Convention Report: The Gathering of Friends 2006: April 15, 2006 (Day 9)

By Rick Thornquist
April 15, 2006

This is the report for day nine of the Gathering of Friends 2006.  It’s already the second last day and, as usual, the week has rocketed by.  The report for today concentrates on two big Gathering events - the Flea Market and the Prize Table Ceremony.

Ever since I started going to the Gathering, there has been a flea market and this year was no exception.  Here’s how it works: A set of tables are set up around the edge of a room and anyone who wants to sell some games grabs some space on one of the tables.  At the appointed time, the buyers are let in and the commerce begins.  It usually lasts for a half an hour or so.  After things wrap up, the tables are moved back to their regular positions and the regular gaming resumes (sometimes with the new purchases).

By the time I got down to the ballroom for the designated 9:30am setup time, the tables were already set up and some sellers with more foresight than me had already snagged the best table space closest to the entrance.  There were all kinds of games up for sale - old wargames, crappy American games, good games, even some brand new German games still in the shrinkwrap.

I was going to be selling this year - my first stab at selling games at the flea market.  I had some games that I just had to get rid of and this was a good opportunity to do it.  I didn’t sell a lot, I was limited by my luggage space, but I did bring a few games that I thought I’d never play (or were just plain stinkers).  These included the big box games Ritter Ohne Furcht und Tadel (as opposed to Ohne Furcht und Adel, which is a different game), Armada 3 and Shakespeare: The Bard Game.  I was also getting rid of Yellowstone Park (finally!), Gone Fishing! and Crocodile Pool Party (why I held onto this for so long I have no idea).

I setup my wares on a table towards the back of the room.  I had asked my girlfriend Christine to man my booth for at least the first bit of the flea market as I was going to be busy taking pictures as well as some video of the event.  The poor girl had been up all night playing Werewolf, but she sleepily consented to act as seller for a few minutes before getting some much needed sleep.

As the flea market was being set up, a crowd started to gather outside the entrance.  This is standard - many people want to be first in line to get the best deals.  Two big guys, Bud Sauer and Bobby Warren, were recruited to keep the mobs at bay until the flea market started.

At the official starting time, 10:00am, Bud and Bobby let the floodgates open and people stormed into the flea market area.  There was quite a crowd and before too long deals were being made and games were being snatched up.

I got the pictures and video that I needed and then spelled Christine at my booth so she could head to bed.  It was fun being in the booth, though I did get many disparaging remarks about the quality of some of my games.  Things went on for a while and it looked like I might not be able to sell anything, but fortunately I was visited by some guys from the Columbus Area Boardgaming Society who were looking for games for their club.  I sold them my whole stack of games (including Crocodile Pool Party for a dollar) and we both went away happy.

After I sold my games the flea market started winding down.  I headed back to my room flush with (a little bit of) my newly acquired cash (no doubt soon to be spent on new games).

For many people, the Gathering is something of an endurance test.  There are so many people that you want to socialize with and there are so many games to play, you just want to stay up for as long as you can to get in as much as possible.  This is no different for me and between all the socializing, the games, and doing reports, well, by the end of the week I’m pretty bagged.  After the flea market I took the opportunity to get some much needed sleep as well as taking the opportunity to relax in my room for a while.  There was only one day left tomorrow and I wanted to make the most of it!

Later in the afternoon I headed back down to the ballroom.  The prize table ceremony was to start at 7:00pm and table and chairs were already being moved in preparation for the event.  I spend most of the time before the ceremony started chatting with people though I did get an opportunity to get in one game - another game of Thurn & Taxis.

By about 6:30pm, the chairs were pretty much in place and the crowd started to gather for the ceremony.  This is really the only time where everybody at the Gathering is together in one place, and it’s quite a crowd. 

At around 6:45pm, Alan made an announcement that people could go up to the prize table for one last look at the games.  Everybody had brought at least one game for the prize table and there were hundreds and hundreds of games - it was quite a sight.  Many people make lists of the games that they want the most, so that when they get their pick they can quickly grab the game they want. 

At 7:00pm, the event got started.  Alan Moon took some time at the beginning of the ceremony to say a few words about the Gathering and then thanked the many people that helped him put the event together.  He then made a few announcements including the all important one - when the event is going to be next year.

Alan then introduced Andrea Meyer, who came up to the front with a group of people.  Andrea, who is known for her singing game Hossa!, and the group had put together a song that was a tribute to Alan and the Gathering.  Sung to the tune of ‘American Pie’, it told of how much fun we all had at the Gathering and how sad we were that it was going to be over soon (and how we were looking forward to next year).

After the song, it was time for the ceremony to start.  Starting with the tournament winners, names were called and each person went up to the prize table and grabbed whatever game they wanted.  It’s always interesting to see what these first picks are - you’d expect people to go for the big ticket items right away, but that isn’t always the case.  Silly me, I didn’t write down the first game taken, but I do remember it was unexpected.

After the tournament winners, everyone else was called up in random order.  Warren Madden took the microphone from Alan and continued the roll call.  Christine got called up fairly early and we picked up an early production copy of Augsburg 1520 that Stefan Bruck of Alea had brought to the Gathering.  I was a little farther down the line, and picked up Nottingham.  Everybody ended up getting two picks and I was surprised that by the time Christine and I got our second picks there was still some good stuff there.  I got a nice new version of Wizard in a metal box and Christine picked up a copy of Tikal, to be used as a gift for some friends of ours (there were lots of other good stuff that I might have grabbed, but I have most of them already!).

After the last few games had been taken, the ceremony wound down.  I was actually going to play some games tonight but was still feeling worn down.  I decided to head up to my room to edit and post the video for today and then make it an early night in preparation for the last day tomorrow.  See you then!

Pictures - Click the picture for a larger version
	The Flea Market is set up
	The Flea Market is almost ready to go
	The buyers are held at bay by Bud Sauer and Bobby Warren
	The floodgates are opened and Bud and Bobby lead the mobs
	Buyers check out the deals
	Buyers and sellers at the Flea Market
	A view of one side of the room in the middle of the day
	A view of the other side of the room in the middle of the day
	Some games in play… Showmanager
	Caylus
	Thurn & Taxis
	Yes, Settlers is sometimes played at the Gathering
	Preparation for the Prize Table Ceremony
	More preparation for the Prize Table Ceremony
	Everyone comes up for a last check of the prizes before the ceremony starts
	Another view of everyone making their last check of the prizes
	In the audience… ‘I’m Aldie… and I’m Derk’
	The ceremony starts and Alan Moon addresses the crowd
	Alan Moon
	A sung tribute to Alan and the Gathering
	Towards the end of the ceremony… the last games get picked up off the table
	After the the ceremony… Ca$h’n Gun$
	Coyote

© 2006 Rick Thornquist

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Comments:

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I admire your stamina.  This weekend I’ll be attending Baycon in the UK, a mere two full days and two half days of gaming for me.  I think that after nine days I’d be wanting to do something - anything - other than play another game.  Do many make it through the whole Gathering or do most attend only a few days? Posted by Andy Parsons on Apr 16, 2006 at 03:58 PM | #

Andy - Some go for the whole time, but there are quite a few that only go for a few days - usually due to work or family constraints.  I do know of a few that do go only for a few days because that’s all they want, but I think they are in the minority. I think some would be amazed to know that even after ten days there are some of us who want it to go on longer.  I’m one of those people.  It’s not just the games, it’s the wonderful people and friendly atmosphere - it’s just so much fun I don’t want it to end. - Rick Posted by Rick Thornquist on Apr 19, 2006 at 01:43 PM | #

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