Monster Mania 16

[Sleepyskull]

Will anybody from BadMovies.org be attending Monster Mania 16 in Hunt Valley, MD?

It's September 17-19, 2010.

I'm asking because I will be attending all 3 days (I just ordered my weekend pass) and am honestly just curious!

It will be my second horror convention including last year's Horrorfind Weekend. I desperately wanted to go to Horrorfind again this year, but I decided not to go because I just got a job in mid-August and it would look bad to take off 6 days from work in the same month.  Also, I already have off a lot for school. 

I know Saucerman has attended Monster Manias in the past. I'd love to hear thoughts and advice from him or anybody really!

[Saucerman]

I'll be at Monster Mania 16! Let me know what you want to know, and I'll do my best to advise. 

[Sleepyskull]

I'll be at Monster Mania 16! Let me know what you want to know, and I'll do my best to advise. 

First of all, thanks!  I meant general advice, but I'll let you know if I think of anything specific.

By the way, I live about 20-30 minutes away (lucky me!  ) so I'll just be getting a ride to and from the hotel each day, so no worries there...

[Saucerman]

General advice...


NEVER buy autographs in the dealers room.  Assume they're fake.  If you can't see the autograph being signed, don't buy it. 

Carry snacks -- I'm partial to beef jerky.  That way you're saving money you would have spent on food...to spend on more loot!

If you're after autographs, expect to spend $20-$30 apiece on them.  $20 is pretty normal, some of the bigger names charge more.  At Monster Mania 14, Gary Busey was charging something like $30, I paid $30 to Jeffrey Combs at Chiller (since he was charging extra to have pictures taken with him -- most don't), and I think I spent something like $35 on an autograph and picture with Tura Satana, but since I also got a cool story out of the deal (plus she's had a lot of health problems and back surgeries lately) I wasn't bothered by this. 

[Sleepyskull]

General advice...


NEVER buy autographs in the dealers room.  Assume they're fake.  If you can't see the autograph being signed, don't buy it. 

Carry snacks -- I'm partial to beef jerky.  That way you're saving money you would have spent on food...to spend on more loot!

If you're after autographs, expect to spend $20-$30 apiece on them.  $20 is pretty normal, some of the bigger names charge more.  At Monster Mania 14, Gary Busey was charging something like $30, I paid $30 to Jeffrey Combs at Chiller (since he was charging extra to have pictures taken with him -- most don't), and I think I spent something like $35 on an autograph and picture with Tura Satana, but since I also got a cool story out of the deal (plus she's had a lot of health problems and back surgeries lately) I wasn't bothered by this. 

Thank you!

About the autographs: Unless I get an autograph as a gift, I don't find an autograph  fun to have unless I meet the person, so buying one in the dealer's room is not something I'll even consider. Good points, though!

Now I have a question:

I just got my ticket in the mail today! It's a wristband (yellow with a black spiky/curvy line), but I'm just wondering how durable is it? It seems to be made of some sort of tough coated paper. I can shower with it on right? This is especially important because I will not be staying at the hotel, so I'll have more stuff to do (cooking, household chores, etc...). I'm lucky because I got off work for those 3 days completely so I won't damage it there!

[Saucerman]

Yeah, these wrist-bands are friggin' indestructible.  For Monster Mania 14, mine was on my wrist a total of four days, including four showers and a shift at the factory.