How Many Buttons?

[Beth Sweet]

So I could have sworn that there's already been a thread on this but I searched about 6 different word combinations without luck...

How many buttons does your team normally bring to regionals? I'm trying to figure out what I need to order in terms of supplies and would like to get a general idea...

Thanks!

[Katie Reynolds]

We bought 500 buttons last January, brought them to two competitions (and a few community demos), and have 31 left.

[65_Xero_Huskie]

Well, we usually bring atleast 25 dogtags to each regional per person so they can trade, and we usually have 20-25 ppl. then we bring extras for our alliance partners. so usually a little more than 500.

[Sgraff_SRHS06]

500-800 buttons is about right. But you also should think about doing something else just to get other teams to remember you. Last year, a few people from my team went around and put ribbons with our team number and (robot) name in their hair. One team last year (624) also dyed and spiked people's hair.

If you go to Silicon Valley or Lone Star this year, look out for them (624)!

[JaneYoung]

One team last year (624) also dyed and spiked people's hair.
If you go to Silicon Valley or Lone Star this year, look out for them (624)!

Cryptonite = the coolest

[Protronie]

Back in my firefighting days , when I went to a school or clinic I'd carry extra department patches to trade or give to new friends.
I look at buttons like that. Great way to meet new friends.
As for how many... mmm think first of cost than hauling them around.
Bring as many as you can afford or haul.
I'd say 500 would be a min. number.
I would also design a special edition button/pin for memebers of the team and people that go above and beyond to help the team.
Collectors would do about anything for a members only button.

[Mike Schreiber]

Yes, 500 seems to be the general number, I have no clue how many we took last year, but we MADE them all by hand...so to me it seems like thousands, we had a whole jar of them left afterwards though.

Good point on personalized/team buttons Protronie, It's great fun to have a unique button, different than anyone elses, and maybe (if you can make them and aren't ordering them) you would want to include a couple "Thank You" buttons for judges or refs or even your mentors, basically anyone you'd want to thank.

Things other than buttons are great though! I know everyone always loves Team 27's blinky lights, our team had a LOT of fun with the frisbees in Atlanta Dog tags were a big hit too, and I know the stuffed martians were fun to have.

Anything that makes your team stand out and be remembered is great for competitions.

[Nica F.]

500 i think is a minimum, but it really depends on where you're going.

For example, i know our team made way more than 500 last season, and its because we have a "button box" thats decorated near the front of our pit area, and a bunch of team spirit leaders/crew carry huge bags filled with them and give them out while walking around inside the venue.. and with us competing at 2 regionals, volunteering at 1, and attending ATL, we went through a whole lot of bags.

[Donut]

500 to 700 per competition, laregely depending on how many teams will be there. For the Championships probably bring closer to 1000.

Also, if you're going to be giving away a cool "different" item, make sure you have enough. We've been giving out glowsticks for 2 years now (this will make our 3rd), and we've always ran out. We went through 1500 glowsticks at Arizona last year, and still had people asking for more when we ran out.

[Sgraff_SRHS06]

Originally Posted by Donut

500 to 700 per competition, laregely depending on how many teams will be there. For the Championships probably bring closer to 1000.

Also, if you're going to be giving away a cool "different" item, make sure you have enough. We've been giving out glowsticks for 2 years now (this will make our 3rd), and we've always ran out. We went through 1500 glowsticks at Arizona last year, and still had people asking for more when we ran out.

1000?? Bring like 2000-2600 minimum, maybe even 3000-4000. Championship is about 8-9 times the size of the largest regionals.

[EricH]

I'm not sure how many we make. Try as many as you can possibly make without going crazy. That should do you for an event or two.

Another trick: multiple designs. Some people might think one design is dumb and another is really cool.

[JackN]

It seems like we made 2000 last year between our two teams. It was about 1000 apiece. We had none left after Friday of Championship. For giveaways, like our Martian we bring 1-2 Boxes with 200 apiece to each competition and 50-100 2 Headed Martians.

[Donut]

Originally Posted by Sgraff_SRHS06

1000?? Bring like 2000-2600 minimum, maybe even 3000-4000. Championship is about 8-9 times the size of the largest regionals.

Yeah, but I don't think as many people go through the pits, and with so many teams alot don't get to all of them (I know we pretty much didn't see anyone outside of our division 3 years ago in the pits). Maybe 1500 then.

[efoote868]

if you make 600,000, you should be safe.

on a more serious note, our team had about 1000 last year, and we don't have any left...