Full Registration: |
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| Weekend: | $52 |
| Take $2 off when paying by check. | |
Public guests, these FAQs are not helpful to you. These FAQs are for AFOLs/exhibitors. You want to read the public FAQs.
Is the event 2 days long? Or 4 days?
Registrants' event is 4 days long, starting Aug 5th 2010 and ending Aug 8th 2010.
Public hours are only Saturday and Sunday. Publications (including magazine ads, the BrickFair.com home page, etc) advertise directly to the public, listing only the Sat/Sun hours, so as not to confuse the public visitors.
Where do I set up my MOC?
BrickFair 2010 is divided up by Themes. Aim for your theme. A map is located inside your Program Guide
(in your goodie bag when you check-in).
It may be necessary to touch or move others' MOCs when placing your own. Be gentle. Treat others' MOCs better than you treat your own.
Where do I set up if I have multiple MOCs from various themes?
It's your choice to show them together (so you can keep an eye on them) or to place each in its own respective theme. If showing them together, find a spot to call your own. Use common sense, don't infringe on other themes or other group's areas.
The Dulles Expo Center is huge; we'll have plenty of room. There will probably be an empty table or two for you to commandeer. The Other Theme tables are ideal for this.
Where do I sit?
Chairs are provided behind the MOC tables. You'll hang out, watch your MOC, show off to the public, and hopefully make friends with your neighbors.
Must I babysit my MOC?
For the most part, your MOC is safe. At most events, sadly, a few minifigs walk off. In 2008 BrickFair had a dozen minifigs walk off :( In 2009 nothing walked off. During public hours you want to babysit your MOC, just to be safe.
You'll be surrounded by AFOLs with MOCs. You'll hopefully make friends with the people around you. So not everyone is required to babysit every MOC at all times. As long as, during public hours, there's a couple people at every island or row of tables, it's fine.
Nearly nobody takes their MOCs home at night - although you are welcome to do so.
Where do I pay?
Once registered, here's the payment information.
Does my mom have to register with me?
Yes, your mom must also register and pay. There are no free or discounted admissions. If you're 17-years-old or younger, you must be accompanied by a registered parent or guardian (18+).
Must we register our kids who are being dragged along with us?
Yes, your kids must also register. There are no free or discounted admissions.
My son is the real LEGO fan. Must we pay for our daughter who is just tagging along?
Yes, your daughter must register. There are no free or discounted admissions.
What's the deadline?
There is no deadline to register. You may walk in at the last minute and register on the spot.
The following amenities require pre-registration and pre-payment:
Only the first 450 paid registrants will receive a complete goodie bag. After 450, the goodie bags begin to "shrink" based on supplies.
Is there an age limit?
Registrants must either A) Be 18, or B) Attend with another registrant who is over 18. All must pay the registration fee.
What Can't My Kid Do?
A few features are age-limited. Bidding in our charity auction is limited to AFOLs aged 18 and up. Activities held during Adult Swim are limited to AFOLs 21+. See the schedule.
Other games may be limited to AFOLs aged 13 and up, or 18 and up, depending on the game host. Each game-host determines their own rules and eligibility.
Should I bring LEGO?
Registrants are exhibitors. Yes, bring a LEGO creation to show. That's the whole fun!
Public visitors are not permitted to bring MOCs. The public expo is a viewing, not participating, event.
What should I bring?
Bring any LEGO-built creation you dreamt up and built yourself. We can't all build 12'-tall cranes or life-sized Batman, so don't try to compete; just build and bring what makes you happy.
BrickFair 2010 is divided into Themes
but don't pigeon-hole yourself. Build what you like and we'll make a place for you.
What shouldn't I bring?
Don't bring official LEGO sets - that won't impress anyone.
A creation not suitable for family viewing may be removed to where only adults can see it (ie: our staff breakroom - and you won't be the first nor will you be alone).
How much should I bring?
There is no limit to what you can bring! Most folks bring "just their best."
Am I required to bring a MOC?
Well, no. If you come empty-handed, you won't be the only one. But the glue that holds BrickFair together, is MOCs.
When do we set up?
Setting up should take place Thursday afternoon (see the schedule) and all day Friday. If bringing a large display, you'll want to arrive early to secure a spot. As more MOCs arrive and tables fill up it becomes increasingly difficult to jostle for larger MOCs.
See the schedule of events. Note: the full registrants' weekend runs Thursday afternoon through Sunday night. Set-up hours are considered half the fun!
I need to activate my account. Where's my activation code?
Wear comfortable shoes.
The Dulles Expo Center is all concrete floors.
Plan ahead.
Seriously, register and pay ahead of time. It will make your weekend and ours so much more enjoyable.
Register your MOCs as soon as possible -- at bare minimum 7 days prior to BrickFair. Last-minute MOC cards will not be printed.
Brick badges and brick badge parts are not given to anyone paid after the brick badge deadline (Friday, Jul 23rd 2010). Even when offering to pay for them, requests for engraved badge parts, to BrickFair staff or to engravers, will be denied.
Brickee trophy voting.
Few MOCs are nominated for trophies. Your vote is limited to those nominated. Before walking around judging MOCs, go to your account page and print the Nominee Reminder Sheet
.
Voting is done online. You'll need some web-browsing know-how. We have laptops for you to use.
Take Friday off.
Hell, take Thursday off too.
Most people treat BrickFair as a vacation destination, not a weekend diversion. Most take time off work to be there. Seminars are scheduled throughout the day Friday and some on Thursday.
Running Of The Bulls.
A special LEGO store sale, hosted for BrickFair registrants only! Hosted Friday night after the mall closes.
The sale itself is run by The LEGO Store, not by BrickFair. Our volunteers can provide only the most basic info about the sale. For details, wait and see. Check the Community Board Friday afternoon (hopefully) for an email from the Tysons Corner LEGO Store.
We suggest you attend this event. It's one of the highlights of the weekend, and a unique arrangement for socializing.
New for BrickFair 2010: The LEGO Store has asked BrickFair to manage Running Of The Bulls tickets.
You have a Running Of The Bulls code on your account page. KNOW YOUR CODE when you attend Running Of The Bulls!
We have several LEGO stores near us; don't sit outside the wrong store :( Best bet: attend Friday's Evening Ceremonies where we'll be sure to discuss this event! Sale is open only to BrickFair registrants.
Sign-up for games.
Many games have limited seating. Watch the Community Board for details on games you'd like to play.
Game hosts employ the sign-up process of their choosing. Some use first-come first-served
, some draw names from a hat.
Check the Community Board often as the game-time draws near.
Seminar locations.
See the Community Board for seminar locations and possible time-changes. The Program Guide does not list locations. It is up to each seminar host to post their location on the Community Board prior to their seminar.
Registration Desk volunteers cannot answer questions about seminars - they don't know.
Read the Community Board.
Just check that board every day. It's good info.
Read the Program Guide.
As soon as you check-in, make yourself comfortable, open your goodie bag, and read the Program Guide
. It's where we try to stick all the important information.
Register your MOC.
Only registered MOCs get MOC cards. Only registered MOCs are eligible for Brickee awards. Register MOCs from your account page.
Registering MOCs is optional. MOC cards provide info about your creation to the public. And MOC cards are another memento of the weekend. But some don't bother registering MOCs.
Where are my MOC cards?
If you registered your MOCs on time, MOC cards are in your goodie bag waiting for you when you check-in.
If you didn't register your MOC, we'll have some leftover blank MOC cards you can simply write on.
Upload a picture of your MOC.
Brickee voting is done online and uses photos you upload. When faced with the choice, most people will vote for the MOC with a photo.
Inspect your online name badge.
Once registered, inspect your name badge online! It is engraved just as you spelled it, including CAPitalization and misspellings.
Once paid, your name badge may be engraved at any time. Once engraved, your badge (and on-screen name) cannot be modified.
Inspect your online MOC cards.
Your MOC cards allow more text than might appear on the actual card. Click the [MOC Card]
link to inspect your MOC card. This is how your MOC card will actually appear when printed!
Strollers okay.
BrickFair has a no-stroller policy for the public. This does not apply to you, the exhibitors.
You'll have room behind your MOC tables to park your stroller.
Bring a MOC.
Registrants are exhibitors. You should build something (your own original creation) to show off.
"A lot of the social scene revolves around talking about what you've built, how you've built it, and what you're going to build. Without something you've created, you can't have those discussions."
Jonathan Bender, LEGO: A Love Story
Consider volunteering.
We have volunteer positions for traffic-control, cashiers, door guards, etc. You can plop into a position for just an hour and then leave.
Bring money.
We have a couple local LEGO stores; they usually run special sales just for us. Plus there's vendors within BrickFair selling all sorts of LEGO related stuff. You'll spend more than you plan.
Where shall I sleep?
See the travel info page.
How do I participate in "collaborative displays?"
"Standards" is the new catch-phrase in the LEGO community. Individuals build units following a standard's guidelines. When these AFOLs arrive at BrickFair, all their MOCs come together smoothly in one elegant display.
Expect to see these, and possibly others:
My wife is joining me just for the seminar.
No she's not. If your wife wishes to attend a seminar, she must register. There are no free or discounted admissions.
I'd like to register once for both my boys, bringing only one at a time.
Well now that's just cheating. The simple act of walking into the expo is partaking in the event. And participation requires registration. There are no free or discounted admissions.
What is "TLG?"
The LEGO Group. Refering to the company as TLG
eliminates confusion when using just "LEGO" in a sentence.
What is "PAB?"
Pick-A-Brick
. A fairly recent addition to LEGO stores whereby customers may purchase bulk quantities of just one piece. Lately TLG is bringing PAB to the festivals too.
Where is the "Community Board?"
The Community Board
is a corkboard located inside the event. It will be easily accessible to registered AFOLs, but somewhat "off the beaten path" so as not to confuse the public (it's not for them).
Refund policy:
Once your LEGO brick badge is engraved, refund is reduced by $6. Aside from that, registration is refundable up to 30 days prior to the event. After Jul 4th 2010 no refund is offered.
To request a refund, contact us. Your brick badge may be engraved at any time after registration is paid. The $2 PayPal fee is not refundable.
Can I ship my MOC ahead of me?
Yes. Ship your MOC to BrickFair's mailing address.
Package must arrive by Monday, Aug 2nd; on Tuesday, Aug 3rd Todd moves to BrickFair, and does not return home. Write the recipient's name on the outside of the box. We won't open it; we'll simply deliver it to the person.
LEGO in the media.
Just for fun, I went looking for LEGO in the media.
What's in the BrickFair goodie bag?
Only registrants get a goodie bag. The goodie bag will include:
Is non-LEGO string okay?
A quote from our Program Guide (the same every year):
Can I take my MOC and leave on Saturday?
It's your party. You are welcome to come and go as you wish.
But the rest of us find that odd. Most people treat BrickFair as a vacation destination. It's a 4-day party.