So, You're Going to a Wheelmobile Event?

When this thing rolls in, you're avoiding a major Bankrupt in your life's fun factor! And no, that's not shadow around the word OF, it appears to be an actual window. 



I can say I've seen the Wheelmobile twice, once 6 years ago, once October 2013. However, this report will not only include information on my (Prizes) trips to a Wheelmobile event, but also staff member MarioGS's in May 2012 experience at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs casino, in Wilkes-Barre, PA, as well as the October 2013 event we both went to.

If things have since changed- PM me, so I can edit this. Likewise, if I've screwed up, I want to know- PM me what's wrong! If there are new puzzles that you've seen, and aren't listed, tell me!

It was in a local mall in Rhode Island, PACKED to the brim with people, time one. Time two, really nobody came out, even on a busy mall day. Sunday made sense because of the Patriots game and rainy weather. Security was everywhere and in full force, so don't do anything suspicious. I don't think there was so much as a GUARD there time 2. I know you would know better, but it appeared security was higher than that mall would usually have. The last thing you want your memories with Wheel to be is getting kicked out of the event.

Mario's event was from 10AM-2PM (our mutual one from 1-5PM), arrived at around 8:45AM, and was still about the 40th person in line. Now that's dedication! In RI, my longest wait was actually getting through where the line would be to fill out slips, so 90 seconds tops. Around 8:55, someone from the Wheelmobile team gave out applications. At the RI event, you just filled them out and put them in a bin. Three men in white Wheelmobile T-shirts went down the line handing out coupons for the casino, pens, and the applications. Pretty good deal, and the early bird catches the worm!


First, I suggest you get there REALLY early, as enforced by Mario's story, if at all possible, since my RI one seems like the exception; so you're in a good spot to see the show, not to mention, to make a good impression. Ask to get a small slip (might be a ticket) to put your name on, some page will likely hand them out to asking people. It will go in a giant spinning raffle box, much like this, when I saw it back then. Likely no longer in use, but for historical reasons...



However, given a member's update from a Wheelmobile event in 2012, and various reports from 2013-present, the spinner looks more like this:




For Mario's event, the applications were color-coded for each of the three "shows" they do throughout the day. Each show was 90 minutes apart (for me, they were at 10, 11:30, and 1). For example, if the event was scheduled from 1-5, the shows are at 1, 2:30, and 4. The first show's applications are blue, the second yellow, and the third orange. If you're not picked to go on stage for one show, you can go back to the line and fill out a new application for the next show. An image of the application can be found here:

www.flickr.com/photos/happysteve/1797186464/

Add your college and future graduation year if you're a college student, for those college weeks!

Marty explains how everything works, including how you still have a shot even if you're name isn't called, and how you're not guaranteed to move on to the next round of auditions if you get on stage and/or solve the puzzle. Those who move on will be notified with either a letter or an E-mail sometime within the next three months. Afterwards, he warms up the crowd more, fills them in on more rules, and usually has everyone do the title chant, which wasn't chanted on the third show.

A former contestant (and fellow BAVowelameatavegaminian) told me she folded up her said slip as as small as possible, so it would feel different from the rest, and thus, more likely to be picked. I can't speak to the overall usefulness of this trick, but it's worked at least once. Others don't fold at all, and that has also worked. Whatever it is you do, just make sure you actually put your slip in. Tracey Wilson is your traveling Vanna? Do NOT fold. Rather, put things like stickers around the edge of your application, her hands seem to be drawn to those a LOT.

Mario claimed that "flat" ones were picked more often, at his SWB event, in regards to this-as I wasn't there, don't know if this was Tracey.

When your name is drawn, you have to make sure to react loudly so they know you're in the crowd. If the person can't be found, they're replaced with another draw. You have to go to a small tent next to the stage where representatives of the local TV station broadcasting Wheel (in this case, WBRE and WPRI) have you sign in (presumably for verification purposes) and take your picture, headshot only. In a YouTube video I saw, Marty said that either 3 or 5 names are drawn at a time, depending on the crowd size. Here, it was 5. It can be as much as 7, if puzzle are drawn early. If someone called doesn't show up, they draw an extra name the next time. To start, they draw 10 names. The second group of 5 gets settled in chairs near the stage. Each group drawn (except the first) checks in for the puzzle after the one that's about to be played to save time.

That's another reason to get there super early, less people have put their names in by that point. What is this used for, you might ask? Well, it's used to pick the 3 contestants that will be playing upon a smallish stage. If you are not picked from that "raffle" from the literally thousands of people to play, you will not move on to the next round of auditioning, no matter how good of a player you may be. In this case, 2nd round is playing on stage with Marty, not the audition finals with select other people.

That said- you might fly straight to the audition finals, if you are drawn from the 2nd chance drawings. I hate that the initial auditions are not skill based. However, should you move on, your next rounds are skill AND energy based (DPG style partially filled puzzles- notably also repeats of past years- mock game where you MUST play like it's the real show; see ten96lt's thread). According to Marty, this is all random, but I get the feeling that's only 95% true. However, don't get the wrong idea, because they play at least 15 games, likely more because it went on for so long that I needed lunch (so pack lunch or skip it, as I did in 2013). Because of this, I'd guess probably anywhere from 45-60 players are picked per event.

You'll notice I haven't mentioned the stage you could potentially play on. It is extremely small, bordering on homemade sizes. The letterboard works through flippable white boards, as does the used letter list. If a letter is guessed correctly, Tracey Wilson (your Vanna of Northeast Wheelmobile events) flips over the white board, and uses a dry erase marker to write the letter in. Here's Tracey herself:

 

Can she make mistakes? Yes, but she and the crew (hidden, to her left) are very good about it, it is fixed quickly, typically (and literally) backstage, directly behind the puzzleboard. That, or she'll more likely just erase what she did wrong, sadly for her with a bare hand. As for the categories cards (e.g.: PERSON, THING, EVENT), they are simply sliding cardboard. Between rounds, Marty Lublin (your Pat, regardless of location in the US) interacts with the crowd, while picking names, and everything is replaced behind him (categories, appropriate number of whiteboard letter spaces, etc.).

As for game play itself? Marty Lublin spins a medium-sized wheel (similar to promotional wheels advertising for a company or elsewhere). Whatever the wheel lands on, that's what the winner of the round (game, since the whole game is one round) will receive. Regardless if you win or lose, everyone playing gets a Wheel key chain.

If you're obsessed with Wheel distributions as I am, see below, as it consists for mostly Hats (of varying colors, not your choice), Minipack (backpack), Shirts, and Surprise. It should be noted that the Surprise prize is generally nicer than typical prizes and is not a Hat, Minipack, or Shirt- but that's because it's all of them. Naturally, that wedge is less in abundance than, say, the Hat wedges, because it costs more!


The Wheel itself, if you don't care to look at the video:

Before you start playing, Marty will ask you for a little self-bio, much like Pat would after the 1st Toss-Up. Keep what you say real (it might come up later!), make sure it's Wheel appropriate and G-rated, and make sure to add something funny! Wheel loves players with humor and some flair.

Marty asks each person their name and what they like to do for fun (besides Wheel). Once all 5 have been interviewed, he spins the Wheel to see what prize everyone gets. The announcement of the prize is always followed by the chant of "THAT'S...NOT...ALL!" Additional prizes were awarded including blinky pins, keychains, Pat & Vanna pictures, duffel bags, and paper cutouts of the Wheelmobile. I'll show you the hat and minipack if you want, at some point in the future, since I have those, but haven't used them yet. Please let me know if so. Anyway, here's that paper cutout of the Wheelmobile-notice that the design on this does not have the Buenos Aries trip featured on it, as the actual Wheelmobile does. 




They play as many puzzles as they can within one hour. Show 1 had 10 puzzles, Show 2 had 8, and Show 3 had 9, so an average of about 9 per show. At the start of each show, Marty tells your Vanna to "strike the famous pose", and as she does so, the puzzle chimes play, along with the Prize Puzzle chimes. After the third-to-last puzzle, Marty announced that the next five names would be the last. As soon as the fifth name was announced, me and the majority of the crowd went back into the building to the back of the line for the next show to try again. This was not necessary to do so in Rhode Island in 2013, as lines were no more than 90 seconds, if that, so it was worth sticking around for the gameplay, although this case appears to be the exception, not the rule. Not counting no-shows, about 45 people are drawn per show, or about 135 per day. It was not specified how many additional applications are drawn in Los Angeles.

Some Wheelmobile events (not the SWB one) have a special add-on wedge on the Wheel related to the place the event's being held at (I assume something like free slot play if it's at a casino or something). During the game, Tracy is the one who tells everyone where the letters are. She holds a card in one hand (which she shows to Marty as the Wheel spins) and uses the other to gesture the outcome of the guess. She'll either hold up the number of fingers or shake her head and swipe her hand.

To put it honestly, gameplay at these events can be pretty atrocious. About half of the games had players calling used letters, calling two letters, solving without calling a letter (you aren't on Free Play, don't try this), or getting buzzed out. Since you're reading this guide and viewing this site, I'd have to think you know better, right? For your information, if you DO guess incorrectly, the buzzer used is a "Taboo"-esque buzzer, not the show's actual buzzer sound effect-it is also timed so that you only get in one guess per turn, unlike the actual show. I state this so you aren't alarmed. Likewise, the only vowels left sound is not available, nor are all consonants dimmed when there are no consonants left.


The game itself is played the exactly same way as the speed-up round, however, given no money for non-vowels, I'd think about guessing vowels first, this strategy was underused (if at all) because it's not like the majority of actual show. Just look at my post from 1/8/14. Given the repeats they use are like toss-up style in length, there tends to be a fair share of Es, Os, and As. If you want my purely personal, unscientific letter selection process at a blind puzzle here, it's: ETRNSAHODL; from there it's probably solved or you can figure out what the solution is by that point. Back to my point on people failing on letters, given my experiences and stories, many people don't know how the actual show works, either, let alone smart letters to pick! Marty himself has encouraged playing the puzzles like it's the Speed-up in recent years, not that it has followed. He'll also allude to fail solves like CORNO CURRO CABINET if people are leaving off words, or not solving clearly enough.

Letter guessing goes left to right. This order is determined by the order you were picked out of that giant raffle spinner. If you do solve the puzzle correctly, not only a congrats on the prize, but after, you might be escorted by somebody (possibly with or without the two other people you played with), asking for your personal info, because you may have passed the first round of auditions. Way to go! Solving the puzzle doesn't mean you'll go for an actual audition, but it DOES help your chances, as long as you're enthusiastic, and follow the other advice in this post, too. In contrast, if you don't get picked, at all, either out of the spinner or after you play; don't be surprised. Though to not get picked after you play if you follow the guide here would be a shock.  Even then, just enjoy the moment and better luck next time, I sure did! Just hope you're in an area where the Wheelmobile comes a lot and will likely return soon (California, Southern Florida, namely).

The stage itself is travel set; here's a picture of said set in Orlando, September 2008:



And the puzzleboard itself, October 2013:



From avery1961, here are 5 short links about gameplay in North Carolina, in November, 2013. Posted in links, because 5 clips directly put in the post would slow things down too much on your end, as a reader. Notice the last clip in particular; can you notice the two very unique aspects of it? Clip 2, while not having gameplay, is relevant, as it shows in between game action, the level of enthusiasm you should have (and Marty brings every time):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSAhbpmbDKc
www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8J0hLr55Fw
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHlp72MX57k
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pUY46ZjEaQ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=h02IMtndMME

Puzzles that have been from previous Wheelmobile Events are found below. Interestingly, Mario's SWB event contained a good deal of S27 repeats from Toss Ups or Bonus Rounds- just like the real show repeats puzzles. As such, my strategy would be to go to Guint's compedium, found in our links section, and subtract 3 from the current or upcoming season of Wheel, and try to memorize that season's Toss-Ups and Bonus Rounds.

Have fun with this list, never know when it might pop up for you! Heck, imagine how impressed the crowd will be if you can zero-letter solve, because you did your homework, right? I'd only do that if you're in the crowd, though, best to pick a letter first onstage!

- AUTO MECHANIC (OCCUPATION)
- METER MAID OF HONOR (BEFORE & AFTER)
- SKY DIVERS (PEOPLE)
- LINCOLN PARK ZOO (LANDMARK)
- THE IVORY COAST (ON THE MAP)
- PARALEGAL (OCCUPATION)
- FITNESS GURU (PERSON)
- PUZZLE SOLVER (PERSON) - reused at least once
- AN EAR OF CORN SYRUP (BEFORE AND AFTER)
- THE HEAD HONCHO (PERSON) - reused at least once
- CONCERT PIANIST (OCCUPATION)
- WILLIS TOWER (LANDMARK)
- CAPTIVE AUDIENCE (PEOPLE)
- BUNGEE JUMPING (EVENT) - reused at least once
- COFFEE MUG SHOT (BEFORE & AFTER)
- CREAM CORN DOG (BEFORE & AFTER) - reused at least once
- EIGHT IS ENOUGH (CLASSIC TV)
- ARCHIE BUNKER (FICTIONAL CHARACTER)
- DECLARING A MAJOR (COLLEGE LIFE) - used at a college audition and reused at least once elsewhere
- HAWAIIAN VACATION (EVENT)
- TICKER TAPE PARADE (EVENT)
- VICTORY LAP (EVENT) - reused at least once
- PORTERHOUSE STEAK (FOOD & DRINK)
- BABY DUCKLINGS (LIVING THINGS)
- CALICO CATS (LIVING THINGS) - reused at least once
- BIOLOGY TEACHER (OCCUPATION)
- FIRST COUSINS (PEOPLE)
- REGISTERED VOTERS (PEOPLE) - reused at least once
- SCHOOL BOARD (PEOPLE) - reused at least once
- UNSUNG HEROES (PEOPLE)
- ACCORDION PLAYER (PERSON)
- FINICKY EATER (PERSON)
- A CLEAN SWEEP (PHRASE)
- A FLICK OF THE WRIST (PHRASE)
- A KODAK MOMENT (PHRASE) - reused at least once
- A SHOT IN THE DARK (PHRASE)
- REACH FOR THE SKY (PHRASE)
- STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART (PHRASE)
- THE VOICE OF REASON (PHRASE)
- BOWLING ALLEY (PLACE) - reused at least TWICE
- CHEF PAULA DEEN (PROPER NAME)
- PEYTON MANNING (PROPER NAME)
- WIDE RECEIVER RANDY MOSS (PROPER NAME)
- ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE (QUOTATION)
- SPACE THE FINAL FRONTIER (QUOTATION)
- DOUBLE TROUBLE (RHYME TIME)
- MADE IN THE SHADE (RHYME TIME)
- FISHING & NORTH POLE (SAME NAME)
- BOX OFFICE HIT (SHOW BIZ) - reused at least once
- A DIAMOND IS FOREVER (SLOGAN)
- A DUBIOUS DISTINCTION (THING)
- CORDUROY JACKET (THING)
- GOOD HABIT (THING)
- SCREEN SAVER (THING)
- HIGH HOPES (THINGS)
- FIELD OF DREAMS (TITLE)
- SITTING PRETTY (WHAT ARE YOU DOING)
- SPELLING BEE STING (BEFORE & AFTER)
- CHEWABLE VITAMINS (AROUND THE HOUSE) - reused at least once
- BIOLOGY TEACHER (OCCUPATION)
- I'D LIKE TO SPIN (PHRASE)
- WHOOPING CRANE (LIVING THING)
- THE GREAT GATSBY (TITLE)
- AND AWAY WE GO (PHRASE) - reused at least twice
- ITALIAN RESTAURANT (PLACE)
- THE RAT PACK OF WOLVES (BEFORE & AFTER)
- BUMPER CAR DEALER (BEFORE & AFTER) - reused at least oncef
- CHINESE NOODLES (THINGS)
- FIVE-STAR RESORT (PLACE)
- STUFFED ANIMALS (THINGS)
- ADVICE COLUMNIST (OCCUPATION)
- HIGH HOPES (THINGS)
- HERBS AND SPICES (THINGS)
- ELECTRIC BLANKET (AROUND THE HOUSE)
- FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS (LIVING THINGS)
- FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR (PHRASE)
- YELLOW SUBMARINE (TITLE) [after this was solved, the DJ there, who also operated the game sound effects played the actual song]
- GOLF COURSE (PLACE)
- HIDDEN TALENTS (THINGS)
- TALKING PARROT (LIVING THING)
- PIE IN THE SKY (RHYME TIME)
- HEALTH FOOD STORE (PLACE) - reused at least once
- FLAG FOOTBALL (FUN & GAMES)
- PLAYING HANGMAN (FUN & GAMES)
- TIGER SHARK (LIVING THING)
- POWER TOOLS (AROUND THE HOUSE)
- MOVING OFF CAMPUS (COLLEGE LIFE)
- CAMPGROUND SITE (PLACE)
- REMOTE CONTROL (AROUND THE HOUSE)
- GERMAN SHEPHERD (LIVING THING) - reused at least once
- A HINT OF MINT (RHYME TIME)
- JEWELRY STORE (PLACE)
- CORDLESS VACUUM (AROUND THE HOUSE) - reused at least once
- FABRIC SOFTENER (AROUND THE HOUSE)
- NO PARKING ZONE (PLACE)
- FRATERNITY RUSH (COLLEGE LIFE)
- JUGGLING ACT (FUN & GAMES)
- PEACH TREE (LIVING THING)
- GOLDEN EAGLE (LIVING THING)
- ROARING FIREPLACE (AROUND THE HOUSE) - reused at least once
- NORTH DAKOTA (ON THE MAP)
- BEGINNER'S LUCK (THING)
- APPLE STRUDEL (FOOD & DRINK)
- JUNK FOOD JUNKIE (PERSON)
- HATS OFF TO YOU (PHRASE) (played for a hat in Oct. '13, haha)
- HONEYMOON SUITE (PLACE)
- A NOVEL IDEA (THING)
- AQUIRE WITHIN (PHRASE)
- BATHROOM SCALE (AROUND THE HOUSE) - reused at least once
- THE AMAZON RIVER (ON THE MAP)
- BURIED TREASURE (THING)
- FREE OFFER (THING)
- CHICKEN ENCHILADAS (FOOD & DRINK)
- AIRPORT RUNWAY MODEL (BEFORE & AFTER)
- SPEED BUMP (THING)
- PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP (PHRASE)
- EGGS OVER EASY (FOOD & DRINK)
- ZIP CODE OF CONDUCT (BEFORE & AFTER)
- SLAPSTICK COMEDY (SHOW BIZ)
- OPEN HOUSE (EVENT) 
- L'EGGO MY EGGO (SLOGAN)
- ARM WRESTLING (FUN & GAMES)
- KNOCKOUT & FRUIT PUNCH (SAME NAME)
- FOUNDING FATHERS (PEOPLE)
- WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS (SLOGAN) ...FYI, this is Morton Salt's, goes back to 1911.
- YELLOW DAISIES (LIVING THINGS)
- TOGA PARTY (EVENT) - reused at least once
- CHUTES AND LADDERS (FUN & GAMES)
- BELLY & SNOOZE BUTTON (SAME NAME)
- WILD ORCHIDS (LIVING THINGS)
- BABY BOOMERS (PEOPLE)
- GROUNDHOG DAY (EVENT)
- A BACKSTAGE PASS (SHOW BIZ)
- YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS (SLOGAN) 
- LEADING LADY (SHOW BIZ)
- MOOD & PORCH SWINGS (SAME NAME)
- BEATING THE ODDS (PHRASE)













Puzzle list courtesy of an007, (from AUTO MECHANIC to BUNGEE JUMPING) MarioGS, tenpoundhammer, whammy007 (from TALKING PARROT to ROARING FIREPLACE), and Prizes (NORTH DAKOTA on). 

After it's all said and done: If you don't get picked, that's to be expected (only around 1/60 do), but not all is lost- there's always the random picking in LA, which you get as an email or by snail mail. If you get picked for that, you move on to the final round of auditions automatically. This letter can take months (which is typical) or, more rarely, over a year- don't expect it the day after the event. Last but not least, have fun, and tell us all about it in Spinning Stories!

PS: Be sure to check the BAV calendar with dates and cities of the Wheelmobile, it might be coming to you soon!

Guide complied by Prizes, MarioGS, tph, an007, cu2010, and whammy007 copyright 2014. Last updated by Prizes 1/8/14, with a massive overhaul of new puzzles, notes of reusing of puzzles, images, and up to date advice!