Post your Building Rituals...

[Aloysius]

Now I may be the only one here that thinks about it this much but I like to have a certain set-up/atmosphere whenever Im about to build a set or sort. I think of my LEGO time as holy, sacred, a date-night with myself if you will.

Setting: At home. Kids asleep. GF asleep, occupied, or brisked away for a Girls Night Out (yeah, i can imagine: "So where your man at?" "Oh, hes at home playing with LEGOS" "Really now?")

Workspace: The living room, using this big flat leather ottoman/table we've got set up in front of the TV.

Food If its something small it'll be a light snack, maybe popcorn or Combos. If its something bigger...a six pack of Newcastle Ale, a pizza from Bella Napoli down the street, and I put three slices on the plate, cut them up, and eat with a fork so my fingers wont get greasy.

Music Never use music while LEGOing. Dont know why but never have.

Movies This is one of my favorite parts of my LEGO ritual. Movie selection depends on the theme of the set I'll be working on.

Castle: Kingdom of Heaven, Braveheart, The Messenger (yeah I know her acting is atrocious but I liked

the scenery and battle scenes.

Star Wars: I'll watch the original episodes when building but not the clone ones. I dont care for the clone

movies much but Ill save them for when I get a UCS Falcon or ISD. It'd pretty much be

background noise as Im sure it'll take extra concentration for those sets.

Western: 3:10 to Yuma, Unforgiven, Outlaw Josey Wales. Only used the first movie so far as I've only

put one Western set together as of yet.

Pirate: My first pirate set, the SES, should be here in a day or two and I've got Master and Commander

ready for that one. I've seen it at least 10 times and I still havent gotten sick of it yet. Just

bought the first book in the Aubrey series off eBay and Im looking forward to that as well.

Afterwards, I like to do a little swooshing, sit and look at it while finishing the beer off, and find the perfect spot on the shelf or remove enough parts to slide it in the box. I need to get another memory card so I can start taking pictures.

Edited March 20, 2008 by Aloysius

[PSPguy]

This should really go in the general discussion but whatever. If you count putting the cats in the bathroom before building so they dont take your pieces a ritual then yes I do do a ritual.

[Admiral Blockbeard]

When I was younger, it was anywhere and every where!, I used to tip my buckets out on a sheet and go for gold! So many bricks got lost out the backyard cause I used to play pirates by burring treasure and the lawn was water and soil islands, ahh those where the days...

Now im very scarily like you, I sit down on an nice leather couch in front of the TV and watch POTC or anything Angelina Jolie, I will often even turn my mobile off, not wanting to be disturbed... I recently broke up with my girlfriend of 2 and 1/2 years, she was understanding of my obsession but I think it may have had a part to play in it... However, when ever she would complain about it to her Girlfriends all she ever got from them was "OHH I LOVE Lego..." lol it annoyed her, I can see why, but Lego is almost a religious obsession with me.

Setting. Comfortable, lots of room and places to rest things.

Workspace. Same as yours but with 3 small tables

Food. Im diabetic type 2, so pizza as much as i allow myself, Subway, pizza subs is the go for now... However im also the popcorn man

Music, same, i need visual stimuli not music

Movies. POTC and Angie films, DOA, Charlies angels and soon i will watch all ALIAS again

After comes a sense of achievement, never beat that feeling... and I can relate, im only 19 atm soon 20 so alot of my friends are 'thats childish' others are 'thats sooo cool, but dont tell anyone' there is this weird stigma that Lego is childish or NERDY, DUPLO is childish LEGO is not, Lego is something I think oldies should get into, might stop the old arthritis coming in as well as old-timers... I would be very interested in a study of that actually, Lego users always seam to be more intelligent, might have something to do with development of the brain... AS for Lego being nerdy nah, Lego users are the best! ps sorry for getting of topic... Great Post

Geo

Edited March 20, 2008 by Cpt. Pegleg Blockbeard

[BlueBard]

I don't have any "special" ritual but it's true that I allways work in the same atmosphere:

Setting: At home, I don't know why but allways after eating

Workspace: The floor of my room, and around all the boxes with my old bricks

Food: never, but after one or two hours of work some refreshment

Music & Movies: No one, because I use to be too much concentrated thinking in what I'm building

By the way, excellent topic Aloysius! *y*

[Aloysius]

Great replies so far guys!!

Pirate Mod, sorry about the posting this in the wrong forum. I spend about 90% of my time here in the pirate section and I tend to forget about the other ones. :-P

[Piranha]

Setting: Home

Workspace: Anywhere in my house, usually a desk, table or the floor

Food: Usually something to drink and candy like Snickers, Reeces, Hershey.......

Music: Depends, if I'm building SW I play the theme songs in the background

Movies: TV

Not really a ritual though :-D

[Aloysius]

Just to clarify: what I mean by ritual is having certain things in order to enjoy your legos..as in have some food ready, then some background noise or a movie, a clear space. I know most people just sit down wherever and build but Im curious about those that have to have things a certain way. Like me, I have to have food ready and right when i start. I cant start and then get something afterwards. I also cant have the kids running around.

Edited March 20, 2008 by Aloysius

[Dukesc]

I use to sit on the floor, but leaning over for 12 or more hours is tough, so now I have a card table.

I eat before, but come downstairs for food and may have some dill pickle chips or popcorn.

I let my wife use the tv, but that may change when we get her tv here or buy an LCD. I do take the computer though.

I don’t listen to music, for there is no stereo upstairs, yet.

Now for what many of you may laugh at and be surprised to hear.

I claim my Legos are my nephews and I am storing them for him, but truthfully I have no nephew. I made 5 Bricklink orders this morning and felt so excited, but went through the entire day bottling it all up until I finally called my brother. He is the only one I can talk to about it. I go through life in phases and have spent over $1,000 some months on Legos. Then I’ll get into one of my many other hobbies and put Legos on the back burner. Sorry.

I for some reason don’t want others to know about it. I would rather talk to most people about my cars trucks motorcycles, racing and things of that sort. I ride around in a nice 78 Lincoln Mark V rolling on 22s with a sound system which has caused accusations of sounding like thunder on overcast days, then……. I secretly go up to my Lego room when no one is looking and indulge myself.

My wife knows of my obsession, and it doesn’t bother her.

Duke

[El Bucanero]

Pirate Mod, sorry about the posting this in the wrong forum. I spend about 90% of my time here in the pirate section and I tend to forget about the other ones. :-P

No problem mate ;-)

I'll move this to the General Discussion forum.

[Shoc]

Hmm... This is interesting.

Setting: Almost always at home. Unless I'm on holiday - I'll take a box of Lego and build stuff on the bed of wherever I'm staying.

Workspace: The floor of my bedroom or living room, or on my bed (I often build on my bed and it takes ages to clear up so I can actually sleep in it!)

Food: Usually just three buscuits, but I eat them quickly so I can get back to the Lego ;-)

Music: When I'm in the living room, I don't listen to much, but when I'm in my bedroom I'll listen to whatever is in my CD player. Now, whenever I hear an Evanescence or Franz Ferdinand song, I think of Lego because I listened to their albums on repeat when building!

Movies: Usually some old '60s film that's on the telly - something I don't need to concentrate on too much.

Heheh.

*skull*

[legotrainfan]

I don't have any real rituals. I just prefer building when I have the whole day for myself. So during holidays or on weekends. And I make sure the cat is not in sight, because she tends to play with LEGO bricks. Sometimes our cat sleeps on tables. (Fortunately she does not sleep on the kitchen table!!). So I have to make sure that the cat has not been lying on the table I want to use. I don't want to have her hair among my bricks. So I prefer building where the cat does not often hang around. She is not often in the LEGO room in the celler. I usually keep the door to it shut. But there's such a lot of LEGO in it that it's difficult to find a spot where I can sit down and build.

I don't listen to music or watch a film at the same time as building. Both would distract me from building, especially movies. I also don't eat while building. I don't want to make my bricks dirty. I usually only drink something while creating something.

[hollisbrick]

Well, first i chant and pray to the gods X-D only joking, kind of of 8-|

Anyway I always listen to music when i build. Also I always build in my bedroom.

[Dadster]

As a kid, my brother and I would fight over the rubber rectangular trashcan that held our stockpile...we'd build and play on the floor, tables and also outside.

Nowadays, I have my own "Batcave" (garage) with music, hardwood folding tables, and phone (so I don't have to get up...). I usually ask my kids to refrain from interupting or build when they are at school.

[Plural]

Step 1: Tip out box of lego

Step 2: Sit down on floor

Step 3: Light some candles to set the mood (optional)

Step 4: Rummage like hell untill you find the pieces you want

Step 5: Rinse and repeat

And that my friends is all you need to get building.

[Scouty]

Well, first I sacrafice a living thing...then I get the creative juices going! :-P

____

I'm in a new home, and have yet to build something 'properly'. I'll reply sometime soon!

[Rounin]

Setting: Almost always at home in my bedroom or somtimes in the kitchen.

Workspace: I have a large desk in my room set up specifically for lego.

Food: I like to have a bottle of water and Pocky nere by.

Music: Usually Downtempo or Ambient Electronic music.

Movies: I never watch movies when Im building in my room but if I'm in kitchen then I like to stick on 80s action or fantasy movies.

[ExoBuilder]

Location: In my room, on the floor.

Food: Strictly water. I wouldn't dare eat while using my precious bricks! :-D

Music: Anything on my Ipod.

Movies: Never.

*sweet*

[WetWired]

I don't eat while I build, don't want to get my pieces greasy, but I park myself in front of the tv usually with the bonus behind the scenes stuff from a dvd playing, as it's usually people talking and I don't need to look up to follow it.

[Ronan Dragonov]

Setting: home base

Workspace: the floor (carpet *gag*); a little table if a baseplate is involved

Food: soft drinks, caffeinated before 8PM or so; maybe adult beverages on FRI or SAT night

Music: not in years

Movies: the idiot box is usually on; maybe TCM on weekend afternoons or whatever new show is on prime time weekdays or DVDs - lately from The Thin Man to Indiana Jones.

[The Cobra]

Setting: a) Kitchen b) Bedroom

Workspace: a) the dining table b) desktop

Food: Nothing! I already leave my fingerprints on some pieces, do I need my hands to be dirty / sticky?

Soundtrack: a) soccer games commentary b) Random winamp (J*rock works great when building Exo-Force :-D )

Movies: No way.

When I'm done: check Peeron: are those really extra pieces or did I forget something?

Edited March 22, 2008 by The Cobra

[CP5670]

Setting: Home, at pretty much any time of the day. I'm always up all night and am the only one around the house. *sweet*

Workspace: My projects are scattered around my bedroom floor. I often point a table fan at whatever I'm working on so my hands don't get sweaty, to avoid getting too many fingerprints on bricks.

Food: none, maybe something to drink

Music: none

Movies: none

When I'm done: I usually find some pieces that I'm running low on and make a note of them in a text file. When they reach a certain number, I go to Bricklink and buy everything I need.

Edited March 22, 2008 by CP5670

[Lt. Veers]

Location: Basically anywhere on my upstairs floor.

Food: Usually Cheez-its.

Music: Battlefield 1942 theme, Imperial March Force Commander Edition.

Movies: Occasionally Star Wars.

[Brickmaster]

Since I do all my building in my little room of a studio, I have my comp here and everything, which also acts as a TV. It's either talking to people on messenger and music, or watching TV (History, Discovery, and Science Channels, yay!)

As for food, I usually take a quick break and eat on the spot as I still fumble around with bricks.

Most of my projects are finished within the first or second going of building. Usually afew hour intervals, I don't build alittle then quit. I usually build it all, upload it all, make a thread, allin one day, then wait a week or two to find time to do it again.

Inspiration usually comes from things meddling in my mind for that week or two, or just trying to integrate and use new techniques or peices, most of my creations, are actually just expiraments for me :-$

[casewindu]

ha! nice original topic here I like it!

Setting: Home (i'm hardly going to build in the street, the lego would blow away!)

Workspace: My bedroom where i have this small but sufficient desk top thing with cupboards underneath

Food: usually a coke or lucazade or something, not usually any food! ;-)

Music: Anything on my i-pod, usually jazz or something.

Movies: the simpsons! or family guy or south park, i like to laugh while I build! *y*

[hollisbrick]

Hm can't beleive I'm the only one who chants and prays to the Lego gods 8-| X-D hmm anyway.. I've developed a new technique in my bedroom i like to close the blinds and turn on the light, don't know why, must be the mood that im in before i go to build.