Crop night at Robert's Arts & Crafts

I went to the $5 crop night last night at Robert's Arts & Crafts. It was my first crop (well that I had to pay for - so first "official" crop). It was scheduled from 5-midnight but I didn't arrive until about 6 (and I wasn't the last to arrive). There were 5 other ladies there as well as various Roberts employees stopping in (to chat with the other Roberts employee who was the "host").
I packed a lot more supplies than I ever used but I wanted to make sure that my time away was productive and for the most part it was (when I wasn't frustrated that my daughters book is 8 1/2 x 11 and that I feel like I have to shove all these cute pictures on one layout). I brought my scrapbooking tote full of paper, the album of pictures I have printed out for Buddy, some ribbon, a few sets of alphabet stickers, lots of glue / adhesive, my 12x12 paper cutter (the crappy one because I can't find my lovely since we moved in August), an idea book, three inking pads, a couple of punches (which I didn't use), some cards (in case I had extra time), and a KOTM (from Lisa Bernstein- again, if I had time leftover). I also brought some swedish fish & a bottle of water (I ate dinner before I left).
Upon arrival we each showed our receipt and got a $5 coupon to use in the store that night (must be used the night of the crop). One lady brought dinner (and ate it there before she started on her pages). Two ladies had brought their Cricuts (one had never used hers before & didn't have time to attend the weeknight class they offered so basically brought it to be taught how to use it - she was the only one who offered to let others use hers). Two of the ladies were friends & shared supplies (and the other cricut) - they stepped out to get take out @ the Chinese place next door for a while and then left about 9:45 to go to a late show (and make a full ladies night out of the evening). The Roberts employee said we could use the old school (and I'm talking pre-Sizzix) die cutting machine. the 20 + pattern-cutting scissors and 20 or so punches. The rest of the night was spent making scrapbook pages and shopping @ Roberts (for things the ladies had forgotten or things "needed" to complete a page). I was pretty happy with myself - I got nine layouts done (in my simple scrapbooking style). Only me & one other lady stayed until around 11:50 p.m. By then there were a bunch of Roberts employees scrapbooking or making card projects. They talked about a Cricut "swarm" coming up - where everyone brings their cricut, pays $25, gets a "make & take" project as part of their fees (which I wish they would have had @ this crop), and competes for prizes. I won't be going - as I don't have a Cricut.
In fact, I probably won't pay to go to a store crop again. The main reason for having it there at the store is the convenience factor - as in if you "need" something to complete your page or if you forgot something. I get a little overwhelmed at the shopping part of scrapbooking (and the details some people go to for their pages), so a store crop probably isn't for me. I don't think I've heard the words "so cute" SO much in the space of a couple of hours (that was one of the Roberts employees - ugh).
It was interesting to hear these ladies talk (the Roberts employees especially) and to hear how much "stuff" they have. I guess it would be comparable to me working at a book store - if you're around it all the time, it's hard not to spend everything you make on the latest and greatest for the craft. One of the employees said she had both the small and the large Cricut - what a waste (IMO).
I really enjoy our area group crops a lot better than this "official" one- we share our supplies a lot more, the conversation seems better and to involve everyone there, and the style of the pages (or craft style in general) is a lot more low key.
I think, too, because we have those every week and they don't cost money - I don't feel the pressure to put out / produce so many layouts every time (or to stay until midnight - my back is still aching today).
So that is my take on my Roberts crop night. What about those of you who scrapbook: Do you enjoy going to crops? What makes a crop successful in your mind? What are the essentials that you pack? (this is a major question that I googled before going last night) Do you offer to share your stuff? (I did but no one took me up on it - I guess my stuff just wasn't their style)