They get dirty doing meet-ups (About dolly respect)

Just bear in mind that sometimes things can happen beyond your control at a public meet; the weekend before last, I was at a meet at the Royal Festival Hall here in London. For the most part it was quite quiet and peaceful, but we hadn't realised the London Philharmonic Orchestra was playing a concert in the auditorium next door - at the interval, the area we were in was suddenly flooded with curious members of the public bearing sticky alcoholic drinks or hot cups of coffee, and they weren't being particularly careful. We had to up sticks and move ourselves and dolls to the far end of the room so the dolls would be less at risk; I was looking after a friend's Bernard at the time so made sure he was safe, but my El Kai was grabbed by someone else and I lost track of him for a few minutes - my eldest daughter was with me however and kept an eye on him.

It wasn't until after the meet that I found he had a black smudge on one cheek, hidden by his wig, and another on his arm. Both came off with judicious application of a Magic Eraser and his face-up is fine, but I was prepared for the possibility he might get dirty when I decided to bring him.

 

At a recent meet at an art museum, we stopped at the cafeteria so a few of us could eat. Doll at one end of the table and food at the other. There were a couple rolling heads along for the ride, and one was sitting in the lap of one of my boys, who lost his grip when he got bumped. The head went... well, rolling. I managed to catch him before he rolled off the table, but when I turned him over, he had a big black streak on his new faceup.

I know most of my dolls are dirty since I play with them a lot and never clean them (dirty boys!), but I try to be exceptionally careful when handling others' dolls. When I saw that streak on his face, I felt terrible and apologized profusely. I hope she was able to remove it okay!

 

I don't worry too much about my dolls getting dirty at meets. As several other people here have said, a chip, scratch, or an actual scuff to the surface of the resin is one thing. Just a little dirt, especially on legs and hands, is easily fixed. I'm generally pretty laid back about people handling my dolls. To be fair, I've done most of my gang's face-ups myself. I probably wouldn't be so cavalier about it if I'd commissioned a hard-to-book artist, and paid $$$ to have them done. Although, in that case, I probably wouldn't bring those dolls to meets. You take a little risk whenever you take a doll out in public. That's true whether it's with fellow experienced dolly folk, or around those unfamiliar with "meet-up manners".

I know friends who have one or two special dolls that they will not take to meets at all, specifically because the dolls are too rare, or too fragile, to risk. That approach makes more sense to me than bringing the doll/s, and then being anxious the entire time. Dirt happens at meet-ups. If the thought of a special doll getting a little grubby is unbearable, then you might be best leaving that one at home.

 

At meet ups I expect my dolls to get dirty. Tables are dirty, hands are dirty, and there nothing that can be done about it. Resin is washable. I know with a major anime con coming up very soon my dolls are going to be handled and they are going to get dirty. It doesn't bug me that is what the Mr Clean erasers are for. I know last year during this same con I washed the dolls down at least once a day to make sure they were clean for the next.

 

At the one meet I've been to, there really wasn't any getting dirty that I noticed - we were at 2 different doll shops, so there wasn't lots of dirt anyway (though there was some rain between places). I imagine, though, for an outdoor meet or one involving food that there's the possibility of getting dirty, there. My guys seem to get dirty just sitting around at home, so as long as it's minor, fixable, cleanable dirt I'm not too concerned. I do take my guys outside for photos and stuff, so they're not likely to get much dirtier at a meet than at home.

I think I will just keep in mind where the meet is and what's going on when choosing who to bring. I know I will have one who will be more of a "indoors being carried and always in my sight" meetup doll, and since I did Kale's faceup myself, he's most likely to be my "wherever" doll. Everyone I met was so awesome and nice though, I wouldn't worry much about them causing any dirt. I'm still thrilled some of them were so willing to let me see and hold their dolls.

 

I'm really careful with my boy, as well as other peoples dolls when I'm handling them (I wait until someone says its okay for me to touch them). In all honesty, I try to keep him in long sleeves and long pants for meetups, to make sure he doesn't get scratched up or dirty. Most doll people at the very least know to be careful of the faceup. I also tend to sit my boy in front of me, and if I don't I make sure I'm near him at all times. I'm a little paranoid, but people tend to notice that I'm 'guarding' him and ask before touching him. If I get him dirty, I get a little freaked out, but its my fault and just an accident since I'm very careful (almost had a grass stain incident the other day, luckily I caught it before it dried)

I'm not totally sure what I'm going to do when I have two to keep track of at a bigger meetup though. I'll probably keep them together and watch closely still.

 

I have to echo what others have said. There's a difference to me between the "Eh, it happens dirt and scratches" and something avoidable like a chip or scratch caused by improper handling or extraordinary amounts of dirt caused by people not practicing basic hygiene.

When I go to meetups and cons I go expecting the first. The second would anger me, that's because as I said they would be avoidable if people behaved as they should. Thankfully, I've been lucky so far in that I've never had avoidable damage done to my dolls and very rarely have a come back from a doll outing to any surprising level of unavoidable dirt.

 

Generally I keep an eye on people, as long as the dirt isn't on their face or clothes I'm not so bothered. It's a good idea to bring a bit of magic eraser with you as well. People should at least put a bit of effort though too, seriously -_- besides covering your a$$, that's what pants are for, recyclable napkin. Some people just simply don't have that level of cleanliness though. I've seen some pretty gross looking dolls, it just might not cross someone's mind that other people might care about the pristine look of their belongings.

Always keep a magic eraser on you, maybe they'll learn by example if they see you caring for your doll, or at least learn -your- stand on the idea.

 

To be entirely honest, when I see comments to the effect of, "You should just expect your doll will get dirty and if you won't let someone hold it there's no sense in coming," I think, "Oh good, now we all know that (soandso) should never be allowed within 10 feet of our dolls." I also agree that looking at how someone else treats their doll is a good measure. If they bring their doll in a plastic Wal-Mart sack (obviously exaggerating, but you get what I mean), I wouldn't want them near my doll.

Doll owners should know better, especially about "treating others' dolls as you'd want yours to be treated," but the lack of respect I see among the online doll community indicates to me that in general, they don't. I've never been to a meetup, but I will be going to Dolpa and while I generally trust the Japanese participants to behave ... well, finish that sentence. I mean, goodness, hasn't anyone ever heard "look with your eyes and not with your hands?" If the purpose of a meetup is to SEE different sculpts, why on earth should we all "expect" our dolls to get dirty or handled? I think it would be cool to see other sculpts, but if it's at the risk of my dolls getting molested by other people, then ... doesn't seem worth it. And more so if chips and scratches are as common as people make them out to be. Or broken fingers.

I'm not super anal about my dolls, but if I can prevent mishaps and excessive dirt by being one of those AWFUL owners who never lets anyone touchytouch, then ... so be it. Ne touchez pas.

 

It sounds like you may be being scared off unnecessarily by a lot of the responses here, which is understandable. This thread probably makes things sound a little worse than they are. I've attended meet-ups regularly for about three years, both local meets, and two NYC Dolpas. People generally will ask before handling your dolls, and I've personally never had a doll broken or scratched at a meet. They have gotten dirty. But never anything that couldn't be easily wiped away. I do however recognize the possibility that by taking them out, something could happen. I'm about to get an older fullset doll, and she probably won't go to many meet-ups. I also have one all-white BtSSB outfit that my dolls don't wear to meets, because I don't want to have to worry about it. There are different atmospheres in different meet groups, as well. One of the local groups in my area tends to be very informal. Everyone knows everyone's dolls, and the dolls are passed around, dressed, played with, etc. Another group tends to be more of a "sit the dolls on the table, and everyone walks around and looks" affair.

ETA: Speaking of Dolpas specifically, at least judging from the ones I've attended in the US, you probably don't have to worry. Since people don't necessarily know one another as well as they might at a local meet-up, the behavior tends to be more formal. The meets where dolls get touched and handled the most are the local meets where everyone feels familiar.

 

I haven't had any problems at our local meetups. We're all pretty good about respecting each other's dolls, and the dirtiest my dolls have gotten have been due to me posing them in trees and on mossy rocks and such.

I have noticed that I'm a little more wary with my Euclase than with my other dolls, but he also cost a good four to five times as much as they did. ^^; He did get that middle joint of his popped out of place at the last meetup, but that's not exactly 'damage' just annoying, and it's easily fixed as soon as I feel like taking him apart to do it.

Heck, I have more problems at home than I do at meets, with a roommate that just doesn't understand that he's not supposed to touch their faces. -__-

 

I've only been to two meet-ups so far, but everyone in attendance was very respectful of everyone's dolls. From what I could see, if anyone was holding someone else's doll, they were very careful. Otherwise, most just admired without touching.

But it's to be expected that your doll is going to be touched when at a meet. This rolls into some of the discussions on here about doll etiquette, but folks should know that they should ask permission prior to touching someone's doll and not touch the face. Personally, I don't think it's unreasonable for an owner to specify no one touch their doll--but you wouldn't be there if you didn't want your doll seen. There'd be no reason to bring them if you cloistered them away.

Honestly, just be prepared. Dolls get dirty even if your hands are clean from a combination of reasons--from stuff in the air, to what they're touching, and even the clothes. Baby wipes and a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser will easily remove most of the normal grub. Pack those in your carrier and keep an eye on doll and there's no harm.

Also, as far as being chipped/scratched/damaged ... well, a lot of that is preventable if you're aware of the surface your doll is on (or over). I highly suggest never leaving a doll standing unsupervised. Accidents like that can happen anywhere, whether in public or in your own home.

 

don't dolls get grubby from being handled whether your hands are clean or not?

my elf ducan got dirty at the meet i went to...but he dirtied himself. he scraped his own face-up and left black scratches all over it

 

I've only been to one miniscule meetup, there was a grand total of four dolls (three MSDs one Puki) and we just stood the dolls up on a table and chatted about them. Neither of us were "Ooooh! No touchy!" about our dolls, but neither did we paw them. It was respectful. My attendant doll didn't get dirty at all!

However, I imagine that different meets have different characters and if you're in an outdoor meet, it would be very easy for a doll to get dirty by accident. It's not the end of the world anyway, help is only a magic eraser away. I would flip out if one of my dolls got broken at a meet, but a little grime isn't unacceptable.

 

This is how the meetups that I go to run...there are 4 of us and all we do is chat We're all adults though who have a tendency not to play.

 

I don't care if a little dirt on my dolls. I take them outside for photos anyway, and I do the face-ups myself, so I know how they were sealed and I don't mind people touching the faces a little, to pose them.

However, when I go to meets, I don't assume everyone will have the same outlook I do. I ask if I can pick up a doll, I try to only touch the clothes while I'm looking at it, and I ask again seperately if the owner minds me touching the resin, or posing it. I have been to a few meets where people had dolls with extremely expensive face-ups and clothes. In these cases I usually offer up my dolls for the newbies to play with, since I don't minds them getting a little grubby, or fuzzy from outfit changes. You just have to sense who's okay with what and be prepared to tell people you'd rather they not touch your doll in certain manners.

 

The thing is, many doll meet ups are done in dirty places (convention halls, malls, outside). Even if a meet up is done in someone's house, well, humans are living things that secrete oils and stuff. We naturally get dirty during the course of the day. It's kind of silly to not realize that a doll will get a little grungy if you let a bunch of people handle it all in a row. It's true that some people can be thoughtless about it, particularly if they have a lax approach to handling their own dolls, and that can be annoying. But your doll is your responsibility, and if it getting a little dirty from handling at a meet bothers you, you need to plan accordingly.

For example, I was at a meet at a con once, and someone had covered their hands with henna designs. Their own doll had henna on him from her hands, turning his skin orange. She asked to hold my doll (who was wearing a white dress), and I respectfully told her no, and explained why, because I would have been quite upset if the white dress was stained orange! But I can get a little dirt off of her body fairly easily, so I let people hold her unless I saw a good reason not to.

Bottom line: In a perfect world, no harm would come to any doll at any meet, but this is not a perfect world. If you expect your doll to leave a meet as pristine as she entered it, you're going to have to see to it yourself, unfortunately.

 

That really sucks man! Yeah, I'd be pretty pissed off too but like you, there wouldn't be much I could do, especiallly since it's not so easy to single out the biggest culprit. Thankfully that's never happened, but the first meet up I ever went to, the girl wanted for some reason to take my doll's head off. And of course, it took her forever to put the head back on because of the S hook. And after that, Fen's head had zero mobility, so I had to take her head off again and reposition the S hook. That experience alone has turned me off to letting others handle my doll, or going to any more meets for that matter.

 

This is mostly for the OP:

Don't want to have your doll to get dirty, Dont' bring them to meet ups, it's that simple.
even if you don't allow others at the meet to touch your dolls it will still get slightly dirty.

People who expect to keep a 'clean' doll after an outing are foolish. (Unless you take out the your doll wrapped in plastic.)

 

I'm really not picky with dirt and dolls. I don't like for my dolls to be visibly dirty, that's pretty gross...but if I take them in public, I expect it to happen. I usually won't say anything about people touching, though most people ask first. I've only have two instances when I've grabbed my doll away from somebody, and both times were due to a grubby handed person not asking first. At one meet, a random snot nosed little kid that had been eating grabbed my DC Faramita and I freaked out....my hubby got him back and notified the mom, who informed us that she understands about expensive dolls and so do her girls...."M?Y girls have those REALLY expensive American Girls dolls, so we get it." >.>

The other case was when my coworker grabbed my AoD Qian....his hands were literally black from working on a motor, he was covered in dirt and oil. and he touched her faceup and jerked her head in a direction it shouldn't move, then started pawing at her dress, trying to look up it....I grabbed her back as fast as I could....I didn't sceram or anything (though I wanted to) because it was my fault for taking her to work...but I work in a clean office and the guys work uot in the shop and never bother anything personal on my desk, so I REALLY thought she'd be safe....so, needless to say, while I didn't have a screaming fit, I no longer sit dolls on my desk.

Though I do think it's just common decency at a meet to ask before touching and always treat other people's dolls even more respectfully and carefully than your own. Just becasuse I'm ok with minor scuffs or dirt or sticking my doll in a tree doesn't mean others feel the same.