WARMACHINE Weekend is nearly upon us, and I am very excited!

You see, this is my favorite WARMACHINE event—yet it will be the first time I actually attend.

I know, I know: this may need a little bit of explaining. How can this possibly be your favorite if you haven’t actually gone to WARMMACHINE Weekend (WMW)?

Let’s roll the steam-powered time machine back two years to 2012 and the days leading up to WARMACHINE Weekend. It was at that time Privateer Press posted an employment opportunity seeking a 3D sculptor on its website just two days before WMW. I’d been a miniatures hoarder for decades and a gamer for as long as I could remember; I felt like I was a good fit.

I eagerly retooled my portfolio to make it Privateer Press-centric, and I set out to arrange a meeting with someone, anyone, from PP who would look at my work. With a little help (and you know who you are—I am eternally grateful), I was able to set up “a few minutes” with a staff member on Friday morning. The first day of WMW.

I arrived at the location early to sit in my car and play the scenario out in my mind. Job posting two days before WARMACHINE Weekend with a description that fit me perfectly and in my own hometown? Let’s do this.

The first person from Privateer Press who I was introduced to was Studio Manager Ron Kruzie. He looked through my portfolio, and we discussed my work; we seemed to hit it off well. Ron shared a lot of ideas I had about digital sculpting, and we talked for a while longer before he needed to mingle. But he let me know that we would meet with Creative Director Ed Bourelle in a bit, so I shouldn’t leave.

I felt like it had gone pretty well.

Nothing like being in the middle of the commons area at a table sandwiched between Ron and Ed while they discuss my portfolio! After talking with me a bit, Ed suggested a freelance job, which I was obviously thrilled to hear.

That sculpt was the first step down a new, exciting path; sculpt itself ended up in Zombies Keep Out! That little guy and that path quickly led to an offer to join the team at PP HQ, and so I headed west. I later found out they were prepared to pay me to make WARMACHINE models!

So, now you know why WARMACHINE Weekend is my favorite Privateer Press event. This year, I will actually be attending my first WARMACHINE Weekend, and I look forward to seeing a lot of new friends, my old friends, and even a few family members coming to see what I actually do for a living. (Yep, my Grandma, who started me painting statues at a young age, is going to make a visit.)

And what would a homecoming be if we didn’t bring a few sculpts that I worked on? Convention exclusives, maybe even a new one? Maybe some prereleases? Oh, how about my favorite sculpt to date as a prerelease!?! Anyone else excited now?

Like the song says, “Meet me in St. Louis, Louis!”