Body painting and first
 

this year at UTC regional, on the last day of competition me and a couple of my friends decided to paint ourselves orange & black (school colors) and have our team number written on our chest and back. This idea was a fairly big hit from expressions ive seen among judges, participants, spectators, students, and people of all ages.

So that being successful, we decided to do the same thing to our travel competition whcich was this year in Las Vegas. Thursday and friday we were painted orange and black, and many people including some judges, LOTS of students and adults/menotrs liked our spirit and enthusiasim. The two days went by without anyone saying negative to us except for that we canno be in the pit areas without a shirt... okay a little annoying, especially while trying to interview teams for scouting, but fair enough, so we did not re enter the pits.

Now Saturday the final day of competition comes up, and we decide to do something a little different, half orange, half black, split right down the middle with the number painted on our chests and back. The part of the number on the black side was orange, and part on the orange side was black. Now Im describing this because it took a while for the three of us to do, longer than the previous days.

So we walk outside and after cheering for our team me and my friends were pulled aside by a member of the staff from first and told that we need to put shirts on. They had never said anything to us previous to that day and on that day teams should probably have the most spirit. We were given two reasons which I personally found very dumb. The first being that, "Body painting is good for football, but not qquite for FIRST." Football fans paint hemselves to cheer for their team which is exactly we what are doing here...ITS SPIRIT, GIVE ME A BREAK!. The second and my personal favorite of the two was,"It does not convey the image of FIRST." Im sorry but isnt FIRST about being yourself? Isn't FIRST about being Spirited and enthusiastic about your team? Look I'm not complaining at all because honestly one person saying that to us when so many others appreciated and encouraged it does not really make a big imprint in our minds. so we put on shirts for the mean time but during the quarter finals semi final matches. we werent going to let that phase us and take away our spirit.

I say this not to whine or complain, or beg for attention. I say this because I want to hear your responses to the matter. and also if you have pictures of the three body painted guys from the regional in Hartford or Las Vegas I would really like to see them. so please post your replys

Re: Body painting and first
 

I remember seeing you guys at Hartford and it was really cool to see people that into FIRST and the competition, even if it does seem to belong at a Football game more. However, I had no problems with it, and one member of our team painted his face and arms and made a custom beater for the Saturday at Philadelphia. I don't believe anyone talked to him to take it off, and some people commended him for having done it. I don't think that if someone in a team wants to be spirited, and isn't making a negative image by doing so in whatever way, they should be allowed to use body paint.

Re: Body painting and first
 

Last year a member of our team (he was pretty enthusiastic) painted our actual jersey on his body, details and everything. It was cool looking, got our spirit up higher. I think it's a great idea, there shouldn't be anything wrong with it unless you go a bit too far with it, if you catch my drift. :p

Re: Body painting and first
 

What does staff from first mean? Is this person a civilian person who is a regular volunteer/committee member or is it a real FIRST employee?

Re: Body painting and first
 

That actually sounds pretty cool! I totally agree with you that you should be able to wear body paint in FIRST. Even if it is like football, isn't that what FIRST is always trying to do; make a connection to other popular sports? Even the game this year is based on a combo of basketball and soccer!!

The only reason I could think of for them telling you that is that walking around in the pits with that much open skin MIGHT be unsafe. :eek: But honestly I don't see the problem!

Maybe you could wear a tank top and dye it the colors of your team then paint the rest of your body to match! :D

Re: Body painting and first
 

That's such a neat idea! What an awesome way of showing team spirit in a very unique way, one that most people might not associate with robotics, but still... I can't believe that someone told you to put a shirt on! Some people painted their faces and chests at the philly regionals as well, i always love seeing people that spend time on getting ready for robotics, it shows that they care! Don't let that one person stop you! (I'm pretty sure that if we weren't an all-girls team, we'd also paint our backs and such) :D

Re: Body painting and first
 

Personally, I wouldn't have minded if you and your team were seated next to mine in the stands. We got stuck next next to this crew who kept slapping pool noodles together and on the floor producing a decibel level greater than that of a Megadeth concert. Man, just the memory of those guys is bringing back migraines. For the record folks, there are three acceptable uses for pool noodles only. One, they make great bumpers for robots. Two, you can use them for swashbuckling pool noodle sword fights. Nobody gets hurt but the light fixtures, eh? Three, though it is still unconfirmed, we have reports that some people have in the past used them for some sort of entertainment while swimming in a pool though how that would be possible escapes me.....

I think guys getting fired up and painting themselves like they were going to a sports event sounds pretty much exactly what FIRST is supposed to be accomplishing, and I feel your pain. A couple years ago we organized some guys to get painted up for a football pep rally. Same deal. They were a giant hit with everybody, but The Man said, "We appreciate your enthusiasm, but normal dress code still applies." Kay kay. Got it. No problem, boss. Of course, sometimes the folks in charge aren't really worried about you but the guy who will come after you and take what you did a step too far so they gotta look ahead and worry about precedents and such. That might be the case here. Dunno.

vic

Re: Body painting and first
 

Team 33 did this @ GLR during the finals. Only they just had their number on their chest. Until that point they wore shirts- as far as i can remember. But they were standing on the edge of the field-where spectators stand. and they got a great response from the crowd and some of the refs were really into it as well and came over and started cheering but i noticed that they never were shot on the big screen and after one match of doing this one of the staff came over and told them they needed to put shirts on it was un-FIRST-like or something to that effect.

I can also see where no shirts in the pits could be dangerous but i support body painting as long as it isnt taken too far as said above.

Re: Body painting and first
 

Back when FIRST was still at Disney, this was really common. In fact, in the FIRST booklet given out at regionals in 2003 there was a picture of this with people with body paint on them at the 2002 Championships. Things change though.

Re: Body painting and first
 

I remember students for 229 did this at BAE in 2004 by painting numbers on their chest. I thought it was awsome, and they seemed really spirited. Next year they did it again, but were told to put their shirts back on for indecent exposure. Go figure.

Re: Body painting and first
 

a few of us painted our chests at Boston, nobody said anything, they were more amused than offended

Re: Body painting and first
 

This is one of the things the press noticed when we were interviewed at another robotics competition and the interviewer was thoroughly impressed with the fact that there were people that did paint up. I think that people should be allowed to paint up and I can understand the concern in the pit. FIRST tries and succeeds at trying to make enginering and sceicen fun and enjoying. It seems to me that people painting up most certainly shows the enthusiasm people are beginning to show for FIRST Robotics and what it stands for.

Re: Body painting and first
 

I think the issue is the same issue with other public places (stores, malls, resturants, schools, churches, government buildings....) No shirt, no shoes, no admission. Its not a dress code thing, its a sitting-next-to-a-half-naked-person thing.

A tank top is a reasonable compromise.

EDIT: consider that it might also be a requirement of the venue that was rented for the event, esp if they are serving food.

Re: Body painting and first
 

I am all for the body painting/ face painting. I think it is an awesome way to show spirit. I totally agree with the notion that you shouldn't be allowed in the pits with no shirt on, seeing as it's a safety hazard. I don't agree with the idea that body paint conveys an image FIRST doesn't want. Just because we are nerds doesn't mean we can't show spirit! I have done full face paint (see WAI pic) and 4 of us did our team number on our chests 2 years ago at the Canadian Regional and weren't hassled for it.

So body paint in FIRST? I say GO FOR IT!

Re: Body painting and first
 

I think another real issue is that FIRST is still in a somewhat new state...while those of us involved with the program can understand the excitement and the team dedication/spirit, outsiders to the program (like corporate sponsors, mayors, governors, etc.) might be a little startled by a bunch of rowdy, shirtless team members. Team spirit is essential and the excitement of the crowd is what makes competitions great, but sometimes decisions have to be made in the interest of those who might not have the same experience in FIRST as the rest of the crowd.