I’m a self-proclaimed nerd. It all started as a young kid collecting “Spawn” comics and watching “The X-Files.” in the 90s. Even today, I still proudly wave my nerd flag into my 30s as several original drawings of “Daredevil” and “Batman” adorn my office walls while a custom “Gundam” model keeps me company near my desk.

There are many rites of passage in “nerdom,” but perhaps one of the biggest is attending conventions. I have been lucky enough to attend many local comic book conventions and even attended the great San Diego Comic-Con a few times.

But due to the pandemic, it may be a while before we are able to return to large gatherings like conventions. While the convention floors may be empty for now, COVID-19 has given fans a new way to meet their favorite celebrities: virtual meet-and-greets.

With the help of video conferencing technology, fans are now able to meet stars of their favorite movies, TV shows and video games without ever having to leave their home.

My first experience with this new virtual interaction was with “Chuck” and “Shazam” star Zachary Levi. An online convention was offering a virtual one-on-one hangout with Levi. I decided to participate in the event. And I was pleasantly surprised with the whole process. I enjoyed it so much, I did another meet-and-greet at a different virtual convention to meet “Shooter” and “The Flash” star Shantel VanSanten.

Overall, both video chats were great. Before the session, I sat in an online waiting room. A counter then lets you know your place in line. On average, the chats lasted between 3-5 minutes. I was able to ask a couple of questions in each video and converse with the stars for a few minutes. You normally are able to do a quick chat when you meet celebrities during autograph sessions at conventions, but these video sessions feel a little more personable with the one-on-one chats.

After the chat is over, I was able to download a video of the meeting to watch later. I like this feature. It’s a neat memento that I wouldn’t normally have if I met these stars in person.

As a nerd and lover of all things pop culture, I can appreciate this new opportunity for fans. It’s a unique experience and having the chance to meet and interact with some of my favorite celebrities is something I thoroughly enjoyed.

Experiences like this cost anywhere from $60-$300, based on my quick online research. I definitely recommend this for anyone out there who would like to say hello and chat with some amazing personalities.

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