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This is the first of a series of posts I plan on posting about our experiences
at Mindfest.
This posts covers what we learned about presenting models in a public setting.
If anyone has anything to add to this please post a followup to this message.
There were many things that went real well for us but there were some things
that did not go so well. I will tackle the problems we had first.
1. This first issue was somewhat unavoidable on our part but it was still an
issue. It seemed to me that there was very little time allocated to us for
setup. This caused problems in that we had hundreds of people all swarming
around us as we tried to setup our display. This was especially hard with the
AT-AT's which require a lot of setup time and adjustments to get them to
balance and not come crashing down.
2. The first day/night (Friday) I wanted to try and have no "Warning" or "Do
Not" signs and allow people to be a little hands on. In retrospect this was a
bad idea. While most people were very courteous and respectful of our display
there were some that needed to be held in check. In particular there were 2 or
3 children present at our table all evening while we were trying to set up. I
think that they probably handled every minifig we had (about 150 of them)
during the evening and were rearranging them as well (for example if I had a
female head on a soldier or pilot it was immediately replaced with a male head
especially if I was using a hair piece instead of a helmet). Also because we
were often distracted and overwhelmed at different times we did not catch
everything that was going on. At one point an X-Wing and a modified AirSpeeder
walked off and were whooshing around the exhibit hall. That was the string
that broke the monkey's back so to speak and signs went up the next morning.
3. It seemed to me that many people did not really respect our models because
they thought they were either a TLG display or that we were somehow funded by
TLG because who really has that much LEGO... This was also corrected with
"100% personal collections" signs that got some strange looks of disbelief but
were somewhat effective.
4. It also seemed that no matter how many signs we put up it did not
completely work and much knuckle slapping had to be done. This was not just
kids either this was often just as big a problem with Adults as with Kids. One
example is that often someone would ask "Do you mind if I look at that" and
before the words got out of their mouths a model was in there hands. Other
examples were people just touching and even grabbing at things. It seemed
people liked to grab at the zip line on Shaun's AT-AT and start pulling or
swinging it. One guy even grabbed the head of Shaun's AT-AT and started
swinging it around (I lost it there).
5. Don't plant your LEGO trees close to the front edge of you table. I had to
rebuild my Tree probably 5-7 times.
This all being said there were many more positives than negatives and we all
had a lot of fun and would do it again in a heartbeat. Some of the positives
are listed below.
1. We had a high traffic, high visibility table and it gave us a lot of
visitors. Including TLG reps and fans alike.
2. We got to meet a lot of very interesting people.
3. We got to share our models with the public plus we probably had one of the
largest private Star Wars displays ever shown in public. (I just can't imagine
a bigger display of private Star Wars models in one place).
4. We got to spread to word that there are Adult LEGO hobbyists out there and
that we are serious about what we are doing. For example I was talking with
one LEGO rep and he asked me how many members we had and when I told him 32 his
eyes almost came out of his head and then I told him our group had only been in
existence for 3 months I had to get him a cold towel (well not exactly but I
thought I was going to have to get one with the look on his face :).
5. Because of the nature of this event everyone wanted to know what our stuff
(especially the AT-AT's) did. This was good because we could give our spiel
about how we don't all do robotics. Thanks to Henry Chea and his car we did at
least have one RCX brick on the table plus we had Larry's train that at least
moved. Occasionally as soon as we said the AT-AT's were just models people
would walk away or go right to one of the other models that did something at
our table. Most of the time however people were very interested in hearing
about our group and our different interests.
I know that my negatives seem bigger than the positives but that is just
because it is easier to write about negatives because they stick in your mind.
I think many of our problems could have been avoided if we had just had some
signs at the beginning and then had a no exceptions policy.
All in all this was a wonderful event and although we experienced some growing
pains nothing was destroyed and amazingly both AT-AT's remained standing
throughout the event. So good experiences for all and I hope that this can be
of help for some of you that may plan public displays in the future.
Eric Kingsley
Remove ".nospam" when replying by E-mail
The New England LEGO Users Group
http://www.nelug.org/
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First of all : congratulations with the VERRY LARGE Star Wars models !!!!
superb,cool,waw, ....
In lugnet.org.us, Eric Kingsley writes:
> This is the first of a series of posts I plan on posting about our experiences
> at Mindfest.
>
> This posts covers what we learned about presenting models in a public setting.
> If anyone has anything to add to this please post a followup to this message.
>
> There were many things that went real well for us but there were some things
> that did not go so well. I will tackle the problems we had first.
>
> 5. Because of the nature of this event everyone wanted to know what our stuff
> (especially the AT-AT's) did. This was good because we could give our spiel
> about how we don't all do robotics. Thanks to Henry Chea and his car we did • at
> least have one RCX brick on the table plus we had Larry's train that at least
> moved. Occasionally as soon as we said the AT-AT's were just models people
> would walk away or go right to one of the other models that did something at
> our table. Most of the time however people were very interested in hearing
> about our group and our different interests.
I displayed also once in a technical school (open door day's - only for 2
afternoons !!) and i got some moving parts as a bridge,windmill, 3 trains,...
and this seems to be more atractive than static models.
I got no problems with children / adults touching things (there where 'don't
touch' signs placed !!).But there where not that many visitors as you got on
your booth,thats for sure.
building up takes a lot of time! Not to mention the time for building the
models !! Don't under estimate this !
It took me 4 months to build some electronics and the models, and 2 day's to
build my 27m² display up (all alone),and got to remove it the same evening of
the last afternoon (also all alone)!!
It took me over 5 hours to do so (putting everything back in carton boxes)
Coming home,exhousted,energy level below zero,with the idee from ...NEVER
AGAIN .
Now, 1 1/2 year later,i'd like to do it again, but not on my own !!
It takes too many energy if you have to do it on your own.
Regards,
Ludo
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In lugnet.org.us, Eric Kingsley writes:
> There were many things that went real well for us but there were some things
> that did not go so well. I will tackle the problems we had first.
Hey, if you do this again next year, I can fix that problem. I'll wear black
combat/duty style boots(which I hope to be getting for my 16th bday when I can
become a jr. firefighter), then I'll get some black cargo pants and wear the
boots over them, and them I'll wear a shirt that says "NELUG Security" and
stand there with my arms crossed over my chest and have a stern look on my
face. OK so it would be more intimidating if it was an adult who did it, but I
just thought that it would be kinda funny :)
Ryan
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In lugnet.org.us, Eric Kingsley writes:
> There were many things that went real well for us but there were some things
> that did not go so well. I will tackle the problems we had first.
Hey, if you do this again next year, I can fix that problem. I'll wear black
combat/duty style boots(which I hope to be getting for my 16th bday when I can
become a jr. firefighter), then I'll get some black cargo pants and wear the
boots over them, and them I'll wear a shirt that says "NELUG Security" and
stand there with my arms crossed over my chest and have a stern look on my
face. OK so it would be more intimidating if it was an adult who did it, but I
just thought that it would be kinda funny :)
Ryan
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Dennett <dennett@agate.net> wrote:
> become a jr. firefighter), then I'll get some black cargo pants and wear the
> boots over them, and them I'll wear a shirt that says "NELUG Security" and
> stand there with my arms crossed over my chest and have a stern look on my
> face. OK so it would be more intimidating if it was an adult who did it, but I
> just thought that it would be kinda funny :)
Yes, amusing. But really, part of the problem was that we didn't want to
scare people off -- that's why Eric didn't want to have signs at first. I
guess we underestimated the lack of respect people would have.
--
Matthew Miller ---> mattdm@mattdm.org
Quotes 'R' Us ---> http://quotes-r-us.org/
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I'd like to add my congratulations on a totally awesome display.
I think you were very restrained in your dealings with the less respectful
public. I'm very posessive about my Lego and other hobbies, and my young
nephews and nieces know that Uncle Peter can and will emulate a certain well
known hairy biped co-pilot should things be touched without his permission.
All that said, what can you do? Signs, ropes, even glass or perspex fronts,
but all this detracts from the experience of those who do respect the models
and want to look and not touch. Perhaps a sign explaining briefly that it is a
private collection, giving the time and parts statistics, and asking patrons
to please respect the models by not touching the display without the expressed
permission of the owners. And have a couple of rolls of gaffer tape handy for
those who ignore the signs.
Where were the parents of the kids that were hanging around when you were
setting up. A brief chat to them (perhaps holding and explaining the purpose
of the gaffer tape?) might also help.
My thoughts.
Pete Callaway
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In lugnet.org.us, Eric Kingsley writes:
> 2. The first day/night (Friday) I wanted to try and have no "Warning" or "Do
> Not" signs and allow people to be a little hands on. In retrospect this was a
> bad idea. While most people were very courteous and respectful of our display
> there were some that needed to be held in check. In particular there were 2 • or
> 3 children present at our table all evening while we were trying to set up. I
> think that they probably handled every minifig we had (about 150 of them)
> during the evening and were rearranging them as well (for example if I had a
> female head on a soldier or pilot it was immediately replaced with a male head
> especially if I was using a hair piece instead of a helmet). Also because we
> were often distracted and overwhelmed at different times we did not catch
> everything that was going on. At one point an X-Wing and a modified • AirSpeeder
> walked off and were whooshing around the exhibit hall. That was the string
> that broke the monkey's back so to speak and signs went up the next morning.
Do keep in mind that you/we were presenting at a place where "hands-on" is a
primary ethos. In most of the exibits adults and children were encouraged to
touch, experiment, and create. The proximity to the Construction Zone
undoubtedly exacerbated this problem.
Also, Mindfest was a place where children (at least the 7+ variety) roamed
essentially free. This was great for most of the kids, but I noticed a few
who needed 24hr supervision by an adult (and probably a psychiatrist as well.)
-John Van
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>
> Do keep in mind that you/we were presenting at a place where "hands-on" is a
> primary ethos. In most of the exibits adults and children were encouraged to
> touch, experiment, and create. The proximity to the Construction Zone
> undoubtedly exacerbated this problem.
It can be a very hard ballance to strike. I know, having been there, done that
from both sides. I've exibited since I was 7 or so (rallied a steam traction
Engine when I was 9 for 3 years). It is so hard to strike a ballance between
"don't touch, this is fragile" and "look carefully". It seems that there are
allways people who break something/do something stupid no matter how hard you
try not to let them.
(watch out for that spinning propeller Kevin...Teeheehee Oops!)
> Also, Mindfest was a place where children (at least the 7+ variety) roamed
> essentially free. This was great for most of the kids, but I noticed a few
> who needed 24hr supervision by an adult (and probably a psychiatrist as well.)
Been there, done that. I was mostly a respectful child, at least by the time I
was let to go freely to various things. I can remember about 1986 or so, at
the Hobby Show in Toronto, being let free at 7 or 8 at night. Where did I go?
over to operate a railway layout that the exibitors trusted me with. (at 9
years old, and here I was playing with someone elses 500+ hrs of work).
The kids who require 24/7 attention. Well, the gaffers tape is a good
suggestion. It is a parenting problem. Especially, if you ask a child to stop
doing something (like changing heads on a MF around), and the kid ignores you
or tells you where to go. If it were me, and the child was being disruptive, I
would get security. No, it will not make you #1 in the parent's eyes, but that
is not your problem. If a child cannot be trusted to listen, then they need
the parent to supervise them to make them do so.
(actions=consiqenses)
James Powell
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>
> Do keep in mind that you/we were presenting at a place where "hands-on" is a
> primary ethos. In most of the exibits adults and children were encouraged to
> touch, experiment, and create. The proximity to the Construction Zone
> undoubtedly exacerbated this problem.
I do realize that our exhibit did not exactly mesh with the hands on focus of
the event and that was explained one way or another to many people that asked
about our exhibit. Plus like you say the proximity to the Construction Zone I
am sure exacerbated the problem.
>
> Also, Mindfest was a place where children (at least the 7+ variety) roamed
> essentially free. This was great for most of the kids, but I noticed a few
> who needed 24hr supervision by an adult (and probably a psychiatrist as well.)
This was true and not being a parent I have a hard time understanding the
differences in children. For example, in my family alone where my sister and
I grew up with the same rules, I was basically a low maintenance child that
respected others and other peoples things where my sister was very high
maintenance and needed a leash.
I also don't necessarily think that age is a deciding factor because in our
case John III was excellent around our models where a couple of kids 3 or 4
years older were much worse. I also remember one time that we had the couple
of crazy kids running around with our stuff another kid who was also much
younger came up to the table and was very shy and had his hands in his
pockets. I could tell he wanted to touch but he didn't and his parents
congradulated him on his restraint. I knew that he would be good and talked
to him and let him have some fun with some models too.
Like I said earlier we all had fun and would do it again in a second. This
was a learning experiance for us as much as anyone. There were no major
disasters which I think supprised many of us but made us feel that we were
able to have some balance as long as we were all attentive and monitoring the
"High Risk" areas. I think now that we have done it once we will know better
what to expect in the future and will come prepaired.
Eric Kingsley
Remove ".nospam" when replying by E-mail
The New England LEGO Users Group
http://www.nelug.org/
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Matthew Miller <mattdm@mattdm.org> wrote:
> Dennett <dennett@agate.net> wrote:
> > become a jr. firefighter), then I'll get some black cargo pants and wear the
> > boots over them, and them I'll wear a shirt that says "NELUG Security" and
> > stand there with my arms crossed over my chest and have a stern look on my
> > face. OK so it would be more intimidating if it was an adult who did it, but I
> > just thought that it would be kinda funny :)
>
> Yes, amusing. But really, part of the problem was that we didn't want to
> scare people off -- that's why Eric didn't want to have signs at first. I
> guess we underestimated the lack of respect people would have.
Sometimes we like to believe that most people don't suck. Most of
the time we're forced to re-evaluate.
--
The parts you want and nothing else?
http://jaba.dtrh.com/ - Just Another Brick Auction
Why pay eBay? Run your own LEGO auctions for free!
http://www.guarded-inn.com/bricks/
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Good advice. One of the kids, when asked about why he persisted in
touching stuff when I had asked him not to replied:
"Well, my dad is very important around here so it's OK"
Presumably he was some professor of education... you connect the dots.
:-) But I was tempted to tape his hands to his side.
--
Larry Pieniazek larryp@novera.com http://my.voyager.net/lar
- - - Web Application Integration! http://www.novera.com
fund Lugnet(tm): http://www.ebates.com/ ref: lar, 1/2 $$ to lugnet.
NOTE: Soon to be lpieniazek@tsisoft.com :-)
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On Tue, 26 Oct 1999, Larry Pieniazek wrote:
> Good advice. One of the kids, when asked about why he persisted in
> touching stuff when I had asked him not to replied:
> "Well, my dad is very important around here so it's OK"
> Presumably he was some professor of education... you connect the dots.
> :-) But I was tempted to tape his hands to his side.
Every time I do a show I wish I had some duct tape and dared to use it on
unmonitored children.
This last show in Maple Valley we had a more serious problem with a child,
though. Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking fast enough to prevent him from
apparently stealing something from our display. Thank goodness it was
only one minifig (we think). If we do this show next year, I'll be
watching for him.
-Laura
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Larry Pieniazek <lar@voyager.net> wrote:
> Good advice. One of the kids, when asked about why he persisted in
> touching stuff when I had asked him not to replied:
>
> "Well, my dad is very important around here so it's OK"
>
> Presumably he was some professor of education... you connect the dots.
> :-) But I was tempted to tape his hands to his side.
I sincerely hope that you set him straight?
Bratty kids usually grow up to be adult jerks.
'Course, in this situation the dad is probably as much if not more
to blame than the kid...
--
The parts you want and nothing else?
http://jaba.dtrh.com/ - Just Another Brick Auction
Why pay eBay? Run your own LEGO auctions for free!
http://www.guarded-inn.com/bricks/
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Nah - If you ever get that crap again, you yell out very loudly "ATTENTION,
Everyone! This little boy X says his dad is very important around here, so
boy X can touch anything he wants even if you ask him not to! Make sure to
let boy X ignore all of your rules, because he says his dad is very
important around here".
If his dad is there, and doesn't rip over there, grab the boy by the ear,
and yank him out of the room, I'd be surprised. If he isn't there,
hopefully it will embarass the boy into submission.
Larry Pieniazek wrote:
>
> Good advice. One of the kids, when asked about why he persisted in
> touching stuff when I had asked him not to replied:
>
> "Well, my dad is very important around here so it's OK"
>
> Presumably he was some professor of education... you connect the dots.
> :-) But I was tempted to tape his hands to his side.
>
> --
> Larry Pieniazek larryp@novera.com http://my.voyager.net/lar
> - - - Web Application Integration! http://www.novera.com
> fund Lugnet(tm): http://www.ebates.com/ ref: lar, 1/2 $$ to lugnet.
>
> NOTE: Soon to be lpieniazek@tsisoft.com :-)
--
Tom Stangl
***http://www.vfaq.com/
***DSM Visual FAQ home
***http://ba.dsm.org/
***SF Bay Area DSMs
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