Autographs & Photographs

last updated October 30, 2012.

Please note that the below procedutes applied to the 2012 convention. We reserve the right to tweak the below procedures and pricing as we approach the 2013 convention.

Many fans relish the opportunity to get up close with their favorite actors and writers by getting their autograph or having their picture taken with them. Chicago TARDIS loves to accommodate fans in these needs. Unfortunately, the realities of running a non-profit convention in these trying economic times requires Chicago TARDIS to charge for autographs and/or photographs with certain guests. Rest assured that we won’t charge a fee unless we need said fee to help pay for the expense of bringing a guest to the convention. Many photograph and autograph opportunities remain free. In addition, not every convention member wants autographs and photographs, so by charging a little extra for certain sessions, we avoid having to raise the membership fees across the board.

How To Get A Photograph or Autograph

Nothing could be easier! Here’s the gist of the procedure, for the main photograph/autograph sessions:

  1. Look on the schedule to see what time the session will happen.
  2. Report to the autograph/photograph area within an hour of the session start time to get your Virtual Queue ticket.
  3. Come back to the area at the time you’re told, and find out from the Line Manager where to stand.
  4. Follow the line into the Photograph/Autograph room. Pay your money (if applicable), and get your autograph or photograph.

For the alt.autograph room (a.k.a. the Dealers Room), the procedure is even easier!

  1. Look on the schedule to see what time the session will happen.
  2. Report to the Dealers Room starting 15 minutes before the session time. The Line Manager will direct you where to stand.
  3. Follow the line up to the tables, then get your item signed.

The Virtual Queue

We know what a drag it can be standing in line to get that special autograph or photograph! In order to make it easier for you to get your snaps and signatures while enjoying the rest of the convention to the fullest, we have established the Virtual Queue. Here’s how it works:

  1. Tickets with line group letters will be given out for a particular session starting one hour before the session begins. Get your line ticket at the table just outside the Autograph/Photograph Room (Junior Ballroom A).
  2. When you receive your ticket, you will be told an approximate time to return to the area. You have the choice of either heading to our Waiting Room (Lilac B-D) and sitting in the row that matches your ticket letter, or leaving the area to enjoy the rest of the convention.
  3. When you return to the Autograph/Photograph area at the appropriate time, you will then line up based on your group letter, a la Southwest Airlines. The Line Manager will tell you whether you should line up in Lilac B-D or in the hallway. You’ll still have to wait a bit, but not nearly as long as you would have otherwise.
  4. All-Access members do not have to get a queueing ticket– they are automatically in group "A" (for All-Access). Please line up 10 minutes before the session is scheduled to start.
  5. If you show up after your group has already gone through the room, you may join the queue at the end of the current group that is being processed.

This queueing system only applies to sessions held in the main Autograph/Photograph room (Junior Ballroom A). For the alt.autograph sessions held in the Dealers Room, you simply line up. (A Line Manager will instruct you as to where to stand, where the end of the line is, etc.)

Photo Op Procedures:

You may bring your own camera and have our staff take a picture of you with the guest(s) in that session free of charge.

OR

For $25 (plus $10/each for additional copies), our professional photographer will take a picture of you and the guest(s) in the session. Your photo can have any number of you and your family/friends in it in addition to the guest(s). You will receive an 8 x 10 photo (not an inkjet print) just a few hours later, in time to have it signed in an autograph session. (For Sunday photos, you won’t be able to get them signed€”they won’t be back until Closing Ceremonies!)*

Additional-Fee Photo Op Session Procedures

For 2012, these procedures apply to Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, Burn Gorman, Anjli Mohindra, Paul Marc Davis, Ian McNeice, Simon Fisher-Becker, and Colin Spaull.

  1. Our professional photographer will take a photo of you and the guest(s) in the session.
  2. You will receive a professionally-printed 8 x 10 color photo a few hours after the session finishes€”just in time to have it signed in an autograph session. (Unless it’s Sunday, in which case you may claim your photos after Closing Ceremonies.*)
  3. You can have any number of people in your photo with the guest(s).
  4. The fee is $25 for the first photo, and $10 for each additional copy. If you choose to use your own camera, the fee is only $20.
  5. All-Access Members may have one photo free with each of the guests with their own camera, or for $5 if our photographer takes it with his camera. This free offer is for one session only; it does not constitute a weekend pass. Reserved Members may have one photo free with Ian McNeice, Simon Fisher-Baker, and Colin Spaull on Friday only, or for $5 if our photographer takes it with his camera.

*While it is our intention to have all photos developed within a few hours of the photo shoot ending, if for any reason the photos are delayed, we will distribute them later in the day or the following day. Any uncollected photos will be available the next day. If someone has to leave before their photo is available because of any such delay, it will be mailed to them so long as they leave their name and address and some means of identifying which photo is theirs. (Postage may be charged for this service.) We also reserve the right to change the day and times of the photo shoot subject to guest appearance days and other scheduling.

Main Autograph Session Procedures

  1. Bring in the item you want to get signed. You may buy it in the Dealers Room or bring it from home.
  2. Some guests have a selection of photos to choose from at an additional charge. You can have the photo and your item signed in the same session.
  3. We reserve the right to limit the amount of autographs per member, in order to make sure everyone has the chance to get one.
  4. Chicago TARDIS will try to provide a selection of purchasable items for every actor to sign in the event you do not have something.

    5. Alt.Autograph Session Procedures

    1. Report to the Dealers Room approximately fifteen minutes before the session you are interested in begins.
    2. You will be told where to stand, so you don’t block dealer tables.
    3. Bring in the item you want to get signed. You may buy it in the Dealers Room or bring it from home.
    4. We reserve the right to limit the amount of autographs per member in order to make sure everyone has a chance to get one.
    5. The Alien Entertainment table will have a selection of items for purchase for each session. You can buy a book/CD/etc. and get it signed in one line-up.

    Additional Fee Autograph Session Procedures

    For 2012, these procedures apply to Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, Burn Gorman, Anjli Mohindra, Paul Marc Davis, Ian McNeice, Simon Fisher-Becker, and Colin Spaull.

    1. The fee is $20 per item signed.
    2. You have the option of bringing something from home (or the dealers room) to get signed, or purchasing (at an additional fee) a photo or other item to be signed while in line for the autograph.
    3. You can pay for the autographs (and the photos) at the session using either cash or credit card.
    4. All-Access members are entitled to two personal items signed free by each of the extra-fee guests; Reserved members are entitled to one personal item signed free by Ian McNeice, Simon Fisher-Becker, and Colin Spaull. Please note that this free offer is for one (or two) autographs total, not per session..
    5. We reserve the right to ban any member from Additional Fee Autograph Sessions if said member is caught trying to get more signatures than he/she is entitled to.

    Photographing the Guests Outside of the Session

    We understand that getting a photo with a guest is important and we provide photo op sessions in which to do so. For sessions in which we charge additional fees, we ask that you respect the contract we have with the guest and not ask to take a photo with them if you see them in the hall or on the way to a panel. This can be awkward for the guest and, while most will gladly pose for the picture, the convention loses out on money we need to help pay the bills. We want to keep the price of admission as low as possible for everyone, so please go to the photo session for the additional-fee guests.

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