I remember my first fest - I had been waiting in line for an autograph for over an hour. The hallway was hotter'n heck. Jim Pearson was making every attemp to soothe the fans, but to no avail. People were screaming at him. You have to realize that the folks who organize the fests work their asses off arranging this stuff. They go beyond their best. No, not every event works out the way it's planned, but it's pretty darn close. My last fest, I waited in line like everybody else. When I got to John Karlen, he asked me why I waited in line for so long, as I know him personally, and he said he would sign anything I wanted. Because of the experience. I wanted to experience what everybody else was. The fests are very personal. I feel fortunate to have met so many wonderful people. Gee whiz, if Nancy hadn't arrested me for wickedness in 2004, well, that's another story.
Enjoy the fests and all the folks you meet from across the globe. That's what I say, anyway.