What a weekend.

It truely was one of the most memorable intimate convention events we have had the opportunity to bring you.  Sir Patrick was a wonderful guest and from the emails and messages we have received in the last couple of days,we know you found that to be the case.  On leaving he asked me again to pass on to the fans that he enjoyed his time meeting them in Melbourne and Sydney and his thanks for making him welcome and being great audiences.  On behalf of Culture Shock I too would like to thank the fans that came along to the event to see Sir Patrick in the flesh.  Not everything goes one hundred percent perfectly at an event like this and in the case of Sydney I would like to apologise that some of the photo ops did not turn out as we, or you, would have hoped.  I have personally spoken to those affected at the event and hopefully made amends for the disappointment in some way.  Steps will be taken to ensure such "stuff ups" won't happen at future events so I ask you to give us the chance to make it right at future events and still take the oportunity to get that personal photo with the guests.

Some photos from the event are already up on the site to view.

A reminder that tickets for OzTrek 3 are NOW on sale and the remaining VIP's won't last long.

Coming up first however is the Armageddon Celebrity Fair.  Get in now and get tickets for this event to avoid higher prices at the door. SAVE. VIP and dinner tickets are currently being sorted out so we expect them to be available at weeks end.

See you in March.

Rob

January gets 2010 off to a huge start as Patrick Stewart hits our shores this week and heads to Melbourne before coming to Sydney for Culture Shock at OzTrek 2. Its a great event to start off the convention and event year. This will be only the second show "Sir Patrick" will have attended after his knighting in the Queen's honours list this year with a Creation Official Star Trek event this weekend beating us to the punch. Fans attending Sydney and Melbourne are getting a great deal with Patrick and if you check out Creation's site you will see what US fans are paying for autographs and photo ops for Patrick. We really are the lucky country. General tickets are still available in Sydney and it's not too late to get a great seat. Australian events are noteably intimate and laid back so you will get a great opportunity to not only see and meet Patrick but ask those questions you always wanted to ask Mr. Stewart. Some additional photo ops may also be made available in Sydney as at looks like we have a small number of spots as yet unfilled. Our partners First Contact Conventions have already sold out the Melbourne event so we are calling all Sydney fans and Patrick Stewart lovers to come along and show your support in Sydney to fill our remaining seats.

Tickets are on sale now for Culture Shock's Armageddon Celebrity Fair which hits the Sydney town hall in March, exactly 2 months away. While we prepare to take the huge Armageddon Expo on the road to cities outside of Melbourne in the near future, a first taste of Armageddon comes to Sydney for one day only. Remember it's just a taste and so very much more can be expected of the full blown Armageddon Expo weekend when we finally get it to town, but this less frills version will pack a punch and be a fun and exciting day. The celebrity guest lineup is now growing with new guests signing on to sign and present at the event. Our retailer area is starting to fill (its not the booth feel of Armageddon and more like a collectables fair layout) and we have plenty of tables space available for small and larger collectables retailers alike. Discounted table space for fan clubs and Comic artists who wish to attend to sketch etc are also available. The aim is to also present a small scale Cosplay event as part of the fun and get some Anime and Cartoon action happening as well as Gaming tournaments and demonstrations. So get your costumes on and bring your cards and playing pieces. How to fit it into one day and a venue that is good in size but smaller than the Expo show is the huge challenge. Lets show Melbourne that not all the fun happens there, we would love to see a good Sydney crowd.

Culture Shock's plans beyond the first quarter of the year are pretty exciting. Already OzTrek 3: The Imzadi Tour has been announced and tickets go on sale in a week's time. Another Star Trek centred convention event, Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis appear together in Australia for the first time. In October we move back to Melbournes Convention and Exhibition Centre (Jeff's Shed) for another bigger and better Armageddon Expo 2010. Guests are starting to be signed on and it will be huge. Cosplayers again start preparing as the Trans Tasman Cosplay Challenge is back and first prize is a chance to compete against the Kiwis in Auckland at the Armageddon Event there.

For those needing a sci-fi fix in between events check out FSF, Sydney's largest general sci-fi, fantasy and horror fan organisation. Go to www.fsf.net.au and check FSF out. We guarantee you thats probably not the end of what will be on offer from us in 2010, just what we can tell you about now.

See you at the show.

Rob Brown
Culture Shock Events

We are still a week away from OzTrek 2 with Patrick Stewart, which we are certain will be a fantastic event not to miss, but we have been able to confirm our guests for OzTrek 3: The Imzadi Tour.  Culture Shock Events are delighted to announce that we have secured both JONATHAN FRAKES and MARINA SIRTIS as our special guests for OzTrek 3 on the 22nd August 2010 in Sydney.  This will be the first time that Jonathan and Marina have appeared together in Australia, a real treat for fans of the Riker and Troi relationship.  Ticket prices are $90.00 for FSF/Austrek Members, $120.00 for General Tickets and $450.00 for VIP which includes: front of house seating, cocktail party, photo with both guests and autographed event gift.  Attendee's at OzTrek 2 will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets, including VIP and photo opportunities.  Any remaining VIP's along with general tickets will go on sale on the website from Monday.

Melbourne fans have not been forgotten with First Contact Conventions hosting Jonathan and Marina on the 21st August 2010.  Keep an eye out on their website www.firstcontactconventions.com.au for booking information.