Walker Stalker Con: Meet Dave Solo, host of WSC Live
Dave Solo, host of WSC Live, shares how the “Live” stage came to be and what makes it such a fun part of Walker Stalker Con.
Most fans of The Walking Dead have heard of Walker Stalker Con (WSC), which is now held at venues around the globe, celebrating the zombie genre, giving fans a chance to meet cast members, and so much more.
One of my favorite parts of the conventions is the panel platform where cast members and other celebrity guests answer questions and tell fun stories. But some newcomers to Walker Stalker Con may not realize that there are actually two different ways to enjoy panels. The convention hosts panels on both the Main Panel Stage and the WSC Live stage.
So, what exactly is the difference?
I decided there is no one better than the very dynamic Dave Solo, host of WSC Live, to break it down for us. I had the opportunity to ask Dave some questions about WSC Live and what it has to offer.
How was WSC Live “born”?
"Dave:“WSC Live existed in a different form since the convention’s inception. Before I became host, it was an elevated platform, high above the crowd, mainly meant for the WSC YouTube channel. It wasn’t necessarily to entertain the live audience.When I first became host in Atlanta 2015, we removed the banners so the crowd could see and decided to make it more interactive and for those that paid admission, giving yet another caveat for coming!It wasn’t until WSC London 2016 that we decided to bring it down to “eye level,” give the audience the opportunity to win amazing prizes from our vendors via trivia, and allow our guests to be closer to our celebrity guests than ever before!”"
What can attendees get from the WSC Live that differs from the Main Panel Stage experience?
"Dave:“The main panel experience is the traditional convention experience. Our moderators host top notch celebrity guests and allow questions from the audience. Having a 45 minute format allows you to do that pretty easily. The WSC Live stage is more “late night talk show” style and hosts interviews that are only about 15-20 minutes long with only me asking the questions. We’ve also begun innovating on the Live stage with musical performances from folks such as the Harp Twins and “Gotham’s” own Drew Powell, as well as live demonstrations from our vendors and painting by Rob Prior! The LIVE stage is a potpourri of entertainment!”"
Who has been your favorite WSC Live interview of all time?
"Dave:“My favorite interview of all time…that is a tough one. Anytime I have Irone Singleton or Melissa Hutchison up there I’m thrilled! Michael Cudlitz is another guy who brings great energy and hilarious content. As far as multiple folks, I absolutely love the cast of Gotham – Drew Powell, Robin Lord Taylor, and Sean Pertwee are an absolute joy and never fail to entertain. I really can’t pick just one, honestly.”"
What can you tell me about DJ Gabriel and how you select music for the guests?
"Dave:“DJ Gabriel is a new addition to the Live stage at both shows [both Walker Stalker Con and Heroes & Villains Fan Fest ]. We really saw a need to have a dedicated tech/DJ so I could focus on the crowd and interviews while they handled the sound, so we knew that Gabriel was the perfect fit! The technical knowledge he brings is only mated by the infectious energy that he delivers every single time! He and I interact and the crowd loves it. Gabriel really puts in the time to research what our celebrity guests love and their reactions are priceless! I never knew that Sean Pertwee loves 90s Hip-Hop, but Gabriel did!”"
Do you have any tricks you can share for making guests feel comfortable about opening up?
"Dave:“I really don’t have any tricks per se, but I think being a good journalist depends on one’s ability to treat our celebrity guests as people first. I am a huge “fanboy” of The Walking Dead and freak out inside sometimes (like when I met David Morrissey), but we’re there to give the crowd a good interview, so it’s important to talk to our guests prior to the interview to see what they’d like to discuss or not discuss. Making them feel comfortable is paramount. I love what I do and I want them to love it as well and come back!”"
Next: Walker Stalker Con: Meet interpreters Leyel and Jennifer
I really appreciate Dave taking the time to talk about WSC Live. I always love hanging around the WSC Live stage. It’s such a fun, upbeat environment and Dave really knows how to play to the crowd. He is wonderful about making attendees feel like they are a part of the conversation.
Be sure to check out WSC Live at your next trip to Walker Stalker Con!
The next three cities scheduled are:
- WSC Boston, August 19 & 20 (2017)
- WSC Philly, September 30 & October 1 (2017)
- WSC Atlanta, October 27, 28, & 29 (2017)