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A blog by GregF in General

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Off To San Diego

GregF

Entry posted by GregF

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Last blog entry before heading to San Diego on Wednesday --

 

This weekend was my birthday, so I have been mainly staying away from the keyboard and trying to chill, since I know next weekend will be insane (Comic-Con always is). There is no tired like San Diego tired ...

 

Had a really great BIONICLE business team meeting on Friday, to discuss 2007 and start talking about 2008. This is very different from the story team -- it's a US-only group, consisting of the Brand Director, Brand Manager, Assistant Brand Manager, PR, co-promotions, in-store, Sales, Shop At Home, Brand Manager Community, licensing, art, and myself representing both the story team and the LEGO Magazine. We talked about strengths and weaknesses of the line, and any challenges we felt would need to be overcome going forward. Everything I have heard from everyone is that barring some sudden and unexpected sales collapse, BIONICLE is in no danger of going away -- but we still need to take steps to keep it fresh and to appeal to new fans. What today's 9 year old expects from a line and from media is very different from what a 9 year old five years ago expected.

 

One of the nice things about the meeting was that I got to read a little of the first chapter of BL #6 to the group, which was fun and sparked a few ideas among the group. Nothing I can share yet, but still kind of cool.

 

Those of you who have received your July magazines already will have seen the teaser ads for "Free the Band" -- the big national BIONICLE promotion this year. I don't have a ton of details on this yet, but I do know the prizing for it is awesome.

 

Hope to see some of you in San Diego!

 

Greg

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Tom

Happy Belated Birthday! :D

 

Man, you have no idea how anxious you're making us for 2007 and 2008. Free the Band? Hmm... Sounds... interesting. But if the prizing is good, I'm sure I'll participate. :lol:

 

BTW, great job on Power Play. I just read it, and it was so good. I'd comment more, but spoilers on that book aren't allowed yet.

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Gorkomork

May I give a late

 

Happy Birthday to you

You belong in the zoo

With the tigers

And the Polar bears

Happy Birthday to you :P

 

Hmm, bionicle does need to keep fresh not just to introduce new fans to it, but also to keep all the old fans interested. Keep up the good work!

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Lady Kopaka

Aww happy birthday Mr. Greg! I'd draw you sumthin, but a little tied up with something big. Seriously. :P

 

I want to go to Comic Con. ;_; Maybe when I am older and able to drive there myself.

 

Something fresh? I think this year got us fresh meat. Excited in whats store for next year and beyond.

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Murtagh

happy birthday! ( a little late but it's still a heppy birthday)

you deserve a break this weekend,in fact you should always be having a break but you gotta keep keeping us happy with your brilliant writing!

 

i knew about the thing about sales with lego,i reported it to bzp but they took no notice :(

can't wait till 07 :)

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Vash Toa of Storms

Happy Belated Birthday, hope it was a good one!!

Sadly I am not able to go to Comic Con, maybe next year though.

Keeping Bionicle fresh, huh. Must be challenging

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Vahiki the Ninja-Pirate

Happy birthday, Greg.

 

Ah, so talk about 2008 begins. . . interesting. I'm guessing that a lot of 2007 has been planned out, correct?

 

 

By the way, there was a sales collapse? :unsure: :o

 

=Vahiki=

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Planetperson

Happy birthday, Greg.

 

Ah, so talk about 2008 begins. . . interesting. I'm guessing that a lot of 2007 has been planned out, correct?

By the way, there was a sales collapse? :unsure: :o

 

=Vahiki=

 

No, if there was a sales collapse. Unless some sudden decline in sales occurs out of nowhere, Bionicle is going to do just fine.

 

Well then happy birthday, GregF! Thanks for being one cool dude B) :fonz: . Hope your work goes well, travelling and all. And I haven't heard of "Free the Band" yet - sounds like something that I'll be looking into.

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Toaraga

You actually have birthdays... I thought you were like a cartoon character: the only way you age is if people lose interest. :D

 

What exactly do Brand Director, Managers, etc. do? (I have this urge to type "Band," but I know that's not right.)

 

Hmm, maybe I should use my power of change and go to Comic-Con as you, Greg. :P

 

PS. You're "Off to San Diego" to see the Wizard... the Witch, some Toa, a couple Matoran, and some guy in a costume from an anime, manga, or comic I've never heard of.

 

-<*.=.~

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GregF

The Brand Director has a lot of responsibility, including helping to decide just how much money each line will have to spend for marketing in a year. The Brand Manager is the person who decides how to spend that money in a given market -- do you do six comics or five? How much TV advertising do you have, and when during the year, and on what network? What kind of content do you want in the LEGO Magazine? Do you do any national promotions, like Free the Band? All of that falls under the heading of the Brand Manager. Plus the Brand Director and Brand Manager have input on set design for future sets and advertising campaigns.

 

Greg

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Toa Zakir

That sounds like a really cool job, but one that could make or break the series. Very interesting.

 

I too would love to attend Comic Con and get some of the special limited edition stuff. But, alas, I cannot as usual because of my location. I'll make it one day, don't you worry. And hopefully, with the new figures you guys discussed in the meeting, it'll be before the end (what? Am I insane?) of Bionicle.

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MayFall

Happy Birthday Greg! Hope you did have a relaxing weekend (never been to comic-con myself so I

can't even imagine, good luck.)

 

 

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Pridak

happy B DAy!!!!!!!

 

Can wait till BL#6!

 

I wish i could go to Comic Con thsi year........

but i might go next year :)

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Prep

i wish i could go, but i can't i live in vermont, but there is a lego convention going on this weekend at my high school!!

a new england one!!! yay!

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Gyiyg

Happy late B-Day, Greg! I am curious, just what is this free the band thing? I am so confused from it in the mag. Is it a contest of some sort? And what is "The Band"? Anyway, man, you're already working on the final part of the three year arc? Wow. There is so muach we don't know yet, and you know everything happening next year and 2008!

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