Tour question (Chicago)

I was just looking at the Borders site, and no info. They're usually idiots, and you have to call, and then they usually don't know. Last year at Old Orchard you had to get a ticket that they gave out starting at 5 I think. I got there at 5:30 and got the 49th ticket. Chuck was to read at 7 but came early and started signing at about 6 or so, so about 50 of us got signed BEFORE he even read, I was THE LAST GUY before he read.

If somebody else doesn't post the answer, I'll call Borders, I was going to later today on the way home

Yeah I went to the Old Orchard one, I just couldn't remember how they did it because there was some confusion in the beginning... then the tickets were useless because it went pretty much by scouts honor that we lined up in the correct order. Not to mention the clueless employees who only added to the confusion.

And you're definitely right with them not knowing what goes on. I called last year to verify what to do, and the chick was downright rude and basically said in fifteen different ways that she didn't know wtf was going on, in a tone that made me feel like I screwed something up and was my fault for wanting to know. :indiffere

Good luck calling. If you receive a worthless response, I'll give it a shot. Maybe power in numbers will give us some sort of productive result sometime before the 16th.

If you aren't getting anything signed you may not need anything, who knows. Tickets were just for the signing, I think. And I hope you're heading down from Elgin early. I'm up in Mundelein, working in Lincolnshire, so I'm planning on leaving no later then 4 pm, earlier if I can.

OK, just spoke to Borders, and they don't know yet. Typical. Usually a couple of days before they'll have a process. He said it could be wristbands, or just first come, first served, or you may have to buy a book - depends on the artist and all. So, unless somebody else has insider dirt, we may not know until early next week. That's what happened last year, its all coming back to me.

I'm only about an hour from the city, but yeah I'm definitely getting there early. I plan on spending pretty much the whole day there, just to make sure I get there/don't miss anything.

Thanks for the info from Borders. Let me know if you hear anything else, if you don't mind. Otherwise I guess we'll just have to be surprised to see how they handle it.

hopefully we'll know more on monday

ok, crap, just got off the phone with borders - they'll be giving out wristbands when they open at 9 am - the reading is at 7 pm - the wristbands will determine if you get a seat, about the first 100 people, as well as your order for the book signing

f*ck - if i wait all day to get a wristband at 5 pm, i'll be so screwed - last year there must have been 3-400 people at the event - i'll be sitting outside, and chuck will be signing my book at midnight if at all

sh*t - i may have to take the entire day off now

Whhhat? are you kidding me?? So, the first 100 people at 9am get a wristband, and the people after that...? Nothing? Sorry go home? :pat:

dudes, that sucks. I hope you make it, both of you!

no, no...i just spoke to them again, and they are giving out color coded wristbands for every hundred - you can still get in outside 100, but they'll determine where you are in the order for signing - also, she said that he's only signing rant? wtf - i don't believe it, and am getting there early in case he signs early (he usually does)

Shit. I'm taking a four hour train ride to get there.

[QUOTE=dobug;972478]Shit. I'm taking a four hour train ride to get there. :([/QUOTE]

i'd leave as early as possible - like 5 am - i expect there to be 3-400 people there - if chuck signs again, he'll do about 50 before the reading - that leaves the rest for after - i think he's there pretty late, like 11-1am signing

man, i'd love to bring him something, something to make him feel better, some healthy juice/tea or ointment for his sore muscles, but everything i think of sounds stalker, gay, or just weird - just to show that i respect and care about him, and that i really appreciate all that he does

if you get there in the late morning, early pm i'm sure you'll be fine you'll just be further down the line, that's all

Oooh.. that makes a bit more sense. I was going to be seriously ticked off. Thank you for all of your help!!

As for only signing Rant, maybe it will be a little lax once we're there. I remember that after while at Old Orchard, they said he was only signing books from then on, nothing else... When I was next, the lady asked me what I was getting signed so that she could hand it to him. I said "Well, just this book, not the DVD since it isn't allowed after a few minutes ago." and Mr. Chucky himself looked over and said "no, that's fine... I'll sign the DVD too!" Gotta love him.

I'll probably get there around 1-2pm. Not that I mind hanging around until midnight again, but I still hope I get a good place in line. If they weren't wristbands, I'd grab you one (assuming I'll be there before you) for all of your helpful information... but I don't know if that would be allowed, especially since wristbands are kind of a one-use thing.

Thank you so much, again!

[QUOTE=wickerkat;972515]man, i'd love to bring him something, something to make him feel better, some healthy juice/tea or ointment for his sore muscles, but everything i think of sounds stalker, gay, or just weird - just to show that i respect and care about him, and that i really appreciate all that he does[/QUOTE]

I was thinking the same thing. I wish I had something to bring for him. All the "thank you"'s I can deliver in a few seconds time can't really cover it. Neither can anything I could really bring, but it would be something at least.

well, i'll be there before 9 am, so i'll probably be one of the first - if i can grab more then one i will, but i assume they'll put them on you, like in the hospital, so there is no possibility of transfer

and screw it, i'm still bringing all my books to get signed - i'm only bringing 5, the UK Rant, Monica Drake's "Clown Girl" (already Mon signed), the Playboy with "Guts" a Vice mag with "Mr. Elegant," and Pursuit of Happiness (first Fight Club appearance) - and i don't feel guilty - he spends about 20 seconds on a flat sign, and 30-45 if he personalizes it, so that gives me about 2-3 minutes if that to chat

i'll be asking him about the writer's retreat, monica drake, and the craig clevenger intensive i'm taking right now

Train leaves at 9. Then I have to check into the hotel.... I'm probably fucked.

you're fine - i just don't have the luxury of staying downtown until midnight - have kids at home and work in the morning, so i'm hoping to get my stuff signed before, or right after, and enjoy the reading

vig was talking about how far us cp fans will go to see him, literally and figuratively - i took the day off, so loss of pay ($250) plus cost of daycare not offset by working ($60), parking in a garage twice ($40), tank of gas to downtown, then back to burbs, then back downtown, then back to burbs ($50), plus cost of babysitter from 2-11pm ($90) = $490, not to mention cost of books i bought to get signed - it isn't a plane ticket from cali, but it isn't free either, and i hardly blinked when i realized i'd have to take the day off and do all this - the man comes to chitown once a year, and i just can't miss it

see you all there, best of luck on all of your travels
peace,
richard

I just got my blue wristband, and this event is going to be a mess, I can tell already. Here is the deal. The seating area opens at 4 pm. Chuck WILL BE SIGNING EARLY at about 5:30, if you are in the first group. Which is about 250 people. What the hell? 250 people, with no numbers, no order, that's like most of the group that made it to the last signing in 2006 at Old Orchard. So, even though I was probably one of the first 20 people to get a band, I could possibly be 250th in line. That blows. AND, she said he will ONLY be signing copies of Rant. Since when? Yet they are selling every book he's written in huge displays? UGH. Since there are going to be so many people. There have been huge turnouts everywhere. Well, I guess I'll just bring one or two extras then, and hope it is cooler next year.

Less people turned up to see Jesus crucified that they did Chuck Palahniuk release a new book.

[QUOTE=corellion;972721]Less people turned up to see Jesus crucified that they did Chuck Palahniuk release a new book.[/QUOTE]Jesus had a horrible PR.

__________________________

big S wrote:

Have a good one! I'd sing you happy birthday but the melody was written by a Sunday school teacher and i know how much you hate God so i won't sing to you. Have a good one though.

[QUOTE=wickerkat;972716]I just got my blue wristband, and this event is going to be a mess, I can tell already. Here is the deal. The seating area opens at 4 pm. Chuck WILL BE SIGNING EARLY at about 5:30, if you are in the first group. Which is about 250 people. What the hell? 250 people, with no numbers, no order, that's like most of the group that made it to the last signing in 2006 at Old Orchard. So, even though I was probably one of the first 20 people to get a band, I could possibly be 250th in line. That blows. AND, she said he will ONLY be signing copies of Rant. Since when? Yet they are selling every book he's written in huge displays? UGH. Since there are going to be so many people. There have been huge turnouts everywhere. Well, I guess I'll just bring one or two extras then, and hope it is cooler next year.[/QUOTE]

Yikes. Well, that shall be fun. I'm hopping on the 1:28ish train, then walking the threeish miles to Borders. I was hoping to bring a copy of one of the magazines I have with Guts in it, because I didn't think of it at Old Orchard... but oh well. Maybe he'll tour again for the paperback release? And maybe it won't be such a clusterfuck of confusion and stupid. One can only hope. Thanks again for all the info!

i mean, feel free to bring it, who knows what is going to happen, but it seems like the girl was being a hardass - i'm still bringing three items, but we'll see how strict they are

peace,
richard