Hi all, I would like to thank all the participating clubs, we had a record attendance of 1176 adults and 570 children totalling 1746 visitors over the weekend, strangely we sold exactly the same number of tickets each day!
The photos above are from just one of the halls and the pool outside, there were 2 other halls and 4 classrooms all filled with models. We also had a large 4 track Scalextric layout for visitors to race on and paper and polystyrene flying model aeroplane construction for children that did 'embarrassingly well' to quote the organizers. On the stage we had a warehouse feature with lorry deliveries and fork lift trucks loading and unloading, we have a promise of bigger and better next year! This had a step up so that young visitors got an eye level view.
The Tamiya truck display was really good and very visitor friendly and a larger set up than at Alexandra Palace last year.
On the green outside you could also view our Steam on the move displays, including free train rides, a demonstration track 5 inch gauge, a half scale traction engine and smaller ride on steam lorry and rolling road for steam locos.
This would lead you to the flying field with helicopters aircraft and drones also professional drones feeding back live HD TV pictures.
One visitor on leaving gave our Treasurer £5 and said it was worth far more than the £4 entry, Nice thought but we keep the entry price as low as possible as everyone is feeling the pinch these days and the school hire costs are reasonable at about £1100 for the weekend.
On another thread commercial venue costs are possibly causing difficulty perhaps they should try a local school who would welcome the money.
We use various Facebook and newspaper advertising with flyers for shows we attend and this brought out lots of families with young children, there was a general 'buzz' rather than the screaming kids you might have expected. Very noticeable to me with hearing aids (or bionic enhancement as I like to view it).
We are very safety conscious and pay for the Red Cross to attend and have a safety officer as well. Catering is supplied by faithful wives and friends and much appreciated.
We would also like to thank the exhibitors for helping to clear up the hire tables we bring in and restore the classrooms for use by pupils the following day.
We, like many clubs have an advancing average age, due to a lack of younger people joining us. If we get physical help to set up and knock down then we shall continue our modelling extravaganzas each year.
The profits go to help support the club during the year and also the escalating cost of printing our monthly gazette. When rummaging around and clearing up when a much loved member had passed away a few years ago I found an advert for our show dated May 1981, when pensioners were invited in free on production of pension book, we are almost all pensioners now, but lucky us is what I think!
We hope to return in the last weekend in September 2018 (25th, 26th) but cannot confirm this until the New Year when the school looks at its calendar for the year.
Do come along and see us while we can still put on a show.
Best regards Roy (Hon Sec)
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Topic: St Albans & District Model Engineering Exhibition (Read 10364 times)