The negatives: Appalling entry system done via very unpredictable computer and churning out festival-style wristbands. Total overkill for a single price arrangement and a queue to match. This mostly made up of gentlemen of the expected age holding the right amount of cash. Not a great start. Then the door guards to a single basketball court with one way in/out doors and, even fairly early in the weekend, a poor customer attitude. The price for all this was a high end £12. For that I want something fairly special on a regional local club show.
Show: 4 Mostly down to the doors
Rucksacks 1
Catering 2
Parking 9
It doesn't help that some regional club shows, Spalding for example, are punching well above their expected weight. Perhaps one of the things we didn't suspect post COVID, the decline of the "old" Warley show and the Two Popes replacements , was that a new stratification of shows would develop. We have two local small shows, and I feel dreadful that I can't justify going to either. I suspect most casual visitors, especially families, would be put off by a £12 entrance fee. OTH I'm really pleased Macclesfield has found a new venue, because although I liked the old one, it had become a constraint on the show.
ReplyDeleteSo we have:
Top end shows people will book in advance and travel for.
Good regional shows, that can still attract "as featured in" layouts and with a reasonable level of trade support
Scale specific shows,
And.... those that will die a death?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI went to Abingdon MRC's Didcot show on my way home from Kent on Saturday morning.
ReplyDeleteThey, too, have gone for wristbands, though there seemed to be more than one colour...oh, and helpful QR codes outside for those who wanted to buy tickets while queuing.
Tenner to get in, advance ticket got you in ½ an hour early though I wandered in at 10:15, bought a ticket on the door and went in, despite official opening not being until 15 minutes later.
The show was billed as a "family" event, smaller and less eclectic than their big show in Abingdon early in December.
This was reflected in the trade (mostly 00 and a little N RTR) and layout choice was fairly low-key and local, mostly 00 with a bit of N as well as 009 and 0-16.5.
They must be doing something right, as there were a lot of families there, and I saw several kids having discussions with parents/grandparents about which loco/coach they were going to buy.
I enjoyed it but my back didn't....(blame gardening, yeuch) so I left after an hour and a half or so but otherwise would have stayed longer.
Picked up some bargains from the club stall (which was unfettered by the "family" thing) which is always nice.
Given the the place was busy, and getting busier when I left, I reckon it was a success.
I do like shows that attract families, and it doesn't take a lot. In my experience they can appreciate really good layouts, but also want to see something they could build themselves, and be able to ask questions.
DeleteI do wonder if there is scope for a quiet time opening for those with sensory issues, as some supermarkets now do, rather than fort he bargain hunters reaiding the retail stalls.
I'm pretty sure I remember going to a show fairly recently (since we moved from Kent) that had a quiet time opening as you describe; unfortunately I can't remember which one it was.
Delete