Latest / CONversations with Coffee / Episode 15: Is It OK to Talk to Celebrities Without Buying an Autograph? (Con Etiquette)

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Episode 15: Is It OK to Talk to Celebrities Without Buying an Autograph? (Con Etiquette) · CONversations with Coffee

• Josh: Yeah. British Liz: Ha ha KENT: That is not fake. Wow. Is that done by AI? Josh: no. Nvidia has a software called Nvidia Broadcast, which is like the best that I've found for cutting out and replacing background. KENT: Wow. Maybe you should teach that to Liz so she can actually make a background for hers. British Liz: don't need a fake background. I mean I do today 'cause I'm not at home, but KENT: Yes, you do. You today you do. British Liz: but at home it's it's real. It's not fabricated. It's real Josh: I could do this one also. British Liz: you know. KENT: dude, yeah, that little guy that's your rock podcast right there. Josh: Yeah, exactly. British Liz: Yeah. KENT: go back to the one. I like that one. This one is real 'cause like see my my British Liz: Yeah, this is this is this is on this Josh: Yeah, yeah. KENT: my stuff moves like look, there's my book, there's little Clinton East one. It is. Josh: It is. British Liz: Hang on, is that Clint Eastwood? And how did you get how did you get a Clint Eastwood No, okay, we're not gonna talk about that. KENT: Let's how how you've no no no no I I'm not you got a dice Bryce Dell Spain. No, we're not talking, because you know, mm-mm. Nope, nope, nope. All right, everybody that is listening to this mumble. I am your host Kent and this is my co-host. Woo-hoo! British Liz: British Liz, and this is our guest Josh. Now I met Josh. I met Josh was KENT: Josh. Well, you're not even gonna Josh: Hello. KENT: tell them that they're listening to conversations with coffee? British Liz: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. This is Conversations with Coffee, where we talk about comic cons 'cause we love them. And if you've never been before, I love them. KENT: Do we really? I thought that was pick on Liz stage. Josh: I also love them. British Liz: do be quiet. So we talk about comic cons, what to do with them, how to enjoy them, KENT: Yeah. British Liz: and talk to our special guests who have different experiences there and KENT: Yeah. British Liz: thought that might be interesting for you guys to hear. KENT: Yeah. Well cheers to you, Liz. I know you're drinking your boring British Liz: Cheers? KENT: old bland PG tips tea. British Liz: Am I though? KENT: she brings out the coke. Josh: my goodness. British Liz: Because I'm not at home. So there's no KENT: okay. Josh, w what's your drink of choice today? Josh: I'm just very typical water today, nothing special. Yeah, I gotta keep neutral here. Stay neutral, I can't... KENT: Huh? Little H to O. I got my Yeah, yeah. Neutral, so British Liz: That's so virtuous. Josh: yeah. KENT: we got coffee here, Coke over there. British Liz: So so so what designer what kind of designer brand are you drinking, Kent? KENT: I am actually doing my bullet coffee again. Little French vanilla, you know. British Liz: That's that's the thing where you where you add coconut oil or something and make it blend it, make it KENT: Mm-hmm. Coconut oil. British Liz: make it creamy. KENT: Yeah, you you put a little tablespoon of coconut oil, some stevia, blend it up, and it makes it's just like a lot. British Liz: Have you ever heard of that? Have you ever heard of that? Josh: I'm not. I'm not coconut KENT: you're missing out. Josh: oil for like creaminess. That's strange also. KENT: Yeah, coconut oil for creaminess. British Liz: But you know, Kent says it so we believe KENT: Try it. British Liz: it. Josh: Yes, yeah. KENT: I'm telling you. It's the okay. This is conversations with coffee. One of us has to be drinking coffee. So I will be the guinea pig. British Liz: That is fair. That is fair. So welcome, Josh. Okay KENT: Mm-hmm. Speaking of guinea pigs. sorry, Br l Liz. Fake British Liz. don't mean to interrupt. I actually had I had one of our subscriber reach out to me and they're like, You should be nicer to Liz. Everybody's gonna think that you pick on her. British Liz: Okay, you need to forward that to me and I'm gonna frame it or put it in a little sign and hold it up whenever you start being mean. KENT: I you know I always tell people if I pick on you, that means I really like you, versus just being quiet and not saying anything. So Briz, Briz, br hey, British Liz: Do we buy this? Folks, do we buy that? KENT: there you go. You're Yeah. Josh: It's the same opinion for me, so that's how I do it. KENT: See, look, I'm giving you the heart, heart for li and and here instead of British Liz, we'll just call her Briz. bri Josh: Yeah British Liz: Okay, is that the time? I have to Josh: That's pretty good. British Liz: be going. Okay. KENT: Hey and and if you want to, we can make it fake British list of for Briz. Josh: You British Liz: Just just that's like tri breeze. It sounds like I'm stinky. KENT: There you go, big British Liz for Briz. Josh: which we might need at conventions, honestly. KENT: The we yeah. We we have a ongoing humor British Liz: Yes. Josh: Yeah. KENT: about Axe Body Space should be a sponsor at some of these Comic Cons because Josh: Mm-hmm. KENT: people, you know, they they get hot and sweaty, they don't bring extra clothes, or they just don't bathe. So I'm sorry if you're listening, but it's true. British Liz: Hmm. KENT: I mean, j Josh, am I am I lying? Josh: No, not at all. Especially like, I'm from Florida, most of the conventions I go to is in Florida. Like, those are especially hot ones and it's bad. KENT: yes. British Liz: yes. Yes, I don't know that I've KENT: my gosh. British Liz: been to a summer one in Florida. I've been to Megacon, which is usually in the spring or the late winter. And Ooh, nasty. Where's is that Tampa? No. Which one is that? KENT: I'm going to one this weekend in Florida. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Orlando. Orlando. Josh: What is happening in Orlando? KENT: animate Orlando. Josh: that's this weekend? KENT: It's an anime one. I mean, not everybody's into anime, but anime is a huge mega monster beast, so yeah. British Liz: Josh, do you need to go offline and go buy a ticket real quick? Josh: Unfortunately, I'm busy this weekend or else I kind of would. I think I have KENT: Are they Josh: been to that two years ago. I seem to remember going to one out in Orlando, but I'm KENT: Yeah. Josh: more, I've gone to the anime conventions in Tampa as well. KENT: Nice, nice. So Liz British Liz: Well yes. KENT: I know you I know you're just itching to say stuff. You just want to talk to Josh. Josh is our guest. Well British Liz: Yes, but you guys keep yapping. You keep yapping, and I just can't get a word in edgeways. Pause. Okay, so KENT: that was radio silence right there. Where Josh: Hahaha British Liz: So Josh, we we met at MegaCon, KENT: were you, Liz? British Liz: was it Josh: Mm-hmm. British Liz: three years ago, I think, twenty twenty four? Josh: Was it 2024 or 2023? British Liz: I th I actually you know what? You know why it was not twenty twenty three? Because I fell and broke my wrist the day I was due to fly there. Josh: So it had to have been 2024 then. British Liz: So it was twenty twenty four. And I actually dug up a picture of that first evening at where we met at Universal Studios. It was the MegaCon after hours event. That is your sleeve. Josh: What a photo British Liz: Isn't that a great picture of you? I Josh: Yeah, a great picture of the environment as well. We have British Liz: Yes. Josh: to compliment that. British Liz: Yes, because Josh Josh was Josh KENT: I was wondering what this photo was. You made me upload it, I'm like, all right, I see white and I'm like, all right, this looks like Harry Potter Land. Uh-huh. British Liz: Yes. Well, because this was it it was and it was a this was to commemorate our our evening where we met up and became friends and actually did the whole park together. And and this was KENT: And then you said that's Josh's sleeve. British Liz: yes, because he was Wally. No, Wally, what Waldo, Waldo. Yes. Yes. KENT: no. Waldo. my goodness. All right. Josh: Waldo for us English speaking people British Liz: Yes, it's where's Wally in everywhere else, but here it's Waldo. Yes. KENT: No, it's where's Waldo? Josh, we are definitely gonna pick on Liz today. my goodness. This is Wally. Josh: Yeah. British Liz: Yes, apparently we are. But anyway, that was the only picture I could find of that Josh: you British Liz: night that had you in it. We've taken pictures since, but I thought KENT: I bet there's about a hundred and twenty pictures of Harry Potter land. British Liz: yeah, there's plenty. But I didn't think to do any selfies or Josh: Yeah, I have no doubt. KENT: Yeah, but none of Josh. British Liz: anything like that. But but Josh has been kind enough to come and find me at every cons that he that we've both been at since. And Josh: Mm-hmm. British Liz: so we had have dinner occasionally when we like when we do the universal thing for MegaCon. Like Josh: Yep. British Liz: we went to that the pub, the did we go to the leaky cauldron last time at Universal? And and I met your friends and that was lovely. Josh: Yes, yes we did. KENT: Is that inside British Liz: And KENT: the park? The leaky cauldron? Josh: Yes. KENT: Okay. British Liz: Yeah, it's there's there's there's like well, there's now the new one as well, but there were two Harry Potter areas in two different parks which did also KENT: Yeah. Okay. British Liz: connect, right? KENT: Yes. Yes. Yeah. Josh: Correct. There's a train between the two. British Liz: And now there's also is it epic? Something. Yeah, so KENT: Yes. Get with the times, Liz. Josh: Epic Universe, British Liz: well I'm busy. I'm busy. I've got stuff to do. KENT: Yeah, Josh, before we even get started into this, just know we call her fake British Liz. That's what Peter and I call her, because she has Josh: Quiet. KENT: this fake British accent. Josh: Is it? British Liz: But I'm I'm I'm good at pretending, am I not? Am I not? Josh: It's fake. I didn't even know it was fake. So I guess it has to be pretty good. British Liz: It's not fake. KENT: See, it's not good. It's all fake. Josh: Yeah, yeah. British Liz: Okay, you know you know I c I can dismiss Kent from this conversation. I th I think I KENT: Ballocks. British Liz: stop it. Yeah, I think so. Josh: I'm sure we could talk long enough, to be honest. KENT: okay, so I I was at Star Trek Las Vegas this week, and I was British Liz: Yes. KENT: actually working with somebody that lived in London, lived in LA for a time and now lives in Costa Rica. And so they were they British Liz: Who who are you working with? KENT: I was with Gina Yashwe from Starfleet Academy. She's number one, and Josh: Mm-hmm. KENT: she's British. Her best friend, Is British and so both of them were talking and stuff, and they said bullocks, and so no joke, no joke. Sandro was there, his handler Ron was there, and I'm there, and we're all saying bullocks, and she's like, Nope, you're saying it wrong. It's you're just saying it to bollocks, bollocks. I was like, Whatever, and it's it is. British Liz: That's ball bol Yes, but you know it is it is it is qu it is still a swear word and this is a family Josh: Bollocks. British Liz: show, my dear. KENT: I didn't know that. But anyways, she was gonna record British Liz: Yeah. KENT: the three of us saying it 'cause it was so terrible. Our British word was terrible, so Josh: And now here's where you show the video of you guys saying it so badly. Yeah. British Liz: Yes, yes. KENT: Yeah, yeah, yeah. No sh that would've been funny. That would have been funny. But anyways, that's my British. British Liz: but was was it fun? I one day I'll get to Star Trek Las Vegas. KENT: It was it Josh: Yeah, is it worth it? KENT: it is five is five days of Star British Liz: Five. KENT: Trek. Five Josh: Yeah. KENT: days, yes. I flew in Tuesday to set up, and then Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, I was with Todd Stashwick, who is Captain Shaw, and then Sunday I was with Gina Yeshwe, from Starfleet Academy. So it was five days of craziness. British Liz: Well it's it's hard f hard to keep track of all the spin offs. KENT: Just coming off of San Diego. Yeah. Josh: Yeah. British Liz: Yes, yes. What that was two weeks ago you were in San Diego? KENT: Yeah, yeah. So two five day cons in less than three weeks. British Liz: Wow. Josh: Sounds exhausting. KENT: I need my rest. British Liz: Yes. Well I hope you're Josh: Bye. British Liz: slightly recovered. Are you are you headed to Chicago this weekend, Kent? KENT: I am not. I'm Josh: No, Orlando. KENT: going to Orlando. You're going to Chicago. British Liz: You said. yeah. I am going to the Fan Expo Chicago 'cause we are now in August. I don't know when we're gonna air this, but we're in August at the moment and Chicago will probably be nice and toasty. KENT: catching up on our podcast. you know, we're just getting to the British Liz: Yeah, slowly, slowly. KENT: Leah episode. So boom, we're getting there. yeah. And British Liz: are we? Ooh goody. KENT: and our listeners are the pe the one subscriber that we have. Well actually we have one in each country now. So you know it is. It's a lot of countries, but Josh: That's a lot of British Liz: Well, I mean not not like in in, you know, Josh: Yeah. Every country. British Liz: Cameroon, but you know, it's coming, it's coming. KENT: You never know. It's it's getting there. But yeah, they they they know that this is pre recorded and you know, we're a little bit behind. But hey, aren't they all like that? So unless we were alive. British Liz: Yeah, you never you never I mean, I guess some people wait for the next episode, you know, week to week. KENT: There are people like text me, like, I'm ready for the next episode. Literally. Because they're they've listened to them all on. I'm like, just no, British Liz: What to tell them to just just hold their horses. KENT: it's coming on Thursday. It'll drop again. Yeah. Weekly podcast, Josh: Yeah, most podcasts are weekly. They can wait. British Liz: Yay. KENT: just like a TV show, you know. I mean, we could drop all 52 and then we'd be good for the year. Yeah. Binge watch. Yep, yep. British Liz: Yeah, and and then you can always and you can always binge watch or binge listen in the car. Josh: Mm-hmm. you KENT: Yeah. See see the craziness w that we have on our show, Josh? Josh: Yeah. British Liz: Yes, it's very structured and educational. KENT: It is. Yeah. So you Yes, exactly. Josh: It sounds like it. It sounds like every con I've been to. Very structured. British Liz: Ha ha. Yes. KENT: Lots of structure. So Liz, you were at down in Te you're still in Texas. What were you doing down there? British Liz: Yes, yes. we had Rebel Scum, the KENT: Uh-huh. British Liz: third Rebel Scum con, which is gaining quite the reputation for people that can't make it to Star Wars celebration. It's you know, I don't I won I won't call it the next best best thing, but I think it's headed towards the next best thing. 'Cause it's KENT: Right. Yeah. I'd British Liz: got a got a industry people, actors, stunt people, monsters, I mean, you know. KENT: you were there? my listeners see she just walks right into this stuff. my gosh. I know. British Liz: I know, and and I just I don't have a comeback. I'm so slow. KENT: You know, it was surprising me that it was Rebel Scrum, which is Star Wars, and Star Trek Vegas. Yeah, so Star Trek Star Wars, you know, competing British Liz: Yes. And you were at Star Trek, yeah. Yeah. KENT: against each other. British Liz: So so we had a bunch of people from the Mandalorian movie. we had the the two guys that wear the suit. So we had Brendan Wayne and Latif Cro Cro Croth Crother, no. KENT: Goodness. See? British Liz: No, that's sad because I was just I was tagged him on Instagram just yesterday. Crowther. Crowther, yeah. KENT: for shame, Brandon, sorry. British Liz: well, and Brandon, who I've met a number of times now. Just lovely, lovely guys. And then you had the guy that played one of the villains. you have some Star Wars Bounty Hunter's the guy that plays Cad who was? Dorian. Yeah. Is it Kinji? Not Kingy. KENT: Kenji was there? Was Kinji there? Dorian Kenji? Yeah. Yeah, it's Kinji. British Liz: Okay. He's lovely. He's lovely. But he's he plays CAD b yeah, I do. But he has his KENT: I he is. You know who his mom is? Okay. Who is it? Josh: don't believe so. British Liz: Lindsay. KENT: Lindsay Who? Like, no. British Liz: Can't remember his last name. Bionic Woman. That one. Wagner. KENT: Wagner. Lindsey Wagner. British Liz: I was I could I was trying to think of her name all weekend, but but yeah, he plays Cad Bain, KENT: You're too funny. Okay. British Liz: the bounty hunter, and he is so tall and so thin. we also KENT: I know. British Liz: had Ross Sandbridge, who plays one of the Wookiees, and he's seven foot. KENT: Mm-hmm. British Liz: Unbelievable how tall these guys are. KENT: Gotta be tall to be a Wookiee. Josh: Yeah. British Liz: You do. And then we had I mean in Ooh, that was good. That was wasn't that good, Josh. That was quite Yeah. KENT: thank you. Josh: It was actually kind of surprising. I didn't know if you just like hit a button that you had next next to you KENT: No butt no but British Liz: No, did you you no button? That was that was all you bringing out your inner Wookie KENT: no no buttons. very Wookiee. Josh: Okay. You can do it on the spot now, right? Again? No? KENT: no not British Liz: Yeah. KENT: there you go. There's my best Wookiee. Josh: That's not bad. British Liz: hey, we need to record that and like make it a sound effect that we can drop in here and there. That'd be cool. KENT: That'll be Liz's ringtone. Josh: Yeah. British Liz: No, I've got my BTS ringtone. I'm happy. KENT: Edna. British Liz: so it was it was really fun. got to meet a number of really cool people, reconnect with a bunch of other cool people, the crew and some of the actors I had met before. And it was really f Josh: You mentioned it's the third year. Is it a changing location or is it always in the same area? British Liz: it's it's changing it's it it's been in north of Dallas the last Josh: Okay. KENT: Mm-hmm. British Liz: two year well the first to second year, but we're moving to Irving, to the big convention centre in Irving, which looks like those one of those Jawa sandcrawler things. It actually looks like that. So yeah, Josh: It does, yeah, correct. I've worked in that convention. British Liz: so so I think that's really funny. And it's a bigger, which is good 'cause it needs to be bigger. Which is a very good sign. But yeah, I've KENT: Yeah. Especially if we're going into f it's fourth year for next year and British Liz: Yeah. KENT: already needing Josh: Mm-hmm. KENT: that space, that's that's a good sign. British Liz: Yeah. But it's got it's got great vendors. I mean, just really interesting vendors and of course all Star Wars related. Josh: Mm-hmm. KENT: What you got on British Liz: What is that? KENT: the ears? I'm I'm pointing to your ears. Like 'cause British Liz: yes, vendors that that t sell you Death Star earrings. There we go. KENT: Yeah, see Josh, you gotta understand Liz is not about Josh: Both broken and real. KENT: anything except the vendors. She likes to shop. Josh: Yeah. British Liz: hardly ever shop. You know me. I I mean I'm KENT: Mm-hmm. British Liz: usually behind the table so I don't get away. And then if I do get away then I'm running off to buy an autograph somewhere. So so actually yeah Josh: So what it sounds like, you want to do it more, you're just limited at not being able to. British Liz: Yes, but there's also the I probably shouldn't, because I will buy all kinds of stuff I don't need. Well I need, but I don't need. KENT: Like Death Star Airings. British Liz: Well I actually forgot my earrings. I forgot my little R2D2's my little Lego Han and Leia, I forgot all of those earrings, so I had to buy some, obviously, 'cause I needed to be Josh: course. British Liz: on brand. you know, I did it for the con. KENT: Did you do your Josh: Mm-hmm. KENT: nails? British Liz: I didn't, no. I'm letting them rest. KENT: my goodness. The one show Josh, the one time I call her out, she doesn't have her nails done. Like any other shows, she goes like this and like, look at my nails. And they're all like decked out with Star Trek or Star Wars or Doctor Who or whatever it is that she's gonna go see. This time, nothing. Josh: True, setting you up to fail, you know? British Liz: You know what? I have one more day here in Dallas with my friends. KENT: Mm-hmm. British Liz: You know, a a nail salon might be on the menu. I might go to Chicago freshly nailed up, as it were. That doesn't sound right. But no Josh: What a... No. British Liz: but they've got so many people at Chicago just I mean, they've got the boys, they've got Lord of the Rings, they've got the Goonies, Josh: A finger KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: for each? Is that how you're gonna go? Really, really be all fandoms, you know? British Liz: Yes. Yes, and they've even got Kurt Russell. KENT: my gosh, Kurt Russell. Josh: He has to have his own, own finger just for him, you know? British Liz: I know you know, maybe I should get tombstone nails. KENT: I was just gonna ask you if you got to meet Kurt Russell and got an autograph, which you'll probably stand on that line where what picture would you have Kurt Russell autograph? Would it be British Liz: Tombstone. KENT: Tombstone? Okay, not Big Trouble Little China or British Liz: I actually haven't ever seen that. KENT: my Liz. All right. Listeners, please close your Liz, Liz, listeners, listeners, please Josh: You have a day to catch up. British Liz: The shame the shame KENT: close your ears right now because we're about to cuss Liz out for not watching that. Liz, put that British Liz: Well KENT: movie on your list of things to watch. Actually, if you are a listener and Big Trouble Little China and you've seen that, let us know. Because I wanna show Liz how many people have watched that movie. Josh, have you watched that movie? Josh: No, I am not. I was sitting here just passing, hoping to skip by on it, but no, no. KENT: my my goodness, there's two of you. my goodness. my gosh. Busted both of you. my good British Liz: Basted. KENT: that's like Liz, you're old no that's a classic. British Liz: Do you just say I'm old enough to have watched it? KENT: I'm just saying you and Moses were parting the Red Sea together. So yes. Josh: Does that mean I'm off the hook as I? Perfect. Uh-huh. KENT: You're off the hook. Yeah, y you're young. You're s you're on British Liz: You you being a youthful person. KENT: Josh, you're under thirty, so you're you get a pass. Josh: Wonderful. I appreciate that. One benefit of being young. KENT: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So yeah. British Liz: Before MegaCon next year, mate. You you should let's make Josh: that's mine. British Liz: a pact. We will both watch it before Megacon next year. Alright. Josh: Okay, I'll take that back. KENT: Ooh, okay. I I wanna Josh: Make sure I'll KENT: All right. Josh: text you just to remind you because I'm sure I'll watch it before you will and then KENT: Well British Liz: Yes, you probably will. Josh: make you feel bad about it. KENT: Yes, you you guys need to make a pact and and you know, maybe do a movie night where you guys get online and Josh: Mm. KENT: watch it together and stuff like that, but yeah, Josh: There's always a possibility. KENT: you know British Liz: Ha ha. KENT: but he has so many I mean, he was Santa Claus. Come on, Kurt Russell was Santa Claus, like British Liz: Which which which Santa Claus movie was that? KENT: The Christmas? What is it? Christmas con Christmas Chronicles? Yeah. The Christmas Chronicles. He British Liz: Mm, didn't see that. KENT: was Santa Claus, yeah. And then, you know, he did Overboard with Goldie Hahn, British Liz: Well, Guardians of the Galaxy Two KENT: Guardians of the Galaxy, Escape from New York, Tango and British Liz: Sky high. KENT: Cash, Stargate, Breakdown. What about Ooh, you know another Josh: I feel like these are very separate movies. Saying sky high British Liz: Stargate, yeah. Josh: as he lists off all these other ones are very funny. KENT: Yeah, Sky High is a good one. There's a lot of good people. Backdraft. yeah. What? British Liz: I always forget he's and you know what? I just thought, my goodness, tequila sunrise which I love. And KENT: Miracle. to kill see. Yep. British Liz: he and Mel Gibson are both there in Chicago this weekend. I wonder if they're doing a j duo photo up. I don't know if they will though. KENT: All right. I'm gonna throw out some old see I'm gonna throw out some old dirt for Liz. How about the computer that wore tennis shoes? British Liz: See, I never watched the old, old, old Disney stuff. No, you know, we KENT: Never watch that? What about British Liz: had steam powered televisions in the seventies, you know. KENT: I know. I t sh they I mean he'd done so much Josh: had to crank start with them. British Liz: Sorry? Josh: You had to crank start the TV, make sure the antennas were in the right way. KENT: Yes, yes, yes, yes. British Liz: Precisely precisely. Josh: I've seen them in museums. KENT: When you forget. British Liz: sharp. KENT: That's where Liz belongs. British Liz: Okay, enough abuse. KENT: Anyways, Kurt Russell will be in Chicago signing autographs, doing selfies. Actually, he won't be well, probably no selfies, but he'll be in a photo shoot, you know, standing British Liz: probably n probably no selfies. Yes. KENT: there. speaking of which, British Liz: Yes. KENT: have you watched the news like have you been on social media and just seeing the stuff that h so this guy took a picture with British Liz: with Mel Gibson? No. KENT: No, no. The who's the female? shoot. Femme Nikita, British Liz: There's plenty. In what Josh: place. KENT: Femme Nikita, in James Bond. on the top. Yes, Fem Kita Jensen. So he took care, British Liz: Fanky Jansen? KENT: he posted it that, they made me stand sick, you know, yeah, yeah. Which is which British Liz: and they had a measuring stick and they made me yes. KENT: is false because the agent came out and said that's false. They don't do that. You know, she'll she sits in a ch British Liz: I mean during COVID during the COVID they had the the screen. You could not yeah. Josh: Yeah. KENT: Yes, but so the this guy posted a photo and it's he's standing away from her, but she's sitting in the chair. She always it's just her particular, she likes to sit in a chair versus standing, and you can come up, you can put your arm aro around her, you can around the chair and stuff like that. No, yeah, British Liz: The well, around the chair. I don't know that yeah. Josh: Yeah. KENT: but you know, you can stand close to her and and and have a nice picture. He just chose to stand far away, but in social media, they blew it up like, there's like this tape measure and you had to stay so far away. The agent came out, said, No, that was not true. She's very nice and everything. Well, now Mel Gibson just did a Comic Con and British Liz: Yes, I saw that this morning. KENT: his face is like looking just like, I'm pissed to be here. And I don't want only he's got his hands in his pockets, and people are like British Liz: He's he was he he did not yeah, he didn't look thrilled to be there, yeah. KENT: Yeah. And so now the whole hubbub is like, you know, now there's this somebody on social media was like, Well, if you're so pissed off, why are you coming to these Comic Cons? Like, is do you really need the money that much or what? Like would you go would you if you were a celebrity, would you go if you didn't want to? Like, like there's this whole thing going on right now because of those two pictures. And then of course, you British Liz: Yeah. KENT: know, the Nicolas Cage one, because it was his first signing. He didn't know how to stand or and people were like British Liz: Uh-huh. KENT: making memes and c doing the photoshop British Liz: I didn't see any of those. KENT: of them next to Nicolas Cage and it it's getting it's getting really funny. if you haven't seen any of this stuff, all you gotta do is like photos of Nicolas Cage, Mel Mel Gibson, and Vem Nikita. British Liz: Well it's it's funny 'cause 'cause those photo ops are very expensive. And you know, if you're gonna KENT: They are. They are. British Liz: drop three hundred bucks for a you know five seconds with the person and a the the memory of a picture, Josh: Mm-hmm. British Liz: I mean it's it's gonna be hard. It's one thing if you're cross eyed or something, they'll they'll retake it. But if it's just not a good picture, I mean there's not really any recourse 'cause you've got your picture. You stood next to them, but but it's sad Josh: That's. British Liz: to be disappointed in those expensive photo ops. KENT: Yeah. Josh: Which is always my big difference between the photo ops versus going up to a table and interacting with them. KENT: Sure. Yeah, yeah. Josh: I get with the size of some people, you can't have a table and a huge long line that anyone can get into, you have to more photo op type of stuff. But I truly feel like there's a different interaction level where the money of a photo op doesn't equal the same personal meeting that you can have at a table. And that's a big, British Liz: absolutely. Josh: weird, like, comparison between I always would prefer British Liz: Yes, yes. Josh: going up to, like, a table and interacting with someone than, like, paying British Liz: Yes. Josh: for a photo booth. British Liz: Yes, he doesn't look thrilled. KENT: Doesn't he that I mean Josh: No. KENT: for the listeners, not the video people, but the people listening to the podcast, I am literally holding up a picture of Mel Gibson. and he he looks like he's getting a mugshot. British Liz: He he does look a little even a little angry. Which is which is really KENT: Yeah. British Liz: I mean it's really sad 'cause again he's he's on the higher cost level. so it's really sad. I cause I'd I'd like to do that, but I think if I yes, that's the picture I saw. Yeah. Yeah. KENT: So yeah, I mean at le I I I don't Josh: How much do you think? KENT: like I don't talk bad we don't ever talk bad about celebrities. It's just smile. Please mail, please smile. Josh: How much of that do you think is like his agent advising him to go to these conventions versus him himself wanting to? Because that's something I've always thought also because at a point yes it's interacting with fans and you can make some money from it but it's also marketing like there has to be an aspect I would assume from their agents for wanting to get their name more out to the general people. of conventions, especially as conventions get bigger. KENT: Well, there's a lot of British Liz: Yeah, like like if if they have a project coming out, that kind of thing, Josh: Yeah. KENT: Yeah, but I I I British Liz: that to make them more visible. Hmm. Josh: Yeah. KENT: feel like Josh: It's good publicity. British Liz: Yes. KENT: the agents are good at their jobs at getting people to the shows that people want to see. now I will say this a lot of the talent are not extroverts. A lot of them are Josh: Mm-hmm. Right. British Liz: Mm. Yeah. KENT: introverts. I would say eighty percent of the talent are introverts. So it does take a lot of energy and it does take a lot of their mental capacity to smile and be on for however long they're in front of the crowd and the people and stuff. So it does wear them down and and they do get tired. And you know, as soon as they're done, they want to go to their hotel room. So I get it. So, you know, again, this is social media. Social media will blow up anything negative, anything positive. It it's just social media. The people are just trying to get likes, clicks, views. we all know there are people that are having a bad day and it's hard for them to smile in a photo shoot. And then, you know, sometimes you're just tired and your brain just clicks off, and so your face goes with it. Cause I, as a handler, sometimes people will walk up and they're like, Are you okay? And I'm like, Yeah. And I have such a poker face, they're like, please stop. Remind your face that you're happy. And I'm like, like that. So British Liz: Ha ha ha. KENT: you know, I Josh: But. KENT: get that too because you know, when you're mentally done, your face forgets to I gotta smile still, you know. So you know, Mills probably doing the British Liz: Yeah. And it's and especially KENT: best he can because he's already signed like 400 autographs and British Liz: Well, and he he tends to do one day only, which means everything is jammed into one day. And so he might be KENT: Yep. Panels, autographs, photos, yeah. British Liz: yeah, just all kinds of everything. KENT: You know, and and again, his agent is doing the best he can or they can to make sure everything is going good. And, you know, at Comic Cons, Josh, not everything goes smoothly. So yeah. I mean, how many times British Liz: It does this come as a shock. KENT: well think about it, how many retakes that photo ops has to do because of people with glasses, Liz? because British Liz: Yeah, yeah. KENT: you know, chin down, head up. You know, 'cause your glasses reflect and so the photo ops has got to get a good photo because you paid two, three hundred dollars with Mel Gibson that you don't want that reflection in the lens. They wanna see your eyes and stuff. So, you know, think about a dozen, two dozen retakes and then it's like British Liz: Mm-hmm. KENT: I've got to bear a bow. Yeah, I'd be Josh: Yeah. KENT: tired too. So British Liz: Yes. Josh: And I have to assume that you can't get as much energy from the fans coming in versus like a table where you can have more of a conversation and you can feed off of the energy versus like I KENT: Yes. Josh: have to just take these photos nonstop and British Liz: Yes, yes. KENT: You know what brings the energy up in a photo room? Music. Yes, me singing and dancing. No. British Liz: You singing and dancing. Mm-hmm. KENT: music. And at Josh: He's like, yeah. KENT: I would tell you, Chris and his team at Star Trek Las Vegas definitely bring a lot of energy because they are nonstop playing music in both studios, and even the talent is like dancing and moving Josh: Yeah. KENT: and like I British Liz: That's a great idea. Mm. KENT: it it's crazy. I mean, as when I'm with certain talent, they Jay Muse brings his speaker with him because he wants music. He wants to keep the energy going, and that's good. I mean, hey, photo booth, make sure you have music. If you're listening to our podcast, just music. British Liz: Yeah. KENT: There you go. That keep the energy because music is part of life and energy and it you know music can bring you up and it can bring you down. It's that's why they put music into movies because you know, it's the anticipation, like something exciting's gonna happen. it's sad. Let's bring it, you know. So British Liz: Yeah. KENT: if there was no music in movies, they would be boring. British Liz: I think so. Josh: I And then you see it KENT: Yeah, kinda like Brit. Josh: in the vendor hall a lot also with different booths having music getting British Liz: Yes. KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: played. A to attract people to their booths, but also just to keep the vibes up of the people British Liz: Yeah. Josh: working them. British Liz: Yeah. KENT: Mm-hmm. So L Liz, you brought Josh on to the show. British Liz: yes, why did we bring you? yes, because you are our our demographic. You are an attendee who loves to go to comms. Josh: Mm-hmm. KENT: So he's a nerd. British Liz: Are you a nerd? Josh: I would yeah, I'd say I'm a nerd KENT: There you go. See? Yeah. Nerd King. Ooh. British Liz: Okay. So what's what's your fandom? Or Josh: I British Liz: many? Josh: would say many fandoms. I'm British Liz: Mm-hmm. Josh: very much foremost like a gamer. So anything gaming I'm pretty much interested in British Liz: okay. Josh: which is I'm happy Comic-Con's like branching more into it. One of the local conventions, Metrocon, has a huge section. KENT: Mm-hmm. Gen Con just happened. Josh: Huge section for like gaming specifically. British Liz: So so they actually have areas where you play? Okay. Josh: Yeah, four arcades and tournaments happening for different games, as well as like gaming specific merchandise around in the booths and all of that. British Liz: Yes. So like KENT: Speak. British Liz: dice and and cards and that kind of thing. Yeah. KENT: I'm gonna put a Josh: Yeah. KENT: plug right here because I was at Star Trek Las Vegas and the sponsor, one of the sponsors was Magic. They literally Josh: Mm-hmm. KENT: had a booth, they were going around cards, yes, the magic, the gathering. British Liz: A they they do cards, right? Yeah. Josh: Magic the Gathering. Correct. KENT: Yeah. So card games are huge. Huge. D, yeah. Josh: Yeah. Where British Liz: That's interesting, yeah. Josh: that was. British Liz: Cause I I know nothing about that. So I've actually been wanting to bring somebody on. I didn't realise that you turns out you are our guy. You are we are now going to consult you on on on that whole area. Josh: Yeah. KENT: So Josh will give us some tips and tricks and then we're gonna bring Todd Staschwick on, who is a D player. So we'll British Liz: Is he? KENT: really get into games with Todd. yeah. He British Liz: Ooh cool. Josh: Yeah. KENT: raised he does DD at the usually at the conventions he's at, with the other celebrities, but he also creates some D games online to raise money for charity. Josh: That's KENT: Yeah. It yeah. I mean the Josh: a very popular thing with DND. British Liz: I love that I love that. KENT: last one he just did that I think they raised like thirty thousand dollars for cancer and stuff. But yeah, yeah. And and I love that because he's actually doing something he loves, but he's doing it for a good cause. British Liz: Yeah, and and using his his position for good. That's wonderful. That's great. KENT: Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's awesome. So Josh, games, tell us. Josh: In general, I enjoy the D &D aspects for sure of conventions. It's such an easy way where like D &D in general has a hard It's a common issue of like getting people schedules to line up to bring them together to play a game Where like conventions are easy Door opening for new players to come in because there's a thing called like a one-shot which it's just one session one story start to finish normally kind of pre-written for the Dungeon Master to play through with certain characters. And KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: a lot of these conventions are starting to open that up. We're having tables where Dungeon Masters will sit there and at this specific time, first come first serve, or you can co-op earlier to put your name down. You can select a character sheet and just play through one session to see how you like D &D and experience that in a very casual and easy going environment, which is very nice. British Liz: Then you can go buy the T shirt. Yeah. Josh: If you want to buy the t-shirt or dice, dice is a big thing now at conventions. You can British Liz: Mm-hmm. Josh: almost always find two or three VendeBooz selling dice. KENT: Yeah. You can get all the die get crazy. Like now they've inserted stuff inside. Like Todd got one with his ship, the Titan, inside of the die and stuff like that. yeah, they the dyes are getting crazy. Like it's I did not Todd did. Todd got one. I didn't accumulate. I don't I don't collect that stuff. British Liz: Really? that's neat. Did you accumulate one of those, Kent? You're very good at accumulating stuff. Yeah. Very cool. Josh: Yeah. So there's a KENT: Now Josh: lot of things at conventions outside of just the comic side of it, which is like KENT: Yeah. British Liz: Well yes. Josh: enjoying. KENT: Well, when you're doing the games, you know, and I I've seen it at San Diego, they had the tables you could sit down and play. you know, you're playing the card games and and you're having fun and and you're doing what you enjoy, but you're doing it with somebody you don't know. Have Josh: Mm-hmm. KENT: you have you by doing this, have you made several friends or acquaintances or people that you now connect up with? because of playing the games at the different cons that you've attended. Josh: Absolutely, yeah. As with most conventions, as long as you can get yourself out there, you can make friends. And you're KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: already at an environment where you have something in common. So it's easy to keep those friendships going. I have several friends that are either conspecific, where I see them every year because I go to the same conventions, or KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: I see them even not at conventions, like those friendships that's grown from there, which is very nice. KENT: Okay. Do you guys d like it if they live in a different place, say several states away, do you guys get on Zoom or something like that to do a game of D and D or Wizard or whatever? Josh: Yeah, that has happened. Most of us KENT: Or magic. Josh: gamers, there's actually another platform called Discord, which is the primary one for gaming. So I- British Liz: yeah. is it? I ever I only ever use it for volunteer groups. KENT: ha ha. Josh: As I was saying, Discord is a very common social media platform now. It was initially made for gamers. It kind of took the place of TeamSpeak, which was another platform just to give an area for gamers to be able to talk online and play games together super easily. So that branched out into you can create like group chats on there for playing D KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: &D and other video games. KENT: I actually am in a Discord group for Dragon Con. Believe Josh: Mm, yeah. KENT: it, yeah. British Liz: Actually I yeah, I'm I'm in several for the various I mean Rebel Scum has their Discord group for all kinds of you know, for the guests and for you know, patches and badges and pins and everything. But but one thing I was curious about though, y you know, there's the the term is tabletop games, right? That's where you're Josh: Mm-hmm. British Liz: sitting around a table. Did is there also gaming for you know, s people want to play Halo together or something. Do they do that as well? Okay. Josh: Yeah, so a lot of the conventions I've gone to have had a specific gaming room where they'll have open tables, but then they will also have consoles there for you to play a variety of games, old PlayStation games or old Nintendo games and then newer Xbox games. British Liz: so like a nostalgia thing? Josh: a lot of it is for nostalgia because they will even have old traditional arcade games there as well for you to play. KENT: Mm-hmm. British Liz: right, yeah. Josh: And there's a variety of them like the honestly the older the game is the more there's a competitive field around it because like there has been such a long time of Gamers getting good at that that they want to compete they want to see how they match up with other people so like Super Smash Bros and all those British Liz: Mm-hmm. Josh: Different versions of Super Smash Bros KENT: Big tournaments on that stuff. Josh: will have yeah different tournaments KENT: Yeah. You can actually win money at some of these tournament yeah. Ps big time. British Liz: Can you? Ooh, maybe I should start. Josh: And just those KENT: they don't have those games, Liz. Did you almost Josh: are super entertainment. KENT: spit your soda out? Ha ha ha British Liz: Hey listened, can you win money at Monopoly? Josh: I'm sure I've seen Monopoly games in these game rooms. So whether or not you can British Liz: Seriously? Josh: make money, you can definitely pull out a Monopoly board and have people can play with you at these different conventions. They are... British Liz: Really? That's actually really nice. KENT: See Liz, now you know how to make friends. British Liz: I can make friends. I know how to. I have money. KENT: So jo yes. So Josh, I I know you're you're a gamer and things like that, but one of the questions I have for you is you attend these different cons, and each con you have a different experience. Everybody has a different experience attending a con. what is your con experience? Like are you somebody that chases after the autographs or Are you just the gamer or are you a budget restricted person? Like what kind of con experience is yours? Josh: Good question. Foremost, I do it for the social interaction. I'm KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: lucky that I don't get pulled into direction of having to buy things at vendor booths. I know a lot of people who go to conventions always have the outcome of, I spent so much buying everything because I can't walk through the vendor hall without buying something. British Liz: Mm-hmm. KENT: Let us British Liz: Yeah. That's fair. Josh: But there's definitely aspects of convention going that you can have fun without feeling like you need to be stuck in the vendor hall buying stuff. like I favor doing cosplays or costumes with friends and hanging out and even just people watching. Hosting up somewhere and like watching all the different costumes walk by and like pointing out ones that are more rare or more unique and That's a really fun aspect of conventions that you don't need to spend money really on. KENT: Wanted to bring like rating cards like 10, 9, 8.5, British Liz: Ha ha. KENT: and just sit at a table at with some friends. And then as the cosplayers walk by, we'd rate their costume like, yeah, ha ha. You know, like that. Not don't don't have a like a two or three, like any like at least a six, six point five Josh: Do it. Incorrect. Yeah. British Liz: I was gonna say that would not be good. KENT: or higher. But you know, let's like, you know, hey, let's compliment the cosplayers for doing what they do. Yeah. Josh: That would be amazing. Yeah. Especially for like doing that at like the red carpet or whatnot where it's KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: specifically made for cosplayers to walk down and feel good about what they've made or what they're wearing. So those aspects are great. KENT: D do you have a specific costume that or cosplay that you do? Josh: The one that I specifically do the most often would be Where's Waldo? Just because it's such a comfortable one and it gets the best interactions from people. Iconic, yeah. Because like there's KENT: Iconic. Yep. Yep. Josh: different types of cosplayers. There's the ones that go super handcrafted and they look beautiful and like compete in the cosplay competitions. KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: And then there's the ones that do it more just because they love the characters. I do it because I like once again that social interaction and whereas Waldo is by far the one that I get the most people being like, hey Waldo and coming up and saying hi and doing all of that. Yeah. Because it's such a- British Liz: And I found you Yeah KENT: Is that the most common line that they say? I found you. Josh: Yeah, which is a nice one, like especially when I was first going to conventions, I was going by myself. So getting KENT: Mm. Josh: past that interaction point of like going up and talking to people is difficult. But if you do a cosplay that brings them to you, because like, I don't know what exactly it is about Waldo that makes people so friendly and so easy to come up and talk to you. But it is. Yeah. British Liz: Yeah. It's it's the hat. The hat. Yeah. Josh: Or the fact that they want to share that they found you. Or the hat. KENT: Yeah. Yeah. Well, I can give you an idea right now, Josh. Like when you dress up as Waldo, have some stickers of Waldo that says you've been found, you found Waldo, and then have your QR code to you know your Waldo page or or whatever your Instagram is or whatever like that. And then that way there's a little interaction too. Like they found when they come up, they're like, I found you. And you're like, Yes, you did. You get a sticker. Yeah, kind of thing. Josh: Yeah, British Liz: Well and and we Josh: I've not gone. British Liz: were talking last time about badge ribbons as well. KENT: Yeah. Josh: Mm-hmm. British Liz: That could even be a fun thing. KENT: Yeah. Josh: That would be pretty sweet. I've definitely British Liz: Yeah. Josh: handed out social medias for people to tag me in, but I've not gone so KENT: Yeah. Josh: far as like doing like stickers or something. That would be quite good. KENT: Yeah, see, just giving you an idea or British Liz: Yep. KENT: like Liz says get you found Waldo ribbon and then they get to put it on their on their Josh: Edge. KENT: badge and stuff like that. So yeah. You could have fun with this. British Liz: I just heard what those are called. I didn't know, but the apparently they're called badge beards. Because the you get the you've KENT: Badge beer. British Liz: got the badge and then you've got the ribbons going down. I'd never KENT: Okay, there you go. British Liz: heard that before, but I heard somebody call it that this weekend. Josh: Is that actually what it's called or that's just what someone called it? British Liz: I think I had heard it before, but I'd not really kind of registered it. KENT: Interesting. British Liz: Okay, listeners, watchers, tell us what they're called. Or KENT: Is it badge beards or is it just ribbons? British Liz: or is it just a string of ribbons that, you know, can go thirty feet or something? KENT: Or is Liz just making Josh: Yeah. KENT: stuff just because she wants to talk? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. So all right. So you do games, you do the cosplay and things Josh: Mm-hmm. KENT: like that. Are there things that you do once the con closes to st interact with your friends or places that people can go that you know you could recommend for them that, you know, might be fun as well? Josh: Of course, British Liz: Like the after parties and stuff like that, you mean? Josh: yeah, like almost every convention has after parties Which debating on how old you are some might be age locked where like you have to be 21 up or 18 up but by four of those can be some of the best interactions because like Specifically as Waldo I walk around a convention a lot you get a lot of interactions and then anybody KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: who then goes to the after party It's a follow-up They don't expect British Liz: Yes. Josh: you to see like an after party. They see you as British Liz: Mm-hmm. Josh: just someone walking around a convention. So then to be like, I got to party with Waldo or something. It adds another enjoyment of like coming up. I've had people buy me drinks just because they saw me early in the day and then recognize me again at the parties, those types of things. Universal, think, is one of the best perks of going to Megacon. It's like... British Liz: I love that n that n I've done it both times Josh: Yeah. British Liz: I've been to MegaCon and it was just brilliant. So much Josh: Yeah. British Liz: fun. Josh: The fact that the park's at a more limited capacity once everybody else comes. And it's just amazing. Highly recommend it. Most rides you can walk on super easily. I'm waiting for the day that they British Liz: Yeah. 'Cause it's yeah. Josh: bring the transition to doing Epic versus the other two Universal parks. That would be very, very cool if they can book out Epic. But that's probably five years down the road if not more. Yeah. British Liz: Wow. At least. KENT: You never know anything's possible. Yep, yep, yep. So Josh: I've had friends from out of town come in this last convention, and they're going to come again next year just because of how nice the Universal is and the con going experience in general for Megacon, even though it does get very packed. British Liz: Yes. Well I I I I love that it's you know, it's it's MegaCon specific. So you've you know, it's obviously attendees, it's crew members, and even some celebrities show up because Josh: Correct, yeah. KENT: Mm-hmm. British Liz: you can just walk onto the rides. And I think that first year didn't wasn't there Robbie O'Mell was in the line in the KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: Correct, yeah, behind us. British Liz: same line as us to get into one of the Harry Potter rides. And we're just kind of saying hello and he was just there with his group and it was just great because there Josh: Mm-hmm. Yeah. British Liz: were so few people and everybody had the con in common. And it was just brilliant. Josh: And then being opening it up to being able to wear costumes into the the porks is very nice. Especially for British Liz: Mm. Josh: the cosplayers who might want more picture opportunities. Universal British Liz: Yes. KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: porks have amazing backdrops that normally you can't get pictures British Liz: yes Yes. Josh: and costume in front of. So being able to go. British Liz: Yeah. KENT: That's why Liz never takes any selfies, is because she's taking pictures of all the other cosplayers and all the other backgrounds. British Liz: Yeah. well cosplayers, I mean t just the the talent that goes into making that stuff. Just amazing. Josh: Yeah. You only find it with people who like truly have a passion for like the medium that they want to portray. It's crazy. British Liz: Yeah. KENT: Awesome. Well you you know, and I know Josh, you have you have like a background in audio visual background and stuff as well. So, Josh: Mm-hmm. KENT: you know, you've probably seen the back, you know, behind the scenes stuff and all that kind of fun interaction with at the Comic Cons as well. Josh: Yeah, it's interesting in my day-to-day life. I work conventions quite often More on the corporate side though than like the comic-con side So it's always interesting to be able to compare and contrast on like what the priorities are at a convention of KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: like comic-con goers versus like more of a corporate background and like KENT: Which one's more fun? Josh: Comic-con for sure but the It is interesting where they put value. KENT: Yeah. Josh: stuff that I wish they would do is like the different panels in all the panel rooms, a lot of them don't have like a microphone. Like KENT: Okay. Josh: it's just vocal people sitting up at the table speaking. And that would be like such an easy thing to put like a microphone and speaker in these rooms, but British Liz: Mm-hmm. Josh: half them don't, don't bother putting the budget there. That's something that always was interesting to me. versus that corporate, British Liz: Yeah. Josh: you always have a microphone in a room, no matter what. British Liz: Right. KENT: Yeah, yeah. Now are are these the smaller conventions that do don't have a microphone? Josh: yes, but I've also seen it at Mega. of course the, yeah, KENT: really? Wow, mega. Wow. British Liz: Really? Josh: of course the like main big panel rooms are going to have microphones for sure. KENT: Sure, sure. British Liz: Do you mean like the like the fan meetups and stuff like that? Josh: not only the fan meetups, but more of that type. Yeah. Ones where like vendors can book rooms out and do British Liz: Mm-hmm. Josh: different interactions there. Like there was a couple of KENT: Yeah, yeah. Josh: different, improv groups that like I've seen at different panel rooms. Which is. Yeah. Honestly, some of KENT: Ooh, improv. That sounds fun. Josh: the most fun that I've had at conventions is seeing improv groups that really British Liz: Really? Josh: like, yeah, there's, the name is. KENT: Is that where they shout out like specific or like whose line is anyway you shout out some stuff and then they improv on it? yeah. Sign me up. Sign me up. Josh: Similar to that, yeah. I saw one group that, it was very good actually, they came in as different characters. So this specific one, this example, they were all Batman characters. So like Commissioner Gordon, KENT: I'm Batman. Josh: Batman, Batwoman, those types of characters. And they sat KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: at two tables up on a stage and the audience would give them two things to debate on. And they would be opposite concepts. And one side had to take that stance and the other one had to do the opposite stance. So you get some characters supporting things that they in character would never support, but having to take the opposite side on it. And really funny. Yeah, Batman with gun control. Commissioner Gordon against drinking KENT: Like Batman with gun control? yeah. Gimme a gun. Haha. British Liz: Ha ha ha Ha ha ha. Josh: that type of stuff. KENT: Yeah, yeah. That's funny. Wow, I am missing I am missing Josh: Completely opposite to the characters, but they always make it super funny. Yeah. KENT: some panels. Like that to me sounds fun. The things you miss when you're yeah. Josh: Yeah. And that's once again, stuff British Liz: Yeah. Josh: outside of the vendor booth area. Like as soon British Liz: Yes. Josh: as you get out of there, there's so many other cool opportunities. British Liz: Yeah. Which is why we recommend going to the website of the con and looking up what else there is to offer. Not I mean for for for me, you know, my interest is in celebrities and autographs. So, you know, you go, you look up the prices and all of that, but there's so many panels and interesting vendors and interesting stuff to do that doesn't cost money. Which Josh: Yeah. British Liz: And e and like you said, even the people watching. It's just so much fun to to I'm even watching people in elaborate costumes trying to navigate Josh: Mm-hmm. Yeah. British Liz: go work their way through a crowd, it's can be tricky if you're ten foot tall. yes. Yeah. KENT: Mm-hmm. I had three Yeah. Like this Josh: Especially on those busier days. Yeah. KENT: weekend there were like three people dressed as cyborgs and all three of them were like trying to maneuver down the hallway and people were stopping them, trying to take pictures with them, and yeah, it was a whole to do. We I had a skirt around them to get to photo ops. Yeah. British Liz: Right. Josh: Which it's a double edged sword because when you do amazing costumes like that, you want to do it on the days that are busy where the most people see them, but it's also the most difficult to move around. KENT: Exactly. That's why we sit and people watch. Josh: Yeah, exactly. British Liz: Yeah. Josh: If find one spot, just sit, have a good time. Rate them with signs. Be great. KENT: Yeah, I wanna know how many of our subscribers are people watchers as well. Like if you sit there, I I mean, I'll people watch when I'm eating lunch or something like that. And Liz, I don't know if you sometimes when you're there with the talent handling and stuff, like you'll sit there and watch the different people walk by and yeah. British Liz: all the time. Yeah. KENT: And then it you know, sometimes you're not really busy, so you and the talent are like both scouting out like what's the next British Liz: Yeah, look at that one. Did you see that one? KENT: Yeah. look at that one. that one's great. And like, yeah. And then they run out of the booth to go take a picture with them. British Liz: Yes, which that I find that hilarious. KENT: I do too. I think it's it's great. Josh: I would love to get your guys' opinion on this also as people who've dealt with like talent a lot at those KENT: Mm-hmm. Josh: tables. I'm someone who of the opinion that you can go up and talk to them without having to pay for a signature. What is your guys' opinion on that side? Because like that's something that KENT: Let's all let you go. British Liz: Yeah, it it it depends. Josh: people are afraid of doing. British Liz: It depends. You know, if I'm if I'm a handler for Kurt Russell, not a chance. There's just no way. There's too many people. It's just not gonna happen. But if you're with, say, a voice actor or somebody that's not massively, massively busy, it's perfectly fine. Or can be, you know, always Josh: Yeah. British Liz: ask, always ask. But KENT: Yeah, you always Josh: And always KENT: want to ask. Yeah, you want to respect Josh: respect their time. Like, yeah. British Liz: Yes, replied. KENT: their time because, you know, you don't know if they've had like a line for the last three hours and now there's a little lull and they need a break. but yeah, always ask, hey, can I ask do you mind if I ask a quick question? And when you say a quick question, make it quick. Don't make it a a five, ten minute session. But Josh: Mm-hmm. KENT: you know, ask your question, get your answer, and then you know. say I always say British Liz: Yeah. KENT: thank you and then you're good. You know what I mean? You got that interaction time with them. Josh: Yeah. British Liz: But I but I would all always say if there's a you know, any kind of line, like more than say ten people in line, probably not. Just or at least not at this moment. I would w wait Josh: Mm-hmm. British Liz: until maybe later in the day when when things have calmed down a little bit. But like first thing in the morning, yeah. KENT: I've actually had I've Josh: Interesting. KENT: actually had people stand in line for an hour. Just to British Liz: Just to say hello? KENT: ask just to ask a question. And I'm not gonna deny them that because they stood in line for an hour. Yeah. British Liz: Well, especially if they've already waited. Josh: Yeah. KENT: because you know, Liz, when we're standing there, we're like, hey, would you like to get an autograph, a selfie, the combo? What what would you like to do? And our job is to make sure that the guest gets what they're coming up to the table for and so we help them. And sometimes the people are just like, I'm just here to say hi and I have a quick question. And you're like, okay. Perfect. You know, I do we let a whole bunch of people do that? No. But if you know you've stood in line for an hour, I'm not going to fault you. British Liz: Yeah. Josh: Yeah. British Liz: Yeah. And and you know, we we always have to check, each each actor is different. You know, we're like, Are you okay with just hello? And yes or no. you know, only if it's really, really quiet or you know, so it just depends. But I'd say unless you're dealing with super crazy lines, I Josh: Of course. British Liz: would say for the most part you you you'd be good. You know, check with the handler, check with the line Josh: Mm-hmm. British Liz: control. KENT: Which is a good question, Josh, because this is why we do this podcast. So that people are aware of what is good, what's bad. you know, what what can they do? What should they not do? Things to bring to the cons, things to go attend and see and do, and can you do it on a friendly budget? Can you do it on a big budget? Like, you know, so that's why we created this podcast. It was just so that, you know. People like yourself are not aware and then they can listen and go, okay, that all right, now I know. British Liz: Yeah, and I I wanted to ask you what what do you wish you'd known when you started going to cons? I mean, is there anything that you just blindsided you or you th you didn't you just didn't realise it was a thing, you know? I I I was curious as to that 'cause it's been so long since we did our first cons, you know. We we can't remember what we didn't know. KENT: The dinosaurs were around at that time, Josh, so I mean Rolls her eyes. Look, she's rolling her eyes. Josh: That's a while ago for sure. British Liz: Yeah. Like like Kent. Josh: There was definitely the just the idea that there's more than just the vendor area. I think that's the biggest thing that I've shown even like friends that I brought where they think that it's only the vendor area and that like the idea that you're just paying to pay more money like paying. Yeah. British Liz: Yeah. So so buy a ticket so you can buy stuff. Right. Mm-hmm. Josh: Versus like there's a lot more to it than you can do outside of that. And even that like you don't have to dress up or you don't have to feel weird going in normal clothes just because there's one person you want to see or one panel British Liz: Right. Josh: that you heard about that you want to go to or even just go and play D &D like experience that side of things as well. British Liz: yes, you certainly don't have to dress up. Josh: Correct. Yeah. British Liz: Actually people often ask me when they when I when I s say this is what I do, I work at Comic Cons. Like, do you dress up? Well, no. No, because I'm working, you know. But but it's just yeah. Very Josh: Definitely look at the schedules for the different conventions around British Liz: yeah. Josh: you and figure out how big the convention is and what all the different options are. Because there's a lot to them. Especially as more more conventions pop up of different fandoms or different genres. yeah. British Liz: Mm-hmm. And they might not all even be in the same building sometimes, like like in at Dragoncom, at a whole bunch of different hotels. even in at San Diego, there's different areas that almost feel like different buildings. KENT: hotels. Actually there was thirty-seven Josh: correct app KENT: pop-ups in San Diego this year. Thirty-seven, British Liz: Crazy. KENT: which means that wasn't even inside the convention center. British Liz: Yeah. So Josh: Yeah. KENT: That's crazy. British Liz: so especially if you're going to a big con, I mean, definitely research what there is to do. And yeah, that's that's KENT: Awesome. British Liz: interesting. I you know, 'cause we've got our the the the things that Kent and I are thinking would would be useful for a new attendee to know. But Josh: Mm-hmm. British Liz: that's not one we'd we'd thought of, so that's brilliant. Josh: Yeah. It's a KENT: You stumped Liz. British Liz: Mm. KENT: I said y he stumped you. Josh: You have to get outside of the vendor area, experience things outside the convention. Go to KENT: Yeah, Liz. Josh: some more fun panels, like the improv ones or there's other ones. Correct. Yeah. British Liz: Yeah, not just this not just the celebrity panels, the other ones. Yeah. Josh: There's a couple that I've gone to where they would take a show and break down the philosophy and the different ideas of like, we, I have this philosophy idea. does this relate to this character at all and compare and contrast it with the audience? And those are great also. Going British Liz: Cool. Josh: into good detailed conversations of like, is this person an actually good person with all this comparing it to this philosophy or this idea? those are like those can be super interesting. British Liz: Yeah. Then you come out of there with a college paper, right? Josh: Basically, yeah. Most of the one group that I normally follow, they are a bunch of teachers that teach philosophy and then add it to the shows and the different characters. So yeah, it's quite KENT: That's crazy. British Liz: Yeah. Josh: cool. British Liz: Very KENT: See, it it it's all kinds of people that attend Comic Cons. Like I I saw Instagram, somebody was interviewing all the cosplayers. Like, what what is your day job? And it was like there was a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, and there was doctors and lawyers and nurses and military and teachers, and you name it. I was like, See, this is why it's like British Liz: And I I had a storm chaser once. Yeah. KENT: Storm Chaser, okay. British Liz: I was like, okay, you can leave now. Josh: you KENT: You're in the wrong spot. British Liz: Yeah. Josh: I don't know how the back end is for you guys with working the event versus like paying for a ticket and registering that way, but I feel like every year that I go to a convention, the boxes for like, why are you going to this convention? Like what things you like keep spreading and having more and more options of checking, British Liz: Yes. Josh: which is very cool to see. Like, KENT: That's cool. Josh: do you like just movies? Do you like just shows or so on? KENT: probably helps them out with the different panels that they're they can create for the next year and and topics and stuff like that. Yeah. Well awesome. Josh: Absolutely, yeah. Especially for these. British Liz: Yeah. Yeah, and you and you s and you said that gaming is becoming more prevalent. Josh: Correct, yeah. KENT: Did you see the attendance for Gen Con? Holy cow. British Liz: No. KENT: Gen Con is a big gamers convention. It's massive. I mean British Liz: Yeah, what what kind of numbers? KENT: I I just go look on Google video for Gen Con. It it was massive. I I was looking at the video of Gen Con and I would say there had a minimum sixty thousand. British Liz: Ooh. Josh: 2026 KENT: Like Josh: had a record breaking 74,000. KENT: Yeah, same. British Liz: You just had that number to hand? KENT: He Josh is Josh: So easy. Yeah. KENT: good with his computer. Like, bam. Like, we should just have him as our sidekick. Like, so he can look up all the information. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, there you go. Do you do editing? British Liz: there you go. You could you could be like our intern. Yeah. Josh: and just fill it into you, I could do it. Super easy. I actually do somewhat, but... Easy. KENT: there you go, there we go. Hired. Do you take British Liz: Yep. Yep. KENT: do you take licorice as payments? yeah, both, both, both. We'll we'll pay Josh: Liquor or licorice? Those are two different things. Both. Yes. British Liz: What? Well are you over twenty one? I don't know. Licorice liquor, we could do uzo or something. KENT: There you go. All right. Well, you know, Josh, I could continue talking to you. We'd love to have you come back, share more gaming British Liz: Absolutely. KENT: experience and all the cosplay. Maybe dress up as Waldo and come Josh: Mm-hmm. KENT: on the show and stuff like that. But our time British Liz: Yeah. KENT: is literally there. you know, British Liz: We've gone an hour? KENT: yes, we have Josh: Yeah. KENT: Liz, you know. Yes, yes. British Liz: Goodness and I hardly said anything. KENT: No, you did. You did. We we're just making fun of you the whole time. So it sounded like you British Liz: Ha ha KENT: weren't talking, but you were. Josh: We can fix it in post if you want to speak less. We can just chop up more. British Liz: Ha ha ha. KENT: Yeah. Well yeah, we could we could I was gonna say we could chop up this British Liz: just edit me out. Right. Okay. Josh: Yeah, yeah, yeah. KENT: Josh, I think we could do that. We could edit everything that Liz said and did and just be like the Josh and Kent show. Easy, done. See? Josh: Yeah, easy. Super easy. British Liz: Great, so so I'll go on vacation and Josh: Yeah KENT: You're always on vacation. What are you talking about? All right. You're still in Dallas, right? See? She's British Liz: The joys of retirement. Yes I am. KENT: on vacation. Awesome. Well, yeah, hanging out. Yep. British Liz: Yes, just kinda guess Yep, hanging out. KENT: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, awesome. Josh, it was a pleasure meeting you. I'm so glad that you came on the show. You asked some amazing questions. I learned some things as well. So thank you very British Liz: Yes, thank you. Yes, but KENT: much. we can't wait to air this. Josh: Thank you for having me. KENT: yeah, definitely. British Liz: Thank you. KENT: we'd love to have you come back. You know, maybe the we'll like I said, dress up as Waldo and and then Josh: Mm-hmm. KENT: we'll be like, Hey, we found Waldo British Liz: Ha ha ha KENT: and then we're like, it's Josh British Liz: Yeah. Josh: If I do it though, I expect you guys to dress up in some characters also. KENT: yeah, I could do that. Josh: Yeah. British Liz: I can't. I can't. Josh: You can't? Impossible. I can get you a British Liz: Im impossible. Josh: Waldo hat. Easy. A Wally hat. Just for you. Yeah. KENT: There you go. Yeah. Wally. Yeah, yeah. British Liz: Wally. Yeah. KENT: I can do it. Liz. Liz. Challenge. Challenge challenge. British Liz: Well well Josh, I don't know if you knew but but Kent was in the five first, so he's KENT: Yeah. British Liz: probably got loads of stormtrooper costumes knocking around in the garage or something. KENT: Yeah. British Liz: You do so he's, you know. KENT: That would be funny just to be sitting Josh: Much more ready. KENT: here and start the video in stormtrooper costume. The British Liz: Yeah. KENT: people watch the video be like, I know. Josh: October's coming around, you can do a Halloween one. British Liz: Ooh. KENT: You know, you know, many years I have done that. So yes. British Liz: For Halloween you've just wandered around as a stormtrooper? KENT: Yeah, the kids love it. The neighborhood loves it. Yeah. Yeah. Josh: I mean, I've also used cosplays as Halloween costumes. If you have them, might as well. British Liz: I bet they do. I bet they do. KENT: Might as well, right? A multi use tool. Yeah. British Liz: Well, but also the other way round, you could buy yourself or get yours make yourself a Halloween costume and then wear it to the next comp. KENT: Well the bit I got a pirate one 'cause of that. Yeah. So I could dress up as a pirate. actually my friends and I all dressed up as pirates and we did the pirate show near Dollywood. And when we were sitting there, people were coming up taking pictures of us thinking we were part of the show because British Liz: Yeah. KENT: our costumes were so good. Yeah. British Liz: Love it. KENT: Anyways, yeah, we'll we'll find something British Liz could dress up as Gollum or something. British Liz: Wouldn't need a costume. KENT: My first chance. anyways, we appreciate it. Our time is up. Liz, anything you want to close with? British Liz: No, I it's just been fantastic talking to you, Josh. Yeah. It's great to see you. KENT: There you go. British Liz: And Josh: Thank you. British Liz: I I don't know where might be might see you around the country before MegaCon. Josh: There's always a chance, British Liz: Yeah. In fact I feel like I saw you KENT: There you go. And maybe Liz will British Liz: somewhere unusual last time. No, I wasn't in Boston. Josh: Boston Boston we saw each other British Liz: Where was it? Denver? Did you go to Denver? Josh: I don't know. That's for next KENT: Well, there you go. Josh: conversation. Next time. There you go. British Liz: okay. Yes. KENT: There you go. Well, everybody that's British Liz: All right. KENT: listening, we appreciate you. As always, please like and subscribe to any of our social media. If you haven't given us a review, please leave a review. let us know if we're worthy of a five star or not. And we look forward to sharing more conversations with coffee with you next time. We'll talk to you later. Bye. British Liz: Alright, see you guys. Bye. Josh: Bye. British Liz: Bye.