Dimension Jump

Science Fiction Convention
Name:	Dimension Jump
Dates:
Frequency:	annual-ish
Location:
Type:
Focus:	Red Dwarf
Organization:
Founder:
Founding Date:
URL:
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Dimension Jump was a series of "the almost-annual Red Dwarf Live Weekend."

It was hosted by The Official Red Dwarf Fan Club.

1994

This year's gathering took place on July 22-24 and was held at two separate hotels.

There were about 170-200 attendees, which must have been full capacity, as a fan wrote of not being able to attend as it was full.

Dimension Jump '94, what a convention, huh?... [I'd like to thank] our guests: Danny, Peter, Paul, Colin, Jane, Mike and Terrorform, I'd especially like to thank the four panelists: Di Hinton (Mother Thoresa extraordinaire), Karen Morden, Phil Halliwell and Dave McMahon. Also thanks go to Aileen McKerr, Sarah Butcher, Mandy Hawes and Dave McMahon (again) for for helping out. Special thanks go to Disco Dave for Saturday night's hap'nin' disco, and of course, the team.

from 1994, printed in Better Than Life #13

from 1994, printed in Better Than Life #13

1994: Con Reports

When I was asked to be the master of ceremonies for dimension jump '94 1 thought it a tad daunting. I mean, standing in front of about two hundred complete strangers who have only one thing in common (their love of a certain exceptional comedy/sci-fi/sitcom) and try and sound as if I knew what I was talking about (which I did not) was to be, I thought, a real trouser filler of an escapade which I was not entirety sure I wanted to experience (or indeed want anyone else to have inflicted upon them). However, my fears were soon spanked loudly and put to bed without supper. From the very fist rather high pitched "Hello and welcome' to my last confident and stirring "Goodbye and see you next year," I was greeted with warmth, enthusiasm, sometimes drunken embraces and, on occasion, some moistness from all who attended. If like I and a certain groping reporter from a certain newspaper were, you are under the impression that all that goes on at a Red Dwarf convention is a lot of sad individuals running round dressed as characters and quoting lines at each other you are sadly and most ashamedly W.R.O.N.G.!

The sad individuals that attended this most excellent convention drink far more than is healthy for them, have no sense of rhythm and when they get on down to the dance floor at the disco (which they are frequently wont to do) they seem to be of the impression they are Travolta himself, or the ghost of Hendrix. They bombarded the guests with questions like what colour socks they wear and whether they put salt or sugar on their porridge. They outbid each other in the auction for such trinkets as the Emohawk, signed photos, lighting plans, original print T-shirts, and original artwork by Colin "Wild Man" Howard (he of Tongue Tied cover art).

What about the guests? We have Peter Wragg and Paul McGuinness who will just not stop talking to everyone, answering questions, signing autographs and staying late in the bar entertaining all and sundry with their particular brand of humour. Here's how to tell one apart from the other. Paul is a slim (polite) shaven headed, unreasonably tall gent who has some rather saucy jokes who has discovered fatherhood and had to tell all. Peter is, as BEV put it "cuddly and lovely"... hell, I say so as well. As I have already said, Colin Howard was there with his Rolf Harris impressions and long hair - who invited him anyway? He's far too talented for us, as is Mr Danny John-Jules, what a lovely! Always glad to help and support, proving himself to be the funky feline of fan club fun... We were also joined by Jane Killick who gave us some real insight into the people who are the Red Dwarf posse, as well as Mike Butcher of the sadly missed Smegazine.

I really must mention a few people who also made the event. Terrorform, the band who went down rather well with their blend of dance music with some surprise samples thrown in. Disco Dave for being FAB (the official vote at the end of the evening was that Dino is the sexiest of the Flintstones). The Chris Barrie Fan Club (AKA Liz and co) who have to scream every time his name is mentioned. Please shut up!!! Must thank Dave McMahon for this computer and lastly but not leastly no thanks to Zapattack Man who was a nauseating creasy weirdo who is another story altogether. Let's just say he was not supposed to be there and he was not wanted there.

Well, if all this sounds sad then all that remains is for me to correct you. If you miss it next year... the only one sad is you, so don't be... be there.

Alcohol is a strange thing. While I consumed about 15 Dottles of Strongbow on Friday (as you would, having started at 2pm), I was only slightly pished. The next night, after just 4 or 5 pints of cider, I was out of my proverbial tree! Funny, that!

For me the weekend was one big drunken, sleepless party with a Red Dwarf theme. Pleasure was had more with meeting people and of drinking than the actual events the team had lined up, although the 4 events were nothing to be sneezed at (if sneezing at things is your way of showing disapproval!). Peter Wragg, Paul McGuiness and I their collection of models, props and cossies went down a storm - just browse through anybody's photos from the weekend and, I guaranteed, you'll find about 20 pictures of them holding a bazookoid, wearing Craig’s AR helmet from Gunmen or caressing a baby girl Skutter, amongst others (including various Starbugs, the matter panel, the Psi-Scan, an Emohawk, a Psiren and so on).

Colin Howard and his wife proved very popular. Colin, as well as doing a great 'Rolf Harris', was a good laugh and a very amiable bloke - and right now he’s probably wishing he’d taken along more of his RDVI portraits; at a tenner a throw he had sold them all within a few hours! Jane Killick was also one of the guests and gave an interview to MC Harris and hosted a panel on the merits of RDVI (and while we may have picked it to bits, we all really did like it and despite its flaws it's far better than anything else on the box).

Danny, bless him, made the effort to attend once more, wowed the attendees during his panel and then was off like a shot back to London for some job or other, proving once more that he’s one of the most down-to-Earth celebrities that you could ever wish to meet. Thanks Danny - and no 9-hour round trip this time!

All in all it was a great weekend (sorry you missed it, Julie - maybe next time?). Sean held things together superbly as MC, and the team as a whole ensured that the weekend ran as smoothly as possible, so three cheers for the team! As you read this, it’s probably only 8 months until the next one - so get saving for a weekend you’ll never want to end!

WOW. I'd just like to say on behalf of everyone else there WOW. Does anyone else out there find times when you go up to someone wearing a Red Dwarf T-shirt and say, "Hello, fellow smeggy," and they punch you because they don't know what you're on about?

We all did the Timewarp again. And yet, that glory didn't happen until Saturday night, and for me the convention began on Friday, so I'll start there.

First, though, a quick overview. I met Danny John-Jules and I put my hand up Mr Flibble. Not a fake one, the real one. But, the days in full...

Friday 22nd July. Arrived. My mate and I both agree that for the half hour or so that he was conscious we enjoyed ourselves. After that he started projecting green vomit all over the place, and had to retire for the night. Had you seen him (and maybe you did, I hope you dodged) you would have locked him in there yourself. But enough of that, the events: Jane Killick. Lovely woman. Very short. Win Lose or Dwarf - fun while it lasted, then some bloke with blue lips started chasing after everyone and it all fell apart. What do you expect from an event organised by a Rimmette, or rather the Rimmette? Still, she likes The Spin Doctors proving there's some good in everyone. The cocktail competition - I must admit to having missed it. Having heard the winning entry - which will no doubt appear in the mag shortly - a substance that you allegedly have to consume before either a) the glass dissolves, or b) it forms a solid. I can only promise myself I won't miss it in future.

Saturday 23rd July. Skipping breakfast and scraping as many congealed lumps out of my Ace Rimmer T-shirt as possible (always a mistake to leave fresh clothes out the night before, at least when sharing a room) I rushed to The Grand Hotel to hear a debate on Red Dwarf VI, it's merits and shortcomings, overseen by Jane Killick who is, incidentally, very short. I was in the sixth row, but I couldn't see her above the twelve year old in front of me. The overall consensus was a mixed bag, some classic lines, and some missed opportunities being the impression I received. Colin Howard, the man who taught Rolf Harris everything he knows including voice and mannerisms if CH's impressions and comic asides (er, yes) are to be believed. Anyway, his cast drawings and the print he was flogging can't be faulted, and even though the print I bought has now got a crease down Lister's head I left the conference room a nappy chappy. I returned quickly, however, to watch the videos taken of Norman Lovett (Trek/Dwarf) and Robert Llewellyn, then a video of Carnal Knowledge. Funny ain't the word. Rude, is closer, but it was still hilarious. Then I watched Red Dwarf USA, there were some very funny lines, most centred around Kryten, especially the bit where his eyes pop out and land in someone's coffee. Although I'm obviously biased, Robert Llewellyn was brilliant in it, the one playing Holly was very good (very Norman Lovett, albeit with lipstick) and Lister and the Cat were okay. Rimmer was pathetic. I'll leave it at that, except to say that if you haven't seen it it's worth viewing just for the bit where Kochanski mouths through the glass to Lister in the stasis booth "I love you", so that everyone can have a really good boo. It felt great.

Around this time in the dealers room (club stuff, I couldn't find a crack anywhere (Maybe it was there, I just couldn't see it; a load of models were set up, including a couple of Starbugs, a Psiren, the matter paddle, a bazookoid and even more stuff that I won’t remember until my photos get developed. This special effects tour de force was completed later on with a presentation/question and answer session with Peter Wragg and Paul McGuinness.

The Aussie edits were a laugh for all the wrong reasons. How the Australian public could be offended by "With respect. Sir, you've got your head up your big fat arse , I'll never know.

The Fancy Dress Competition was one I should have entered, and will do so next year. I thought Mother Theresa was robbed for comedy value alone. I was surprised that more people didn't go as the red and white gingham dressed Rimmer from Quarantine. The evenings activities, the disco and live band including the aforementioned Timewarp, I largely sat out of, that is until I heard Two Princes and had, HAD to rejoin the party. A great night. A late night. And loud, too.

Sunday 24th July. A stunted morning, due to the fact that Danny John-Jules was due to appear later than previously billed. Still, the video to Tongue lied, assorted trips to the video room which was by now showing RDV at least, and other assorted diversions Kept everyone busy enough until the man himself arrived. The cheers and cries of "We're not worthy!" could be heard back in London according to my mum and dad. A question and answer session later ne spent the next ten or so hours(ish) signing everybody's stuff. Then, something incredible, he said goodbye to me as he left. Well, it wasn't me, more like a group of six of us, but he still said goodbye. The rest of the day followed in a daze which probably explains why I spent as much as I did at the auction, even if I didn't get the Emohawk, I left happy and potless.

[...]

See ya m'95, and if you want it, organisers, you can take my reservation money now!