HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF GOING TO A CONVENTION?

In September my wife and I went on our first real on our own vacation in the 33 years we've been married. So where did we go? To a horror fan convention of course. Now, you might think that this was something I pushed for but in fact this was her choice. Why? Because Grant Wilson, one of the founding members of T.A.P.S. and one of the original members of the TV series GHOST HUNTERS was going to be there. He'd always been her favorite on the show which she continues to watch even though he left.

So what was it like? Well first off it was BIG. Too big for me I think. I've gotten too old and too rickety to enjoy shows like this one. It was also geared far more towards paranormal things than horror films too (unless you're a big TRUE BLOOD fan) which for me made it not as thrilling. It was still fun but as far as conventions go, not my thing. The best part of the trip wasn't who we met but actually being able to spend the time on the road there with my wife and having some fun together somewhere other than here at home.

If you've never been to a horror convention then you need to go. Forget the fact that you're not the biggest horror movie lover of all time, its fun just to go and see the actors as well as those in attendance. But there are good conventions and bad ones. So let me tell you about this one first, one that was probably good for some but not my cup of tea.

We went all out, staying at the Hyatt that connected to the convention center there in Lexington, KY. This made things easy as we never had to leave the complex for anything. Walking from the hotel to the convention area we went through a three story galleria that had a number of pricey shops and then on the lower level a number of fast food places like Subway, Arbys, etc. Moving on from there you went to the main entrance area of the convention center, stood in line for your tickets, then shuffled over to another area where we got our goody bag (we went gold ticket status which got us each a T-Shirt, program, lanyard, mini-poster and admittance to the main hall an hour ahead of anyone else). Travel a short distance down a hallway and there was the main hall.

Now this one was different from the other conventions I attended due to the interests of the vendors there. It became apparent that it was geared towards the paranormal when you saw vendors for things like haunted hotels, ghost hunting vacations, crystals, jewelry, tattoos, helping your aura with a foot massage and more. I think I saw one or two poster dealers and only one DVD dealer, a mainstay of horror conventions. To get to the celebrities in attendance you had to go to the back end of the main hall. I would say that the hall here was at least 100 yards deep if not larger.

The celebs in attendance were nice but the lines were huge. That's one thing that happens at the bigger shows. More mainstream stars equals more fad in passing fans, people that jump on the bandwagon because whatever movies or shows these people are connected to are the hot item right now. Like I said there were maybe 5 cast members from TRUE BLOOD there. If I was a fan I'd have been tickled. Other stars included Nancy Loomis Kyes (the original HALLOWEEN), Charles Cyphers (same movie as well as other John Carpenter films), Danielle Harris, Ken Foree (DAWN OF THE DEAD), Bruce Davison (the original WILLARD, X-MEN, etc.), Malcolm McDowell, Sean Cunningham, Kane Hodder and more.

The celebs on the ghost hunting paranormal side were what we came for though. Among those we met Paul Bradford (GHOST HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL), Josh Gates (DESTINATION TRUTH), John Zaffis (HAUNTED COLLECTOR), Aaron Goodwin (GHOST ADVENTURES), and from GHOST HUNTERS there were Adam Berry, Steve Gonsalves, Dave Tango and of course Grant Wilson. I heard and read that Zak Bagans was there but each time I walked by his booth he was no where to be found (though my wife did see him there one time). Word is that he has a prima donna attitude and from what I saw and heard from others at the show its a reputation he deserves.

All of the GHOST HUNTER team was tremendous to meet. They were exceptionally friendly, made as much time as possible to talk to people in line and get pics taken and treated fans like each one was the first person they'd talked to that day. I'm sure it was hell standing there all day like that but they were quite personable. Later on we saw their question and answer panel and not only were they informative they were hilarious as well. When we left we were bigger fans than ever.

On a side note when we headed home from this trip we stopped (since we were in Kentucky) to visit with my wife Cathy's cousins, Connie and Joni, that she hadn't seen in like 10 years. It was a nice time and we spent over 2 hours just enjoying the sun sitting on a patio area of the restaurant we met at. The only bad thing about the trip was getting home to find the air conditioner in the car broke down while we were heading home. Bummer.

So that's one convention. Big, little personal contact, good celebs and bad, not so interesting vendors and no sense of community. This is not to say it was bad but it wasn't my thing.

There is a better convention I've been to that I spent some time explaining to my father about the other day. My son goes to this convention twice a year, in the spring and fall, and I don't think has missed one in 9 years. This is Cinema Wasteland and it is nothing like Scarefest. I mean that in a good way.

Wasteland is a celebration of movies. Not big overblown budget type films but exploitation, drive in, B-movie, horror and science fiction films. Some of these movies qualify for so bad they're good reputations. Some are just bad. All are just plain old fun. And that's what going to this convention is all about.

To begin with this convention has chosen to remain the same year after year, bypassing the mega-complex locations that most of the new kids on the block have chosen and instead staying in the smaller more personal Holiday Inn there in Strongsville, OH. Here you enter the hotel lobby to find the main hall to your near immediate right. The hall itself is more like a meeting place than convention hall. In trying to describe it I would say that it wasn't even as big as half a football field and maybe more like the size of a basketball court, in the lines.

Vendors here run into the weird and normal both but are almost always geared towards movie fans. Booths are set up to sell T-shirts (go Joel Robinson!), books, posters, DVDs (bootleg and standard), comics, deady bears and more. There are people who have shot their own films and market them via their own company. There are movie companies that have specialty categories in horror like Synapse and Troma. And then there are the celebrities.

The celebs at Wasteland are just as different as those attending the various conventions. Many of those in attendance here are on their way up, forgotten stars of the past that deserve more respect or new stars getting their foot in the door. While Wasteland doesn't always have a theme show more often then not they do. This last time around they had the cast of the original THE HILLS HAVE EYES there. The first time I went they had almost the entire cast of the original THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. The celebs here don't act all high and mighty either. They realize that the fans at this show are there because they love the movies, they love the movies these people made and they just want to thank them for giving them fond memories all these years. Not only do the celebs at this convention seem more like family, they act it as well joining the fans to sit out on the front stoop to smoke a cigarette or just walking into the bar where everyone is sitting and having fun. There is no tight knit security teams here and there's no need. These fans treat the stars with respect and adulation without being creepy.

There's a different attitude towards how the celebs here treat the fans when it comes to autographs as well. While the big shows will demand anywhere from $30-40 per autograph Wasteland rarely goes over the $20 mark and is usually less. Like I said, these celebs are here because they know the fans love and respect them as opposed to fans that will pay $30 for an autograph only to go home and pop in onto ebay for $50.

During this show there are the usual Q & A panels but they're different from the big ones because rather than just have an hour long panel, they start with that and then often screen the big movie that the show's theme is all about while the stars comment on what's going on. It's sort of like a live commentary track. There are two rooms showing films, one 16mm prints and one on DVD. Wasteland also celebrates independent film makers by offering a special event on Friday night where they screen short films that have been made and sent to host Ken Kisch (please Ken, don't hate me if I spelled the name wrong).

Wasteland also has been the first convention to celebrate the horror host by bringing them in from around the country. I know one of the big conventions has done this as well but they're copping that idea from this one. The Saturday night late show is always hosted by A.Ghastlee Ghoul, Dayton's long time horror host, and can be anything from a talent show featuring different acts like belly dancers to a banjo player strumming punk rock music or it could be a rock and roll preacher revival meeting. You never know for sure what to expect.

So what makes this convention so much different than the other (and in my view a better convention)? I've hinted at it throughout this piece: it's more like family. In actuality this convention IS about family. Your extended family. The folks coming to this show have been doing so for years and during that time have developed long standing friendships that continue via email and social media. But its the actual events held twice a year that these folks look forward to. For those people its not just a convention that starts at 9 when the doors open, its a three day party where sleep is an option that many bypass or limit to just a few hours. Its a family get together where you find your favorite aunt, your always seeming to pass out inebriated uncle, your bad brother, your little sister you have to protect, and on occasion even a mom and dad might be there (yours truly was one of those when I went). These folks are having a blast, celebrating life and family and friends just as much as they're celebrating the movies and starts they've come to meet.

The smaller atmosphere makes this convention a much more personal experience. You're not overwhelmed by the sheer size of it or the grandiose treatment that stars get. Here you'll see Bill Mosley, an actor whose portrayed some seriously messed up murdering bastards, smiling and signing autographs while eating pecan sandies. You'll see Ken Foree thrilled to meet you because you're a fellow Hoosier (he's from Indianapolis). You'll get to know the vendors and they'll make some great deals (many of which get better by day three). You'll pick things up that you'll treasure instead of just picking something up to sell to someone at a profit.

Like I said, this show is about family plain and simple. Sure the more straight folks among you will see some unusual sights, tons of tatts, plenty of piercings day glo hair dyes, lots of leather and some of the most amusingly intoxicated individuals still able to walk. But isn't that what life is all about? Isn't the fun of going places to see things you don't normally see and to experience things you don't normally do? This convention is one where you can leave your comfort zone without fear of anything bad happening to you because while these folks may not look like the guy who works in the cubicle next to you come Monday, each of them would jump at the chance to help someone in trouble attending the show. I would hate to be a thief at one of these shows knowing that if I were called out on it there would be several thousand people ready to pounce on me to change my evil ways.

Like I said at the start, I think everyone should attend at least one of these conventions. And while I may not want to ruin Cinema Wasteland by having too many people begin to show, this is the one I highly recommend. Not only is it the most fun, its less expensive in everything from ticket costs to autograph costs to room costs.

I'll finish with two things, a list of who's coming to the next show and a link to their web site. Thank goodness for copy and paste because here's who will be at their next show so far April 4-6, 2013:

"JOHN AMPLAS - The star of George Romero’s Martin and Day of the Dead also appeared in Knightriders, Dawn of the Dead, and Creepshow. You can also find John in Bloodeaters (aka Toxic Zombies), John Russo’s Midnight, and more.

TOM ATKINS - With so many cool films under his belt, where do you even start when it comes to Tom Atkins? The Fog, Escape From New York, Halloween 3: Season of the Witch, Night of the Creeps, Maniac Cop, Lethal Weapon, The Ninth Configuration, Two Evil Eyes… The list goes on and on.

LARRY COHEN - Writer and Director Larry Cohen is responsible for some great drive-in memories for us here at CW. With movies like Black Caesar, Hell Up in Harlem, It’s Alive 1, 2, and 3, God Told Me To, The Stuff, Q: The Winged Serpent, Special Effects, Maniac Cop 1, 2, and 3, Full Moon High, and The Ambulance under his belt, Larry Cohen has bounced around every genre and type of movie he could make during his career.

GERRIT GRAHAM - With films like Phantom of the Paradise, Cannonball, Demon Seed, Used Cars, Tunnel Vision, Chopping Mall, C.H.U.D. 2: Bub the Chud, It’s Alive 3: Island of the Alive, Bobbi Jo and the Outlaw, and Child’s Play 2 under his belt, character actor Gerrit Graham has always been a fan favorite.

LAURENE LANDON - Long and leggy Laurene Landon was a favorite turn to actress for Larry Cohen, and made her mark in films like Maniac Cop, It’s Alive 3: Island of the Alive, The Ambulance, Armed Response, Full Moon High, The Stuff, Airplane 2, and Wicked Stepmother to name but a few.

SERENA - What would a CW Show be without a classic adult film star? To us here, incomplete is the word that comes to mind. The gorgeous redhead worked in the adult film industry in the 1970s and 80s, where she made her mark in films like Dracula Sucks, Ultra Flesh, and The Seduction of Cindy (with this past shows guest Seka), Insatiable (with one of our favorite CW guests, Marilyn Chambers), Bound and Aunt Peg (with past CW guest Jamie Gillis), along with Ecstasy Girls, Deep Rub, New York Babes, and a whole lot more.

KEVIN TENNEY - Writer and Director Kevin Tenney made a few movies all CW attendees will know, including Witchboard, Night of the Demons, Witchtrap, The Cellar, Pinocchio’s Revenge, and Endangered Species. He’s also a fan of what CW is all about, so if he acts more like a fan than a guest all weekend you’ll know why.

DANIEL BOYD hung out at the Troma tables all weekend and had himself a great time introducing his film, Chillers, on Friday night. He had so much fun over the weekend that he’ll be back chillin’ with Troma again next April when we’ll screen his movie, Invasion of the Space Preachers, on Friday or Saturday.

And of course our old friend and fellow CW family member, Tom Sullivan, will be back to help us celebrate our 25th show with new artwork and merchandise."

Here's the link: http://cinemawasteland.com/show.html

Who knows, maybe I'll show up at this next one. I know folks I met at the last one I attended nearly 7 years ago continue to ask my son where I am. That won't happen at the one Scarefest I attended.