{"id":7773,"date":"2012-12-31T22:55:41","date_gmt":"2013-01-01T06:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/?p=7773"},"modified":"2021-01-31T00:57:39","modified_gmt":"2021-01-31T08:57:39","slug":"at6-ripples-adventures-with-gabit-events-mikes-sunday-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/2012\/12\/31\/at6-ripples-adventures-with-gabit-events-mikes-sunday-report\/","title":{"rendered":"AT6 Ripples: Adventures with GABIT Events – Mike’s Sunday Report!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Gabit<\/a><\/p>\n

Hello GABIT Amanda Tapping<\/a> Convention, AT6 “Ripples”! fans
\n<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Click<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sunday morning at the opulent and luxurious\u00a0Renaissance Hotel Heathrow<\/a>\u00a0 had come! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While fans awaited the fun and surprises that were in store for us today, we also knew that today was the final day of Gabit<\/a>, and what was for me personally, the most fun weekend I have had in a long time. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It was strange to knowing that after months of waiting and saving, most of the convention had already gone by, but there was still much to this day, as the fun was not yet over, neither was our time with each other. \"AT6<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I made my way down to the main lobby of the hotel, which has been filled with fans since day one. I looked for my best friend, reporting partner for WomholeRiders News Agency, and co-interviewer, Michelle Linardis<\/a> (SanctuaryAngel). Meeting Michelle had been a big highlight for me during the course of the weekend after being on-line friends for a long time! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"AT6<\/a>I have been to two previous conventions, but neither were centered around one amazing and wonderful guest, Amanda Tapping<\/a>, who has been a role-model to me for several years now. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We made our way into the main panel room where Master of Ceremonies Becky Preen<\/a> was about to commence the festivties. After a few minutes of waiting, Amanda Tapping<\/a> made her way into the room, which of course was followed by cheers and applause from her admirers, the fans!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"AT6<\/a><\/p>\n

After quick reminder of the rules for the panels by Becky Preen<\/a>,\u00a0we were ready to begin the third Q&A session.\u00a0One thing Amanda Tapping is known for as far as fans are concerned, is bending the rules here and there, which is why\u00a0every year the GABIT Events<\/a> team finds a new and creative way to get Ms. Tapping off stage. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Since Amanda Tapping is famous for respecting a fan and their questions, she can some time (more than some times) lose track of time, which is why I like to think GABIT Events<\/a> uses that to add another element of fun to the overall convention. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It is one of those reasons I respect and admire \"Click<\/a>Amanda Tapping so much, because she can give such meaningful and heartfelt answers, especially when talking about Sanctuary For Kids<\/a>, and or other charities and passions she holds close to her heart. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I am not sure how GABIT Events came up with this idea, but clearly this was their idea to get Ms. Tapping off the stage when her time was over. During the course of the weekend, we were shown clips of a mysterious man dressed in a werewolf suit, who was running around London, who eventually found his way into the GABIT Events hotel, and in to the panel room. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The crowd got a big kick out of it, and so did Amanda Tapping who herself as she attempted run away and throw kicks at the wolf man. The look on Amanda Tapping’s<\/a> face was a mixture of humor and horror, which is what all great actors can do, and I felt this was a great way to end the third panel of AT6 Ripples<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Then came the time for the autograph session, my personal favorite time of any convention because to me, it allows fans a few extra minutes with Amanda Tapping, and their chance to have their special moment with her. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"AT6<\/a><\/p>\n

\"AT6<\/a>While the autograph sessions were taking place, another viewing of Space Milkshake<\/a> was going on Fans were allowed to chose any two items they like to have signed by Ms. Tapping, and as a bonus, Julia Hague <\/a>was seated there as well, and fans were allowed to get her “You is for Unique<\/a>” book signed, which I of course did too. Like the photo-ops, groups of fans went up by their row numbers, even though I was in row F, I wanted to go up and wait for Michelle Linardis as she went into to receive her autograph. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I was very happy for her, and I am glad she got her time with Amanda Tapping and Julia Hague. As I waited for my time to go up, and have a few minutes with Amanda Tapping and Julia Hague, I was able to watch other fans have their moments with them, which to me is something very nice to see, because I enjoy watching other fans be happy, and have their “special moment”. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, my moment came, as a stood up out<\/span><\/span> of the chair I was sitting on, and despite having had previous encounters with Ms. Tapping, she is someone I hold is the highest of respect, and even though I had only known Ms. Hague for a couple of days, she is by far one of the most admirable women I have ever met.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When I got to the table, both Ms. Tapping and. Ms. Hague were both beyond kind and great to talk to, and of course they both called me by name. I was lucky to get my complete Stargate SG-1<\/a> DVD set signed by Amanda Tapping herself! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, she signed it twice because I had asked her to sign the actual Stargate in the front, but was worried the signature could rub off, so she kindly signed the top corner. The item I had personalized was my cocktail group <\/span><\/span>photo, normally I am not one to have photos signed, but because that was my first cocktail party ever. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I thought it would be right to do so. \"AT6<\/a>Julia Hague, bless her heart, signed my copy of her book. I was able to get a few words with both of them. I told Ms. Hague that I read some of her book that day, and since then, I have read it all. I briefly spoke to Amanda about her time on the Comedy Network<\/a> game show, Match Game<\/a>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I also took the time to thank them for both for the interview we had the previous day<\/a>, Ms. Tapping and Ms. Hague said I did wonderful. I told them the real reason I requested that WormholeRiders arrange the interview, was so my best friend Michelle would have the opportunity. I am happy she was able to be apart of it with me. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

They were both touched by what I had told them. I did not want to take up too much of their time, or the time of the other fans, so I thanked them both from the bottom of my heart. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, they would not let me go that easily. Amanda Tapping<\/a>, being the most wonderful human being I have ever met, stood up out of her chair, gave me a big hug, a little kiss on the cheek, and told me she was proud of me! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Julia Hague<\/a> also stood up to wish me well, and thanked me for coming. It felt highly honored to have lived that moment, both these amazing women are huge inspirations to me, and after many months of hard work and saving, it was all worth it to have gotten that “special moment.” <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As a bonus, as fans were walking out of the autograph room, we were given a special hand-made beaded bracelet made from Nepal, which is a gift to us from Amanda Tapping herself.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

After an emotional, and fulfilling, autograph session, I left the room filling like I had accomplished something huge and important in my life. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As always, each question a fan asked, Ms. Tapping answered them with respect, attention, and depending on the question, Amanda Tapping delivers some of the most fun, heartfelt and enlightening questions, which is something fans love her for.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The panel room was filled with laughs, smiles, and even tears of joy over what was said and done. One thing I felt was very kind of Amanda Tapping to do to a fan was to invite a fan from the crowd, Zoe Jamet (MissCheerfully<\/a>) up to the stage to do a duet song\u00a0 from Sanctuary’s<\/a> popular episode, “Fugue”.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

It was a great performance by both Amanda Tapping and Zoe Jamet. A lovely treat to the fans was a surprise performance by Jenn Scheffler<\/a>, Rebecca Ford, Tracy North<\/a> and Liesl Bland as the band “ABBA<\/a>“. They got up on stage toward the end of the panel singing the song “SOS”. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It was very fun to watch, as even Ms. Tapping herself began to dance along to the singing, as did some of the fans in the crowd. It was a wonderful to end the final panel, and I am glad Gabit found a very creative way to end the final Q&A session on a high note. No pun intended.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

After the final “Question and Answer” session, fans were given a break before the closing ceremony of AT6. On a personal memory, before the closing ceremony, a small group of fans had gathered around a lovely piano in the lobby. These dedicated GABIT’iers were singing songs from Sanctuary’s<\/a> “Fugue”, along with the songs, “You Raise Me Up” and “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele<\/a>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n