Scoons Exhibitions

[John Galbraith]

Although there is an Exhibition section on the main forum I have posted this in our section so we can discuss within the group how we promote Scoons through the exhibition circuit. During discussions last night it was suggested that compiling a list of who might be available etc. may be a good way forward. I must stress from the outset there is no obligation to attend and no one will be committed to anything this is purely to get an idea of numbers and what's available for exhibitions.  What would be helpful is a list of:

a) Who would be available to attend exhibitions?
b) How much time could you spend. The whole weekend, 1 day, a couple of hours?
c) Has anyone anything they would like to exhibit, a layout, stock etc.?
d) What would be your preferred exhibition / area?

To kick things off, for myself I would be happy every year to:

Attend the Aberdeen exhibition for the whole weekend.
Attend an exhibition at another venue for the whole weekend, and providing it was close enough to drive to such as Perth or Cupar take a layout with me if nothing else from the group was available
Preferably traveling by train, spend a day or a couple of hours at either another exhibition or group get together.

I also think that either two or possible three a year would be sufficient.

The other topic on exhibitions discussed last night was this years Aberdeen Exhibition. We have been in touch with the Aberdeen Model Railway Club and they would welcome a Scoons attendance. At this moment it has not been confirmed but the response from traders and other clubs has been positive. If it does go ahead it will be on the weekend of the 30th/31st October at the Best Western Hotel in Dyce (the old Skean Dhu for anyone who knows Aberdeen) which is about 15miutes walk form Dyce station. At the moment myself and Graeme will be attending, I will be taking a layout and Graeme some stock to run. Graeme will also be helping out at the MERG stand. AMRC have said they will let everyone know if it is going ahead by the end of July. If it goes ahead I will pass any further information on to you.
Stay safe.

Regards
John Galbraith
7925

[Graeme Dunbar]

As mentioned by John, I will be at the Aberdeen Exhibition, assuming things progress this year as hoped. For completeness -

a) Who would be available to attend exhibitions?
I would!  :D Definitely the Aberdeen one, for others I'm likely to be travelling by public transport so it depends on that.

b) How much time could you spend. The whole weekend, 1 day, a couple of hours?
Aberdeen: all weekend. Other locations, it depends on travel arrangements, but I've stayed over at B&B on occasion.

c) Has anyone anything they would like to exhibit, a layout, stock etc.?
No layouts other than possibly a Pizza one at present. Stock, yes. For MERG I've done (electronic) kit building demonstrations. Possibly something like building 009 Society kits (or at least giving the impression of doing so)

d) What would be your preferred exhibition / area?
Aberdeen, see (a.) In the past I've exhibited (for MERG) at Dundee, Coupar Angus and St Andrews with others and my usual 'haunt' for exhibition attendances include Inverness, Elgin, Perth and Glasgow. 

[Scottish Modeller]

Hi all,

As per original discussion on Zoom...

I am happy to take my 009 Society display and leaflets/back numbers of mag to any shows that NGS in Scotland are attending.

This would mainly be Central Belt plus South East and West of Scotland events.

I'm always happy to have others join in - as has happened on previous events.

I have a mailing list for the NGS guys and send notifications out about a month before each event. I can add names of the 009 guys to the list so that they know where they would be able to help out?

Thanks
Phil H

[Graeme Dunbar]

Can I suggest that individual members contact you if they want their email address added to your list?

[Scottish Modeller]

Hi Graeme,

If that's the way people prefer - it's fine with me.

Thanks

Phil H

[Graeme Dunbar]

We have this forum and this Section in it for 'broadcast' messaging to all 'SCOONS' (and other interested 009 Society members). If email distribution lists are more convenient for certain activities I think it is important that individual members have the choice to opt-in to specific ones rather assume they want to be a part of them.

[John Galbraith]

Graeme,

I like the idea of a modelling demonstration along with your Pizza layout. Sounds like another exhibition could be sorted.

Regards
John G

[Graeme Dunbar]

I like the idea of a modelling demonstration along with your Pizza layout. Sounds like another exhibition could be sorted.

I have a few unmade 009 Society kits and could buy samples of some others. Even if no actual kit building takes place every moment the exhibition is open to the public it does at least flag up that the Society produces kits. It can break the ice too and be useful for new modellers or ones thinking of taking up the hobby. A couple of 3D printed body shells could be on display too.

I don't know what WiFi is like in the hall but it it might be possible to show the web site too. We've done that in MERG and on one occasion in the early days made a local copy of the site on CD (remember them?  ;) ) to give at least some indication of what there was on the site. Of course everyone these days will be able to use their mobile phones to look at the web site there and then.

[JulienW]

If I may interject here with my own experience of manning the West Mids publicity stand.

Depending on the space available we generally have a perspex lockable display case (owned by the 009 Society - one of 2 we have use of - and I'm pretty sure that Treasurer Geoff could source another display case if asked) at one end, a small pizza layout (if one is available) and enough space for someone to be working on something. The A4 size work trays from Grainge & Hodder are ideal and whey may be able to etch on the front the 009 Society logo and a group 'banner as they did some A3 ones for us (that are a little on the big size for a 6' table unfortunately).

You'll need some decent lighting too so you and the punters can see what you are up to, and it's useful to have 2 'staff' so that one can be demonstrating whilst the other get a the chance to look around, stretch their legs, reset their eyes and buy the bits they forgot to pack for the project they've brought to make (and to cover lunch and comfort breaks). It also gives your voice a break, as after 2 days at the NEC I usually end up somewhat hoarse!

We've never really been advanced enough to have a wifi device as something big enough to be seen by the punters has the potential to be attractive to the light fingered brigade, and on the occasions wifi has been available in the hall is seems to need paying for, but I did purchase a digital photo frame some time ago and put together a slide show of photos (on a memory stick) of layouts that runs on it.

As to what you work on I've found that it doesn't really matter that much (as long as it's 009! ;D), but having a selection of 'types' of model in the case (from RTR through to scratch-built brass) to talk about / refer too helps - and expect lots of questions about couplings! And 'Is it N-gauge?".

My view is that there are no silly questions, only silly answers.

Final thought, if you are planning to do recruitment / sell Society kits then a (lockable) cashbox, reciept book and sales sheet are probably a good idea. The West Mids haven't done card payments (too much hassle I feel so i direct them to the website) and I think it's a while since we had any cheques, but we have a system with the Membership Sec & Sales Officer for getting payments to the Society that seems to work (well, it did before lockdown!) so if you drop Treasurer Geoff an e-mail I'm sure he will advise.

Hope that helps, and if you want to pick my brain some more drop me a message and I'll see if I can find the little that's left!
Julien Webb

[Hobby]

Just one addition to Julien's post, if you decide to sell 009 Society kits some shows will regard you as traders and charge accordingly, check with the organiser first!

[JulienW]

Just one addition to Julien's post, if you decide to sell 009 Society kits some shows will regard you as traders and charge accordingly, check with the organiser first!

That's possible, but when informed that we are only 'selling' Society memberships to the public, and sales of the exclusive Society kits to members only then organisers (so far) have been happy for this to happen from the West Mids stand. But as Hobby points out it's better to check beforehand rather then get into trouble.

The key seems to be in not competing against those traders who will have paid for their pitch, so the selling on non-society products (say some spare Dundas kits or surplus OO or N items) available from other traders, even if these are a private sale by someone manning the stand are likely to cause problems. Even arranging to meet someone at the show to complete a deal may cause issues so that may be best done away from the stand.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Selling kits etc. - I think that is getting a bit too ambitious for a first tentative step back into exhibiting!

At least one of us will be multitasking between stands and one thing that is not clear yet is how much space there will be. The Aberdeen show is in smaller premises than it has been in the past and I imagine that stands will be spaced out rather more and the number of exhibitors and exhibitors per stand may be limited too. The organizers may have ideas on the nature of the exhibits and the way the public wanders or processes around the exhibition. It could be that interesting stuff is concentrated into separated spots with empty gaps between or it could be that visitors file past (suitably separated) along displays, some of which are unattended or minimally supervised.

I think that until it becomes clearer, the best thing for us to do is decide what the key exhibit on our stand will be but be prepared to 'flesh it out' with other stuff if conditions warrant it. Things like kits can be laid out on a table along with appropriate labelling or they could just as easily be kept behind the stand and whipped out if someone expresses interest in the 009 Society with "another thing the 009 Society does is produce a range of plastic kits...". I imagine that showing the 009 Society News would be undertaken in a similar way rather than leaving copies for the public to thumb through. My thoughts on kit building is that it could be as much an excuse to show the contents of the bag as actual building. We will just have to wait and see.

There is a MERG Zoom meeting this Thursday (the AMRC chair also takes the lead on the local MERG group) so I'm sure the Exhibition will come up and I'll try to find out a bit more. I'm likely to be on the MERG stand part time and Colin will be dotting between the AMRC layout and the MERG stand.

[Hobby]

It's not just kits Graeme, it's also tempting to sell some member's secondhand items, same would apply, the dealers at the show would not be happy. Stick with displays, "show you how" and attracting new society members and there are no issues, above that just check with the organiser first!

[Alan Pollock]

Hi Guys

i can do Model Rail scotland the whole weekend i am normally available if required theirs also another excibition in johnston town hall but ive net seen the society attend this show is their someone i should send the detail onto

thanks
Alan

[John Galbraith]

Many thanks Alan, that's great news. Hopefully see you at the next Zoom meeting on Monday 19th.

Regards
John G