Friendly Encounters

This is a weekly feature highlighting friends who have met celebs.

When I first covered the Motor City Comic Con for Global Traveler, Press Liaison Valerie Schendel was a huge help in my effort. Valerie was very informative, helpful and pleasant throughout the process.
I asked Valerie to share a few photos and stories about her years working with the MCCC. She had some great stories to tell. She really seemed to love the convention. After attending my first one, I understood her enthusiasm for the MCCC. She wasn't just being a great Public Relations person. It was a great event.
One of the pictures she shared was of her and Adam West. West almost appears to be smiling. I always try to give the celebrity the benefit of the doubt on unpleasant experiences, but I have not had a pleasant experience with West in at least 5 different conventions.
West is very strict about being photographed. How strict? At the Spring 2010 MCCC, my friends and I were a good 50 feet from his booth when we were testing my camera by taking pictures of things in the opposite direction. West had one of the assistants ask (tell) me to stop shooting pictures.
I witnessed a similar scene involving others at another convention. I also witnessed West refuse to take a group picture with fellow celebrity guest Frank Gorshin (who appeared on Batman with West). I have also never seen him smile in any photo with fans.
Did I just catch West on a few bad days? Maybe, but I don't think so. I think that is just him. Either way, my stance remains the same for celebrities. If you don't want to be there, stay home. People pay a lot of money for West and they should not walk away feeling cheated.
If I am being unfair to West and he (or anyone else) wants to dispute it, I will be happy to report the other side. If I ever see evidence contrary to my belief, I will happily retract my statements. Until then, I stand by my observations.

Valerie Schendel and Adam West in Novi, MI-Early 2000's.

Friendly Encounters at the Motor City Comic Con

This is a special series about my friends meeting celebs at the Motor City Comic Con.

Valerie Schendel is the Press Liason at Motor City Comic Con. She was extremely helpful with getting me extra access at the 2009 MCCC.
When I asked Valerie to share some of her favorite pictures and one of the first she sent was with Soupy Sales. The late Sales was a star of radio and television. He was a comedian and an actor. He also popped up regularly on various game shows.
Sales is one of those legendary figures. From all reports is was great with his fans at the show. I wish I could have been there.

Valerie Schendel and Soupy Sales in Novi, MI-Early 2000's.

Friendly Encounters

This is another in a series of meetings of my friends and celebs.

As I have recently written, I will be covering the Motor City Comic Con for Global Traveler magazine's blogs. Over the last week or so, I have received a great deal of help and information from Valerie Schendel, the Press Liason for the MCCC.
I knew that Valerie would have plenty of great pictures and stories from her years with the MCCC. The MCCC is always so large and full of celebrities and artists, there really is something for everyone.
The best example of this is a story that Valerie shared with me. In her own words:
I can tell you though my kids have thoroughly enjoyed attending the show over the years. They have quite literally grown up attending Motor City Comic Cons!!! Being a mom that has a wee bit of clout has it's perks. When my husband and I adopted a 10 year old girl from an orphanage in Kazakhstan, she had little to no idea who many of the 'stars' were that were there in 2004. BUT .... she knew Herbie!!!

Valerie's daughter Marina was very excited about Herbie, but Valerie states that her son Brian has the best story. Again, I'll let Valerie tell the story:
I, of course, was on staff and knew most of the Star Wars guys. However one of Brian's friends came to the convention and "Boba Fett" walked by and said Hi Val how ya doing? Then said hello to Brian as well and shook Brians' hand and small talked a bit with him. Brian's friend practically fainted - and the next day in school Brian was a big hit --- "Brians' Mom knows Boba Fett!!"
Valerie and her family are just one example of how MCCC has something for everyone. There aren't too many places where everyone in a family can have a great time. The MCCC is one such place, an event where everyone will have plenty of fun.

Valerie Schendel, Brian Schornberg, Billy Dee Williams and Quentin Rollins at the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, MI-May 1999.