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TFNation Blog | Play the game

People often ask me to tell them stories about my experiences at TFNation. To shed a little light on what goes into putting a convention together, and how much of that planning actually makes it to the weekend in one piece. Life on the other side of the stripes, I suppose.

Granted, I've no reason to assume you're one of those people. Yet here we are, together, on the cusp of something tantalisingly tasteless, as we prepare to delve into the deep unknowns of a world you never imagined could truly exist this side of decency and legality; and in truth, one which seldom ever does.

Okay so, fair enough. It always does. I'll admit, it's mostly spreadsheets and lifting boxes. And insurance forms. Loads and loads of forms. But, stay with me as I'm sure there are a few interesting tales I can find for public consumption, most of which will likely be true, at least in part. Some of these revelations might just shatter your very world, changing everything you think you know about convention life.

So. Here's a game of rock, paper, scissors.





I'd be lying if I told you I remembered the exact motivation I had for taking this photograph. The precise emotions I was trying to capture or indeed, what drew me to this particular happening over and above a hundred others that weekend. Primarily because I wasn't there and didn't take the photograph at all. Credit for this moment in time goes to Team Reflector's own Nick Hardy, if I remember correctly (check them out here https://www.facebook.com/pg/TeamReflector/posts/?ref=page_internal).

Let's back up a little bit to explain this properly. A few years ago I was invited onto a podcast - the first and only time that's ever happened actually. And as the main guest, no less! It can be argued that I technically owned the podcast, which might lead some viewers to label the invitation as "expected", but let's not focus on the minutia; there was a podcast, it was all about me, and both listeners LOVED it.

The podcast's host (my favourite Victorian Gentleman, Grufflock) asked me to relay my favourite TFNation memory, and this photograph is what instantly came to mind. Which, again, given I wasn't actually there, shows how powerful the image was and how great Team Reflector is at capturing special moments.

So, the backstory. It was the weekend of TFNation 2016. Our first foray into managing and running our own event. Your first time doing any particular thing is an experience you can of course only have once, so for better or worse, that weekend was to become a yardstick for us. A lot was at stake. Would people come? Would we have any problems? Would the crew agree to the collared polo shirts I was going to make them wear anyway? It was all big-league stuff.

At some point in the run-up to the event, one of our seventeen Mapes brothers came up with (by which I mean, stole) a wonderful idea. Staff members would walk around the convention hall, looking out for attendees who might look a little lonely. In hindsight, we now know a lot of people attended their first TF convention that year, and it was with that possibility in mind that the idea sprung to life. Find some people who are not yet mingling and invite them to a game of rock, paper, scissors. Naturally, people were invited rather than challenged, which is probably why I wasn't allowed to play. The aim was simple - get people talking.

The idea bounced about TFN:HQ (wherever that is - maybe I'll blog about it someday) for quite some time, but didn't really find a home for several months. We were all happy it was a great idea, but it lacked uumpf. You could do this anywhere. How could we make it Transformery? What we needed was a prize, else people might not play.

Enter two very bad men. Nick Roche (not pictured here) and Andrew Turnbull (not pictured anywhere)





Nick had been talking to IDW about Sins of the Wreckers https://amzn.to/2Ai4zBQ (which you should buy, by the way). We'd had the individual issues but the trade had not made it to stores yet. Between them, Nick and Andrew hatched a plan which resulted in us having the books before stores. So our competition prize was sorted - a book you couldn't get anywhere. Brilliant! I was assured no publishers would be harmed in the process of making the giveaway happen and that was good enough for me.

To this day, this game (and thus, the photo which reminds me of it - or two photos I suppose) remains one of my favourite TFN memories. It encompassed everything we hold dear; forging new friendships, great Transformers content, generous creators and the terrifying stare of Mr Turnbull. That was TFN in a time capsule, right there.

We've not played this game for a while now. It's something I'd like to do again (or rather, something I personally would like to be allowed to do for the first time) but the timing has to be right. We like to keep things fresh. Likewise, we'd like there to be some sort of prize involved. I'm sure there will be a return one day, but at the same time, maybe the fleeting nature, of that perfect concoction of assorted geekdom is what makes me remember it so fondly.

Either way, it's a nice memory of something I never did, which is fun in itself. I wish I remembered other things I've never done, just as fondly - and maybe, someday I will.

- B














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