Rituals during build season

[dag0620]

On an up-coming episode of FT, I had posed a question for listeners to answer, and I didn't remember seeing a discussion about this on CD since I've joined, and I thought it would be a good conversation to get away for the technical stuff for a bit.

What rituals does your team have during the build season?


1071 - Every Friday we have a slushy night. Everyone takes a break from work, comes up, and enjoys a slushy. We also use this time as a bit of a re-group to see where everyone is in there projects, and to get the team back on the same page. We also give special bigger and decorative cups to the 2 members of the teams who put in the most hours that week.

[Tetraman]

During week 1, we break something we have been working on. It prevents us from breaking other things in the other weeks.

[davidthefat]

Every Fridays are full day build time with dinner served by a designated group. The groups change every week.

[demosthenes2k8]

Every year, someone bleeds on the floor of our main room, Room 124. Does that count? (Bad but true. I'm hoping that since someone spilled tomato juice on it this year, everyone's safe)

Saturdays and Sundays are basically "all day" things, and we usually have a "standup" time at the end of some days (like tonight), where the subteam leads talk about that their group's been up to.

[Joe Schornak]

My team (unofficially) has Alarm Reset Night(s). That's when we work so late/early that the building's alarm resets, so that we can't leave without either triggering it or calling school security to let us out.

We also have particular songs that we listen to while we build. Flight of the Conchords' "Business Time" is a favorite, as is that one "This Is Sparta" techno remix. As ship day approaches we switch to Europe's "The Final Countdown".

[synth3tk]

Donuts, every Saturday morning. This unintentionally gives us a breakfast time to sit down, go over thoughts and ideas, and map out the day's activities. It also gives us time to eat donuts!

[MagiChau]

Not sure if it counts but the annual BOB rag making in the metal shop when we find ourselves at the end of build season or in competition season.

[DonRotolo]

Davey's night on Wednesday.

One of our sponsors, Davey's Irish Pub (http://www.daveyspub.com/), is a local restaurant who brings us the best food on the planet, every Wednesday.

If you're ever in Montvale NJ, stop by their place right by the train station. They're been around since forever, and their food is why.

[robox89]

Our ritual is late nights and lots of pizza:D

[Creator Mat]

When we finish our robot we put a fortune on it form a fortune cookie

[Red One]

Our build sessions are always full of Vitamin Water and MGMT/Vampire Weekend :D

[ratdude747]

country music is a staple of my team, 2783... mainly because a lot of us are from the city and robotics a chance to listen to it without looking like hillbillies. I personally am more of a rocker but it makes the team happy... It's a Louisville/ KY thing.

not anything else since the team has had some major changes this year...

[Brandon_L]

The first saturday of build is wing day, we get wings for lunch. Usually paid for by one of our kids that graduated but still comes back.

Best day ever.

And we noticed a trend in our robots:
Theres always some sort of teeth/tooth design on the robot somewhere (as in decoration) and its never planned.

[exprg:melonhead]

We have dance-offs. It happens whenever we get stuck. Helps us get creative again. This year's freshmen have yet to experience this.

[Zachary Pilarsk]

We remind ourselves that the robot doesn't have to work well it just has to look good

and lots of Monty Python/ need more cowbell jokes on the last few days of build time

[jblay]

A few of us have mcdonalds breakfast every time we have a weekend meeting. The goodness is mostly in the tradition, that and the layers of butter

[masterchef69]

Our build sessions are always full of Vitamin Water and MGMT/Vampire Weekend :D

just stop,no one listens to vampire weekend

[masterchef69]

just stop,no one listens to vampire weekend

oznas

[alex334]

We start robotics every day at 3:34 (Our team number). That gives us 30 min between school and robotics to "blow off our adolescent steam." =P

[kfgk14]

As instructed in the manual, worship of pneumatics ;)

[LightWaves1636]

We have team social night during build season, we work from Mon - Sat but then on Fridays we do LAN parties (i.e. Halo, starcraft, etc.), board games, laser tag, ice skating, etc. to bond and hang out as a team.

[Koko Ed]

We have many traditions/rituals on our team:
*we start and end every meeting with a cheer (even team spirit requires practice)
*Like many teams kickoff is followed by a brainstorming session on both Saturday and Sunday so we can hit the ground running with the robot design.
* every team member writes a journal entry and reads it in front of the whole team
* we have at least one pot luck lunch during the build season during the Saturday build session (has recently grown to two due to popularity).
*Mentors eat breakfast before the Saturday meeting at the Liberty Restaurant on Winton Rd. (this may have changed now that we have moved downtown).
*when our spirit leader graduates they elect a new Prince or Princess of Positive Propaganda (aka the Cheer Nazi) at the team picnic.

[BEEKMAN]

We have team social night during build season, we work from Mon - Sat but then on Fridays we do LAN parties (i.e. Halo, starcraft, etc.), board games, laser tag, ice skating, etc. to bond and hang out as a team.

We usually do the same thing!!! We have HUGE LAN's at my house (10+ TV's, 360, all networked, and on live..) Its awesome! Plus we Laser Tag a lot now too. Our teams will have to have a competition in St. Louis!