Subject:
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I want a convention, not a show. (was Re: What kinds of LEGO-based conventions...)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.events.nwbrickcon, lugnet.events
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Date:
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Thu, 22 Aug 2002 21:45:54 GMT
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Viewed:
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2021 times
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In lugnet.events.nwbrickcon, Frank Filz writes:
> William R Ward wrote:
> >
> > Frank Filz <ffilz@mindspring.com> writes:
> > > It definitely does to me. It was one of the issues I had with
> > > BricksWest. The "official" display space was all public display. There
> > > were a few tables (and a stage (1)) in the session rooms which got
> > > appropriated for unguarded display for attendees. The setup of
> > > BricksWest almost felt to me like a big train show for the public, with
> > > some stuff for the AFOLs on the side. I'm concerned that with the push
> > > for the whole thing to be in LLC next year that it will be even more of
> > > an event for the public (2).
> >
> > I just want to chime in and say I take a completely opposite view.
> > The best part of BricksWest for me was the public display. I loved
> > having the kids and parents milling about and saying nice things about
> > my models. And it gave us a chance to recruit for our LUG/LTC, since
> > there were a number of bay area folks who just happened to be at
> > legoland that weekend.
> >
> > My favorite part of the LEGO hobby is when a kid sees one of my models
> > and his eyes light up and he says "Wooahh" and you can just see the
> > little gears turning in his mind as he figures out how to build
> > something similar.
>
> I get a lot out of the public aspect also. But my point is that I get
> that several times a year without paying $150/night for a hotel room.
Yup. I keep waffling back and forth on whether or not I can go to NWBC, and
the 'public display' part is one of the things that makes me less inclined
to go. I really enjoy interacting with the public; my feet are always sore
after a train show because I'm one of the guys who's always standing and
talking to people. But I'd be sorely disappointed to book holiday time,
drive some 15 hours (or book a $$$ flight), to spend my time saying "Yes,
Lego makes trains."
What I enjoy is the time with other AFOLs. Talking, comparing, oohing and
aaahing, trading, gaming - whatever the activity is is actually secondary to
the "with other AFOLs" part. That's the part that pulls my butt out of this
chair - if I want to do something with the public, I've got 3/4 of a million
within an hour's easy driving. But that same radius only gets me a dozen or
so AFOLs, only about half of which are serious enough to do things regularly.
IMHO, a convention should be about the hobby, and involve the fans of the
hobby. If you want to involve the public, or promote the hobby, you put on
a show, not a convention.
YMMV
James
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