Chicago Show Celebrities... (1 Viewer)

[marco55]

Mike,You and George make Matt look out of scale.^&grin^&grin^&grin
Mark

 

[mikemiller1955]

Mike,You and George make Matt look out of scale.^&grin^&grin^&grin
Mark

me and George are 60mm...

Matt is 54mm...^&grin

 

[farmertony]

Mike,thanks very much for this thread.For someone who lives a long way from Chicago it is great to put a face to the people whose posts I have read and enjoyed for so many years.Well done that man.

 

[Empire MM]

Korad...Pat...Brad...

Met these guys for the first time in Chicago and yes, three gentlemen. Enjoying putting faces to the names on here at last. Just wish we had met up Mike {sm3} next year hopefully.

Thanks for this great post,

Malcolm (Empire MM) :salute::

 

[Empire MM]

Mr. Tom Dubel...(tdubel on the forum)...

this guy probably owns or has sold every figure ever made...^&grin...

his basement is probably as stocked as some shows...

Toms a staple at the shows...

I first met him at the West Coaster...

he's always helpful on the forum identifying obscure figures and is a big Steeler's fan...

Tom...bad news on Big Ben...I feel your pain...my Cowboys have been decimated with injuries...

I saw the Rams pyro technics crew tried to set him on fire in the pre game antics before they finally got his left knee...

So THIS is Tom! Said Hi a few times but never got to know he was who he is, if that makes sense?

Another chat lined up for next year!

Malcolm (Empire MM):salute::

 

[Empire MM]

George Guerriero and Larry Allen...

two of my most favorite guys at the show...

George is the owner of Minutemen Toy Soldiers in Massachusetts...

Larry Allen is his indentured slave...^&grin

we ate steaks the first night there...shut the bar down Friday night...

when they closed the bar George was "jonesing" so bad for another drink...
that he smoked a cigarette to get a head buzz...^&grin

they make a great team...

George is a staple of a large circuit of toy soldier shows...

always great displays and great service...

he is a friggin riot...100% cynical of everything and everyone he meets...but "Boston charismatic" to the bone...

Larry was a pleasure to meet...he does meticulous diorama work...

if you missed his "wigwam thread" on here...you should really look it up...

great guys...a lot of fun!!!

Agree, met George for the first time at the show but had no time to "talk" as I was on my best "professional" behaviour . Next year for sure though. A genuine, lovely and honest guy.

 

[Empire MM]

this is Julie from Treefrog...

I met her for the first time at the show...

such an easy person to like...

very sweet...friendly and talkative...

she gives you a hug when you meet and talks to you like you have known her forever...^&grin...

this is me with her...

not sure what happened to my camera on this pic...^&grin...

her side of the pic came out great...
but my side obviously malfunctioned...^&grin...

meaning that anyone that has seen me in person...
knows I'm a lot more handsome than in this photo...^&grin...^&grin...^&grin...

I think I need a new camera...
I wish I had at least smiled...

Pete and Shannon would of been proud of their table's presence at the show...

great staff...great displays...really cordial...

I asked one of the employees if they knew where a water fountain and he disappeared for a second and came back with a glass of water for me...

very nice crew!!!

Mike,

Treefrog are my Exclusive US retailer, they took my line on in May. Since then every experience has been outstanding, cannot praise them enough. Like you, I had not met any of them before.

Julie is a very caring and genuine person and, as you say, she did Shannon, Pete and the company reputation proud.

Aaron and Jesse are also two outstanding guys so, I am not surprised they looked after you.
I also managed to spend over $600 with them in Chicago {sm4} could easily have been more but, I had to behave {sm4}

Malcolm. :salute::

 

[Empire MM]

I know not everyone goes to the shows...

and even if you do...

you have no idea what a monumental effort it is to bring a companies products to serve as our eye candy unless you have done it...

of course they make money...

but this is a Herculean feat to do this...

some dealers drive 20+ hours just to arrive...

and of course they have to drive back...

they unload...haul up elevators...set up displays...sometimes 1,000's of figures and then try to sell them...

the man hours are unreal...

I have helped do this...

it's hard...heavy lifting...long hours...

this particular show is an especially brutal back breaker...

after the room trading is over...

then they re-pack and haul all the stuff down to the showroom and set up again...

crazy man hours...

setting up displays is monotonous repetitive work that what once was fun as a hobby...is now grueling as a job...

from the promoters...organizers...vendors...employees...this is a huge production...

I personally know of several vendors that might have gotten 2-3 hours sleep on a few nights...

I realize they make money on this...

but I just want to say I appreciate the effort that all the promoters and dealers put out to entertain me...

thanks to all...

Mike,

Great words and, as only a small contributor to the show, I can say I agree with you fully!

I travelled around 4,000 miles to bring enough of my new lines to fill one small table in Treefrogs room and in the lobby on Sunday. Jet lag was a killer and I coped a migraine on Saturday but, all that is around 5% of the effort of others. Overwhelmed.

The response both myself and this very new brand relieved was outstanding as well as truly humbling.

Regardless of what may happen in the next 12 months, I will be back to support some amazing people.

Malcolm. :salute::

 

[kogu]

Mike,You and George make Matt look out of scale.^&grin^&grin^&grin
Mark

^&grin lol ^&grin
Oh no, not another scale debate ^&grin
Good one, Mark :wink2:

 

[jazzeum]

Met these guys for the first time in Chicago and yes, three gentlemen. Enjoying putting faces to the names on here at last. Just wish we had met up Mike {sm3} next year hopefully.

Thanks for this great post,

Malcolm (Empire MM) :salute::

Don't ruin my reputation as Forum curmudgeon! {eek3}

 

[Empire MM]

Don't ruin my reputation as Forum curmudgeon! {eek3}

You can be both Brad {sm4}

 

[tdubel]

So THIS is Tom! Said Hi a few times but never got to know he was who he is, if that makes sense?

Another chat lined up for next year!

Malcolm (Empire MM):salute::

Hi Malcolm,

I usually can't shut up, apologies for not formally introducing myself and chatting more. I will be in London in December with Clive!

Tom

 

[Empire MM]

Hi Malcolm,

I usually can't shut up, apologies for not formally introducing myself and chatting more. I will be in London in December with Clive!

Tom

Hi Tom,

Clive is ahold chum so, get him to either introduce us or direct you to my tables. I think we have 6 booked for December on the atrium!

Hopefully we will fnd time for a "brew" too?

Malcolm. :salute::

 

[mikemiller1955]

Larry Simons forwarded me a picture today...

for those of you who don't know Larry...

he owns and operates March Through Times and has his own line of Civil War figures...

I believe Chris Munroe (second pic in this thread) sculpts his figures...

you can see a flyer on his table...

and that's me next to him...

 

[HAWKEYE]

I didn't get an opportunity to be introduced to Greg Guy...

but John was very engaging...very personable and friendly...

Mike Estelle gave me his seal of approval as they were both Marines...^&grin

i rode the elevator with you and didn't know who you were at the time so maybe we will meet next year

 

[HAWKEYE]

I missed most of the show saturday as matt murphy and myself road tripped to the notre dame u mass game. Matt played football there and it was my first trip to notre dame and it was great. Thanks matt

 

[mikemiller1955]

i rode the elevator with you and didn't know who you were at the time so maybe we will meet next year

I was unaware also...

I wish someone had introduced us...

 

[King & Country Texas]

:salute::Mike! Thank you so much for all the kind words.
It certainly was nice to see you in Chicago. I can always count on a laugh when I see you.
I'm looking forward to seeing you back in the shop soon!

...also you forgot the Martinez and my middle name for that matter!

Happy Collecting!

Amber Rose Maria Conchita Alonso De La Suerta Martinez-Garcia!
Reigning Princesa de King & Country San Antonio de Bejar
VIVA SANTA ANNA{sm4}

if Andy is "The King"...

and Laura is "The Queen"...

then Amber is the Princess...(Kings X Toy Soldiers on the forum)...

Amber Maria Conchita Alonso De La Suerta Garcia...^&grin...^&grin...^&grin...

it's really just Amber Garcia...

I throw in all the extra names when I talk to her just to rib her...

this is the sweetest girl ever...

Amber is the manager of K&C's Kings X in San Antonio...

always smiling...
always friendly...
one of the reasons I like to go Kings X...
a real asset to the company...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Amber Rose Maria Conchita Alonso De La Suerta Martinez-Garcia...Reigning Princesa de King & Country San Antonio de Bejar...

hahaha...

that is a mouthful...^&grin

was delighted to see your pretty face at the show...

and looking forward to seeing you next year in San Antonio...

you guys put on a good show...

 

[jazzeum]

Formal Spanish names always have a certain majesty. Having lived in Uruguay and Spain, I always love how the names roll off the tongue. Beats our Anglo names by a mile!