That Was It? (first Convention)

[jeff]

I did not get to finish my thought.
All the people in this hobby that sell their products , RR, Beenut , 513 , DJ, and many others that I did not name are not in it for the money , atleast as far as I can tell. Yeah they would like to make a profit , but it is not about that. It is that they contribute to this hobby, and want to see this hobby bring as much fun and good times to everyone as it has to them. If everyone gave more to this hobby , who know's what could happen. We might have 300 people at the conventions.
I do agree what some others have said, if we could unite the entire electric football community and all join up and play by whatever way you are comfortable with, there might be 500 people show up at that convention.

[sweetka]

Where were you? When were you there again?

The Landsmans are entrepanuers
The vendors exist because of the entrepanuers
The collectors exist because of vendors past and present due to entrepanuers
The coaches exist because of a passion for the product that is Electric Football, or Miniature Football, whichever you prefer, as long as you play.

Mike,
The money woes must have hit you too, or you didn't do your homework. You really have to "check in" to get the experience. I met Larue in the lobby with his NFL covers adorned across the Miggle floor and uniforms on display. I never seen him in my life but I introduced myself because I don't have to worry about it. Know what I mean? Most dealing, meeting takes place within the hotel, walking the halls where the doors are open for you to simply, "walk in". Nobody's hanging in the ball room unless they are buying something or playing. The fellowship occurs up and down those hallways where you can look in rooms, see people playing, and walk right in. My advice to you is check in next time.

Miggle is prorietory, basic, gets you in the hobby. For guys like George, Reginald, Beenutt, Raidermike, and others, they wanted more. So they invested, created, or syphoned (based on who you believe) spinoffs, enhancements, etc. that added to game play. Sure, the company lost their license and are in transition but that didn't affect the tourney because many of the real "coaches" know what they need to play. Miggle losing their NFL license may have opened up an opportunity for decalers, sculptors, and even board makers. There was Watts boards on the floor also. The only thing that was asked, again asked, was who makes those? They liked the Haiti Repros on our custom teams. They'll change and adapt. They are about business. They get it. I still think the biggest mistake the Landsman's made was opening up their business and caring what people think. I know Bill Ford didn't ask me how I liked my car when I bought it. Business 101, add buffers. They chose not to.

I've had too many people call and tell me what a great time they had, some told me that it was tight but they came because are league supports all around. I saw Jimmie Davis tweak for Free, at least five or six 22 man teams for the kids who played endlessly. Jim by himself got at least five kids into the hobby because they could run plays for real. So selfless, non profit, which is a lot more than I could say for, well, I'll leave that alone.

You need to stop hidin' and come play. All is forgivin at the various events, and even in this huge recession, things worked out great. You were just sitting behind a pole at the ballpark.

Hope this helps!

[HOOP]

OVERALL, MOST PEOPLE ENJOYED THEMSELVES.

From a business standpoint, you are on the right road. but as many have stated, no one is in this for the money, but for the love of the hobby and the promotion of the game. which then leads to miggles restrictions. they have their way of doing this and for the show they put on, i certainly will not complain. the hotel was BEAUTIFUL and the rooms had plenty of space for families or "lab work". the food - forget it. The Landsmans put out for a welcome dinner AND GOURMET BREAKFAST EVERY SINGLE MORNING. DID ANYONE THANK THAT CHEF WHO WAS WIPPIN UP THOSE OMLETS WHILE CRACKIN JOKES??? WELL MUCH PROPS TO HIM NOW!
This was my first convention, and when i see the Landsmans working closely with Jim Davis, Steve Martin Dewayne Jennings and others, you know they are good people who are doing THEIR PART in extending the hobby. They gotta run there business but they do respect the work of the others. i witnessed Mrs. Landsman hanging with the guys a bit, admiring Bruce Watts' board.
But the most important thing was the fellowship. like i said earlier, i walked into a room of about 12 strangers, big dudes too, like Kenny, Jim Jackson, Chuck, Shawn and Jim Davis sittin there at the end of the table like "The Don" of EF/MF. coulda been intimidating for some, but they all showed me love and welcomed me. the rest of the weekend was more of the same and better. and that, Mr. Efl Guy, is what you may have missed out on. Hanging in the rooms upstairs getting tips or just getting to know. Going out to lunch or dinner with the guys and chatting it up about the hobby or about life. THAT WAS WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT. And yeah, Miggle may not have rocked it from a strictly business angle, BUT MIGGLE GAVE US THIS VENUE FOR THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. Gotta give them all the credit for that.

[sweetka]

We must have saw this at the same time MD! Right on!

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the thoughts on the subject. I really thought I was gonna get blasted on the site.

First let me say again, I get the whole playing against all the other coaches thing. I played a few games and had a great time, I wasn't sitting on the sidelines. But people playing and dealing in hotels rooms doesn't showcase to the public what the hobby is all about. All the ads and radio spots and magazine articles won't help when Joe Blow from the public decides to come to the convention and sees 20 guys mulling around and empty tables.

But I am somewhat confused by some of the posts. Why are people excluded? It can't be because of the NFL thing because there was a guy selling NFL board covers. There was a guy selling some custom figures that were NFL teams, and most of the players playing were using custom NFL teams. Dewyane Jennings was dressing up NFL teams, so why aren't others allowed to promote their wares as well. If this is truly the case that people are excluded then that is a very concerning thing, especially now that Miggle doesn't hold that NFL licence.

I also get that people aren't in it for the money either, I have printed hundreds of decals for our league's members to customize their players and I don't charge a penny. I even thought about setting up a table myself.

So are what people telling me is that we are so fragmented as a hobby we can't pull together to promote and expand this hobby we love. Does Miggle have THAT much control of it that they won't allow the promotion that is nessesary to expand the hobby that it makes its money from?

Just some thoughts,

[Shabby J]

It's Miggle's convention. They are hosting and funding the thing to promote their products. The can and have the right to dictate who can display and sell goods on the floor space they are paying for.

Think of it as Ford hosting a convention to promote their cars and products then Chevrolet showing up and trying to set up a booth.

It is not a "miniature football convention", it is a "Miggle convention", that's why the hallways and the back door dealings have to happen.

When the MFCA hosts a convention, that will be totally different, anyone should be able to show up and sell products and services.

The MFCA convention will truly be a miniature football convention.

I can understand the way Miggle runs their convention from a business standpoint.

The general public will walk into the MFCA convention and think, "hey this hobby is popular beyond belief" when they see the level of products and services offered.

Seeing as the MFCA doesn't have a license either, maybe we should just display "OUR PERSONAL COLLECTIONS THAT ARE NOT FOR RESALE BUT FOR VIEWING PLEASURE ONLY!!!"

Do you really think NFL "scouts" aren't going to be at an NFL HOF function? We ALL need to hush and just PLAY with OUR PERSONAL COLLECTIONS. If people like what you have then "give" it to them for what it "cost" you. Stop advertising and yapping all over the internet waves!!!!!!! Or we won't have a Miggle or an MFCA or anything!

Just my ninety-eight cents short of a dollar. No offense intended.

[Shabby J]

Point taken Jimbo, look what just happened to RR.

[Coach K-LO]

Originally Posted by Shabby J

Point taken Jimbo, look what just happened to RR.

true.......

[Reginald Rutledge]

happen to me! This has been happening since I got kicked out of the Philadelphia Convention by Miggle. I've been harrassed since '97 by the NFL and the NCAA and the only reason I offered that information is because a guy asked me. I am not one who beats behind the bush and if you ask me, I will give you an honest answer. Maybe that is not a good thing always, but sometimes information is given falsely and the best way to find out the real answer is to get it from the horse's mouth.

The great thing is I feel that I have the ingenuity to work around those things. So I will be okay. But yes, you be cafeful on where you display your products or how you display them.

On here, since I will not be selling I will display one way but on FF.COM, it will be shown in another manner.

Reginald