July 2018 Editorial on Open Days and attendance

[Hobby]

OK I could write a letter, but I prefer a more immediate discussion and that's what this forum is for so here we go. (If Chris wants to publish this so other non-forum users can see it then feel free!)

The first question I'd ask which what is the actual point of a Local Group Open Day/Exhibition?

1. Is it to attract new members?
2. A way of getting members from other areas to attend.
3. Get to see local members who wouldn't come to group meetings but who would go to a show.
4. Making the Sales more accessible to the membership in general.
5. Giving local members a chance to show their layout/stock.

All of the above, I'd suggest, but No1 on that list I'd also suggest is the least important. I can't speak for other Groups (but I know some do this) but our West Midlands Group are very active on the local Exhibition Circuit with their portable display cabinets (with or without a layout) and that is the way we attract more members rather than a dedicated narrow gauge show which will only attract like minded people anyhow.

The other 4 points are of equal importance, the only chance of seeing what the Sales people have is through these shows and many people who wouldn't attend a local group meet (everyone's different!) will go to a show!

I'd suggest the main purpose of these shows is not to get new members but to give local members a chance to get out and meet fellow NG modellers, both local and from other areas, buy and sell stuff and CHAT!

Attendance? I recon I was doing well if I got between 50 and 100, I understand numbers at some show are well above that these days (I'm talking 10+ years ago!), but even at the lower figure I still think they are worthwhile for the pleasure they give.

Travelling/Attendance. I have only attended one of these meets this year, Chris, so I am one of your bad guys, why no more? Work, Holidays, Exhibiting at other exhibitions, and finally a lack of cash. Several of my local group have attended other shows, usually in a car share (I'd suggest with current fuel prices the only way these days) and maybe some of the "hardcore" you talk about. But does it really matter who attends? I don't think so.

If the idea of the Editorial was to try to boost numbers attending then I'd suggest it was a bit heavy handed, people will and do attend the shows they can get to but there are many reasons why they don't. If it was to discuss whether they are worthwhile then I'd suggest that even if the number attending was only 50 then yes it was, statistics don't give a full story by any means, Local Group Shows are much, much, more than that.


BTW why wasn't our show in August in the Diary at the end of the News? It's in the online diary!! ;)

[Stan Williams]

Blair,
I would think questions 3, 4 and 5 are more relevant.

I do think its more likely to attract new members at a mainstream model rly show than a local ng event.

I do think you are right, when you say the above attracts members rather than attending a local group meeting.

Having said that, the Merseyside Group decided to change its approach on meetings.
We have gone for a Saturday afternoon meeting held in a small hall, but spreading the dates, not monthly meets but approximately 6 to 8 weeks.
We have held three so far, with attendances of  17,  22  and  21 last Saturday.
These are well above meetings held in someones home and so far have been held in one location.
The meetings consist of layouts,  test tracks and  demos, we also have a sales table which always attracts interest.
WE believe our area could attract up to about 50 members in the North West, so we still have some way to go to attract the others along.

All I would say, unless you try something, you will never know the outcome.

Stan.

[Graeme Dunbar]

There is quite probably an element of "it depends".

I imagine in areas where there are very active area groups, - 3, 4 and 5. There could also be an element of 2, and it might be particularly attractive if the groups were active but small and it gave neighbouring groups an opportunity to see a wider range of layouts, perhaps taking it in turns to put on a larger show.

For more sparsely populated areas the reasons might be different, but with elements of 5 and 2. Regarding "marginal" locations, perhaps a joint exhibition incorporated into another exhibition might be a possibility - either other NG scales or something more general? A sympathetic organiser could make a feature out of it. A past railway show in Elgin had a subsection and a separate room dedicated to military modelling. The Aberdeen MRC show used to run like that, with a broad range of hobbies supported , but last year, "specialised" in RM only exhibits. I'm not sure how well it went down, particularly with the trade stand holders who sell a wide range of modelling and hobby merchandise.

[Hobby]

I got the impression that he was questioning why we bother having them. I don't think that type of show will ever attract many new members and so 2 to 5 are the most important and I'd agree with both of you. Most NG shows now tend to be "joint" with other scales, we had the 7mm mob to several of our early shows and some have the Garden scales as well, the more the merrier!

All I'd add is that these shows are so we can get together and enjoy ourselves. What does it matter if the attendees are only from local Groups?

Why should we try to "shame" others into going when they might not have the time or money?

Perhaps I've misinterpreted what he said, but that was the impression I got...

[Stan Williams]

Regarding what Graeme mentioned utilising ie NG show within another show.

The Merseyside Group already do this in association with the Rainhill MRC and their one day Xmas Show.

For 2018, it will be  Saturday  24th November.

The Rainhill Club hold their show on the ground floor with various scale/gauges,  layouts and  trade.

The Merseyside Group utilise the upstairs  Teak Room for purely NG layouts and Trade.

We are now into the fourth year and numbers through the show have increased greatly.

One entry fee covers both shows and this year an adult can gain entry for 

[rod335]

I know this will be contentious. I honestly feel there are too many shows now. We are spreading ourselves too thinly. Look in the Toddler. There is barely a weekend without a show somewhere, often four or five on the same weekend. I have noticed over the last five or six years that, despite all the talking up the promoters do, attendances seem to be falling. Repeat shows at the same venue do not seem as crowded as they used to be, crowds are noticeably thinner. The number of people who can, or wish to, visit exhibitions is relatively fixed, even maybe falling with the effects of age. In addition, maybe some people are 'exhibitioned out'? One recent members' day, which had had a steady 240 or so for the last few years this year managed 160. And many faces were very familiar. I do NOT, cannot, offer any solutions, merely observe.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Rod has a point regarding "too many shows". The NE of Scotland is atypical regarding MR exhibitions with them being few and far between with what I imagine is the case in many other locations, but even so, it can seem that there are too many. With a sparser population and and fewer modellers there is a smaller pool of layouts to draw on - and that is layouts of any scale or gauge. All credit to the clubs (it is mostly clubs) that exhibit, for their dedication in travelling and exhibiting, but it can be a bit underwhelming to see the same layouts over and over.

Counter to that and also because of the distances, the club members that take part have a good opportunity to catch up with others from around the country. Having attended as exhibitor and member of the general public I do think the regular exhibitors get the better deal. Visitors that attend just occasional shows  see what they see, but visiting each show in turn without being "in" with the exhibitors could be unrewarding.

With respect to 009 Soc Open Days/Exhibition, it could be the impetus for members to meet who might not otherwise.

[Hobby]

I'm not convinced about there being too many shows. Because of high fuel prices and train tickets people are less willing to travel long distances, I can remember back in my youth travelling to three stock car meets every week during the season, I certainly couldn't afford to do that now. So people only tend to go "local" unless there's a good reason for going further (for many, but my no means all) that means Warley for many model railway enthusiasts. That means that local shows tend to be better attended than perhaps they were a few years ago. Bear in mind I'm talking "general" MR shows here, not NG ONLY ones and we've strayed well off topic by discussing them.


With regards to the actual subject we are discussing, Narrow Gauge Shows, I don't think there are too many, based on a request I made on NGRM for 2019's NG ONLY shows there are less than 1 per month which hardly seems excessive to me...

[Hobby]

BTW Rod what is the "Toddler"? As far as I knew it was a small child so not much relevance to this discussion! :) :)

[Stan Williams]

There are more mainstream shows now because there are more model rly clubs, often formed from breakaways of other model rly clubs.

If we go back to the 009 Society groups and putting on shows or members days.

Hopefully in 2018 some groups/members are starting to realise that there are other groups out there who also wish to put on event without overlapping.

In the past we have seen groups putting on an event on the same day !!

A 009 group event on a Saturday and then not a million miles to one on the next day !

The 009 Sales going from an event on the Saturday and then going to an area group on the Sunday !

Surely all the above effect numbers going through the door.

The Society should carefully plan the events out and not let them proceed if there are clear red lines ( oh dear not Brexit again).

Stan.!

A group putting on their own members day just two weeks before the Societys AGM which should be the biggest event for the Society.

[Hobby]

I think most groups do check that they don't clash these days. However if one show was in the NE and the other in Kent I don't think there's a problem unless them both want the SH sales... Best not to clash, though, common sense says its a bad idea...

The trouble with the Diary is that it includes general shows as it's just a list of where Member's layouts will be attending but from my investigations there aren't many NG only events nowadays anyhow unless you know different?

[Stan Williams]

Blair, off the top of my head and not certain of dates, the following.

Feb  2019.    Sussex Downs
March          Norfolk & Suffolk.
March          NG North.
March          009 Society AGM and NG show.

May            Beds & Bucks.

July.           East Midlands.

August        Wiltshire Group.

Sept.          Small & Delightful.

Oct.           Tewkesbury  ??
Oct.           Expong.

Nov.          Rainhill NG.

Dec.          Wimborne  ?

Stan.

[Stan Williams]

I should have also included   Taunton in January.!!

Stan.

[MickT]

You really should get your bus pass in use Stan and get out and about more! January is not and never was Taunton, it is the SWOONS (South West 009 Soc) members day that is usually held on the second Saturday in January at a little village hall in Ilton in Somerset. SWOONS also put on a very good show within a show, rather like your own Rainhill, at the Exeter annual MRX where their strategic siting just inside the entrance foyer ensures that everyone who attends this excellent mainstream show, gets a very robust NG fix before they get into the trainsets in the main hall.

"Wimborne" in December is actually Colehill and has evolved from a one-off local-to-Dorset area bash organised by Brian Guilmant into an annual members open day for the Wessex NGM's and friends, as their "own" do as distinct from the biennial NG South, which the Wessex NGM's organise, a bit like the Small & Delightful Sep event has always been the S&D Group's "own" fun day as distinct from the sadly missed NGSW which they organised

There are also of course a number of biennial members days - Pewsey (Wiltshire Group) in August being one, which is always on the odd numbered years, although the Wiltshire Group are now filling in the even numbered years with a "show and tell" workshop type event which I believe was very successful last year, although it came after my own enforced and continuing moratorium on attending every event in the calendar hit me.

You also omitted the Oxford Group "do" in Steventon in June and if I remember correctly Pete Hogarth and friends way up in Geordie land have a regular Tyne Tees Group event, not sure if annual or biennial and not sure which month as I confess to never having managed to get to that one.

I'm sure there are more!

Mick

[Hobby]

Interesting that I get a better list of dates on here than I did on NGRM even though they have people from other scales which I'd hope would have been included. Thanks Stan, though actual dates would be useful (I know you don't know all of them so it's not aimed at you!)... Mick, could you add the ones you mentioned to that thread on NGRM, please, as there are others over there who are not members of this forum who I feel would like to know! (It's on the Noticeboard section under 2019 dates)

But again that only averages out just over 1 per month and as most people don't travel far due to reasons i said earlier I still don't see it as excessive?