Simon
Flying Squad
This is a new thread for a new show, I have just walked back from paying my non returnable deposit on The New Oriel Hall for Saturday the 20th July 2013, and so:
The hall is very nice but considerably smaller than that used for Camrail (and most conventional model railway exhibitions) and so the accent is definitely going to be on demonstrations and small layouts and workpieces.
There is a small mezzanine too, which I shall probably use for Harry and Charlie to run a "student" section, with a couple of sofas up there for a relaxation area(!)
Several people have very kindly put their names forward already and I shall start fleshing out the details on this thread in due course. To give and idea of the likely "flavour" and quality of the show in the meantime I have; Laurie Griffin, Gerry Beale and brothers Bob and Rich Brown booked as demonstrators, Steph doing DCC, Phil Copleston wearing his "S" scale hat, Jerry Clifford with his 2mm Tucking Mill Tramway, John Dale with 1/32 "La Gaffe", Chris Nevard with a layout on his shoulder, our Cynric with his 1/32 "diorayout" and several more in the pipeline including some surprises.
There will be hardly any traders. Finney and Smith are likely (Dave is really getting in to 3D printing now) and possibly a local model shop with "craft" type supplies, but my shop is a mere 100 yards or less away from the hall and will be well placed to satisfy various and manifold retail cravings should such things arise. I confess to hoping to hearing my till ringing all day and a steady trail of retail refugees wearing out the pavement in Upper Lambridge Street.
Refreshments will follow the style and quality of Camrail with my wife Lesley and helpers operating out of a well appointed kitchen area into the hall.
The show is run on a "not for profit" basis with any surplus generated being donated to a charity. For the last years of Camrail the charity chosen has been "The Railway Children" and Camrail this year raised £318.00 in total. It is fair to say that I also see this new show as a better means of promoting and developing sales through "The Titfield Thunderbolt" in Larkhall.
I really have no idea how well this new venture will go, but as mentioned above I see it as being bound to create new visitors to the shop and so even if it ends up taking a financial "hit" it will still have made sense from my own point of view (here I am talking about the purely commercial view of the venture). In the event that it (the show) didn't make any money then I would donate an amount of money to charity anyway, say £100.00.
As previously the financial success will be underpinned by what can only really be described as "extreme moderation" in the expenses paid out to attendees. I am conscious that this is a bit of a contentious issue, but feel it worth mentioning as it is fair to say that the generosity of exhibitors and demonstrators in this regard is a large part of what has made and will make all of "my" shows financially viable. That is not to say that expenses aren't or weren't paid and also by prudence and picking those geographically close and friends of friends who can be put up without resort to B&B such issues can be generally minimised anyway.
The entrance fee is going to be £4.00 per head for all comers, no concessions. This is for two reasons, the first being that £4.00 surely can not be any barrier to entry to anyone who has made it as far as the show entrance and also it makes administration (for me) MUCH simpler.
Accompanied children will be admitted free of charge as before.
I think that's about it for now, feel free to disseminate, discuss, ask questions, etc - for myself I intend to work a fair bit harder at the promotion of this event than I have in the past with Camrail in recent years.
I feel pretty confident that I/we can create an enjoyable and "different" style of show that will promote and celebrate what is a great hobby. The accent will be on creativity and "making" stuff and we will probably not be taking ourselves too seriously whilst counting our rivets....
See you there!!
Simon
"Larkrail" is "Go"
The hall is very nice but considerably smaller than that used for Camrail (and most conventional model railway exhibitions) and so the accent is definitely going to be on demonstrations and small layouts and workpieces.
There is a small mezzanine too, which I shall probably use for Harry and Charlie to run a "student" section, with a couple of sofas up there for a relaxation area(!)
Several people have very kindly put their names forward already and I shall start fleshing out the details on this thread in due course. To give and idea of the likely "flavour" and quality of the show in the meantime I have; Laurie Griffin, Gerry Beale and brothers Bob and Rich Brown booked as demonstrators, Steph doing DCC, Phil Copleston wearing his "S" scale hat, Jerry Clifford with his 2mm Tucking Mill Tramway, John Dale with 1/32 "La Gaffe", Chris Nevard with a layout on his shoulder, our Cynric with his 1/32 "diorayout" and several more in the pipeline including some surprises.
There will be hardly any traders. Finney and Smith are likely (Dave is really getting in to 3D printing now) and possibly a local model shop with "craft" type supplies, but my shop is a mere 100 yards or less away from the hall and will be well placed to satisfy various and manifold retail cravings should such things arise. I confess to hoping to hearing my till ringing all day and a steady trail of retail refugees wearing out the pavement in Upper Lambridge Street.
Refreshments will follow the style and quality of Camrail with my wife Lesley and helpers operating out of a well appointed kitchen area into the hall.
The show is run on a "not for profit" basis with any surplus generated being donated to a charity. For the last years of Camrail the charity chosen has been "The Railway Children" and Camrail this year raised £318.00 in total. It is fair to say that I also see this new show as a better means of promoting and developing sales through "The Titfield Thunderbolt" in Larkhall.
I really have no idea how well this new venture will go, but as mentioned above I see it as being bound to create new visitors to the shop and so even if it ends up taking a financial "hit" it will still have made sense from my own point of view (here I am talking about the purely commercial view of the venture). In the event that it (the show) didn't make any money then I would donate an amount of money to charity anyway, say £100.00.
As previously the financial success will be underpinned by what can only really be described as "extreme moderation" in the expenses paid out to attendees. I am conscious that this is a bit of a contentious issue, but feel it worth mentioning as it is fair to say that the generosity of exhibitors and demonstrators in this regard is a large part of what has made and will make all of "my" shows financially viable. That is not to say that expenses aren't or weren't paid and also by prudence and picking those geographically close and friends of friends who can be put up without resort to B&B such issues can be generally minimised anyway.
The entrance fee is going to be £4.00 per head for all comers, no concessions. This is for two reasons, the first being that £4.00 surely can not be any barrier to entry to anyone who has made it as far as the show entrance and also it makes administration (for me) MUCH simpler.
Accompanied children will be admitted free of charge as before.
I think that's about it for now, feel free to disseminate, discuss, ask questions, etc - for myself I intend to work a fair bit harder at the promotion of this event than I have in the past with Camrail in recent years.
I feel pretty confident that I/we can create an enjoyable and "different" style of show that will promote and celebrate what is a great hobby. The accent will be on creativity and "making" stuff and we will probably not be taking ourselves too seriously whilst counting our rivets....
See you there!!
Simon