Five Points Fest

Instagram comments thread after this past weekends NTWRK toy event...

 

I would love to see it but that seems very optimistic.

 

Can you post a link to the Instagram post, please?

 

I really hope this happens, and that I'm vaccinated by then. Sounds like a fun time, I've never been there before.

 

if enough folks are vaccinated i would feel comfortable going. considering some of the lines i saw last time though... thats a whole lotta people crammed into a small place

 

Same on the vaccinations, I’d go if enough people have it, if not a requirement. I’d still mask up and be spatially aware to the best of my ability, though. I really miss New York a lot, and Five Points was one of the best times I’ve had at a convention, save PK’s and Creature Bazaar’s booths at DCon. In general, I know we all miss the atmosphere and some miss each other. Hoping it somehow turns around and becomes manageable. One of the biggest things I miss is photographing peeps just havin’ fun.

 

It certainly won't be like years past and definitely not possible by May or early June based on the current rollout projections...but I think Clutter could make something happen at some point this year.

No matter how much they want to have Five Points ultimately it's going to be up to NYS easing up on restrictions. On Feb. 23 restrictions ease up a little allowing for arenas to accommodate 10% capacity but only with fans who provide a negative diagnostic test within 72 hours of the event. To give some perspective, that would be like having Five Points at Brooklyn EXPO Center with only 200 people. Hardly enough for vendors and staff alone. With that said...we're obviously working towards the possibility of a Five Points type event and numbers are trending down in NYS. I'm hopeful and if I'm vaccinated I will definitely try to attend.

 

Thanks for posting the Instagram link. My pitch is to forget NYC and make it an outdoor event in Beacon. I'll add that to the discussion there.

 

As much as I would like to see this, I doubt it would happen. Too many people and too logistically difficult to manage checking people's vaccination records which I believe would be a manual process looking at paper cards that can't really be verified as legitimate. And what happens if you make this a require and some anti-vaxx morons stir a bunch of trouble? I just don't see it being practical.

For more manageable shows like Summer Slime or Death's Vault I could see it happening. I'll even dress up as a one of Baseball Furies from the Warriors and go "YOUUUUUUU ARE OOOOUUUTTAAAAA HEEEERREEEEE"

 

To each their own . . . but HELL NO!

UK guesstimates all adults vaccinated by August-September!

Until then Ima still hibernating!

 

Yeah, it's a different set of obstacles for everyone, physical and mental. I have the lowest barrier to entry, as I will already be vaccinated and can drive to the event whether it's in Brooklyn or Beacon. Despite those things, I won't deny that I feel anxious about doing it.

 

Seems kind of irresponsible at this point. Even vaccinated individuals are still able to carry and spread covid. To each their own, would just hate to see anyone lose a life over some toys.

 

^^^ This!

 

I've been trying to get my table payment back since march. Def would not attend anytime soon.

edit: just called again and they're supposed to refunding me soon now. we'll see.

 

Also it seems unreasonable to have an event that has requirements that everyone cannot meet. If FPF is end of May/early June and we won't have vaccine access universally until late July at earliest, you're basically saying that some people that would attend can't because they aren't eligible are shit out of luck.

 

This is a good point that I hadn’t even considered. I totally spaced on the fact that vaccinated individuals can still be carriers, so coming home after such an event brings with it, its inherent risks. I retract my previous willingness to participate.

 

I'm not sure how I feel about it.

We are over a year into this pandemic. Everyone should have a clear understanding of what the risks are to themselves and others, how to keep themselves safe, their own comfort level with attending public events, etc. Of course, event organizers should be thinking about more than just the bottom line when proposing events like these.

If I was holding something like this, I'd want to do it outside as a one day event, like a farmer's market, with a rain date in case of bad weather. Sunlight and the constant circulation of fresh air can help reduce the possibility of transmission. Combine that with precautions like mandatory masking, establishing physical distances between vendor tables, and temperature screening at the entrance, and you would have an event where I would feel good about getting a table.

I'm less comfortable with an indoor event, regardless of whatever the difference in actual risk may be compared to what I proposed above. When I got my first vaccination shot, I was in a large college gym with two hundred other people. Everyone was physical distancing, chairs and door handles were constantly being disinfected, etc., but it was still a psychologically stressful experience. It's going to be a while until I feel more comfortable with the idea of walking an airport or attending an indoor convention.

Right now I'm not entirely against or for the idea either way. Ultimately it's Clutter's call. I do know that I want to get out and start living my life again, try to have fun. (I also have a dozen gorillas that I am trying to find homes for.)

Your mileage may vary.

 

Definitely would not participate in or attend a physical event this year.

 

One thing I think is worth mentioning is COVID isn't going away, period.

https://www.thestreet.com/mishtalk/...-scientists-now-believe-covid-is-here-to-stay

I think it's important to recognize that if the expectation is we don't leave our houses until COVID is eradicated from the face of the Earth is not a realistic proposition.

 

I guess I should slightly amend my above statement: "...if I'm vaccinated, and it seems like a safe event, I will definitely try to attend." A safe event in my mind would look something like this:

• Vaccine rollout goes well
• Confirmed positives and hospitalizations numbers are way down
• Negative test requirement
• Temperature check
• Mandatory masks
• Social distancing
• Limited capacity
• Outside event would be ideal

But now that I'm thinking about it, they couldn't even supply an adequate amount of water in years past so maybe this is all just a pleasant day dream..

 

It would be cool if cons popped back up but I don't have high hopes at all in the moment. More shop drops!

 

Gosh I’d love to go, but very iffy on it and honestly wouldn’t feel right doing it.
I miss NYC so much too. Got family and friends back east. Sucks

 

I’m in. Fuck mandatory vaccination, if you want it good for you. I’m not anti-vac, but I’m not getting it. What’s the point of a negative test result. You can get tested on Monday, negative results on Wednesday, you can still pick it up before the show. Plus, who is to say that you’ll get the results in time. When I had the plague back in March/April last year it took them 10 days to get my results, I was feeling better by the time I got them. I have no problem with wearing a mask or staying away from you nerds, less people I have to talk to, not that most of you want to talk to my kind anyway. Doing an outdoor event sounds like it could work, rain or shine, if you can’t handle getting wet then you can’t handle owning sofubi.

 

I agree. ToyCon UK went forward in the heat of the pandemic, with no vaccine(s) in sight... Wondering how many people walked away from that event with the virus and spreading it further. Completely fucking irresponsible and self serving. 500,000+ dead in US... fuck the toys and these stupid conventions.