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We discussed our plan for this event at the Q2 meeting today. Krista and I are going to share a table, so that drops us to ten total. Jonny plans to expand the Hoth display to use the rest of the area of the 2×2 tables. (Although, at the meeting, Jonny mentioned Kristin’s upcoming Friends display, for which there’s no display space specifically reserved on the spreadsheet. I’m assuming then that that 2×2 area of tables also includes space for her display, but feel free to confirm @argonvesher.)
I sent Todd a follow-up email a little while ago. I asked for ten tables, and said we have six single-depth and four in a 2×2 area. I also asked if BrickFair could supply us with table clothes for the event. (Last year they assumed we’d have our own and I spent a very stressful hour tracking some down.)
I still want to make sure that everybody still plans to use the space they’ve reserved. As mentioned in yesterday’s post, space is tight, and we do not want to be known as The LUG That Wastes Space. So if you haven’t already, please confirm your listed table amounts on the spreadsheet @loganc @jrbookworm @mitchsbrick Also, Micah hasn’t said anything about actually displaying with us, so I’m assuming he’s putting his builds elsewhere as usual @hacim
If you want, you can track the map progress at the link below. We’re still not on it. I’m checking frequently, so when we show up, I’ll post the link here:
Yes, the rest of the 2 tables will be taken up with her Friends display…lil contrast the cold snows of Hoth and the warm beaches of the Friends Island Getaway.
@willmcdine if we could have an ambulance and a firetruck or two for taking care of a downed AT-AT again that would be awesome!Anyone else that wishes to contribute something fun and different to the build (could be the LOTR fellowship walking across the top of Echo Base like at Trolley or maybe a classic space ship fleeing the battle) anything would be welcome to add and include for easter eggs.
Also, I was just on the site, and I noticed that John Singer of Pittsburgh PA is a registered attendee but has not posted to this thread, registered a MOC with our collab, or reserved space on this thread’s spreadsheet. @amplef0rth
@willmcdine if we could have an ambulance and a firetruck or two for taking care of a downed AT-AT again that would be awesome!
I can absolutely make that happen.
@joshhall forgot the track and train stuff! Oops my bad. I need 8 curved track and 4 straight plus the motor and 9V regulator or whatever they call it. Krista has 7 curved track and 2 straights and may have more at her parents but wanted to get this in asap.
I’ll be in Florida for the next 3 weeks so early July I can either pick them up or meet somewhere to get them.
Also, we’ll need to find that big bag of black technic pins and get some to keep this all together.
I got an email from Todd this morning that we’ve been mapped.
It’s more tables than we asked for, 16 instead of 10, although it looks like four of them are 6′ tables. I’m guessing that means they’re going to put other people in our area like they did last year. I’m not excited about that, especially since putting in extra double-depth tables cuts into our sitting area, which I remember was uncomfortable and impractical last year. It also looks like there’s a support column right in the middle of our area, but we can’t do anything about that.
(Those columns are always a huge problem, I’m assuming the hall was designed with a much more traditional exhibitor booth layout in mind. I am a bit disappointed that they didn’t find a way to build the smaller room without them, but they’re there. If you want an event with no support columns, go to BrickWorld Chicago or Indy. There’s support columns at FXBG too.)
The part that is double depth is arranged in an overlapping brick-type arrangement, which looks like a huge hassle for the Hoth display, navigating the joints between tables. The BrickFair tables are as bad as any I’ve seen. Shifting everything over would necessitate removing the 6′ table on the end of the area.
It’s still early, so I’m going to wait a little bit and see what happens with the maps – Todd revises them a lot and will post every version. But if things don’t change, I will ask him about adjusting the 2×2 tables, and about removing unneeded double depth tables. And no matter what, I’m probably gonna have to ask him to explicitly define which tables are ours if we’re sharing the area. Being at a double-depth table is still a dealbreaker for me, so I’m going to need that to be sorted out.
https://www.brickfair.com/file/106/Map%208%20VENDOR%20SELECTION.jpg
PS – I am not a fan of being in the little room. For several years running, Todd convinced the vendors to be in that room, even though reportedly they were initially very opposed to the idea, and for security purposes, they could close off access to the room during things like WoL and Adult Swim. I don’t know what changed, if the vendors still complained, or he decided to expand the number of vendors and they no longer fit (looking at the map, this doesn’t appear to be the case, though).
We can’t do anything about it, of course (although at some point I would complain if we end up there every year). From a practical standpoint, the biggest thing is that back when it was non-vendors in the room – the GBC area was there in 2018 – they turned off almost no lights for World of Lights (it was also the first year we did glow-in-the-dark GBC balls, and it was really lame). So if you’re scrambling to get your MOC lit for this event, you might be better off waiting.
We’ll have to see how it goes, but they also lock the front doors to that room during the evening. I can’t remember if that’s specific to the vendors being in there, but I seem to remember they did it in 2018 also and it was a big hassle.
Wow there’s been a lot of activity here…sorry I’ve been unavailable the last couple of days. I just confirmed that I need 2 tables, although my brother (who wants to hang with me for the convention) might have a MOC he wants there too, so I’ll share that space with him if that’s cool. Neither of us have registered our MOCs yet. We’ll make an effort to do so ASAP. I’m gonna make sure my brother’s gets registered under Steel City Lug just to make sure he gets put with us. He could be like our honorary member 🙂
I agree I definitely prefer the system where the vendors are in the small room. I’ve been put there once before, and it’s definitely a different experience, especially for World of Lights (as mentioned before, they don’t really shut off lights to the same level over there). But as said before, we’re at the mercy of Todd, so it is what it is.
It’s more tables than we asked for, 16 instead of 10, although it looks like four of them are 6′ tables. I’m guessing that means they’re going to put other people in our area like they did last year.
I’m wondering about that myself. Will and I were working out the math this morning, we asked for the length of 8 – 8 ft tables (not counting depth right now), which would be 64′ of table space. Just looking at the perimeter, it looks like we have about 88′ of table (on the conservative side). So a little extra to fill in, which maybe gives us some breathing room. I’m good with this and can bring extra to fill in if needed.
Admittedly, I haven’t registered anything yet because I wasn’t sure about the table space. If this does end up being our final layout, I can pull together a layout so that we can start mapping out who’s going where.
But if things don’t change, I will ask him about adjusting the 2×2 tables, and about removing unneeded double depth tables. And no matter what, I’m probably gonna have to ask him to explicitly define which tables are ours if we’re sharing the area.
That makes sense and probably worth the ask regardless.
>> I just confirmed that I need 2 tables
I saw that, thanks.
So I took another look at the map. The text for Steel City LUG is oriented slightly towards the bottom of the island, whereas the text on almost every island is perfectly centered. This makes me wonder if we’re specifically assigned the lower set of tables. It is, in fact, ten tables, which is what we asked for, but three of them are 6′ tables. This would force people like Will and Logan to squeeze, since baseplate builds and mosaics don’t squeeze.
It also means we’re double depth on almost every table. It’s still a dealbreaker for me. Even if you guys are willing to give me the half table on the far left (something I am not assuming), when I’m sitting there with my build, which is what I do for public hours, I will be blocking one of the entrances to the area (that little maze to get in is hardly ideal in any situation), which I’m sure will try my patience pretty quickly. At this point I am thinking I might be better off cutting my losses and skipping this event (I don’t know if Todd will give me a refund or not).
I’m regretting not being more proactive with Todd and the group about establishing our space, and I apologize for that. But I’m looking at the map, and for the second year in a row, I see all the other LUGs with huge spacious islands, and Steel City LUG got the congested crap. If we return in future years, I think the plan of action has to be to try and get a large number of people for a large display that requires its own island, and do it early.
Another PS – On my account, it says we have ten tables, which would imply that we don’t get the whole island.
(It actually says “10×1 tables (confirmed) – On the map”; I don’t know exactly what 10×1 is supposed to imply or why they say it that way. It also says “You are in charge”, which seems a little dramatic. I’m just the guy who talks to Todd on behalf of the group.)
The other option that occurred to me is that I could email Danny, who is the Space theme leader, and ask if there’s room for me to move my build there. In that case, we wouldn’t change our table request (I have suddenly become much less concerned about being known as The LUG That Wastes Space), although I would recommend having somebody else be in charge of the LUG display, since I won’t be in the area when we actually arrive and set up. I’ll have to see how Danny feels about my orange tablecloth idea too.
So, Just spitballing a few ideas here. I agree that the spot on the map is less than ideal.That said I am a firm believer in equality and believe if the big LUGs ger exactly what they want, then we need to advocate for getting exactly what we want, or as close to it as we possibly can get.
As far as the tables go, this is exactly why I wish Todd would change his space request function and just switch to having people reserve table space. You wouldnt run into this shortage of space like you seem to do now and then everyone would walk in knowing the space they have. It is much easier for me to conceptualize that I have an 8 ft table worth of space thank it is for me to say that I have 10 32×32 and 5 48×48 baseplates worth of space. I do have a semi solution for any 6 foot tables that we get though. @bengood921 and @knb112 why don’t you two take those? It would give you 2 more feet each than you have with your half table, and free up an 8 footer.
While typing this and double checking the map, I also dont see SNAIL Lug on here at all. If they are attending maybe we can ask to just combine our spaces and create one large “PA LUG” Island?
@knb112 why don’t you two take those?
I’m flexible. If LUGBULK comes in on time, I need 3 feet for a lenticular. If not, I can go bigger or smaller.
although I would recommend having somebody else be in charge of the LUG display, since I won’t be in the area when we actually arrive and set up.
@bengood921 if that works for you moving into space, then I suggest whomever gets there first for us would need to confirm our tables are correct, we have table cloths and chairs, etc. I don’t mind being that person but I’m not sure we’ll be in before everyone else.I’m regretting not being more proactive with Todd and the group about establishing our space, and I apologize for that
No worries Ben! We’re already ahead of where we were last year and 10 tables is way more than the 4 we had last year.
If we return in future years, I think the plan of action has to be to try and get a large number of people for a large display that requires its own island, and do it early.
I think we just have to be ready to go reach out to Todd as soon as Fredericksburg is done. Something to start planning as soon as VA is over.
I’m really wondering how much is truly “new” builds this year. Bionicle really has a large footprint, and I feel like I’ve seen some of it before. That’s on Todd though to enforce with the limited space.
I had a call with Skip today and I asked him when Charm City submits to Todd. They have an internal deadline of mid-May to finalize their layout and then shortly thereafter to Todd. This year, Todd sent them revisions and they made changes. If we really want to grow our space, we should think about following a similar timeline, if not sooner.
They have an internal deadline of mid-May to finalize their layout and then shortly thereafter to Todd
That isn’t a terrible Idea in all honesty. I think for next year that is really doable.
If we return in future years, I think the plan of action has to be to try and get a large number of people for a large display that requires its own island, and do it early.
Agreed. That said, let’s make the space we do get alotted work. I don’t want you (Ben – who is going to be our lead at Otani – https://myotani.com/) or anyone feeling like they have to miss because there is not enough space.
I’ve gotten the majority of my MOCs registered at this point. There might be a few small changes here and there depending on what I can get done in time for the show, but I’m confident everything will fit within my requested table space. On the MOC registration page today I noticed a new popup that may be of interest to some of us:
“Map was finalized Thursday, Jun 20th.
No more MOCs will be pre-drawn onto the map.
MOCs registered now might find space to setup.
If your MOC’s footprint is large please communicate with your Theme Leader.”Looks like the space we have is what we’ll get. As long as we get the actual amount of space we need, everything’s cool with me. But for those who haven’t gotten those MOCs registered yet, you should probably get on that ASAP so we can show Todd we really will use every table we requested.
@loganc Thanks for the reminder. It slipped my radar. All current MOCs registered now.
I also just registered my MOC (Hoth Base). I just listed it as one 32×32 baseplate as @argonvesher already registered the entire Base.
I have finalized my MOCs. (had to take one out and substitute it with something else of the same size). I am officially finalized at this time and in doing this little swap I did not change my footprint. Still good for the one table as requested
I’ve finalized and put in all my MOCs. The only additions may be smaller vignettes I can fit between larger builds.
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