Celebrity Worship and Convention Adventures
Today begins my series on experiences in the convention business with all things in relation to it. Celebrities, fandom, the weird and the bizarre and how I got wrapped up in something no idiot would have the common sense to take on. I've been asked to write a book many times over and in all seriousness, there would be no way I could allow it to be published unless I was on my death bed. :roflmao:
This is more of a salute to those individuals involved with the formulation of a non-TV advertised event called THE LEAP BACK 2009 and is in no way a prologue of things to come, but rather a salute to the group responsible for premiering what will surely be the most talked about reunion of contributors and fans of a show called QUANTUM LEAP. This EVENT debuts right before some television hotshot gets a brainstorm that they should do a retrospective tv special on this most honored show and run frantically to his producer's office with such a fantastic idea. "HEY DORK! WE BEAT 'CHA TO IT AND DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE FOOTAGE FROM THIS EVENT! HA!!"
MY EXPOSE' OF EXPERIENCES ARE IN NO WAY BETTER OR MORE EXTENSIVE THAN THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE CONVENTION BUSINESS LONGER THAN I HAVE. I JUST BEAT THEM TO IT!!
:hurray::hurray::hurray:
I'll post a chapter occassionally but not daily. I DO have a life 'ya know. Boring as it may be, I still need my downtime. Just keep checking in.
CHAPTER I: WHO AM I?
Who cares!!
CHAPTER II: MY FIRST CONVENTION CELEBRITY FRIEND.
Leaning against a balcony rail at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel in the early 80's, holding a Pocket Book novel about Klingons, trying to act like someone who was a complete aficionado on TREK until a passerby noticed that I was reading it upside down and was amazed at my talent. "Knucklehead! Move along." I was there a day early and noticed that the committee was setting up so I thought I'd profile to meet new friends. I was both handsome :dreaming and tall and dressed liked a mundane :hat ('Ya gotta be a true con goer to know that word) but age has caught up with me now so I am just tall.
It was my first out of state con and it was the Platinum Anniversary Star Trek Convention with the likes of GENE RODDENBERRY, MAJEL BARETT RODDENBERRY, GEORGE TAKEI, JIMMY DOOHAN...blah, blah, blah. Side note: I was never a "crazed" sci-fi fan. I never rushed home to see a show (mostly) and refused to wear a costume. I was cool, :smokin debonaire, and couldn't find a tailor. :spidey Anyway, the word fan is derived from the term fanatic. :bow Read between the lines.
Anyway, long story short, I was asked to help with the setup, did a good job too (I love physical labor.........when I was young :wacko) and was asked if I would like to help out the rest of the weekend. It sorta went like this:
Con1: Hey Marc, you were great! We really appreciated the help.
Me: Gee thanks! (I said gee) If you need me for anything else, I'd love to get paid...er, do whatever you want.
Con1: Wow! Funny you mentioned that. You are both handsome and strong but we had no idea you were smart too. You ARE from Baltimore 'ya know?
Con2: We were wondering if you would be available to help us with a small problem we have. No more physical labor is needed from you tho unless you do windows.
Me: Gee (there I go again)! What is it you may want of me....besides windows?
Con1: We have a celebrity who needs an escort around the con and since celebrity agents attending conventions have not come about as yet (thank God!), we thought you would be perfect for one of them.
Me: Gee (dammit!), I'd love too. Who is it?
Con2: It's GEORGE TAKEI. He's a great guy and we'd appreciate it if you'd take the job. Of course news of his homosexuality has not hit mainstream America yet so you should be safe for now.
Me: WOW! AWESOME!!! FANTASTIC!!! No problem. I'd be glad too.
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Me (again): One question tho.
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Me: WHO'S GEORGE TAKEI?
(SULU from Star Trek for those living in caves)
TRUE STORY!! Thus my first celebrity friendship with a guy who's name I didn't know. Needless to say George and I have been friends (amongst many others today) for over 25 years. This part of convention organization worked out for the best for me but there were soon to be others that turned into horrible affairs of the egos. Stay tuned next week for the continuing adventures of..............................
<say it with echo effects> MARC B. LEE IN THE 24TH AND A HALF CENTURY!!!!!
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