Day two got right back down to business. Of course that was after a small amount of excitement at the hotel involving slow service in the restaurant and a broken elevator. It’s amazing how two minor little things can just throw off a morning for people, but it did, big time. I’ll have to admit, the staff here at the Wyndam O’Hare weren’t exactly well prepared for the masses of fans coming to their facility. Every time the word “Supernatural” was mentioned to the staff, I saw a lot of blank stares.
I got over the elevator issue easily — I TOOK THE STAIRS. This isn’t exactly a high rise hotel. It’s funny how most didn’t take that advice and instead lined up for the one working elevator. After I easily beat others to my floor by at least ten minutes (maybe longer), I got the real show of the morning. My room was close to the end of the hall and an older woman in full formal dress stood at the end of the hallway, hands on her hips, staring at me the entire way down with irritation. As I got closer, I tilted my head, trying to figure out what was up with her.
“Are you from the restaurant?” she asked with agitated voice when I was within “firm talking to” distance. I didn’t understand where she got that impression, since I was dressed in regular clothing, holding a hotel key card, and carrying my purse.
“Um, no,” I replied.
She then went off, for she had a place to be (a wedding by the looks of it) and they still hadn’t delivered her room service. I then explained there was an issue with the elevators and it might be faster for her to go down the ONE flight of stairs and get it herself.
“That’s because of all these young people around here for some stupid thing.” She went back into her room and slammed the door, not before I heard her mutter angrily, “I don’t have time for this.”
You know, that ended up setting the tone for the day. “I don’t have time for this.” For the second day in a row, Creation’s tight schedule didn’t exactly go smoothly when it came to autographs, the Jason Manns concert, and then the Dessert and Cocktail party. Everything ran about an hour behind, and the whole experience by that time felt rushed.
Article comments
1 - Mary
Thanks for your reports, Alice! I'm enjoying them.
My complaints about cons are that they're rushed, pricey, and duplicative. I'd love to encounter actors in their natural environment (i.e., watching them work), but the chances of that are so laughably remote that I settle for cons and then wonder why, especially when I hear the same lame questions over and over again. If I'm tired of them, the actors must positively cringe, and it's to their credit that they hide it and keep smiling.
But in every con, there are gem moments that make it all worthwhile: meeting the folk you've blogged with, hearing an original question with a really funny or insightful answer, seeing people interact. And thus, we keep going.
I'm looking forward to your report on Jared and Jensen!
2 - kate
I have paid for a con and spent the whole (ok almost whole) time in the bar with online friends and meeting new ones. In fact I will be doing that at a local con later this month. Granted the con is a small one and significantly cheaper it does seem odd sometimes to pay money to sit in a hotel bar with friends.
But so far it has always been worth it.
3 - Drew
Hey, Alice. Sounds like your having some fun up there in Chicago. Good to hear. Sorry you missed out on your photo op though.
4 - Robin
Loved your rundown of events at the Con, Alice, and sure wish I'd known you were there so I could have given you a hug and told you how much I enjoy your SUPERNATURAL articles! The whole thing IS too rushed, there's far too much waiting in long lines, there isn't enough down time for people to get something to eat, and the damn hotel gave us a fridge that froze my insulin, rendering it useless! But standing between Jared and Jensen for my sandwich photo op was heavenly, even though the resultant photo looks like two sleek, gorgeous eagles with an ugly wren standing between them! My hair looked TERRIBLE!
Thank God for Photoshop. I'll just remove myself altogether!
Thanks again, Alice, for all your wonderful articles on SUPERNATURAL!
Love, Robin
5 - Alice Jester
Hey everyone! I wanted to point out a MAJOR typo. Please remember this was done in a rush in between events, so I apologize for missing this detail. Charles Malik Whitfield is from THE BRONX, not Brooklyn. I'm sure that's a big difference to people in that area. Sorry!
6 - Christopher Rose
I fixed that for you, Alice.
7 - Alice Jester
Thanks Christopher!