Steel City Con - Day 2

I got there even earlier on day 2, but still wasn't first in line. There were already 2 chairs lined up. But I was a bit closer to the front than the day before. It also wasn't quite as cold, but I still spent a good portion of the morning in the car with the heater on.

I was torn on who to go for first. My initial game plan was to get Bruce Dickinson first. But missing out on Peter Cullen on the first day messed up my plans. I decided to go for Cullen first. I needed Cullen on my Gremlins and Predator posters more than I needed Dickinson on an Iron Maiden record. Also, Cullen is getting old and may be in poor health. He arrived late and left early on the first day.

There were already several people in the VIP line when I got there. I was about 5 people back. Once again, Cullen and Welker did not arrive anywhere close to the opening of the con. I got to know the guys behind me in line, and they agreed to hold my spot while I scoped things out. I made my way over to Frank Grillo's line. He wasn't there yet, and there were about half a dozen people in the VIP line. I went ahead and jumped in line. I spent a few minutes getting to know the folks around me in line. I actually already knew the guy in front of me from a previous con. He is also named Doug, so I knew he was somebody I could trust. So I asked them to save my spot while I ran back over to Peter Cullen's line.

I basically spent the next 75 minutes or so running back and forth between the two lines. Frank Grillo finally arrived at around 10:45am. I was kind of nervous meeting him, as he usually plays tough, grizzled assholes. But I needn't have worried, because he was incredibly nice. I wanted the fairly long quote on the poster for "Purge: Anarchy". So I started saying something like "I really hope it isn't too much trouble, but I was hoping you could write..." before he interrupted me by laughing and saying "I'll write anything you want". It was a really great meet.

I hustled back over to the Peter Cullen line. He still wasn't there. The guy behind me asked me to hold his spot. He came back a few minutes later, having just met Saraya/Paige. He said her VIP line was nonexistent. Now, I'm not a wrestling fan. I haven't cared about wrestling since I was 12 years old. But I am a huge Florence Pugh fan, and really liked her movie "Fighting With My Family". Well, in that movie Pugh was playing Paige. So for that somewhat tenuous reason, I've always had a fondness for her. I decided to run over to her line and grab a selfie with her. I was next in the VIP line, but the two ladies in front of me had a very long interaction with her. I don't begrudge them the long meet, as meeting Paige/Saraya was obvious a huge moment for them. But I was starting to worry that I might miss Mr. Cullen's arrival.

I finally got up to her. I started off by saying that I'm not a wrestling fan. She definitely wasn't expecting that lol. But when I told her how much I love the movie about her life, so started clapping and said "Yay!". She is a total sweetheart, and I'm glad I made the spur of the moment decision to get a photo with her.

As soon as I stepped away from her line, a guy I don't know ran up to me and said something like "There you are, Peter Cullen is arriving". It turns out he was in the Frank Welker line, and apparently heard the guys I was hanging with in the Cullen line say that I had gone to meet Saraya. So he ran to find me. That is so awesome, and I am very appreciative of his help. This is what conventions are all about!

I finally met Mr. Cullen. His handler was very strict about the "signature only" policy, so I didn't press my luck asking for character names. I got my posters signed. I had been worrying that I wouldn't meet Mr. Cullen before I had to leave for my photo op, but I finished just in time.

My Linda Hamilton VIP ticket came with a pro photo op. I already had a nice selfie with her from a con last year, so I decided to upgrade to the Terminator duo with Michael Biehn. I debated doing the T2 trio with Robert Patrick and Edward Furlong, but still had a bad taste in my mouth from Furlong's pricing and decided to spend my money on somebody else.

I'm not thrilled with how this op turned out. Biehn doesn't look happy at all, and Linda doesn't look at all like the really sweet person she is. I look like a dope with a big smile standing between them lol. It isn't terrible, but it wasn't quite what I was hoping for.

I had about an hour left before I had to leave for the airport. I only had two people left that I needed. John Stamos wasn't at his table, and there was nobody there at all, at the table or in line. Bruce Dickinson wasn't at his table either, but there were people in line. There were only a couple in the VIP line, so I jumped in. Bruce showed up about 20 or so minutes later. He doesn't really talk, but he seems friendly enough. I got my record signed. I had a couple more I could have gotten signed, but I only had enough money left for one. He doesn't do selfies, but you are allowed to take photos of him while he signs. I really wanted to do a photo op with him, but he wasn't there on Friday, and his photo op on Saturday was in the evening, long after I had to leave for my flight.

John Stamos still wasn't at his table, so I decided to call it a day. I went back to my hotel, got everything packed up, and left for the airport. I had a great convention. I don't think I've ever had more camaraderie and teamwork with a group of mostly strangers than I did at this con. I couldn't have gotten everything I did without help, and I'm very grateful to those that helped me, whether they were old friends or new ones. I wish the venue had more space, and WAY more parking spaces. But I wouldn't hesitate to attend Steel City Con again. The stats for day 2: Celebs Met: 6

Photos With Celebs: 3

Items Signed: 5

Autographs Obtained: 5 And the stats for the entire convention: Celebs Met: 17

Photos With Celebs: 9

Items Signed: 19

Autographs Obtained: 23