grace | February 02, 05:02 CET

When JM was a guest at MR, they would cancel other guests due to lower than expected ticket sales in order to afford to keep him, so really nothing has changed.

killinj | February 02, 05:15 CET

Ahh, I didn't know that. I just remembered they were able to pull it off as long as he was on board. Without him, I don't see it lasting much longer.

It does stink for Alexis and fans looking forward to seeing him.

Grace | February 02, 05:21 CET

Yes there was a thread regarding it at the forum, but I'm sorry to say has since been deleted by the organizer of the con. She addressed the deletion in another thread.

I do apologize if this was deemed to be bashing MR, that wasn't my intention. I'm just a little disgruntled over their treatment of their convention goers and what seems to be developing into a pattern for them. I had to see other fans chunk out money in the belief MR will honor their published guest list only to disappointed as I was last year.

Desilu | February 02, 05:27 CET

In fairness to the convention organisers, I understand it is a tough business nowadays. Particularly in the Buffy/angelverse circles.

gossi | February 02, 13:46 CET

It's an unfortunate and vicious cycle they seem to keep getting themselves into. Needless to say, we would all love to see any whedonverse event thrive.

hazyone101 | February 02, 19:37 CET

I'd love to go to one, but they're just too expensive (and I make a good salary) so I can imagine for a fan who works a minimum wage job their impossible. I'd go if they were cheaper, but then of course, if their cheaper, there's less money, so it's harder to get the stars, so then you can't get people to buy the tickets.
It's a vicious cycle.
I understand WHY they charge what they do for these things, I'm just saying I wish it wasn't so much so that I could go.

WilliamTheBloody | February 02, 20:26 CET

I remember when I could go to a Star Trek convention and only pay the $20-$30 entrance fee and $5 for each photo I wanted signed. The real cost was waiting 3 hours in a line, which does still happen. The big change in pricing seems, to me at least, to have happened within the last five years.

Proof_Eterne | February 03, 00:03 CET

Yes, vicious cycle indead. MR 2 years ago was the first con (and last) that I went to since a one day lark to a Star Trek convention in NYC in the early 70's. (Almost certainly one of the first ones there was.) I gritted my teeth and paid the money specifically because JM, ASH and AH were supposed to be there. I figured they made it worth spending so much more than I could afford. When they cancelled ASH I was very distressed. Then poor AH got very sick and couldn't make it. At that point I decided I would only buy tickets for any of these things at the last minute and risk not being able to get in.

newcj | February 03, 02:55 CET

Can't argue with that logic Newcj. I too used to attend cons in the ancient days, and have been shocked at the prices being asked now. I also would be willing to overcome the price in order to be able to attend a con that several Buffyverse folks are attending - BUT only if there were a reasonable refund policy. People get sick and life throws complications, and while I understand that, dropping several hundred to several thousand dollars just on tickets with no guarantees is pretty crazy.

Kyrax | February 03, 03:23 CET

I have to be honest, i really won't do these convention things. Waaaaay too many people in one place for my liking. I hate crowds and queues when i have to go shopping so there is no way in hell that i'm going to pay for the experience.

Nope, unless i'm going to a concert where they are playing very loud rock music to make it worth my while then crowded venues are definately not my thing! ;)

WhedonTrivia | February 03, 03:42 CET

Wasn't Tony Head and Marsters at the last MR together? I figure they must have sold that one out to be able to pay both of them.

spikeylover | February 03, 04:06 CET

spikeylover - no Tony was at MR05 he was suppose to be at MR04 but again not enough tickets sold so someone had to go, so ASH got axed. Marsters was at MR04 not MR05.

RavenU | February 03, 04:46 CET

"Wasn't Tony Head and Marsters at the last MR together? I figure they must have sold that one out to be able to pay both of them."

@spikerlover - Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that the last MR that JM did, Tony Head didn't appear (though it seems he originally was supposed to). ETA: RavenU is right on the dates.

"I have to be honest, i really won't do these convention things. Waaaaay too many people in one place for my liking. I hate crowds and queues when i have to go shopping so there is no way in hell that i'm going to pay for the experience."

@Vampire with a Gun - Ahh, A kindred soul! I braved a Flashback Weekend a few years back, and a limited MR two years ago and it was absolute torture. I get severe anxiety in crowds. The waiting in lines for JM autograph signings was almost more than I could bear, between the sheer volume of breathless women and the attending "squees!" Is it possible to have claustrophobia in a crowd? Although, I did enjoy the Q&A especially. At Flashback, having never been to a con, I was dreading the Q&A, thinking it would be horrible for everyone involved, but boy was I pleasantly surprised, everyone asked great questions and the guests all had wonderful answers (and I could sit in my seat and enjoy it without feeling overwhelmed).

To relate this back to the topic at hand. It's definitely a catch 22-22; affording a talent as a guest and being sure you're going to sell enough tickets to pay for it. I can see why the smaller events seem to be disappearing (or not fairing as well). Dare I say, as time passes it'll only get more difficult for the little cons to manage (in this 'verse) unless we get our Spike, Wesley, Illyria TV movies?

[ edited by Grace on 2006-02-03 02:56 ]

Grace | February 03, 04:50 CET

JM and ASH were supposed to be there two years ago, but ASH cancelled (or was cancelled), and Andy Hallett cancelled because he was sick. That con was still packed, because James was there.

Last year, ASH was on the bill but not JM. Andy Hallett, Nick Brendon and someone else (can't remember now) cancelled. Did ASH show for that one? (I didn't go, because I was still recovering from paying for the one the year before).

The prices for cons have gotten outrageous. I went to a Star Trek con in 1989 which cost $10 in advance or $15 at the door, and kids were free. The last Star Trek con I went to (2004) was something like $40 to get into, and you could be part of the Q&A sessions, get the autographs of the stars (in this case Nimoy and Shatner), and be part of all the programs. You had to pay extra if you wanted photos with the stars, and most of the actors had to charge $20 for their autographs (though I got a few who did it for free anyway).

If I go to Moonlight Rising, I have to bring my kids - which means whatever the price is times 4. That plus lodging and food will cost me more than a 9 day vacation for my entire family of 7 in the mountains of New Hampshire - with meals and travel included. For me, going there HAS to be a last minute thing, because I just don't make enough to be able to put out over $1000 for one weekend - and certainly not in advance.

Nebula1400 | February 03, 07:26 CET

Now, my friends went to MR (maybe it was after CHOSEN) and both Marsters and Head appeared. That is the one I am thinking about. It's the one where the accomodations were so nasty, beds unclean, brown stuff dripping from the ceiling, the sink fell off in their hand, etc.. Maybe that had more to do with the lack of people showing up in following years, than anything?

[ edited by spikeylover on 2006-02-03 19:01 ]

spikeylover | February 03, 21:00 CET

Ew. Sounds like something you would see in one of the Silent Hill games.

Simon | February 03, 21:15 CET

spikylover - That would have been the first MR back in 2003 - I think it had 800 attendees - Amber Benson was also there.

RavenU | February 03, 21:39 CET

"It's the one where the accomodations were so nasty, beds unclean, brown stuff dripping from the ceiling, the sink fell off in their hand, etc"

I think that may have been 2003 or 2002. I remember reading something about it on the web when I was trying to decide whether to go to 2004. 2004 was when ASH was cancelled and AH got sick.

newcj | February 03, 21:48 CET

Double post because the computer lied to me.

Really!!

Oh, and RavenU beat me to it besides. (Not the best day so far.)

[ edited by newcj on 2006-02-03 19:51 ]

newcj | February 03, 21:48 CET

I know my friends aren't the only ones who had hellish accomodations. From what I've seen online, I think most everyone had horror stories that year. (Like people taking a shower wearing something to protect their feet from the filth, etc.) I know my friends wouldnt attend one again if they were paid after that experience. This was one main reason why I don't think MR has done well since then..

[ edited by spikeylover on 2006-02-04 06:01 ]

spikeylover | February 04, 07:58 CET

Reaver-in-Pro: I've been to Sci-fi conventions like that: thousands of people and long long lines, but the price per day is only about $30. I paid even less for a comic book convention (Chicago Wizard World when Joss Whedon was Guest of Honor), but there were more than 10,000 people there (I heard it hit 20,000 on Saturday), so obviously they could charge less. I spent more than 3 hours in line that day to get into the Q&A with Joss.

MR and other high priced conventions offer the advantage of far fewer fans attending (usually 800 is the maximum) so the lines are shorter and you have guarenteed seating at all the Q&As. I was at MR2003 which was held in the infamous shabby hotel in the Catskills, Spikeylover is right: most people were uncomfortable there. I was also at MR2004 when both JM & ASH were supposed to be guests but we were told that ASH couldn't come because of prior commitments and Tony later announced that he could have come but had been canceled for financial considerations (MR2004 was held at Split Rock, PA)

embers | February 13, 03:26 CET