Would you pay to listen to and meet

[Hans Tucker]

A work colleague sent me, knowing how fanatic I am about the Apollo era, an e-mail flyer advertising "An Evening With Buzz Aldrin: Mission to Mars" Tour of Australia, Sydney 27th November & Melbourne 29th November.

Tickets for Melbourne to listen to and meet Buzz Aldrin is $830 which is affordable to me....but what do other IIS's think? Would you pay this amount to meet the second man to walk on the Moon and listen to his views on future Mars Missions?

[Kunama]

I think I would go but sit a few rows further back and pay $170....... (I have to add the cost of travel, accommodation etc. (and I am cheap)

$830 gets a meet and greet ......... maybe .....

Hans, have you read the book "Tracking Apollo to the Moon" ? the author Hamish Lindsay is one of my neighbours, an excellent read !!!

[Hans Tucker]

Thanks Matt for the book recommendation, I will check it out.

[Octane]

Who does he think he is; Lady Gaga or something?

H

[xelasnave]

Hans it does not matter what we think.
If you want go just go.
Stand out of reach and say the moon landings were faked.
I would go.

[goober]

I went through this dilemma with Chris Hadfield a few months ago and decided "no". Buzz is a whole different league, but again I decided "no".

[Camelopardalis]

Hey look Hans, it all depends on what it's worth to you.

I've been to a couple of meet and greets over the years (although not at $830!) and it has amounted to about 10 seconds posing in front of a camera, shaking hands and a free book and drink with 50-100 of others from the audience. Not saying I didn't enjoy it, I did, that's why I did it more than once ;)

Buzz's opinions on Mars are no big secret, he was a guest on this year's BBC Stargazing Live where he aired them. He seems like quite an interesting bloke to me.

[MortonH]

Cheaper than Oprah!

[brian nordstrom]

:thumbsup: I would , if he came to Perth , this is a once in a life time experience .
Brian.

[deanm]

While I'm sure Buzz would be quite an experience, the cost is a bit daunting &, having been stung previously, I'm now rather sceptical about these 'celeb' events.

A while back, Heston Blumenthal was doing the Oz talks circuit. The advertising presented images of the great man on stage, with a kitchen and some of the audience seated at laid dining tables. Obviously, HB would be doing cooking demos on stage and some lucky audience members would get to try some!

We saw there was a show on at at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. The booking process indicated 6 circular tables on stage - but seats here were the priciest at $250 a head.

I convinced 'er indoors that we should fork (pun intended!) out $500 for these seats so we would get to taste the magical offerings.

When we arrived, there were no tables on the stage & HB simply talked for an hour about growing up & interesting places he'd been.

I felt completely ripped off & misled.

No, I didn't bother complaining....

Dean

[Hans Tucker]

:lol: Bart Sibrel made that mistake...and he wasn't out of reach.

Listening to Buzz talk about Mars...meh...if the topic was about the 1960's space race...Gemini and Apollo...me going would be a no brainer.

Another person that I would pay to listen to is Gene Kranz.

Nearly met Douglas Bader once.

[astroron]

I wouldn't pay that sort of money to see any "entertainer" whoever he was .
I went to see Harrison H. Schmitt the only geologist scientist to go to the Moon,going to Mars was all he was interested in speaking about
The only question he answered about the Moon Mission was from a young boy who really didn't want to ask the question but was forced to by his parents.
It was the proverbial, How do you go to the toilet in a space craft? :rolleyes:
Would not take questions from adults and refused to be even photographed with anyone.
It was complete waste of petrol for me to drive nearly 300 kms round trip.
There were not very many happy faces in the audience that night.
He came across to me as a not very amicable person.:(
Cheers:thumbsup:

[Kunama]

Now that talk I would be going to !!!!!!!

[LewisM]

Just do it, as the saying goes.

My old man accidentally ran into a couple astro-nowts (said in Jose Jimenez drawl) in his career with TAA, usually in Canberra overnights or Sydney. He did meet Buzz Aldrin in a lift once (cannot remember where, though some reason I believe it was in Sydney), and also ran into John Young and Robert Crippen - ALSO in a lift at a hotel - and actually got their signatures for me (laminated now) on a Sheraton napkin! (this was a few months after STS-1). They spent some time talking too (since the old man was still in uniform - back in the days when a pilot uniform was a dignifying garment rather than a pair of dungarees and a shirt! :P) Another also asked for a jumpseat ride - which was granted - but I cannot recall who (I THINK Richard Truly) - will need to ring him to ask

I kick myself for not being able to see Buzz a few years back when he was here. Not sure I would pay $650 extra just for a handshake and photo, but that is me.

[Irish stargazer]

Given that in a few years time all of these legends will no longer be with us. If you get the opportunity to meet and shake hands with an Apollo astronaut I would go for it. It may be your last chance.
I was lucky enough to meet Al Worden (Apollo 15) last year when he came to Ireland. A small entrance fee to cover the cost of bringing him over was all that was asked for. He used his time in Ireland to visit local schools and heritage sites. You should have seen the look on some of the kids faces during his presentation- what an inspiration.