Pro's & Con's of 2-day wargames shows?

[Leon]

After it came up in another thread, I thought it was worth throwing this one out to the general Forum:

Do we need 2-day shows?  Do you regularly attend both days of any shows yourself?  Or do you prefer to get everything done in a single day?

Looking at it from a purely trade/financial aspect, the second day incurs a lot more costs.  A hotel for a Friday night is £50, for Fri & Sat it jumps to £140.  Extra petrol for those who drive in instead of staying over.  Food/drinks for the second day.  It all adds up.  Also, a single day's venue hire would in theory be cheaper, so that should indirectly bring the cost of the trade stands down as well.

For the visitors, would having to go on a specific day stop you from visiting?  We regularly see several clubs who make a weekend of it, the Tring guys at Triples, the Reiver club at Derby, etc. and both me and Dave really enjoy that social aspect to it.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Campaign in Milton Keynes is a two day event, basically so we can get 5 games of 'whateverpeopleareplayingatthemomment' in. Demo and participation can buy in for one or two days, traders, just because of set up times, get two days or nowt!

[Eldamarelf]

Personally I like the two day shows especially as it alows the punter to have a relax from whatever stuff is going on in their lives our club decided a couple of years ago to ditch Salute in favour of Triples in fact most of the shows we end up going to are 2 night events. I attend shows with traders and know its hard but can you honestly say that you would make the money sat at home?? the honest answer for most of the small and medium traders is no. I have had all the reasons but as a punter if I am going to buy a big chunk of kit I wont buy it blind as Dave and Leon can attest to I like to see the stuff first I will then order I did this at Salute last year (it broke Leons Calculator).
In terms of 2 day shows there are events out there which only cater to tournament play and finding a good balance between traders and players is hard Sundays can be quieter but I remember taking 3 times the amount on a Sunday that I did on a Saturday last year a blip maybee but it does happen.

Just My Thoughts

Tom H
aka Bilbo

[Leon]

I enjoy the two day shows myself, Triples and Derby in particular as we get to enjoy some downtime with folk as well.

..but can you honestly say that you would make the money sat at home?? the honest answer for most of the small and medium traders is no.

We probably could though, when we're not a show, we're casting, and we could cast more stock in a day than we take on some of the Sundays.

[Eldamarelf]

I enjoy the two day shows myself, Triples and Derby in particular as we get to enjoy some downtime with folk as well.

We probably could though, when we're not a show, we're casting, and we could cast more stock in a day than we take on some of the Sundays.

As Do I oh and you are not a small or medium trader either young one!! I can cast more stock but stock needs a place to live where being at a show gets rid of some of the stock a cach 22 situation how many of the orders come from people who see your stuff at shows then order not many order blind any more I know that you get a tidy increase in internet sales after a show.

Tom H
aka Bilbo

[Sandinista]

I would only go to one day, Bovington is tempting for camping and the tanks but the show itself is not enough for me for 2 days

[Eldamarelf]

r.e. Bovington, its a two day show more of a social show than anything else I have been for either 9 or ten years its one I try not to mis camping there has gone up trading pitches have also gone up but the social on the Saturday night is worth it in my humble opinion the same as the other two day shows it offers something diferent how many shows can you go to and see tanks running around outside or play a 1/72 game next to a 1/1 tank?

Tom h
aka Bilbo

[Nosher]

I cant find the time (or the money) to attend one day shows let alone two day ones

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

The two day shows were originally major competitions, one day ones either open days or a means to make money for the orgainsers (mostly the former). In essence if I'm going to travel more than 100 miles then I'm going for two days, and playing games, nothing else is cost effective. Far as I am concerend both Shefield and Leeds are local, easy to get to and from (despite the fact that IT ALWAYS SNOWS WHEN I GO TO SHEF!). Phalanx is the nearest trade show, and is a 1 dayer, whilst Gauntlet, at Broughton, is 2 days cause it was started as 6th editon comp.

In general I suspect that the two day trade show is just about dead, but the 2 day comp is here to stay.

IanS

[Dave]

Hi Tom
I enjoyed the curry, your bull and the girly drink you introduced me to on the Saturday night

On the two day shows for socializing its great, for trading poor - I do like a relaxing night

Dave (post number 32)

[goat major]

I would have said no but now I intrigued by Bovington - what's with all the camping ?

[Eldamarelf]

I would have said no but now I intrigued by Bovington - what's with all the camping ?

Its a good excuse to let thy hair down, Camping is optional but worth it can be a bit rough portable toilets and all but I would be very unhappy if i could not go!!

Tom H
aka Bilbo

[Eldamarelf]

Hi Tom
I enjoyed the curry, your bull and the girly drink you introduced me to on the Saturday night

On the two day shows for socializing its great, for trading poor - I do like a relaxing night

Dave (post number 32)

I certanly enjoyed the curry and my Chocolate Heaven as did you Dave, I know that the second day can be quiet in fact it was mentioned by our lot that the hall looked emptier than the previouse year.

Tom H

aka Bilbo

[Orcs]

After it came up in another thread, I thought it was worth throwing this one out to the general Forum:

Do we need 2-day shows?  Do you regularly attend both days of any shows yourself?  Or do you prefer to get everything done in a single day?

 We regularly see several clubs who make a weekend of it, the Tring guys at Triples, the Reiver club at Derby, etc. and both me and Dave really enjoy that social aspect to it.

As one of the Tring club that went to Triples, its the only show we really attend on two days.  Its a chance to socialise and sample some of the excellent (and Cheap Beer) you find "Up North".  The more local two days shows we only attend on one day.  Granted some times  some will go Saturday and others Sunday, but no one attends both days.  If they can't make either they give a shopping list to someone who is going.

We did a Demo game at Milton Keynes a couple of years ago, but it was difficult to get enough members to man it.  Again we had different people on different days.

I helped out a couple of trader friends for several years , and wargamers attend a show and spend thier money on a single day. Very few attend both days apart from the competition players and in general they are not big spenders, being more interested in the games.

Most people go with a budet in mind and will only spend that amount.  If its a two day show they will simply spread the budget over the two days.  If traders are not going to take significantly more money at a two day show the additional costs have to be absorbed as an overhead - possibly increasing the cost to the rest of us.  I think its only the competition players who want two day shows. So the rest of the hobby could well be seen as subsidising them.

[i_am_win]

I usually only get chance to attend on one day and am usually spent up by the end. I attended triples and have to agree that it went quiet in the afternoon (but it was a tad easier to shop at the time) So probably for the casual attendee a one day show would be perhaps better. Mind you, if I had had to come on the second day, my kids would have bled me dry of cash....