Nocturnal 3K - Review by : Ken Naylor and Klif Fuller

The Nocturnal Conventions have entered their third year and, despite the pressures, seem to be going from strength to strength. Considering that Nocturnal '99 was a small, virtually unknown commodity with approximately 200 attendees, it is quite amazing to think that there were over 1000 people installed in The Radisson Edwardian hotel, and that these places were filled within 7 months of N2K in 2000. This is a testament not only to the longevity of 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' but to the dedication and enthusiasm of those few hard working chaps, Stuart, John and Roger, who we will refer to as 'The Committee' and the links they have forged with the makers of the series and it's spin-off 'Angel' over the last 3 years. The invited guests were an impressive array of members of the cast, past and present of 'BtVS' and 'Angel' plus two of the top make-up men, and the 'Gene Roddenbury of Buffy-dom', Joss Whedon. Most of these had been advertised in advance but some were very pleasant surprises.

The first surprise was not as pleasant. Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia) was an 11th hour cancellation due to the commitments to her first film role requiring her to be in South Africa. We were particularly disappointed by this news because we are male and she's a babe. This made the female guest tally pretty short at only one, Amber Benson (Tara), but she more than made up for the absence of other Buffy totty as she is a babe also.Now, if you 're like most people, you've got an idea in your head of what a typical fan convention person is like. Male, single, perhaps slightly boring and probably the owner of at least one all man-made fibre coat of the genus Anorakius Furrycollarus. And too some extent you would be right.

But not at these conventions. Oh no. You see, the fact is, at least 50% of this years attendees were girls. Girls between 17 and 19 years old. And the main reason for this? James Marsters (Spike). He could have them eating out of his hand (or any part of his anatomy come to that) and he is just such a natural communicator and entertainer. (When asked by someone during his Q&A session, in reference to a particular episode, ''what was it like to have to wear Xander's clothes?'' James gave him a quick once over and replied ''you tell me!'' He's worked in many theatres and really knows how to work the crowds. And he's just so, well…nice. What a bastard. We don't get it. What's he got that we haven't? Looks? Okay, we'll give you that. Talent? Fair enough. Cheekbones you can shave with! Oh all right, we get it now... He was in his element and could do no wrong (oh, except pile into one of the Radisson's tiny lifts with two women, three guys and three of his huge personal security goons and get the lift stuck between floors!). Everything he said and did was met with laughter and/or rapturous applause. He loves these Cons and I'm sure we'll see him again.

Joss Whedon. He created Buffy way back for the original movie in '92. The film didn't do well although it is fondly remembered by some and, incidentally, is due for release on DVD as you read this. He owns the company, Mutant Enemy that produces the programmes. He is responsible for the overall plot arcs, writes all the important episodes and oversees all the others. He decides who lives, who dies, who comes back and who doesn't. He is God. He IS Buffy. He is the man who says ''Grrr Argh''at the end of each episode, and he's also a very amusing guest speaker.

His Q&A session was extremely entertaining and he did his best to answer most of the fans questions as thoroughly as possible including many anecdotes. Joss does not have false modesty. In fact he has false Immodesty. When asked which of the Buffy characters he would most like to be he replied ''I write all the characters, I am all the characters. After all it's all about me. Me, me, me.'' Some people obviously didn't get his sense of humour and when asked if he ever used plot ideas suggested by fans he replied ''No, most fans are nerds anyway'' which garnered rich applause from the intelligent, and a few hisses from certain people who had probably just finished submitting their latest plot ideas.

The level of questions being pitched at some of the guests was cringe making at times. ''What's the funniest thing that has ever happened on set…?" - ''If you couldn't be your character who would you be?." We also had our fair share of 'Convention Bores' but this is an occupational hazard. When confronted by the longest, rambling and (ultimately) pointless question of the weekend, Joss sat listening intently. The sounds of sighs and shuffling in the aisles became more and more audible. When the question was finally out and waves of relief swept the hall, Joss looked intently at the person before him and said 'I'm sorry, could you repeat the question'' which brought the house down. Joss then proceeded to answer the question as best as he could, proving himself the consummate professional.

Amber Benson. Babe. Plays a lesbian witch y'know. Likes to party. Swears like a navvy. But she's not a lesbian. Nor a witch (or a navvy, come to that!). Good mover. Uberbabe. Amber, like James, is a natural. She knows what the fans want and gives it to them (well, most of it). She would often come down from the stage or guest tables to sit with the fans which was much appreciated especially during Sunday night's awards ceremony when she had to keep getting up to collect her prize for best witch, best lesbian, best convention guest, etc, etc, etc.

Nicholas Brendon (Xander) was the surprise replacement for Charisma Carpenter (boo hoo) and was also very entertaining. But, although a nice guy and a great character, he didn't 'do it' for us the way Charisma does and we think he appealed more to the female element of the crowd. All big and manly, unshaven and rough. (Has he been working out?) He likes to party, and how! He must have had the mother of all hangovers.

We were also treated to impromptu karaoke sessions from Andy Hallet (The Host) and J. August Richards (Gunn) from 'Angel'. And very good they were too. 'Lady Marmalade' never sounded so good. They've both excellent voices. And they, like first time guests to Nocturnal events in the past, were completely unprepared for the warmth with which they were received. The are obviously a couple of very popular characters and I don't think Joss will be killing them off in the immediate future. All in all the guests did exactly what it says on the tin.

They made the weekend worthwhile and the constant partying for 3 solid days was only enhanced by their presence. And talking of partying, which was of course the real reason we attended this weekend, it was interesting just how many people who had been survivors of N2K had learned a lesson and arrived with extra suitcases with that distinctive sound of glass 'clinking' from within. Yes, the hotel bars were extortionate weren't they? And the queues even worse. Pity we couldn't all have the luck of one of our group who went to get more booze from Tesco's and had his half bottle of Southern Comfort actually rung up as another bottle of Newcastle Brown (Woo-hoo!). In particular the night of the Fancy Dress (Saturday) was excellent with a turn out that was exceptionally good, not only in terms of numbers, but also in quality of costumes most, but not all, Buffy/Angel related. (Xa Naylor you woz robbed). We were all chuffed to be remembered and recognised by people we had met, albeit briefly, at last year's convention or the one before that. Now, although we are aware that it must be hard to keep over 1000 people informed at all times what is happening if they are scattered throughout the hotel, it is imperative that when there is so much change to the printed programme that all effort is made to inform everyone. This is especially important when not one single item on the itinerary took place when it was supposed to, if it happened at all.

Tannoy announcements would be an idea if only these events could be held somewhere with a PA system. How about, say, a holiday camp? However, it would have to be near a major airport to cater for the international guests and it would have to be 'out of season' - i.e. before May and after about September - which would probably make that an unlikely option. 'The Committee' and their trusty band of volunteer stewards have done a great job of making the Nocturnal events into the UK's premier Buffy/Angel Convention, but it's fast approaching the kind of size where they may need to consider taking on some more organizational / logistical skills if it is to continue at the high level it has reached. And the hotel itself did little to gain our respect. For the 2nd year running they not only messed up the bookings, resulting in some who had booked well in advance being shunted to the overflow hotel on the other side of the A4, but the final night's party was moved, despite protestations, to a much smaller hall with the old 'double-booking' excuse as used the year before. We have it on good authority that the hotel won't be given the opportunity to make that a hat trick. Despite these few glitches it would be unfair to say that the weekend was in anyway spoilt for us. Far from it. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, as did everyone in attendance.

Would we go again? You bet we will. Regardless of who the guests are Nocturnal Conventions are a brilliant 3-day party where you may (or may not) meet, get photographed, rub shoulders, dance, drink and generally make merry with some of the stars and production team of Buffy and Angel. We only hope that next Buffy convention, be it called Nocturnal 4 or any other title it may go under, will be held at a more reasonably priced (and reasonably staffed) hotel who know how to properly cater for events such as this. Rumour has it that it could go back to Manchester were it all began in 1999. That would be fine by us. How about a few more of the London Vampyre Group turning up to make the next one the best yet?