Elizabeth: Hello, good day. Welcome to conversations. I can't hear, no, I can't hear the music. I could not hear the music.
Kent: You're talking right through the music. You're like, you just don't even want to wait, Elizabeth. You're just like, let's get to this. Like our friends are like, my God, you couldn't hear the music. OK. Well, then there was some music. You were talking right through it. That's OK. Yes. Yeah. Well, it's a British thing, you know.
Elizabeth: Could you hear me or was I just yakking with my lips flapping?
Kent: Ha ha ha.
Elizabeth: Anywho, welcome to Conversations with Coffee where we talk about cons, our experiences, tips, just stuff about cons because we love cons. We work for cons. We attend cons. Just, yes, conversations with coffee. So welcome. I am British Liz. He or he is Kent.
Kent: I'm Kent, the American coffee drinker. That's what we do. She drinks tea, I drink coffee. We have conversations about what we do and it's working Comic-Cons, attending conventions and all around behind the scenes stuff. So yeah, welcome. I'm super excited.
Elizabeth: Yes. yes I do. And yeah.
Kent: Be talking with you, Liz. You had a very busy weekend. I actually did not have a comic on this weekend, so I actually had it off. So I cut my grass.
Elizabeth: Well, I was in... Yeah. Oh, I pay a guy. I was in Missouri, in Cape Girardeau, which is a couple of hours south of St. Louis, at a great, great little con. I was helping out one of the actors from Death Note, the English dub of the Japanese anime, Brian Drummond. He plays this...
Kent: there you go. There you go. yeah. I've done that one. Yeah. It's an anime.
Elizabeth: scary, scary looking dude and called Ryuk and I'm thinking, yeah, maybe I'll watch that show. I don't know. But we had a great weekend. It was really fun. it's funny, it's a small con. It didn't feel super, super busy, but we did great and just had a wonderful time. The crew is fantastic. And I learned and I'm looking forward to this since we're going to get to that subject next. In November, they have their main Comic Con, Cape Con, and they have, I don't know, six different actors from the Clone Wars, including Ashley, Exteen, and Matt Lanter, James Arnold Taylor.
Kent: Okay. Okay.
Elizabeth: man, I forgot the others, but there's a bunch of them. But as a bonus,
Kent: huh. So if you like Clone Wars, that would be the event to attend is go to Cape Girardeau in the fall. You can Google Cape Girardeau.
Elizabeth: Absolutely. Yeah, it's November. Yeah, it's called CapeCon by Cape Events, November 6th to 8th.
Kent: Yep, when is it? November? Yeah, it's usually I always remember it bumps into with Rhode Island Comic Con. You got the mega one in Rhode Island and then you had Cape events and stuff like that. But yeah, a lot of the Clone Wars people. That'll be awesome.
Elizabeth: yes, close or yeah. Yeah. So, but as an added, yeah. So wonderful, wonderful collection of people coming, but they have a special guest. Yeah. From the, all the way from the St. Louis Cardinals, well, a while ago, David Eckstein, who is Ashley's husband, who is at these events, he's usually behind her table.
Kent: No way. A while ago? Okay, that's Ashley's husband. Yeah.
Elizabeth: helping and yeah really does it that's funny
Kent: watching major league baseball games every time i've seen him he's got his he sits there with his cell phone and he's like watching like he probably he he switches games too because he'll be watching one and then i watched him swipe and then he's got another game on another channel and he just sits there behind ashley watching baseball and sometimes the fans will notice it's david x dean behind ashley because you know they're at a comic con so they're looking for the comic person and then all of a sudden they see him sitting there like my gosh like because they're also a sports fan so
Elizabeth: gosh, that's hilarious! Yeah, so I think it's hilarious that he's going to have his own table and be doing his own autographs. I think that's hysterical. And of course, the St. Louis area, he's going to have a million built-in fans right there.
Kent: Interview. Yeah. Yeah, big. Yeah, yeah. Well, if you don't know who David Eckstein is, he's a 2006 World Series MVP and two time champion. Obviously, he's retired from the Major League Baseball. I think he retired in 2010, but played for the Padres. I came from California. So, you know, we used to watch him play and stuff that went to St. Louis. you know got you know his championships and stuff like that but just all around nice guy you know Ashley needs him he jumps and goes and gets it you probably will see him on any of her instagram videos or any of the videos she does her camera guy is her husband I was I actually asked her that I was like, you don't film all these things by yourself because you'd be like doing a selfie mode all the time. She goes, I use David. He's my cameraman.
Elizabeth: as It's so funny. And I did hear, I heard last year sometime, that, you know, turnabouts fair play when he is making an appearance, she's the one out there taking pictures. And I think it's absolutely lovely. Absolutely wonderful.
Kent: Yeah. It's a good balance for them. They've been venerated a long time and Yeah, it's a good balance because when there's sporting events, he's the limelight and he's out there and everybody's to see them. And then some of them are comic fans. And then they see Ashley. my gosh, you're here too late. But, you know, most of the time that the sporting events, it's David and they're there to get that. And she's doing all the video and stuff. So it's a good deal. I mean, it's a good balance for them. And it works. And they've been doing it for a long time.
Elizabeth: And I don't know if everyone out there knows what the Clone Wars is. It was one of the... Well, they might not. I don't know. It was one of the first Star Wars spin-offs, an animated series set between the part two and part three, right? So it's basically the adventures of young Anakin, young Obi-Wan Kenobi and...
Kent: You don't know the Clone Wars? okay. whoa. Yeah, get it right, Liz. Uh-huh, yeah.
Elizabeth: young Ahsoka and Ashley plays Ahsoka and they're running around and they have all these interactions with clones all played by Dee Bradley Baker.
Kent: yes, Steve Bradley Baker. my gosh.
Elizabeth: So, so the funny thing is you will know Dee from a million different shows, but Perry the Platypus and upper from Last Airbender, my favorites. But I learned just this weekend is that there is a, not so, a list, like a top 10 list of how many roles an actor has performed and
Kent: Well.
Elizabeth: D is at the very top of the list with a thousand and something characters. Yeah, but half of them are bloody clones, aren't they? It's the same character. They just got, you know, clone one, clone rex, clone this, clone that. But that's hilarious. Anyway.
Kent: Seriously. Yeah, he does a lot of voices. I mean, he literally has a binder and you just kind of flip through to see which print you want signed because he's done so. I love him in Clone Wars, but I also watch Perry, you know, Perry the platypus and all that stuff. Yeah, that was just a great show.
Elizabeth: yeah. Yeah, Phineas and Ferb. Yes. Love that show.
Kent: Phineas and Ferb, I great. man, I wish they well, they had done a couple of movies as well. So yeah, they did. Yeah.
Elizabeth: yes they did, they're made for TV ones. Yeah, actually you see the guys that play Phineas and Ferb at cons fairly often. Yeah.
Kent: at some of the shows and Olivia. Yeah. Doofenshmirtz and daughter. Yes. That's Vanessa.
Elizabeth: that's Vanessa. That's Vanessa. yeah, Olivia. That's her real name. I don't remember her last name, but yes. Yeah, that's funny.
Kent: Yes. they that's all good i mean people listening to us are gonna be like who and then they'll google it and they'll be like okay gotcha again we are on the cuff we don't just pre-rehearse stuff or have stuff ready we just We're just talking about our week because we constantly do this. so Liz and I like to talk about it and share about our experience that week or what's coming up. And then, you know, just, well, we also should talk about. you know, little different things that happen at the Comic-Con or things that you as a listener can use, you know, because you only go to one or two or three a year where we're doing 20 plus a year, you know, so that's why we are doing this is just to help all those newbies out there kind of know how to get work their way around a Comic-Con.
Elizabeth: Yeah, so.
Kent: You know, there's so many bells and whistles. mean, if your very first show was like San Diego Comic-Con, you would be overstimulated by how much stuff is going on. But then if you do like a Cape Dorado, it's a great one to start off, especially if you have kids or a family, because it's a small to medium sized one and you're not overwhelmed and you can actually get around.
Elizabeth: yes. And it's not shoulder to shoulder pushing by people, which for a kid, for a family, that's would be scary. Easily lose a kid in some of those more crowded shows.
Kent: Yes, we can.
Elizabeth: Have you ever lost a kid?
Kent: No, I have not.
Elizabeth: Nor have I.
Kent: So, were talking right before we started this and there was a couple of things that you wanted to bring up for the listeners. And one of them was just being at the con, having con etiquette. a lot of times people get upset or pushy or things like that and they've got to understand their this show is run by volunteers and these volunteers are there you know a day or two days three days and stuff like that they might be getting paid they might not they do it once a year for this show so you know go ahead listen let me am i am i right like
Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. I, I personally prefer to use the term crew because they are sometimes paid. mean, minimum wage, like peanuts, but maybe enough to cover your food or something. But, they are appearing out of love for cons. I, that's what I did. I was like, you can volunteer. This is such a fun place to be.
Kent: Mm-hmm.
Elizabeth: So I volunteered and I started running lines and you know, whatever you end up doing. but you know, you might get 10 minutes, 30 minutes of training and then you're released on the public. You may never been, have been in the building before. And you know, I'm horrible at getting lost in buildings. where's the ATM? Where are the bathrooms? So I don't know. never been there before.
Kent: Where's the ATM? Yeah.
Elizabeth: you can't say that you have to find out and yeah and yeah just keep going until you hit a wall and then yeah yeah so so I would just urge you to be gentle with crew members ask questions because they do know quite a lot they just might not know the minutiae of what you're after
Kent: That way. It's either that way or this way. Turn left or right.
Elizabeth: so I mean, I say always check with a volunteer that you're in the right place. Am I lining up in the correct line? Because sometimes that's not always the line it appears to be. Just, you know, be, be polite. These guys have been on their feet all day. Sometimes they get breaks. The cons are quite good about. Yeah, very funny.
Kent: Just enough time to change her socks. That's from our previous podcast we just did.
Elizabeth: I, I always found that, I never did take a break. There just was too much to do. So, you know, you're just basically standing all day and you may or may not get lunch and you, you're working very hard. And if somebody comes up to you and choose you out, it's, it's hard. It's hard to, to take that. So I would, I would say, you know, be polite. And in fact, and I have to say, I have to say that most people are so polite, so patient, so sweet. They, they're just wonderful and so grateful for any help you can give them. And that's great. And I love that. And in fact, I would even say, if you could find it in your heart, maybe give them a little something, give them a little bag of candy.
Kent: Whoa. Wow, this is coming from a nurturing mother over here. Like, you know, you need to tell you need to pamper them. Why don't you just give them a shoulder massage while you're standing there?
Elizabeth: You know, just I've Yeah. No, no, you know what, somebody, some, well that might get creepy. Actually, no, it depends what they look like. Okay. No, I mean, I was doing lines once and somebody gave me, I was in Texas, somebody gave me just a little cheesy Texas necklace. You know, she'd probably ordered a hundred of them and she just was handing them out.
Kent: there you go. sure
Elizabeth: It meant the world to me. It was so sweet and so generous.
Kent: okay just come by my table you'll just get some little blast glass ducks or something like that or
Elizabeth: And even that people do that they hand out stickers, you know, and just to give something to a crew member. I yeah.
Kent: Yeah. You know, the big thing is right now, I was just at a comic con and they kind of stole it from Dragon Con was the ribbons. It was Lexington Lexington Comic Con. They had ribbons at the tables for the crew to give away while people were standing in line for autographs.
Elizabeth: Ribbons. I-
Kent: and so they had different ones for the different celebrities and they had what didn't have the celebrity it just had something to do with the celebrity so like i was with tommy chung and he's like
Elizabeth: with the celebrity name. Do they have a joint?
Kent: No, they didn't have a joint but you know, one of his things is where's David, you know, so it had some reference about David in there and stuff like that. you know, just, you know, like, think Christopher Lloyd was like, you know, little car, the car from Back to the Future. There was just little funny puns, but they had borrowed that idea from Dragon Con, because if you go to Dragon Con, people are handing out ribbons all over the time. And it doesn't cost that much. mean, it's maybe 20 bucks to make two or 300 of them. But if you think ahead of time.
Elizabeth: I made some. I made some. I have some.
Kent: you made some, all right. Yeah, yeah. I was actually I attempt to make some for the talent that I'm with, especially at DragonCon, because like I was with Mike Colter, who's Luke Cage. And so, you know, I was trying to get them done, but it was last minute. Didn't happen. But this year I'll be prepared. So. anyways, you know, if you create that and you know, you're walking around and you hand that to somebody, people love getting the ribbons because they stick it onto their badge. And then it's a conversation piece. They're like, where'd you get that? Or, what does that mean? Or, you know, the little things like that. So, you know, at you as a listener can make up ribbons that go onto the bottom of the badge. I wish I had a badge with one on it, but yeah, I'm like, I'm looking around. They're all downstairs. But you know, you can... There you go. Yeah, yeah, your background's kind of changed this weekend. But, yeah. But, you know, I mean, most people are very nice and courteous and stuff like that, but getting upset doesn't help the crew. It just, you know, makes it harder to figure out how to help you. And I know there are situations like you've got four screaming kids, you're trying to get to the panel and, you know, things like that.
Elizabeth: Yeah. And mine are all in my office because my computer stopped working. So yes, this is the grownup room.
Kent: they all want to help you out they want to make sure that you have a good time and again flies attract are more attracted to honey than vinegar so be the honey
Elizabeth: That's clever. Yeah, but not in that context. All righty.
Kent: You never heard that? Okay, well, there you go. Now you heard it in my context. Yeah, well, you know, things are always sweeter with honey than vinegar. So be the honey.
Elizabeth: And just, just be aware, not, not just that they may not know things, but they may also have old information. Somebody may have said, well, you need to head over there at 10 o'clock, but it's been changed to 12 and they don't know. So be, patient, forgiving, get second opinions, find out who the, who the leads are. Sometimes leads.
Kent: that's true.
Elizabeth: wear different colored shirts. So anyway, so just be gentle with your crew members because they're trying and they're doing it because they are basically you who then went a step further to actually join up and make the con work.
Kent: Yeah, yeah.
Elizabeth: So then another point of etiquette is photographs. Most places will have signs in the celebrity area saying no photographs. And the reason for that is because the celebrities charge a fee to get photographs taken with you or for you to get your photograph taken.
Kent: You know, that brings up a subject just on photos alone. When you're at the table, just because a celebrity's there doesn't mean you can pull out your phone and take a photo. Or when you're there, just because you bought an autograph doesn't mean you can be taking a picture of them signing it. just a heads up and a warning, it's always best practice to ask the assistant or the person next to the talent, is it okay to take a photo of them signing this? Because some of them are okay with it and some of them don't want that. So it's better to ask the person that's doing the transactions, making sure you get the autograph and stuff, ask them, is it okay to take a photo? We... encourage that. I love it when people ask me, Hey, can I do that versus just all of a sudden, they've paid me for the autograph and I've gotten their name on it and everything. And I give it to the celebrity and they already got their phone out and they're trying to take a video or a picture and I'm like, what are you They it's just like cosplay consent. You don't just assume touch do
Elizabeth: Yes.
Kent: things like that. Everything is consent. So if you want to have the right etiquette, like we were just talking about, it's best to ask the handler, the agent, whoever's with the talent, is it okay if I do X, Y, And we'll say yes or no, or yeah, I'll let it go this time. But that will go a lot further than you just doing it. And then we yell at you.
Elizabeth: Definitely.
Kent: you and especially you know i i understand this is the first time you've met a celebrity or seen one and stuff like that and you're across the hall trying to take a zoomed up picture is one is not going to turn out very good and then two now you're being the paparazzi and and the celebrities get so much from the paparazzi already don't be the paparazzi especially if you see signs around the con that says no photos, just abide by that. Like you're, you know what? You're never gonna look at that photo anyhow. I mean, you're gonna take it that one time and then two years later in your Google is gonna say, hey, two years ago you took this photo. You'd be like, yeah, it didn't look so good. Like.
Elizabeth: Yeah, and then you've got people holding. Well, and then you have people that are holding their phone like this. I'm FaceTiming my mother. I'm FaceTiming my mother.
Kent: I hate that. Yeah, let me see your mother. Yeah, like why are you FaceTime and your mother at a comic con? Well, she couldn't make it. Well, you know what, then you enjoy the moment and then you can share it with your mother. You know, I always like the ones that hold their phone up like this. You're like, are you video recording? No. Then put your phone in your pocket. No.
Elizabeth: Yeah, so...
Kent: then let me see your phone now. Then you're recording late, late again, video recording, it's all consent, you know, you wouldn't like it if somebody did it to you without your knowledge. So just just ask. That's the best thing. Be polite. Etiquette.
Elizabeth: Yeah. And then sometimes, sometimes I have had actors say, yeah, it's okay if you take a picture of me signing, not a video, and you shouldn't be in it. But if you want to take one of me signing, so it just depends on the actor, what their preferences.
Kent: Yes. Yep. and I get it. Some people and some people want a picture of them signing it because that's the authentication of it's a validity that yes, they did sign this. It's real. They got the autograph. So I'm I understand that. But again, then they try to lean in and hey, I didn't know that's not a selfie.
Elizabeth: Yeah, or a parent sneaking a video and it's like, of their child being...
Kent: I we're sounding like we're mean, but you know, guys, this is just the the stuff like if you were in our shoes or you were the talent, you wouldn't want people doing this to you. So, you know, again.
Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. Cause it's, I mean, it's a little bit disrespectful, but also, but also when they're, when they're there, like we've discussed before, I mean, they're there to meet fans, but also it is income for them and you sneak a picture of them. That's 60 or $80 that they don't have because you essentially cheated them out of it. Now this is not being, I'm not meaning to be negative, but just
Kent: Kinda creepy.
Elizabeth: as a way so that folks out there can understand where people are coming from. The reason why there are signs up is to respect the actor and so that the actor can make the living that they are there to support themselves.
Kent: Yeah, I mean, again, we've all seen it. We I stand there and I can catch somebody, you know, halfway across the room trying to take a picture. Like we've been doing this long enough. We know what to look for. We see the signs and stuff. And again, if you were at a table and you were eating some food, you wouldn't want people taking a picture of you eating the food. So. Come on, guys, common knowledge.
Elizabeth: Well, I was speaking to a handler friend of mine. I was no, I wasn't. I was texting. I was texting. That's true. And they said, could I pass on one piece of a request? She said that when the actor is not at their table, they are heading
Kent: you were not you you have a handler friend what is a handler friend okay you're texting okay yeah yeah what they say
Elizabeth: to something, they're essentially off duty. And she thought maybe not being stopped while they were on their way somewhere, not being photographed while they were on their way somewhere might be less stressful for that actor. You know what I mean? That being, you know, you're hurrying somewhere.
Kent: Sure. Yeah, so when they leave the table, they're, they're going somewhere, they need to use the restroom, they need to go to the green room, they got photo shoots, they got a panel, they've got to get somewhere. And A lot of times people are like, my gosh, it's so and so, you know, and Sam Jones or, know, Jeff Ward or whoever it is, like, and then they try, can I get a pit? Guys, they're walking somewhere, let them walk where they got to go. You just saw them. You might've bumped into them or whatever. Great. You just had an experience that most people don't get. Just let them go to where they need to be. don't stop them. not they won't do the photo right there on the floor because they're doing it at their table or they have a photo ops that you can buy. So they're there for business. This is their business when they're not doing shows or on the at the studio. This is how they make a living. So again, I've had people do that. And of course, then this is where me and Liz have to step in and say, sorry, we got to get so and so. And then you get pissed at us because we just dissed you. And it's not really us dishing you. It's just they need to be somewhere. And it's our job to stop people from doing that. So don't be that person.
Elizabeth: But is it perfectly okay to do that in a restaurant when they're eating dinner Kent?
Kent: not when they're eating dinner. I mean, like if you see them walking down the street and you catch up to them, that's a different thing. But if they're eating, let them enjoy their I mean, how many people want to be stopped while they're eating dinner from random strangers? I don't I want to eat my food and peace or talk with my friends.
Elizabeth: Well, I was just thinking back to a couple of years ago when you were at a con and you were invited to dinner with two celebrities, but you were kind of the bouncer.
Kent: Yep.
Elizabeth: Hahaha
Kent: yeah because people kept coming up and i'm like guys they are having a conversation they want to eat their food let them do this in peace after we're done dinner if you want to stick around outside you might be able to catch them but let them eat in peace like you know and i get it because sometimes we have dinners with them because we're working with them or we're around them we want to eat dinner in peace i don't want 20 million people coming up to the table It is what know. And again, we're just sharing this information, not to be mean, but to think before you act. It might be the first time you see a celebrity and I get it. It's cool. But then you also got to understand they need to eat. They need to get somewhere. They need to do this. They're not being mean.
Elizabeth: like Yeah Yeah.
Kent: you just like at the airports, they get bombarded by people at the airports all the time for autographs and things like that. They got to get their luggage, they got from the luggage, they want to get to their Uber or their car or whatever. They don't want to stop and just got off the plane and jet lag. They don't want to sign stuff like that. Like, that's not cool. They actually, I will tell you 100 % hate that.
Elizabeth: Mm-hmm. Interesting, because I know that I know lots of people do see them at the airport. I know like Danny Trejo is like, hey, yeah, selfie. Yeah, you're all of this. I've never experienced that nobody's ever said, come and do a selfie at the airport. But I think some of them are more cool with it than others. You know, none of them are cool with it.
Kent: Yes.
Elizabeth: Kent, what are you saying?
Kent: No, like most of celebrities I work with are like, if you get a signed pop or an autograph, you're lucky because they really don't want to do that. They want to just get to where they're going. Yeah, they hate they hate they hate the airport paparazzi. They eat it with a passion.
Elizabeth: Wow. People bring pops to the airport? So even if it's just little old Joe attendee, not-
Kent: no joe attendee doesn't know that they're on that plane somebody at the airport reported to one of their friends hey so-and-so's on this flight getting off at this time you should meet them at the exit and so that's where those paparazzi airport people are yes yeah and they hate that
Elizabeth: But, I mean, okay. So I didn't realize it was that, but, if it is somebody that happens to be not on the same flight necessarily, but yeah. Yeah.
Kent: well if you're at the if you're in the terminal if you're in the terminal and you happen to see them they'll do a selfie or they're they'll obliged to it but they still want to be left alone but if you're coming out of the terminal when you're exiting the plane they're waiting yes with cameras you see the paparazzi are there taking photos of them getting off the airplanes and
Elizabeth: Yeah. and people are waiting.
Kent: getting their luggage and stuff like that. And then they want 20 autographs and stuff like that. They hate that. That's why at Dragon Con when they the celebrities.
Elizabeth: my goodness, I... When I've been on... When I've been on a... When I've been on a flight, I look like a flippin' con.
Kent: Yeah, but nobody wants your autograph. But you know, that's why like at Dragon Con, when we have our celebrities, we go get them. We go get our celebrities and bring them back to the hotel because there will be people. I've only had to do that with two people. Yeah, two people.
Elizabeth: Do you put a coat over their head? You really have? Wow.
Kent: most of them try to you know cover up glasses hats disguise themselves and stuff like that you can still tell it's them but they hate that stuff and you know then there's me at the airport waiting with them and then i'm the one like no you're not getting an autograph sorry it's not gonna happen and and waiting in the lobby of a hotel don't do that either do not do that my gosh you want to piss off this person
Elizabeth: my goodness. yeah.
Kent: Especially if I'm with them. I will let them go to the elevator and then you got to deal with somebody like me up in your face. That's what I get paid for is to be the such the big meaning.
Elizabeth: Wow. You could use such- You're such a meanie. See, I have a hard time being mean.
Kent: sorry. I see it and. All right, well, any on a lighter note, you know, these cons, you know, go two, three days and stuff like that. And, you know, we are talking about Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, which is perfect, because what were you saying about Sundays? Yeah, you have a tip of the day.
Elizabeth: I mean if I mean it's to you but... my tip of the day is tip of the day is because things are winding down on Sunday, especially Sunday afternoon, a lot of the guests, the celebrity guests will have left by say two, three o'clock and vendors might well be looking to get rid of extra product and might give you specials. like buy one get one that kind of thing so I would recommend if you're going to be doing shopping like maybe not pops but for art and maybe comics toys that kind of thing I would wait until late Sunday afternoon and then do your serious shopping even the mystery boxes sometimes those goes go on sale
Kent: Mm. unless you need one that you know is gonna go and sell out like that, know, if they, if you know they're not going to then wait till Sunday. Cause a lot of times those vendors don't want to take that stuff home. It's just extra stuff to pack up.
Elizabeth: Yeah, that's fair. What? Yeah. And if you're just, yeah. And I was, I was going to say just, just if you're browsing, you know, me, I'm an earring nut. So if I'm just browse, yes. Spider-Man earrings right there. What? So, you know, if you're just browsing, you're not really serious. And then suddenly sometimes someone says, well, if you buy two, you get two free. Well,
Kent: Perfect.
Elizabeth: Okay then, I'll do that.
Kent: Gifts, nice.
Elizabeth: So that's just kind of another finance thing because you're going to drop so much money. There are free things to do at cons, but you're going to spend so much money. So just an economic tip for you.
Kent: That's because Liz just likes to spend money. She's a lady. She likes to shop.
Elizabeth: I hardly ever get on the vendor floor. I'm too busy. I'm too busy. I'm always at the table or going to buy my own autographs. So, you know, my person says, okay, I'm going to take lunch for half an hour. Right. And high tail it over to, you know, Liv Tyler or something. Not that I did that, but yes.
Kent: Why? YouTube is... That does happen. there you go. Speaking of which, speaking of Liv Tyler, there are some Comic Cons coming up. You got one, speaking of which Comic Cons. I know there's some Comic Cons this weekend. I'm going to one. I know you're going to one. You know, what's funny is I have the T-Mobile and they give. you know freebies on Tuesdays T-Mobile Tuesdays that's what they call it yeah they do T-Mobile Tuesdays and they always give away little freebies and stuff this week they were given five dollar tickets to go see Michael Jackson so you don't even know your carrier you don't know your carrier all right Liz yeah so
Elizabeth: Do they? I don't know if I'm on T-Boba. get out. I don't think I'm on T-Mobile. Did you get them? I don't. I don't. Yeah, yeah, that's a great chance for a tie in just lost right there.
Kent: That's right. He just lost a sponsorship by T-Mobile. Now, yeah, so yeah, I got the $5 ticket. Yeah, I can't. I'm to go see Michael Jackson next week. Yeah. But it comes out Thursday night this week. But, you know, I'll wait till next week because I'm traveling and stuff on Friday. So next week, I'll go watch Michael Jackson. I can't do that high pitch.
Elizabeth: So did you get the ticket? Did you get the tickets? because you're excited to see that. Yeah. So did you, you said you're off to El Paso this weekend?
Kent: No, South Texas, McAllen, Texas. Yeah, they have what is it? South Texas Comic Con. Yeah, so I'll be there with Cheech and Chong, Kevin Smith, Jay Muse. you know, some of the James Allen, Bob, and they've got all kinds of different people. mean, Lou Freig, who's going to be there like Hulk smash you think Shannon Elizabeth from American Pie is going to be there. She's also in one of Kevin's movies as well. So which one was it? All around. So clerks, she's been in so many movies like.
Elizabeth: Yeah.
Kent: I didn't know that she lives in South Africa. So when she's over here, she does a circuit of cons and then she flies back to South Africa. Yeah, yeah. So she she gets around while she's here because that's a that's a long flight. Yeah, and then Giancarlo Esposito is going to be there.
Elizabeth: kidding Wow. success. That's a crazy long flight.
Kent: I mean, I love talking with him. He dresses nice. He's just like, he's dapper. Yeah, but he's been in like Star Wars and Breaking Bad and like one of my favorite movies I once upon a time. One of my favorite movies is what is it? I just brain farted.
Elizabeth: He is a classy looking dude. Yeah. once upon a time. I know what you mean. Usual suspects.
Kent: usual suspect i was watching it the other day and all of a sudden he popped on because he's the detective and i was like my god is that jean carlo esposito and i was like my gosh look how young he is like he did that one a long yeah yeah i was like my god and then i told him i'm like my gosh he's i'm like you're everywhere he's like
Elizabeth: Ha ha! Yeah, with his little goatee and his little hat.
Kent: he's just a great actor I mean him and Jason Lee talk all the time because they did the resident which was a detect residents yeah the the detective one that was funny Jason Lee I told Jason he needs to walk out with his hair spiked up and then white bathrobe I'd be like yeah it was Thomas Edison's fault
Elizabeth: residents. I loved that. he was great. Yeah. gosh, that would be hilarious.
Kent: If you haven't watched that guys that are listening and ladies go watch the resident on Netflix. It's hilarious
Elizabeth: It was, it was, yeah, it's basically a murder mystery where, you, I mean, no spoilers because in the first five seconds, Giancarlo gets murdered, right?
Kent: Murder mystery, yep. don't that's a spoiler.
Elizabeth: No, five seconds in. Anyway, so it's a murder mystery. We have to find out. Set in the White House.
Kent: murder mystery you just told who got murdered my gosh now you ruin the mood now they don't want even watch it but it's on netflix no sponsorship there either
Elizabeth: It's not really a spoiler. Yeah, I know. No, no, it's terrific and great mystery, funny, great characters. And it was set in the White House. So you get all this, you find out about the White House, all these beautiful rooms and lovely.
Kent: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. Well, you got a local con too, aren't you?
Elizabeth: Yeah, I'm one, it's near St. Louis and very small con in its second year, very comic based. So they have a handful of celebrity guests, including Kimberly Brooks, who I'm gonna be with. She's done a ton of voice stuff. So that's my weekend. And then in May coming up, I've got two.
Kent: Mm-hmm. Okay. Nice. Okay. I didn't ask about me. I didn't, I didn't ask about me. I'm just asking about now. You see, you're trying to jump ahead and then now our listeners are going to be like, tell me about Tidewater. No, that's another episode. Like you will have to come back and listen to us, you know, so follow subscribe to that typical stuff that everybody tells you to do as Liz rolls her eyes. If you're not watching the video, cause she's rolling her eyes at me.
Elizabeth: got tide water. Well I'm saying anyway. Anyway. And also do write to us on the socials. Yes.
Kent: write to you? What do you want them to write? Like, I don't want your autograph or like get a job or be nicer at the Comic Cons to us attendees or there you go, don't be a meanie.
Elizabeth: Don't be such a meanie. Now I was going to say if you've got things you want us to cover questions, anything like that, you can write
Kent: Yeah, if you guys got questions or we made an error in the show, please point it out. Just do it. Point it out. Tell Liz what she's doing wrong. Like I do it all the time so you can do it too.
Elizabeth: such a rat bag. Anyway so
Kent: I am, I am, I am, but you know, I am a guy so there's always gonna be some issue with me or something wrong. So I just accept that already. And, know, if people want to point it out, that's okay. I accept it. I'm okay with that.
Elizabeth: But anyway, so cons with coffee at gmail.com and then the socials, what are those Kent? I can't never remember.
Kent: Yeah. well, you know, we got YouTube, Instagram, Facebook. Again, just look for conversations with coffee and you'll find us. We're here. Just make a comment. We'll reply. Give us some ideas of what you would like to hear or what you're curious about. Cause I know that when people come up to the table, they'll ask me questions like, Hey, this is my first time. What about this? And then I'm like, Hey, that's a great question. And now I'm starting to write those questions down because we're doing this podcast and I want other listeners to know, because you know, if I share it now, then other people know ahead of time. And then they have that con etiquette. They know to bring cash. They know to bring. little tote bag with all the things Liz in it. That was our previous episode. If you don't know about that you gotta listen to that one. one Liz has got a lot of stuff in her bag. We'll start calling her Liz the bag lady.
Elizabeth: Yeah, it's really heavy. No, we aren't. No, we're not going to do this.
Kent: Hey, that's all right. You already have a fake British accent by one of your celebrity friends. There you go. You have fake British tea drinker.
Elizabeth: Wait, you put a fake, you put a fake on my... I'm a real British tea drinker. Look at this. Royal Albert, darling.
Kent: No, no. Peter says you have a fake Liz or fake British Liz. Yeah, Peter who? Carbaldi. How do you say his last name? Peter. That's a no. That's a no. Beautiful.
Elizabeth: fake British Liz. But that's... Faccinelli, Peter Faccinelli from Twilight and a million other things. Yes, he's decided that I have a fake accent.
Kent: you're fake. You are fake. Fake Liz. mean fake British Liz. Well, Liz, we are at that time. I know it's been fun. And you could probably talk about no, you could talk about the White House for another 10 minutes, but I don't think our listeners want to hear that. So that's okay.
Elizabeth: Yeah We are. Yes, we've been wittering on about nothing very much for the last 45 minutes.
Kent: well guys i appreciate you being here listening to us putting up with liz please comment in any of our social media we'd love to hear from you guys you guys are why we do this show until next time really yeah till next time
Elizabeth: Yes, and do feel free to complain about Kent as well. With my blessing. definitely.
Kent: thank you. Yes, yes, yes. And if you see us at a show, come up, say hi, we'd love to know that you're one of our followers, subscribers and stuff like that. yeah, we could do podcast ribbons like, hey, I listened to the conversations with coffee podcast. hey. And then they come up to us, they can get that ribbon like, hey, I listened to your podcast. we'd be like, bam.
Elizabeth: Hey, maybe we'll get Rippins done. We should do Rippins. Yeah. Ooh. Okay, so we'll get rid of like one of them per con. That'd be great.
Kent: one per con yeah one of us will get one of them gone but yeah awesome well i'm super excited are you ex yes definitely always a pleasure liz i look forward to next week hearing about your small town con and i'll share about south texas y'all
Elizabeth: Yeah Alright, well it's been... It's been great seeing you Kent, as always. Is that gonna be hot?
Kent: Well, it might be hot. I'll be inside, so...
Elizabeth: That's fair.
Kent: I'll be inside in four walls around me so I won't know if it's hot outside or not.
Elizabeth: Well, I hope you have a great time and we'll see you next week.
Kent: Until then. Thank you. Yeah. All right, everybody have an amazing day. Enjoy your week and we will see you on our next episodes of conversations with coffee. Bye.
Elizabeth: with coffee or tea.
Kent: You're talking right through the music. You're like, you just don't even want to wait, Elizabeth. You're just like, let's get to this. Like our friends are like, my God, you couldn't hear the music. OK. Well, then there was some music. You were talking right through it. That's OK. Yes. Yeah. Well, it's a British thing, you know.
Elizabeth: Could you hear me or was I just yakking with my lips flapping?
Kent: Ha ha ha.
Elizabeth: Anywho, welcome to Conversations with Coffee where we talk about cons, our experiences, tips, just stuff about cons because we love cons. We work for cons. We attend cons. Just, yes, conversations with coffee. So welcome. I am British Liz. He or he is Kent.
Kent: I'm Kent, the American coffee drinker. That's what we do. She drinks tea, I drink coffee. We have conversations about what we do and it's working Comic-Cons, attending conventions and all around behind the scenes stuff. So yeah, welcome. I'm super excited.
Elizabeth: Yes. yes I do. And yeah.
Kent: Be talking with you, Liz. You had a very busy weekend. I actually did not have a comic on this weekend, so I actually had it off. So I cut my grass.
Elizabeth: Well, I was in... Yeah. Oh, I pay a guy. I was in Missouri, in Cape Girardeau, which is a couple of hours south of St. Louis, at a great, great little con. I was helping out one of the actors from Death Note, the English dub of the Japanese anime, Brian Drummond. He plays this...
Kent: there you go. There you go. yeah. I've done that one. Yeah. It's an anime.
Elizabeth: scary, scary looking dude and called Ryuk and I'm thinking, yeah, maybe I'll watch that show. I don't know. But we had a great weekend. It was really fun. it's funny, it's a small con. It didn't feel super, super busy, but we did great and just had a wonderful time. The crew is fantastic. And I learned and I'm looking forward to this since we're going to get to that subject next. In November, they have their main Comic Con, Cape Con, and they have, I don't know, six different actors from the Clone Wars, including Ashley, Exteen, and Matt Lanter, James Arnold Taylor.
Kent: Okay. Okay.
Elizabeth: man, I forgot the others, but there's a bunch of them. But as a bonus,
Kent: huh. So if you like Clone Wars, that would be the event to attend is go to Cape Girardeau in the fall. You can Google Cape Girardeau.
Elizabeth: Absolutely. Yeah, it's November. Yeah, it's called CapeCon by Cape Events, November 6th to 8th.
Kent: Yep, when is it? November? Yeah, it's usually I always remember it bumps into with Rhode Island Comic Con. You got the mega one in Rhode Island and then you had Cape events and stuff like that. But yeah, a lot of the Clone Wars people. That'll be awesome.
Elizabeth: yes, close or yeah. Yeah. So, but as an added, yeah. So wonderful, wonderful collection of people coming, but they have a special guest. Yeah. From the, all the way from the St. Louis Cardinals, well, a while ago, David Eckstein, who is Ashley's husband, who is at these events, he's usually behind her table.
Kent: No way. A while ago? Okay, that's Ashley's husband. Yeah.
Elizabeth: helping and yeah really does it that's funny
Kent: watching major league baseball games every time i've seen him he's got his he sits there with his cell phone and he's like watching like he probably he he switches games too because he'll be watching one and then i watched him swipe and then he's got another game on another channel and he just sits there behind ashley watching baseball and sometimes the fans will notice it's david x dean behind ashley because you know they're at a comic con so they're looking for the comic person and then all of a sudden they see him sitting there like my gosh like because they're also a sports fan so
Elizabeth: gosh, that's hilarious! Yeah, so I think it's hilarious that he's going to have his own table and be doing his own autographs. I think that's hysterical. And of course, the St. Louis area, he's going to have a million built-in fans right there.
Kent: Interview. Yeah. Yeah, big. Yeah, yeah. Well, if you don't know who David Eckstein is, he's a 2006 World Series MVP and two time champion. Obviously, he's retired from the Major League Baseball. I think he retired in 2010, but played for the Padres. I came from California. So, you know, we used to watch him play and stuff that went to St. Louis. you know got you know his championships and stuff like that but just all around nice guy you know Ashley needs him he jumps and goes and gets it you probably will see him on any of her instagram videos or any of the videos she does her camera guy is her husband I was I actually asked her that I was like, you don't film all these things by yourself because you'd be like doing a selfie mode all the time. She goes, I use David. He's my cameraman.
Elizabeth: as It's so funny. And I did hear, I heard last year sometime, that, you know, turnabouts fair play when he is making an appearance, she's the one out there taking pictures. And I think it's absolutely lovely. Absolutely wonderful.
Kent: Yeah. It's a good balance for them. They've been venerated a long time and Yeah, it's a good balance because when there's sporting events, he's the limelight and he's out there and everybody's to see them. And then some of them are comic fans. And then they see Ashley. my gosh, you're here too late. But, you know, most of the time that the sporting events, it's David and they're there to get that. And she's doing all the video and stuff. So it's a good deal. I mean, it's a good balance for them. And it works. And they've been doing it for a long time.
Elizabeth: And I don't know if everyone out there knows what the Clone Wars is. It was one of the... Well, they might not. I don't know. It was one of the first Star Wars spin-offs, an animated series set between the part two and part three, right? So it's basically the adventures of young Anakin, young Obi-Wan Kenobi and...
Kent: You don't know the Clone Wars? okay. whoa. Yeah, get it right, Liz. Uh-huh, yeah.
Elizabeth: young Ahsoka and Ashley plays Ahsoka and they're running around and they have all these interactions with clones all played by Dee Bradley Baker.
Kent: yes, Steve Bradley Baker. my gosh.
Elizabeth: So, so the funny thing is you will know Dee from a million different shows, but Perry the Platypus and upper from Last Airbender, my favorites. But I learned just this weekend is that there is a, not so, a list, like a top 10 list of how many roles an actor has performed and
Kent: Well.
Elizabeth: D is at the very top of the list with a thousand and something characters. Yeah, but half of them are bloody clones, aren't they? It's the same character. They just got, you know, clone one, clone rex, clone this, clone that. But that's hilarious. Anyway.
Kent: Seriously. Yeah, he does a lot of voices. I mean, he literally has a binder and you just kind of flip through to see which print you want signed because he's done so. I love him in Clone Wars, but I also watch Perry, you know, Perry the platypus and all that stuff. Yeah, that was just a great show.
Elizabeth: yeah. Yeah, Phineas and Ferb. Yes. Love that show.
Kent: Phineas and Ferb, I great. man, I wish they well, they had done a couple of movies as well. So yeah, they did. Yeah.
Elizabeth: yes they did, they're made for TV ones. Yeah, actually you see the guys that play Phineas and Ferb at cons fairly often. Yeah.
Kent: at some of the shows and Olivia. Yeah. Doofenshmirtz and daughter. Yes. That's Vanessa.
Elizabeth: that's Vanessa. That's Vanessa. yeah, Olivia. That's her real name. I don't remember her last name, but yes. Yeah, that's funny.
Kent: Yes. they that's all good i mean people listening to us are gonna be like who and then they'll google it and they'll be like okay gotcha again we are on the cuff we don't just pre-rehearse stuff or have stuff ready we just We're just talking about our week because we constantly do this. so Liz and I like to talk about it and share about our experience that week or what's coming up. And then, you know, just, well, we also should talk about. you know, little different things that happen at the Comic-Con or things that you as a listener can use, you know, because you only go to one or two or three a year where we're doing 20 plus a year, you know, so that's why we are doing this is just to help all those newbies out there kind of know how to get work their way around a Comic-Con.
Elizabeth: Yeah, so.
Kent: You know, there's so many bells and whistles. mean, if your very first show was like San Diego Comic-Con, you would be overstimulated by how much stuff is going on. But then if you do like a Cape Dorado, it's a great one to start off, especially if you have kids or a family, because it's a small to medium sized one and you're not overwhelmed and you can actually get around.
Elizabeth: yes. And it's not shoulder to shoulder pushing by people, which for a kid, for a family, that's would be scary. Easily lose a kid in some of those more crowded shows.
Kent: Yes, we can.
Elizabeth: Have you ever lost a kid?
Kent: No, I have not.
Elizabeth: Nor have I.
Kent: So, were talking right before we started this and there was a couple of things that you wanted to bring up for the listeners. And one of them was just being at the con, having con etiquette. a lot of times people get upset or pushy or things like that and they've got to understand their this show is run by volunteers and these volunteers are there you know a day or two days three days and stuff like that they might be getting paid they might not they do it once a year for this show so you know go ahead listen let me am i am i right like
Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. I, I personally prefer to use the term crew because they are sometimes paid. mean, minimum wage, like peanuts, but maybe enough to cover your food or something. But, they are appearing out of love for cons. I, that's what I did. I was like, you can volunteer. This is such a fun place to be.
Kent: Mm-hmm.
Elizabeth: So I volunteered and I started running lines and you know, whatever you end up doing. but you know, you might get 10 minutes, 30 minutes of training and then you're released on the public. You may never been, have been in the building before. And you know, I'm horrible at getting lost in buildings. where's the ATM? Where are the bathrooms? So I don't know. never been there before.
Kent: Where's the ATM? Yeah.
Elizabeth: you can't say that you have to find out and yeah and yeah just keep going until you hit a wall and then yeah yeah so so I would just urge you to be gentle with crew members ask questions because they do know quite a lot they just might not know the minutiae of what you're after
Kent: That way. It's either that way or this way. Turn left or right.
Elizabeth: so I mean, I say always check with a volunteer that you're in the right place. Am I lining up in the correct line? Because sometimes that's not always the line it appears to be. Just, you know, be, be polite. These guys have been on their feet all day. Sometimes they get breaks. The cons are quite good about. Yeah, very funny.
Kent: Just enough time to change her socks. That's from our previous podcast we just did.
Elizabeth: I, I always found that, I never did take a break. There just was too much to do. So, you know, you're just basically standing all day and you may or may not get lunch and you, you're working very hard. And if somebody comes up to you and choose you out, it's, it's hard. It's hard to, to take that. So I would, I would say, you know, be polite. And in fact, and I have to say, I have to say that most people are so polite, so patient, so sweet. They, they're just wonderful and so grateful for any help you can give them. And that's great. And I love that. And in fact, I would even say, if you could find it in your heart, maybe give them a little something, give them a little bag of candy.
Kent: Whoa. Wow, this is coming from a nurturing mother over here. Like, you know, you need to tell you need to pamper them. Why don't you just give them a shoulder massage while you're standing there?
Elizabeth: You know, just I've Yeah. No, no, you know what, somebody, some, well that might get creepy. Actually, no, it depends what they look like. Okay. No, I mean, I was doing lines once and somebody gave me, I was in Texas, somebody gave me just a little cheesy Texas necklace. You know, she'd probably ordered a hundred of them and she just was handing them out.
Kent: there you go. sure
Elizabeth: It meant the world to me. It was so sweet and so generous.
Kent: okay just come by my table you'll just get some little blast glass ducks or something like that or
Elizabeth: And even that people do that they hand out stickers, you know, and just to give something to a crew member. I yeah.
Kent: Yeah. You know, the big thing is right now, I was just at a comic con and they kind of stole it from Dragon Con was the ribbons. It was Lexington Lexington Comic Con. They had ribbons at the tables for the crew to give away while people were standing in line for autographs.
Elizabeth: Ribbons. I-
Kent: and so they had different ones for the different celebrities and they had what didn't have the celebrity it just had something to do with the celebrity so like i was with tommy chung and he's like
Elizabeth: with the celebrity name. Do they have a joint?
Kent: No, they didn't have a joint but you know, one of his things is where's David, you know, so it had some reference about David in there and stuff like that. you know, just, you know, like, think Christopher Lloyd was like, you know, little car, the car from Back to the Future. There was just little funny puns, but they had borrowed that idea from Dragon Con, because if you go to Dragon Con, people are handing out ribbons all over the time. And it doesn't cost that much. mean, it's maybe 20 bucks to make two or 300 of them. But if you think ahead of time.
Elizabeth: I made some. I made some. I have some.
Kent: you made some, all right. Yeah, yeah. I was actually I attempt to make some for the talent that I'm with, especially at DragonCon, because like I was with Mike Colter, who's Luke Cage. And so, you know, I was trying to get them done, but it was last minute. Didn't happen. But this year I'll be prepared. So. anyways, you know, if you create that and you know, you're walking around and you hand that to somebody, people love getting the ribbons because they stick it onto their badge. And then it's a conversation piece. They're like, where'd you get that? Or, what does that mean? Or, you know, the little things like that. So, you know, at you as a listener can make up ribbons that go onto the bottom of the badge. I wish I had a badge with one on it, but yeah, I'm like, I'm looking around. They're all downstairs. But you know, you can... There you go. Yeah, yeah, your background's kind of changed this weekend. But, yeah. But, you know, I mean, most people are very nice and courteous and stuff like that, but getting upset doesn't help the crew. It just, you know, makes it harder to figure out how to help you. And I know there are situations like you've got four screaming kids, you're trying to get to the panel and, you know, things like that.
Elizabeth: Yeah. And mine are all in my office because my computer stopped working. So yes, this is the grownup room.
Kent: they all want to help you out they want to make sure that you have a good time and again flies attract are more attracted to honey than vinegar so be the honey
Elizabeth: That's clever. Yeah, but not in that context. All righty.
Kent: You never heard that? Okay, well, there you go. Now you heard it in my context. Yeah, well, you know, things are always sweeter with honey than vinegar. So be the honey.
Elizabeth: And just, just be aware, not, not just that they may not know things, but they may also have old information. Somebody may have said, well, you need to head over there at 10 o'clock, but it's been changed to 12 and they don't know. So be, patient, forgiving, get second opinions, find out who the, who the leads are. Sometimes leads.
Kent: that's true.
Elizabeth: wear different colored shirts. So anyway, so just be gentle with your crew members because they're trying and they're doing it because they are basically you who then went a step further to actually join up and make the con work.
Kent: Yeah, yeah.
Elizabeth: So then another point of etiquette is photographs. Most places will have signs in the celebrity area saying no photographs. And the reason for that is because the celebrities charge a fee to get photographs taken with you or for you to get your photograph taken.
Kent: You know, that brings up a subject just on photos alone. When you're at the table, just because a celebrity's there doesn't mean you can pull out your phone and take a photo. Or when you're there, just because you bought an autograph doesn't mean you can be taking a picture of them signing it. just a heads up and a warning, it's always best practice to ask the assistant or the person next to the talent, is it okay to take a photo of them signing this? Because some of them are okay with it and some of them don't want that. So it's better to ask the person that's doing the transactions, making sure you get the autograph and stuff, ask them, is it okay to take a photo? We... encourage that. I love it when people ask me, Hey, can I do that versus just all of a sudden, they've paid me for the autograph and I've gotten their name on it and everything. And I give it to the celebrity and they already got their phone out and they're trying to take a video or a picture and I'm like, what are you They it's just like cosplay consent. You don't just assume touch do
Elizabeth: Yes.
Kent: things like that. Everything is consent. So if you want to have the right etiquette, like we were just talking about, it's best to ask the handler, the agent, whoever's with the talent, is it okay if I do X, Y, And we'll say yes or no, or yeah, I'll let it go this time. But that will go a lot further than you just doing it. And then we yell at you.
Elizabeth: Definitely.
Kent: you and especially you know i i understand this is the first time you've met a celebrity or seen one and stuff like that and you're across the hall trying to take a zoomed up picture is one is not going to turn out very good and then two now you're being the paparazzi and and the celebrities get so much from the paparazzi already don't be the paparazzi especially if you see signs around the con that says no photos, just abide by that. Like you're, you know what? You're never gonna look at that photo anyhow. I mean, you're gonna take it that one time and then two years later in your Google is gonna say, hey, two years ago you took this photo. You'd be like, yeah, it didn't look so good. Like.
Elizabeth: Yeah, and then you've got people holding. Well, and then you have people that are holding their phone like this. I'm FaceTiming my mother. I'm FaceTiming my mother.
Kent: I hate that. Yeah, let me see your mother. Yeah, like why are you FaceTime and your mother at a comic con? Well, she couldn't make it. Well, you know what, then you enjoy the moment and then you can share it with your mother. You know, I always like the ones that hold their phone up like this. You're like, are you video recording? No. Then put your phone in your pocket. No.
Elizabeth: Yeah, so...
Kent: then let me see your phone now. Then you're recording late, late again, video recording, it's all consent, you know, you wouldn't like it if somebody did it to you without your knowledge. So just just ask. That's the best thing. Be polite. Etiquette.
Elizabeth: Yeah. And then sometimes, sometimes I have had actors say, yeah, it's okay if you take a picture of me signing, not a video, and you shouldn't be in it. But if you want to take one of me signing, so it just depends on the actor, what their preferences.
Kent: Yes. Yep. and I get it. Some people and some people want a picture of them signing it because that's the authentication of it's a validity that yes, they did sign this. It's real. They got the autograph. So I'm I understand that. But again, then they try to lean in and hey, I didn't know that's not a selfie.
Elizabeth: Yeah, or a parent sneaking a video and it's like, of their child being...
Kent: I we're sounding like we're mean, but you know, guys, this is just the the stuff like if you were in our shoes or you were the talent, you wouldn't want people doing this to you. So, you know, again.
Elizabeth: Yeah. Yeah. Cause it's, I mean, it's a little bit disrespectful, but also, but also when they're, when they're there, like we've discussed before, I mean, they're there to meet fans, but also it is income for them and you sneak a picture of them. That's 60 or $80 that they don't have because you essentially cheated them out of it. Now this is not being, I'm not meaning to be negative, but just
Kent: Kinda creepy.
Elizabeth: as a way so that folks out there can understand where people are coming from. The reason why there are signs up is to respect the actor and so that the actor can make the living that they are there to support themselves.
Kent: Yeah, I mean, again, we've all seen it. We I stand there and I can catch somebody, you know, halfway across the room trying to take a picture. Like we've been doing this long enough. We know what to look for. We see the signs and stuff. And again, if you were at a table and you were eating some food, you wouldn't want people taking a picture of you eating the food. So. Come on, guys, common knowledge.
Elizabeth: Well, I was speaking to a handler friend of mine. I was no, I wasn't. I was texting. I was texting. That's true. And they said, could I pass on one piece of a request? She said that when the actor is not at their table, they are heading
Kent: you were not you you have a handler friend what is a handler friend okay you're texting okay yeah yeah what they say
Elizabeth: to something, they're essentially off duty. And she thought maybe not being stopped while they were on their way somewhere, not being photographed while they were on their way somewhere might be less stressful for that actor. You know what I mean? That being, you know, you're hurrying somewhere.
Kent: Sure. Yeah, so when they leave the table, they're, they're going somewhere, they need to use the restroom, they need to go to the green room, they got photo shoots, they got a panel, they've got to get somewhere. And A lot of times people are like, my gosh, it's so and so, you know, and Sam Jones or, know, Jeff Ward or whoever it is, like, and then they try, can I get a pit? Guys, they're walking somewhere, let them walk where they got to go. You just saw them. You might've bumped into them or whatever. Great. You just had an experience that most people don't get. Just let them go to where they need to be. don't stop them. not they won't do the photo right there on the floor because they're doing it at their table or they have a photo ops that you can buy. So they're there for business. This is their business when they're not doing shows or on the at the studio. This is how they make a living. So again, I've had people do that. And of course, then this is where me and Liz have to step in and say, sorry, we got to get so and so. And then you get pissed at us because we just dissed you. And it's not really us dishing you. It's just they need to be somewhere. And it's our job to stop people from doing that. So don't be that person.
Elizabeth: But is it perfectly okay to do that in a restaurant when they're eating dinner Kent?
Kent: not when they're eating dinner. I mean, like if you see them walking down the street and you catch up to them, that's a different thing. But if they're eating, let them enjoy their I mean, how many people want to be stopped while they're eating dinner from random strangers? I don't I want to eat my food and peace or talk with my friends.
Elizabeth: Well, I was just thinking back to a couple of years ago when you were at a con and you were invited to dinner with two celebrities, but you were kind of the bouncer.
Kent: Yep.
Elizabeth: Hahaha
Kent: yeah because people kept coming up and i'm like guys they are having a conversation they want to eat their food let them do this in peace after we're done dinner if you want to stick around outside you might be able to catch them but let them eat in peace like you know and i get it because sometimes we have dinners with them because we're working with them or we're around them we want to eat dinner in peace i don't want 20 million people coming up to the table It is what know. And again, we're just sharing this information, not to be mean, but to think before you act. It might be the first time you see a celebrity and I get it. It's cool. But then you also got to understand they need to eat. They need to get somewhere. They need to do this. They're not being mean.
Elizabeth: like Yeah Yeah.
Kent: you just like at the airports, they get bombarded by people at the airports all the time for autographs and things like that. They got to get their luggage, they got from the luggage, they want to get to their Uber or their car or whatever. They don't want to stop and just got off the plane and jet lag. They don't want to sign stuff like that. Like, that's not cool. They actually, I will tell you 100 % hate that.
Elizabeth: Mm-hmm. Interesting, because I know that I know lots of people do see them at the airport. I know like Danny Trejo is like, hey, yeah, selfie. Yeah, you're all of this. I've never experienced that nobody's ever said, come and do a selfie at the airport. But I think some of them are more cool with it than others. You know, none of them are cool with it.
Kent: Yes.
Elizabeth: Kent, what are you saying?
Kent: No, like most of celebrities I work with are like, if you get a signed pop or an autograph, you're lucky because they really don't want to do that. They want to just get to where they're going. Yeah, they hate they hate they hate the airport paparazzi. They eat it with a passion.
Elizabeth: Wow. People bring pops to the airport? So even if it's just little old Joe attendee, not-
Kent: no joe attendee doesn't know that they're on that plane somebody at the airport reported to one of their friends hey so-and-so's on this flight getting off at this time you should meet them at the exit and so that's where those paparazzi airport people are yes yeah and they hate that
Elizabeth: But, I mean, okay. So I didn't realize it was that, but, if it is somebody that happens to be not on the same flight necessarily, but yeah. Yeah.
Kent: well if you're at the if you're in the terminal if you're in the terminal and you happen to see them they'll do a selfie or they're they'll obliged to it but they still want to be left alone but if you're coming out of the terminal when you're exiting the plane they're waiting yes with cameras you see the paparazzi are there taking photos of them getting off the airplanes and
Elizabeth: Yeah. and people are waiting.
Kent: getting their luggage and stuff like that. And then they want 20 autographs and stuff like that. They hate that. That's why at Dragon Con when they the celebrities.
Elizabeth: my goodness, I... When I've been on... When I've been on a... When I've been on a flight, I look like a flippin' con.
Kent: Yeah, but nobody wants your autograph. But you know, that's why like at Dragon Con, when we have our celebrities, we go get them. We go get our celebrities and bring them back to the hotel because there will be people. I've only had to do that with two people. Yeah, two people.
Elizabeth: Do you put a coat over their head? You really have? Wow.
Kent: most of them try to you know cover up glasses hats disguise themselves and stuff like that you can still tell it's them but they hate that stuff and you know then there's me at the airport waiting with them and then i'm the one like no you're not getting an autograph sorry it's not gonna happen and and waiting in the lobby of a hotel don't do that either do not do that my gosh you want to piss off this person
Elizabeth: my goodness. yeah.
Kent: Especially if I'm with them. I will let them go to the elevator and then you got to deal with somebody like me up in your face. That's what I get paid for is to be the such the big meaning.
Elizabeth: Wow. You could use such- You're such a meanie. See, I have a hard time being mean.
Kent: sorry. I see it and. All right, well, any on a lighter note, you know, these cons, you know, go two, three days and stuff like that. And, you know, we are talking about Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, which is perfect, because what were you saying about Sundays? Yeah, you have a tip of the day.
Elizabeth: I mean if I mean it's to you but... my tip of the day is tip of the day is because things are winding down on Sunday, especially Sunday afternoon, a lot of the guests, the celebrity guests will have left by say two, three o'clock and vendors might well be looking to get rid of extra product and might give you specials. like buy one get one that kind of thing so I would recommend if you're going to be doing shopping like maybe not pops but for art and maybe comics toys that kind of thing I would wait until late Sunday afternoon and then do your serious shopping even the mystery boxes sometimes those goes go on sale
Kent: Mm. unless you need one that you know is gonna go and sell out like that, know, if they, if you know they're not going to then wait till Sunday. Cause a lot of times those vendors don't want to take that stuff home. It's just extra stuff to pack up.
Elizabeth: Yeah, that's fair. What? Yeah. And if you're just, yeah. And I was, I was going to say just, just if you're browsing, you know, me, I'm an earring nut. So if I'm just browse, yes. Spider-Man earrings right there. What? So, you know, if you're just browsing, you're not really serious. And then suddenly sometimes someone says, well, if you buy two, you get two free. Well,
Kent: Perfect.
Elizabeth: Okay then, I'll do that.
Kent: Gifts, nice.
Elizabeth: So that's just kind of another finance thing because you're going to drop so much money. There are free things to do at cons, but you're going to spend so much money. So just an economic tip for you.
Kent: That's because Liz just likes to spend money. She's a lady. She likes to shop.
Elizabeth: I hardly ever get on the vendor floor. I'm too busy. I'm too busy. I'm always at the table or going to buy my own autographs. So, you know, my person says, okay, I'm going to take lunch for half an hour. Right. And high tail it over to, you know, Liv Tyler or something. Not that I did that, but yes.
Kent: Why? YouTube is... That does happen. there you go. Speaking of which, speaking of Liv Tyler, there are some Comic Cons coming up. You got one, speaking of which Comic Cons. I know there's some Comic Cons this weekend. I'm going to one. I know you're going to one. You know, what's funny is I have the T-Mobile and they give. you know freebies on Tuesdays T-Mobile Tuesdays that's what they call it yeah they do T-Mobile Tuesdays and they always give away little freebies and stuff this week they were given five dollar tickets to go see Michael Jackson so you don't even know your carrier you don't know your carrier all right Liz yeah so
Elizabeth: Do they? I don't know if I'm on T-Boba. get out. I don't think I'm on T-Mobile. Did you get them? I don't. I don't. Yeah, yeah, that's a great chance for a tie in just lost right there.
Kent: That's right. He just lost a sponsorship by T-Mobile. Now, yeah, so yeah, I got the $5 ticket. Yeah, I can't. I'm to go see Michael Jackson next week. Yeah. But it comes out Thursday night this week. But, you know, I'll wait till next week because I'm traveling and stuff on Friday. So next week, I'll go watch Michael Jackson. I can't do that high pitch.
Elizabeth: So did you get the ticket? Did you get the tickets? because you're excited to see that. Yeah. So did you, you said you're off to El Paso this weekend?
Kent: No, South Texas, McAllen, Texas. Yeah, they have what is it? South Texas Comic Con. Yeah, so I'll be there with Cheech and Chong, Kevin Smith, Jay Muse. you know, some of the James Allen, Bob, and they've got all kinds of different people. mean, Lou Freig, who's going to be there like Hulk smash you think Shannon Elizabeth from American Pie is going to be there. She's also in one of Kevin's movies as well. So which one was it? All around. So clerks, she's been in so many movies like.
Elizabeth: Yeah.
Kent: I didn't know that she lives in South Africa. So when she's over here, she does a circuit of cons and then she flies back to South Africa. Yeah, yeah. So she she gets around while she's here because that's a that's a long flight. Yeah, and then Giancarlo Esposito is going to be there.
Elizabeth: kidding Wow. success. That's a crazy long flight.
Kent: I mean, I love talking with him. He dresses nice. He's just like, he's dapper. Yeah, but he's been in like Star Wars and Breaking Bad and like one of my favorite movies I once upon a time. One of my favorite movies is what is it? I just brain farted.
Elizabeth: He is a classy looking dude. Yeah. once upon a time. I know what you mean. Usual suspects.
Kent: usual suspect i was watching it the other day and all of a sudden he popped on because he's the detective and i was like my god is that jean carlo esposito and i was like my gosh look how young he is like he did that one a long yeah yeah i was like my god and then i told him i'm like my gosh he's i'm like you're everywhere he's like
Elizabeth: Ha ha! Yeah, with his little goatee and his little hat.
Kent: he's just a great actor I mean him and Jason Lee talk all the time because they did the resident which was a detect residents yeah the the detective one that was funny Jason Lee I told Jason he needs to walk out with his hair spiked up and then white bathrobe I'd be like yeah it was Thomas Edison's fault
Elizabeth: residents. I loved that. he was great. Yeah. gosh, that would be hilarious.
Kent: If you haven't watched that guys that are listening and ladies go watch the resident on Netflix. It's hilarious
Elizabeth: It was, it was, yeah, it's basically a murder mystery where, you, I mean, no spoilers because in the first five seconds, Giancarlo gets murdered, right?
Kent: Murder mystery, yep. don't that's a spoiler.
Elizabeth: No, five seconds in. Anyway, so it's a murder mystery. We have to find out. Set in the White House.
Kent: murder mystery you just told who got murdered my gosh now you ruin the mood now they don't want even watch it but it's on netflix no sponsorship there either
Elizabeth: It's not really a spoiler. Yeah, I know. No, no, it's terrific and great mystery, funny, great characters. And it was set in the White House. So you get all this, you find out about the White House, all these beautiful rooms and lovely.
Kent: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. Well, you got a local con too, aren't you?
Elizabeth: Yeah, I'm one, it's near St. Louis and very small con in its second year, very comic based. So they have a handful of celebrity guests, including Kimberly Brooks, who I'm gonna be with. She's done a ton of voice stuff. So that's my weekend. And then in May coming up, I've got two.
Kent: Mm-hmm. Okay. Nice. Okay. I didn't ask about me. I didn't, I didn't ask about me. I'm just asking about now. You see, you're trying to jump ahead and then now our listeners are going to be like, tell me about Tidewater. No, that's another episode. Like you will have to come back and listen to us, you know, so follow subscribe to that typical stuff that everybody tells you to do as Liz rolls her eyes. If you're not watching the video, cause she's rolling her eyes at me.
Elizabeth: got tide water. Well I'm saying anyway. Anyway. And also do write to us on the socials. Yes.
Kent: write to you? What do you want them to write? Like, I don't want your autograph or like get a job or be nicer at the Comic Cons to us attendees or there you go, don't be a meanie.
Elizabeth: Don't be such a meanie. Now I was going to say if you've got things you want us to cover questions, anything like that, you can write
Kent: Yeah, if you guys got questions or we made an error in the show, please point it out. Just do it. Point it out. Tell Liz what she's doing wrong. Like I do it all the time so you can do it too.
Elizabeth: such a rat bag. Anyway so
Kent: I am, I am, I am, but you know, I am a guy so there's always gonna be some issue with me or something wrong. So I just accept that already. And, know, if people want to point it out, that's okay. I accept it. I'm okay with that.
Elizabeth: But anyway, so cons with coffee at gmail.com and then the socials, what are those Kent? I can't never remember.
Kent: Yeah. well, you know, we got YouTube, Instagram, Facebook. Again, just look for conversations with coffee and you'll find us. We're here. Just make a comment. We'll reply. Give us some ideas of what you would like to hear or what you're curious about. Cause I know that when people come up to the table, they'll ask me questions like, Hey, this is my first time. What about this? And then I'm like, Hey, that's a great question. And now I'm starting to write those questions down because we're doing this podcast and I want other listeners to know, because you know, if I share it now, then other people know ahead of time. And then they have that con etiquette. They know to bring cash. They know to bring. little tote bag with all the things Liz in it. That was our previous episode. If you don't know about that you gotta listen to that one. one Liz has got a lot of stuff in her bag. We'll start calling her Liz the bag lady.
Elizabeth: Yeah, it's really heavy. No, we aren't. No, we're not going to do this.
Kent: Hey, that's all right. You already have a fake British accent by one of your celebrity friends. There you go. You have fake British tea drinker.
Elizabeth: Wait, you put a fake, you put a fake on my... I'm a real British tea drinker. Look at this. Royal Albert, darling.
Kent: No, no. Peter says you have a fake Liz or fake British Liz. Yeah, Peter who? Carbaldi. How do you say his last name? Peter. That's a no. That's a no. Beautiful.
Elizabeth: fake British Liz. But that's... Faccinelli, Peter Faccinelli from Twilight and a million other things. Yes, he's decided that I have a fake accent.
Kent: you're fake. You are fake. Fake Liz. mean fake British Liz. Well, Liz, we are at that time. I know it's been fun. And you could probably talk about no, you could talk about the White House for another 10 minutes, but I don't think our listeners want to hear that. So that's okay.
Elizabeth: Yeah We are. Yes, we've been wittering on about nothing very much for the last 45 minutes.
Kent: well guys i appreciate you being here listening to us putting up with liz please comment in any of our social media we'd love to hear from you guys you guys are why we do this show until next time really yeah till next time
Elizabeth: Yes, and do feel free to complain about Kent as well. With my blessing. definitely.
Kent: thank you. Yes, yes, yes. And if you see us at a show, come up, say hi, we'd love to know that you're one of our followers, subscribers and stuff like that. yeah, we could do podcast ribbons like, hey, I listened to the conversations with coffee podcast. hey. And then they come up to us, they can get that ribbon like, hey, I listened to your podcast. we'd be like, bam.
Elizabeth: Hey, maybe we'll get Rippins done. We should do Rippins. Yeah. Ooh. Okay, so we'll get rid of like one of them per con. That'd be great.
Kent: one per con yeah one of us will get one of them gone but yeah awesome well i'm super excited are you ex yes definitely always a pleasure liz i look forward to next week hearing about your small town con and i'll share about south texas y'all
Elizabeth: Yeah Alright, well it's been... It's been great seeing you Kent, as always. Is that gonna be hot?
Kent: Well, it might be hot. I'll be inside, so...
Elizabeth: That's fair.
Kent: I'll be inside in four walls around me so I won't know if it's hot outside or not.
Elizabeth: Well, I hope you have a great time and we'll see you next week.
Kent: Until then. Thank you. Yeah. All right, everybody have an amazing day. Enjoy your week and we will see you on our next episodes of conversations with coffee. Bye.
Elizabeth: with coffee or tea.
