Pintastic New England wants you to bring games; it's a big show where the whole pinball community of the Northeastern USA and Eastern Canada celebrates and enjoys pinball. Game-bringers get a lot more than just free admission. The 2018 incentives are described here:
https://pintasticnewengland.com/game-registration-2018/
Watch for more improvements in 2019!

Now let's get to some of those questions.
Q: Is my machine going to be "beat to crap" at an event like this?
A: That's highly unlikely, with so many members of the pinball community around. Furthermore, Pintastic has a Tech Team, supported by a state-of-the-art trouble ticket system. Any player can report a technical issue, and the Tech Team will do standard "on location" repairs. The game owner is contacted only for more complex work. There ARE parts vendors in our vendor hall.
Q: Are most of the machines older machines, or are there a fair share of "nicer" machines?
A: Pintastic has a good mix, including games that are both old and nice. There are bonus points for games that are rarer, in demand, associated with our special guests, etc.
Q: Could I put up a for sale/for trade sign up on my machine?
A: You can. Pintastic has special features in the game registration system that will publicize the fact of the game being for sale (and your asking price, if specified) before the show on our website, as well as at the show on the game card.

Thanks to all the Pinsiders who bring games to Pintastic New England and other shows!
.................David Marston

Would love to bring a game to a show. Don’t really care about the free pass but would want to get the machine out before the last day of the show.

At pinfest (Allentown) you can remove your game at the end of of the day Friday, first thing Saturday morning or the end of the show on Saturday without penalty. A 2 day commitment is not needed.

The short answer is yes.
I bring a variety of things to ZapCon which is our local show here in Phoenix.
Anything from Pins, Arcade games EM games etc.
I normally bring around a dozen or so games.

Personally I think it important to support the hobby on this sort of level.
I go there and play other peoples machines and its only fair.
Most of the local collectors that I know participate in bringing machines on some level as well.
We would not have conventions like this if people did not do this.

Yep. I normally rent a U-Haul with fish1975tx and we max it out at 12 games to the local Houston Arcade Expo. This year I brought 6 games....Stern Indy, Bally Hotdoggin, LAH, BK2K, Junkyard, and Rocky and Bullwinkle. I even managed to talk my friend, jawjaw into bringing my BSD that he was pinsitting at the time.

What about year one when I brought a 27’ uhaul with 27 games for the two tournament banks and a handful of freeplay room games?

At the Golden State Pinball Festival we have a lot of guests from up and down the coast. We make arrangements with them to allow their machines to leave first thing Sunday morning. It's the games taking off at 2pm we want to avoid

Well Nancy next time say somethin. I asked around all the time. Errybody kept sayin turn it up!

I am definitely not a veteran at bringing games to shows but my willingness to take games is in direct proportion to how confident I feel that people at the show will help look out for my game(s). For Pincinnati I knew there would be so many great pinheads around, most of whom would be ready to kick someone directly out the door for being a dick to my games even if I wasn't there at the time, that I was willing to bring my games. I do think it helped to have the rules card on the games but if I didn't have a good level of confidence in the attendees not being assholes and / or more people than myself helping keep an eye out for everyone's games I'm not sure I'd bring anything more than a beater or two. At both Pincinnati and the Louisville shows I've taken games to the experience has been fine and rather rewarding.

Me too. I brought these to TPF 2015, both won awards. It's a long haul from Nebraska, but worth it IMO.

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No,I don't! My Pins are mostly modded out,and wouldn't take the pounding they take at shows! I work security at the GSPF and watch for mishandling of pins,and I see too much

Jeez you must hate life... seems like everything puts you on edge

It’s only a pinball machine

Bring as many games as your can! It’s a huge way to keep this hobby alive and very rewarding!

Slapping and shaking your pins won’t cause any harm unless you have an underlying issue. Some people have no concept on what’s their “collector gems” have been through during the 90s

Going to the Louisville Arcade Expo around 8 years ago is what got me started collecting.

I bring games every year to inflict the same punishment on unsuspecting attendees.

If your pins cant take being played they are useless. If the mods are causing this problem they are beyond useless.

I take a game or 2 to Pinball at the Zoo in Kalamazoo, MI every year. I have had varying degrees of success in keeping it running, mostly due to previously unknown issues. The last 2 years, it has stayed working all weekend. In fact last year, I won an award for best 70's S/S game (Joker Poker). I also usually take my Pac cocktail. Always gets played.

You are great security though and we are lucky to have you.

I will admit, I've seen some people treat machines horribly at shows, even pinheads. At Expo, I watched a guy trying to dislodge a stuck ball by lifting up the front of the machine six inches and slamming it down.

Was it Pacak? I've seen him do that.

Getting machines in and out of my basement is a massive headache (narrow, steep staircase), so I try to do it only when absolutely necessary. Since I wanted to be able to bring machines to shows, I went out and bought a couple of pre-war games-- they are smaller and lighter so I can move and transport them more easily, and they aren't commonly seen titles, so they tend to be pretty popular.

I've been to three show and was only able to bring games once. I really do like to support the shows by bringing games, however I typically don't (can't) stay for the entire show. My ideal show is a Friday evening and Saturday until early afternoon. I'm then able to travel back home late on Saturday, and still have a day to relax and get stuff done around the house.

PS: I'm really torn on MGC this year. My favorite time to play is the After Hours Party, but you can't attend without bringing a machine. Ideally, I'd like to come down on Saturday (noon-ish) to Sunday (noon-ish). If we can make that work, I'd bring a game, but I totally understand it's difficult to deal with special requests like that when running a big show. I just can't commit to staying two nights, nor staying late on Sunday.

I always take games to shows! It's a whole 'nother experience, and it makes the show so much more fun.
Don't be a baby! Pinball was meant to be shared. Go for it! You won't regret it.

Not a big deal, i just moved on. I guess all that shitty metal music that you listen to turned up wide open has probably damaged your hearing and you didn’t know any better.

I am not opposed to bringing games, but I just can't bring myself to being married to the venue for a whole weekend. There are too many people there that seemingly haven't showered since the show the year before.

Stinks for your schedule, but the perk of the after party is in place w the constraints for good reason.

I hope u can figure out a way to adjust your schedule and make it work. Best after party any where and well worth the effort!

I always hear about how bad people stink and stuff at these pinball shows and was wondering if i was going to encounter any of that when i went to Pincinnati but everyone seemed pretty clean and nice. I didnt even get crop dusted one time that im aware of? Us Ohioans must be some really classy people i guess.

Exhibitors are awesome! Pinball shows can’t happen without them. Support your local (or even not so local) pinball show. Check out this awesome video TPF Exhibitor Cary Hardy made for us:

I brought games to shows for many years, Usually with for sale signs on
them. Had a couple bad experiences with disrespectful folks and
won't go to the hassle anymore.

On one occasion I brought out a really nice Sinbad. A group of guys
decided they would hold their own tournament on this game and
monopolized it for *hours*. No one else got to play it and it was a
pin I really wanted to sell. Finally just turned it off.
Steve

Yes you do! Do you even have a show within 4 hours of you?

I usually take games to the Denver show but Realistically it just isn’t worth it anymore. You have to take 2 games for a single pass and disappointing goodie bag. I’ve taken /at least 4 games the last few years and it’s just not worth it anymore.

I will however take a few games to TPF2019.

Agreed. Unfortunately, I don't see the schedule changing this year, so I'll either work it out and pay the penalties for late arrival / early removals, assist friends who bring multiple games, or just party at Up/Down after hours.

EDIT: Another thought, I could bribe a friend into bringing, setting up, and watching my game with there games. That way my game would be there the entire show even if I can't be there.

I always try to take games to shows, even my nicer games. Vamp & BSD made the trek to both Pinfest and York this year. Like everybody else said, you just have to keep an eye on them once in a while. The right flip came loose on my Vampire at York, and people kept playing it. That was slightly annoying, but a patron was aware enough to call me (always put your number on the card).

I came back around, shut the game off, fixed it and put the glass back down so people could resume enjoying it.

Mine was the only BSD at York, and got a shit ton of plays.

And if anybody wants to know what Hilton looks like so they can smack him next time, that’s him in the green t-shirt next to me at Pinfest.

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If you take your game, I would suggest is printing your number in big letters on a custom instruction card. That way if something happens people can call you.

Smack away. My brother larry (in the white shirt) will be happy to lendme a hand.

Colson, u comin to MgC this year?

Ha ha come to Louisville expo. I'll be holding a can febreze instead of a beer.

Aiming to come out, not 100% sure if I can yet. It’s on the calendar.

Awesome! Hope u can come! If you want to bring a game and leave it here... u know what one i want

Bring it as your show game so you can do the after party. Ill take it home

We'll Scoob, we don't need the whole gang to solve this caper. Another case of "Pinside Pussification".
I have quite a few pinball pals in Cincy/OH, so I'm not hard to find, or spot. Addressing your concern/problem/hangnail face-to-face is SO UNPINSIDE LIKE! That's just crazy talk!
The correct thing to do is:
wait 3 days then...
--post pics of the guy walkin away
AND/OR
--talk big shit on the interwebs like most certified badasses.
Ok seriously....all you had to do was ask me to turn it down AND I WOULD'VE.
Save yer big dick swingin for Christian Mingles or yer Fox News Forum. Don't talk down to me mf. Esp when you had the chance in person.

Oh shit!! .... Fade in The Small Hours from Garage Days....

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Pinbum I'm surprised you had time to downvote me isn't Thurs night yer turn to be in the middle of the circle? Best night of the week AMIRITE?

Gryszz i had no idea that it was even your game and furthermore i don't even care. I just said that it figures that it was your game that was cranked up. We all know that your the toughest guy on pinside but seriously you can take your tough guy act somwhere else because you don't scare me at all dude. Grow up!

Not tryin to be a "tough guy". Internet is not for that. All I'm saying is if you got some bullshit to say to me, say it in person. Not 3 days later on Pinside. So fuck off jizzjuggler.

You talk a lot of shit , but unlike most i would slap the taste out of mouth. Like i told you before put down the meth pipe or whatever else your on, because your tough guy shit means nothing to me.

How does any of this help a guy bring a game to a show?

Back on topic. Report back after the show and let us know how it went. Interested to hear how your experience was!

Haha. You're gonna "slap the taste outta my mouth" but IM THE TOUGH GUY?! LOL.
Let's hold hands Pinbum and sing Christmas songs.

Actually i dont have anything at all to say to you other than you need to grow up. Do you think i wanna fight you because you had your game turned up way too loud at a pinball show lol? You obviously got some serious issues Gryszz.

NOBODY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT FIGHTING FOR FUCKS SAKE.
All I said was if the volume was bothering you, you COULDVE ASKED ME TO TURN IT DOWN.
I WOULD HAVE.
You don't need to come here with the "annoying" and "shitty metal" and "must not kbow any better". Don't fuckin play dumb Terry. It's convincing, but I'm not buyin it.

I spent all day burying a dear friend today, so I'm feelin extra salty. I liked you Terry, that's why I'm taking yer comments too personally.
Just not a good day.

Sorry to hear that dude...friend of mine passed yesterday also. Holiday season is always when that shit happens....or at least it makes it worse. Sorry for your loss.

Everyone should take it down a notch before mods step in, because this thread isn’t the place for that.