This email announcement arrived this afternoon (US time). It includes price info and release dates for the regular gate passes -- and even those are limited to 650!

On the bright side, the exchange rate of the British pound vs. the US dollar has improved slightly since last month.

Here's the email:

We're only a matter of hours away from the VIP ticket release for Gatecon: The Family Reunion in Vancouver this year.

Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions at the moment.

Q. When tickets go on sale, where do I go to purchase them?
A. Head directly to the Gatecon home page at www.gatecon.com. (if you get there slightly earlier than the release time, simply refresh your browser window every few seconds)

What do I need to have prepared for when they go on sale?
A. Make sure you have your credit card details ready, and also the names and email addresses for each person you are buying a ticket for. If you don't have their email address or they live in the same household, simply enter your email address next to their name.

Q. Is there a limit to how many tickets I can buy?
A. You can only purchase a maximum of 10 tickets at a time.

Q. When will the Gate Pass tickets go on sale?
A. Gate Pass tickets will go on sale on Saturday 12th January

Q. How much will Gate Passes cost?
A. The cost of a Gate Pass is £135

Q. How many Gate Pass tickets will be available?
A. 650

Q. Are Gate Pass holders able to take part in the RDA personal autograph sessions?
A. The short answer is yes.
These autograph sessions are being run by Legends Memorabilia, and will be limited to a strict number of available spots. The actual number will be determined by Legends and will be announced once the details of these sessions are finalised.

Q. Will RDA sign personal items?
A. In general, this answer will be NO. Richard is very particular about the types of items he will autograph, but may sign personal items at his discretion. You will need to check with the Legends desk at the convention to see if your personal item may be something that Richard will sign.


Q. What is included in the different ticket types?

Convention Q&A
VIP: Yes
GATE: Yes

RDA Pre-Signed Photo
VIP: FREE
GATE: Optional purchase (details to follow at a later date)

RDA Photo Session
VIP: Yes
GATE: No

Other Guests Photo Sessions
VIP: Yes
GATE: If time permits, based on ticket number

Other Guest Autograph Sessions
VIP: Y
GATE: If time permits, based on ticket number

Welcome Party
VIP: Yes
GATE: No

Charity Auction: Open to ALL ticket holders

Location Bus Tours: Open to all ticket holders - Numbers to be determined

Banquet: Open to all - limited to 500 seats

If you hear a strange noise in the night...

... it will just be me, squee!ing wildly

One hour and 10 minutes.....................tick, tick, tick...............

That sound you hear is the wind and rain howling outside and me praying fervently that the power stays on for at least the next 90 minutes, uninterupted.

Please...........is it too much to ask?


The next sound will be me squee-ing with Loth!

Did you get yours, Grrl? Loth and I did not -- they sold out in the time it took my screen to refresh.

No dammit! Screen refreshment too slow. To say that I'm #%#%%$% would be an understatement.

OK. New plan...........stalk site next week and go for the Gate pass tickets. They still include most of the con and the add on features.

Either that or stalk ebay and hope someone wants to sell the tickets they just got.

While I was swearing at my computer during the sloooooooow refreshing, I did a quick mental calculation:

230 tickets available
10 tickets max per person
if everyone bought the max number, that's 23 people who scored tickets. Lucky dogs.

Maybe we should consider a buying club where we all pay one person to purchase tickets for all of us who want to go.

Would have to get real world names and $$ up front so no one is stuck footing the bill and waiting for payment from anyone else.

So anyway, who's up for another week of anxiety over ticket roullette?

Grrl working hard to maintain positive attitude in face of major disappoinment.

But I'm not giving up, something will work out

=

banlu

Congratulations you lucky dog!!!

Hey, if I get gate passes and give you something will you get RDA to sign it?

Beth and Loth here, plotting another round of early-morning stalkage next weekend.

It was always a crap shoot, after all -- with RDA fans around the world hanging fire in cyberspace ready to hit the site! I have to say, it was impressive in a cranky-making kind of way, seeing a "sold out" notice pop up within, what, 60 seconds?

And I have every expectation of having a terrific time even with regular Gate passes! Heck, I'll actually be meeting some of you lunatics!

OMG, you lucky creature! Conga rats!!!!

Major fun is to be had with the Gate Passes. Keep your chin up there, Grrrrl! We're going to take Vancouver by storm... VIP or not!

Oh heck yeah! Set backs and disappoinments are a part of life..........and mine's not ending just because I didn't score a ticket.

Hell I'm even thinking if I can't get a Gate pass to still go to vancouver just to meet you guys.

I can always lurk on the street corners and maybe 'accidently' bump into RDA.

Hey Banlu, if you have extra tickets you want to unload, I know three who'd be willing to help you out.

Actually, if you want him to sign something, Gatepass people can buy one as well.

We ::blows on fingernails and scuffs them on collar:: do get a pre-signed photo, so other than for a second chance at talking to him for a sec, I might not bother with an autograph - give you peons a chance

I'm going with a friend, so only bought two - sorry.

banlu

Yeah, I was trying to score two as well, one for my husband who also wants to go. Oh well, there's next week, and there is a limited number of photos available for purchase so who knows, maybe I'll end up with one of those.

Enjoy your victory!

First to banlu-thank you for only buying what you needed. That is decency. The same applies to the autograph session, if you decide you do not need another signature.

Second to everyone who (like my dear friend Becky) who did not score tickets as they sold out in under a minute-my condolences.

I had decided I was not going to be able to go financially already, so I used the fact that I would not likely be able to get a VIP pass as a balm to make me feel better about not trying. I hope someone worthy got the one I let go. However, the regular passes might be more doable, and while I still think I can't justify the travel, etc, I'm going to look into it. I'd love to meet some of you 'lunatics'. And whoever said that it would still be a blast is right-way to look on the bright side.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL NEXT WEEKEND!!!

I was lucky to buy two - for me and my friend.

Do you really think somebody snatched 10 tickets without needing them? You had to put in the names, after all! And they can't just resell them, that's for sure.

And yeah, please all try again next week! I still want to meet you! And you have a fairly bigger chance then, with 650 tickets for sale. This is more than the 600 of Avalon!

And yeah, Banlu is right, everybody can buy an autograph ticket. But it might be limited, so not all 1,000 will get one, but the chance is there. It also is only one autograph per person.

Plus some gate pass holders also are allowed to buy the pre-signed picture the VIP tickets get for free, there seems to be a larger number. We don't know how much yet, though.

We also are not sure yet if Rick will sign other things than the pictures you buy there, though. I would be glad to bring this picture of me for signing.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q227/DieAstra/signs.jpg



.

Oh, Astra, you lucky dog! Glad you got one!

Y'all still have a chance to buy a VIP ticket!

Look what I just got in an email from Gatecon!

banlu

ETA - jumble65's post wasn't there when I started LOL

And even more info!

Lottery winners should thank Rick personally for drawing their numbers LOL

banlu

I've entered and if I do get picked.............oh yeah, you betcha Rick gets a big thank you.

Wonder if he'd like a sterling silver chain maille bracelet..........

So, did anybody win?

Somebody did..............but it wasn't me. Looks like I'll be staking my turf in the early AM on Saturday.

BTW Astra, thanks for the advice on how you scored your tickets. I've got a plan and will be running 2 PCs on the DSL. If I can't get a ticket with this set-up, then I must have really annoyed someone in the Karmic universe.

I'm still empty-handed, alas.

Here some things written by sugarshaker at Gateworld:

WHEEEEEEEE!!!

Today, both my friend and I won a chance for an RDA autograph.

And so did Astra!

Only a couple of weeks away

banlu

*sound of squeeing coming from the Midwest*


I won, too! I'm still numb with disbelief...

I'm grinning so much that I can't see over my own cheeks!

Closer and closer!

I'm happy for you, Loth! Now you have a chance to be near to him without a photo session. Squee!

So, where is 'Beth's squee? Let's hear it! *fingers crossed*

And just so that you know what I am determined to let sign, since this empty space over Jack's head really did bug me for a few years, now:

I squee most fervently for Lothi , but not for myself; I didn't win. I shall bask in the secondhand squee from her instead.

So sorry to hear that!

Yes, Beth and I wil be standing on the sidelines this time. And yes I will be armed with camera. Those of you who scored as session owe the rest of us a phtot of you and your prize!

You won't need a to use a flash... I'll be glowing so brightly I may burst into flames.

Bring a wheelbarrow... I may need to be carried out.