Friday Night Entertainment - will.i.am with special guests

[Eric O]

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.

[AlecMataloni]

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]

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]

Originally Posted by Eric O

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]

Originally Posted by AlecMataloni

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.

You're completely right.

[Cory]

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

[Joe G.]

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]

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]

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]

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]

http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/27/dea...nnovation.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]

Originally Posted by Joe G.

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]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

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]

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]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

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?