The Vampire Diaries Convention 2013 Pretty Disappointing
So, who wants to know how my trip to Las Vegas and The 2013 Vampire Diaries Convention went? Ok, I’ll tell ya!
I have been super excited about this trip for quite a while. I bought the gold package tickets because you seem to get so much more with the gold package. The best part was I got to choose my seat. I got the sixth row back right smack in the center with an aisle so I wasn’t in between anyone. 
Well, the original plan was for my husband to go with me, but he ended up not being able to go because of military stuff. So, I took my bestie, Rose, with me.
So, we made the plans, she got a gold ticket too and her seat was actually just down the row from mine, so it wasn’t too far away. I bought the super duper expensive photo op with Ian and Paul, then another with Steven R. McQueen. (who ended up not coming because of filming, more on that later) Anyway, we got the room reserved, plane tickets, and began our countdown.
Once we arrived in Vegas it was already early morning Friday, technically late Thursday night for us.. We looked around a bit and then went to bed. When we woke up friday morning we had an awesome breakfast with Author Alexia Purdy and my team leader Eric, and his wife. Then we went to the tournament of Kings at the Excalibur hotel. It was AMAZING! you have to see it if your ever in Vegas.
Friday night we were able to go and get our pre registration for the gold members. Once we got there, there was a huge line already and it wasn’t moving fast at all. One perk was that Nathaniel Buzolic (Kol) was walking around the line shaking hands and meeting the fans. Well, we waited in this line forever, then the volunteers came around and asked if we had a Ian-Paul photo op ticket that was printed out. Yes, me, me me! I waved mine and they said when we were done in that line that we had to get in the other line to get the actual ticket. Oh well, that is to be expected right? Well THEN they asked if we had a Steve McQueen photo op. Yes! Me, me, me! I waved it. Well, he couldn’t show so we had to exchange it for someone else. Ok, thats cool, but we had to get in yet another line to change that one over. *sigh*
Before I go on, I want to tell you what the gold package tickets come with. Here is the description.
GOLD WEEKEND ADMISSION PACKAGE
The Vampire Diaries Comes to fabulous Las Vegas at the Rio Suites Hotel and YOU are invited to “Go Gold” for what will surely be a fantastic experience. Our famous Gold Packages are the most upscale way to attend the entire convention, here is what you get (and we expect our greatest line-up of TVD stars yet):
1) The absolute very best reserved seatings for daytime convention main auditorium events both days. Great for photographers too!
2) Complimentary in-person autographs with great guests including IAN SOMERHALDER, PAUL WESLEY, MICHAEL TREVINO, ZACH ROERIG, NATHANIEL BUZOLIC and SEAN FARIS. The value of these autographs if purchased separately is $240 so you can see why the Gold Package is such an outstanding offer! Take advantage of this deal and grab your seats today!
3) First for autographs done row by row. Gold does have its privileges!
4) Pre-Registration (a convenience, not a necessity) so once you get your admission credentials (before other patrons you don’t have to wait again.
5) Complimentary admission to the famous Saturday Evening Decade Dance with celebrities in person and tons of fun. Hosted by The Hillywood Show and featuring Nathaniel Buzolic, Sean Faris and Charlie Bewley! An awesome night to enjoy! A TVD Centerpiece contest also takes place!
6) Admission to the vendors area!
7) A special exclusive panel just for our Gold Patrons featuring Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley! Awesome!
8) Ability to pick your own seat in the theatre (you’ll see the floor plan when you order)
9) Collectible lanyard and credentials
Ok, so you see here that you get six autographs. Well every other convention I’ve been to they give you something to be autographed along with said autograph ticket. Well, not this place. Discouraged because we were on a budget, we went to the vendor room. Uh… well, what they called the vendor room. It was four tables. FOUR! There was a line that we stood in for an hour to look at photos that we could get autographed. The pics were six bucks, six times six is thirty six dollars. Or we could get one small one and have them all sign it. *sigh* decisions, decisions. Both Rose and I ended up getting the large one with a mat that had space for signatures for thirty dollars. After that we left because there was nothing else to do.
Saturday morning, we got up and got ready for the convention events which started with the special panel with just Ian and Paul for gold members only. Cool! It was a great panel with them. I had a good seat and got good pics. My hearing may have been jeopardized by the fangirls behind me though. lol The screaming was unreal.
After that we had to go get ready for the Ian Paul photo op. Yay!! Now… here is where I really start to get annoyed. Normally, at conventions when you have a gold ticket or VIP, there is a special line along side the photo op lines for the gold members and you go in first. No… we waited for hours in line just like the (no offense) people who paid 30 bucks to get in for the day. What??? No!!
Yes, that is what happened. Not to mention that they made us leave our purses and bags out on a table outside the photo op room. I totally get this, but normally you can leave your stuff inside the photo op room, just inside the door so at least you can see it. Two purses that I know of got stolen that day.
We took a break before autographs and went to gamble and get drinks. During which time someone stole Rose’s giant photo for autographs!! Shitty!! Bad, bad people!
Then, when we came back Ian and Paul were on stage. Talking about all the same stuff that they talked about in our special panel.
Boo!! We paid for gold people!
Then, it was time for autographs. This went well because gold goes first and its row by row. This was the ONLY organized part of this convention.
After that we had to go pick up our photo. The line was crazy long and merging with other lines. We didn’t even know which line was what. So, we waited for an hour and then when we got to the front we discovered that all the photos were just laid out all over the tables. Normally they are in some kind of a file in a brown paper cover so that it doesn’t get harmed. That photo cost 170 dollars. Yes, One Hundred and Seventy dollars and it has a scratch on it from all the fingers tearing through the photos to find their own. *sigh again*
By this time, Rose is pissed and I don’t blame her one bit. We were exhausted and then it was time to go eat and then get ready for the founders ball. Ok. Founders Ball. Imagine in your head, the worst prom ever with about 200 girls. Yeah. That was the founders ball. The Hillywood girls were hosting and I got a pic with them, but still. They came around and gave us two drink tickets, and then they came back around and took one away. *sigh* we left early.
The next day was pretty much the same. I got my pic taken with Zach Roerig and it turned out cute. Better than the Ian-Paul one. I got the rest of my autographs. Rose skipped that, she was depressed about the day before and actually kind of pissed off about it. Other than that, there was nothing to do at the convention so we went gambling and gave the casino our money. Then we went to the strip and saw some of the sights.
Let me just say. I will never, ever attend another convention by Creation. I don’t care who it’s for. We didn’t even get a freaking swag bag.
Breakdown,
350 dollars gold tickets
170 dollars Ian-Paul Photo op
40 dollars Zach photo op
Not including Room for 4 days or plane tickets, food, and all other crap we had to buy.
If you want to see my photos of the convention visit my FB page
So, friends and fans, please let me know your experience with conventions. Were they like this one? Were they good? Let’s hear it!
