//Have you had a personal experience with both J2? I am considering going to a con or experience for the next run and I trust you to detail any experiences and realistic advice for those interested. I can be critical where it is deserved, but I still adore them.//
I’d like to add some into that is a bit more general/basic. I hope you and Anon don’t mind.
I have some advice based on my first experience (I’ve done 4 cons, and I have one more planned fir this year which will probably be my last one) that was very helpful for me to keep in mind for my subsequent cons:
Temper your expectations, especially if you’ve seen fans post photo ops and autograph stories on Twitter. Don’t expect a meaningful chat at autos or an extra long hug, or whatever during photo ops. These things might happen, but expecting them, especially if it’s your first time meeting/interacting with J2 could set you up for disappointment. Time is very limited in both of these settings, so it’s not as common as some fan experience stories suggest, that you’ll get a special moment (beyond meeting them and it being pleasant).
For photo ops - be prepared and keep it simple and respectful. J2 are usually pretty game for a pose as long as it’s not crossing boundaries, like touching their hair or face, or asking them to. Hold you in a way that’s too intimate or could lead to an injury for them or you. Have a picture ready if it isn’t a simple hug, or short explanation. It can be a nerve-wracking experience, but if you can keep it light and cheerful when you approach them for an op, you’re more likely to get a friendlier interaction from them.
For Autos - if you want to say something to the guys, or just talk to them, you’ll need to be ready to initiate with a "hello," as they might otherwise just sign your item, maybe with a smile, and move on. If it’s a particularly busy night, the handlers may shoot you along right away. Again, the long meaningful convo moments we hear about are the exception, not the rule. It’s also hard to hear in the theater, so it can be hard to converse from that standpoint. Also, keep any messages short, and if you have something very emotional you want them to know, it’s better to put it in a letter and give it to their handler, and only if you feel they truly need to see it.
From my own experience in photo ops, interactions with Jensen range anywhere from cool (🥶, not 👍) to him being very charming or smiley. This is not always dependent on what energy you bring to him, but on where he’s at internally. Of course, if you bring negatively, you’ll likely get the same back in one firm or another. I’ve had one cold interaction with him that was not fun (and I walked up to him smiling and ready to go. Did not matter that day), but I’ve also had ones where he’s been very outgoing or just politely friendly. If he’s on, his charisma, magnetism can be a lot. He took me off guard in my first photo op with him.
From my op experience with Jared, he has ranged from polite but impersonal, to really engaging, to giving extra affection beyond the photo pose. He’s more likely to be all out friendly than Jensen, or give an "extra" interaction. He’s given me an unprompted hug, and commented on my op choice once or twice, but this was after I’d interacted with him at a couple of previous cons (and M&Gs).
From my auto experience with both of them giving a little speech thanking them for A/B/C doesn’t give them many places to go in response. Those were my first auto experiences, and I found them underwhelming, but I had unrealistic expectations. If you’re happy just to let them know you’re thankful, but don’t need them to say much in return, that’s fine. My best auto interactions with Jensen were when I said he was really fun as Soldier Boy, and once when all I said was, "Hi. Again" (I’d just seen him like 30 minutes before the auto interaction a Meet & Greet). Both got me really bright smiles and a seemingly genuine response. My best auto with Jared was when I had him sign a funny photo op pose we did, and it sparked a fun, but short, little convo.
Before you say something to them during autos or a M&G, picture someone saying that (or something similar) to you first. If it leaves you with nothing to say in return, or if you think it comes off as overstepping, or over invested, in any way, maybe go for a different idea for what you’d like to say/ask.
Finally, if you want to do Meet & Greets, Jared is very engaged, gives you his full attention if you ask a question, like laser focused on you. Very friendly.. Jensen is more low-key in M&Gs than he is on stage, and generally pretty thoughtful. I’ve done the J2 M&G once, and if you’re a fan of seeing them interact, it’s a good chance to see them tigther without the built-up onstage schtick.
If you plan to go, but are on a budget, I’d prioritize photo ops over autographs, but it depends what will likely mean more to you in the long run. After the moment of getting them, autographs generally mean very little to me.
Sorry that got so long, but I would have valued a realistic advice list before my first con, instead of getting sucked into the best stuff that people tend to share online, but is less likely to happen.
Wonderful additions, anon. Very practical and grounded. 👏
