Fancy exhibiting your N gauge layout in London at the end of the month

[comedypilot]

We have a space at our two day model rail show in New Cross (London) on the 31st Oct & 1st Nov due to a layout having to pull out.   We actively seek anyone who maybe has a fully scenic working interesting layout who might not have exhibited before and the layout is no bigger then 9ft x 3ft.    We also happy to take an established exhibition layout.   All we ask is that you are within a hour of SE London and able to set up within 30 mins.   

email me at thelondontheatre@live.co.uk if it is something that interests you.

[Newportnobby]

I'm not sure 30 minutes would be enough to just put the stock on a layout let alone do any testing/running checks
Hope you find someone, though.

[comedypilot]

Reason put 30 mins is that we are staggering entry and this space is near the loading doors, so hence why we are looking for someone to set up from 9am so not getting in way of other layouts coming through and traders who have timed arrivals from 7am or the eve before.  My 9ft x 3ft exhibition layout in two bits takes 10 mins to open the table and connect the two bits together,including bringing in from van and up and running three tracks in 30 mins.  Many layouts take longer, but the request was for a layout to be ready within that time, many exhibition layouts especially the smaller ones can be ready in that time, so I don't see it as a  silly request.  I didn't actually say ready to run, it was to set the layout up and still gives plenty of time to test and run the trains before opening at 10am, should have made that clear.

[GrahamB]

Sounds like you have major access problems. Southbridge as 9' by 2', and comes in three pieces but getting it in, up and track cleaned/tested in half an hour would not be something I would like to commit to.

[comedypilot]

no we have good access, different layouts using separate doors, just with all our shows, we give timed arrivals depending on size of layout and distance travelled and seems to work with all the exhibitors and traders. Nothing worse then 3 layouts trying to get in at once. each wanting to park van in front of access doors. Again it isn't half an hour to test the track and clean it, it is half an hour to have it placed in the location. I think getting Southbridge from your car/van to the spot would be 5ft travelled, so defo doable in a few mins ie unloading it.  We have staff on hand to help also as some exhibitors are single handers.  If you can get it positioned in 30 mins and up and running in a hour, send us some details of the layout.  We also do the Sevenoaks show which is near you.   

[comedypilot]

We run commercial shows, it's a well known fact if you read RM web or go on the website, Sevenoaks, New Cross, One in Germany and another two next year.  The theatre runs the shows.  Had 900 last year at New Cross in one day, so now got bigger venue over two days.  Southwark MRC we sort of support also as they the local club, so this year helping them push for members and they bringing three layouts and we will do marketing for them via the theatre. 

[Newportnobby]

I didn't actually say ready to run, it was to set the layout up and still gives plenty of time to test and run the trains before opening at 10am, should have made that clear.

That makes more sense. Thanks for clarifying.

[PLD]

Sorry but with every post you are only highlighting your naivety and clear lack of experience as an exhibitor, and actually putting off potential exhibitors...

This is the first time I've ever heard of exhibitors being given restricted time slots for entry (Warner's tried it a for a couple of years for EXIT from Ally Pally based on position in the hall and quite rightly got slated for it, so adapted to booked slots based on exhibitors judgement of how long they need). What happens if an exhibitor is delayed in traffic and misses their allocated time slot? are they not allowed in and a gap left in the show? are they made to wait until everyone else is in place then let in? What about the poor guy with the layout that takes ten minutes to set up but you have given a slot 3-4 hours before opening time? Every exhibitor should know how long their layout takes to set up and test to their satisfaction. You really should let them use their experience and judgement of when they need to arrive to be ready for opening time...

Looking back thorough your other posts, what positive contribution have you actually made to this forum or the wider hobby in general? All your posts on here are advertising your shows or appealing for last minute 'replacement' layouts for your shows (are you really so unlucky that something drops out every time, or is it poor planning and you find at last minute you have floor space to fill??)

What mrs Planet are you from comedypilot

[comedypilot]

Sorry PLD, I came on here to ask if anyone wanted to exhibit, asking for maybe someone who hasn't done it before, as often it is a bit of a closed shop exhibition wise. Your negativity towards me, does reinforce the closed shop attitude somewhat, which doesn't help attracting new blood to the hobby. Lucky being into modelling for years, I know the N gauge community  are not reflective of you and the closed shop attitude you feel the need to protect.  You ask what planet I am from, if that is in relation to how I conduct and run my shows, I am from the planet professional event management with 12 years experience doing this on a daily basis.  Hence why I am having problems with why you say I am inexperienced at running events, and inexperienced at being an exhibitor.  Our theatre last year did 9 external events 1000/2000 people at some of them, we run the catering, everything and not just for  Model Rail exhibitions.   The times slot time actually works well and other option as you suggest is everyone wanting to arrive at once and then problems start.  Again you don't read posts fully, we said set up in 30 mins, not operational in 30 mins.
If a layout can't be set up in 30 mins, then  that is no problem, but for us, it isn't what we seek or requested.  Lucky we have had seven layouts who said they can so far and gone with one.  We work with the layout operators to agree a time between them and us, some arrive the night before, If an exhibitor misses time slot, not a major problem as we can accommodate, we have the experience to do that and  means one problem to sort , not 10 problems as everyone doing it your way wants to shout at the show manager and get their attention as everyone wants answers at once as they arrive at when they want to, seven layouts all wanting answers, madness! Maybe it is you that lacks experience in this area, or you run or exhibit at shows in the style which suits you which I class as an uncontrolled free for all.   

In answer to your question about am I just here to advertise a show, the event is on the events calendar and yes I put it up to advertise the show, as every show organiser should do. (unless they are inexperienced that is, which I am not) This posting  however was to try and get something new as many layout builders with amazing layouts don't get the chance to show their layouts and yes I came here as wanted N gauge,  so can you think of a better place to request a N gauge layout if not  the N gauge forum,(again must be my inexperienced to think otherwise) the layout that pulled out was a new exhibitor who since agreeing doesn't have transport which meets the LEZ emissions so we swapped them to the Sevenoaks show.   

Asking what positive comments I have made on this forum, asking for a new exhibitor who wants to show their N gauge layout for the first time answers that one. I have made some lady very happy and excited today as she now gets to show off her layout.  My interest and modelling is in Russian HO, one of the few modellers in the UK doing that area and on RM web I do discuss layout building and scratch builds.  I came on here as the layout we lost was N and so wanted N gauge to replace, again my 'inexperience' of trying to get a balanced show of all gauges.   

Restricted time slots are actual times to turn up within a 30 min period.  Also it is not poor planning, to get a layout to replace one this way, is the opposite as I got the result I wanted quickly and without much effort on my part. quick message on this forum page.  Many layouts this late ie 3 weeks before the show are already booked, so do I spend the day phoning around or going to the source to get want I seek?  There are 12 shows within 50 miles that weekend, so most will be booked.  We have floor plans set and don't want to make major changes if we don't want to, also I want N gauge and many who come to shows like a mixture of gauges and styles. 

In relation to wider hobby in general, our shows attract families as well as modellers, so I put the question back to you, in relation to what I have done to enhance this hobby, our Sevenoaks show sold 263 family tickets, have you introduced 400 plus young children to the hobby this year?  I have given a chance for someone who this morning didn't think they could exhibit their layout, the floorspace to do it, means we now have one more exhibition layout on the circuit. have you been proactive in getting a new N gauge layout exhibited to the public from this forum group?

Also had 7 offers now for layouts from here from posting the request so doesn't seem to be putting off potential exhibitors and two of those were people who had never exhibited before plus some interest from a finescale chap on here asking would we accept finescale (yes please but already gone with one of the new exhibitors)   

BTW our exit control of layouts both time had layouts out within 60 mins of show ending, so it may not have worked for Warners or for you but it does for us,  and we have staff employed to help with the exit and lifting.

We send out with our show packs the times and the exhibitors confirm their choice, sometimes we have to police this and come to an arrangement which is based on our experience on how long they took or not at other shows they did for us. If anything they want to arrive later then we want, and we have seen them still setting up and not running past opening times, so we set a earlier time and explain why.  The system works and works well for the layout operators and us and only bought positive responses. 

Sorry PLD but you may be used to not getting a response back and happy to pass judgement because it is not the way you think things are done.  That I accept, but things are changing now in model rail exhibitions, advances in DCC and modular and electronics and automation does mean layouts are operated and set up (some of them) in ways not done 20 years ago.  At New Cross this year and at our show last year, there were two large fully automatic layouts, no operators, no 5 men standing around, and more and more these are coming onto the exhibition circuit. we have three fully automated layouts at this years show including loco grave yard which has numerous tracks  and trains at individual speeds.  Set to time for 10ft layout (15 mins).  We have others set up time a few hours, but where before a hour to a few hours was the norm, it isn't any more.  We run our shows with a staff of seven, two in catering, one floor walker (Me), two doing the door and one on car parking /loading unloading.  We manage to get 800 /900 people a day coming to the shows and everyone set up, exhibitors given breakfast and lunch, and everyone packed and gone within times set with no problems. So do have experience of running such events within budget and good logistics from the team and working with exhibitors who also want efficiency and order in the organisational aspects of the event.   As you might of sussed, I am not a submissive, and give as good as I get  and don't get bullied by the old guard, in any of the events I run, be it model rail, dog shows, Shakespeare in the Park or music concerts.   I take advice from others doing it, then work out what is relevant and act on it and what isn't or inefficient I don't follow. 

I now have an amazing line up on N gauge for my next show,  with 40% N gauge so am very happy,  Also made a new exhibitor happy today and got seven great new contacts from N gauge layout owners for future shows.  Also with the help of PLD got some excellent reverse marketing.











 

[Sprintex]

I now have an amazing line up on N gauge for my next show,  with 40% N gauge so am very happy,  Also made a new exhibitor happy today and got seven great new contacts from N gauge layout owners for future shows. 

Well said! That pretty much sums it up I think, good result for N Gauge all round and as you say some contacts for future shows

If you don't like the rules of the organiser then don't reply to their request, simple, but please don't rubbish the efforts of those trying to do their best to put on a show. Obviously plenty of people had no problem with it judging by the plethora of offers.

One more thing: there is no requirement to post elsewhere on the forum if the user doesn't wish to. We have plenty of members who never post outside one or two sections such as 'Ebay', etc. That is their prerogative to use the forum as they wish and no-one should be lambasted for doing otherwise


Paul

[red_death]

Paul

While I understand your sentiments, I can also appreciate where PLD is coming from.  The issue of commercial shows continues to rear an ugly head in our hobby for the simple reason that it takes money out of the hobby (and potentially away from clubs that need it).

I am not accusing comedypilot of this, but we would be naive to not understand why people feel strongly about this issue.

Cheers, Mike

[ColinH]

Sorry Mike could not disagree more. I think PLD came across as very abusive and condescending in his post once he found out it was a commercial show. The 'commercial' shows I have attended seem to me to be well attended by modellers of all genre and usually have a better selection of trade stands and layouts than any club show I have attended.

Are you suggesting that because the profits do not go to a mrs that commercial shows should be boycotted? Perhaps the NGS should organise more regular LARGE shows so that all those nasty commercial boys go out of business and they can support their struggling Area groups more effectivly.

I am sure I saw 'Revolution' at the biggest commercial N gauge show in the country only last month. What hypocrisy!

Rant over. just my opinion.

[MalcolmInN]

What mrs are you from

It took me a mo. or three to realise that you didnt mean swmbo 

as for all the rest hmmm, gosh or wow !
all he asked was - did anyone want to exhibit.

[red_death]

The 'commercial' shows I have attended seem to me to be well attended by modellers of all genre and usually have a better selection of trade stands and layouts than any club show I have attended.

That is entirely subjective as it depends on what you are looking for! Personally I prefer the likes of Railex/Scaleforum/Expo EM etc.

Are you suggesting that because the profits do not go to a mrs that commercial shows should be boycotted? Perhaps the NGS should organise more regular LARGE shows so that all those nasty commercial boys go out of business and they can support their struggling Area groups more effectivly.

I'm not suggesting they should be boycotted (so please don't create a straw man argument), but I don't think that burying our heads in the sand and pretending that there is no issue is helpful.

I wouldn't have raised the NGS as an example, but I don't think that it is any secret that part of the reason the NGS didn't pursue a 45th anniversary show was because TINGS existed.

I am sure I saw 'Revolution' at the biggest commercial N gauge show in the country only last month. What hypocrisy!

Sorry, but I don't see any hypocrisy (how do you justify that accusation?).  The reality is that if Revolution products are to be produced then that means targetting the largest potential audiences.  All I'm saying is that people should be well aware of the impacts of commercial shows. If you are and are happy with that then that is of course your choice.

Cheers, Mike

[NinOz]

..........
all he asked was - did anyone want to exhibit.

That will teach him.
Imagine; coming on here, asking such an inflammatory question and then the audacity of describing their operation requirements!
Flogging too good for them, I say.

CFJ