Thomas, you have without a doubt always been one of TDH's biggest advocates within the upper echelon of the 501st and we appreciate that fact more than you might realize.
I never heard about the notion to host the 501st's Bounty Hunter's Guild Detachment here. I think that would be a wonderful union, but it would represent a change in TDH's well established neutrality as a "non-costuming group." Which might be just fine. TDH grew when it changed its stance on custom Mandalorians, and for my viewing for the better. Anyone with a clue understands and appreciates the value of this forum, and within the 501st that speaks for a great number. (Sometymes when I read posts here I have to wonder if that appreciation goes two-way, but it matters not. TDH is still invaluable either way.)
In regard to the BHG, when that detachment or site was being put together, we made the offer and I could have sworn we even mentioned it to you... but maybe not. We never made a big deal of it publicly, but as I recall the issues were two-fold, and I don't care to get into those publicly but we be glad to share them with you privately. If this is the first time you are hearing it, then consider this a public notice that the offer still stands and we would still be more than willing to work with the 501st to make this happen.
In regard to appreciation for the 501st, I can't speak for anyone but myself... I have always said I did not care for the politics of the 501st or the prolonged processes they go through to get something accomplished. However, as a club and a community, I think the 501st are absolutely awesome and it was inspiring for me to see Albin at CV this year and to look at the world he has created with the help of thousands of others. I think the charity work the 501st does is second to none and for a club that started out with little concern about accuracy, I have been thrilled to see how that has changed over the years (and I feel a lot of the credit for that goes to you). I don't like everything about the 501st, but then again, I don't like everything about TDH... and I run TDH! One of the things I have come to see and dislike over the years is the fracturing of the greater prop community into more and more splinters. I also dislike seeing people reinvent the wheel again and again. With that in mind, I would like to see the 501st bounty hunters housed here. We already have a massive resource and for those character that we don't currently have a resource for, it isn't like we couldn't get what is needed.
It was a shame that our own Seeker had to pull out of the Jango contribution to the CV Bounty Hunters panel. I was very impressed with the detailed presentation Donny gave in his place. Superb on a short notice.
Agreed on both counts.
So some feel obligated to point fingers, say it could have been better. Sure. With more help. The man organizing the panels was looking for any help he could get. But his own resources were limited.
Thomas, you are making my point for me as this is precisely my own feelings. It wasn't a bad panel but it certainly could have been considerably better, with more help, and while it seems some people were asked, for whatever reason the right people weren't asked or a public request wasn't made. I feel confident if we had sent something out on behalf of the 501st you would have had to turn help away, and we could have assisted with coordination so people like Donny weren't so under the gun.
There was an assumption that only canon 501st costumes were to be discussed at the majourity of the panels. I laugh at this. And I told our coordinator as much. Would have been great to have a Bossk.
I agree. I saw two pretty amazing Bossks at the con; one was Skaught's in the 501st room and there was another walking around... I think it was on Friday.
Blaming the 501st as a community for not meeting everyone's expectations is silly. I think the individual's who presented did a fantastic job, and where appropriate, were very sure to nob their helmets at TDH.
Thomas, I think you may be misunderstanding my opinion on this matter. This isn't about meeting expectations... not mine or anyone else's, nor is this about those who were called in at the last moment to pull off the panel. This is about a whole room full of potential 501st members who got a good presentation but not a great one, and I feel the reason is that the primary resource for such a panel was not given an opportunity to help.
Let me give you an example. I love Biker Scouts. I know quite a bit about Biker Scouts. I have tons and tons of reference for Biker Scouts. There was a screen used Biker Scout helmet at the con that I probably could have borrowed for a panel. Now, lets say I arranged a "How to Build a Biker Scout" panel at the convention. I believe I could probably pull it off alright. Now, I'll bet there were quite a few members from bikerscout.net at CV. What do you think they would have thought if they walked by the room and saw "How to Build Your Biker Scout" as one of the panels. And what do you think they would have thought had they sat in on my Biker Scout panel. While I am pretty confident that I have a good handle on Biker Scouts and could present myself well, there is no way in the world I know all that the guys from bikerscout.net know and I would be a fool to not get in touch with them and try to have them help me. This isn't about ego or about pride. It is about serving the people in that room and If I tried to serve a room of Biker Scout enthusiasts without involving the guys from bikerscout.net it would be the people who attended my panel who would be the ones to truly suffer and be shortchanged. That is the only point I am making here.
It isn't about whether TDH was mentioned enough. As iycis pointed out, after a certain pregnant pause in the presentation, TDH was mentioned so much I was almost embarrassed. It isn't about being the big dog or getting the nod. It isn't about the presenters who were there. It is, in my opinion, about a lack of coordination, a missed opportunity, and a panel that was passable but not great because of a lack of involving the right resources.