I don't really care as long as I have a good local show to attend.

Historically, it always seems to rain on Wednesday. I am bringing three pins myself.

If a show was just about the attendees, every show would be identical because I see all the same people at every show.

A show is good if the people running it are good and set it up to be good, and treat people good. Can't say the same for Expo and this "soft reboot" is questionable at best. I might come just for the PBL party and maybe stick my head in at Expo but I don't feel overly compelled to attend.

Very true, however,

There are many people in this thread that have complained about how Mike treated/talked to attendees and volunteers. Yet now that Mike is removed from the equation, they are still saying there is issues like organizers and the unknown factor of how it will be. You got what you asked for, and still not happy. No one knows how the show is going to be, its run differently this year just like many begged for (removal of Mike) Give it a chance and support it. If it sucks, dont come back next year, but dont bitch about the change and not give it a chance

If you don't go to Expo this year, you'll miss meeting this guy ...

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

Antar9weeks (resized).jpg

Keep track of his trips? You mean the guy screaming from the mountain top about where he's been, what's he's doing, and going required tracking?

What’s the little guy’s name?

LOL...well you do make a valid point. But there was still googling mileage involved.

Antar.

I looked at that quickly and saw AFTOR ! My mind playing tricks on me again....

I'm in

When I first saw the name a month or so ago, I thought the same thing. Especially since I sold Rob my Aftor pin a few months ago

I like this pinball reference best for his name...

40298057_10156790047239642_2419325764685004800_n (resized).jpg

You can read the meaning of his name here...

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10212488223181423&id=1257685050&set=a.1575574030087&source=48

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

Well Rob and I had been friends like 35 years and did the show like 33.years. I asked for years to meet monthly to talk about expo. he never made time .Yes expo became kinda stale. I pretty much ran the whole show except seminars and banquet. Its upsetting to me that BERK now has shown great interest after doing nearly nothing for many years. We could have worked together and made expo greater again. He refused to talk about it period.. Rather chose to put me out although I was to have my own show at the westin with the advertised dates .I was to partner with the guys from MGC. Again after I cashed BERKS first payment he went to WESTIN and said contract which was in my name and I negotiated for many years was his. He advertised everywhere his new show in Schumburg everywhere . SO although this has taken forever there is legal action pend ing.. I hope to be back doing a a show next year at the westin...We will see soon.. I will miss everyone buy this was not my doing at all and ROB refuses to talk about it so had no choice but to pursue other actions

All Rob has done is announce and promote a show. He has not aired any of the “dirty laundry” of the changes. I applaud his professionalism in that regard.

I don’t care about any of that. I want to play and buy pinball stuff.

He has not said anything BECAUSE hes the one that did wrong by me period and he knows it. I was much more the face of expo and we had very little comunication because he chose that not me. WE together could have made expo greater I deserved that after putting my heart into that show for 33 years

DUDE. I CANNOT WAIT to see you ***moderated***. You guys are the best part of Expo for me.
Seeing summer dwindle away is sad, but then I remember that means Expo is right around the corner. Cheers ***moderated***!

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You had many years to make it better. The show, the website, the appreciation to those that bring games. 30th anniversary was great, then it continued to decline. You had pen vendors to fill empty space last year, nuff said. I noticed Rob Anthony is back this year, wonder why.
I hope this year is the beginning of better things to come.

when it comes to expos;
when it raines, it pours.

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Stalker material here... well played. Good for you.

dont try to make me look like some obsessed stalker. i wasnt the only member who didnt care for whysnows use of travel distance as an excuse.

nobody needs to keep track of his trips. as flynnibus pointed out, whysnow makes no secret about his whereabouts.

what was being pointed out was his hypocracy. his trip to allentown only serves as an ends to a means to illustrate this often repeated character trait of his. he argues an unwillingness to travel to expo because it is not one of his local shows, yet evidence exists that given the right set of circumstances he his willing to travel considerably further.

that is hypocritical.

googling the distances was necessary to show/determine the extent of his hypocracy. allentown being nearly seven times further than expo is rather extreme.

Who on Earth is going to miss Whysnow at Expo?

you are incapable of even following the simplest conversations. I will ELI5 for you to see if it helps... Troy was giving me a hard time for not supporting my local show, as I often do to others that complain about a show but dont put in effort to make it better. Expo is not my local show! I support 2 local shows. The first I have spearheaded and helped run for the past 8 years; Mad Rollin is the largest charity pinball event in the midwest, has been for the past 5 years and is also the largest competitive pinball event in WI most years. The second is MGC which I volunteer lots of time, bring games, and often do other things to help behind the scenes. MGC is the largest show in the midwest, continues to grow, and is spearheaded by a great group of people. I support pinball and and my local shows plenty.

Allentown was a vacation, much like TPF is often a vacation.

Take your dumbass argument solidified in false attempts at logic elsewhere you creepy stalker.

Back on topic, good luck to Expo and it seems things are all moving in the right direction. This year will undoubtedly be a bit shaky but I think it is going to rise from the ashes just based on all the support of people like Rob, Troy, game bringers, etc...

In Pacak's defense, the website was not his responsibility. About 10 years ago, i maintained the Expo website. Pacak would call me, "make this change", and i would do it within hours. But then something happened (and i don't know what), and Berk wanted his people to do the website. So i passed it off to them. Then it all slowed down to a crawl, or never got updated, and the whole site just went stagnant for like 9 years. Important changes, if made at all, took forever to get done. I mean 10 years ago it was an OK website. But yea, it needed to get updated and changed about 5 or more years ago.

Edit... last year i did the website was 2010. I think about 2006 i converted it to PHP so i could set variables and make maintenance a heck of a lot easier. The format of the website was done by someone else. I just made updating it and editing the website easier and quicker. That way when Pacak called and wanted a change, it was easy to do.

$year=2010;
$yearlast=2009;
$exponumber="26th";
$date="Oct 20 to Oct 24, 2010";
$date2="Wednesday October 20 to Sunday October 24, 2010";
$firstday="Wed October 20";
$secondday="Thu October 21";
$thirdday="Fri October 22";
$fourthday="Sat October 23";
$fifthday="Sun October 24";
$datelate="October 1";
$location1="Westin Chicago North Shore";
$location2="Westin Chicago North Shore, 601 N. Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling IL 60090";
$location3="601 N. Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling Illinois 60090";
$hotelphone="866-716-8104";
$hotelurl="http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/reservation?id=1003247306&key=61694";
$register_switch="on"; // turn on or off registration web page HTML
$schedule_switch="off"; // turn on or off schedule header text
$airnum="(none)";
$tourname="Stern Pinball Factory";
$tourdate="Thursday Oct 21";
$tourneyname="Expo Brawl";
$tourneyurl="";
$fritourneyname="Pinball Circus at Expo";
$fritourneyurl="";
$regurl1="register.php";
$regurl2="register_new.php";
$regurl3="registe2.php";
$regurl4="registe2_new.php";

I will definitely miss Hilton not being at Expo.

My decision to do Expo this year did not come easy for many reasons. I think the major deciding factor for me though was a simple comment by a friend while discussing whether I should go or not...

He basically said, if you like Expo, want to see it succeed, and believe in the changes they are finally making, why wouldn't you go and support the show?

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

As a hobbyist and a huge pinball fan, I constantly hear about how great these other shows are around the country, but it's usually not too practical to attend for my family and I. We have attended Expo every year for the past 13 years. We have all noticed how much the show has changed... Price increasing, less vendors (or that perception) and less items for sale. There used to be a children's division in the tournament, but it was loosely run. Now I see it's gone.

Bottom line, I agree with Borygard , we will be there again, because we want Expo to be great (or even better than before).

Seems like chicken or the egg. Fill the vendor hall and have many great events first and people will come
or
people will come and then vendor hall will fill. Someone's got to be the first to give in.

I would like to add something since apparently my comments got people on the wagon of bitching at whysnow. Hilton and I are friends, and whether he goes to the show or not is not going to change that. However, just because im friends, doesn't mean that im not going to give him a hard time about not supporting it. Plus Hilton is one of the few that will take the criticism and move on with no hard feelings and can deal with it. There are many other people even closer to the show, as within 30-45 minutes that are still complaining even though their COUP of removing Mike was successful and still saying they are not going to attend or bring machines.

Hilton does do good things, His mad rollin donates a good amount of money to charity. I disagree on it being the largest (I think pinball life donations to JDRF probably generates more) it is still a great accomplishment that many donate to. Not many put in the hard work for it to go to charity instead of their pocket. He also volunteers a ton at MGC, and we actually get on to each other about what each of us are bringing, to step up our game of nice machines, whether its something very rare, or a restoration. I think I actually made him mad with me winning a restoration category, and he knocked it out of the park with his fireball that he brought this past show.

Regardless though, I think that any fan of pinball, Hilton or others, should want to see this show succeed, and to do that, it will take all of us to support (admission fees) and/or bringing games. Nothing against all the other great shows like TPF or Replay, but a great show close to home is always better. This is the show that started it all, and I want nothing more than it to continue. Recently the suggestions have been heard so its not as stagnant as it was for many years

The problem with Expo, and a lot of pinball shows is they are all basically the same. Pinheads, stinky guys that don't bathe, some that fart and stand around and creep folks and kids out, over priced stuff for sale and what isn't goes quickly at the pre-show vendor talk and swap and early 'VIP' entry. One is usually enough, been to a show, been to most if not all the shows. It is true, its pins, play, tourney, and stinky guys and some fugly girls (however, there is usually one eye opener per show for sure, but then online porn is free, so what then).

Now to the Expo, it was the SAME bad experience for over a decade with as one so able body pointed out that 30th was maybe worth going. 1/2 the equation is still involved, the other is still complaining about being kicked out of the sand box, and in the end its still a pinball show. Apparently without much children focus, so its going to be more stinky guys, fugly girls, and 1/2 of the problem running the show. To me that sums it up, ain't much changing.

I felt it would be fair for me to say that Mike had always been kind to FAST.

When a larger pinball company threatened not to come to Expo unless they were given the vendor hall location Mike had already assigned to us (which was tradition, you get first shot at last year’s location the following year), Mike and I worked out a plan that turned out great.

I understand the stress and exhaustion associated with a pinball show through my experience with the NW Pinball Show. I know that when the show is on, I am not always the most eloquent to those in the trenches with me, but the passion for a good show experience is always there.

The biggest factor in the success of a pinball/arcade is the people involved in making it so. Our NW Pinball Show is non-profit and run strictly by volunteers. By the time the doors to the show open to the public, most of the people involved in the show are already exhausted and would love to go take a nap. Hanging out with our friends and seeing the joy of the show attendees recharges the batteries.

In my opinion, it is unfortunate that Rob and Mike could not have worked things out together offline and in the name of a great show. When we were contacted about coming to Expo “Mike is not involved anymore” was pitched as a reason to come. Really soured the conversation for me from there out. The people involved were never a reason for us coming or not, it was the time and money it took to pull off a worthwhile trip to Chicago.

Pinball shows are where we get to hang out with our FAST friends and see and share their awesome pinball projects. Now that we have friends all over the world, we have gotten pickier about how many shows we can allot the time away from work/families and money to go to. (I do think a FAST European tour is in order!)

While I may give grace to how people present themselves when in “show operation mode,” I don’t feel the same way about people unwilling to work things out offline. Great shows don’t get debated or argued into a success in a public forum, that work is done in planning meetings by those committed to the shows success.

Rob & Mike (and any other core show people) for the sake of the Pinball Expo tradition, get in your cars and meet up in person, on neutral ground someplace and work this stuff out offline.

Aaron
FAST Pinball

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I hope things work out fast.

Mike is an important part of Expo and I fear Expo would seem something less if when you walk in and Mike and his booth aren't to your right.

LTG : )

trust me, I want to see it succeed!
I think it is all moving in the right direction but on a personal level I needed to make a decision on what to do for a fall vacation due to wife PTO stipulations for work. At that time, there was so much turmoil for this show (still is unfortunately) and lack of concrete info, that the decision to plan a real vacation in place of expo is what can easy. I will really miss hanging out with all my friends and razzing with you in person Troy, but this year I needed a sure fire break from stuff.

Have fun yall and glad the people that need to be on board are getting on board. Year 1 of a rebuild will be a lot of work, but with people like you and Rob in support (plus hundreds of others) i know it will end up a success and Expo and return to being a premier midwestern show.

Reasons to attend Expo this year...

The people
24 hour all you can play pinball
Alice Cooper's Nightmare Castle
Stern's new game (Munsters?)
American Pinball's new game
Kingpin
Monster Bash
JJP's Pirates of the Caribbean
Deeproot Pinball announcement?
Tournaments (chance to win two different pins)

Feel free to add to the list.

Oh, and this guy...
IMG_20180819_194405 (resized).jpg

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

Going to have to make a special trip just for Antar!

Jesus Rob that pup is gonna get so loved/slobbered on by Sun mornin he's gonna look at ya and say "dammit, human,...can we just go home now?"

Mike, please stop. We get it. However, you must realize AND take ownership that you were also that same face of Expo that turned many people off and vedors away from the show. Maybe a year break is the best thing for you to regroup and prepare for another go around.

Rob, What’s the new show dog’s name?

Antar.

LTG : )

The problem with Mike taking a poop on Expo is that its... Mike. Most if not all the volunteer staff (other than HIS crew that were paid to show up and do for MP what he told them), just said FU. I know, I was one. The guy is a total douche, and maybe he was at one time good for pinball and the show, but he became the show, and that was the problem. Mike not only needs to get over it, move on, as well realize he WAS the problem for the most part. The other issue is stinky creepy guys that don't bathe and freak folks out. Mike was one of those as well, there are many others. Expo so jumped the shark, and Expo reincarnated can't be much better coming in since its hard to get rid of the baggage that Expo has going for it in spades. GLWTS, maybe year 2, 3 or 4 might be more better greater. Starting over is a good idea, it was STALE.

There is plenty of this in the freeplay room. Need a febreeze station in there.

Should have done this sooner. Sorry about that. Here is an easier to remember shortened URL version

http://bit.ly/PinList

Thanks

Got this email yesterday... Despite what Rob Berk posted earlier on in this thread it sounds like the rules may have changed for folks that bring their pins from home for use in the free play area. Am I mistaken? In short, per the bit in pink in the picture I've attached (which is also bolded out in the text below,) it seems like we who voluntarily bring pins for free play are going to get docked $$$ if we take off prior to 8PM on Saturday.

----------------

Hello,
I'm Rob Craig. Some of you know me from our old Southern Illinois Pinball & Arcade Supershow in Herrin, IL which had its last stand in 2009. Some recall my involvement with GameRoom Magazine, or perhaps the Silverball Podcast. I've decided to jump out of the pinball shadow to help Rob Berk and David Fix with this 34th Pinball Expo event. My role is to recruit people to bring games to the show and manage logistics of moving games into the Expo hall, to make sure everyone that brings a game (or 12) receives compensation accordingly (armbands, VIP Event, raffle entries, even cash in some cases). For this, I have a "Compensation Matrix" that will help you identify how you get perks for bringing games. Most of you are receiving this e-mail because you were listed as someone who selflessly brought a game to the show in 2016. Thank you for doing that and making the 2016 show great. Others have been added to this e-mail because they are pinball friends and I know their passion for pinball and the Pinball Expo Show.

Game Compensation Matrix

[Please see the attached picture for the Game Compensation Matrix]

Games must be in 100% working order in order to qualify as a "Game Brought". Trophies will be awarded for Best EM game, Best Solid State Game, and Best DMD or Modern Era Game. You may (and are encouraged) to sell your game at Expo, but the game must remain at the show until Saturday Night 8PM at which time games can be removed without penalty. Early removals must be arranged by Rob Craig and his staff. You will be charged $30 per day for early removal (i.e. removal on Saturday before 8pm is $30 fee per machine, removal Friday before 8PM is $60 fee per machine) and forfeit your raffle ticket(s). Expo cash is real cash. Vouchers are provided when all games have been registered at the Games Table and cashed at the Registration Table.

To me, there are several benefits in bringing games to a pinball show and I'm sure you already can think of the same ones I have. Free entry to most parts of a show, ability to sell or trade games you brought, early access in setting up your game and seeing what else is in the hall. This year, I'm asking you to consider helping me PACK THE PLACE with nice working games. I've worked with Rob Berk to add more perks for those that bring a game.

Notice that the more you bring, the more perks you get. If you are interested in selling several titles in your collection - this might really work out for you. If you are looking to bring games and get enough bonus cash to pay for a Stern Tour or Seminars, that can certainly happen too. From what I've learned, compensation in the past has been a little inconsistent. This year, my goal is to make it clear up front and keep accurate records so everyone is handled the same way based upon the number of good games they bring. It won't be easy as the chaos of move-in can be a bit overwhelming. With this in mind, I'm also inviting you or other pinball people you know to join me in managing the freeplay move-in. There will be a table that needs attended throughout the show, many people on Wednesday afternoon through Thursday evening to assist with moving games into the hotel, and several to assist people in moving out. Even if bringing a game isn't something you can do, maybe helping me out is. I can offer a staff T-Shirt and free access to everything (except Stern Tour) for volunteers that put in 8 hours or more along with the VIP event. I'm looking to partner with someone that can work 20 or more hours during the event. If that is you, please contact me at [email protected].

I ask that you forward this e-mail to anyone that might have an interest in bringing a game or volunteering for the show. Simply reply to this e-mail if you intend on bringing games to the show AND/OR you are interested in volunteering. You could alternatively fill out the forms on the website but I believe an e-mail to me might be faster. Make sure to let me know Game Name, Year, Your Phone Number and if it is for sale or not. I realize game titles change even on the day before you come. You are not held to what you say you are bringing, but it does give me an idea on how much room we will need to gives people coming to the show an idea of what they can expect to see there this year.

Finally - if you have a pinball dolly that you can bring to the show and offer it up to the staff (once you are done with it) early in the week (Wednesday afternoon - Thursday Morning) please let me know that too. We'll need as many as we can get for the first 2 days of the show.

Sincere thanks to all. See you in October!

expo-deets (resized).JPG

Sounds reasonable.

I think that sounds fair. I've had to leave early in the past and would be understanding that if I pull my machine early, I shouldn't expect the same compensation as those that stay setup for the entire show. Not sure I'm going or bringing a machine, but if I do I'd likely be discussing the option to leave earlier on Saturday. I'd prefer the show to be more of a Friday, Saturday, Sunday show; but it currently feels like a bit of a waste to spend the extra night on Saturday.

What about the people who bring in machines and never turn them on? I went to Expo on three separate occasions last year and that Apollo 13 was always off.

Pretty weak if you ask me.

For some reason, I'm thinking of going this year.

Bring / buy plenty of alcohol if go.

Popcorn. Might need a lot of popcorn.........

Might be the only reason I end up going is for the popcorn eating. Otherwise a solid no for me so far.

I'm not 100% sure I'm reading the new policy right, but the fact is that the more structure you try to impose, the more logistics can/will complicate things.

It's difficult to determine from the context of what is written whether it is meant to apply to the case where you sell a game, or to everyone who brings a game.

If it applies to games that aren't for sale then logistics are gonna make things more difficult than they were in the past. For both the show staff and those who donate games.

The way it has always worked is that, if I donate a machine to the free play room for three days, while I am there at Expo, I'd have free admission for those three days.

if the new policy applies to all games in the free play area then if I'm there for Thursday night through Sat night, this is fine. However if, for example, the three days/nights are Wed-Fri and we check out of the hotel on Saturday, then (depending on how you read it) it'll likely cost $30 to pull a game at 9AM Sat AM. If that's correct then this new policy will cause a hardship.