Dark Shadows Festival Banquet

Those of us who'd watched the Collinsports Players show milled out of the banquet room. Most of the hall had cleared; it was suppertime or at least time to get ready for it, a big break in the proceedings any way you looked at it. I headed back to the room, and was a bit surprised that I was the only one there. Okay, so maybe I was just the first one back. I was pretty sure everyone else in the room had at least something to do with the banquet festivities.

Time for the climax of the weekend. So I got all gussied up. Cleaned up good, took my time...changed into my smart duds. I'd borrowed a dark wine dressy pants-suit thing with an Indian motif from my sister (it was easy to pack). New shoes, to my annoyance, had a blemish straight out of the box (melted on the trip or something weird) but, not much to do for it, and who'd be looking anyway. Wore an Indian necklace and fixed up my hair, and ta da. Waited. Waited. Looked for weather news on the telly. Colored. Strange, no one else coming. Surely they wouldn't eat before the banquet, would they? Maybe. Anyway, plenty of time to kick back and listen to my stomach growl and feet whine.

Malia came in close to time when the banquet was to start. I think they had pushed the time back a little; late in getting things organized, so it still wasn't anything to rush about. Having nothing else to do, I went on to scout. Malia said she'd follow later. I still wondered what was going on, exactly. Sherlock is always curious.

I headed over to the hall and there was a line. I saw Julie there; she explained that it was a handicapped-folks line, essentially, and everyone else was supposed to wait outside somewhere. I wasn't in any rush to get in line or anything, I was just wandering around finding out what was what and people-watching. Julie bust a blister on her foot and was hobbling and said that warranted her spot. I could empathize, with my own flat feets hissing at me, but I just sat nearby and chatted. I gathered there'd been several changes in arrangements and organization, and sat back and observed things. The group in line was finally allowed in. One lady was rather hysterical since her friend had gone in already but had her ticket; another lady had some similar problem. Emotional group. I'd noted that all weekend. JF certainly stirs up peoples' passionate sides, and I've been to a great many conventions and celebrity events. Not too many of those have had people quite so emotional. Anyway I think everyone was allowed in, that I saw.

They started letting the outside folks in through the side, so I went in after the first group in the back, and edged toward the front. The whole room was back-to-back round tables. It was utterly amazing how many there were, and I wondered how on earth people would be able to move once they got settled. Front tables were taped off and numerous seats filled up fast. I saw no one but Julie that I knew, and she seemed to have a full table anyway. Flashing on my original prediction that I'd pay a mint to sit alone and eat 2000 miles from home, I sought out a place to sit. I wound up in the front-middle of the room, more-or-less; about as close to anything as I could get anyway. So I sat with a couple at table 33.

A few more sat, a teacher, a few kids.

We all admired the table settings and fidgeted awhile.

Attempts at some chitchat were made but it was

rather awkward for the most part,

and very hard to hear anyone for all the

people coming in.

So, much more observing.

I wasn't exactly in a good position to see the

stage-part of the room, though. This is what I saw.

Glasses of water, coffee cups, silverware, coffee stuff, a roll and pat of butter, linen napkins and a candle...each table had 11-13 chairs around it (apparently we were to eat with our chins, since a full table had no elbow room), and we estimated about 80-some tables in the room. PeoplePeoplePeople, and still people came in. My mind started reeling over logistics. The waitstaff began serving, and had a devil of a time doing it since they could not get through the areas where the tables had filled out. No aisles had been created for them, and there was much bumping and could-you-move-pleases, although they were impressive in getting the food out, considering the situation.

It was all very pretty, a fancy chicken dish and garlicky potatoes (can you have that in an event celebrating a vampire?), seems like there were some steamed greenbeans or something interesting, and it did start out with an intriguing little salad that had some ingredient that a lot of folks couldn't identify. Mostly the men refused to eat it, which I got a chuckle out of. I think it was a kind of mushroom. That one little roll, some wine I think, coffee, then a pretty slice of NY cheesecake. It all came rather fast once it came, and was tasty, and I was definitely stuffed all the same, to my surprise.

It occurred to me, in the given situation, Jonathan would almost have had to have eaten before the banquet...this was a little crazy. Which probably explained where the rest of the roomies went, etc. I wondered how he was going to be able to sign pictures, or even how they were going to handle that promised aspect of the event...the numbers versus the time seemed too staggering to me. Hopefully they'd all worked something out and I was seeing problems where there were none.

After eating and waiting,

I finally got out the camera

and started snapping a shot or two.

Turning around (which took some doing)

I could just see the stage.

There were a few things passed around as bonus extras, like calendars, I believe. When most people had eaten or at least been served, and da Man had arrived, tributes began. Dark Shadows Folk gave little speeches to honor Jonathan Frid.

Katherine Leigh Scott started things off, I think. I played more with my camera. Mostly just looking through it and fiddling with buttons, though. Telephoto in candlelight isn't really conducive to sharp shots, but some photographs turned out better than others.

Headshot of KLS. I'm jealous of the figure. Mrph. But then, I never had one to start with. (Well, I guess "sausage" is a shape, too.)

Then Marie Wallace added some nice things. Jonathan had quite a turn-out, indeed. Finally picked out someone else I could (somewhat) recognize, from my viewpoint. This is Mark, Jonathan's webmaster du jour. And finally they gave John a chance to respond to all that gushing. There was also a nifty video tribute and other bonuses. Enjoyed the video...

Before and after much of this, Jonathan was apparently back in a corner signing his fingers off. Table-groups were led one-by-one to line up over on the far left side of the stage area to get JF's autograph. Bobbi and others were herding people into the right spots as other things kept going. Here's a Dark Shadows person whose name and job I managed to miss (sorry!). But part of the kudos-giving gang for Jonathan.

Diana Millay was at a table nearby.

Door prizes were awarded. Fun was had. But our table was about one-third into the room and not near being called up for signings, and it was getting pretty late. I could see that either Jonathan was capable of far greater endurance than I would have dreamed, or that very soon a lot of people were going to be disappointed. This aspect was not planned out well. I could see DSF '93 coming back to haunt me, where I went through the entire con and didn't see JF, and waited in the autograph line for hours only to have him throw in the pen a few people before I got up to bat. So to speak.

But Bobbi came by and said "TABLE 33!" Our time to line up. Well, well, maybe I'd get to say howdy at the con after all. So we gathered our things and got into the autograph line to the side, getting ready for our minute with the big guy. We stood, and stood, and stood some more. I wished I hadn't taken my bookbag...had my drawing junk in it so it was heavy. Got around the corner and noted that most of the people I Did know had tables up here, including my roomies. Sigh. I chatted with one or two while in line. Waited some more. Memorabilia stuff was being auctioned off, I think, on stage. About at the point I could finally see JF, I noticed some bad signs; namely a tired nervousness, then a pause where JF called in his aides for a huddle, and then Jim heading towards the mike. Uh oh, this is it. I'm about 2-3 people from the autograph table...

And yep, Jim announced that sadly JF had to call it quits for the night. Dang. Not at all a surprise to me, though it did hit a lot of others unhappily. So, um, now what, we in line wondered...was he going to finish the line or announce something more or what? We waited around awkwardly. Then it came that if autographs were needed, he'd do them later and mail them back (arrangements would be made) or he'd try to do some more in the morning before heading back to Canada. That was it. We stood about a little more, if only because it was a bit difficult to back out until others did, and then most headed out the banquet room, in dribs and drabs.

I went back to the room, de-gussied myself (gee, all that dress-effort and no one saw) and began packing, organizing, figuring out what to do next, etc. I still didn't know where on earth my cooler was...it apparently did not manage to follow me back to the room at any point. But I made a number of trips to the car so I wouldn't have to do so much in the morning. I made one round back to the hall much later and ran into KLS just enough to say hi; both of us making a cursory check that things weren't left, I guess. I never did hear anything about the "flood" in San Antonio (even when I got back). Hmm. Eventually I showered and got comfy working a puzzle and others ambled in and at some point, we called it a night.

Party!!

Hobbled back to the hotel room after disembarking from the Lyndhurst shuttle, got a drink, found some way (after a bit of searching) to recharge my camera battery without hampering anyone else's electrical needs, and sat a bit. Finished off any carrot or whatever I had; rather hungry but there was a party around the bend and who knows, maybe someone would want to go eat or something. But it looked like everyone had already gone out and done their thing, so to speak; no one else was around, the cooler was humming and full of food, so the party shopping was obviously done, etc. And I was pooped. I checked the TV as I rested. People kept saying San Antonio had been hit by flooding and a hurricane was brewing, so I kept checking the weather whenever I had the chance to see if I'd have to swim home. But I never did catch anything about south Texas. Seems like there's always a great lot of precipitation whenever I leave home. How does it know?

After determining I wasn't going to find out much at that moment, I eventually went off scouting. Looked like the hall stuff was revving up, so I went back to the room to get things to set up, and with Malia, I think, we started the Frid Market going. Once we hacked our way through the jungle to get there, that is...well, it wasn't too bad at that point, but later...throngs. See, the con was set up in a hallway in front of a ballroom. Standard enough for media cons. But after that the logic seemed to break down a bit. I'm sure there were reasons for things, but it certainly looked ill-planned and was the biggest complaint I heard for two days. The tables led up to the end of the hall, but there was nowhere to go when you got there; you had to double-back through the mobs of fans and shoppers, as the hall was kept closed for use by the celebrities and con workers to gain entry into the ballroom. Not too awful Friday, since things were still getting-going, but it was pretty bad on Saturday. That might have been acceptable except for the membership table...most cons have their tables out where they are as easily accessed as possible, so you can get your packet/tickets/badges and move on out with alacrity. In this case you'd think Registration would be the first peopled tables you'd see in the front end of the hall, or maybe they'd be a little separated out front before the dealers' area, or in the side hall, or even in reverse at the end of the hall, forcing everyone to give a passing look at the sales items. But it was kind of in the middle of things, and so people were very confused about where to line up to do what. You'd be in line thinking you were in pre-registration and find that you were in the line for a booksigning, or you'd want to buy a ticket and the person next to you thinks that's the place to get a photo of one of the ladies of Dark Shadows, etc. Anyway after I got my registration stuff I just did my best to avoid the whole thing. But I heard from everyone else about it!

So we set up at the farthest end of the hall at Frid's tables. Malia set up her video version of JF's bio on one side, we had the new "Fridiculousness" videos up in the middle, and I took the far end to sell a few leftover but relevant things, essentially serving as Frid's advertising. (Did I mention I do art? Drew up the DVD cover for JF? Guess you might need a connection or two there) I brought the Richard III painting I did of him to set up as a hook, as the natural thing for people to do in that spot was to walk up the hall and turn directly around and go back, preferably without actually going the to the full end of the hall. But the painting caught peoples' eyes and they'd turn and circle back, stare at it, mutter, ask questions, and wander back to Frid's table and start shopping. What astonished me was that people began taking pictures of it, posing with it, asking when it would be auctioned or for how much, etc. I hadn't thought of it in any serious sales terms, since I wanted to at least offer Jonathan the opportunity of seeing it first...not that I wouldn't have accepted a great offer, mind you...but the way things went (no one actually made any offer), I thought it was funny and started thinking of the painting as Surrogate Frid. (Sur Frid?)

Sales weren't bad, considering my own luck at such things these days. Not enough to run across the border with but a steady dribble. I entertained myself by finishing coloring bookmarks, which I'd give to any book-buyers. But no one bought a Dr. DNA book, or even looked remotely interested, or asked about them. I illustrated them and they contained a page with Barnabas in the background, and of course I informed anyone who'd listen...however, magnets and coloring books finally moved a bit. Selling Anything was fantastic. Tired of storing everything! LOL And I made myself be as social as I could manage, talking to anyone who looked puzzled enough (and suddenly becoming Surrogate Frid's agent). I manned the tables until it was time to close the hall down...missed JF's intro due to a time change or some miscommunication about it at the table, but I sold a few extra DVDs for him. I wasn't too worried about 'missing' stuff, since I'd already met the ladies at a previous Dark Shadows Festival or two. Marie Wallace had been very nice, Lara Parker had been ok but distracted, and Kathy Leigh Scott had been so alert to my presence that she'd signed my book with someone else's name. But I told her not to worry about it since after that I had the anecdote, heheh. I assumed I'd meet Jonathan at some point, at the party or after things or before things or at the least after the con back in Canada, so I didn't press that matter much either. I didn't want to get in the way of anyone dying to see their idols. It's a good rule. Never get in front of anyone dying, period.

At any rate, there was a lull time after packing up stuff and taking it back to the room. Got prettied up a little for the party, though that was to be a bit later, so there was some time to doodle or rest. At least no one requested help chopping edibles. Nancy was throwing this nice (private) welcome party for JF and some friends, and had been busy prepping for it and I suppose supporting JF in rehearsals or the like. She or someone did manage to let me in on what room the party would be happening. A useful plus. My sister claims I have "Ninja" powers because of my long history of being 'invisible.' An amazing capacity for being ignored or forgotten, even when in front of people or otherwise dreadfully obvious. I've had people try to walk or drive right through me...even when I'm with others they seem to make a beeline straight into me and then screech in alarm that I suddenly appeared out of the blue. People get mad at me for not telling them things like my winning stuff or being on TV or whatever, and don't believe me when I say it's because I didn't know myself--I'm literally the last to know (one art teacher was really mad about such a contest...the winning painting--for the Shriners, gee, another clown contest!--mine, was auctioned off for big bucks, for a high schooler, and was on the local news...how could I not tell her? IT WAS NEWS TO ME!). I've been locked in a bathroom at NBC for half an hour and my friends never even noticed (crawled out under the door), not invited to oodles of events simply because someone thought they told me/sent word/notified me of a meeting change but actually forgot...I have a huge collection of self-drawn replacement con name tags because 75% of the time mine is missing/lost/forgotten, even if I'm a guest! I enter places loudly and still manage to spook people--the ultimate example of "Oh did I startle you?", even if they spoke to me and saw me...somehow, they just, forget, lock me in places, make business appointments with me and totally forget about them, even an hour ahead (and more than once! ugh). Oh folks know I exist, and I've been recognized in unbelievable ways ("yeah, I was on the same bus with you to the College Bowl field trip meet that one weekend 24 years ago, how're ya doing?")...my friends said, upon not batting a lash about my showing up to visit one day after years living out-of-state, that they weren't surprised because I simply never changed. Personally I beg to differ, at least these last 10 years, but I do get a kick referring to the self-portrait hidden away in a closet...;-> .

Which is all a drawn-out (heheh) way to say I'm a loner, even in a crowd. Invisibility combined with shyness and an oversized round head and you get Charlie Brown. Or Charlene Brown. Something like that. I mean, otherwise why would I be typing this to who knows whom in the wee hours? LOL

Anyway, made it to Nancy's fête. Nice little spread left still on the sideboard, people milling about, most anything to sit on taken. In fact when I came in it looked more like a banquet. I looked around, but really didn't know anyone much. I brought the painting for JF and shoved it to the side behind the window curtain, bumped into Julie again, and we looked over the munchies. I got some ginger ale or something along those lines, and stood around. Stood over there. Stood over here. Wandered across the room and stood. Very adept at standing around. I talked when I could, of course. Mark, JF's webmaster, introduced himself, catching me off guard a bit, and I met a few folks I kindasorta knew a little. Mostly I practiced different stances. I would have liked to 'party-aid' and sat and done quickie drawings for people--brought stuff with me even, my ice-breaking default system--but there seemed to be a lack of sitting spots at the time. I held the walls up here and there instead.

Jonathan made an Entrance. He was immediately joined by Lara Parker, and the room suddenly tipped the scale from party to papparazzi event, everyone whipping out cameras and running up to the actors. I figured this was understandable, but wasn't quite what I'd expected. I got my camera out, but I stayed back, holding the wall at bay; plus didn't have my flash going (seemed a bit rude) so my shots tend to be blurry here. But tweaking with an art program does help somewhat! Here's Lara and John (and someone's head).

Well, lookee there, I got one in focus. I did step forward for a couple of snaps once the big rush was already lighting up things, lol. Lara and John, not moving quite as much...posing a bit.

Eventually I got a decent shot.

Then I ran back over to the wall, lest it fall down on everyone. So the occasional peek through the lens only netted the fuzziest, or artsiest, of captures.

John isn't the only one who needs glasses...

I have no idea what happened here...except that it was very, very movement-impaired and then blurred oddly. I don't think JF will want this one. Though I do have a Halloween-0-lantern (it's a carved canteloupe...really) that looks a lot like that... This one looks like I used a telephoto lens while still standing in Texas.

Anyway, after all the initial hubbub, oddly enough, it did not settle down into party-mode, exactly anyway. More of Jonathan's Dark Shadows co-actresses came by to wish him well; here's Marie Wallace, for instance.

Jonathan thanked everyone for all the fuss...

And then was pinned to a corner, to apparently hold court with the actresses and a few stalwarts who positioned themselves near Frid, perhaps with the aid of some super-glue. The others of us who were under the ridiculous impression that a party was going on, went to the other side of the room and...hung out.

You know who you are. (and hopefully don't mind these!)

With 2/3 of the room hovering around JF, and the rest of us hanging around trying to hear each other, there was plenty of time to look about. I decided the carpeting was actually one of the most eye appealing things at hand, and the design might even make nice computer wallpaper or something. At any rate it didn't move or blur. Trendsetter that I am, I wasn't the only one photographing the rug.

Noting Nancy's body language, I gathered this all wasn't quite what she had in mind, either. And apparently had a headache. Then I noticed that something wasn't right, but didn't see it immediately. Finally it hit me--my cooler was stuffed with beer and ICE. My heart fell...electronics and water do not mix. I'd said no ice, but as I feared, my invisibility had kicked in and this was not remembered, and no one saw the DO NOT USE ICE imprinted into the cooler's lid. I realized it was an accident, but was a little confused about it since someone had to unplug and turn off the cooler in order to get it to the party room, and therefore one would Think the matter would at least occur to ask about in wonderment. But I suppose I'm a little more curious and usually more observant than the average bear, so I didn't get too upset about it occuring. I was alarmed at what it might cost to replace, but I'm employed now so that's not too awful either...what I was torn about was whether to say anything to Nancy. I didn't want to add stress to the pile, and yet there might be hope to do something if I said something Now...though I wasn't sure what. So I debated a while and finally decided I'd better let her in on it, as gingerly as possible. She was very sorry and I said I knew it was an accident, but had to say Something. I guess I'm not sure why, since dumping it now was impractical...and then I learned there was a party after this one, requiring the drinks and stuff leftover. So I just felt rather dumb and helpless.

Soon, Jonathan was worn out by the table-camp internment and started making his way out, flushing another crowd of photohounds and worshippers suddenly towards the door. Guess that was it. I surmised that I wasn't getting to show him the painting this evening, much less chat. On the other hand, I was quite full of munchies and soda and no longer starving, lol.

So I thanked Nancy for the party and apologized for raining on her parade with the cooler deal. She said she'd pay for whatever, but I was rather at odds about the whole thing. Seems I couldn't do anything now because of the other party starting, so I just ignored it; obviously they were all handling that stuff--and I went to the room...wandered back out; people were meeting up to talk and drink, and I needed to find a girl who'd bought some stuff but left it on the table. Didn't particularly need alcohol, did need to do something, draw, work puzzles, talk, something...did find the girl in question (not too hard, since she was in Goth). But as no one seemed terribly interested in me and I couldn't hear anyone over others, I just went back to the room. Nancy had me do up a few 'signs' for the sales table and a couple of pages of Jonathan's massive scrapbooks, --he was sharing the latter out on his tables for his fans to see. We had to invade her car to get the (paper) supplies (and it had started raining) but we managed and I had a little something more to occupy me than trying to find Texas weather news in New York.

It was a very good idea and effort, anyway!

Finally we all turned in to rest up for the Really big day, which already seemed just a touch forboding....Nancy had to get up early for a lot of gofering, for one thing.