Model Boat Mayhem
Shows, Events, Club websites and Club Events => Commercial Events and News => Topic started by: Rottweiler on May 06, 2014, 07:58:50 pm
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Does anyone have any reports on the revamped Shepton Mallet Model Show which took place over the weekend?
I was told by more than one person that it was poorly supported on two counts, by the public,and by the exhibitors.
There were vast spaces with nothing in them,which a few years ago were full of exhibits.
This is such a shame,after not taking place for the last couple of years,that the organisers seem to insist on the holiday weekend which clashes with so many other shows around the same area.I was at the Abbey Hill Steam Rally,near Yeovil, which was very well supported.
Why dont these people all get together,and work out how not to clash with other shows? As I understand it,before the Shepton Mallett show was changed to the Bank Holiday weekend it was very successful.
Maybe time for a rethink?
Mick F
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Last weekend was the second worst show for business that we've ever done. The first SM show was one of the best. The organisers need to invite more traders at a reasonable stand rent and publicise the event better and earlier.
DM
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Thanks for that reply Dave,I had a feeling that was going to be the case.We have few enough proper shows down this way,I thought the organisers would have given up at Shepton because of what happened in the recent past and at least have given The Exeter Venue Westpoint a chance
Mick F
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As you say Mick a few years back it used to be a cracking show.
Catch22 like many others I will be giving the show a miss until the traders return!
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I drove up from Exeter with my father and was expecting something substantial, especially for the ticket price of £13 which is akin to the entry for the Dortmund show with seven halls full of exhibitors and traders. In the event I was sorely disappointed. There was no guide giving the layout or any signpost. This made it difficult to plan the visit. There was a substantial model boat presence but only Deans Marine as a specialist model boat trader, but not in the boat hall! The pond was pitifully small and empty most of the time. It really needed a published programme of events and to be at least twice as big. Component shop was in the boat hall and looked quite busy when I passed but Dave obviously knows better.
As for other hobbies there were a few traders selling plastic models, helicopters and cars but nothing substantial. There were only two model rail layouts but no specialist traders.
My father who, has little experience of these shows, said it felt it had been cobbled together at the last minute. I tend to agree and having recently attended Dortmund was sorely disappointed. If the organisers want to attract traders and paying customers they are going to have to raise their game and reduce the entry price.
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I have never been to the show and am unlikely to do so with its location, but those who feel the show was not up to standard, Have you let the organisers know about your concerns ?. Personally I have not heard of this show before..
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Component shop was in the boat hall and looked quite busy when I passed but Dave obviously knows better.
Dougal
I was referring only to the ACTion side of the stand - Comp-Shop had a better time but I don't know if the combined operation was worth the effort and expense.
Larry
There actually was a shuttle bus - or so the PA announcer kept telling us. And ten quid for that was a rip-off.
Dave M
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seems like a very expensive (rake as much in as possible rip em off syndrome) do indeed......sadly doomed to failure if they think they can charge fellow modellers like that, in times as tight as we live in, with fuel prices as much as they are!!!!!
I feel sorry for you guys who went and supported it, I would have been very miffed had I travelled as far as some to find such a "shambolic" show.
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and to think tickets were only £6 from Amazon local
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Dave,
Possibly a poor choice of words on my part. I had no intention of querying your assessment. I was at the show for only 3 hours and passed your stand twice. You were there for both days and must therefore have a better overall perspective than me. Apologies if I appeared to be questioning your statement.
Doug
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Dave,
Possibly a poor choice of words on my part. I had no intention of querying your assessment. I was at the show for only 3 hours and passed your stand twice. You were there for both days and must therefore have a better overall perspective than me. Apologies if I appeared to be questioning your statement.
Doug
Doug
No offence taken at all - in fact I'm sorry if my reply seemed terse, but sitting for two days on the ACTion end of the stand without hearing the regular chink-chink of other peoples' money was a soul-deadening experience. Your overall assessment of the show was bang on. It will take an awful lot of persuasion to get me there again next year.
Dave
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If I may put my opinion into this saga.
Quality of show? pathetic. Having attended many shows around the country over the years this one defies classification.
Displays? great if you are into plastic kits of trucks and the like. The kids seemed to be really into this form of "modelling". Each to their own.
Some of the club displays were of high quality but if you were looking to stock your parts locker up - tough luck.
The shining display (in my opinion) was the O Gauge finescale layout ,nice running and a delight to look at. Rather rare these days.
I had travelled over 300 miles (combining this "show" with a holiday) and was bitterly disappointed with the downturn in the show. Repeat the fiasco next year?
Organisers, dream on. I can find many better avenues of spending my multiple pennies than on this rip off. Even the catering was inferior to that in previous years.
A very disappointed travelling customer ( or more correctly, a mug punter!).
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Hi All
I am getting in touch with the organisers of the Shepton Mallet show to air my views as a stand holder. I can add anyone else's views extra to what I have seen on Mayham. I will only pass on comments from you if you attended, not I heard it on the grape vine, these don't help.
This is an effort to help save the show, not just to "xxxxx" it off. I don't want to see this show close along with the others, we don't have many left.
It could be a good show if we pulled together.
TonyO
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hI all
TIME FOR RANT....attended the sheppton model show wish i addent
, what a poor show £10 to get in , to see no trade stands club stands members showed no interest , sat with long faces because there was no buzz
al so i was using a wheel chair , which wasn't easy no ramps ground was very rough ,..
no boats on pool , the size was not very big so is the death of west show , seems no effort by organisers,
flying field was a mile at the show ground with no shuttle transport,.......
so did not see planes, but not much in the air......so lets hope next time get some body how organise a show,... not a load of muppets`............
cheeRS Larry......
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Hi All
I am getting in touch with the organisers of the Shepton Mallet show to air my views as a stand holder. I can add anyone else's views extra to what I have seen on Mayham. I will only pass on comments from you if you attended, not I heard it on the grape vine, these don't help.
This is an effort to help save the show, not just to "xxxxx" it off. I don't want to see this show close along with the others, we don't have many left.
It could be a good show if we pulled together.
TonyO
Both you and I are old enough and ugly enough to have witnessed the demise of any number of formerly good shows, Sandown Park, Plumpton, Beale Park to name just three. I have been contacted in the last couple of days by a gent eager to stage a 'Sandown' type show locally, who has had to put his plans on hold for the time being due to lack of take up by the trade.
I think that shows have a finite life in them due to the law of diminishing returns. Traders need to take a certain amount of money to break even, making the show worth a further visit. Show and stand hire people have to make their bit. The paying visitor wants to see a bit of variety and where possible get their hands on a sought after item. All well and good if all this remains in balance, but it rarely does.
Sandown Park was shot in the foot by astronomical stand costs and punters seeking out the best and the cheapest, resulting in limited or no return for the traders. Beale Park at its best had traders inside and out, but not enough punters to support the traders there, next year less traders, then less modellers and so on.
I dont think there is an easy fix for the small to medium sized shows. Enjoy them while they are at their best, but dont expect anything to last forever.
Saying that, I wish any organiser the best of luck organising any sort of event. dont forget the silent majority are usually on your side, its the vocal naysayers that will kill an event stone dead.
Be careful what you say...
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Oh, I didn't attend this year, I wanted to but the club were at Abingdon Air Show instead. I have been to Shepton Mallet Model Show twice now, the first time I was very impressed. The second time you could see a drop off of traders, particularly from the main stands to the flight line. that was about three years ago.
I was still eager to attend the Shepton this year, so am sad to hear it has apparently tailed off as an event.
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I spent many wonderful weekends at Shepton Mallet showground at the Custom Motorcycle weekends. But about 8 years ago the organisers changed and the attendance costs just spiralled.
before then, as exhibitors, our club was given two free weekend passes per bike on the stand. We camped on site, and they knew we were a captive audience, and we spent many, many pounds in the food and beer halls each night. the halls were filled, and the clubs got many other members to turn up and turn it into a party weekend. Much money went into the coffers. I can remember all the halls filled and overflow tents erected.
Once the other company took over, all the passes were payable, so we (the exhibitors) decided that we were providing them with free content and stopped going. this led to a sharp downward spiral of less bikes on show, and less people bothering to attend, just as you are now experiencing with the models.
I went to the model show there in 2008, and it was a reasonable show.
If the organisers went back to free admission for exhibitors, and were not so greedy on the stand prices, they could increase the entry fees slightly, the halls would fill up again, and they would make their money on food and drink.
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You have hit the nail on the head GREED. To many shows have gone by the way side due to organisers and venue holder charging far to much. They see some high end Ready to run models for £1000+ and think the whole of the hobby has pockets of money for them . this is not the case and hence the death of many great shows.
john
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As far as I understand it,the model show was doing very well,until about 3 years ago when someone in their wisdom decided to change the date to the Bank Holiday weekend,without even looking to see which other shows they clashed with,of which there were quite a few. I would like to have exhibited myself, but I was at one of the other shows on the same date. It apparently has not taken place at all for the last two years,and was supposed to be revamped and better.I have heard it said that if it was changed back to the original dates then it would more than likely get the support. Again, the prices did come into it.Without the exhibitors there would be no show for visitors to see,which seems to be very much the case.
Again this year,I attended a very popular Steam Rally not so far away at Abbey Hill Yeovil,which was very well attended over all 4 days.
I hope some of the comments here will be passed on to the "organisers" as they have come from both the Traders, and visitors.As I did not attend,I can only hope they will sit down and have a rethink
Mick F
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Hi
A correction the show only missed last year. Before that we enjoyed three shows. Lets have facts please not hear say.
TonyO
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Sorry if I have "the facts" wrong,by mistakenly thinking it was two years,and not one,that the show had not taken place. Nevertheless,I think "the facts" on here from those who did attend speak for themselves dont you?
Mick F
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Topics merged and moved here - Admin
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Topics merged and moved here - Admin
Above Link not working for me
but found your other post
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that's because it now points here.....
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Hi All
Contact details to send your comments on the Shepton Mallet Show.
Post SWMEE, PO Box 20, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 5QU
E-Mail [email protected]
I shall be posting my views soon. May be it will help.
TonyO
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Hi Again
LarryW
Sorry you felt the people manning the club stands showed no interest.
We on the Southern Model Lifeboat Society stand were kept busy all weekend talking to the public who showed a lot of interest in our display and we needed a couple of pints after to re-oil the voice boxes.
May be you missed us.
TonyO
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Read all the former posts here - now for my two-penneth worth!
Dad and I have exhibited every year that the show has been held (card modelling) - it wanst held last year.
As has been said, in the beginning it was well attended by both traders and public alike - UNTIL they first put it over 3 days of a bank holiday weekend. Saturday and Sunday that year were OK, but Monday was a dead loss. Then it went to just 2 days, but still a Bank Holiday.
Last year, they had 'management issues' so the show was cancelled.
Re the boating pool - in the past, the orgainsers have asked the SWAMBC to supply and arrange it, and it was big enough. I dont know what happened this year, but clearly it was arranged by someone who had NO idea of the requirements of those with R/C boats!!! Who thought it would be a good idea to use 4' high hay bales as pool sides???? Can you imaging trying to launch a boat over the edge of them?
Spoke with Dave M a couple of times and. yes, he was 'quiet'. Really, the show is not a place where you go to get your specialist R/C boat parts - Warwick is the show for that IMO.
Dad and I have always treated this show as a 'Show & Tell' type event to interest General Public in what we do and what is possible. We were both very busy explaining the card model ships - which 90% of the public really didnt realise WERE card.
Would we do it again next year? I really dont know........................
Carl (and Mick!)
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Mods, think its about time this one got locked before it gets nasty.
as others have said previous, shows have there good times and bad times , lets just see what the future brings.
Happy Modelling
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Mods, think its about time this one got locked before it gets nasty.
as others have said previous, shows have there good times and bad times , lets just see what the future brings.
Happy Modelling
Why???? I dont see it getting nasty........just a good discussion / debate about a show. A discussion / debate that is needed in my view!! If the Organisers ever get to see this thread, then it will help them. In any case, I have already spoken with a couple of folks from Nationwide Exhibitions and they are well aware of the shortcomings.
As for entry price etc. - a fair bit of this is dictated by the owners of the site itself.
Maybe it would be a better show at a different venue in the South West?
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Mods, think its about time this one got locked before it gets nasty.
as others have said previous, shows have there good times and bad times , lets just see what the future brings.
Happy Modelling
I agree with carlmt on this one, so far the discussion has been very civilised, and hopefully it will stay that way O0
Peter,
Moderator.
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Thank you Peter,
For some of us modellers Its the only way we find these things out, Thats what this great forum is about giving us the facts and let us as Adults made to our own minds.
Regards Howard.
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The Shepton Mallett show this year was a success with around 6000 very happy visitors. In addition to that most of the traders and clubs will be back for 2015 with many having rebooked already. Yes there were many points that can be criticised, the outdoor boating pool was inadequate, but it was that or nothing, as the planned pool became unavailable. There was a shuttle bus that ran all day long linking the show to the outdoor flying, this show ground is relatively flat and there is ramped access between all the halls in the show ground.
Dates of shows are down to ground availability and though the May bank holiday does clash, it normally has good weather and is one of the few available dates, next year's show will be 2nd and 3rd May. Yes we didn't have enough traders for 2014 but this is being addressed for 2015. As regards ticket price, any one who prebooked could have got serious discounts from the on the door price. Discounts are available over the internet or by phoning the office for those that have no computer access. This is a general model show, and tries to embody a broad spectrum of hobbies and modelling interests. There was a strong boating content this year, indoor and outdoor flying were excellent, fabulous model truck displays, great model r/c cars etc etc. A gap of a year hasn't helped the show but this years still had plenty going on both indoors and out, and nearly everybody was happy with the show. Constructive criticism is accepted from those that attended, this event is back, is loved by many, and will be bigger and better in every aspect next year. I look forward to the support of the model boating fraternity and the model boating mayhem forum to help us make it one of the events with a great model boating content, as this can only help model boating and model boaters.
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Hi
That sums it up.
We will be back next year.
TonyO SOUTHERN MODEL LIFEBOAT SOCIETY
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Hi Modellers
Deans Marine have re-booked for this show, for a new show, It was very well organized, (few hiccups but sorted quickly) broad spread of modelling sections all of interest with lots to see. We were too busy to have a good look around
We were well pleased with the response from other sections of the exhibition.
This was the largest stand we have ever run at any show this enable us to show a good selection of our products plus the new fittings display wall.
With support from the hobby we can make this one of the best shows in the U K. and it had a very good atmosphere. (As an aside they were let down with the pool with three days notice, we loaned them our pond liner protector sheets and brought them down with us on our truck, it was not perfect, but better then a empty space )
Looking forward to next year's show
Regards
Deans Marine