2013 NBA All-Star Event Diary (Day 7)

2/14

6:30am – It’s Valentine’s Day. I know this because every year Jam Session takes place over this celebratory day of love. I know I need to call my Mother and tell her I love her but the walk from my bed to the shower shook my mind and shifted my thoughts toward the pain that was in my feet. I’m sure the thought of calling my Mom will pop up in my head throughout the day right?

Today is the first day in which Jam Session is open to the public. I am very interested to see the overall response from the city of Houston and if the attendance numbers will spike compared to 2006 when NBA All-Star Jam Session last hit the city. From how much the event has grown in terms of popularity and the way the NBA is marketed today, I am predicting a flood of participants to flock through the doors come 4:00PM with smiling faces, eager to take in the game of basketball like no experience they have ever imagined.

Before we get the opening of the show, there is a plethora of tasks to carry out before we are “show ready.” The punch list looks as follows: stock all meeting room coolers with beverages, send a crew of five to setup for the Budweiser event in Discovery green, move furniture, replace and remove exterior signage, re-rig kiosk banners that are falling, replace a rim on the Slam Dunk Court, place backboard decals on all hoops, setup versatruss at Gatorade Court and FIT Court, deliver skills challenge pieces to the Toyota Center, tape down all Jam Session App signs throughout the show floor, deliver premiums to sponsors, switch out necessary show cards and sign holders, and my personal duty….make sure to hydrate myself with water and apple juice.

4:00pm hits and the doors to Jam Session are now open. FILO staff is out on the show floor being proactive and responding to radio calls. “We have a basketball hoop that is down in the Pop-a-Shot area, can you have someone from FILO come fix it please?” This is an example of a typical radio call from the show floor. Having a veteran crew that can take initiative while using creative problem solving skills is always a plus, and extremely stress free on FILO management.

Before I realize that all I had for dinner was a pack of fruit snacks and a granola bar, it’s rapidly approaching 10:00pm, show closing time. Today was a great day. Such a great day that I might even pop my head down in the lobby after work and enjoy an adult beverage. Shoot, its 12:07am! Hopefully my Mother wasn’t woken by my phone call to wish her happy Valentine’s Day. And I hope she still loves me although I was seven minutes late :/

Written by:
Andy Acosta

2013 NBA All-Star Event Diary (Day 6)

4PM, CST: Doors open for the 2013 NBA All-Star Jam Session.

After the shortest All-Star setup in my 10 year FILO career, the event opened today after just 3 and a half set-up days. The days have been long and tiring, but our outstanding crew was able to assemble our applicable elements, throughout the 400,000+ square foot convention center space, in record time. After months of preparation in the office, a month of prepping equipment in the warehouse, six days of loading trucks and the 3 and a half days of set-up, the event successfully opened fully assembled and on-time. After the excitement and stress of the largest FILO event build, seeing the monster in full force and the smiles on the kids’ faces makes the sweat, blood and tears all worth it. All of the preparation back in Minnesota has paid off.

During show hours our crew will manage the show floor by maintaining and repairing equipment including basketball hoops, signage and shot clocks; coordinating with the NBA and their partners for distribution of all shipments;  placement/adjustments of all signage;  storage of all empty crates and extra equipment; working with zone and court managers; and assisting with any other needs or requests from anyone working the event.

This is turning into yet another successful FILO event. Our crew is compiled of rookies and veterans whom we have molded into a talented, hardworking and successful 2013 FILO crew. I am looking forward to the rest of the All-Star Weekend here in Houston.

Written by:
Brian Buron

2013 NBA All-Star Event Diary (Day 5)

We've  heard from FILO veterans and management level, but how are the new-comers handling the biggest event FILO helps produce every year?  Well...rookie FILO member Brianna Mckenzie took 10 minutes out of her busy schedule to sit down and explain how her first ever FILO event is going.  Nothing like jumping in the deep-end, head-first right?

Tell me your first impression of FILO:   When I first walked into the office to talk to Carrie, I was immediately drawn to the attitude and style of FILO. I love the atmosphere and personality that the people and company have as a whole. You can instantly tell that the company is successful because of the people who work there and the attitude they all possess.

How did the first few days of set-up go?   The first few days can best be summed up in two words: organized chaos. I really didn't know what to expect when told I would be helping unload 16 semi-trucks and then building enough structures to fill a rather large facility, but the FILO team is nothing, if not supportive, motivated and hard-working. My first few days were exhausting, but rewarding.

What is your favorite thing about working at a FILO event?   My favorite thing has been seeing an empty facility turn into the madness that is NBA All-Star Jam Session. I love that such a small, dedicated group of people can make such a huge impact on the environment and mission they are focused on.

What is one thing you have learned at this event?   I have learned how to wire metal detectors. And nothing makes me happier.

How did you hear about/get involved with FILO?   My good friend, Dan Fosse, is currently on as a full-time employee for FILO and he recommended I check out what FILO and the NBA All-Star Jam Session were all about.

Would you come back again next year?   I would most definitely come back again.

What was the biggest surprise about doing this event (travel, labor, FILO attitude, anything, etc.)?   Again, I think the biggest surprise was how much set-up and building such a small group of people can do in such a short amount of time. I knew it was going to be hard work and long days, but seeing the end result has made it all worth it.

Written by:
Brianna Mckenzie

2013 NBA All-Star Event Diary (Day 4)

Eight years ago I made my first trip to the NBA All-Star Jam Session (ASJS) right here in Houston, when I was an intern with FILO, and I’ve been fortunate to work every year since. This one got off to a bit of a rough start for me due to storm Nemo forcing the cancellation of flights out of NYC, but I was able to get out finally and ready to work when I landed.

Being an experienced veteran, I feel I can do anything sent my way. Whether it’s Janitorial Manager or Center Court Liaison, my attitude is to crush the task I’m given. Because I am known as an expert truck packer, I started unloading trucks right away. Pop-a-Shots have been a favorite of mine since my internship so I quickly moved to building those and, after finishing them in record time, I moved on to setting up hoops for the remainder of the day. Besides a good attitude the MUST HAVE this week is great footwear for the long 16-hour days of walking 10-plus miles, and I’ve already changed my shoes multiple times.

This year I have a few new FILO’s to mentor and it’s obvious the whole crew is great again. My team (who I refer to as the A-Team) consists of all rookies and I guarantee one of them will be the 2013 rookie of the year. It is a close race between Morgan, Mike and Phil, who have also crushed tasks this week. We are all looking forward to the rest of the long work week, but at the same time, can’t wait for the last truck to be packed so we can have a celebratory cocktail and get a good night’s sleep.

Written by:
Stephen Buron

2013 NBA All-Star Event Diary (Day 3)

Well if I didn't know what FILO meant before today, I have a clear understanding of it now - First In Last Out describes my new colleagues perfectly. The close-knit FILO team goes from dusk 'till dawn everyday at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston to help make the NBA All-Star Jam Session something special.

This is my first All-Star experience as a FILO rookie and I'm quickly thrown into the fire with Sunday Setup Day, when 16 semi-trailers arrive from St. Paul filled with courts, hoops, signage, inflatables, kiosks (and seemingly everything but the kitchen sink). Our first task, after meeting in the hotel lobby at 6:15am, is to head over to Convention Center but of course we have to wait for the doors to open (First In). Once inside we all start the task of getting the gear off the trucks and to the right location in the Convention Center, which is easier said than done amidst the chaos of speeding forklifts and escalating jib-lifts . A dozen different companies are working furiously to get power on, lighting set up, print/audio capabilities running, and courts, hoops and bleachers constructed and its like mass chaos.

My specific role today is to help direct each item to its proper location and thanks to the forethought of our experienced crew the chaos becomes organized. Even a first-timer like me can handle it because every item is color-coded to match a specific location. For example, crates with blue labels go to the Walk of Fame section, kiosks with yellow labels go to autograph area and pink items head to the Hall D. The other FILO's do the real work lifting and moving gear, but the biggest challenge is to keep your head on a swivel and avoid getting hit by carts or bicycles whizzing by with workers on the move. I quickly realize why our CEO Kevin Weinhandl emphasizes safety all day, every day and at the end of the day my muscles and bones thank him for it.

It's 6:00 pm now and as the FILOs gather for a well-earned dinner, the event is well on its way to being fully-built. Pop-a-shots are ready, bleachers are standing, signage fills half the walls and columns and lights and audio are working great…for now. But, there's a lot of work yet to do and nobody with a FILO shirt is leaving until the lights go out and they kick us out (Last Out).

Written by:
Lou Bavaro

2013 NBA All-Star Event Diary (Day 2)

Have you ever known you were going to be working long hours, so you try to prepare yourself beforehand by drinking plenty of fluids and maybe even getting up early to get in the groove of things? Well, I thought I was well rested and prepared for that extra early alarm to go off…Needless to say I must not have been because when the alarm went off at 5:40am this morning, I, of course, hit the snooze button! The worst part about it is that 5:40 is not that early, especially for us at FILO!

By 5:45am, I rolled out of bed and was out the door and in the lobby for a 6:15am lobby call to set up an event called NBA All-Star E-Recycling presented by Sprint. The event was set to open at 9:00 AM. By the time we were on the road and out the doors, we had two hours to set up this awesome event where people can recycle unwanted electronic products like cellphones, computers, TVs, VCRs (who owns those anymore anyhow?!), copiers, fax machines etc. Not only was it an awesome opportunity for folks to dispose of such products, it was also their chance to meet NBA Legends Elvin Hayes, Calvin Murphy and the Houston Rockets Dancers. The event setup went smoothly! We were open and ready for the event by 9am.

After a good setup, we decided it was time for some breakfast, so KW took us to the “Best place in Houston for breakfast—it was a local taco shop.” Needless to say, props to KW for picking out a pretty decent ‘hole in the wall’ place to grab some pretty awesome breakfast!

Two of our FILOs spent the day at the event to be sure everything ran accordingly, while the other FILOs headed back to the hotel and went to work preparing schedules for unloading trucks bright and early tomorrow morning!

I think afterwards, a few of them took a nap… or maybe they continued working—who knows? Sometimes we find time in a day to catch some zzzzz’s before the next part in our day.

Bibs and I headed to the airport to do endless trips picking up the rest of our crew for All-Star. Let me tell you…driving in Texas is quite the experience and well, to be honest, we may not be the greatest drivers! Yes, I am admitting that I am not a very good driver, but I like to classify it as aggressive!

It is 2:45pm now and Bibs and I are still doing airport pick-ups. However, while we were doing pick-ups, we convinced a handful of our FILO troops to go and help load-out the NBA All-Star E-Recycling presented by Sprint event. The crew was great and it was a SUPER fast load out! They were in and out in 45 minutes and back to the hotel they went. Lucky for some, their day was over, but a few came back to do some more work and prepare for what we hope to be a successful All Star!

At 6pm, dinner time came and a few of us ran to the grocery store to get some breakfast for the next morning. We also grabbed some random stuff for a quick dinner. I had sushi…yes from the grocery store…and yes you guessed it, it was amazing! After dinner, it was time for a little treat that Bibs and I LOVE….I scream, you scream, we all scream, ICE CREAM! Okay, maybe not ice cream but frozen yogurt! :)

Then we were off at 6:45pm for another airport pick-up. And at 8:30pm we were back on the road for our FINAL airport pick up of the day. We made five trips to the airport today and each time had to use a GPS. I promise you after these 13 days I will have the roads figured out… and the last pick up means our day is officially a wrap! Well sort of…. :)

Written by:
Kendra Meyers

2013 NBA All-Star Event Diary (Day 1)

Have you ever wondered what it was like to put yourself in someone else's shoes when it comes to their job.  Well, we at FILO think we have the best job in the world!  

So we thought... why not give people the first-hand, behind the scenes "life of FILO," during the 2013 NBA All-Star weekend.  For 13 days, we are going to take an in depth look at what it's like to be in the shoes of FILO, during our biggest, most exciting event of the year.  We will provide daily diary blogs about anything and everything from a handful of different FILO representatives.  Some stuff may surprise you... some things you may already know... but when everything is said and done, we can promise you that you will have a little better understanding of what FILO's shoes feel like.

EVENT DIARY - 13 Days of All-Star
Day 1 

Written by: Andrew Westphal (AJW)

6:40am – 1 of 7 alarms go off. While it’s not any earlier than a normal day, missing the flight to Houston wouldn’t technically be, “starting off on the right foot.”

7:55am – The 2nd of 2 pieces of luggage is 8 pounds overweight. Needless to say, the next 20 minutes are awful and frustrating. I’ll save you the trouble, but long story short, there’s always a way. (A few tricks, courtesy of Bibs (Carrie Hagen), include restraining from putting your back 2 wheels on the scale or acting disgruntled to the point of which they walk away and leave you be, at which point, you just put the items you’ve removed, back into the suitcase – Let’s hope TSA isn’t reading this).


8:45am – Have you ever heard of this new Digiboo service? Downloading movies for rent or purchase in under 10 minutes to your digital device at the airport, apparently. Bibs and I had some troubles, but it seems legit. Iced light latte and marble loaf is purchased – these are automatics in the morning.


9:15am – Everyone’s waiting together at the gate to board. For all intents and purposes, when I refer to “the Boss,” it’s Kevin Weinhandl, not Bruce… The boss informs us of one of the worst possible things that could possibly happen before hopping on a plane for an event – he forgets his iPad.


12:50pm – FILO’s crew of 9 land safely @ IAH in Houston, TX. Yes it’s 60 degrees and yes we’re all thrilled about it.


1:35pm – 4 rental vehicles later, the two FILO ladies are headed to IKEA to purchase some furniture and 5 other of us are headed for the local vendor warehouse to check out the equipment they are holding for us. Shortly thereafter, we all head to a local event in Cypress, TX. No we have not headed to the hotel and checked-in yet – Dedication, folks. Take notes…


2:47pm – Shaun is sitting in the passenger seat. After being on one highway for 13 miles, I randomly say, “We don’t need to take 290 do we?” “Yea, why?” he says. “Because we just passed it…”

3:04pm – We get to the event and the fellas are putting together some elements for the event. We string together a few transframe banners and set everything up at a Sprint retail store. We couldn’t find the Sprint store originally because Shaun only noticed the Five Guys next to it, but it was in a nice little area. After Shaun and Dan have the event under control, Bri-guy, Andy and I hit the road for the hotel.


5:00pm – Finally get to the hotel. We’ve stayed here before -- For two of our summer experiential marketing tours. It’s pandemonium. There are All-Star banners being put-up everywhere and hundreds of people in the lobby checking in (yea, ok…I exaggerated. There are maybe 12 – “hundreds” sounds way better). I haven’t eaten since 8:45am, but that’s the life of an event person. They give me a warm cookie and I snag an apple. I’m on the 11th floor, which isn’t bad. I don’t have any preferences when it comes to a hotel, to be an honest. Refrigerators are nice, but as long as you have wireless, I’ll give the cliché, “Yea it was a nice hotel” to anyone who asks.

After I get into my room, I literally spend the next 2 ½ hours rearranging the furniture and desks in my room. Instead of 2 beds or one ginormous one, in my hotel, I am going to have a lazy-boy for you to sit in when you’re not at the desk or using your bed. It just makes sense. And how come no one has ever come up with the idea to put an espresso machine in the room, instead of that garbage, mini-coffee maker? I could get some more sleep time and make the lattes myself. Seriously…

After answering some emails and working for a bit, I un-pack and iron my shirts so they’re ready for the next 2 weeks. I pack like a girl. So far, I’m the only one who was actually over-weight and had to switch items around (and 8 pounds over, none-the-less).


7:26pm- Bibs sends out a mass text message saying everyone’s headed to Hard Rock for dinner. I decide to join. Most of the crew attends: Brian, Tom, Bibs, Kendra, Scott and his buddy, KG. The Boss is out sick tonight and Andy has other plans. It’s a great dinner and most of the dinner is spent reminiscing about old projects we’ve worked on at FILO, as well as Kendra’s latest gluten fascination—don’t ask.


9:53pm – I head towards the nearest McDonalds to drop off a redbox I had for the flight. Turns out they’re closed. But I just ate my weight in pulled pork, so I decide to take a late night stroll. There’s a CVS about a mile away. It gets the job done.


10:34pm – Bed time -- another early day tomorrow as we have another event outside the convention center. We have a 6:15am lobby-call. Yes, that means the alarm is set for 5:15am so I can get my iced latte and muffin. And yes, Houston….we’re finally here.

Written by:
Andrew Westphal

Five Minutes With a Crafty Vet

For almost a decade now, there is a week, or combination of two weeks, where the FILO office and warehouse is hectic -- beyond hectic, even. Borderline frantic and chaotic. That week (or weeks) always takes place at the end of January or the beginning of February in preparation for our biggest event of the year: NBA All-Star Jam Session.

There is no difference this year, as the first three trucks will be loaded by the finest gents in all of Minnesota, starting Thursday, January 31. Lucky for us, however, we have a crafty veteran who flew into town from New York for the special occasion. His name: James Buron. We call him Jim or Jimbo, for short. Jim was one of the original FILO’s back in the day, but moved out east to New York, years ago. He is brother of current FILO Director, Brian Buron. The Buron family lives here in Saint Paul, and the FILO team considers it a treat to have not 1, but 2 Buron’s at the FILO HQ (And if you think that’s special, just wait until we get down to Houston, when we will have 3 Buron’s under one roof, but I digress…).

Jimbo’s one of the hardest working and intelligent minds in the event industry—no biased, really. The young, crafty vet took five minutes out of his busy schedule in the warehouse to shed some light on what it’s like during Jam Session truck-loading week. His exquisite insight is detailed below.


How many NBA All-Star Jam Session’s is this for you, now?   6 or 7? Denver was my first, but I've missed a few since then.

How was the flight in? Are you excited to be back in Minnesota?   Delayed and bumpy. Love Minnesota, though. God's country.

What’s it like this week around the FILO warehouse?   All work, no play. Nah, actually we’re having some fun. Good crew here.

What’s your favorite thing about working in the warehouse?   Noodle's deejay skills (Shaun Donovan, also known as Noodle to some, is one of FILO’s hardest working warehouse managers—He’s also a talented musician. Kid really can spin).

Favorite warehouse item to load?   Bleachers and columns. It's a guarantee that you'll wake up the next morning with sore muscles, and you don't even need to take a trip to the gym. Free workout.

What’s the fastest you think you will load a truck in this week?   If I'm driving the forklift, we will most certainly be breaking all previous truck loading times. 8-10 minutes a truck.

What if your brother, Brian, is driving the forklift?   Oh, well in that case…We’ll be lucky if we are out of here in time for All-Star. Probably be closer to 4-6 hours a truck.

In five words or less, what’s the feeling when that 16th truck is loaded?   Shirtless snow angel!

Written by:
Andrew Westphal