If you have ever wanted to meet your favorite Outlander cast members, attending a Sasnak City event is one of the best things you can do. And you’ll want to get one of the meet and greets, which offers a chance to chat to a cast member and get selfies. Take a look at how things ran at The Gathering 2024.
For the most part, the meet and greets ran as expected. There was one morning where things got a little behind, due to a mixture of things. While photos and autographs are made up on the Sunday, there is no time to make up a missed meet and greet, so if you have one, you need to pay attention to the times and any announcements about them.
The meet and greets are small, with just 12 people in the room with the cast. It’s a chance to get more into a conversation, asking your own questions and allowing the cast members to tell a story.
Starting with selfies at The Gathering 2024
In previous years, the meet and greets have started with a chat with the cast member. That changed at The Gathering 2024. The focus was on getting through the selfies first.
You see, there are 40 minutes available for a meet and greet, and it used to be that the last 10 minutes would be for selfies. By starting with the selfies, there was a chance for more of a chat with the cast member. After all, people are more likely to get through the selfies when they know they still have a chat!
The meet and greets took place in two rooms. One was at the bottom of the auditorium, which I do admit that I prefer. It is a little more intimate. The other one is in a conference room, and it does feel somewhat like a board meeting.
Important rules to follow at meet and greets
While listening to announcements is important, there are also some rules to follow. The biggest one is about monopolizing the cast. This isn’t a time to tell your own life story. It’s a chance for everyone in the room to hear more about the cast member. Sure, they may want to know a little about you, but keep it brief!
There were some great stories to tell. Tim Downie talked about baking cakes, which is something he has spent the last few years doing with his daughter. Steven Cree talked about his love for the Chiefs. Various cast members shared stories about the books they’ve written or what they like to do in their spare time.
Of course, there is no talk about relationships unless the cast members bring up things themselves. They may mention something, but this is not the time for follow-up questions. Political talk is also off the table, especially with the current way people react to political talk. Think of this like a dinner party with strangers—which topics would be completely off limits?
Bags and phones do need to be placed out of reach during the chat at The Gathering. There are no photos or videos allowed during the meeting and greets after the selfies. I know this can be disappointing for some, but it allows everyone to be in the moment. And yes, you will remember things better in most cases.
While the meet and greets are among the more expensive parts of a Sasnak City event, they are certainly worth it. That’s especially the case when you get to sit down with your favorite Outlander cast members.