"Salute again ?- blech ........" Topic

I live in outer West london but I only ever went once and to be honest I find it just too much trouble.

It takes at least an hour by public transport each way and I can browse and order easier on line. The £20.00 GBP – £30.00 GBP I will save by not going can buy more figures.

Am I the only person who finds this sort of event too much trouble ?

yes

;o)

in a word…no,

kind regards

jim

It's easier to get to now. And while I do most of my ordering on-line, the main reason I attend Salute is to actually see the figures in the flesh and decide whether I like them or not.

For example, I was going to order one companies near future figs over anothers until I saw them at Salute and realised just how much taller than all my other figs they were. I didn't and I ordered from another company. Saved me a lot of disapointment.

I'm happy to accept travel of up to a couple of hours from home in Greater Manchester to get to a show, even a small one day one.

I like the market place atmosphere and the social side of bumping into the "usual suspects" although I accept that a small show might have a limited offer.

I'd always make the effort to make the largest show I can reach – "Triples" – for the comparison shopping and the everything under one roof-ness and the opportunity for serendipity purchases. I accept the travel cost as part of the day (mind you I am on a senior citizen railcard nowadays – but I used to happily go and take my sons in years gone by)

"It took an hour by public transport…"

Kids, today.

It takes at least an hour by public transport each way and I can browse and order easier on line. The £20.00 GBP GBP – £30.00 GBP GBP I will save by not going can buy more figures.

Doesn't sound like your that interested in going anyway?
Most people travel for an hour just to get to work in London.

I certainly don't think an hour to and from the biggest show in the UK is too much bother.

Jeremey
minigerm.com

I think Salute is a well run show with a dedicated team (not saying other shows are not well run). It gives traders a place to launch new products so loads of people can see and get their hands on it in one go rather than look at a picture online which can be touched up and made to look good.

Jules
figuresincomfort.co.uk

Well, I'm looking forward to Salute, it always generates about a month of heightened gaming activity, so that makes it a bargain !

I just got Bugged !!

Oh well:

Dewbakuk, sorry but I hate the scrum around stands that was evident last time. It may have improved by now of course

John OFM, thanks. That made me feel young again (I actually started gaming with 25mm Napoleonic Hinchcliffes in 1972)

Germy, No I'm not. Last time I went it was too crowded, too expensive and what I bought I can now buy in 10 mins on-line for less and I have the rest of the day free.

I've lived in London over 50 years and PT here is awful. 99% of the time it doesn't even go where I want to go. That said I don't mind travelling for my games. I went to Iron Acton last month (90m each way) for a 1 day HOTT comp, and I plan to go to Burton in May for another (120m each way)

Pete

Well, I commute 2h each way every day and I intend to fly in from Sweden for Salute. This will be my first show in the UK and whatever the show might or might not hold, I will meet a bunch of TMPers and TooFatLardies in the flesh and that alone should make it worth the trip. I will report back afterwards.

The reason you should go is to show support for the hobby you love. Meet some new or old friends, get out of the house and see things in three dimensions. Plus there is always stuff that you will never see on the internet. But it is the experience as a whole that should drive you out of your cave and on to the public transportation for an hour (Which is nothing. Take a book along) and get to a place that is far removed from the reality of day to day routine and is filled with color energy and history. :)

Regards

T

I've attended the Salute shows for as long as I can remember. I travel down with a few like minded friends, we each do our shop, look around and have a few beers (not necessarily in that order). There's always a few bargains to be had, and it certainly isn't too crowded in the new venue.
It gives me a great chance to look at most of the displays, maybe participate in a game, and hopefully find a hidden gem somewhere.
This year I've got to get back early for some sod's birthday meal (mutter, moan).
I do order a lot of stuff online or from ebay, but it is a joy to get out and see everything or almost everything in the metal.

I'm flying from Hamburg for the weekend, Salute will be one of three conventions I will be travelling to in the UK, the other 2 are Gauntlet just outside Chester in June/July and of course Derby in October. These two are WRG 6th comps of course.

It's an overwhelming show in every way. I'm looking forward to seeing how they've rearranged the hall, which I think will be an improvement.

Whilst I recognise that shows of this kind aren't to everyone's taste, it's the biggest, boldest, brashest flagship show we have for the hobby, and I'll be supporting it. It's certainly a great opportunity to meet just about everyone involved in the hobby trade here in the UK and mainland Europe under one roof.

I love Salute! It's not just about buying, its about meeting my friends from overseas I only see once a year, seeing and comparing new products up close all in one place, and even maybe getting a short game in. Plus I even enjoy getting all my purchases out to look at on the way home in the train. Its worth the two hour trip either way to get there.

well this is my 4th consecutive Salute… and I come from Italy, not exactly outer London ;-)

If you don't like it, don't go.
Personally I'll be there seeing friends, looking at games and buying some stuff.

This will be my third Salute and for each of them I have come from Germany.

While there was one where the convention discount on my purchases alread offset my travel expenses (I guess one can expect something when you buy 6 kilos worth of minis from one manufacturer) the last did not and neither will this one.

But I like it since I allows me to see a nice number of manufacturers and clubs off the mainland to see some new stuff, get some ideas and meet some friends.

But then again… I have been mad enogh to travel to the US for a show!

Cheers,

Burkhard

Its no longer about buying figures for me. As you say you can buy online anytime. I like to go to the shows to see the games,marvel at some great terrain and meet old and new friends and soak up the atmosphere.

I have been going to Salute since 1978 when it was based in Chelsea. For me its an annual pilgrimage that I make along with Colours and SELWG. Its something to look forward to in april!

I love Salute. I've been going for years as a punter and this will be my third as a trader.

But Mongrel1, you'd go to the opening of an envelope.

:)

I've only missed a couple of Salutes since 1986 and am really looking forward to this year's. The new venue is so much better and there was none of the scrum that has been a feature of previous shows.

I'm trying to find a ticket cheaper than US$600. You might see me yet…

Hmm, Ok, I'm clearly in the minority here.

Combatpainter, that might be part of the issue – I have no old friends in the hobby. I was very active until my late 20's, then came marriage, kid, family buisness going bust, parents ilness etc.

Taking those 15 years more-or-less off means I have no contact with those I used to game with in the 70's and 80's.

Maybe I am missing something worthwhile, but sorry, it just doesn't appeal.

Pete

I travelled over from Belgium last year and I thought it was worth it.

The new Excel venue is far far superior to the old cramped one, my biggest regret with Salute is that we dont get the time to look around all the display games and other trade stands.

My 4 th Salute in a row and i am coming from Germany !

Will bring my son with me like last time

well look upon the games there as a bonus then ;)

Any TMPers look by our Great War game there – The Big Push.

Many of our club are going, and for most of us, it's a weekend trip. It's a chance to visit London, see old friends, check the games, examine stuff in the flesh and browse stalls for those impulse buys and chance discoveries that don't happen when you shop through the net. And you learn new things discussing things with people.

My Pre-Order for Steve Barber is out the mailbox.

What does "blech" mean? And how is it pronounced?

DBDD

Love to go but costs of travel accomodation and entrance mount up. :-(

'blech' means the same as 'urgh' or 'pfft' – essentially it's a disparaging sound.

As for pronunciation, it's like blek but the k is soft and kind of gutteral at the back of the throat. Difficult to describe.

"sorry but I hate the scrum around stands that was evident last time. It may have improved by now of course"

It has, they moved to a new venue last year and there is far more room. You still get clumps of people at the cabinets but it's big enaough that I just move on and come back later.

"PT here is awful. 99% of the time it doesn't even go where I want to go."

No argument there but then it's a similar story up here in Nottingham. That said, the new venue has a stop on the Docklands line practicaly at the door. Very easy to get to now.

"I've lived in London over 50 years "

Are you not due for parole yet?

Why did you bother posting the question? sounds like you don't want to go, anyway.
I live in west london, when Salute was at Kensington I would have defied anyone in west london to take more than 45mins tops to get there- (it used to take me 20mins from Richmond) public transport is fine- District line on a saturday morning every 6 to 8 mins, Piccadilly line the same, Ok, maybe in Zurich they have a metro every 4 to 5 mins but in London its still not that bad. Now its at the Excel centre it doubles that time taken for me to get there, tough for us living in the west, but the guys living east must be well chuffed – the new space and size make up for the hassle-its a day out for gods sake! – If I had to go every week-end I guess it become a chore but for one day a year its well worth it! plus the chance to see God knows how many brilliant demo and participation games. Maybe going all the way upstairs to bed every night is just too much trouble for you as well? I feel like that too sometimes…..why bother to get dressed in the morning? Suprised you managed to summon the energy to sit in front of a computer and type the post!

cheers chris

Guthroth,

Please don't go. I shall be there, and that's already one moaning, miserable old too many – God only knows what would happen if we bumped into each other.

( ;^))

My shortest convention is four hours one way in the SE USA. My average show is 8-9 hours. Only one hour! it seems like you would cover the cost of travel with the saving on shipping that you gave to pay with on-line orders.

Is Salute a trade show or can noraml gamers play in events as in the USA. being able to play would make it more worth going in my opinion.

Ho hum. Bugged again!

No Alan, being a real Londoner is a life sentance … ;-)

This was a nice debate and I was learning something of interest, and then the 's arrived.

Christot, read the whole thread, the clue is in the words…..

I explained my feelings and said I wasn't going from the beginning. FTR I live a 20 min bus ride in two different directions from the nearest undergound station, and that is at the end of the line, so your sums are meaningless to me.

That being said, lots of good coment and information followed, so Thank you for a very sensible and reasoned debate Gentlemen (and any Ladies out there).

Then we had Supercillious' contribution.

Supercillious, despite just about being persuaded by the rest of the board that maybe I should give the event another try, because you and Christot are such insulting smartarse's I now definately won't be going this year -

1. So I won't spoil your day.

2. So I never have to risk meeting either of you.

Pete

We in North America are forever amazed at the short distances one needs to travel in Britain and/or Europe to get to a convention. It is common for us in NA to travel by car some minimum 3 to 8 hours for a 'local' convention; a five hour flight for a biggie back east.
OK I admit that having travel in England, travel is somewhat more …hmmm….complicated and thus more timely, but if it were not for the joys of the internet we would envy you in Britain/Europe :-)

aud, someone once said that while in Britain 200 miles is a long distance to travel, in the US 200 years is a long time ago.

American friends I know who come here are simply amazed at how long it takes to get anywhere, and I've even seen comments about London advising that compared to the US everything is crushed up really small, and that maps are not to be trusted !

;-)

"Supercillious, despite just about being persuaded by the rest of the board that maybe I should give the event another try, because you and Christot are such insulting smartarse's I now definately won't be going this year -

1. So I won't spoil your day.

2. So I never have to risk meeting either of you."

Now, Pete, that's just being petty. Consider that probably over 5,000 people will be there, the chances of you meeting either of these characters are infinitesimally small – even if they wear large notices with their TMP membership names on their chests!!

Yes it was wasn't it ….

Mind you, I didn't start the 'smart' postings did I ?

Pete

Guthroth said:"Taking those 15 years more-or-less off means I have no contact with those I used to game with in the 70's and 80's."

And what better time to make some new contacts? Walk up to the fat dude with the black T-shirt, funny accent and Thomas Nissvik on his nametag and he will buy you a beer.

>"Walk up to the fat dude"

That's 90% of attendees…

>"with the black T-shirt"

80%

>"funny accent"

20%

>"and Thomas Nissvik on his nametag"

Ah!

Funny to say, but if there was a chance of meeting some other TMP'ers there, that would be a major reason to think about going.

Well, I will print the TMP Nametag provided by our beloved Editor and I hope others will do the same so that we can recognise each other.

Pete,

I'll be there, running G:M152 "The Battle of Dwarf Mine".

This is a very large fantasy participation game, and we can take quite a number of players. TMPers especially welcome.

Do drop by; if only to see my bat. ;-)

Simon

No gamer is an Island….no matter how big he is!