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Author
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Topic: 10/2: Ken Willoughby presents: Jim Lovell
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SPACEKID
Member Posts: 59
From: UK
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 09-30-2009 05:27 AM
   
Some kind of firsthand explanation would be welcome by disappointed ticket holders? |
jut2y
Member Posts: 260
From: worthing west sussex united kingdom
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 09-30-2009 10:48 AM
quote:
Originally posted by SPACEKID:
Some kind of firsthand explanation would be welcome by disappointed ticket holders?
The reasons are fairly obvious, Captain Lovell was only signing his book and no other items therefore even though his lecture would have been fascinating I think ticket sales took a dive because of this stipulation and unless Ken can fill the house how can all Captain Lovell's fees be met. It is very disappointing for all who were attending but in this world recession everybody is having to think twice about spending in my opinion. |
StarDome
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posted 09-30-2009 03:22 PM
Book signing, autographs aside, the bottom line is that not enough tickets were purchased to cover the fees, pure and simple!Yes we are all really disappointed, the school who were hosting it are too. Maybe as Lovell had been to Autographica within recent times had a part to play, who's to say if it was another astronaut it would have been any different at this juncture. People travel far and wide to see these astronaut legends, yes it does cost money we all understand that, if I sat and worked out how much it had cost me over the years I would probably get a massive heat attack and divorce, but I don't care how much is has cost me nor or how many autographs I got or didn't get. For me, in years to come it will be being able to sit down when these guys aren't with us anymore and being able to say, I was there when he gave a lecture, or I met him once... now that is worth more than any signed book or autograph will ever be worth to me. Those moments are special. Maybe some of it was lack of advertising on Ken's part, media savvy, we all have our own expertise and we can all comment and criticize but it isn't going to change the fact that Lovell isn't going to be here this coming weekend, fact. Let's all move on, and try to give our support to all future astronaut events in the UK, we bemoan the fact that rarely do these guys come to the UK and the tickets didn't sell. Merely being in the same room as one of the Apollo astronauts is a privilege and an honour. Whether he signs a book, or autograph is secondary in my opinion and not the sole reason should it be to attend. Many of us travel many many miles to see them, spend time with them, interact with them. Don't let this one episode put you off supporting more UK events I will pass on the comments about the time it took to get a refund from the March event to Ken and will let you know when he responds. |
jut2y
Member Posts: 260
From: worthing west sussex united kingdom
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 09-30-2009 04:27 PM
My comments were not meant to offend.I have travelled far and wide myself to meet the Apollo Astronauts and not just for autographs.
My comments were a reflection on why I think the ticket sales were not as successful as they could have been. |
StarDome
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posted 09-30-2009 04:34 PM
No offense taken.I understand your thoughts and comments, however, the fact that he would only sign his book is irrelevant and I do not believe that people voted with their feet purely on this fact. The majority of the general, non space community public wouldn't be bothered about it anyhow. it irks me to think that people would only buy tickets on the basis of what the astronaut will or wont sign at these types of event. If that's the case then their isnt much hope! People should be grateful that he had agreed to sign anything at all! |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 09-30-2009 04:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Blackarrow:
Does he exist?
I can vouch for Ken also. A bluff Yorkshireman who says it like it is and is a space nut like the rest of us. |
BMckay
Member Posts: 3218
From: MA, USA
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 09-30-2009 05:00 PM
Please give any organizer a break when it comes to events. It is hard to get funds for some of the shuttle guys and even harder to find sponsors to help with an Apollo astronaut. The cost is high. I just had to put on hold plans here in the states to bring an ex-astronaut to our area. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-30-2009 05:01 PM
quote:
Originally posted by StarDome:
I will pass on the comments about the time it took to get a refund from the March event to Ken and will let you know when he responds.
A question that you might pose to Ken, if he is open to sharing as it may avoid future confusion, is if he contracts with the astronauts that he invites to attend, guaranteeing them their fee regardless the number of tickets sold (thereby assuming the risk associated with the event) or if his agreements do not go into affect until after a minimum number of seats have been sold. If the latter is the case, as the current situation implies, then perhaps it would be helpful for future event promotions to state up front that astronaut attendance is conditional on ticket sales. |
StarDome
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posted 09-30-2009 05:10 PM
As you will know, what ever the contract is between both parties remains purely confidential. I am not privy to those negotiations or discussions as this is Ken's event. Ken will and does his best to organise as he sees fit based on his previous experience.It may not be the way that we would do things but I will also pass on your comments to him as well. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 09-30-2009 06:12 PM
quote:
Originally posted by StarDome:
Merely being in the same room as one of the Apollo astronauts is a privilege and an honour.
I agree entirely. At Autographica earlier this month we had the opportunity to attend a talk by one of only 22 men to have orbited the Moon. I had heard most of Al Worden's comments before, but that didn't matter. It was enough to know that the speaker had orbited the Moon. We were privileged to listen to living history. |
StarDome
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posted 10-01-2009 12:01 PM
One of 22 to orbit the moon? was he not one of 24? |
spacecraft films
Member Posts: 802
From: Columbus, OH USA
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 10-01-2009 01:53 PM
Young and Cernan orbited the moon twice... er... rather... on two separate missions, making the total 22. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-01-2009 02:00 PM
Twenty-four (24) different people visited the Moon. Lovell, Cernan and Young all visited twice, bringing the total "ticket" count to 27. - Bill Anders
- Frank Borman
- Jim Lovell (x2)
- John Young (x2)
- Gene Cernan (x2)
- Tom Stafford
- Neil Armstrong
- Buzz Aldrin
- Mike Collins
- Pete Conrad
- Alan Bean
- Dick Gordon
- Fred Haise
- Jack Swigert
- Alan Shepard
- Ed Mitchell
- Stu Roosa
- David Scott
- Jim Irwin
- Al Worden
- Charlie Duke
- Ken Mattingly
- Jack Schmitt
- Ron Evans
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StarDome
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posted 10-01-2009 02:03 PM
Thanks Robert, I knew there was a 24 in there somewhere.  |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 10-01-2009 02:05 PM
quote:
Originally posted by StarDome:
One of 22 to orbit the moon? was he not one of 24?
No - 22 is correct. 24 visited the moon, but only 22 orbited. Apollo 13 swung around the far side of the moon without going into orbit. Lovell had orbited before, but Swigert and Haise had not. I had to read his posting twice myself, as it is not generally the way it is expressed - but it is correct, and an interesting new way of putting it. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 10-01-2009 02:58 PM
My understanding is that Lovell would not get on the plane unless his fee was paid in full before the event. Ticket sales did not allow this to be done with the time limit.
Nevertheless, Ken is much more optimistic about Mitchell and Cernan. |
StarDome
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posted 10-01-2009 03:54 PM
That is correct.Mitchell already has the itinerary for April, and he had agreed to do it now. Please support this event! |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 10-01-2009 06:03 PM
quote:
Originally posted by StarDome:
One of 22 to orbit the moon? was he not one of 24?
As Francis French points out, 24 men visited the Moon, but 2 of them (Haise and Swigert) did not orbit. Anyone who has the pleasure of attending a talk by Fred Haise will learn much about quiet courage in adversity, but little or nothing about the surface of the Moon. The crew of 13 had too much on their minds to spend more than a few fleeting moments studying the Moon. |
StarDome
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posted 10-02-2009 01:17 AM
Yep, I spent two days with Fred when he came to Pontefract, a really nice man. |
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