Hello folks!
 
Just wanted to take an opportunity to wish everyone here a very Happy New Year! I hope the coming year will be a remarkable one for all of us.
 
I also wanted to pass along a few things regarding this year's fanfest weekend in Atlanta...
 
I just updated the tentative schedule on the website. There's not a lot of specific info there yet, as most of the details will be available once our lineup is complete.
 
But with the updated schedule, you'll notice:
 
(1) We've added a third Q&A for Thursday evening and reduced the time for these to 90 minutes each.
 
(2) We've changed our worship service from Sunday morning to Sunday evening.
 
Another thing that you will notice on the website is that we have removed the Single-Day VIP ticket option and this will not be available in Atlanta, and possibly ever again.
 
Lastly, another important change that we're making is one that will effect most of you. While we will still offer you the opportunity to get your Photo Ops signed for free, this will no longer be taking place during the scheduled autograph signings at the Autograph Stage.
 
Our beautiful Photo Ops have become quite popular over the past several years as folks have seen the high quality and I'm sure were attracted by the opportunity of getting their photo taken AND getting it autographed the same weekend. Unfortunately, it has become so popular that our Autograph Stage signings just aren't long enough to be able to get them all signed there PLUS two other items per person.
 
I hope you guys understand why we're having to make this change. Take Terry Funk for example this past year. It's likely that some folks may have had as many as eight items for Funk to sign: two items plus as many as six different photo ops that Funk was a part of. It's easy to see that if everyone in line has 2-8 items for each guest to sign how that just makes it impossible for us to get everyone through the line during a reasonable amount of time.
 
So from this point forward, we're going to honor our commitment to our VIPs of two autographs from each featured legend at the Autograph Stage, and limit it to that. In doing so, I don't foresee any trouble getting everyone through the line in the scheduled time and keep EVERYONE happy. Believe me, it's not just you guys that get upset when a session runs over. The talent gets antsy too.
 
For those of you that want your Photo Op 8x10s signed, we will get that done for you. I realize there are some of you that don't get your Photo Ops signed, and that's fine, but for those that do we will have a place for you to drop off your Photo Op 8x10s and pick them up SIGNED the next day.
 
I hope you guys understand why it's necessary to make these changes. We're not trying to be difficult or hard on anyone. We're trying to make it EASIER for everyone. I'm happy to have discussions with any of you here that have feedback to share.
 
I really believe these small changes will go a long ways towards making our weekends an even better experience for all involved.
 
Thanks and again, Happy New Year!
 
Greg

Quote from John63 on Jan 2^nd, 2011, 5:38pm:

 
If you want to place a sticky note on the exact spot you want signed, with clear instructions on the color sharpie to be used, it shouldn't be a problem. But the sticky note and your CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS is the key there.
 
Same would apply to personalizations.
 
Aside from that, I have every confidence in our staff that we can get these done this new way and they'll look great. There shouldn't be any black on black issues.

Quote from DJ_Taylor on Jan 3^rd, 2011, 3:03pm:

 
Well I don't want to speak out of place here, but I think most of those problems could be avoided in the first place if fans just employed a little common sense. I mean, is it really necessary to have Terry Funk's name on EIGHT different items? Geez, people. It's like the guy at the grocery store who decides to have a conversation with the checkout clerk while ten other people are standing in line. I think awareness of other people, and less selfishness, can ease most of the schedule issues. But I think these steps taken by Greg are definitely a good thing, and will lead to more fairness for all.

Quote from Pantherfan on Jan 3^rd, 2011, 7:43pm:

 
No problem, James.
 
Please let me clarify, though.
 
In no way am I complaining about folks getting their stuff signed. I take full responsibility and am not trying to pass the buck or the blame to anyone else. I really believe it is the addition of the photo ops that has slowed down our Autograph Stage lines in the past two years.
 
Sure the legends wanna chat and be nice to you guys. Many of them are flattered that you guys are there. But it's my job to manage all that and I just think the popularity of the photo ops the past few years, and the growing number of different variations, has just brought us to the point where we need to get them signed a different way.
 
I know it's hard to take something away once it's already been given to you. And I hope no one thinks we're trying to take the signed photo ops away from you. Definitely not. Buy we do need to approach it a different way to make things better for everyone, and keep everyone happy.
 
I sincerely believe this, and added staff at the Autograph Stage, will eliminate any issues we've had there the two previous years.

Quote from British Bulldog on Jan 3^rd, 2011, 10:52pm:

 
 
Sure. You're limited to two items per featured legend, and it can be any two items you choose.

Quote from Vincentvampire on Jan 3^rd, 2011, 11:19pm:

 
 
Everyone's opinions are welcome here, Vincent, but for the life of me, I don't know what you just said.
 
There is no issue with folks getting stuff signed for others. If you don't have anything for a legend to sign but a friend of yours does, there's no problem with you carrying your friend's items and getting them signed as if they were your own.
 
Bottom line, it's two signatures from each featured guest. And as long as we're fair and keep it to that, everyone should be happy

The "siggy hording" problem is an issue at all signing conventions in any sport.There's always going to be people who feel the rules dont apply to them....im waiting for the day when a promotor gets fed up enough and starts running it like an airport where all items are checked before you get on line..lol

Quote from Vincentvampire on Jan 4^th, 2011, 12:46am:

 
wow, i have heard some dumb things posted on this board over the years but this probably ranks right up there as one of the dumbest-  is it really so far fetched to believe that a non ebaying collector could possibly have more than 2 items for people like harley, the funks, wrestling 2, flair, etc?  although i dont bring more than 2 items on line with me, there are a lot of times that i have a lot more than 2 items for gregs people-  he does bring in some legendary names......
 
im 50-50 on this idea with the photo ops not being allowed on line- i dont think its gonna make much difference, as the problem is more so the talent talking to fans and vice versa than the few seconds it takes to sign a photo op-   bottom line is buy your tickets early and you wont get shut out-  wait til the last second and you run that risk... personally i always buy early and have never had a problem.....
 
you can even sort of control the fans by having security move them along before they can finish telling the wrestlers their life stories or asking stupid questions but the wrestlers themselves are the problem a lot of the time-  some study the item , comment on it, show it to the guy next to them or sometimes spend the whole auto session talking to the wrestler next to them-  i have never seen security at any show (gregs or otherwise) tell the wrestler we really need to move this along;  thats the reason for the slowdown, not the few seconds to sign a photo op....

Quote from brochester8 on Jan 4^th, 2011, 12:00pm:

 
greg has a drop off for extra items over the 2 you can bring wth you on stage-  usually for $10 per item, you leave it with greg, he gets it signed for you, then you get it back at end of the weekend- i have used this many many times and never had a problem....

Quote from British Bulldog on Jan 4^th, 2011, 11:28am:

 
Nothing could be further from the truth.
 
Before this past year, I think our track record was pretty exemplary for getting photo ops back before the guests left. There will always be those that look at the glass as being half-empty, and that will never change. Sure there are hiccups along the way, but those that have been with us over time will tell you that we address issues as they happen and have corrected them from year to year.
 
Keep in mind, it has been our method of operation in the past that if you have a photo op with Jim Cornette on Friday at Noon and Jim Cornette isn't on the Autograph Stage until Saturday afternoon, your photo op 8x10s will be printed after say those of Harley Race, who is doing photo ops on Friday at Noon and on the Autograph Stage Friday afternoon. I know that may sound confusing, but there IS a method to the madness.
 
For those of you that may have missed getting photo ops of our featured legends signed this past year, the new service where WE get the photo op 8x10s signed for you should completely eliminate any risk of that happening again.
 
All I ask is that you have a little faith and trust that, if issues do arise, that I'll be there to remedy it. If you won't allow me that - let me deal with the headache, and YOU enjoy yourself while you're here --  then we're probably not going to be able to make you happy.

Quote from British Bulldog on Jan 4^th, 2011, 12:38pm:

 
 
Indeed, this is where there has to be some sort of compromise. On everyone's part.
 
The Autograph Stage was intended for autographs. Sure, no one's gonna hassle you for passing conversation with a guest, but it is not the place to hold a long, drawn-out conversation. There are other areas of fanfest where you have the opportunity to mix and mingle with these guys. There just has to be an effort at the Autograph Stage to get your stuff signed and move on.
 
Again, I'm not trying to be rude. Nor am I trying to change the rules. We try to provide many different opportunities for you to interact with the legends. We just have to make sure everyone gets that opportunity, even the folks behind you.
 
VIP #400 is just as important to me as VIP #1. I owe them both the same, regardless of when they buy their ticket.
 
My idea is that many of you, 400-500, can get the same opportunity at a very reasonable price. I've tried for years to offer a value like no one else. There are some that want to limit the number of VIPs. And we can do that, but the price would go up for everyone. We have to pay the bills, folks. Bottom line. I want as many folks to enjoy the weekend as possible, at an affordable price. No one wants prices to go up. I'd much rather keep things the way they are and ask each of you to bear with us, help us keep things moving along, for the good and benefit of everyone.

As one of the fans who likes to have his Photo Ops signed, I like this idea. It will most definitely help the lines run a bit faster, since everyone would be limited to exactly two items.