A New Golden Age of Model Engineering Exhibitions

With the amount of moaning about over crowding I'm not sure if reducing a 4 day show to 2 days would go down well. Unless you put it on in a larger (more costly) venue to spread things out more and allow for more parking spaces so that puts overheads back up.

I suspect that, just like car and van hire, a two day venue hire isn't always half the price of a four (five with set-up/teardown) day hire

Yes, but ice hockey is probably the best spectator sport out there (especially when your team is winning).

Well, this is the old chestnut about people having to stand on trains because not enough carriages are provided. One way is viable, the other operates at a loss.

You can't win though. Put 1,000 model engineers through a hall and 500 will complain it was too crowded and 500 will complain the place was empty.

Neil

Interesting points of view.

How many ME's are working and how many are retired compared to, say Quilters or those who use Hobby Craft? who appear to be happy paying NEC parking charges.

Drone fliers are likely all waged, also any Robot Wars would-be builders. What I fail to understand is why so many complain about the cost yet spend several thousand on new machines without breaking a sweat.

A larger venue is just down the road in the Stoneleigh show ground. So what I'm suggesting is combine all models under one roof, be they battery, steam or flight and you just might get a bit of cross pollination

Edited By martin perman on 27/10/2018 20:37:01

Now there's a thought; a lathe and stand that can be swung over the bed so one can operate it while wrapped up snug in a quilt. Good for those dark winter days when the shed is uninviting.

Andrew

Here's an interesting regional woodworker show that occurred this weekend, reasonable size venue by all accounts, with a mix of clubs and trade and some space for talks all in a big industrial sized barn, probably similar area to the fixed halls at Warwick. Entry free and of course the clubs wouldn't be paying so the venue costs must have been covered by the trade stands. Perhaps the venue is pleased to get anyone to book at this time of year.

For anyone thinking of putting on a club show here are a few pointers on costs etc. We hire most of a school costing >£500 per day, insurance top up > £120 per day, advertising >>£500, our catering ladies contributed about 25% of eventual profits, our profits were only twice what the two charities we supported took, only about half the membership turned up to help. Our show is general modelling so the main visitor make-up are 2 adults+2 children under 10 looking for a weekend 'activity' and the real modellers are a minority getting a show that would not be viable for them alone.

Another type of exhibition is model railways. Their display layouts are by invitation who understand they are a key feature and expect all expenses including accommodation (3 nights for 2 day show) and meals to be paid. A few years ago one regional but amateur show was paying £15k on b&b alone.