The videos of the Dutch Transformers Convention called
B.O.T.S. which was held on June 8th 2008 in Nieuwegein are now online. They can be viewed on the
YouTube page of the convention.
B.O.T.S. part 1B.O.T.S. part 2B.O.T.S. part 3B.O.T.S. part 4As one of the organizers of the event (our second one), I have also written down my report of the event exclusively for seibertron.com as stated below.
B.O.T.S. Dutch/Benelux Transformers Convention 2008June 8th 2008, the day of the dutch Transformers convention in Nieuwegein, the Netherlands is behind us. The second one of the current team, of which I am am proud to say that I am a part of. After the huge success of last year's convention, there was no other choice but to make this one even bigger and better. And that's exactly what we did.
After the overwhelming response and turnout last year, there was no doubt that we would give a repeat performance for 2008. For months we had been preparing and putting this event together. Along the way we have were faced with setbacks, like Hasbro in the U.S. requesting us to change our name, but Hasbro Netherlands was behind us all the way. But all the highs definitely outweighed the lows.
Unlike last year where we had hired two separate conference-rooms. This year we had reserved an entire gym for the event. Which had to have been at least 4 times bigger then the two rooms of last year combined. We started building the day before the event. We needed all the time we could spare. We had the eight vitrine cabinets to build to form the "Towers of Fame". They were filled with exclusive figures that are very hard to come by, a couple of repaint-kitbashes and some of the figures of Transformers: Animated. The convention was the first place in Europe where these first toys could (officially) be seen. A true exclusive for our event.
I myself was busy with our technician building up the stage and sound system we would use. All in all we were at it from 20.00 hrs until around and about 23:00. It was past midnight when I saw my bed. Problem was,... I needed to get up again at 05:00 hrs in the morning to start building for the actual event.
The core team consisted of myself and four others. For the last two weeks or so, the jitters had been shaking for some of them. Anxiously writing E-mails and calling each other on the phone. And who wouldn't with such an event on your shoulders?
I had a couple of other things running in the back of my mind that may have calmed my nerves. But when we finally arrived at the location again around 07:00 in the morning, I have to admit that I left my everyday worries behind me, and I too was starting to feel the jitters. I was actually not at 100%, being struck with a flu. But high on adrenaline for the event ahead, I wasn't going to be beat by something as minor as the common flu.
More help troops arrived, as we started the slow "transformation" from sports arena to Transformers convention. Around an hour into it, the various dealers started to make their way into the gym. Some of them were just as anxious as we were. Some had already posted pictures on various dutch forums, showing the stuff that they would be selling at B.O.T.S.
And it wasn't just a box or two... There were pictures of a small trucks being full of Transformers related stuff! The fans had also been anticipating this day and were eager to get their wallets out and grab what they could. The mood was really set, when one dealer helped the other dealer out building their stall, working together as neighbours. For me the event was already a success watching this, and the event hadn't even started yet.
After the various obstacles we had to overcome during the weeks and months leading up to the big day, we had another problem this day. Public transportation went on strike that day. All the buses and trams that needed to lead our visitors to the Merwestein complex in Nieuwegein, they weren't running. Because of this some people had already decided not to come. But despite that setback, the turnout didn't disappoint. We easily had 400 visitors during the day, which is almost twice as much as we had last year.
There was also an international flavor to the even this year, as we didn't just have people from the Netherlands. We had Belgian and German people there. Paul Hitchens from the UK who manned one of the dealer shops. We had one guy in the crowd who came all the way from Sweden to experience the Transformers culture. Also the younger kids seemed to enjoy themselves. One of my best friends Marcel from
http://www.leukemensen.nl took pictures and made balloon animals for the kids (and some of the ladies that were there), while they watched Transformers Armada, drew and coloured and played with Transformers that were donated by Hasbro NL especially for the event.
Throughout the day, the fans seemed to enjoy what we had set up for them. I have the pleasure of talking with many of them. I hardly had any time for myself. In fact. I didn't even make it half way past all the stands to see what I could add to my own collection. Heck, I didn't have time to speak to some of the people I wanted to speak at all! But it was all good. And it was all worth it.
As the day was nearing to a close, we were coming to awarding all the prizes that we had to give away. And there were a lot of prizes. From exclusive leader class movie toys to actual U.S. BotCon 2008 exclusives. All were donated to us by Hasbro NL. I tried my best to make something out of the presentation. But with the flu I had caught, my voice wasn't in the best of shape, but I think people enjoyed what we did.
The event(s) rank as some of the top things I have done in my life. There is no explaining the thrill you experience when you see so many people enjoy themselves due to something you and a bunch of your friends have put together. People have been thanking me for the event, but it really should be me thanking them.
Right now we have started to work towards the convention for next year. With a changing of the guard with the team, it will be like starting all over again, only this time taking more of the responsibilities upon me. But with the experiences I have gained over the last two event, it will definitely be worth it. We have some nice surprises in mind for next year, but we will reveal them all in due time.
Dutch Transformers Conventions, Where all are one!
