LTG : )

Still rooms available? That says something about the death spiral expo seems to be in. If you weren't such an @$$ there would be more games there, but many of us are fed up with you. Go ahead and own expo, let someone competent run it.

Don't be hatin'! I'm personally excited for this!

They must have opened up those rooms recently as I know some people who tried to get rooms at the Westin a couple weeks ago and they were sold out at the time.

Does this mean JJP will have 5 of their 4th game available to play?

4th

I am sure it will still be a blast! Lots of new machines to play, and hopefully lots in the game room! We have to remember that lots of kids come to play. And while most of them move on into pc, xbox, and ps, some of them will become addicts like us! This will help to keep pinball alive for generations to come!
Plus I am going to the PBL party!!!!!!!! And my wife lets me off the leash for a couple days! Look out expo!!!

Will they be allowed to take pins out of the game hall anytime or will they have to stay to the end of the show like most of the other great pinball shows?

I'm upset that there is no Spooky...Will T.N.A. be there?

Nope but it will be at Pinball life party

It's too bad Spooky and TNA won't be at Expo. Most people attending Expo will not make it to PBL and will not get to experience playing this pin. Seems like it would have been great exposure to those that hadn't played it before to have a hands on experience and potentially put down a deposit. I hope that a vendor brings one at least.

No hating on expo. Expo was always fun. I've gone many years. I've volunteered many years also both officially under Andrew and unofficially before he took over the game room. I'd be there with my games all weekend, letting people use my tools, helping them set up and move their games too. The distaste that's now spreading isn't about expo. It's about Mike directly. Like I said he can keep ownership of expo, but he NEEDS to let someone else run it for him and do not run anything but his booth, or expo is going to die.
Have a good time at expo. I really hope you do. If you are doing nothing more than attending you probably will. If you're vending or bringing games, good luck.

The Westin does not have Expo rooms now at their national booking number. They will book you and lower the rate if more rooms open up. $197.

Take your games out anytime, it's a 5 day show, attempting to force people to stay would cut the number even further.

Mike - Can you provide a list of vendors that will be at the show this year?

I was there 2 years ago and the games room was pretty much empty Saturday night. Thanks god they kept the Vender hall open.

For those looking to bring games to the 2017 Pinball Expo in Chicago this year, please contact me directly at [email protected] I will be handling this instead of mikepin this year. I hope to see many of you there. Bonus points for those who can figure out what the email address pertains to.

-
Lonnie

Gmail account?

Take your games out anytime, it's a 5 day show, attempting to force people to stay would cut the number even further.

Lol, no, he never wants that info out

Glad someone is keeping Mike out of the game room. Good luck.

Since I can't pm, from Mike:

where do yo ucome up with this shit?? I never said volunteers were steeling REALLY

Bullshit, I was one of the volunteers. Others heard it to. Nikki, Angela, Vince, Liz, Joe and Andrew among others were all aware if it.

Mike:
fyi my son LONNIE MIHIN will be handling the games in game room in ANdrews absence he can be reached (edited) i am trying to keep away last yeasr issue was pretty simple NIKI did not want to put arm bands on people and they didnt put them on that can be fixed after asking 3 people where their arm bands were an d i asked her then it went to shit EXPO trys to be a grea tshow in many ways who else lets you play 24 hours please quit bashing I try call me if you want (redacted) less games will just make it worse for all

You also accused then of giving out too many bands, that was the theft you brought up. Every bands was accounted for to a machine. You're the one who told them not to give multiple to people bringing many games too.

As I said in this thread, I hope people have fun, many of us wont be there. I watched you in the vendor room tell one of the volunteers "don't come back, we don't need you". We're fine with that. Well support a different show.

Above post (#24 by Marvin) was archived in case it gets removed.

Is having his son run it really him stepping away? Being serious on asking this. Because if you yell at strangers or people you rarely see, I'm sure that happened with the son before to then

As for the vendor list, it really is sad that it cant be updated. I am having a booth with a friend, and there is nothing anywhere promoting it. I thought that promoting it is something you kinda do to reward people that pay for booth space

Uhhh, yeah...

Skipping Expo this year. Too much drama.

This will be my 13th show in a row. Agree the drama is wearing on me.
Watching Mike scream at someone in the hotel lobby last year was cringe worthy. I can imagine there's stress running a show like this, but if you're just going to be an A hole to everyone there, is it really worth it?
I'll probably keep coming as I get to chat and dine with friends I rarely see throughout the year. There's usually good vendors, too but I'm afraid there's going to be less and less if the rudeness and unprofessionalism keeps up.
Just my .02 - here's to hoping it's a great one this year.

hcs1.0625......hard chromed steel 1.0625 diameter pinball

1 1/16" for the fraction crowd.

A lot of people do leave early, my stuff was always there until at least Wednesday afternoon to noon on Sunday.

Close.... you are in the right ballpark on the hcs being the material. And you got the 1 1/6" diameter correct.

I am hardly the one to ever raise my voice at someone. Those that know me can certainly vouch for that. Please don't make assumptions of my character until you get to know me. I am, by far, NOT my father or just a messenger for him. I will be handling the logistics of the game hall and will have my own people working with me on it. All questions and complaints should be directed towards me at the email address [email protected] or me directly at the show. Otherwise, I hope you all will consider bringing games to show and sell. Games can begin to be brought in at noon on Wed. Thanks much and hope to see you all there.

I left your contact number in the message from Mike above since it was about contacting you to bring games. If you want the removed let me know and I'll edit it.
Good luck with expo, I'm glad someone is running the game room instead of Mike.

Yes, seriously. Things will be different with Lonnie. I think everyone will be happy with the change Mike implemented. Many people just want to bash Mike without giving suggestions. He can't think of everything. It's up to us to keep Expo growing into the future.

I will be taking over Rob Anthony's repair room this year at the expo. But I only be there Thursday and Friday. On the other hand if you want to bring a game in to get fixed, you can certainly do that. If you're bringing in an EM please let me know so I can make sure I have schematics with me. The best way to get a hold of me is just text me or email me. [email protected]

Really. I remember Seeing Charlie at his booth at Expo and a bunch of us playing Dominos.

I would actually say it is up to us to decide where to best put our efforts for the long term growth of the hobby and where our voulenteered time is best spent/ whom really benefits from that. I was told how profitable this show has been for the organizers and it honestly amazed me how much was made on the backs of voulenteers that are doing it for the hobby.

I have heard a rumor at this point that next year there is a chance of am alternative show, one that will bring in the possibility for more community support, and more about actually growing and taking things in a new and rejuventaed direction.

I woudl suggest that by supporting some shows and bringing in profits for some people that the community could be hurting itself in the long run.

I will say this from what I know personally about Expo. There are not the huge profits that you may think there are. I know what Mike's take is from the show after it's all said and done. It's nowhere near what many of you might think it is. He makes WAY more off of what he sells from his booth at the show. This is Chicago my friends. Things are NOT cheap in this town by any means. Also, the show is not all comprised of volunteers. Many people that work the show, myself included are paid. I don't know what else to say outside of it's really hard to comprehend the amount of time, effort and money that goes into a show like this until you actually put one on yourself.

Expo mugs artwork.

LTG : )

DSC00348 (resized).JPG

DSC00349 (resized).JPG

I have no Issues with Mike making money on the show, he's taking the risk he get the major reward. It's his treatment of the shows supporters that's the issue. No games showing up mans no show.
Lonnie I can't edit the post above, I asked the mods to do it.

There are tons of folks who have made suggestions to Mike. There are multiple threads on the subject, typically one or two every year following expo. Mike has listened to some of these ideas and suggestions, e.g. vendor hall now open during banquet. Unfortunately the improvements over the last few years have not outweighed the various issues. What Mike has not been able to fix is the way he deals with folks during the show. No doubt he is under huge amounts of pressure and stress during the show, and that is why he needs to delegate more AND, equally important is to stay out of the way of those he delegates too. Things improved dramatically with Andrew running the free game hall, but Mike continued to want to get involved and that created a ton of stress and angst for the volunteers in that area. Mike needs to delegate ever major segment of the show (seminars, free room, vendor hall, etc.), and then just manage those folks, trust them, and let them do their jobs and manage the people involved in those areas, and Mike just stay out of their way. That would go wonders in making Expo run smoother for everyone and I suspect we would see a gentler, kinder Mike.

Regardless, looking forward to it, just over a week away.

High carbon steel?

Wasn't a spooky specific booth, he was sharing space with someone else who had a booth.

Lonnie, Sorry if it came off that I was thinking you act that way, I was not. I am not sure if we have met, and I wouldn't make that assumption on you. What I was saying is that I figure that he (your father) would have no problem yelling at you if he will yell at strangers/friends.

I wish you the best of luck on the freeplay hall, and my friends and I will be bringing several machines for it. So regardless if Mike yells or not, ill still support the show, I have learned to just deal with him

Ahh, that makes sense.

I for one am looking forward to the show, still trying to figure out what game to bring though....

Scott

Shared with Back Alley Creations and JJP IIRC.

Those were there last year(s).

"What do you have that is ... new?" - Dinner Patron, Ratatouille

I hope Time Shock is there!