Work, work, work.

I've had some difficulty (for years) trying to convince those I know that I actually work hard. I think it has a lot to do with the huge grin that is normally on my face as we play in the mud and create fanciful features. It's hard to believe I actually get paid to do the things I enjoy so very much.

Business trips are an even harder sell to my friends. This past week we spent two long days in theme parks and research, cramming in as much experience as humanly possible. It's a legitimate business trip - REALLY! To properly research we have to go on the attractions as well - of course. The last two days we were at the theme park convention. These conventions defy definition with everything on display we could possibly think of. It took us a day and a half to walk the floor of the masssive trade show. Part of our research is of course to ride various rides on display. There's no way I could design theme parks without knowing what kind of experience I am creating. Peter and Hailey also shared in the research experience. This is a shot of them on one of the rides. I took my turn right after.

Tonight, the research continued while attending a theme park function at a smaller local park. Our client was with us and we raced go-karts, and rode roller coasters all evening - all in the name of research of course. It was a long, brutal day at work.

Friday we head off to Trinidad for four more days of work. Really!

Moving mountains

I like to pack light for my business trips, taking nothing more than a carry-on and my briefcase if I can get away with it. A few days ago as I packed I knew my stuff wouldn't possibly fit into a carry-on. I even had to move up past our mid-size and into the BIG suitcase. The reason is I was packing not one but three medium sized rock formations. They were HEAVY too, and my packed suitcase came in at 49 pounds - just under the overweight limit.

Today we had to lug those (minature but still heavy) rock formations around the trade show floor until we found Kyle, of Rockwerx. The models were to guide the rockmaking team as they fashioned the two main formations around the railway track and another which will be in the middle of the spinning coaster.

Around noon we were able to finally hand them off. The next time we see these little mountains there will be big versions in their place - big enough to drive a train through. I'm just glad I don't have to lug the replacements around an airport!

Learning by looking

Peter, Hailey and I are currently in Florida to attend the world's largest theme park conference. Being in Orlando meant we could take a little extra time to attend the Disney parks. Yesterday we were in line for one of the newer attractions and the guests behind us were soon asking us what it was we did for a living. I guess it was evident we weren't the typical tourist.

While most guests are in a hurry to get through the lines we purposely went through the long lines, stopping frequently and often letting people pass us as we closely studied and photographed every aspect of what we saw. Our discussions centered on how the artists did each piece and accomplished the wonderful work we saw. Our experience allowed us to make educated guesses and together we figured out what tools and methods would allow us to achieve similar results. Even though we knew how they accomplished the amazing sculpted concrete work we saw it was still hard to believe that is what it was. It was that good.

We spent two long days, covering the best sculpted concrete work in four parks. I had seen much of it previously but it was Peter and Hailey's first time. For me it was like looking with fresh eyes and together we learned plenty in the short time e spent there.

We can hardly wait to get back to the studio to give our new found knowledge a spin.

Tomorrow, we head for the massive trade show to begin gathering knowledge and meeting supliers and contacts there.