Ideas In Putting Up A Lego Club

[AFOL SF]

Hello once more, everyone-

I need your expertise (advice and any kind of input) in putting up or starting a (local) Lego Club. My vision is more of a group of people (of all ages, but preferrably young adults) meeting once or every other month and exchange ideas about the hobby. Nothing fancy, just a loose get-together and if possible, members should not be more than 30 minutes' drive away from each other. So far, what I've been reading is that when existing clubs have a meeting, some members drive at least an hour or so to attend.

Is this vision an impossibility?

[Skull-Mark_Ladybug]

...

Edited May 17, 2025 by MacK

[tedbeard]

I need your expertise (advice and any kind of input) in putting up or starting a (local) Lego Club.

When I resurrected VicLUG a couple of years ago I used Meetup.Com (which was still free at that time) and posted to LUGNET. My best suggestion would be to post a meeting time and place on as many different LEGO forums as you can and pass out business cards with contact details to adults in the LEGO section of your local Toys-R-Us/Target/ and especially independent toy stores. Toy or trains shows might also let you create a display or advertise in some form. Word of mouth is your best form of advertising however so always be talking to people as you pass out cards, flyers or posters.

What really gets noticed however is a window display at a local business or library (our first display). You could try a comic shop or any business that has space and seems friendly. Trying to find a way to get a picture in the local paper is usually pretty easy as a LEGO display in a shop window is unusual enough to attract cameras.

Above all, don't be discouraged. I sat alone in a booth @ Dennys on a Meetup monthly evening for three months before people started coming. My first "recruit" showed up the fourth month and while growth has been slow we now have 9 members and done a train layout at the Pacific Northwest Regional train show held in our town and two annual hobby shows at a local mall.

Anyway, hope that helps.

Edited April 7, 2008 by tedbeard

[Athos]

What geographic area are you looking at? You need a fairly large population to support a club. There was one in Sacramento, CA, but, even in that large of an area, we'd only get about five AFOLs (including teenagers) and the rest were young kids.

Steve

[Caffeine]

You might want to collaborate with Jim, who lives just over in San Rafael.

It's definitely possible, but in places like San Francisco, the hard part is finding a place to host your get-togethers. Not so much south of the bay, but in SF, let me tell you, you are going to have one hell of a time getting a spot. Unless you don't mind people cramming your house.

[Athos]

You're in San Francisco? Isn't there already a club there? BAYLUG, or something? I know I've seen club-displays at the bay area Lego stores.

Steve

[Caffeine]

You're in San Francisco? Isn't there already a club there? BAYLUG, or something? I know I've seen club-displays at the bay area Lego stores.

Steve

and if possible, members should not be more than 30 minutes' drive away from each other. So far, what I've been reading is that when existing clubs have a meeting, some members drive at least an hour or so to attend.

Pretty much all of our meetings are down in the Palo Alto/Santa Clara area.

[AFOL SF]

Thanks for all of your responses, guys... These are great ideas which I'll be looking into.

I'm not expecting a huge turnout or membership... if I could get at leat 5-7 people, that's good enough. So far, I know of 3 people who're willing to start a club (that's 4 including myself). Members coming from San Francisco-Daly City-San Bruno-Millbrae-South San Francisco is my target. But I am not going to limit membership to these parts of the Bay Area. Someone could even be a citizen of Jupiter or Mars for all I care and can still join the club/be a member.

Once this club is well established (if ever it comes to reality), maybe we can incorporate it into BayLUG. That's my point, all the meetings are down south. Why can't there be (even a small one) in or around San Francisco? I know of alot of collectors (mostly adults), that's why I'd like to give this a try. As the saying goes, "it's better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all."

[adik_sa_lego]

looking forward to more ideas in this thread. it's hard to find hobbyists here in Manila, that's why i find it strange when stores run out of stock...

[AFOL SF]

looking forward to more ideas in this thread. it's hard to find hobbyists here in Manila, that's why i find it strange when stores run out of stock...

Hey, Adik... you're based in Manila? As in, the Pearl of the Orient Seas? Horhorhor!!! Kabayan! I thought Sanrio stopped selling lego sets years ago? Back in the early 80s, when Lego was first introduced in our beloved country, National Bookstore was the biggest distributor around, then all of a sudden the stores stopped selling them (by late 90s I think). If I'm not mistaken, the last Lego set I saw in one of the Sanrio stores in Makati was in 2001 or '02. It was the Maersk container truck. At that time it was selling for US$50 (converted). I thought it was alot of money for a small set like that. Now, I want to kick myself in the... for not getting it.

So, tell me- how do you go about acquiring Lego sets?

[Caffeine]

Thanks for all of your responses, guys... These are great ideas which I'll be looking into.

I'm not expecting a huge turnout or membership... if I could get at leat 5-7 people, that's good enough. So far, I know of 3 people who're willing to start a club (that's 4 including myself). Members coming from San Francisco-Daly City-San Bruno-Millbrae-South San Francisco is my target. But I am not going to limit membership to these parts of the Bay Area. Someone could even be a citizen of Jupiter or Mars for all I care and can still join the club/be a member.

Once this club is well established (if ever it comes to reality), maybe we can incorporate it into BayLUG. That's my point, all the meetings are down south. Why can't there be (even a small one) in or around San Francisco? I know of alot of collectors (mostly adults), that's why I'd like to give this a try. As the saying goes, "it's better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all."

Hell, even I'll come up once in a while. BayLUG meetings are kind of few and far between. Either that or time is just going by really slow...

[Athos]

Thanks for all of your responses, guys... These are great ideas which I'll be looking into.

I'm not expecting a huge turnout or membership... if I could get at leat 5-7 people, that's good enough. So far, I know of 3 people who're willing to start a club (that's 4 including myself). Members coming from San Francisco-Daly City-San Bruno-Millbrae-South San Francisco is my target. But I am not going to limit membership to these parts of the Bay Area. Someone could even be a citizen of Jupiter or Mars for all I care and can still join the club/be a member.

Once this club is well established (if ever it comes to reality), maybe we can incorporate it into BayLUG. That's my point, all the meetings are down south. Why can't there be (even a small one) in or around San Francisco? I know of alot of collectors (mostly adults), that's why I'd like to give this a try. As the saying goes, "it's better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all."

As someone who has to drive 4 hours to the bay-area Lego stores, a drive from San Bruno to Santa Clara isn't that big of a deal (39 minutes according to yahoo maps). Heck, even if you came all the way from Novato to San Jose, its only about 80 minutes.

5-7 seems a bit small. Its hard to keep a group going, without a certain critical mass. If you have a group of seven and two people miss the meeting and two don't get around to making/brining any cool MOCs, you're going to have a pretty shabby meeting, which may negatively impact your next meeting, resulting in a downward spiral.

Maybe you could have a smaller chapter of BAYLUG?

Steve, who really isn't trying to discourage you... *classic*

[adik_sa_lego]

Hey, Adik... you're based in Manila? As in, the Pearl of the Orient Seas? Horhorhor!!! Kabayan! I thought Sanrio stopped selling lego sets years ago? Back in the early 80s, when Lego was first introduced in our beloved country, National Bookstore was the biggest distributor around, then all of a sudden the stores stopped selling them (by late 90s I think). If I'm not mistaken, the last Lego set I saw in one of the Sanrio stores in Makati was in 2001 or '02. It was the Maersk container truck. At that time it was selling for US$50 (converted). I thought it was alot of money for a small set like that. Now, I want to kick myself in the... for not getting it.

So, tell me- how do you go about acquiring Lego sets?

they started selling again around 2004, but i don't think Sanrio is still the distributor. first in gift gate, then Rustan's followed (2006 i think). There are now TRU branches in Manila so that's another distributor.

Most of my new sets came from bricklink, since they are cheaper even with shipping, although it takes about 3 weeks before i get them. For some sets, I either get from TRU/Rustan's (as long as the price is still reasonable) or from Duty Free (cheaper than TRU/Rustan's/Gift Gate, but more expensive than BL)

I remember in the 80's they used to have this big Christmas Lego Bazaar, where everything was on sale. Too bad I didn't like Pirate sets during those days. If I did, i would have the most expensive and most ancient sets here in Manila LOL

still looking for other Lego addicts here in Manila for possible get-togethers and group-buys.

Edited April 10, 2008 by adik_sa_lego

[Caffeine]

As someone who has to drive 4 hours to the bay-area Lego stores, a drive from San Bruno to Santa Clara isn't that big of a deal (39 minutes according to yahoo maps). Heck, even if you came all the way from Novato to San Jose, its only about 80 minutes.

Gas prices in California are projected to get close to five bucks a gallon by the turn of summer.

[AFOL SF]

Hell, even I'll come up once in a while. BayLUG meetings are kind of few and far between. Either that or time is just going by really slow...

Caffeine - I'll keep you posted on 'developments...' Thanks for the support... Same to Athos... I do appreciate your input. Let's see what will transpire in the next few weeks... summer is just around the corner and for sure there will be lots of activities going on. Gas prices are already over $4/gallon in my area.

Adik - I misquoted... I meant GIFT GATE, not Sanrio... horhorhor!!! I was thinking of the girly-store. I was back home last Dec '05 but didn't see any Lego sets. But then again I didn't go to Rustan's or the newly opened TRU. My relatives brought me to Toy Kingdom and several toy stores inside the mall which carries Hotwheels, StarWars action figures and Playmobil sets, to name a few. That's good to know Lego is back in the limelight back home.

Specifically, what theme are you collecting? Have you tried buying on eBay? Don't you worry - we'll find some other Pinoys out there. Have you tried looking at Lugnet.com, under organization. There is 1 club I think that is locally based.

[adik_sa_lego]

Adik - I misquoted... I meant GIFT GATE, not Sanrio... horhorhor!!! I was thinking of the girly-store. I was back home last Dec '05 but didn't see any Lego sets. But then again I didn't go to Rustan's or the newly opened TRU. My relatives brought me to Toy Kingdom and several toy stores inside the mall which carries Hotwheels, StarWars action figures and Playmobil sets, to name a few. That's good to know Lego is back in the limelight back home.

Specifically, what theme are you collecting? Have you tried buying on eBay? Don't you worry - we'll find some other Pinoys out there. Have you tried looking at Lugnet.com, under organization. There is 1 club I think that is locally based.

right now i'm more into the Ferrari Sets, more specifically sets in MiniFig Scale. The other sets have too many stickers, while the Technic sets are ridiculously overpriced (Ferrari F1 1:8 is at US$300!!!). TinyTurbo Ferraris just arrived so i'm getting those as well. aside from Ferrari, I'm more into trucks and cars so i completed the Fire set (except the station), heavy hauler, concrete mixer, recycle truck, and the new cargo transport truck with forklift. planning to get the police truck after the TT Ferraris.

won't be buying from ebay anymore, too traumatized. i'll stick with BL hehe.

Found some members from bricklink but they're not active anymore. i'll check out Lugnet now, if there's still no luck, i might be riding along your thread for ideas, if that's ok with you kabayan ;)

[AFOL SF]

right now i'm more into the Ferrari Sets, more specifically sets in MiniFig Scale. The other sets have too many stickers, while the Technic sets are ridiculously overpriced (Ferrari F1 1:8 is at US$300!!!). TinyTurbo Ferraris just arrived so i'm getting those as well. aside from Ferrari, I'm more into trucks and cars so i completed the Fire set (except the station), heavy hauler, concrete mixer, recycle truck, and the new cargo transport truck with forklift. planning to get the police truck after the TT Ferraris.

won't be buying from ebay anymore, too traumatized. i'll stick with BL hehe.

Found some members from bricklink but they're not active anymore. i'll check out Lugnet now, if there's still no luck, i might be riding along your thread for ideas, if that's ok with you kabayan ;)

So you're into Ferrari's huh? Did you see the Ferrari truck set on sale at S@H ($20 off retail, I think) but still pricey, if you ask me. Occasionally I see good deals on eBay but if you had some bad experiences there... then that's another story. I'll keep you posted if I see any good deals around.

So you're into Town Theme. How much is the Police Truck back home? I might be able to help you out on that one.

Walang problema... anything to help a fellow AFOL and kabayan!

[Caffeine]

Gas prices are already over $4/gallon in my area.

I feel your pain.

Still hovering around 3.70 over here like it has been for the last few months, but $4 over there? Damn, now I know why you never come to our meetings. XD

[AFOL SF]

Damn, now I know why you never come to our meetings. XD

Don't you worry, I'll try my best to at least attend one of BayLUG's meeting this year, regardless of the gas price.