Pinball Expo - Free play area changes | Events

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16

#1 9 years ago

OP

APB

APB_Enterprises

APB Enterpries

Huntley, IL

12y 58,400 435

I am excited to bring this announcement to the group concerning the expo free play area this year.

We have a few changes we are making to several of the aspects of the free play room.

We will have staff available to help during load in and load out using the following schedule:
Wednesday from 12:00PM until 8:00PM we will have 3 or more staff members helping out with load in and setup. From 10:00PM until 12:00AM we will have people on call.
We will have folks available to help on call on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Sunday we will help with load out from 9:00AM until 12:00PM

There will be dollies and pinball moving equipment on-site to help move games.

We will have a limited amount of pinball sundries on hand should you forget something at home.

Arm bands will be handed out as games are brought into the show, no need to wait!

All machines will now have to display a small registration sticker on the game. This will include the information as previously seen at expo as well as owner information. You can pre-register games if you like, simply email [email protected] with details. There will be a registration desk in the free play room from 12:00PM until 8:00PM. If you bring a game after this time I will gladly meet up with you.

The old banquet hall is now the free play area. This will make load in much easier as we are far closer to the dock.

We reviewed the incentives for bringing a game to expo, and the compensation for that awesome effort. We truly appreciate people brining games to the show, and there are rewards for helping make expo great.

Games must be in the free play area, and be setup on free play for all to enjoy.
When you bring your game in it will need to be registered. Once registration is complete we will provide an armband for general admission into the show.
If you are planning on bringing more than 3 games, please let us know!

If you have questions, feel free to drop us a note, or give us a call. I can be reached at (224) 279-1545.

Special thanks to Mike and the Pinball Expo organization for working so hard to bring this show to us. Also thanks to all the folks giving up time to make the show great, in particular The Chicago Pinball Mafia, which makes up the majority of helpers for the show.

Andrew Barney
Mike Pacak
Pinball Expo

Post last edited 8 years ago.

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16

#2 9 years ago

ROB

Borygard

LockWhenLit.com

St Louis, MO

11y 90,050 2,915

Love it Andrew!!!

I'll add that I'll install for free, an anyPin NVRAM Battery Eliminator that you bring, or pick up at the show, in any game that is brought to Expo for the free play room.

Just bring the CPU to the Pinball Classics repair room, directly across from the free play hall, any time during the show.

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

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1

#3 9 years ago

MGP

mikepin

Pinside member

Canfield, OH

12y 48,550 923

What are pinball sundries??

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2

#4 9 years ago

BRI

gweempose

Pinside Moderator

13y 154K 20,207 37

Sounds like you guys are making some welcome changes.

I can't recall how it was handled in past years, but it would be a very smart idea to have hand sanitizer stations at the entrance, as well as several spread throughout the free play area. I know I always get sick around Expo time, and there seems to be a higher than normal amount of viruses circulating this year. Let's face it. There are few things I can think of that are more germ filled and gross than the flipper buttons at a pinball convention.

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#5 9 years ago

LTG

Pinside member

Hopkins, MN

12y 191K 56,966 24 7

Balls, bolts, things like that.

LTG : )™

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5

#6 9 years ago

ROB

Borygard

LockWhenLit.com

St Louis, MO

11y 90,050 2,915

Quoted from mikepin:
What are pinball sundries??

They're pinball machines that can only be played on Sunday, in your underwear.

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

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#7 9 years ago

GLM

ovfdfireman

Pinball Pro

12y 115K 4,914

Quoted from Borygard:
They're pinball machines that can only be played on Sunday, in your underwear.
--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

Haaaa ha ha! That's awesome

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#8 9 years ago

OP

APB

APB_Enterprises

APB Enterpries

Huntley, IL

12y 58,400 435

I'll add that I'll install for free, an anyPin NVRAM Battery Eliminator that you bring, or pick up at the show, in any game that is brought to Expo for the free play room.
------

Great offer Rob! Thank you so much!

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Regards,

Andrew

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#9 9 years ago

OP

APB

APB_Enterprises

APB Enterpries

Huntley, IL

12y 58,400 435

Random post of the day!

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#10 9 years ago

LTG

Pinside member

Hopkins, MN

12y 191K 56,966 24 7

OP
Quoted from APB_Enterprises:
The colored in areas on the map

Could you post the map please ?

LTG : )™

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6

#11 9 years ago

OP

APB

APB_Enterprises

APB Enterpries

Huntley, IL

12y 58,400 435

Also, here is the layout of the new space. We still need final approval before we setup this way, but this is the most likely layout.

The colored in areas on the map represent the aisle for the folks coming in from Cincy and Louisville, the CPM aisle, and John's games.

We have lots of room this year, and lots of games coming. Thank you guys for committing so much to making expo great.

LM With Colors-165.png

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1

#12 9 years ago

LTG

Pinside member

Hopkins, MN

12y 191K 56,966 24 7

Thank you for all you are doing Andrew to make Expo great !
LTG : )™

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#13 9 years ago

OP

APB

APB_Enterprises

APB Enterpries

Huntley, IL

12y 58,400 435

No problem Lloyd! I look forward to seeing you there!

Andrew

0

#14 9 years ago

REC

RyanClaytor

Pinside member

Holt, MI

12y 112K 4,375 13 14

Quoted from Borygard:
I'll add that I'll install for free, an anyPin NVRAM Battery Eliminator that you bring, or pick up at the show, in any game that is brought to Expo for the free play room.

Just bring the CPU to the Pinball Classics repair room, directly across from the free play hall, any time during the show.

Wow. Way cool, Rob.

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1

#15 9 years ago

OP

APB

APB_Enterprises

APB Enterpries

Huntley, IL

12y 58,400 435

Quoted from gweempose:
I can't recall how it was handled in past years, but it would be a very smart idea to have hand sanitizer stations at the entrance, as well as several spread throughout the free play area. I know I always get sick around Expo time, and there seems to be a higher than normal amount of viruses circulating this year. Let's face it. There are few things I can think of that are more germ filled and gross than the flipper buttons at a pinball convention.

I think we can handle that. Thanks for the suggestion!

Andrew

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2

#16 9 years ago

RZX

RazerX

Pinside+ Frequent

La Grange Park, IL

11y 92,175 1,703

Let's fill that hall people!!!

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#17 9 years ago

MHS

mhs

Inactive member

14y 39,400 336

Sounds awesome. Well done!

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#18 9 years ago

OP

APB

APB_Enterprises

APB Enterpries

Huntley, IL

12y 58,400 435

I had a question come up around if you are bringing a game and you have already paid for passes for the weekend. If that is the case, you will still see Mike on Sunday late morning to settle up.

Thank you all again for supporting expo!

Andrew

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#19 9 years ago

TMO

bbaker2824

Pinside member

Festus, MO

12y 60,800 605 8 6 1

Wow. Looks awesome. It appears a lot of the free play area is already spoken for. Is there going to be room for all the other games coming? I would hate to bring a machine and not have a spot for it.

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#20 9 years ago

MJS

schudel5

Pinside member

20y 166K 6,394 27

Quoted from bbaker2824:
Wow. Looks awesome. It appears a lot of the free play area is already spoken for. Is there going to be room for all the other games coming? I would hate to bring a machine and not have a spot for it.

If they run out of room it would be the first year ever. I'm sure they'll find somewhere to put it.

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1

#21 9 years ago

DGB

damonbeals

Pinside member

11y 31,050 67 14

About time! Thanks Andrew for stepping up and working with Mike on this.. Looking forward to a smooth unload and setup.

Damon

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1

#22 9 years ago

OP

APB

APB_Enterprises

APB Enterpries

Huntley, IL

12y 58,400 435

Quoted from bbaker2824:
Wow. Looks awesome. It appears a lot of the free play area is already spoken for. Is there going to be room for all the other games coming? I would hate to bring a machine and not have a spot for it.

I hope to have this problem. We will make room and already have a few backup plans!

Andrew

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#23 9 years ago

ROX

T7

Pinside member

10y 73,150 2,002 20

Is it OK to put the game for sale? I thought I had read that the games must not be for sale.

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2

#24 9 years ago

OP

APB

APB_Enterprises

APB Enterpries

Huntley, IL

12y 58,400 435

Collectors should sell games, by all means. I don't want to miss the opportunity to say that we would like to have them on site and playable as long as possible in the free play room.

When I have sold games in the past I mentioned to the interested parties that I would like to keep the game in the free play space as long as possible. I never had an issue with people willing to leave the game and just pick it up when they are leaving the show for the final time, many times it was Saturday late. Your experiences may differ.

Our goals is to get playable games to expo for all to enjoy, hopefully have them there the whole show (or as long as possible) and for everyone to have a good time.

Regards,

Andrew

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#25 9 years ago

MXV

Pinside member

Downers Grove, IL

10y 43,300 806 15

OP
Quoted from APB_Enterprises:
I think we can handle that. Thanks for the suggestion!
Andrew

I second that, great idea!!

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#26 9 years ago

BRI

gweempose

Pinside Moderator

13y 154K 20,207 37

I've always felt that even if a game is sold, the game should remain on until the buyer officially leaves the show.

0

1

#27 9 years ago

JOE

calvin12

Frozen

Unknown

13y 0k 2,972 10

Quoted from Borygard:
They're pinball machines that can only be played on Sunday, in your underwear.
--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

and a purple wrestlemania shirt

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1

#28 9 years ago

CPC

CraigC

Pinside member

Elmhurst, IL

11y 63,600 1,443 31

Quoted from gweempose:
I've always felt that even if a game is sold, the game should remain on until the buyer officially leaves the show.

But enforcing this will just give off a bad vibe. This should be encouraged (possible incentives to the new owner?) but not enforced.

-c

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#29 9 years ago

BRI

gweempose

Pinside Moderator

13y 154K 20,207 37

Quoted from CraigC:
But enforcing this will just give off a bad vibe. This should be encouraged (possible incentives to the new owner?) but not enforced.

Agreed. I don't think they should force anyone, but it should definitely be strongly encouraged. It just looks bad when there are a bunch of games sitting there turned off.

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#30 9 years ago

OP

APB

APB_Enterprises

APB Enterpries

Huntley, IL

12y 58,400 435

We really want games to be up and running as well. That said we don't want the bad vibe getting out there either. Our hopes are that the pinball community does what they can to keep games available, up and running at the show. We will help where we can, and appreciate the fact that people bring machines for all of us to enjoy.

Tip of the hat to Dan at MGC. His show is great, and this issue does not come up there from what I have seen over my years of going. Proof that it can work!

Andrew

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4

#31 9 years ago

OP

APB

APB_Enterprises

APB Enterpries

Huntley, IL

12y 58,400 435

Quoted from MXV:
I second that, great idea!!

I love the idea as well. I ordered the supplies this morning and will have them by next week for the show. I figured we can put one near the door and one on the far wall somewhere. Grabbed a few refills too in case Banger Jay trys to drink the stuff again.

purell%20wall%20dispenser.jpg

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#32 9 years ago

NEX

NextoPin

Inactive member

Syracuse, NY

10y 48,400 1,102 8

Maybe a $10 donation to a related charity for removing a game from the free play area early, kind of like how Allentown does it, but for charity.

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#33 9 years ago

ZAK

Engine09

Pinside member

Calgary, AB

11y 44,400 305 13

Hand sanitizers are great and I wish everyone used them, takes care of the germs.

During our pin shows locally I always made sure to wipe down the glass, lockdown bars and buttons with paper towel and windex every couple hours. Just to get rid of the grime.

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1

#34 9 years ago

CPC

CraigC

Pinside member

Elmhurst, IL

11y 63,600 1,443 31

If anyone needs a hand fixing things I plan on having a soldering station and common tools on hand in my game in the CPM row plus whatever know how I have after doing this for a few years.

Is there a way we can put up an A.P.B. for folks needing pinball help with a number so techs with extra cycles can lend a hand?

-c

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#35 9 years ago

MGP

mikepin

Pinside member

Canfield, OH

12y 48,550 923

I beleive ALlentown charges 25 for a game to leave . I have never enforced removing game idea BECAUSE I feel if a person buys game he has right to take it or turn it off..IT HIS GAME if game goes up in smoke or a plastic breaks AFTER he bought it whos issue is it??? MIKE PACAK

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#36 9 years ago

JOE

calvin12

Frozen

Unknown

13y 0k 2,972 10

I'm not even sure how other shows manage to enforce that rule. The buyer never brought a game agreed to the "fine" for leaving early. The original owner made that agreement and would be the one stuck honoring it.

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9

#37 9 years ago

OP

APB

APB_Enterprises

APB Enterpries

Huntley, IL

12y 58,400 435

We got John's EM's loaded up last night at the show!

JE1.jpg

Thank you to all who helped at John's on Sunday and Expo last night!
Vince Loeffler
Rob Kokot
Alan Darby
Eric Priepke
Liz Priepke
Yancy Blaylock
Karl Marsicek

JE4.jpg

JE3.jpg

JE2.jpg

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#38 9 years ago

YBX

yancy

Pinside member

West Dundee, IL

11y 122K 7,204 25

Downpour in Wheeling? Yup, it's Expo week. 45 bodies, 25 heads, 45 leg bundles = 75 minutes.

0

#39 9 years ago

JOE

calvin12

Frozen

Unknown

13y 0k 2,972 10

are there 20 headless games?

0

#40 9 years ago

YBX

yancy

Pinside member

West Dundee, IL

11y 122K 7,204 25

Only until John's van arrives.

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3

#41 9 years ago

JOE

calvin12

Frozen

Unknown

13y 0k 2,972 10

I was hoping for imaginary scoring. I always do well on games like that.

0

5

#42 9 years ago

DOG

Whysnow

Pinside member

12y 187K 35,339 30 1

thanks to ALL that are doing this!

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4

#43 9 years ago

DOG

pmWolf

Pinside Moderator

Union City, MI

13y 157K 4,525 59 112

This is going to be AWESOME.

0

#44 9 years ago

JFH

jfh

Pinside+ Addict

10y 161K 10,147

So bummed I'm not going to be there.

0

#45 9 years ago

CAT

Butterflygirl24

Pinside member

12y 84,575 1,451

Quoted from yancy:
Only until John's van arrives.

The van has arrived, There are no headless games we helped him unload the rest of the heads in the poring rain!! got them all in and dried off.

Phoebe

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#46 9 years ago

JAS

Pugsley

Pinside member

Valparaiso, IN

12y 56,400 923 9

So wait... are you already setting up? I thought that didn't start till noon tomorrow? Or do you get to do it early since you bring so much from so far?

0

#47 9 years ago

JOE

calvin12

Frozen

Unknown

13y 0k 2,972 10

Those games were close by. There were 45 from one guy, they are being stored on site in an alternate location so we can get them set up on Wednesday.

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#48 9 years ago

OP

APB

APB_Enterprises

APB Enterpries

Huntley, IL

12y 58,400 435

Thank you for your help Phoebe!!

Andrew

0

#49 9 years ago

OP

APB

APB_Enterprises

APB Enterpries

Huntley, IL

12y 58,400 435

Setup for the free play area starts Wednesday at noon. Because expo takes time and space to move in we got a room early to store some things until we can really get going!

Andrew