"Elements of a good show from trader point of view" Topic

Seeing how 2013 has just started I am going to put out some praise for show organisers from 2012. Rather than comment negatively I have decided to give note and praise to the best things. These are of course all a matter of perceived priorities. As a background I will say that PP has attended shows as a trader for the last 31 years. At one time we were doing 30 shows a year, including overseas ones.The following does appreciate what a thankless and unpaid task it is to put on a show. So well done all show organisers.

1. Well done SELWG specifically for oraginsing the loading and unloading of traders. SELWG allows trdaers from the furthest away to load up first. SELWG alsomakes sure a trader is reday to load up before they can bring their van down. There are those shows where certain traders selfishly park their vans all day in the loading bays whilst making unloading difficlt for other traders.

2. Well done Colours (Newbury race course)for aranging good parking and a floor layout which gives space to games and traders. they even help put back tables whicj other traders have atken or mobed around to suit themselves.

3. Well done Salute for allowing vehicles into teh hall for loading and unloading. Really makes all the "hefting" much easier. That man who sits in the middle of the "roadway" reading a rule book is still there most years.

4.Well done Cavalier for the help getting stock into the show with those Sainsbury's shopping trolleys. Loads of helpers..excellent.

5. Well done Alumwell for the good spaces for games and stands. Gives amore relaxed feeling to the show.

6. Well done to The guns of August for being friendly and understanding that we were from europe. We were made to feel like honoured guests.

7.well done Fisticuffs for unloading help and good cooked breakfast. Also for the emphasis on participation games.

8.Well done Vapnartak for help with unloading and genberal excellent level of orgnisation.

Thanks to all the other shows too. This was just a short citation of what was outstanding rather than usual at shows. We have had our fair share of game table lomg way from stand, no trader van supervision and load announcement systems too!

Martin at peter Pig

Very cool Martin…now I wish some US cons/shows would take a good look at your list…it might give them some ideas…

I am sure they cannot miss these"Words of wisdom"??

Martin…you'd be surprised…

The A*******s who park all day in the loading areas are not unique to Gaming Shows, they seem to travel to the corners of the Earth in order to spread annoyance & chaos.

Maybe 'we' could duct tape them in their vehicles, then have the vehicle & contents sent to the nearest auto shredder to be processed?

I think so bsrlee!

Martin,

It was our pleasure to host your wife, you, and your friends at Guns of August last year. We hope you enjoyed your vacation in the "former colony" of Virginia, and hope you'll drop in again in the future!!

Many of the club members are still enjoying your ACW Ironclad rules, and they all look forward to a re-match!!

Thank you for the kind words!!

I have not been to many shows.
However of those I have been to I have always been greeted at some point by the shows organisers, especially if it is my first time at that show.
One show I attended for the first time, there was no-one around to help.
I had to find a floor plan lying around to work out where my stand was and at no pint did anyone from the show come over and say thanks for coming, was everything ok, glad you came, will you be back next year etc.

I may be a paying guest at the show, there to make money, but that does not mean I want to be ignored.

Michael.

When I used to do shows I always found that whilst there was plenty of help unloading it all evaporated when you wanted to go home having been on your feet all day serving happy customers (and had probably been up since the crack of dawn)- still that was just an occupational peril – I found most shows to be well run and friendly.
Oh last thing – organisers should really give thought to how much unloading room they have when they select their venue.

Thanks Paul. We will be back.

Martin

Tx Martin

Williamsburg Muster Feb 1 – 3 2013

Guns of August dates are the 23rd – 25th ,2013

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