Friday Night Entertainment - will.i.am with special guests [Archive]

Rick

26-04-2011, 16:40

FIRST® Championship Friday night entertainment FIRST is delighted to announce a free, private performance for Registered FIRST Championship Teams in St. Louis by Grammy award-winning superstar, will.i.am with special guests on Friday evening April 29, 2011 at 8:30 PM at the Edward Jones Dome.

The FIRST Championship community is invited to take part in this extraordinary evening that we hope will be the basis of a potential future television special. Please wear your team colors! Please also be aware that being part of a television audience entails possible interruptions during the course of the show to make sure the best footage is captured.

Details on the allocation and distribution of tickets are outlined in the FAQ below, and will be strictly enforced. Please be advised, lost tickets will not be replaced. Tickets to this private event are for the exclusive use of FIRST participants registered for the Championship only and transfer or sale is strictly prohibited.
Friday Evening
Security will clear the Dome at 5:00 PM Friday.
Doors will open at 7:30PM for the 8:30PM show.Dinner Friday and Saturday
Dinner will not be provided on Friday evening before the show.
Dinner will be provided at no charge on Saturday evening after the FRC Finals and the Award & Closing Ceremonies.http://origin-www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/content.aspx?id=19661

Steven Donow

26-04-2011, 16:44

Aside from the typical complaints about this, it's good to see they are making sure it's closed to the public.

Racer26

26-04-2011, 16:49

Looks like:

JFLL teams get 12 tix (no extra)
FLL teams get 14 tix (no extra)
FTC teams get 15 tix (can ask for extra)
FRC teams get 30 tix (can ask for extra)

MagiChau

26-04-2011, 16:50

Wonder if special guests means Karthik?

Andrew Schreiber

26-04-2011, 16:51

Wonder if special guests means Karthik?

And Beiber ;)

Racer26

26-04-2011, 16:54

They've very carefully termed it will.i.am and his special guests, instead of simply saying Black Eyed Peas.

Wikipedia lists:
Associated acts The Black Eyed Peas, Juanes, Far East Movement, David Guetta, Justin Timberlake, Macy Gray, Planet Asia, Cheryl Cole, Usher (entertainer), Michael Jackson, Jason Derulo

As well, the article links a myriad of other performers he's been involved with over the years.

Nuttyman54

26-04-2011, 16:56

Don't forget Morgan Freeman will be at champs. Maybe he and Will are gonna freestyle it!

Koko Ed

26-04-2011, 17:09

Don't forget Morgan Freeman will be at champs. Maybe he and Will are gonna freestyle it!

Easy Reader brings down the house!

torihoelscher

26-04-2011, 17:13

YES!!!!!! I read this and jumped! This is awesome and amazing! Thank you so much Dean Kamen and FIRST!!! YOU ARE AMAZING!

apalrd

26-04-2011, 17:16

YES!!!!!! I read this and jumped! This is awesome and amazing! Thank you so much Dean Kamen and FIRST!!! YOU ARE AMAZING!

At the cost of two divisions in the pits, it appears.

Not so amazing.

torihoelscher

26-04-2011, 17:20

At the cost of two divisions in the pits, it appears.

Not so amazing.

i dont understand...

EricH

26-04-2011, 17:21

i dont understand...Two divisional fields are in the pits. Ordinarily, they'd be where that stage is.

apalrd

26-04-2011, 17:23

i dont understand...

this (http://www.firstlegoleague.org/uploadedFiles/Where_is_FLL/Robot_Route_to_Dome_PRINTED.pdf) is a map of the dome floor (it's intended for FLL teams, but it's the only map of the dome floor released so far).

Why are there only 3 blue FRC fields? 1 is Einstein. 2 are divisions. Where are the other 2 divisions? They're on the upper right side of the map, in the Curie and Newton pit areas.

It looks like they would fit if the entertainment stage (taking up the right half of the dome) wasn't there.

torihoelscher

26-04-2011, 17:23

Two divisional fields are in the pits. Ordinarily, they'd be where that stage is.

We still get a free concert....we can at least be thankful for what FIRST did for us? I am excited none the less.

Norman J

26-04-2011, 17:25

i dont understand...

To make space for the stage for this performance, two of the FRC fields were moved to the pits. So all divisions get to play in the pits for a while, punctuated by two awkward transitions of playing field Friday and Saturday morning.

torihoelscher

26-04-2011, 17:27

To make space for the stage for this performance, two of the FRC fields were moved to the pits. So all divisions get to play in the pits for a while, punctuated by two awkward transitions of playing field Friday and Saturday morning.

I know its a pain but dont you think a concert is neat at Championships? Its so cool! I'm really happy that FIRST made this happen! :)

EricH

26-04-2011, 17:29

We still get a free concert....we can at least be thankful for what FIRST did for us? I am excited none the less.
We are in the FIRST Robotics Competition. However, it seems that in St. Louis, whoever is there will be at the FIRST Rock Concert. Still FRC, but it's not the same.

That, in a nutshell what, is what is making a lot of people very annoyed right now.

Oh, and factor in that the concert just so happens to be when a lot of teams will want to be doing such things as scouting meetings and similar things.

Concert: Idea, neat. Execution, two thumbs down, and if I had a couple more thumbs I'd be debating hard about whether to turn them down or not.

dag0620

26-04-2011, 17:31

Although I agree 110% that the space the stage takes up is way too much. and the plan for the concert was POORLY executed.

We do have enough threads discussing this don't we?:rolleyes:

I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to leave this to the hype of the actual concert and the idea of having will.i.am preform and leave the poor way it was carried out to the other threads.

That's all!:)

Edit: And keep things civil before they may get out of hand.

Andrew Schreiber

26-04-2011, 17:32

this (http://www.firstlegoleague.org/uploadedFiles/Where_is_FLL/Robot_Route_to_Dome_PRINTED.pdf) is a map of the dome floor (it's intended for FLL teams, but it's the only map of the dome floor released so far).

Why are there only 3 blue FRC fields? 1 is Einstein. 2 are divisions. Where are the other 2 divisions? They're on the upper right side of the map, in the Curie and Newton pit areas.

It looks like they would fit if the entertainment stage (taking up the right half of the dome) wasn't there.

It looks like they would fit even WITH the stage in there if they did a little more clever layout.

I know its a pain but dont you think a concert is neat at Championships? Its so cool! I'm really happy that FIRST made this happen! :)

If I wanted to take students to a concert I would have and it probably would have cost less than the $5000 registration fee...and the travel fees... and the hotel costs.

torihoelscher

26-04-2011, 17:34

We are in the FIRST Robotics Competition. However, it seems that in St. Louis, whoever is there will be at the FIRST Rock Concert. Still FRC, but it's not the same.

That, in a nutshell what, is what is making a lot of people very annoyed right now.

Oh, and factor in that the concert just so happens to be when a lot of teams will want to be doing such things as scouting meetings and similar things.

Concert: Idea, neat. Execution, two thumbs down, and if I had a couple more thumbs I'd be debating hard about whether to turn them down or not.
but we still need to have fun dont we? Its not all about the competition, its about having fun too... (sorry if I offended anyone with that comment)

Chexposito

26-04-2011, 17:35

I know its a pain but dont you think a concert is neat at Championships? Its so cool! I'm really happy that FIRST made this happen! :)

i couldn't disagree with you more. will.i.am is taking the center stage along with half the dome for every division to compete in the pits. we all have to compete there, it's just when is what the difference is. a concert is a horrible idea like i said here (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1056809&postcount=52).

ATannahill

26-04-2011, 17:37

I thought I signed up for a robotics competiton.

Apparently FIRST disagrees.

Norman J

26-04-2011, 17:37

but we still need to have fun dont we? Its not all about the competition, its about having fun too... (sorry if I offended anyone with that comment)

This is true. Sorry, I might have sounded a little harsh in my last post. I appreciate the effort by FIRST and will.i.am, but interfering with the layout of the competition was a bit much I think.

torihoelscher

26-04-2011, 17:38

i couldn't disagree with you more. will.i.am is taking the center stage along with half the dome for every division to compete in the pits. we all have to compete there, it's just when is what the difference is. a concert is a horrible idea like i said here (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1056809&postcount=52).

I understand but we cant count our chickens before they hatch!

Koko Ed

26-04-2011, 17:39

but we still need to have fun dont we? Its not all about the competition, its about having fun too... (sorry if I offended anyone with that comment)

You shouldn't have to apologize at all for wanting to have fun. This is supposed to be fun.
You shouldn't gauge your level of enjoyment at the event based on your place in the standings.

CalTran

26-04-2011, 17:41

torihoelscher

26-04-2011, 17:41

This is true. Sorry, I might have sounded a little harsh in my last post. I appreciate the effort by FIRST and will.i.am, but interfering with the layout of the competition was a bit much I think.

Its okay! Everyone has their opinions and I respect that! :)

In my opinion, I think the layout was a little shaky in the first place. They had to fit the concert somewhere! We will have to see when we get there. :) Cant wait for the competition!

Mike o.

26-04-2011, 17:43

What about for members of the FIRST Community whose team isn't registered for Champs but still may be down there Friday night? I may have missed it, but I didn't see any instructions for picking up tickets.

Unfortunately, it looks like you won't be able to get tickets. They have specific instructions for each Program, and each one says that tickets are only for teams that are registered for Championship.

jblay

26-04-2011, 17:46

boo

EricH

26-04-2011, 17:46

but we still need to have fun dont we? Its not all about the competition, its about having fun too... (sorry if I offended anyone with that comment)
That's what the SATURDAY night stuff is for!

No offense, but there are two nights of "party" stuff. The Wrap Party is Saturday night, all around the venue (i.e., doesn't take up field/pit space when it's needed). One of those nights happens to be on scouting meeting night, and moving two fields. Which one would I rather have?

Don't get me wrong, having the concert is a nice idea. But the execution had better work really, really, really, really well to make up for the fields moving, and then the divisions moving between the fields twice, and the lack of pre-planning ability that has been conferred on teams by the details being released today, when some teams are already traveling. Otherwise, there may be as many negative responses as Houston's ramps had.

Eric O

26-04-2011, 17:47

AlecMataloni

26-04-2011, 17:49

Although I'm completely against having two divisions in the pits and the rest of this ordeal that these Championship plans have caused, It's inappropriate and unnecessary to call others out for not sharing your same opinion, or for being excited about whatever FIRST has planned.

Also, isn't this what FIRST is about? These plans have presented us with what some may call a problem. Last time I checked, FRC is centered around problem solving. Instead of complaining about a plan or a rule change, it's our job to find a way to overcome that challenge.

dag0620

26-04-2011, 17:50

I will say one thing.

From the minute Dean hinted that will.i.am was going to be preforming in St. Louis at kick-off, I had always assumed that it would be part of the wrap party. I just wonder if that was ever an option considered?

EricH

26-04-2011, 17:52

The one question I have is why isn't Einstein on the stage? All those speakers, lights, space, etc just for a concert? If we want FIRST to be like a rock concert, we should put it on a rock concert stage, especially if there is one already set up.

This also could have allowed for at least 1 other field in the dome.

Heh. Remember DSKB on Einstein during the WFA ceremony a few years back?

If this is done in future, that should be considered as an option.

torihoelscher

26-04-2011, 17:54

Cory

26-04-2011, 17:58

Now that this is official (everyone has known for weeks)...the Hall of Fame teams have been asked to bring our robots to the concert to be displayed on stage.

Still would rather have 5 fields in the dome though :rolleyes:

Joe G.

26-04-2011, 17:58

I've waited a while to post my thoughts on this topic, to allow things to calm down and give details more time to emerge.

Please, please, go into championships with an open mind. On the surface, I don't like the concept of displacing competition fields for a concert either. Then again, I've been doing FIRST for 10 years, and its message has sunk in with me enough that robotics is the only sport I follow closely.

In other words, I am not FIRST's audience anymore, and this is a good thing.

People come into this program all the time for things that, in our post-FIRST view, they maybe shouldn't. Free food at meetings. That cute guy who does it. The chance to miss school for trips. And so on. I've watched countless people do these things, only to see them grow and be inspired to do things they did not think they would the day they joined.

Adding another opportunity for this to happen can't hurt things.

I have not been terribly impressed with the planned execution, but the concert itself doesn't bother me, at all. And as far as execution, I shouldn't form opinions until after the fact.

I've been doing this for quite a while now. I've watched FIRST grow, and heard about its years before me. Over that time, I've disagreed with a number of decisions made by them, and more often than not, ended up eating my words. I've learned to withhold judgment until after the fact, which is what I urge everyone to do. I don't think that this is going to be just a concert, opposite in meaning to everything we do at championships. When in doubt, I trust FIRST's judgment. They've grown this program from 28 teams to over 2000, not to mention FLL and FTC. They've had time to plan this. From looking at what's been released, I don't think it will be fantastic.

But I don't think it will be the disaster a lot of people are predicting either.

FIRST has more experience than all of us at running these types of events. And they've stood for a constant mission for 20 years. I don't think that the concert is going to be an about-face on this. I look forward to seeing what FIRST has planned for us, and any publicity that results.

Koko Ed

26-04-2011, 18:01

Considering CD is a public forum that anyone can read (I would not be surprised if Will.i.AM has read all the comments about him) I can't see FIRST attracting any artist for a show. So I can't see them doing this in the future whether it's a success or not.

Mrs.Drake343

26-04-2011, 18:01

Ok, for the whiners please feel free to go back to your hotel during the concert. No better way to protest than by just not going. Then the rest of us who think this is absolutely amazing will have more room and do not have to be around cranky people.

Also, when we receive the national exposure that this will give us, please (also in protest of course) do not take any sponsorship money that this wil generate. It should be left for the teams that are not whining.

I have no problem with being in the pits. A little gracious professional will go a long way in making everyone comfortable. If you still have issues, feel free to fund you own robotics program.

Bob Steele

26-04-2011, 18:05

Has anyone else noticed that this will be filmed as part of a TV special.??
I wonder who's special this will be... I certainly hope that this is something that will be FIRST central and not a music special...

They want us to wear colorful clothes and t-shirts...etc etc..

I have discussed this with my team.... pits and fields open at 7 on Saturday morning... we won't be back to our hotels until 12 at least...possibly later... given the level of excitement etc... the students won't get much sleep...

oh well... I guess FIRST is really not about the robots right?

I do appreciate Will.i.am's participation though (and his friends..whomever they are...he certainly didn't have to do this...and he does make great music...

Heck we even named our robot after him this year...

skunk.i.am.........................

Good luck to everyone !!

Dave Flowerday

26-04-2011, 18:05

http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/27/dean-kamen-education-thought-leaders-innovation.html

I've had to listen to speeches like this one from Dean for close to 2 decades. How do the plans in St. Louis jive with that? Have all of Dean's speeches been a joke? Does FIRST even believe in the things they say? What is FIRST celebrating in St. Louis? The accomplishments of 400 FRC teams, or a celebrity rock star? Take a look at some excerpts from the link above:

-----------

Celebrating Celebrity

It's not what our country doesn't have enough of, supply, it's what we have too much of compared to the rest of the world. Our kids are constantly barraged by nonsense. They are constantly barraged by every kind of bigger-than-life role model who comes from one of two places--the NBA or Hollywood. It's the only culture in the world where kids by the time they are 5 or 6 years old, they all know who Britney Spears is, and Paris Hilton is, and Shaquille O'Neal is.

And then after spending eight hours a day, five days a week in school learning, you say to any kid on the street here, "Can you tell me the name of a single, living, famous, scientist, engineer or inventor?" And they can't. Well in the free culture, you get what you celebrate. If we don't celebrate these things, why are you going to get kids to put their time, their energy and their passion towards those things? So whether they're inner-city kids with no resources or yuppie kids with more than is reasonable, they'll all bounce a ball four hours a day because it's their way out. They're all going to be the next NBA star because it's cool.

...

I think if the country could prove somehow that some foreign government was able to so radically undermine the perspectives and goals of the kids in this country as to create the generation that we've now got moving up, we would hunt them down and kill them for treason. Instead, we've got Hollywood and the NBA unwinding this country. We're doing it to ourselves. But the bottom line first I think is invention. Create an opportunity for kids to get together with serious adults in a meaningful way where there's content but it's still as much fun and as exciting as a football game or a rock concert. That's the invention. The innovation occurs if the invention finds its way into the culture and changes what we do.

ATannahill

26-04-2011, 18:05

I've waited a while to post my thoughts on this topic, to allow things to calm down and give details more time to emerge.

Please, please, go into championships with an open mind. On the surface, I don't like the concept of displacing competition fields for a concert either. Then again, I've been doing FIRST for 10 years, and its message has sunk in with me enough that robotics is the only sport I follow closely.

In other words, I am not FIRST's audience anymore.

People come into this program all the time for things that, in our post-FIRST view, they maybe shouldn't. Free food at meetings. That cute guy who does it. The chance to miss school for trips. And so on. I've watched countless people do these things, only to see them grow and be inspired to do things they did not think they would the day they joined.

Adding another opportunity for this to happen can't hurt things.

I have not been terribly impressed with the planned execution, but the concert itself doesn't bother me, at all. And as far as execution, I shouldn't form opinions until after the fact.

I've been doing this for quite a while now. I've watched FIRST grow, and heard about its years before me. Over that time, I've disagreed with a number of decisions made by them, and more often than not, ended up eating my words. I've learned to withhold judgment until after the fact, which is what I urge everyone to do. I don't think that this is going to be just a concert, opposite in meaning to everything we do at championships. When in doubt, I trust FIRST's judgment. They've grown this program from 28 teams to over 2000, not to mention FLL and FTC. They've had time to plan this. From looking at what's been released, I don't think it will be fantastic.

But I don't think it will be the disaster a lot of people are predicting either.

FIRST has more experience than all of us at running these types of events. And they've stood for a constant mission for 20 years. I don't think that the concert is going to be an about-face on this. I look forward to seeing what FIRST has planned for us, and any publicity that results.

How many people can you sign up to go to St. Louis between when the announcement was made and when you leave?

CassCity2081

26-04-2011, 18:05

Considering CD is a public forum that anyone can read (I would not be surprised if Will.i.AM has read all the comments about him).

I had not really thought about this yet, were really ripping on FIRST and Will.i.am right now when everything they are trying to do is for our benefit. I realize that it was poor execution but at least try and be grateful for Will.i.am's time and FIRST for getting a world class performer for us. Complaining will not get you anywhere at this point. Will.i.am if you are reading this thank you for your time and for helping us get out our message.

GaryVoshol

26-04-2011, 18:07

And filming for a possible TV show.

Hmm, in Michigan we had a FRC show about robotics. In St Louis, an FRC show will be about an entertainer.

"You get what you celebrate." Who said that again?

CassCity2081

26-04-2011, 18:12

And filming for a possible TV show.

Hmm, in Michigan we had a FRC show about robotics. In St Louis, an FRC show will be about an entertainer.

"You get what you celebrate." Who said that again?

Didn't they also say something about spreading the message? I hate to say it because I love FIRST robotics so much, but robots has nerdiness connected with it. To get past that stereotype we have to get peoples attention to show them what it is really about. A news story is great, but we now have a huge name celebrity for just us, no one else is allowed. Don't you think that might give us a little attention?

torihoelscher

26-04-2011, 18:14

I had not really thought about this yet, were really ripping on FIRST and Will.i.am right now when everything they are trying to do is for our benefit. I realize that it was poor execution but at least try and be grateful for Will.i.am's time and FIRST for getting a world class performer for us. Complaining will not get you anywhere at this point. Will.i.am if you are reading this thank you for your time and for helping us get out our message.

Thank you Will.I.Am and FIRST. You guys are amazing yet again! I cant wait to see you guys at Championship and to see the competition!!! I am so excited! :) :) :) :) :)!!!!

This makes the competition more amazing than before!!

Joe G.

26-04-2011, 18:19

How many people can you sign up to go to St. Louis between when the announcement was made and when you leave?

Remember kickoff, and will.i.am's appearance there? I thought it was pretty goofy. Most of us forum regulars probably thought the same.

However, I have a couple of first-year students who got excited about this. At the time of kickoff, they were "outlying members." Now, after a year of build season, they're pretty involved, and starting to "get it." I thank will.i.am. for drawing some initial excitement from them. Did I get excited about it? Not at all. But that doesn't mean no one did. And although I thought it was goofy, who am I to judge what ultimately draws someone into this program?

As I said, I haven't yet been impressed with the execution, and do wish this had been confirmed earlier (though its been pretty clear for quite a while now). But again, trust me, there will be people out there who get excited about it.

And filming for a possible TV show.

Hmm, in Michigan we had a FRC show about robotics. In St Louis, an FRC show will be about an entertainer.

Maybe, but i doubt it. For example...
Now that this is official (everyone has known for weeks)...the Hall of Fame teams have been asked to bring our robots to the concert to be displayed on stage.

Don't judge what you haven't seen yet.

Bob Steele

26-04-2011, 18:19

It is official.......

From FIRST volunteer announcement:

FIRST is delighted to announce a free private performance for assigned FIRST volunteers by Grammy Award winning super group, The Black Eyed Peas, with guest artist Willow Smith, on Friday evening, April 29, 2011 at 8:30PM at the Edward Jones Dome. The FIRST Championship community is invited to take part in this extraordinary evening that we hope will be the basis of a potential future television special.

GaryVoshol

26-04-2011, 18:24

Unfortunately, it looks like you won't be able to get tickets. They have specific instructions for each Program, and each one says that tickets are only for teams that are registered for Championship.

Dean's List students?

Mrs.Drake343

26-04-2011, 18:26

Koko Ed

26-04-2011, 18:26

EricH

26-04-2011, 18:28

Just to be clear:

I do not mind having a concert at the Championship. It's happened before; it's just been at the wrap party instead of on Friday night, or it's been after finals but before the wrap party. Having it on Friday night, before the event is over, is just new--if done right, it could be really awesome. See next points for why I'm commenting in more of a negative vein.

I do mind the movement of two fields. Said prior concerts never had the fields moved. They've also never even been in the same venue, to my knowledge (though Epcot might be the exception there--I only went once). Again, could be quite awesome, if done right. See next point.

I do mind the lack of official explanations for said field movement until today. Even a "Hey, we are having a special concert with [name redacted] on Friday night" would have been better than "We're doing something cool, just wait for more info"--which is exactly what we got for the last couple of weeks. Even knowing that there would be a concert--for sure--would have been a vast improvement over the rumors that were around, even though those rumors did turn out correct.

I would not be entirely surprised if the concert is comparatively sparsely attended, not in protest, but because people planned ahead to be doing something else at that time due to the lack of information. That lack of information is my main complaint; the fields moving can be dealt with, even if it is uncomfortable for a while.

For next year, there are two things that would help this continue: 1) Say that there will be a concert as soon as that is known (or that you're working on a concert if you don't know for sure by, say 1 month before--"something cool" won't cut it). This allows teams to plan to be there. 2) Try to have it displace as few fields as possible--for that, some clever floor planning or using a field as a stage may be needed. This allows more teams to play where they were expecting to play this whole time, for more time.

As far as a performer giving a concert just for FIRST participants getting attention: I don't think that will quite get the message out, even with a national television special. However, if there was some way of getting word out that [insert favorite celebrity here] was going to be at this robotics competition, and they would be [doing something for their fans] if [fans in question do some easy task like finding a cool feature on some random robot], or [celebrity] was acting as a traffic director/MC/tour guide of cool robots/some other function that gets them interacting with the public, I think there would be a really massive invasion of the general public. Maybe some of them just come for the celebrity. Maybe some of them get the FIRST bug and start looking hard into STEM. As a matter of fact, that's what Morgan Freeman did with that video he did for FIRST--"I'm going to be here on these days, come join me in watching" (paraphrased).

Billfred

26-04-2011, 18:32

I'm going to make two separate statements here, and then banish this thread from my thoughts until Sunday.

1) To Will.I.Am and guests (whoever they may be): Thanks for coming--hope you stick around for the robots and the people.

2) To the people with the robots: It's the first time (or at least the first time in a long while) for a lot of things at this year's championship. Keep an open mind, and we can tell FIRST exactly what we thought of their plan on Monday morning.

Koko Ed

26-04-2011, 18:35

When I first heard about the whole two fields in the pit thing I was all bent out of shape over it. Because the field has been relegated to the puts doesn't mean the competition won't be any less intense and it doesn't make the event any less fun and it doesn't change the fact that I still have a job to do no matter where the field is located and I'm still gonna do it.
At least the pits won't be flooding (we hope).
Heck now I get a free concert out of it. Sounds like a good time. I think I'll go and have one. After a season of hard work I think I and the many volunteers and members of FIRST deserve it.

rotolomi

26-04-2011, 18:36

I know its a pain but dont you think a concert is neat at Championships? Its so cool! I'm really happy that FIRST made this happen! :)

I agree with you! I think it's great that FIRST is trying to make Championships even more exciting than it usually is this year. Although we do have to adjust to a new layout, I think it's a minor sacrifice. I saw the Black Eyed Peas last August and while I wasn't crazy about them at the time, they put on an amazing show and Will.I.Am was a great performer. I think we should be really grateful that FIRST is trying to bring more attention to the program - even if we do have to use famous entertainers to do so. The point is, this is a great thing to get FIRST some positive media attention and I'm sure we're all going to have fun on Friday night. :)

RoboMom

26-04-2011, 18:36

Dean's List students?

I'm sure that exceptions will be made on a case by case basis. Just have to figure out who and early on, how to ask.

gren737

26-04-2011, 18:37

Thank you Dave...my feelings exactly.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/27/dean-kamen-education-thought-leaders-innovation.html

I've had to listen to speeches like this one from Dean for close to 2 decades. How do the plans in St. Louis jive with that? Have all of Dean's speeches been a joke? Does FIRST even believe in the things they say? What is FIRST celebrating in St. Louis? The accomplishments of 400 FRC teams, or a celebrity rock star? Take a look at some excerpts from the link above:

-----------

Celebrating Celebrity

It's not what our country doesn't have enough of, supply, it's what we have too much of compared to the rest of the world. Our kids are constantly barraged by nonsense. They are constantly barraged by every kind of bigger-than-life role model who comes from one of two places--the NBA or Hollywood. It's the only culture in the world where kids by the time they are 5 or 6 years old, they all know who Britney Spears is, and Paris Hilton is, and Shaquille O'Neal is.

And then after spending eight hours a day, five days a week in school learning, you say to any kid on the street here, "Can you tell me the name of a single, living, famous, scientist, engineer or inventor?" And they can't. Well in the free culture, you get what you celebrate. If we don't celebrate these things, why are you going to get kids to put their time, their energy and their passion towards those things? So whether they're inner-city kids with no resources or yuppie kids with more than is reasonable, they'll all bounce a ball four hours a day because it's their way out. They're all going to be the next NBA star because it's cool.

...

I think if the country could prove somehow that some foreign government was able to so radically undermine the perspectives and goals of the kids in this country as to create the generation that we've now got moving up, we would hunt them down and kill them for treason. Instead, we've got Hollywood and the NBA unwinding this country. We're doing it to ourselves. But the bottom line first I think is invention. Create an opportunity for kids to get together with serious adults in a meaningful way where there's content but it's still as much fun and as exciting as a football game or a rock concert. That's the invention. The innovation occurs if the invention finds its way into the culture and changes what we do.

EricH

26-04-2011, 18:42

I'm sure that exceptions will be made on a case by case basis. Just have to figure out who and early on, how to ask.
Or, you might be able to join a team that is planning to go and has extra wristbands already for the weekend.

Boydean

26-04-2011, 18:45

For the most part I agree with what's being said here, but I disagree with how much is being said. FIRST is holding a concert, something we've been unofficially aware of for quite some time. People have spoken their opinions, and the details provided have been analyzed down in classic FIRST style. Now, I would reccomend e-mailing FIRST at frcteams@usfirst.org and explaining your concerns. Once you've done that, pack your things (if you're going), make the trip, and enjoy the event with a positive attitude. If you don't want go to the concert then don't go. I'm sure there are plenty if nice restaurants in St. Louis that would be more then welcoming for your business.

XaulZan11

26-04-2011, 18:46

After a season of hard work I think I and the many volunteers and members of FIRST deserve it.

Agreed, but for the 352 teams at the event, their season of hard work isn't over yet.

I know we are struggling with how to handle our picking list meeting on Friday night. Do we tell students they cannot go to the concert? Do we rush it and do a bad job and do it in between the end of matches and the concert? Do we work after the concert untill 2 or 3 am and then get up at 6 am the next morning? Do we let students go to the concert and hope we aren't in picking position? Do we let students go to the concert and have mentors work on the list, which doesn't involve students or show them what it takes to be successful? I'm really not happy with FIRST for putting us in this position.

It's dope that there is a concert, but I don't think it should effect the Robotics Competition this much.

MagiChau

26-04-2011, 18:52

It looks very likely the concert is a primary reason for 2 fields being moved out of the dome. If this is the case I hope those in charge of layout for Championship agree with the complaint that this was not the best way to put the concert in and set something similar to a goal of guaranteeing all four playing fields are in the dome so teams don't feel like they're being pushed aside and hurt because of an event after the day ends. For me it looks like the fields being moved is a negative that is the biggest factor that affects the most people. The fact this concert occurs what is typically scouting meeting time is a concern that people would not have the choice to enjoy a concert and work hard so their team can compete at their best in elimination matches. This negative of the concert, I feel should also have a thought in the future events planned.

torihoelscher

26-04-2011, 19:01

jefft

26-04-2011, 19:06

There are two things here: 1. concert for FIRST community at the World Championship and 2. Two FRC division fields got moved to the Pit.

Yes, you can try to connect the two and probably they are related. But let's see it this way, if the four fields have been on the dome and FIRST still have concert, would most people complain about the concert? I think not. Everybody will be raving about how great FIRST is.

So, this gets me to think that the core of this, is not because FIRST host a concert or that the artist performing is BEP. It's because two fields got put into the Pit.

Now, what is so wrong about this?
You are at the World Championship. You WILL get the chance to play at the dome. I don't see much problem with this. Yes, it's an inconvenient for teams, but again, YOU ARE AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. Enjoy it..
Now, think about all the other teams that don't get to go to World Championship. And just be glad that you got to experience this.

Note: only about 10% of FTC teams got the chance to go to this event. And only less than 1% (yes, that's right, less than ONE PERCENT) of the FLL teams got to go to this.
On the other hand, about 20% of the FRC teams are at the World Championship. Is this fair to the rest of the FIRST family (for FTC, FLL, and JrFLL)? Most FTC and FLL teams would give the world for the chance to compete at World Championship, even if they NEVER got the chance to play at the Dome and only play at the Pit.

Jeff

DeAnnaC

26-04-2011, 19:11

I don't have digital
I don't have diddly squat
It's not having what you want
It's wanting what you've got

From Soak up the Sun by Sheryl Crow (Fellow Missourian)

I plan on having a great time hanging out with a bunch of great FIRST people and kids who traveled to St. Louis. I hope you'll have a great time too!

DeAnna

FEED THE FISH!

davepowers

26-04-2011, 19:14

Alright, I don't like this. Why don't they just do things like they did in Disney? Back when I was little I remember Mandy Moore playing on the stage they had the outside field on, and she did fine. Why couldn't they have just stuck Will I Am and his, "guests" on the Einstein field and kept the other two fields in the dome. I understand that FIRST is excited because they know this will being lots of publicity to the program, but isn't this just going to put a fog over FIRST that a concert is more important that the real thing that started this all, robots and the kids being inspired about STEMS programs...

JaneYoung

26-04-2011, 20:32

The FIRST Championship community is invited to take part in this extraordinary evening that we hope will be the basis of a potential future television special. Please wear your team colors! Please also be aware that being part of a television audience entails possible interruptions during the course of the show to make sure the best footage is captured.

This kicks it up a notch - the potential for a television special. What that means exactly, we'll find out, but they are definitely planning footage of the 'fans' in your team colors.

It also means that the possible interruptions could lengthen the evening further which will push scouting discussions back further. Some tough decisions are being asked of the teams.

Jane

sanddrag

26-04-2011, 21:04

It's dope that there is a concertAnd it begins...

"We are what we celebrate" (or something like that). Why are we celebrating this man and his terrible music? Or perhaps we're celebrating ourselves, with his music? Or is he celebrating us?

In any case, is this really who we want as a role model? I don't see how someone who has never been an engineer has any credibility in telling kids it's important to become one.

Some think we need FIRST in every school quickly. To do that, we're bringing in "hip" musical performers? I don't understand the connection.

For a decade, I've listened to Dean's speeches at kickoff and elsewhere mentioning how many kids aspire to be musicians and never make it, and that we need more kids aspiring to be engineers and scientists. I'm not exactly sure what message this concert sends.

So let me get this straight, we now presumably have dangerously loud pits. If you're lucky, you might be sitting in a somewhat quieter dome this year. Then we go blast your ears out with a presumably way-too-loud concert on Friday night. It seems that would just make for a terrible Saturday.

Furthermore, based on what I saw during the Super Bowl from this guy and his "special guests", I would not attend this concert if you paid me. About the only thing they had to offer there were some nifty LED suits on all the dancers.

A successful program needs to be driven by and publicized with results (cough: Vex), not flair.

If the idea is to attract new people who wouldn't have been attracted to FIRST otherwise, again, bad move. Go watch the quality plummet.

I would never want a student joining my team because will.i.am said robotics is cool, or because he thought he'd get a free concert out of it.

I'm sorry if I'm not supporting the mission of FIRST here (which is what, now?), but this is not the same FIRST I grew up with.

JohnBoucher

26-04-2011, 21:10

http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/27/dean-kamen-education-thought-leaders-innovation.html

I've had to listen to speeches like this one from Dean for close to 2 decades. How do the plans in St. Louis jive with that? Have all of Dean's speeches been a joke? Does FIRST even believe in the things they say? What is FIRST celebrating in St. Louis? The accomplishments of 400 FRC teams, or a celebrity rock star? Take a look at some excerpts from the link above:

Dave,
Thank you for posting the quotes and reminding the community about the message from FIRST in the past 20 years.

This is quite a year for FIRST. They have a game in that the rules have changed deep into the competition season. They have a side game (mini-bot) whose purpose was to support cooperation between FTC teams and FRC teams, but they give out awards to FRC teams that mass produce mini-bots. They toss the six week concept out the window for building the mini-bots. They are apparently still planning the agenda for champs while teams are arriving for it. Now they embrace the culture they have been battling for years with a media event they they want you to wear your team colors to because they are going to show the world what a great time you are having being involved in FIRST.

I don't mind change. I love that the challenge FIRST gives us every year is new and different. What I am troubled by is that the message has changed. FIRST used to be about changing the culture, one mind, one student at a time. We are now embracing celebrity for what purpose? To accelerate the "growth" of FIRST at the expense of the culture of FIRST?

I am not an engineer, my job on the team is to keep this program going year after year. I go out and try to sell the impact that this program has on students. I have to sell this program against sports and the popular culture. The FIRST program is different. It has a different purpose. It isn't superficial, it's results are long term and lasting.

I hope that FIRST is still on message.

Dripto

26-04-2011, 21:18

I'm in agreement with most of the people here that the concert as a concept is great, but the execution is at fault. However I feel that the fields being moved isn't as big of a worry as the timing. Moved fields, however inconvenient, aren't (hopefully) doing any actual damage. However the timing means the some teams will have to cancel previously made plans to go, or carry out their original plans at the cost of some unhappy students feeling denied of an opportunity. The scouting issue has already been covered, but I simply don't see any reason that FIRST could not have had this concert during the Wrap Party or some time on Saturday when they knew plans would not have been made.

LightWaves1636

26-04-2011, 21:20

I don't like the Einstein field location cause it's on the end of the dome. It's going to be so crowded in the stands during ceremonies and Einstein eliminations. On the other end is BEP's production company's set up taking up a third of the dome area.

The Special guests are the black Eyed Peas. In the volunteer invite it says "Black Eyed Peas & Willow Smith".

Conor Ryan

26-04-2011, 21:35

I really don't get all the complaining over this. Change happens and First is trying to give everyone a better experience, emphasizing the celebration part of the championships.

Look back to when the championships were in Disney. Plenty of teams signed up for a robotics competition but got a theme park trip too. Back then the division set up was quite similar it was to what it is going to be in St. Louis.

When the championships moved to Atlanta teams felt like First was taking the fun away out of the championships (mostly because they couldn't see Mickey Mouse), a few people also felt that by taking the fields away from the pits the event had a completely different feel to it (it felt nothing like a regional to some). People have grown accustomed to that in the last few years in Atlanta, but now we are in a different venue with different people and First has the ability to shake things up, so why not? Bringing in entertainers is something that I would call "Thinking Outside of the Box" for First, its never been attempted before on the scale like this, so you need to give it a shot before you go ahead and complain.

Having some level of competition in the pits should bring out the regional feel a bit, and I think having a world class entertainer will be a little bit more entertaining than having somebody speak again. But remember, those nutty people in Manchester who run this show are watching too, if it doesn't work out too well, they'll learn their lesson, but if it does work, oh man we might have found a way to solve the lack of STEM education in the world.

Also: For all you people who are wondering why they can't have the performers perform on the field: many of their contracts stipulate they cannot perform unless they have a stage that meets certain specifications. FIRST fields do not currently meet that.

Some words of advice: Go into it with an open mind, you might be surprised.

MooreteP

26-04-2011, 21:39

Conor Ryan

26-04-2011, 21:42

One positive side of the Pit fields is the incredibly easy access for robots.

Even the trip to the Dome is easier than Atlanta.

One downside is that the seating may be tight in the Pit fields,

An upside to that is that we may finally see some real spirited intensity at a Division match that has not been present since Disney World. A dome tends to suck a lot of spectator energy out of a competition. There may even be dancing? There certainly will be at the concert.

Nothing is tighter than seating at off season competitions. Organizers have fire codes in mind when figuring out how many seats to have there. You might be cozy with your neighbor, but at least you are closer to the action.

Boydean

26-04-2011, 21:51

Also: For all you people who are wondering why they can't have the performers perform on the field: many of their contracts stipulate they cannot perform unless they have a stage that meets certain specifications. FIRST fields do not currently meet that.

This cannot be more true. When you get up to the level of performer that the Black Eyed Peas are at then there are many contract stipulation that FIRST doesn't have any control over.

FIRST, I believe, had the unique opportunity to bring a world class performance (this can be an arguable on opinion, but lets just face facts here ok) for little or no cost on their part. Part of that I'm almost 100% sure that BEP had some very clear stipulations laid out before FIRST for this to happen – one of these might have been not disclosing the concert until 3 days before.

CassCity2081

26-04-2011, 21:54

Why does this concert have to be about "ruining the message of FIRST" and "contradicting what Dean says every year". Cant you guys see it for what it is? We have worked hard for a whole season and FIRST is rewarding us with a high profile band performing a concert. Try not to make everything about the message of FIRST. The competition will go on but they gave us an extra FREE event. If your into their music go to the concert and enjoy it. If you do not like their music, go do something else. If it turns out bad I will have a different opinion on Monday, but as for now, show some faith in FIRST and let this go.

Shof

26-04-2011, 22:13

Overall, is anyone not surprised by this? Considering will.i.am was at the FRC launch back in janurary. That was a good clue that there was going be some kind of concert at this bigger area

Andrew Schreiber

26-04-2011, 22:18

for little or no cost on their part.

[Citation Needed]. For all we know our registration fee is paying for this.

MarcD79

26-04-2011, 22:36

OK, here are my 2 cents worth. Number one, quit your complaining. (didn't use better word). One of the goals for FIRST competitors is to overcome any obstacles and meet their original timeline, just like in the real world. There will always be obstacles in the real world, get used to it!
Don't forget this is the 20th year for FIRST & they want to celebrate their success!. Enjoy it. I am unable to attend the Championships, But even at the age of 50, I enjoy almost all music, except ghetto rap. I would've loved to attend & take in all the commotion.
Yes there are people who don't particularly like BEP's. Nobody says you have to. As has been already said, those who don't want to go to the concert can take the extra time to study their scouting.
Please try to see all the effort that went into planning this event. Make the best of it. Enjoy your time there, there's no guaranty that you will qualify next year.

Jon236

26-04-2011, 22:40

Well said Marc! I'll see you there!

Chris Fultz

26-04-2011, 23:09

I think this is all pretty cool.

Play half our matches in the pit area. Awesome. A 30 second commute. The pit crew can watch matches. The drive team can watch matches.

Play half our matches in the dome. Awesome. Cool to be on the arena floor. More room to sit and spread out.

Concert on Friday night. Great. A top entertainer is performing at our event. Maybe a TV special. Even if it is BEP focused, look at all the people that will tune in and see FIRST and robots and kids in team shirts and want to find out more.

Late night Friday? Sure. Challenge for the scouting team. Sure. Does every kid on the team focus on scouting? Probably not. Would they be in bed at 10 PM if they were back at the hotel instead? Probably not.

Open your mind. Try it. Enjoy the weekend. There is no reason you cannot enjoy a great Robotics competition and a great concert. And then on Monday generate some more excitement at your school when you talk about everything that happened in St. Louis at the FIRST Championship.

ebarker

26-04-2011, 23:26

I agree with Chris and Marc, well said indeed.

I have not been seriously on CD for a while. After having been absent for a couple of weeks and then seeing this thread this evening it made me sit back and wonder what is happening here.

FIRST is having a 20th birthday party. Some people seem to think it is the would think it was the end of the world... Really ?? ( Is that what "2012" is about. )

Enjoy your trip to the Championship, enjoy the party. Happy 20th, FIRST !!!

Unfortunately I'll not be there to party so y'all have a good time.

Nawaid Ladak

26-04-2011, 23:58

Two things

1. "Don't Fail Me, Education in America (http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2011/04/22/dont.fail.me.cnn?iref=allsearch)" will be filming pieces during the championship. If they do end up filming this concert, I hope that CNN sticks to it's idea of being fair and balanced by filming the teams that actually have scouting meetings Friday night as well.

2. Like a lot of other people have stated, This is a great idea, it was just executed very poorly.

3. To our performing guests. we're glad that you guys are here and we hope you stick around and enjoy the robots on Saturday afternoon. The execution issue that i listed earlier is a matter to be dealt with between the teams in the FIRST program, and the people at FIRST HQ in Manchester.

When dean said FIRST isn't about the robots, he was right.

I don't have a team here at Championship, so i guess I'll be at the concert.

dez250

27-04-2011, 00:54

I have been trying to feel out my thoughts on this event over the past few days as the event comes closer every day to happening and I think I have finally come to a sense of feeling I can post.

I wont lie when I say that one of the things that drew me to starting FIRST was the opportunity to go to Disney. I'm not saying I wouldn't have joined FIRST if it wasn't for the trip to Disney and a week out of school, but what kid is going to complain about a trip to Disney. If this concert, the production piece that comes from it, or other "events" in the future draw people to FIRST, is that a bad thing?

As for the performers who will be playing, whether it is Will.I.Am, The Black Eyed Peas, Willow Smith, or any number of other potential guests, Who has said they did not approach FIRST and volunteer to do this for us? I am grateful to whoever will be playing together for FIRST that they are doing so and potentially will help FIRST's programs grow.

Also for those of you that have been around FIRST for a while, you may remember a certain PSA video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZiYGYBWIFA) that was done with Will Smith in 2002(?). In the video he says to keep doing great things and making better technology so he can stay home with his kids. Well now his kids are grown a bit and well, they are coming to us. I know that to me, this is inspiration to keep doing what we are doing.

While some of you may glance over my thoughts, and the few cents they are worth, maybe just maybe this concert will attract some student with no plans for a future, to join a FIRST team, and a decade later will be standing in front of a class of students teaching and inspiring them to have a future of their own!

Alan Anderson

27-04-2011, 01:08

In my opinion, I think the layout was a little shaky in the first place. They had to fit the concert somewhere!

They didn't have to have the concert at all. One solution to the problem of the concert stage taking up room otherwise available for FRC fields would have been not to have the problem in the first place.

I do appreciate Will.i.am's participation though (and his friends..whomever they are...he certainly didn't have to do this...and he does make great music...

I have recently come to understand that many people truly do not have the ability to tell the difference between great music and not great music.

"We are what we celebrate" (or something like that). Why are we celebrating this man and his terrible music? Or perhaps we're celebrating ourselves, with his music? Or is he celebrating us?

I plan to attend the concert, if only to find out what message it presents. (I also plan to wear earplugs.)

I'm sorry if I'm not supporting the mission of FIRST here (which is what, now?), but this is not the same FIRST I grew up with.

FIRST doesn't have to remain unchanging forever. I know my focus has changed in the eight years I've been part of FRC, though the broader goal is still the same. If FIRST's direction is changing, I'd like to know what the new target is.

EricH

27-04-2011, 01:18

I gotta agree with Dez. Great concept. Lousy execution.

However, the last time FIRST had one of those was the sudden spring of the Dean's List last build season (I'm not including the Minibot here). They got the bugs worked out for this year, or at least I haven't heard of a single issue there. (Even last year, the main issues were time and the mentors not wanting the students to know who was being nominated in some cases, but needing to use STIMS to submit. Both were fixed easily before Kickoff this year.)

When FIRST has a great concept that is poorly executed, at least in some views, they change it to make it even better. The original alliance selection system had unlimited declines (and no elimination backups, and you only knew that these X teams will be on the field until 2 minutes before your match). The 3-team elimination selection was originally non-serpentine. The last time there was any form of minibot, it was optional and tethered to the main robot (2002, and you don't want to know how many entanglement issues were called/not called on those).

I think that if they learn from the main complaints this year (namely, teams couldn't plan for it due to late-ish notice, plus the fields moving with no reason given) and address those, there is great potential for this to be really, really, really great. The great unknown is whether they will learn from those errors--I think they will learn. The only questions will be: How well do they learn, and who's playing?

Chris is me

27-04-2011, 02:29

I can't support this. It's great that we have support from celebrities. It is not great that we are compromising a competition we paid $5,000+ in order to further glorify a celebrity in lieu of what we're actually here for. Whatever happened to "you get what you celebrate?"

According to FIRST, will.i.am is more important than half of its flagship program. Really?

Aside from the typical complaints about this, it's good to see they are making sure it's closed to the public.

No! This is awful! We had an opportunity to reach out and get THE GENERAL PUBLIC into a ROBOTICS COMPETITION and we threw that out. This is the first time in FIRST history that a FIRST competition is closed to the public, and I really don't think that is consistent with FIRST's mission at all.

mesamb1

27-04-2011, 02:35

Conor Ryan had the right statement about the fields.
Who cares where they are? the compition wont be easier. The chalenges wont be less intense. It will just be different.

I am not a BEP fan, BUT something has to happen to help get the name of FIRST out there. If it is a concert video, great let FIRST be like other celebrity causes such the chrisis in Uganda issues where celebrity fame can inform more people about the issue.

Bono isnt a doctor, but I appreciate the fact he uses his fame to do goood. Perhaps your next mentor will join because his/her 10 year old BEP fan kid introduced them to FIRST, or the next buisness you go to raise money from has heard of of FIRST because of this.

The least of my worries for our FIRST robot matches. If you teach the values I would be happy playing matches in a waffle house parking lot

dez250

27-04-2011, 03:50

... It is not great that we are compromising a competition we paid $5,000+ in order to further glorify a celebrity in lieu of what we're actually here for.

... This is the first time in FIRST history that a FIRST competition is closed to the public ...

Chris, normally I see eye to eye with many of your posts, or at least can understand your point of view, but not now.

How is this a compromise to the competition? Is anyone being shut out of the competition because of the concert? Is anyone not getting to compete now than before the concert was announced? Is this the reason a team signed up for the championship instead of competing to begin with? I think not. Unless FIRST allows teams to sign up today, and their sole reason to sign up is to see Will.I.Am perform, than how is this a compromise?

As far as the two fields being in the pits, my guess (and from your listed rookie year) you never have been outside of Atlanta for Championship. Back in the Orlando days, when we had Championship (then Nationals) in the Epcot parking lot, or even before, in Disney, this was a normal occurrence. Yes they were separated by tent walls but you were also normally rotated among the different fields to get to play on the "Big Stage" too. Be happy your pit wasn't moved outside into the rain or onto a pitchers mound where you don't have a flat floor.
I actually think the fields being in the pits is a GREAT thing. When was the last time at championship you saw the general public walking through the pits? I know in the 6 years I was in Atlanta, Year in Houston, and time in Orlando, I can't count it off one hand. Now with two fields there, the public (and VIPs) who may attend will have a reason to go to the pits, and see the teams doing their thing off the field. I can see a major plus there. Will the seating be an obstacle, more than likely, but it wont be anything that hasn't been overcome before.

And as for this competition being closed to the public, I must have missed where it said that. The concert on Friday night is nothing more than the team socials of past years. Whether it was Disney in Orlando, Six Flags in Houston, or Centennial Park in Atlanta, the parties have always been closed to the public. The competition is still open to the public, but when the matches end and the dome closes to prep for the concert, everyone will have to leave. Doors will then reopen later to only those who have wristbands as a ticket for entry.

Shof

27-04-2011, 08:15

No! This is awful! We had an opportunity to reach out and get THE GENERAL PUBLIC into a ROBOTICS COMPETITION and we threw that out. This is the first time in FIRST history that a FIRST competition is closed to the public, and I really don't think that is consistent with FIRST's mission at all.

From this page:
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/content.aspx?id=4190

Event Information This event is open to the public, free of charge.

Only this special concert is closed to the public, only people with wrist bands can get in

Jared Russell

27-04-2011, 08:37

Is anyone else (not so) secretly hoping that the Black Eyed Peas do a version of the FIRST Rap?

jspatz1

27-04-2011, 10:53

I am reminded of weddings where the guests wait in the lobby for an hour while the photographer takes pictures, and the ceremony itself seems to be run be the photographer, not the preacher. Are the pictures of the event, or is the event to take pictures? Something about the tail wagging the dog.

BIGWILLI2081

27-04-2011, 11:10

ebarker

27-04-2011, 12:04

Chris_Elston

27-04-2011, 13:10

For everyone saying FIRST is now celebrating celebrities instead of robots you are wrong. FIRST is getting celebrities to celebrate us and get our message out into the world. I think it's pretty cool that the BEP and other celebrities are willing to take up their time to come celebrate science and technology with us.

BigWill has got it right in my opinion. Two-Thumbs Up.

I know it's hard to think about how the world works today. We've all been brain washed in the form of sports and celebrity culture. We view Will I.Am as a celebrity and "think" it's natural that all celebrity want in the spot light always. It's not about Will I.AM. It's about a culture change in what it is you and your team are doing by earning the right to show us this weekend. Will I.AM is coming to celebrate YOU and YOUR team, and your accomplishments in the FIRST program. This is his way to help you celebrate those new found skills or accomplishments in being on a world class robotics team. As Chris Fultz and many others have said, try to enjoy the weekend and let it sink in.....that someone is there to appreciate what YOU and YOUR team have done.

I recently read an article linked to us news from our own North East Indiana Talent Made Here Initiative:
http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2011/04/21/ceos-call-for-new-stem-standards

In this article sums up the culture change...

Tom Kalil, the White House's deputy director for science and technology policy, said in order for the United States to catch up to countries such as China, India, and South Korea, America needs to fundamentally change to embrace STEM.

"In China, Bill Gates is Britney Spears; in the U.S., Britney Spears is Britney Spears," he said. "We need to teach our kids that it's not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated—it's the winner of the science fair, too."

Best of luck to you teams competition at the World Championships. I'll be there Friday late and some Saturday, with a small group of kids but probably won't be able to see the concert because of the ticket structure. Someone can fill me in later...enjoy the fact that Will I. Am thinks GEEKS are kewl...or Nerds in the case of Woodie Flowers...

Taylor

27-04-2011, 13:10

Regarding celebrating celebrities:
I've seen pictures of Fred Armisen, several Mythbusters, Shaka Smart, Barack Obama, and that dude that makes cakes on TV on CD-Media. In none of those corresponding threads has there been grumbling about "pandering to celebrities" or "celebrating the wrong culture".
When will.i.am was part of the 2011 kickoff, before the splash page fiasco, people thought that was pretty cool, and were excited about the prospect of a live performance. People on this forum were practically foaming at the mouth, looking for some nod of the head to FIRST during the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

So what's different about this?

I appreciate concerns about crowding in the pits - there's another thread devoted to that. But what's done is done, we've got a tremendous opportunity to once again promote FIRST to the public, why not take advantage of it?

I, for one, am very happy about the way this has been handled, and the way our gracious STL hosts are treating us. IMHO, most of the times when FIRST is displayed to the general public (usually as a side story on CNN or 20/20 or 60 Minutes or some such show), it's displayed as this cute little boutique program. I'm yearning for the day when FIRST is above that, is given the same publicity as, say, an NCAA basketball game or NBA football game or the Chicago Marathon. For twenty years, the PTB in NH have been working to make FIRST a household-known entity; having a closed-doors concert by an internationally known act - and not in such a way as to portray us as a "charity case" - is a great thing.

Sure, it's a PITA. I completely agree that we should voice concerns about the space situation. But let's leave the pitchforks and torches at home.

Conor Ryan

27-04-2011, 13:16

Is anyone else (not so) secretly hoping that the Black Eyed Peas do a version of the FIRST Rap?
I think this performance would not be complete without a cover or two. I really hope Jimmy Fallon and Bruce Springsteen are both another one of Wil.I.Am's guests:
http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/neil-young-and-bruce-springsteen-whip-my-hair-111610/1260532/ (Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen Whip My Hair)

Madison

27-04-2011, 13:27

So what's different about this?

All of those things you mention were provided to FIRST teams at no cost; they were each a neat bonus that did not appreciably affect the experience they have as participants in a robotics competition.

This time, their experience IS being affected so as to accommodate this performance. Now that the lunch isn't free, so to speak, people are thinking more critically about what is most important to them. The stakes are higher.

I am having trouble getting all riled up about it. While I'm fiercely competitive, the most valuable parts of FIRST for me have always been when we get to celebrate our achievements -- whether that was winning the event or making new friends. This concert could be a move toward making the Championship more of a celebration of our FIRST culture (again) and less about trying (and failing, in my opinion) to mimic sports.

At the same time, I also accept that some people think being on the floor of a major stadium is awesome. I never really felt that way. Upon reflecting about that some more this morning, I came to realize that the thing I enjoyed most about competing on the floor of the Georgia Dome was that it was, frankly, really quiet. That's probably not a ringing endorsement for branding this thing we do as the Super Bowl of Smarts, though.

czeke

27-04-2011, 14:07

One Hundred years from now, no one will care who performed or why. If it ends up benefitting FIRST, our teams, or even a couple of students, so be it.

flyingcrayons

27-04-2011, 15:10

this better be webcasted......................................... .. haha

Conor Ryan

27-04-2011, 16:45

This is sort of irrelevant but Stephen Colbert's latest tweet (http://twitter.com/#!/StephenAtHome/status/63339763435962368):
StephenAtHome Book Idea: Black Eyed Philoso-pea. "I will.I.think, therefore I will.i.am." Who's in?

Andrew Schuetze

27-04-2011, 22:27

A bit more input as to how this really is a good thing for the FIRST community even though they've likely had to re-arrange the layout in the dome.

Many of you on C.D. don't follow the FTC blog by Ken Johnson so here is the link (http://firsttechchallenge.blogspot.com/)and quote. But you need to follow the link to see a picture of Will and a FTC team and robot.

I had to wait for the official FIRST word to say anything but by now you've probably seen the announcement that Will and the rest of the Black Eyed Peas will do a show Friday night here in St. Louis. What a great way to add even more excitement to the FIRST World Championships.

Not only that, but Will is so into FIRST that he wants to compete! I flew out to Los Angeles last week to meet with Will and an FTC Team from Folsom, CA to build an FTC robot. He and DJ Poet jumped right in. With help from the Folsom team 3509 - Phoenxtrix Will and Poet got hooked up.

Will and Poet will compete against FTC teams here in St. Louis.

A camera crew filmed the whole thing at the Record Plant - where Will (and artists from Jimmy Hendrix to Eminem to Elton John) have recorded. Pretty cool stuff.

More to report in the future as to how the footage will be used. Stay tuned!

Bill_B

28-04-2011, 02:20

There is at least one other way to look at this phenomenon. First, think of something or someone for which or for whom you have a great amount of appreciation. Then search among your present talents for a way to express that gratitude. If you find your current talents unable to adequately convey your feelings, perhaps you should consider embarking on a self-improvement program that will eventually let you make that expression happen.

Too abstract for you? Consider this. A kindergarten child "wants" to thank mom on Mother's day. How to do it? Put his hand-print into a pancake sized lump of clay and scratch a name on the back. This is quite likely the limit of this person's ability but certainly not the only way s/he could do it. If you're reading this, I'm certain you have a greater range of ways to handle your appreciation.

Until I hear evidence to the contrary, I'm going to think of this concert as Will.i.am's way to show his appreciation of FIRST. We need to treat his effort with respect for the spirit with which it is offered. If it causes us to take a diversion from the usual, predictable path, it's not a big deal.

Thanks, Will.i.am, from another William.

meaubry

28-04-2011, 12:39

Once upon a time, a man offered his talent as a way to show thanks and help promote the cause at a special event to celebrate the success of the cause. Now his talent may not have fit exactly with what those being entertained by his talent might have expected or desired. But, those organizing the cause, realized it could be a good thing, and took him up on his offer.

The world, being as it is, carried with that offer certain baggage. That baggage would potentially upset some of those attending the celebration event - the organizers weighed the pros and cons and came to the conclusion that it was still worth it. Not everyone agreed. The organizers did as they always do - they made the decision, and hoped most of the participants would understand.

Some folks will always see the glass as half full, while others see it half empty. It is impossible to please everyone.

Once upon a time, the FIRST program was called U.S FIRST - the premise behind the message communicated to the participants was focused on the importance of growing the future workforce in our country. The idea of making Engineers the heros, to look up to instead of the personalties from the world of sports and entertainment, was an important message - which still has merit.

Over the years, I found that this organization (like most organizations that survive over time) changed it's core values - in order to sustain growth.
The easiest change to implement was away from a "national" focus and for it to grow internationally. This was a very good thing to do, and no one grumbled about this (that I had heard anyways).

The message of sports heros being replaced by engineers - remained, but the message was being communicated by politicians, as the need for government support grew. Every venue and event introduced politicians that spoke of the importance of the program on the lives of the young students involved.
Eventually, even the entertainers themselves were used to help market and communicate the virtues of this great program.

It is so easy to live in a world of unblurred loyalties and virtues. Not so easy, if the world is very dependent on people volunteering their time and talent to help you - in any way that they can. Entertainers entertain, politicians talk, famous people get more attention than the normal guy on the street. That might NOT be fair, but it is real - it is the world we live in.

It only makes sense to leverage those folks that get attention thrown at them, when trying to draw attention to your cause, especially if it is inexpensive or free.

Enjoy the event, celebrate your accomplishments,
Keep an open mind, I find that it helps when you need to solve real problems.

Mike

JaneYoung

28-04-2011, 13:47

Bill's Blog (http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/2011/04/were-you-in-crowd.html).

According to Bill's Blog, the decision to move 2 FRC fields had little to do with the entertainment scheduled for Friday evening and more to do with the FIRST programs. FRC is going to be balanced alongside the other programs, giving equal prominence to each program.

Jane

Madison

28-04-2011, 15:02

I don't believe that for half a second.

Racer26

28-04-2011, 15:13

@Madison: Me either.

I'm not even there, and based on reports from people who are, the stage is occupying half the dome for no good reason at this exact moment.

For 7 years in Atlanta, 5 FRC Fields sat on the dome floor. FLL played atop Einstein, and for 5 of them, F(V/T)C was also on the dome floor. FRC is the flagship program, nobody can even attempt to deny that. I would have understood if FRC fields got pushed out of the dome for the Collegiate level pilot, which in its original form needed 3 fields.

Andrew Schuetze

28-04-2011, 16:00

I can't speculate on the truth of Bill's blog post but the numbers are starting to bear more primetime attention be given to the other FIRST programs.
Total number of FRC teams this season approximately 2100.
Total number of FTC teams this season approximately 1600.
Total number of FLL teams this season xx,xxx approximately 17,000 (credit goes to Mark McLeod for that factoid)

So it is a valid argument that these programs need to be given greater access to the higher profile space at the event. I am not there and I cannot speak to how much space they are recieving this year.

JaneYoung

28-04-2011, 16:08

I don't believe that for half a second.

By saying that, it allows for making similar decisions in the future, using the space taken by the Friday evening event in any manner they choose.

Jane

Mark McLeod

28-04-2011, 16:15

Total number of FLL teams this season xx,xxx
17,100

dag0620

28-04-2011, 19:07

I don't believe that for half a second.

Yeah I'm with you on that. 1st off, you're telling me you planned on leaving the Dome Floor emptier then last year. Then the concert just happened to come up after the fact. When you have prime space like that, you do something with it, just don't leave it empty.

I understand why Bill would say that. As someone who's done PR in the past, sometimes when you make an unpopular descison mainly based on a pragmatic reason, you need to let the public a lesser idealistic reason to back it up. I'm sure the idea of having Dome feel more balanced did come up, but I'm sure that was only after the fact the idea of moving the 2 fields came to fruition, and FIRST chose to use that as the main reasons for good PR.

Also as Jane said, by using the balancing of programs as their reason will allow FIRST to continue this practice without a concert in the future. Now I'm sure some right now are thinking, that's horrible and I can't believe they would do that. Thing though. What if Collegiate FIRST comes to being as not just a pilot? To get them in the Dome, someone's gotta go, and at the moment FRC has the most real-estate.

With that said, I still don't appreciate FIRST not owning-up to the real reasons, or using a weak excuse, but it is what it is.

That said, I still thank will.i.am for his performance, as you yourself have done nothing wrong and doing something amazing for this organization!

Hope everyone out there has a fun weekend!

bduddy

28-04-2011, 20:55

rmhooks573

28-04-2011, 20:57

his video was played far. . ..too. . ..often. . .. ..

ahecht

29-04-2011, 08:27

#14. Does this mean there will be a special event at every Championship from now on?
We sure hope so! We hope that the success of this private performance at the 2011 FIRST Championship sets the stage for similar events in the future.

If they plan to make this a regular happening, I hope they come up with a better venue for future years.

EricH

29-04-2011, 14:56

If they plan to make this a regular happening, I hope they come up with a better venue for future years.
There is a theater in the venue. I haven't seen much of anything planned for that this year. Admittedly, the stage is kind of small, but it could work.

rmhooks573

29-04-2011, 17:17

is there a way i can watch it via webcast tonight???

flyingcrayons

29-04-2011, 18:40

is there a way i can watch it via webcast tonight???

same question :)

Rick TYler

29-04-2011, 18:43

is there a way i can watch it via webcast tonight???

First -- I don't know. Second -- I seriously doubt it. The booking fee for that band would be WAY higher if it were a broadcast event.

Jack Jones

29-04-2011, 20:56

Bill's Blog (http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/2011/04/were-you-in-crowd.html).

FRC is going to be balanced alongside the other programs, giving equal prominence to each program.

Jane

Great. I hope in the future they balance the registration fees as well.

Joe Ross

29-04-2011, 21:09

is there a way i can watch it via webcast tonight???

They told teams that no cameras were allowed tonight. That makes me think it will also not be webcast.

alectronic

29-04-2011, 21:49

You can hear the show a bit on one of the ftc feeds:
http://mfile.akamai.com/18569/live/reflector:24609.asx

alectronic

29-04-2011, 22:01

the einstein feed is pretty ok too. Not much, but its something!

Steven Donow

29-04-2011, 22:14

I'm seeing people on Twitter say that the special is airing August 14th at 7 PM on ABC, and is called, "i.am.FIRST."

alectronic

29-04-2011, 22:26

I'm seeing people on Twitter say that the special is airing August 14th at 7 PM on ABC, and is called, "i.am.FIRST."

Nothing showing up from ABC or google or all, probably hasn't been officially announced yet. Sounds great though!

Tetraman

29-04-2011, 22:35

You can hear the show a bit on one of the ftc feeds:
http://mfile.akamai.com/18569/live/reflector:24609.asx

Wow, that sounds super eerie.

George A.

29-04-2011, 23:20

Ok I can say without a doubt that this concert was well worth the minor inconvenience of switching fields. The only nit pick was will.I.am calling it USFIRST and the 8 year old Will Smith video, still it was a great show and the crowd loved it (well maybe not Willow Smith)

I'll type more once I get a proper keyboard but I can't wait to see where this thread goes.

Wildcat

30-04-2011, 00:30

still it was a great show and the crowd loved it (well maybe not Willow Smith)

Second.
Honestly IMO it was a pretty bad concert overall. There were some cool things like the elevating platform on stage and the celeberty interview clips. It was pretty cool to see jack black. By far the best part of it all was when Miley Cyrus' video came up and she got boo'd. Now for the bad: There was a godly amount of bass, so much i swear my liver was shaking. I'm not a fan of the peas type of music to begin with but i can usually tolerate it. All of the music sounded pretty much the same. Another thing was the amount of auto tune, those people that know vocaloids will know what im talking about when i say That concert had more auto tune than a vocaloid song. There was also way too much use of strobe lights, it was very irritating. Willow Smith was painful for me to listen to, and didn't really seem to fit in with what was goin on. For it being my first concert, it was very disappointing. By far, the worst thing about it was the severe lack of cowbell. There was no cowbell what so ever. Had there been cowbell that would have completely changed everything for me.

santosh

30-04-2011, 00:38

Second.
Honestly IMO it was a pretty bad concert overall. There were some cool things like the elevating platform on stage and the celeberty interview clips. It was pretty cool to see jack black. By far the best part of it all was when Miley Cyrus' video came up and she got boo'd. Now for the bad: There was a godly amount of bass, so much i swear my liver was shaking. I'm not a fan of the peas type of music to begin with but i can usually tolerate it. All of the music sounded pretty much the same. Another thing was the amount of auto tune, those people that know vocaloids will know what im talking about when i say That concert had more auto tune than a vocaloid song. There was also way too much use of strobe lights, it was very irritating. Willow Smith was painful for me to listen to, and didn't really seem to fit in with what was goin on. For it being my first concert, it was very disappointing. By far, the worst thing about it was the severe lack of cowbell. There was no cowbell what so ever. Had there been cowbell that would have completely changed everything for me.

So what is the general consensus. I mean it is hiphop. Bass is gonna be crazy for the most part.

MooreteP

30-04-2011, 00:39

The show was awesome. Great for the FLL kids to the suits. What a great celebration of the 20th year. Any negative expectations should be dispelled by now. Tomorrow will build on this energy. I've been "involved" since 1998, and this was a positive evolution. Best dancing since Disney. Great message. FIRST in every community. Ride the wave. Make it happen. Congrats to the Hawaiian Kids.

Chris Hibner

30-04-2011, 00:47

Karibou

30-04-2011, 02:32

Man, that was cool. Aside from the fact that we all got $150+ tickets for free, I was SO cool how into it wil.i.am and the Peas were. There was obviously a lot of effort put into it, shown by the videos from others in the music world, the entire stage (with official BEP stage crew), and the overall FIRST integration.

Downsides include excessive bass, crowd surfers, and the awkwardness of Willow's performance. She did her part well, but we weren't the right audience for her. We definitely aren't her target audience, which I assume is pre-teen/early teen girls, and I don't think she was expecting the lack of crazy enthusiasm.

Ryan Devlin was great, IMO. He did know sort of what was going on, and going into the crowd and doing the Twitter shout- outs made it a lot cooler.

Marc P.

30-04-2011, 11:29

We definitely aren't her target audience, which I assume is pre-teen/early teen girls, and I don't think she was expecting the lack of crazy enthusiasm.

My guess is that was aimed at the FLL students, as part of the effort to celebrate all of the FIRST programs. If the majority of the audience was FRC teams, I can imagine the lack of enthusiasm, reminiscent of Mandy Moore's reception at the 2002 Championship.

Alan Anderson

01-05-2011, 15:38

I don't believe that for half a second.

I believe it for about ten seconds, myself. The amount of attention and space being devoted to FTC does make it plausible that they couldn't satisfy their need to give it prominence and still have all five FRC fields on the dome floor. I think the main problem with what they want to do is that FTC just doesn't work as a stadium sport. The fields and 'bots are too small.

It looks to me like everything would fit if they put FTC and Einstein at opposite ends of the dome...but that would mean inconveniencing one program by having it at the "back" side of the show, and it would place the FRC division fields perhaps too close together to keep the sound from one from interfering with another if it was too loud.

The show was awesome. Great for the FLL kids to the suits. What a great celebration of the 20th year. Any negative expectations should be dispelled by now.

Hardly.

I knew I didn't care for their music before I went, but I still expected to be entertained. The word that describes what I got instead is "assaulted". I mean, you'd think that people designing the lights for a stage show would know to point them at the performers! I probably saw less than half the show because of the spotlights blinding me, and the strobes kept me from seeing a lot of the other half. The music was too loud by far; the bass literally had my clothes shaking in the breeze, and it was impossible to make out most of the words because they were drowned out by the rumble. I could hear the words if I covered my ears, but I still couldn't understand most of them.

And what was with that electric ninja DJ at the end? :confused:

artdutra04

01-05-2011, 16:44

According to Bill at FRC Live, the decision was made to move one field to the pits (due to moving the FTC fields next to Einstein) long before any notion of a concert or will.i.am came into the picture, due to physical geometry issues arising from moving FTC right next to Einstein. The addition of the stage for the concert caused another field to need to be moved into the pits, which at least evened it out and allowed them a more fair method of swapping positions.

Honestly, the biggest thing people need to know about the concert and the lack of music on Einstein and a lot of other different things at the St Louis Championships are all easily explained by one thing: this really is becoming the Super Bowl of Smarts.

The Super Bowl is operated around television cameras, announcers, and film/production crews. The Super Bowl needs a half time show. The Super Bowl is a lot of fun for the participants and spectators in person, but the event itself is much larger with a lot of attention paid to also making it enjoyable for the tens of millions watching at home.

For years FIRST has been telling us the Championship Event was the Super Bowl of Smarts, and this year it actually was. The FIRST Championship is going to be broadcast on Sunday evening primetime television on a major network. We had a half time show by the same artist who performed at the actual Super Bowl, in a concert that was donated and otherwise could have brought in millions in ticket revenue. The Dean's List and Chairman's Award (including equivalent FLL and FTC award winners) were celebrated during this half time show, with Regional Chairman Award winning teams enjoying the entire concert from the floor in front of the stage.

While there were a lot of minor things that could be tweaked and improved*, the overall new focus of the Championship was more than worth it for the participants there and everyone who will definitely enjoy the show at home on August 14th, 7pm, ABC. And as will.i.am said at the event, "FIRST is already cool, we're just making it louder!"

* The fields in the pits need to be moved next to the entrance so visitors who lack safety glasses and/or closed toe shoes can still enjoy watching the matches, and a third section of bleachers (similar to the arrangement at the CT Regional) need to be added.

pfreivald

01-05-2011, 16:44

The show was well-received by my team, including the student who didn't want to go.

...and at the mentor breakfast, Dave Lavery talked about how it was part of a strategic plan to reach kids who otherwise might not make it in the door. I believe the line was a comparison to teams who offer free pizza at their informational meetings:

"I came for the pizza, but stayed for the robots."

So this is:

"I came for the Peas, but stayed for the robots."

If it works, AWESOME. If it doesn't work, then a major performing act gave a free concert of their own volition (they approached FIRST, not the other way around) to our kids. Also awesome.

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

I expected and wanted to be grumpy about this, but I'm not. The kids enjoyed the heck out of it, and it has the potential of really reaching a bunch of kids who might never get into FIRST.

Koko Ed

01-05-2011, 17:18

The show seem pretty well received. All of our students loved it.

As far as the dome / field in the pits thing: I LOVE the fields in the pits and I hope FIRST continues to do this. My only gripe is that the bleachers need to be about 20% bigger.

Make it 50% bigger and do constant checks to make sure they are staying together as inteneded as the weekend goes on. I saw Newton's bleachers bouncing up and down and comming loose when people stepped on them. That is not good.

Libby K

01-05-2011, 17:57

If I can step in and add my two cents for just a moment.

The concert was will.i.am and his friends stepping forward to celebrate FIRST.

At the "Mothers of Invention" panel on Friday (which included will.i.am's mother, Evelyn Kamen, and some other very smart moms), Will stood up and said the following:

One day, I was riding around on my Segway backstage, and I was like 'WOW. I wanna call the guy who invented this and tell him how awesome he is.' So I did. Then he told me about FIRST and I said I wanted to check it out. So I came to the kickoff, and I saw all these students. Dean said to me, 'Do you think you can make FIRST cool?' and I said 'Dean, it's already cool. I'm gonna make it LOUD." So I called up ABC and I asked them for some air-time.

He went on and on about this - but what y'all should take from this is that WILL.I.AM WANTED TO DO THIS FOR FIRST. Nobody is 'pandering to celebrities' or trying to 'destroy your experience' for their own funsies.

When this show goes up on ABC, people will tune in for a Black Eyed Peas concert, that's true - and then they'll be bombarded with information on FIRST. Sure, they 'came for the show'...but they'll stay because of the passion and excitement that anyone can see as soon as they witness a FIRST Competition. That's the truly magnetic and addictive part of this program. It's why I stay, too.

If you were at the concert, I hope you remember that Will and the BEP's goodbye to the teams was a little something like this as they walked offstage...

"YOU GUYS ARE GENIUSES! THE FUTURE OF AMERICA! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!"

I hope that your teams had a great time at the Championship, even if you didn't get exactly the field you wanted. I hope that when FIRST gets new teams, sponsors, and fans because of the i.am.FIRST show, you don't snub them because they took away your few extra hours on the dome floor.

I really hope that you all can appreciate why this event took so many resources and changes to happen, and that you can see the kind of potential "i.am.FIRST" has to truly infiltrate the culture we've been working on changing for 20 years.

Will.I.Am really wants the world to see FIRST. Let's give him, and FIRST, a little more credit for helping make that happen. No - the situation with the fields wasn't ideal. We all know that. But imagine what FIRST's growth can be like in the next few years with the support of big-ticket celebrities who truly 'get it' like we do.

Conor Ryan

01-05-2011, 20:40

Chris is me

01-05-2011, 20:51

Will.I.Am really wants the world to see FIRST. Let's give him, and FIRST, a little more credit for helping make that happen. No - the situation with the fields wasn't ideal. We all know that. But imagine what FIRST's growth can be like in the next few years with the support of big-ticket celebrities who truly 'get it' like we do.

Well said. I'm beginning to see the light, so to say...

pfreivald

01-05-2011, 20:55

Well said. I'm beginning to see the light, so to say...

Now just add a dub-step bass beat to that light, and you'll be where the FIRST leadership is: behind the effort as an experiment with almost no downside and a huge upside...

Alan Anderson

01-05-2011, 23:03

I seem to be a grumpy voice here. I apologize for coming across like that, but...

...it did not cause the event to come to any sort of serious grinding halt.

It did halt things. Qualification matches ended an hour earlier than they would have otherwise and the dome was cleared out.

Koko Ed

02-05-2011, 02:21

I seem to be a grumpy voice here. I apologize for coming across like that, but...

It did halt things. Qualification matches ended an hour earlier than they would have otherwise and the dome was cleared out.

The matches that were not finished in the dome were finished at the pit fields.
No harm. No foul.

Billfred

02-05-2011, 07:11

The matches that were not finished in the dome were finished at the pit fields.
No harm. No foul.
...and Newton only had two to play (one regularly-scheduled and one rerun).

Bryany

02-05-2011, 09:35

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned already (too many posts to read through them all), but I really wish we had a little more warning about awards being given at the concert. If we had actually won the Chairman's award, it would have been terrible not to have been there. (we and a lot of other students we talked to weren't)

Jon236

02-05-2011, 11:00

Ryan Devlin was great, IMO. He did know sort of what was going on, and going into the crowd and doing the Twitter shout- outs made it a lot cooler.

Blair would have been soooo much better!

Racer26

02-05-2011, 13:01

I have a strange urge to quote Still Alive:

This was a triumph,
I'm making a note here:
HUGE SUCCESS.
---
But there's no sense crying over every mistake.
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.

I was legitimately concerned about the execution of the whole works. It seems like FIRST HQ certainly has room for improvement, but the resounding response is that this was a huge success. Not only that, but think: Dean managed to catch the attention of will.i.am, and not only did will.i.am respond positively, he went out of his way to provide HUGE support to the program. If we managed to snag the attention of will.i.am, whose attention can we snag next?

I've always been a proponent of the quality over quantity measure of new teams, but I'm starting to think that maybe, getting the message out to as many people as possible, the quality will create itself. I brought my new girlfriend to three FRC events this year (FLR, Waterloo, GTREast), initially responded to by claims of not being interested. After FLR, she was excited to go to Waterloo and GTR. This has been my experience with everyone I've ever brought to an FRC event.

Andrew Schreiber

02-05-2011, 13:02

My impression: Thumbs up, make some minor tweaks, do this again.

They told teams that no cameras were allowed tonight. That makes me think it will also not be webcast.

That was one of my complaints, were the teams that won awards allowed to bring in a camera or two to get pictures of their teams on stage?

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned already (too many posts to read through them all), but I really wish we had a little more warning about awards being given at the concert. If we had actually won the Chairman's award, it would have been terrible not to have been there. (we and a lot of other students we talked to weren't)

Yeah, my second big complaint. I almost didn't go because I was under the impression that it was just a concert rather than an awards ceremony.

My overall feeling, and this is a 180, was that it was good for FIRST. If we could put all 4 fields in the dome (or just get bigger stands in the pits) I would actually be pretty happy with this. The music was a little loud and it all made me feel old but I think it celebrated FIRST rather than BEP.

Minor complaint: I didn't know who half those celebrities were... this is my fault for being old and lame and not watching TV.

Chris is me

02-05-2011, 13:07

I think many of the loudness complaints could have been dealt with by distributing ear plugs. Everyone sane who goes to a normal concert wears them! Why not here?

Andrew Schreiber

02-05-2011, 13:15

I think many of the loudness complaints could have been dealt with by distributing ear plugs. Everyone sane who goes to a normal concert wears them! Why not here?

That said, the massage was nice on my back and feet.

Alan Anderson

02-05-2011, 13:27

...the massage was nice on my back and feet.

I thought of that at the time, and wondered if anyone was enjoying it.

(Another piece of my curmudgeon side for your entertainment -- I discovered a few years ago that massages are very uncomfortable for me, and even make me a bit nauseous.)

Mike Soukup

02-05-2011, 13:33

That was one of my complaints, were the teams that won awards allowed to bring in a camera or two to get pictures of their teams on stage?
I never heard the announcement that cameras weren't allowed. My wife brought our SLR in and took pictures all night; no one told her to stop. Before we decided to bring it, I read the back of the ticket which explicitly said that pictures & videos taken are only for non-commercial use by the ticket holder. That implied to me that picture taking was allowed.

I really enjoyed the concert. I think all of our students enjoyed it too. My only complaint is that they gave out the Chairman's award without anyone, including the eligible teams, knowing that they were giving it out. I know some members of eligible teams skipped the concert to work on strategy. Imagine the disappointment if they missed the presentation of the award to their team if they won.

sanddrag

02-05-2011, 15:24

ToddF

02-05-2011, 15:39

About the possibility of eligible teams skipping the concert and possibly missing out if they had won... Yes, some people who didn't win missed the event, but I'm willing to bet (don't know for sure) that the producers of the event probably dropped some pretty strong hints to the team that DID win that they should attend.

Lesson for next year: If you are eligible for an award and someone from FIRST lets you know that a previously unannounced event will have an awards ceremony, and asks if you are attending, say, "Yes."

My feeling about the event itself was positive. The kids loved it. It was one of the things that set the Championships apart from a Regional event. It felt like a reward for a season of hard work.

Comments about the tradeoff between the show and moving fields to the pits I'll post in the appropriate thread.

LightWaves1636

02-05-2011, 15:47

I liked the concert. It was fun. Although I'm still debating if it was worth the two fields in the pit because I would accept the fields in the pits if 1, better seating, and two, well this ties to better seating but allowed more dancing and team spirit down on the floor cause if you wanted to be next to the field, you had to kneel in order to watch the match so people in the bleachers can see too.

FIRST has been a special secret that my non-FIRST friends just don't get and hopefully this special in August ignites the culture change that FIRST was created for. We're even using the special as a sponsor recruiting opportunity, if a sponsor is on the fence about FIRST, we're going to heavily promote the special.

thefro526

02-05-2011, 16:10

I was one of those who was strongly opposed to a concert going into the Championship. I felt that it would take away from the event. I felt that moving two fields to the pit to have a stage in the dome was some sort of an atrocity.

I can honestly say that I was dead wrong.

After seeing the stage and the spectacle that followed, I can fully understand the reasons for making room for the concert to happen. The stage was definitely awesome, and it was cool to see the various HOF robots on Stage. I really like how the High Level FLL, FTC, and FRC award winners were recognized during the concert and not upstaged by the finals on Einstein, though I wish they would've played Team 359's Video at some point. Recognizing the Dean's list winners in front of their peers in such a high profile setting was cool as well, many people did not get a chance to make it up to the initial DLA presentation.

My only complaints about the concert are very minor, Will.I.Am saying "US FIRST" was pretty annoying, and Willow Smith yelling "St. Louis" every 15 seconds was pretty bothersome. (I'm still fairly certain that she had no idea where she was other than being in St. Louis.)

I'd like to see this sort of show return in the future - but I'd like to see them leave the stage up for Saturday and play the Einstein matches on it. ;)

Koko Ed

02-05-2011, 16:30

548swimmer

02-05-2011, 22:31

My only complaints about the concert are very minor, Will.I.Am saying "US FIRST" was pretty annoying, and Willow Smith yelling "St. Louis" every 15 seconds was pretty bothersome. (I'm still fairly certain that she had no idea where she was other than being in St. Louis.)

That's 'cause the teleprompter told them to ;)

Bill_B

02-05-2011, 22:49

Can anyone here post links to web-places on which the non-FIRST community discuss this event? That is, are there any BEP fan blog postings? I'm curious to read of what the "outside" world has to say about this.

Sam Lipscomb

02-05-2011, 23:36

First of all, some excellent points have been made by thefro526 (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1058299&postcount=154), sanddrag (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1058280&postcount=151) and of course libbyk (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1057802&postcount=136). You guys definitely hit a lot of nails on the head.

I'd like to encourage you all to think of all the time, effort, planning and dedication that went into this event. Many many hands went into the making of the FIRST Championship Event and almost all of them have gone unrecognized.

Rather than complaining about choices made, think about celebrating the fact that someone outside of the FIRST community was given the chance to show how much he appreciates what we all do every year between January and April, and beyond. Think about appreciating the fact that FIRST decided to think outside the box and do something new and exciting for everyone, rather than just sticking to what works.

Hasn't that always been the mission of FIRST? Don't settle for what works; strive for what amazes.

And just a quick response to this:

I seem to be a grumpy voice here. I apologize for coming across like that, but...

Originally Posted by Conor Ryan (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1057866#post1057866)
"...it did not cause the event to come to any sort of serious grinding halt."

It did halt things. Qualification matches ended an hour earlier than they would have otherwise and the dome was cleared out.

Qualification matches ended at 5pm, and they were scheduled to end at 5pm. While this may have been different from previous years, this was not wrong. There was a hard stop when there might not have otherwise been, but Championship fields are always encouraged to run on time and are not necessarily required to stay late to finish up matches.

The field crews of all of the divisions did an excellent job at keeping to the schedule, as evidenced by the very small number of matches that the pit fields had to play past 5pm and that the dome fields came back to play at 6pm.

This event had its pros and cons, but as apprehensive as we all may have been about the setup, I would 100% agree with the majority of you that the pros vastly outweigh the cons and that our first year in STL was a huge success. For the minority, I would simply ask that you emphasize the constructive part of the criticism and recognize the difference between giving feedback and finding reasons to complain.

cziggy343

03-05-2011, 01:19

I'd like to see this sort of show return in the future - but I'd like to see them leave the stage up for Saturday and play the Einstein matches on it. ;)

YES!!! I really hope that they consider this. My friend and I said through the whole concert: "You know, it would be awesome if this was Einstein tomorrow." That would also kill two birds with one stone... you get more floor space in the dome, and you get Einstein on an awesome stage

fsgond

03-05-2011, 07:28

The main complaint that I have was seating. Our team was stuck up in the nose bleed section. It was terrible. We could not understand the speeches, and could not tell who was on stage, it could have been 4 of our team members. I know that we are not the only team that feels shorted with these seats, everyone around us made it very clear. I wish FIRST could figure out a way that we could all get at lease reasonable seats.

Jared Russell

03-05-2011, 12:59

I'd venture a guess that with a high-profile event like this, that FIRST made sure the winning team for the Chairman's Award was notified before-hand that their presence would be required.

However, this is just pure speculation, but it seems logical.

Several teams, including the Hawaiian Kids but also several other RCA winners (perhaps all?) were told ahead of time by judges that they ought to plan on attending the concert on Friday night.

thefro526

03-05-2011, 13:03

Several teams, including the Hawaiian Kids but also several other RCA winners (perhaps all?) were told ahead of time by judges that they ought to plan on attending the concert on Friday night.

From what I've gathered, all of the RCA winners that submitted at the CMP were given light blue wristbands to get onto the floor of the concert.

Karibou

03-05-2011, 19:42

From what I've gathered, all of the RCA winners that submitted at the CMP were given light blue wristbands to get onto the floor of the concert.

It looked like all RCA winners and HoF teams. However, giving them what was essentially a different ticket is not the same as saying "be there." But it is somewhat comforting to hear that some/all of the RCA-winning teams were encouraged to attend.

1986titans

03-05-2011, 20:07

I saw at least a couple people from RCA teams going in that had tickets saying something like "ON FLOOR" under "Section".

The only problems I had with the concert was the fact that the Chairman's Award announcement was most likely not a last minute thing to be put in there - they could have easily told every team. Having the floor of the arena half empty while people were up in the nosebleeds seems kind of strange too.

DeAnnaC

03-05-2011, 20:55

I'm glad to see some positive comments about the event - especially from those who thought the concert was a bad idea. It's not my kind of music either, but seeing all of those kids dancing and having a great time together, from all over the world, how can you not smile at that?

Most of St. Louis has no idea that the BEP's were even here, and are so suprised to hear that they played for US!

We are a Chairman's team, and we were given floor tickets and light blue wristbands.. we gave our 'floor tickets' to some much younger attendees (I thought we were unlucky to get floor tickets). We had been doing enough standing, we just wanted to sit for a while.

The bass. It was loud. They may want to get a structural engineer in there to check the foundations..the dome may have moved a few inches. LOL.

Billfred

03-05-2011, 21:46

It did halt things. Qualification matches ended an hour earlier than they would have otherwise and the dome was cleared out.Newton was one of the fields affected by this hard deadline, but only had to play two matches back on the GaliNewton pit field (one of them a replay from earlier in the day). There was a holdup on the field while Galileo finished off their own matches, followed by the pre-planned ice cream social for GM teams that I half-crashed. (No ice cream for me, just a desire to make sure we didn't miss our match.) Even with all that, we were done around 7:15 or 7:20--plenty of time to walk a mile to dinner, walk back, and get seats (even if they were five rows from the top). Not the worst thing to happen to us.

Mike Marandola

03-05-2011, 23:41

Chickenonastick

04-05-2011, 01:26

DSM33

04-05-2011, 17:19

My hypothesis on the heavy bass was to discourage the audience from taking videos of the performance. The sound on the videos I took (as well as some found on youtube) was barely discernible due to the level of the bass. I can't even hear any lyrics...just bass.

I'm guessing the recording equipment for the official video probably didn't have any of these issues. Looks like FIRST didn't want too much of the performance revealed before its official debut on TV. :rolleyes:

really? the videos that i got on my Flip sounded awesome! but maybe it would be different for the lower bowl teams as the bees were in the nosebleeds...

cant wait to see how this show will be put together with the matches on Einstein! If its anything like the FIRST in Michigan program it should be great :)

torihoelscher

11-05-2011, 13:34

really? the videos that i got on my Flip sounded awesome! but maybe it would be different for the lower bowl teams as the bees were in the nosebleeds...

cant wait to see how this show will be put together with the matches on Einstein! If its anything like the FIRST in Michigan program it should be great :)

same! my team and I were on the pit floor and even though I am really short, I got really good sounding videos. (by the way I am 5 foot and there was a 6 foot guy in front of me) lol.

I cant wait either!

The concert was absolutely amazing and I am so happy that we were so lucky to see it. FIRST will be known because music is a universal language!

rsisk

11-05-2011, 15:08

I wonder if they'd do a show next year and if they did would they do another big stage show and would the Black Eyed Peas be back or who else will they get to perform?

I wouldn't mind seeing Pink Floyd do a show on Friday night :D

Koko Ed

11-05-2011, 15:35

I wouldn't mind seeing Pink Floyd do a show on Friday night :D
If Pink Floyd was going to do a show they would probably require the whole arena plus you'd need extra security to keep Exploding Bacon from snatching their flying pig.

Travis Hoffman

11-05-2011, 15:39

I wouldn't mind seeing Pink Floyd do a show on Friday night :D

2012...Justin Bieber w/ special guest Jaden Smith. Willow goes and tells bro how awesome it was, and he tells the Biebs....

I'm going to go ahead and call it right now. Maybe Koko Ed can make guessing the act part of Fantasy FIRST....

Bob Steele

11-05-2011, 17:52

I think that many of the perceived difficulties from the concert could have been easily dealt with by using better communication.

I will give you an example. We were one of those teams that got a match booted from the Dome and sent back to the pit fields.. We had to wait until 6:00 to start those matches... no big deal BUT we had our team dinner planned and we had food coming in addition to having to be at the Phillies and Willies for AutoCAD at the same time as being on the field to play our matches... this was tough to deal with because we didn't find out anything until 5:00 ... or a few minutes before...

If the information on how this was going to be handled was given to teams ahead of time we would have made our arrangements based on this contingency....

in the end we felt awkward about leaving the AutoCAD awards to go to the field to play... it felt like a snub to all of the other teams that worked so hard to get their awards...

Better communication.... the answer to many things... in fact ... it is always the BEST ANSWER...

We had a great time in St. Louis... we will be back... and now we can anticipate things better...

Tom Line

11-05-2011, 21:56

in the end we felt awkward about leaving the AutoCAD awards to go to the field to play... it felt like a snub to all of the other teams that worked so hard to get their awards...

Better communication.... the answer to many things... in fact ... it is always the BEST ANSWER...

We had a great time in St. Louis... we will be back... and now we can anticipate things better...

I am glad that FIRST is finding additional supporters that have the fame to be able to get FIRST more 'out there'. I will never condemn FIRST for that. Thanks go to the Black Eyed Peas. You made many FIRSTers feel special by being there (along with the huge boost in publicity).

We also had a good time in St. Louis, however FIRST will never sell me on the way this was handled.

1. I do not want to play in the pits. Some people seem to believe that the ends support the means: that the increased exposure for FIRST justifies the inconvience and decreased value the teams recieved at this year's championship. I wholeheartedly disagree.

2. Secrecy. The teams have begged for more transparency. Yet, FIRST has now come forward and said that FRC fields were going to be in the pits with or without the Black Eyed Peas. They had to plan that well in advance. So where was the upfront team feedback, the requests, the surveys, the trial balloons? Why weren't teams told in advance how it was going to be handled? Our team spent our Friday night elsewhere because we were not going to wait two days before the event to figure out how we were going to feed and entertain 80 people.

FIRST overall continues to be a positive experience for our team. I see areas in which they are improving, and trying to improve. FIRST Choice has the potential to be great - as long as FIRST doesn't use it as a way to decrease the total value we receive and then spin it as a positive. At the same time, I grow upset when I see problems the teams bring up glossed over as if they did not happen.

The true mark of an organization that works FOR it's participants is honest feedback. Admitting that people are upset or inconvienced, or that something didn't go off as well as had been hoped. An honest Mea Culpa gains far more respect in my book than a policy of trying to ignore mistakes. Putting a positive spin on an issue that doesn't deserve it results in a total loss of respect. I will use the rookie kit vs. the veteran kit as an example: when FIRST tried to spin that as an increase in value for veterans it was an insult. Indeed several posts on Chief Delphi documented that the decrease in the value of the kit - in useful parts - far outstripped the 'savings' to the team.

Stop spinning things. Give truthful explanations. Give REASONS. Give the teams as much warning as possible. Communicate, communicate, communicate.

For instance - I certainly hope FIRST is planning on giving honest feedback on the surveys we all sent in. What were the top issues? How does FIRST plan on addressing them?

St. Louis was a positive experience, but FIRST can be so much more.