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And then...there was BotCon 99. My first dealer experience. I must say, if being an ordinary fan is great, being a dealer is even better. Talk about the Big Leagues! The perks of being a dealer are worth the couple of hundred bucks extra, in my humble opinion. Getting to rub elbows and press flesh with the high mucky-mucks of tf-dom is an experience I will remember for a long time. A LOT of product moved out of the workshop, and into collector hands...and I want to extend several notes of thanks to the following: Joebot and Wilson, for keeping an eye on things while I ran around in circles; to Particle Man, for the first Black G2 rotor I've ever gotten my paws on; to Robowang, for those wonderful TM Hot Rod sticker sheets; and those nameless fellows for the great trades (pepsi prime trailer, and the pink rampage, among others); the trades and the shop talk are what really made the convention special for me. And my Needs List would never have been filled in so well had I not had a booth for people to find me. Needless to say, I look forward to doing it again. Especially if that one lady who wouldn't tell me who she was comes again :-) You! The one who traded me the bag of accs :-) You beat me out on the Galaxy Shuttle. Does this mean I can have one next year? Tell me who you are! Geez, you're as bad as Hydra... Below is a pic of me with Joebot and Wilson. I always thought Gary Chalk and myself were the biggest guys in tf-dom. Joe has us edged out :-) You just HAVE to respect a guy that can throw ME across the room :-) Seriously, though, if you ever get a chance to deal with him, I highly recommend you do so. The man has made my Needs Lists disappear completely on more than one occasion. I weep tears of joy for those occurances.
 Which booth was mine, you ask? Easy. The one with the Fred's Workshop Exclusive Toiletbot. I was too embarrassed to enter it into the art show, but not embarrassed enough to keep it buried. I displayed it at my booth. And wouldn't you know it? It ended up being pictured in both Lee's AFN, AND ToyFare. *sigh*
...and if you think that THIS is bad...just wait until next year! In 1999, we brought you toiletbot...in 2000, everything goes into the crapper.
Introducing Toiletbot 2000.!!! A Fred's Workshop Exclusive, available in only 360 days... |
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I was lucky enough to have Scott McNeil set up shop for autographs the first day right next to my booth! Who-hoo! I got to see all his interaction with the fans, and the improvs with all his "voices" arguing with each other at once. The man is a genius. Normally, I'm not into autographs, but...for Scott, I made an exception. I had him sign Rattrap, and a Silverbolt that I was going to sell, but pulled from inventory for this special occasion. Needless to say, with the funny thing he wrote on it, I think I'll be keeping it. :-) In addition to his signature, he scribbled, "I am fast, strong, pure...and dumb as a post." Too funny!
 Now, what did I think about the rest of the convention? Beast Machines preview, and the like? You mean there was something going on outside the dealers room? Ack, I did it AGAIN! I had so much fun there, that I really didn't go to anything else. Like I always say, what could be more important than the toys? Well, I finally have an answer: the friends. Like finally meeting in-person the one, the only, (and a fellow Wisconsin Transfan)...Skyjammer! Who-hoo! Next year, we should actually spend more than 5 minutes talking before we run off to do our things... More on the way, as I add it...more on 99, and a blurb about my 2000 plans...of which I have many. Like BEING there, for one! You should be there, too. It will be an excellent time, yeessssss...click here for a look at the BotCon 2000 toys, and a sneak preview of an upcoming Beast Machines figure!
And of course, like everyone else, I hear rumors! This was one of the more interesting...like 98, there was something fishy going on with 99's convention. If you want to be let in on rumors of some behind-the-scenes maneuverings of the TF Militia at BotCon, you can take a peek here. Heck, for all I know, this may have been part of the secret project that Phil wouldn't tell me. Who can know? Not me; I only work here... |