Wolf 359 - SG2

4th /5th November 2000

The idea of going to conventions two weekends running seemed good on paper. However, there are times when theory just doesn’t match up to reality. I hadn’t banked on feeling quite as shattered as I did when I left Clacton to embark upon SG2, the second in a series of Wolf 359 organised Stargate conventions.
I say series, as they have another organised for next year!
The convention took the usual format of talks, a video room, autograph sessions and a dealers room. Oh, and there was a bar, too! I was impressed with the convention badges this time around - rather than using wristbands, which look quite naff, we were treated to clip on badges in the style of SGC passes!While the format of the event was familiar, something on the stage where the guest talks were to take place was certainly out of this world.

The item in question was Wolf 359’s very own Stargate - complete with moving inner ring, glowing chevrons and a video screen at the back to provide the effects for the puddle and the iris. For some reason, they couldn’t quite stretch to an energy vortex… Maybe next year!

We had already heard who the guests were - Amanda Tapping, Teryl Rothery and Don S Davis… but they weren’t the only people to assemble on the stage for the opening ceremony. Richard Biggs made an appearance as guest MC, Peter Williams (Apophis) provided another surprise

and the biggest surprise of all had to be JR Bourne (Martouf). Given the volume of the cheering, I think there was no doubt that those guys were more than welcome!

The guest talks were very amusing, and certainly had their highlights. One that sticks in my mind is Peter Williams being asked “what it was like to play a complete bastard?” - he replied that it was great. He was also asked to sing something as he revealed that he very much likes music. He apologised in advance for his singing voice, but I don’t think he had anything to say sorry for as he can certainly hold a note.

As with many conventions, not everything ran to time. In fact, on the Saturday, things ran so late we ended up watching Stargate episodes that hadn’t aired in the UK yet - so despite not having satellite TV, I was up to date at last!! They were pretty good episodes too - one of them including a marvellous line from O’Neill comparing General Hammond to Homer Simpson! (Beneath The Surface!)

Don S Davis was interesting to listen to - it turns out that he’s interested in art and an avid golf player, too - he tried to engineer a bit of product placement on the set of Stargate in order to get a free set of clubs… but sadly it didn’t work!

Teryl Rothery and Amanda Tapping (AKA Turtle and Minnie, respectively) both had tales to tell about behind the scenes on Stargate - one of which featured Christopher Judge and some duct tape - as well as tales to tell about each other.

Richard Biggs wondered what he could say exactly, considering he had been in a show everyone had heard about… so he turned to a new subject entirely - that being how he wants to be on Stargate!

I’m not usually interested in auctions at conventions as I often don’t have the right kind of money to bid for anything (i.e. lots!) but the auction at SG2 was entertainment in itself. When various scripts were auctioned, Amanda provided a special touch by silently acting them out whilst the bidding was going on. Teryl auctioned off what she termed “an authentic Dr Frasier lab coat” - not only that, but she modelled it, too! Various props were up for grabs - one notable item being an Egyptian style urn used in one of the latest episodes. I think the star item had to be a double lined jacket featuring the MGM and Stargate logos - not only was it a rarity but it was modelled by none other than Amanda Tapping and contained a few surprises, such as call sheets, hidden in the pockets. It went for £1500 in the end!!

I was pleased with the way the autograph queues were handled.
I was also glad that I was number 333 as the autograph numbers were going from 300 upwards.
At that moment I was glad I booked when I did! The high point of the autographs was Corinne’s League of the Non Aligned cap being noticed by Peter Williams and Richard Biggs, who were fascinated… and obviously were also people of good taste, too!!

Steve got it right in November’s Contact when he said that “every convention you go on you have a McDonalds” - we all trooped down to the McDonald’s near the hotel for dinner as it was a much cheaper alternative than eating at the hotel! Food was available in the foyer but it was expensive. However, it was handy if you just needed something to keep you going. I think Corinne got it right when she said that the McDonald’s was probably busiest when there was a convention going on!

As we were still recovering from the effects of Cult TV, we didn’t have the energy to stay for the evening discos and headed home pretty early on Saturday night.

We stayed for the guest speeches at Teryl’s birthday party on the Sunday, though. A request had been made that attendees bring a teddy bear for Teryl’s birthday - these bears were then to be donated to needy children. Given the mountain of teddy bears on view the response was quite good!

All in all, the event was a good laugh and certainly made all the better by the quality of the guests - JR Bourne and Amanda Tapping had great on stage chemistry and made for an entertaining double act… and when all of the guests were on stage together, they made a great combination!

During the prize giving, it transpired that one of the award winners was not present as she was in Bath at the time - but her mum was there! So, just to make sure she’d won a prize, Amanda, JR, Teryl, Peter, Don and Richard all talked to her via mobile phone technology!It was touches like that which added to the convention itself and made it a weekend to remember.