Mego Meet 2015 Announced

[palitoy]

I'm not trying to tick you or anyone else off, but IL is an insanely expensive state compared to West Virginia. Otherwise you could have gone to Pittsburgh and had similar benefits, a modest increase in costs and made it easier on some of the long-timers.

Look, I can sense you are upset and I'm sorry about that, as it wasn't our goal to offend anybody. However, you can't honestly speak to our costs or success factors. A "modest increase" in Pittsburgh as you suggest, would result in no further Mego Meets.

This change is the result of years of feedback from those who did attend, not enough family stuff, too expensive to fly and rent a car, not enough vintage goodies etc et all. I won't even get into the dealers who came once. It was not done lightly and to be frank, we did our homework.

We've worked hard with the Skokie hotel to get the same day rate as the Wheeling Hampton Inn.

Chicago is one of the easiest places in the US to find a cheap flight to, I will pay less than the gas to drive to Wheeling this past year. That's good because as a long timer, it doubles my drive. Over all my costs will likely be a little less.

In terms of Mego not saturating the market in greater Chicago, that's just not accurate. I'm well educated on that subject, from interviews to trade publications to contacts I've made over the years. Not to mention i've been there a dozen or so times for toy and comic shows.

It's also the headquarters of Sears, one of the biggest customers Mego ever had, I've discussed Mego with the former buyer on a couple of occasions. Not to mention many memorable toy chains. Mego WGSH was also in every Western Auto and True Value up to the ceiling etc et all.

But moreover, where the warehouses were is kind of meaningless when you're trying to attract a modern collector base and I assure you, Chicago has been an incredibly strong network of Vintage Toy collecting since the 80s.

Again, We certainly didn't want to upset anybody and I don't want to fuel flames here but I also can't abide some of these statements.

[ubermanx]

I am a very sentimental fella. So I fully understand the nostalgia some long attending members have for the Train Museum. Ten years of memories are nothing to sneeze about. I am sympathetic.

The venue has been set. Chicago. Lots of great reasons for it to be there. It does mean my trip from Canada has different issues with flying, luggage limitations, car rentals, etc. So much so that it is not a slam dunk that I will be able to attend. But I am excited for the possibilities in Skokie. Kudos to the Meet organizers.

- Marty

[pmwasson]

Well, I think it will be a lot cheaper for me. I thinking I may not even need to rent a car.

I'm working on a few special things to bring to my table as well as pieces for others. If everything lines right, and from what I'm hearing from others, there may be some amazing things offered this year. I'm predicting this will be one of the best meets ever!

[TrekStar]

How about a future mego meet in Las Vegas?? Megos, casinos, shows, a trifector of fabulous fun
and a trip to the pawn shop store to see Rick, Hoss, Chumly and the old man, now that's a fun time.

Well maybe not, but still fun to imagine.

[hedrap]

Look, I can sense you are upset and I'm sorry about that, as it wasn't our goal to offend anybody. However, you can't honestly speak to our costs or success factors. A "modest increase" in Pittsburgh as you suggest, would result in no further Mego Meets.

This change is the result of years of feedback from those who did attend, not enough family stuff, too expensive to fly and rent a car, not enough vintage goodies etc et all. I won't even get into the dealers who came once. It was not done lightly and to be frank, we did our homework.

We've worked hard with the Skokie hotel to get the same day rate as the Wheeling Hampton Inn.

Chicago is one of the easiest places in the US to find a cheap flight to, I will pay less than the gas to drive to Wheeling this past year. That's good because as a long timer, it doubles my drive. Over all my costs will likely be a little less.

In terms of Mego not saturating the market in greater Chicago, that's just not accurate. I'm well educated on that subject, from interviews to trade publications to contacts I've made over the years. Not to mention i've been there a dozen or so times for toy and comic shows.

It's also the headquarters of Sears, one of the biggest customers Mego ever had, I've discussed Mego with the former buyer on a couple of occasions. Not to mention many memorable toy chains. Mego WGSH was also in every Western Auto and True Value up to the ceiling etc et all.

But moreover, where the warehouses were is kind of meaningless when you're trying to attract a modern collector base and I assure you, Chicago has been an incredibly strong network of Vintage Toy collecting since the 80s.

Again, We certainly didn't want to upset anybody and I don't want to fuel flames here but I also can't abide some of these statements.

Honestly, I'm not personally upset by the move or anything said here, for that matter. If it reads that's way, then it's my poor choice of words.

As I said, I honestly feel bad for the East Coast crew. I've only been going since '09, and like Brue, it's something I could plan in the last days. That was a luxury. A lot of you guys didn't have that luxury and I've always been appreciative of that. Now, the convenience trade-off for me is weighed against the chance to see Austin's full collection in person. That's incredibly tempting, and IIRC, isn't Matt J in Chicago? I'd love to see that custom collection, also.

I don't question you've done your diligence and as previous "Move The Meet" threads will show, I've been a proponent. As for Sears, that's a valid point. You know the company history better than I and I'm fully aware of Chicago's collector history from a few fronts. But every answer raises another question that I can't square. I shouldn't have said anything because I recognize it is none of my business. So I'll rescind from commenting further.

[samurainoir]

Beyond the Meet and everyone hoping it moves/returns to their own backyards, I think the best thing folks can do is to cultivate the community and that "Mego Meet" feeling where ever it is that you live.

My first Meet five years ago was such a joy, and since then (to my amazement), we've managed to create a mini-mego-meet community up here in Canada that gives me my Fix of much needed toy-geekery ever couple of months if not more. The Mego North crew essentially lives within two-hours of each other and converges, usually at the Burlington Toy Show/Canadian Toy Con, in a corridor that stretches from Peterborough, through Whitby, Toronto, Hamilton, just shy of the Tri-Cities and down to the Niagara region and Buffalo USA. And we've even attracted folks from Ohio (shout-out Godzilla and family!) and Montreal in the process of just hangin' out together with friends.

when I started off as a museum lurker back in the day, I would have been astonished if you told me that strangers on an online forum have become some of my best friends whom I'll interact with regularly on a daily/weekly/monthly basis whenever we can fit in the time.

I really encourage those in Ohio to keep meeting up even if it's not called Mego Meet. If I can swing it, I would totally drive down to just hang out with the MegOhio crew.

and I totally recommend that you reach out to folks in your area, even if it's two or three people grabbing a bite to eat or rendez-vousing at a local toy show, rather than anything heavily organized like a Meet. Because despite all our individual quirks, no one else "gets" you like the folks here at the Mego Museum online community, and I'm always pleasantly surprised at the outpouring of kindness, support, and generosity of folks here. and look at the magic that can happen when we get together.

[EMCE Hammer]

There were going to be trade-offs wherever we moved. I attended all ten Mego Meets, and assisted with most. There have been ebbs and flows, and even though we finished strong last year, WV was ultimately just too limiting. Everyone has their favorite potential location. If it were all about one of us who run it, it would be in Columbus or Niagara Falls or somewhere in California. Art and the Aw Yeah gang *are* part of the equation, as are the new people the change of venue will attract and the potential for being able to do different things by having the Meet at the hotel. We're busting our tails to make it everything Wheeling was and a lot more. It's going to be worth the trip, even if it's longer - in my case over four hours longer. I'm happy to make the trade, as I expect to see faces I haven't seen in years. And I expect that some of them will have vintage Mego and other 70s era offerings that we've lacked more and more in Wheeling.

[MIB41]

This sounds like a great move! I like the updates. I definitely have that one circled on my map for 2015. Looking forward to finally getting in and meeting my Mego family. There are more than a few overdue bear hugs to give out.

[megocrazy]

From my point of departure, cost is relatively unchanged. Airfare is about the same. If access from airport to hotel is close, I actually wont need a rental car. Rooms are similar in price, so food will be the only possible increase. I do have some other possible events that may affect my attending, and I'm heading overseas a few weeks earlier but as of now I should be there. Last year we looked at megabus as a possible travel option. It was definitely cheap. Just a thought for those driving.

[hobub]

I'm afraid I don't think I'll be able to swing the new location this year. I would like to, but with the family and all, it maybe a little too difficult for me at this time. I am quite honored having the opportunity to spark the interest by doing a little (anonymous at the time) toy exhibit at the KSTTM back in Dec 2004, which morphed into this MegoMeet thing. And it has been great getting to know many of you face to face. But I guess as with all things that too has come to pass. It was nice seeing you all in Wheeling.

[dumbldor]

You're more likely to get Huckabone to come again... LOL

He was at MegoCon in New York, and he did OK there. He went to Wheeling once, and, well, he hasn't been back.

I know he is a polarizing figure in the vintage toy community, but he is the world's greatest Mego collector and dealer. Hands down.

There are others of us who are much more likely to go, though we were not necessarily consulted.

[hobub]

I remember Huckabone was also at the MegoCon in 1997 in Toledo. He gave my (then toddler) son a boxed Action Jackson figure at Megomeet just because; Stellar guy IMHO!

[VintageMike]

You're more likely to get Huckabone to come again... LOL

He was at MegoCon in New York, and he did OK there. He went to Wheeling once, and, well, he hasn't been back.

I know he is a polarizing figure in the vintage toy community, but he is the world's greatest Mego collector and dealer. Hands down.

I ran into him at ToyCon NJ in October, which he decided to do because he was already in the area for NYCC the previous week. From my brief conversation with him, it seemed like if the Chicago move took place (which it has) he wanted to attend. Whether that means he'll able to/will is a different matter, but the move makes it more of a possibility.

There are others of us who are much more likely to go, though we were not necessarily consulted.

Whether anyone else was consulted or not, I hope to see you guys there, both personally and from a buying perspective.

[madmarva]

Other than the obvious negative for those who can't make the trip or the possible extra expense for some, I'm just happy Mego Meet continues, whether I can make it or not. I've only been able to attend twice, but have been there in heart and mind since I first heard about it 2007.

A 20-hour round trip drive for me is better than a 32-hour one and certainly flying into the Chicago area should be easier for everyone and less expensive for some.

This seems like progress to me. We know if events don't evolve, they eventually fade away.

So here's hoping MM11 is the best ever.

[dumbldor]

I ran into him at ToyCon NJ in October, which he decided to do because he was already in the area for NYCC the previous week. From my brief conversation with him, it seemed like if the Chicago move took place (which it has) he wanted to attend. Whether that means he'll able to/will is a different matter, but the move makes it more of a possibility.

He comes back for Kane County. As long as he doesn't have a conflict, I'm sure he will be there. I will work on him.