London Expo was incredibly busy this year, as usual. However, mixed in with the usual over-excited Anime types, there were a few people that were there just to cause trouble for everyone.

The UKCM has always taken an informal attitude to spotting and that will continue: we don't normally have uncostumed spotters and we don't need them - all the Marines do a great job of watching tails and dreads, and I for one appreciate that you all look out for us non-human photo-whores - we've had no issues before.

As a creature it's your responsibility when you go out to make sure there is someone able and willing to watch your back and you need to make sure that they KNOW that you're relying on them to keep an eye on you. Also, it's a really bad idea for one creature to try and look out for another. At an event like Expo, it's asking for trouble and each creature should have at least one Marine with them. Usually, just the fact that there is someone watching is enough to avoid issues.

As always, I'm not going to be prescriptive but guideline advice:

• Creatures shouldn't go out onto the show floor alone or with only another creature - if there isn't a Marine or someone else able or willing to look after you then just wait in or near the changing area for someone to come along.
• Make sure that the person you go out with realises that you're relying on them to keep an eye on you.
• As much as is possible, keep an eye on your spotter and try to keep reasonably close to them. If they stop to talk to someone, stay very close to them and don't disappear.
• In the event of minor annoyances, try to stay in your "character" - don't let it get to you. If possible, move away and concentrate on another group of punters, and ignore the arsehole(s) - an appreciative crowd will protect you to some extent. If you feel seriously threatened then run back close to your minder.

• Marines shouldn't leave a creature that they've agreed to watch - if they want to go somewhere specific (or return to the changing area) while out on the show floor then they should tell the creature where they want to head.
• When you've had enough of acting as a baby-sitter or if you need to leave then make sure the creature knows and guide them to someone else or back to the changing area.
• In the event of trouble, use your discretion about how to respond - usually just being told "Don't do that" will be enough. Bear in mind: costumes can be repaired, their human contents can't.

I don't want a situation where the Marines are "slaves" to the creatures. Marines are out there to photo-whore themselves and shouldn't feel they are expected to be bodyguards. We all need to know who is watching who and we shouldn't have a situation where creatures go out into an event like Expo with no-one keeping an eye on them. Equally, we should ALL be keeping an eye out for each other - even being dressed as a Marine makes you a target to some extent.

If you have any comments or concerns then post here or get in touch with me in private.

Just want to say thanks for posting that, Gareth.

Very sound and sagely advice, especially for Newbies. Could probably do with being Stickied somewhere.

Just heard what happened to Rex's bug It is such a shame.

Often, it just needs a Marine to subtly position themselves behind the creature when it looks like a punters is going to get 'grabby'. Much of the time it's a lack of understanding how much these costumes cost compared to the average anime fan cosplay. An arm blocking as they go for the grab is often enough, a comment of how fragile and how much it costs if it looks like they need a reason why not.

Of course, the more marines around the easier the job is, and Excel is the toughest one.

_________________
A11/TQ1.0.32150E1 Murphy, J - Covert recording headcam. There is no flashing red light when you are on Kona-Cam
Weyland-Yutani: Their projects are intentionally full of bugs. Avoid!

Excel was crazy this year and for 95% of the time we have no trouble with the public at drops, it's the 5 % that is the problem.
Maybe we should some kind of rota , these marines go with this Alien / Predator then after an hour or so , take a break , then different Marines with the Alien , that way every one gets to wander around having fun.

By rota i'm talking about a set list , just before we start walking about we know who is walking around with which Creatures and if some in Creature costume is coming late we can arrange before hand for some one too meet them.

Often at shows we go out in a large group and within minutes the group gets split up due to the large crowds or we just wander off , to do our own thing.

Had i known Rex was walking around on her own on on Saturday i would have been out front to keep an eye on her.

I have taken the view that we , the Marines are there to keep an eye on you guys and girls in Creature costumes

Just my two cents

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Pfc Glenn Allen ,
1st Batt. 69th Regiment,
Homers Hero's..
Drops so Far.... 29 and counting

No rotas.

There isn't enough creatures or Marines, and I'm not going to demand that sort of thing from people. The way I see it, it's the creature's responsibility to make sure they have someone who is willing to watch them, and make sure that person knows that they are being relied on as a spotter. When the Marine(s) get sick of watching their charge then they should let the creature know and make sure they're looked after by someone else or take them back to the changing areas.


That isn't how I see it, and it shouldn't be how it is. We're a costuming group, not a few creatures with slaves that wear camouflage. If anyone doesn't want to act as a spotter at all then that is no problem.

What we need to make sure is that if the creature guys can't find someone willing to keep an eye on them (I have never been in this situation myself), they just don't go out. If you're wanting to go out and there is no-one in the changing area willing to look after you then get on your cellphone and find someone who does. If you can't then it's not the end of the world - put your feet up or take you head off and go shopping.

Right well. after reading that i dont think i will be doing another expo/event again. with me living up here its extremely hard to find anyone who will look after me. i dont expect the marines too as i know thats uncalled for and unfair. but this weekend was a real shocker for me, with being so claustrophobic too it was actually rather frightening. If emma knew no one was going to look out for me she wouldnt of gone to the pub like i told her too. but i guess it only takes things like this to happen to see where you really stand with people.

There's loads of us who will gladly look after you. If it would make you feel better then I'll do shifts with you and look after you personally.

Stick with the UKCM. We'll look after you.

again i wouldnt expect that of you G. i enjoyed walking round in alice with you. i think its abit much for me to come all that way and spend so much money and time re arranging events at uni for such shit to happen...and to expect someone else to pay money to come look after my ass isnt fair.

It won't happen again.

Although I wouldn't demand that anyone keep an eye on any creature, I *promise* you that many of the Marines want to. After all, we're their ticket to recognition!

Do me a favour, give it another shot. You said yourself how much fun it was. It was a mistake on my part to not make sure you found someone to watch you. Don't let that spoil everything. I need you to say you'll try again.

Dude! As has been said, pipe up to a marine. We're more than willing to get of our fat asses and troop about. Photos, ogling, browsing. Even just a general walkabout. We're all glad to go.

I think after the fun I had following Abe about doing a science report, Ill be keeping a lab coat or 2 in my case, so If a marine cant be bothered armouring back up, they can throw on a white coat.

We dont feel like we're travelling great distances to be glorified babysitters, its part and parcel of the way things are at cons. Creatures cant see everything going on, humans watch their back. Its not the be all and end all. We're travelling the distances to meet friends, wear costumes and be seen. If we were paying to come watch creatures, I wouldnt have lugged 3 crates of gear down with me.

Dont let this one off lapse in communication and unfortunate circumstances put you off expo in specific and events in general. Please.

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MSgt Samantha 'Boltie' Watters
Chief Medical Officer, UKCM
1st Batt. 42nd Regiment - Hadrian's Wall

Area 52 Bioweapons division - Amber T. Alien


"Harsh"

Fortunatly things like what happened to Rex dont happen very often. Its just unfortunate that it happened on your first time out. Dont let it put you off.

I think the way we normally work, ie. going round in a group all watching out for each other, works well. And if for some reason someone in a creature suit finds themself alone and not comfortable with it, then just go back to the changing area!

Im quite bad for wondering off in the pred suit, and quite often find myself alone because iv chased someone off somewhere. Fortunatly, as i've been doing this for years, im pretty comfortable with it. i can read the crowd, and if needed to (and have had to on a few occasions) am quite happy to give some one a smack round the head if they are getting out of hand.

Maybe we could implement some sort of buddy system, with the newer/less experienced aliens being paired off for the day with some of the more experienced guys

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M/SGT Rich Hyatt-Dowling (Retd)

UKCM Black ops

Not to butt in on Abes show, but what about putting new Creatures on a leash if they would feel more comfortable?

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MSgt Samantha 'Boltie' Watters
Chief Medical Officer, UKCM
1st Batt. 42nd Regiment - Hadrian's Wall

Area 52 Bioweapons division - Amber T. Alien


"Harsh"

I feel kinda bad now even though I don't know what happened. I saw Rex on her own on Saturday afternoon. Thing is, I didn't know who she was so I didn't think to make sure she was OK. Even tho I wasn't wearing my Marine gear I would have been happy to spot for her if I'd known.

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"You know, you blow up one sun and suddenly everyone expects you to walk on water."

That was EXACTLY the original purpose of Abe's leash.

I have always been terrified of crowds even when not in costume. And, with the claustrophobia of the suit, it didn't take much to freak me out. The feeling of being physically connected to someone made me feel safer. I've got over my fear of crowds even when human so now the collar is just a prop.

It gets easier. Like Rich says, trouble is rare when you have someone watching over you but you also learn ways of defusing trouble when it does happen.

There is no problem with the way things are done normally. As G and others have said, the guys and gals in non creature suits are happy to spot for people. There's no reason to change this system in my opinion. This is starting to make it sound like some of us don't give a shit about the people in creature suits and looking after them, which is certainly not the case. If you wanted to head out and did so on your own without asking someone to come with you to watch out for you then that was simply a mistake and one which should not be repeated. Two people, both in creature suits, spotting each other is not a good idea and again something that won't be repeated.
There is no need for a rota, we've never done one before and don't need to implement one now as G has also said. We're very informal like that.
There's no need to take a personal affront to G's comments about this. He goes out in a suit all the time himself of course. Normally with one or two people with him. If he wondered off on his own then that would be his mistake should something happen but G would not normally do that I think.
The point is, people will spot for the guys in suits. They simply need to ask someone to do so if someone isn't aleady doing so for them.
Whilst I sympathise with any damage that may have been caused to your costume I don't think we should let this blow out of proportion and lead to a slew of "how can we change things" from people.

Cheers

Darren

I'll add my tuppence to this as well - Rex, PLEASE don't get upset at one silly incident, and certainly don't let it put you off further drops.

Us Marines are MORE than happy to spot for Bugs and Preds.
There's really no need for a rota. We do cons because we enjoy doing cons, simple as that.
And part of "doing cons" is the Alien/Predator/Marine ensemble dynamic.
"Green wallpaper" running jokes aside, without creatures, Marines are recognised far less often... So the odd infestation only serves to enhance our profile!

There's no need for a rota either.
As has already been summed up above - There's almost always enough of us around if a creature wants to go for a walk, and we're generally pretty good at falling into a kinda "tag team" pattern anyway.
I don't think any marine would ever refuse to walk with a creature.

So give it another go, please.

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MSgt, UKCM 42nd Reg., 1st Batt. : Hadrian's Wall. UKCM

Wasteland Workshop
Props, cosplay pieces, upcycled ornamentation, and miscellanea;
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Steve Fletcher : Maker, Scavenger, and Junksmith.
linktr.ee/wastelandworkshop

Yeah, i totally agree about this Gareth. And i am very sorry Rex that this unfortunate incident had to happen.

Were all one big family Rex.

No way you should be put off the situation. I had someone Yank my shoulder lamp on the Saturday. When i turned around it was a anti social little turp laughing with his mate saying "It doesn't come off lidd". I told them "Please don't touch anything, It's there to be viewed by the public. And not to come off wth force for a reason" He just gave me some evils and walked off with a smirk!

I mean there benifits would only pay for the wire insulation. *RANT OVER*

I nearly lost the lamp, thats just my attitude. If you not willing to respect other peoples property and hard work. Why ruin it for that person taking the liberty to come and attend a public show for peoples intrest/amusement.

It's sad. But, just ask. We are all one big team that need to look out for each others property and dignity aswell. I am really sorry Rex this had to happen to you. And i personally would be more than happy to accompany you at a next drop. It's no hassel looking out for a friend.

Take care Rex!
Callum
x

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Sgt C. Kee-McParlin
A05/TQ1.0.02160E1

13th Regt. 1st Batt. 'Freebooters'

A necessary post I think G. I've not heard what happened to Rex but a few times in the past Alan has found himself alone having (been) stopped for pics or something. Also saying that if the above happens go back to changing area - this is not always easy to do with a busy venue.

SAS

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Alan T. Alien
1st Lt Smith, SA "Sidewinder"
A13/TQ1.4.19720EX CMA
Founder of UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters
Founder of Special Armaments Section (Heavy Weapons)
"People don't understand. people like me"

As i was telling Stu over the weekend, It may be babysitting, but it's the most fun babysitting I've ever had. I spent most of the weekend with callum watching Matt wander around soaking up attention, and it's really rewarding - I'd have no issue spotting for people, to be honest it's the best way to get people to recognise us!

While it was my first drop I'd definitely recommend going again Rex, I don't really know the details of what happened but I'd be more then happy to follow you around - Someone tapped Matt's pred in the face outside on the concourse, which nearly prompted me to rifle butt him, but by and large we got by okay. If you enjoy doing it, and I do recall you saying you were having a good time, don't go letting some little pricks [excuse my french] ruin it.

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Sgt. Jake Tucker - 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters.

For those of us who couldn't make this one what happened to Rex?

Harry

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http://www.facebook.com/TheHHACA - @TheHHACA

Basically what had happened was, everything was going fine i even shrugged off the guy who stood on my tail on purpose and laughed as i stumbled back that was until this one chav thought it would be funny to pop a crack at my tail, he picked it up off the floor n tugged it for a bit so i kindly asked him to leave it alone, he disapeared for about 10 seconds n game back for round two...i asked him again politley and i had to remove my tail from his hands. He left me alone again for about 15 secs then game back, by this time i was getting annoyed as i couldnt move for people wanting photos so i chased the little bugger and he scooted off even tho i knocked all the cafe bollards over >: [....he THEN unbelivably came back for round 4 which is when he pulled my tail off and snapped the spindle inside it, needles to say i flipped out and turned round n belted the little S.O.B, ive heard ive given him a black eye which serves him right.
Anyway after that i made a B line for outside cos i couldnt find you guys, which is where i re met up with emma after sending her to the pub for looking bored lol. i sent her back into the venue to get my phone n stuff from pauls suit case and thats when a group of asians descided to have a go at yanking me along the floor by grabbing my back two top spines, needless to say i was already in a bad mood from the previous encounter and proceeded to take my head off and yell at the buggers. who in the end turned round n said to me i shouldnt be there if i didnt want my costume wrecked.

after that i went to wander while i waited for emma to return, when i got another lot of em running up to me, and thought it would be funny to put a business card between alices teeth, once they found out i was a girl they tried to take my head off resulting in pretty much strangling me for a minuite. ¬_¬ thats when emma came back and i headed to the fox to catch up with you guys.

Its not just been the expo that ruined my weekend, i got stranded in watford for 2 hours with heavy shit to carry on my own waiting for a bus after finding out no trains were running. i asked the bus driver to be careful with my case and he ignore me, said it wasnt his problem and threw it into the trunk, im suprised alice isnt dented.
and on the way back today some old git thought he had the right to pick up my bag with the majority of my alien pieces in and throw it off the seat so his grandson could sit down....even tho there was a chair free on the other side of him...needless to say it hasnt been a good weekend for me =/

im not implying that people change the way the UKCM work on the account of one incident on my side, id rather leave then let you guys do that. but i trust what gareth says and emma has now promised to help out with the whole "alien on chain and white coat" idea. i will see how things go. if i can get down to london easier somehow...that would be better too ..

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that Rex - that's terrible. I've always thought the MCM events were too full of over-excited kids and this is proof that the folks who attend really do need to look out for one another. I hope this kind of thing doesn't happen to anyone in the future.

Harry

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http://www.facebook.com/TheHHACA - @TheHHACA

it does suck that this happens, my armour took a beating but luckily can be fixed and hopefully u get alice fixed and can come back for another go

_________________
I'm the one they warned you about

It sounds like you guys had a really rough time last weekend, the couple of times I've been to this we never had any problems - what do you guys think was different this time? Was it just busier in general or were there more factors as well?

Harry

_________________

http://www.facebook.com/TheHHACA - @TheHHACA

Except it's not a change in the way the UKCM work, Rex . Marines working as spotters for the creatures is something that has grown organicly through the years and numerous cons. It's something we are happy to do. No one who knows how much effort that goes into creating these costumes wants to see anything bad befall them, or to the person inside. I've slapped numerous hands aside from pulling at Abe's tail or Percy's dreads. My first time out in my Pred gear I was slapped so hard on the front of my bio it nearly knocked me on my arse. Having been on the receiving end of disrespect from certain members of society, I don't want that happening to any friends and do my best when out with the UKCM to make sure my friends in latex are safe and having a good time.

It's all about the friends that we all are in the UKCM have a good time at the con, so we can all have a great time in the evening with some beers and share stories and jokes.

From the MCM forum, it does sound like the event is getting busier. And I don't think the problem element is so much the anime kids (where the issues come from being over-excited and what-not), more local kids going over to oggle at skimpy cosplays and point at the 'freaks'.

_________________
A11/TQ1.0.32150E1 Murphy, J - Covert recording headcam. There is no flashing red light when you are on Kona-Cam
Weyland-Yutani: Their projects are intentionally full of bugs. Avoid!