Grant Wilson Alien Con 2019

Alien Con came to Dallas in October. I would have passed on this convention except of one thing: Ghost Hunters. The show is back and moved to a new channel. And with it, Grant Wilson is leading a new team of investigators.

I had printed a photo of Grant and one of the new team.  I was hoping there would be an autograph session after their panel and I could get both photos signed. That was a false hope.

I wandered around the convention and it was what you would expect. It was small in respects to vendors and attendees.  I saw everything in a few minutes.  Since I didn’t have anything else to do, I figured I would sit in the panel room until the Ghost Hunters panel started.

I found a seat in the back and relaxed. The current panel was about Ancient Aliens and ‘new’ discoveries. Does it paint a picture that some people in line were wearing tin foil hats?  The panel made me laugh a few times.  I was the only one laughing. Oh well.

The room emptied at the end of the Ancient Aliens discussion; no one believed in Ghosts. I heard a couple of comments about ghosts being ridiculous.  Again, I laughed.  One man’s trash…or the pot calling the kettle black.  I should have moved to the front of the room but I was happy where I was.

Grant moderated the panel and he did a good job getting the whole team to participate. I enjoyed the discussion and I laughed a few more times; usually at something that was intentionally funny.

At the end of their panel, the team left the stage but Grant was chatting with some fans. I made my way to the front and waited for a chance to get in front of him. He was having a serious conversation with a lady that had some issues.  He was giving some advice.  Then the next person was trying to get some quick advice too.  Grant was listening and trying to give answers that were not generic.

Then the staff told Grant he needed to leave. The next panel needed to start.  He nodded that he heard.  He paused to do a couple of selfies. Then I reached over a few people (it helps to be tall) and held out my pen and photo.  I asked if he would sign. He took the items and signed on his knee.  He paused and told me he really liked that photo. I wanted to say something more but the staff was in his ear and leading him off stage.

AH

Ghost Hunters/Nation Dave Tango and Steve Gonsalves DragonCon 2019

I’ll admit it. I kinda geeked out with Steve Gonsalves and Dave Tango from Ghost Hunters. I watched the show for years on the Sci Fi channel. I am skeptical and the show frustrated me with cliff hanger commercial breaks and background music but I enjoyed the show and watched it each week.

I got both Steve’s and Tango’s autographs on Friday. It was one of the first signatures I picked up. They were both there to chat with fans, answer questions, and listen to what people had to say. They never seemed to rush people.  They allowed me to ask some basic level questions and answered them without snickering.  I got black and white photos as you see them that way for most of the show. You see them walking around in the dark as they investigate.

I also went to two of their panels. The guys are funny and go off on silly tangents.  I found them interesting and enjoyed listening to their thoughts about hunting ghosts. They talked briefly about the wealth of ghost investigation shows currently on TV. While they are all competing for ratings, they wanted fans to know they still chatted and texted with others in the community. No hard feelings.  

Since they were there to promote their NEW show, they did repeat incessantly that Ghost Nation was starting 10/11 at 9 PM on the Travel channel (See I listened when they constantly repeated it).

I went back and got a DVD and a photo for a friend. We chatted again. I made them smile when I repeated the time and date of the new show.  They talked me into a table photo. I was happy I did it.
Next to Copper Andrews, this was my favorite get from DragonCon.
AH

Ghost Hunters

This is actually my parent’s tale but since they don’t have a blog, I’m stealing it.

Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson are longtime friends and are the lead investigates on Ghost Hunters which airs on SyFy. Over the last 5 or 6 years it’s a franchise.

I enjoy the show. I’m skeptical about ghosts and even the show’s findings but I watch. I enjoy it. It’s something I find relaxing. It’s a guilty pleasure.  Before you point a finger at my guilty pleasure – what about your guilty pleasure?  I bet you watch Idol, don’t you?

A few years back, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson came to San Diego for ComicCon.  The Ghost Hunters’ team even did an episode while there. The two of them were scheduled for a panel and to answer fan’s questions. At the last minute they no showed. Frustrating.  I was disappointed as I hoped there would have also had a signing.

Now they published a book, Ghost Hunt: Chilling Tales of the Unknown and they had a book signing scheduled.  I’m excited.  The only problem – it was in Jersey. I’m in Texas.

The signing was at Book Ends.  I have to admit, this is one of my favorite book stores and I’ve NEVER been in it. The store has a lot of big names that come in for signings. It’s the Autograph Hound’s dream come true. If a celebrity has written a book and they have a limited tour, Book Ends will be one of the few stops. It’s amazing the connections they must have to get those big names time after time. A small local book store that brings in top shelf names to sign and they even have extra copies to purchase afterwards.

I found out about Book Ends through the internet. I saved their website and now and then I’ll check out who is scheduled to appear. Once a year or so, I’ll ask my parents to make the drive and get me a book. 

I know Jersey is small but getting anywhere takes twice as long as you’d think. It’s not like driving down the street to get a gallon of milk. It’s a trip for my parents. They are always obliging and willing. But I don’t want to abuse them either.

Mom and Dad tell me it’s exciting.  The hunt of the autograph doesn’t affect them but getting out and seeing the crowd and interacting with the people in line is fun for them. Plus it’s a chance to do something for their favorite son - that’s me by the way. Don’t let the fact that I’m their only son side track the issue that I’m their favorite son.

I do feel guilty sending them out to do my job. Standing in lines for several hours is never fun.  It’s a long drive; usually with a lot of traffic. Coming home afterwards is at night. Often the line is wrapped around the building so they are exposed to the heat or cold or whatnot. That’s why I try to limit them to one excursion a year.

Mom doesn’t have a clue who these guys are. Dad watches SyFy a lot and knows of them but he doesn’t watch their show. My parents have nothing vested in this other than the love for their FAVORITE son. Kind of makes you all choked up, huh?

Dad brought the camera and Mom got the book signed. She was about to leave as she had nothing to say.  Jason stopped her and asked how she was. Then thanked her for coming out to see them.  Then Grant piped up and told her how much they appreciated her being there.  Mom was charmed.

I’m also charmed.  Jason and Grant had already signed a ton of books. They knew there was a long line outside but they made sure to take a few seconds to say hello and say thank you.

So that’s my parent’s tale I told while it wasn’t mine to tell.

AH