FSM at Wonderfest this Year?

Not that I saw, no.  I don't think I saw a booth nor stack of their teaser issues, either.  Sad 'cause I was looking forward to speaking with Matthew Usher again.

Nope, looks like they blew us off. Kind of a shame, they got two magazines worth of photos from last years show...

Lots of other interesting drama though.

That's one word for it.  Some people just can't leave well enough alone.....

Your a good man Matt - appreciate you taking the time to respond. 

Here's to next year! 

Matthew Usher noted:

I really wanted to attend again this year, but our travel budget only stretches so far, and I just couldn't find a way to get there that wasn't heinously expensive. We will be back, though. Matt @ FSM

It's cool. I can't say for sure why, but there were about 150 less contest entries than last year. Maybe next year will be that much bigger...

I took a few photos, if anyone wants to see them?

I saw some amazing pics of the Rag Tag fleet display. 

Cosmic J wrote:

It's cool. I can't say for sure why, but there were about 150 less contest entries than last year. Maybe next year will be that much bigger...

There were 408 entries this year.  Last year was just shy of 500 entries, tho I forget for sure what the exact number was.  I think it was in the 490's.

I'm sure that the price of gas and the fact that things were so spread out between the hotels and Expo Center that drove some folks off.  I know a few folks who entered more than they normally do, but also know a few folks who entered less than they normally do.  I have to say that overall, tho, the quality of the entries was very high.

:shrug: Just one of those mysteries, I guess.

Am I sure about...  what... exactly?  I addressed a couple of different things. 

The entries being down from last year is my opinion based on a bunch of folks I know - like an entire club from Florida - didn't come up.  A number of those folks usually enter an average of 6 models each.  One guy I know who entered 9 or 10 models last year only entered two this year.  

The number of 408 entries for this year is what was mentioned during a conversation that I was party to with a group of folks which included someone on-staff at sometime during the show Saturday, I think it was.  Might have been John or Drew, but I forget for sure.  The "just under 500 entries" for last year was specifically mentioned at last years awards ceremony.

Regardless, hopefully next year will see entries climb above the 500 mark.

Ok, as long as you're absolutely sure, who am I to contradict you?

LOL!

What exactly is the purpose of your last two posts...?   Why continue to take the thread off-topic?

I just enjoy getting your goat.

Seriously though, I'm getting to those pictures ready now. I'll hang them in a separate thread, so there's no confusion.

Cosmic J wrote:

I just enjoy getting your goat.

Interesting, that....

It's more than interesting, it pretty funny actually!

For those not in the know, the John and Drew that Jeffery refers to are the guys in charge of the Amazing Model Contest at WF each year. They are also friends of mine, and have been for more than a decade.

John, Drew, J.T., H.B., B.B., Q. and Myself are members of the Louisville Figure Modelers Society. We hang out, build models, and attend local shows together. Sometimes we are even business partners; we almost always have a vendor's table at WF, and have produced and distributed several garage kits over the years. If you've bought a limited run GK from WF in the last decade, you may have one of them.

About a month ago, while we were attending the local IPMS show, John asked me if I would be a judge at WF this year.

Now the thing is, I hate judging at WF, for any number of reasons, and John knows this. He wouldn't ask me if he didn't think he needed me, so I reluctantly agreed.

WF comes around, and that Saturday at around 11:30am, I commented to Drew that I thought the contest tables were looking a little bit empty. He agreed. So we did a quick count, and came up about 150 less entries than last year. I said "I'm guessing you won't be needing me this year..."

So as you can imagine, when I came in here and found Jeffery pointedly contradicting things I knew to be true, and quoting my friends to do so, I was quite amused.

But hey Jeff, don't take my word for it. You should never trust anything you read on the internet. Drop John a note, and ask him.

(If you want to make his day, ask him how his Alien figure did at the IPMS Invitational. Then ask him who won the Best In Show...)

LOL!

Wow. Seems like someone really stepped in it here.

I saw your photos CJ, I have some more to add, if you like.Do you ever watch the 70's show? Can you say "Burnnnnnnnnnnn?" I have a MK I'm working on, can I send you photos?

Hmmm. Please forgive me, it was not my intent to come across as if I was trashing Jeff (well, maybe a little... ).

You see, he and I have had the above conversation before, so he knows of my friendships w/ said individuals. Perhaps he forgot, or was just trying to be friendly. Dunno. I personally didn't see any rancor in his remarks, nor mine. Again, if I came across that way, that was not my intent.

MK = Maschinen Krieger? You could send me photos, but perhaps you could just upload them for everyone? Folks around here are a good natured bunch, helpful and supportive.

As I mentioned already, it was part of a conversation that I overheard at some point on Saturday.  I still don't recall who all was there, just that the number was specifically mentioned.  Maybe the number I heard was just pulled from someone's head or not.  There are ample distractions at WonderFest, so anything is possible, I guess.  However, my recollection is that it was related to the number of entries for this year.

Just sayin'. 

Gents,

Let's step away from the edge of the cliff and drop the back-and-forth. It's not what we're here for. Thanks to all who posted photos from Wonderfest. Looks like it was a good show.

Cheers,

Excellent idea.

I missed WF, AGAIN!  This year though, rather than mother nature thrashing my home, it was the addition of a family member that kept me from going.  Even though my wife gave me her blessing to go that Thursday!  I didn't, figuring instead she was gving enough rope to hang myself with.

Next year is the weekend before Memorial Day weekend, Chris.  It's May 16 - 17th. 

Not a good weekend, I take it?  Can't get a Kitchen Pass for just a couple days?  :(

May is the month when my work really starts picking up. We take our family vacation as soon as the boy is out of school, which is when it seems WF will be. Right after the holiday weekend is when they start getting stingy with time off due to production demands. As a department manager I'm expected to be there as a shining example of worker loyalty.

Ah, yes.  Manager-Supervisor Woody of the People's Factory of Woodyland.  For the people of the proloteriat (sp)! 

Doncha just hate management expectations?  Promotions are such a double-edged sword....

Thanks to all who posted photos from Wonderfest. Looks like it was a good show. Cheers,

  Yer welcome. Anything we can do to convince y'all to come out next year?