What would you like to see at a regional?

[ngreen]

Originally Posted by Raven_Writer

This is a big plus. The GLR last year seemed decent in size. Palemetto was kinda crowded. Pittsburgh had a good sized pit. Nationals last year was pretty good (although it did take up the whole arena, so that doesn't really count).

LSR regionals has been awesome on space too. It's in the reliant arena and has the from room for pits and the arena to compete. It is built more for this type of thing (conventions and such) though.

After going to visiting SLR we are always glad to have enough space. My team has problems with being competely contained within our pits so it is nice to not have to be super strict about it.

[Billfred]

You know, I can tell you straight up that there's a fair amount of space within the Colonial Center (site of the Palmetto regional). I know it's normal to get all of the teams together, but there's other space there. I guess you could even use the excess concourse space if you could protect the floor somehow. (The CC has a freight elevator in the back--very handy for ROTC cadets just finishing up after their color guard. I'd know.)

But overall, I think everyone's said all I could think of.

[Stefan]

At our two regionals we provede a cyber center. With about 6 comps at VCU and 11 comps at Peachtree. All had SmartFTP, MP LAb IDE, and eithere FireFox .8 or IE 6 as a web browser. We provided the comps and all hardware to support the network a 24 port switch, Wireless 802.11b AP (covered half way across the pits), b/w laser printer, and my home router to issue IP's since we had IP trouble at VCU and at Peachtree their DHCP took forever to issue IP's. We had at least 2 ppl there at all times manning it and what not. Alot of people liked it and proved really useful for teams that wanted to get files that they left at home or some kind of forms.

So I'd say add it to your regional. If possible...

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

Originally Posted by Raven_Writer

Another thing, make the whole thing fun. Like, setup a DDR thing at a social

YAY DDR!
Anyway, yah I think I agree. Some kinda gaming area would help spread people out and keep some money in the building. You might want to consider handing out a team award for "Buttonness". It's certainly unique.

I think the music is something that's been mentioned that could really use a vamp. There just isn't that much good stuff on a lot. The techno is always decent, but never really fabulous. Then there's pop. I don't listen to pop, so I'm biased, but still, too much repetition. Eh.

Also, at Midwest what happened was the screen was very flooded with commercials for college. Nobody cares, once you've seen them over and over. Maybe something more entertaining on screen during judging, like random facts or random movies or as suggested animations.

[Raven_Writer]

Originally Posted by a breezy era

YAY DDR!
...Also, at Midwest what happened was the screen was very flooded with commercials for college. Nobody cares, once you've seen them over and over. Maybe something more entertaining on screen during judging, like random facts or random movies or as suggested animations.

I think the college pushing should only be for the opening ceromony, and the social (you know there's gonna be that at the socials). You could also just have pictures of anything dealing w/ FIRST on the screen. Maybe photos of previous matches, or pictures of the possible winning alliance? It's open to endless possibilities.

[Alex Cormier]

have a spot near the field soley for cheeirng ur team and other teams on!

[JakeGallagher]

Originally Posted by Raven_Writer

1. Allow us to dance - I know almost (if not everyone) at the Palemetto Regional was really disgusted at the fact that they said you can't dance. The ground wasn't bad (I tested it before I danced). If you are going to do music and no dancing, play music you can't dance to (come on, when you hear the cha-cha song, or the electric slide, you're gonna wanna dance to it)

3. G-rated music - The regionals have been really good at playing 5-year-old music (like Avril Lavigne, Good Charlotte, etc...), but I don't think many parents want their kids listening to straight-out *unappropriate* songs. Songs like "Lose Yourself" (censored), and stuff like that isn't bad, but the skirt song at Palemetto was just not right.

8. Play team themes - This isn't a big thing, but if a team has a special song for their team (like we have Beethoven's 5th symphony), let the DJ's play it.

9. Variety - Play different types of music. 'Nuff said.

How about a Dance Dance Revolution Mix with Team music, techno, and some other stuff. You would definately be able to dance, there will probably be appropriate songs--since most techno has no words, or talks about random dumb stuff--you could try throwing in remixes of Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, etc. (Pachabel ), and if adll this went down, there would be lots of different kinds of music.
=My 2 cents as a DDR Freak

[Edit]

Originally Posted by Raven_Writer

Like, setup a DDR thing at a social...

I guess someone got to it before me. Teaches me for not reading all the posts. I mean have a DDR set up all the time though, and if a match ends in a tie... settle it on the dance floor like they did in the 70's.
[/Edit]

[Billfred]

You know, I guess this creates a new niche for team members in FIRST...DDR nuts.

Although from the FIRST standpoint, I can see where FIRST would have a problem with it. Perhaps for dispute resolution?

man, that'd be devilish...(grin)

[karinka13]

For Socials:

1) They should be fun. Fun includes good music and dancing (cough)(Palmetto)(cough). As you might have noticed if you were at Palmetto, by the end of the social the only team left was 433 because they were waiting for a ride.

2) Has anyone ever thought about having a social without a competition? Just like a 'have fun with your robotics friends' social for no other reason? The Firebirds are considering hosting one but we need feedback.

3) I definately agree about special awards at socials. I especially would like a "Button" award (I was the girl at Palmetto with the buttons down the sides of her jeans) and a "Mascot" award (I was also the girl at Drexel wearing the Firebird head and cape, not much of a mascot, we wouldn't have won that award).

[Jeff Waegelin]

Originally Posted by karinka13

For Socials:

1) They should be fun. Fun includes good music and dancing (cough)(Palmetto)(cough). As you might have noticed if you were at Palmetto, by the end of the social the only team left was 433 because they were waiting for a ride.

Dancing is prohibited by FIRST rules, unfortunately. It sucks, and it was a bit of an overreaction by FIRST, but a student got seriously injured at the social at the 2002 Buckeye Regional, and dancing has been banned ever since. Unfortunately, in order to get insurance for the events, FIRST had to take such action. I remember in the 2003 rules, there was something where your team could get assessed a minor penalty for "dancing at the Team Social" Not sure what the rules are now, but it was a major liability issue, so I doubt it'll change much anytime soon.

[Billfred]

Hey! 433 was not the only team left at the social at the end! Me and Bryan and Phil (all of 1293, although Bryan and Phil aren't members here that I know of) were also there.

(For those out of the loop, we were waiting to tail the Firebirds (tailing a firebird--now THAT'S a way to get crispy-fried) back to their hotel for Taboo. I firmly believe that we guys got pwned...but it was all good.)

[ahecht]

In addition to a pit display with the standings, it would be nice to have a second smaller screen on the arena side showing standings, so teams don't have to run back to the pits to find out where they are.

[kjohnson]

Originally Posted by Jeff Waegelin

Dancing is prohibited by FIRST rules, unfortunately. It sucks, and it was a bit of an overreaction by FIRST, but a student got seriously injured at the social at the 2002 Buckeye Regional, and dancing has been banned ever since. Unfortunately, in order to get insurance for the events, FIRST had to take such action. I remember in the 2003 rules, there was something where your team could get assessed a minor penalty for "dancing at the Team Social" Not sure what the rules are now, but it was a major liability issue, so I doubt it'll change much anytime soon.

There were people dancing and doing the limbo at the VCU regional during the competition - and nobody said anything. Theres really no stopping people when you play the cha-cha slide - the whole point of it is to dance.

Teams should be allowed to bring in their "team song" to play during the competition. At VCU they just played the same 3 or 4 mixed CDs over and over.

[Lisa Perez]

Oh.. If the venue isn't decided yet, make sure there is enough space for teams and spectators alike. Detroit was really awesome, but there definitely wasn't enough space - it was like a can of sardines in there.

[Bcahn836]

I would like to see more variety in food selection. After the first day nothing at the concessions looked very appetizing.