What are people's thoughts on the mess being visible in a scene before it's used on the model?
For example, do you like being able to see the pies, the buckets of gunge, the colour of the gunge in a gunge tank etc.? Or do you prefer a surprise sliming from above, a pie hit from off camera etc.?
It's never a deal-breaker for me, but if I had to pick I like being able to see the mess beforehand. It adds to the general trepidation in a scene. For example, I'm a shaving cream pies guy. I love it when a girl takes her seat to take part in a scene and a table full of shaving cream pies is in shot. The subject will quite often give the table a nervous glance as she knows what's coming even just holding the pie in front of the victims face for a second or two before smushing can really add to a scene for me.
One of cutest lines in any WAM video was when the Art Student remarked "you made pies in primary colors!" as she looked around before the scene started.
Absolutely, seeing all the cartons of custard, or cans of soup, or sliced and defrosted gateaux, or indeed freshly made buckets of gunge, with the willing victims standing by in their outfits, knowing what will be coming their way - or as Pieman mentioned, if it's their first time and they are properly understanding just what they have let themselves in for as they survey the "table of delights" - absolute magic.
Attached are a few of our previews where you can see the mess to be used (off to the left on the ones where the thumbnail doesn't show it, open full-size to see). When our people enter the dungeon, they get to see exactly what kind of messy fate awaits, knowing that we usually use absolutely everything we have set out, so yes, they *will* be wearing all of that custard.
Another yes to the list. I enjoy seeing the mess beforehand, especially with the model in the same photo. Also, love the "girls holding pies" posts and photos.
For me, it's a chance for the imagination to have some fun and come up with some "what if" scenarios before seeing the actual mess.
I would have to agree with the general consensus within this forum chamber. I am of the delectable opinion that seeing the entire process including the beginning helps create a more enticing and scene allowing the enjoyer and the enjoyee to experience this process in a manner that is most incredible.
I like seeing the substances or items more. There are 4 levels to this:
1. Being surprised with every item, like every pie is thrown from off camera. 2. Seeing the current item, like a model holding a cake or being teased with a pie, or sitting in a gunge tank. 3. Seeing some of the items, like where some items are see in the background and others hidden. 4. Seeing all of the items, like a cake bed, table of pies, or mud pit.
I like everything, but I feel like anticipation from seeing what is coming allows for a better build up where a surprise is more focused on the reaction. Some models do surprise reactions really well and incorporate both vocal and facial reactions.
Love you, too
even just holding the pie in front of the victims face for a second or two before smushing can really add to a scene for me. 
