That Was It? (first Convention)

Mike,
Truly sorry to hear that you didn't have a nice time. These things happen! I don't know about you,but 50 people showing up for anything is a good turn out. Most of us who buy,sell and trade are in this for the hobby and sport of it all. No one is trying to get rich. If they were, the convention probably wouldn't have taken place. I'm sure the Landsmans would have rather gone to the Bahamas! The community is a lot bigger than you think. Most us have been hit hard by this recession and just couldn't make it. My advice to you is to just keep coming back!

[jimmie]

If you were a true efler would have had fun the people who where there because that what we do!!!Fun doesnt come in volume its comes one on one there where plenty of guys you could have play a game I was sitting I a table with my guys introducing my league you never came over to me or said anything so maybe the hobby isnt big enough for you!!

[Michigan Joe]

Jimmie I just saw your post and I agree with you (and oh by the way it was great meeting you last weekend!)

Mike- Me and my 6 year old son had a blast and he wouldn't want to miss one for the world. We went in with a positive attitude and left feeling even better. For me it was a truely great experience to meet new people from this chat site and that was by far and away the best part of the weekend. Without these relationships that I've formed maybe I would feel the way you do about it. There were a lot of people there that didn't compete in the tourney so if the tourney had 56 people, I'd say there was at least 100 there to visit the convention, but you're right people often times were scattered all around. You point out several Miggle convention issues that were disappointing to the miniature football enthusiast (lack of other vendors, no credit card usage, and possibly a meet and greet session for all attending, etc.) but in the end I was very happy because of the fellowship. I'd travel hundreds of miles anytime to be in the presence of my electric football brothers. I think your concerns about whether Miggle has done enough to promote the hobby (their business) is not new and I'm guessing that view is shared by others. However it would be hard for me to criticize them for the convention they put on (FOR US). I give them an A, and I thank them for giving it to us.
Joe

[daghstrydr]

but I have to agree with the others. This was my 1st also but I had a blast. Meeting people getting tips, etc. It was also great to play the others from the different leagues around the US. I also went away with more items then I brought up with me, I can honestly say I had a blast.

[jeff]

Originally Posted by Tron1984

Mike,
Truly sorry to hear that you didn't have a nice time. These things happen! I don't know about you,but 50 people showing up for anything is a good turn out. Most of us who buy,sell and trade are in this for the hobby and sport of it all. No one is trying to get rich. If they were, the convention probably wouldn't have taken place. I'm sure the Landsmans would have rather gone to the Bahamas! The community is a lot bigger than you think. Most us have been hit hard by this recession and just couldn't make it. My advice to you is to just keep coming back!

Could not agree with you guys more. It was my first convention , I brought my 2 oldest sons and we all had a blast.
Living down the street from Dewayne Jennings and knowing how long he has worked on this and many other projects for electric football . I know for a fact he is not in this for the money! If he was paid $1 for every hour that he was working on his electric football projects he would be a rich man.
DJ is a guy that thinks of others first, I can't tell you how many people that he has given things to and said they are free .

[RavennaAl]

I can understand Mikes point of view. If I had just walked in off the street with no personal agenda and looked around, I would have been pretty disappointed as well. The Miggle table was pretty full, with all their teams and some boards represented. The rest was pretty sparse. The 56 guys playing in the tourney was ok, but in most peoples minds, one would have thought that there would have been a couple of hundred playing instead.

But you have to remember one thing, Mike. This was a Miggle convention, not a Miniature Football convention. There aren't going to be any other venders there. They wouldn't allow that. You won't see custom teams, custom boards or stadiums there. They won't allow those either. You won't see as many coaches playing because most like using Buzzball and Reggie figures mixed in with the Miggles, and, you guessed it, they won't allow that as well. What you experienced was a censored version of what a Miniature Football convention should be. Hopefully, everyone will show up in Canton in August with a whole lot more to display. Also, I would think that there would be quite a few more participating in whatever tournament the MFCA decides to have. This is our chance, guys, to show the world just what a MF convention can be. No censorship, no favoritism. Just MF in all its glory. Let's do it, and let's do it right!

[Reginald Rutledge]

Mike,

When companies limit who comes because they want to promote their products only, they lose out on potential customers that may have given that product a chance. Also, they lose out on the relationship that one person may have with others who may have came because that one person came. You see it all the time at miniature football tournaments.

Miggle can only do so much and for whatever reason, still has not figured out that it needs the miniature footballer just as much as the miniature footballer needs them!

Whether Miggle likes SIW or FF.COM or any other manufacturer, these companies bring their own fandom and hype as well. Yes, these are companies that spun off the craze back in the 90's but each of these companies still bring a loyal following.

Much as I love the guys in the Great Lakes EFL, I know for a fact Miggle did not want me anywhere in the house! They've shown me and my products the door on several occasion, the most being in Philadelphia, PA.

So yes, like you, I would have been a little peturbed about what happened. But in many post in the past, I've told people don't allow a company mess up your MF/EF experience. By that, I simply meant that you should demand these companies allow all products to be a part of the Experience. And if you do, and those companies decide not to, then you see them for what they really are.

I feel for you and your experience in Motown. There's a great group of guys up there and they can only do so much to bring guys to their town. They tried. But don't sour on the game and the comments of people here. Guys speak with their passionate hearts as you did, too.

Reg