"Campaign 2014 - Another show goes bang ?" Topic

This was fwd to another list this morning having apparently been posted on the FOW forum a few days ago. It refers to the FOW competition but is highly relevant to us -

"However, due to factors beyond the control of MKWS and the management of Centre:MK, Campaign will NOT be happening in Middleton Hall MK.
I need to note that this is entirely beyond either parties control, so no bad press either way please.

At the present time, various venues and factors are being seriously studied to allow the show to go ahead at a different venue. The main issue is that the whole ethos of Campaign is that it should be an event that showcases our hobby to the public and tries to encourage people to try it, beyond the perceived ('GW') perception. We feel we had a great formula, and wish to continue it.

Our Chairman Neil, plus other club members, are endeavoring to bring our usual, high quality event. Keep watching this thread for news…"

What is going on with shows this year ?

Well good luck to them on finding a new venue

I have not been to thi sshow but have heard its a nice show, with lots of interest from the public as it was in a shopping centre

Al

That is a shame – nice show, great location. I hope they come up with a new venue soon…

Yes, what is going on with shows this year?

Along with the news of Colours being cancelled for whatever reason, I have heard that it may be the last at Bovington Tank Museum and also the last Cavalier later this month as the building is being pulled down… Not heard if either groups are looking for a new venue… Anybody know anything?

It does seem to be a strange year.

Warfare will be held at the usual time and usual location this year. All booked. Fear nought we will be there :)

Andy

Cavalier in trouble as well ?

Blimey the 'circuit' is falling part !

We (Staines Wargamers) usually take our club game to Call to Arms, Cavalier, Campaign, Valhalla, Colours, SELWG and Warfare. Colours is gone this year, Campaign is in trouble and now apparently Cavalier as well.

When is Bovvie ? If Campaign has gone, might try and see if that still has space.

That's very sad. I had been hoping to attend for the first time, this year!

This happened up here in the North years ago. Once we had a dozen shows and now its down to a few old stalwarts.

I don't know what it is that does it – probably a combination of the stress on a very small number of those actually doing the planning and running of each show and increasing costs. At some point cost increases make the venture a risky one and not all clubs have the resources to be able to take financial risks.

Add to that the closure of many public venues thanks to cuts and you may see more going.

The question is at what end is the cancellation happening? Is it the clubs wanting to stop or the venues? A lot of the cancellation announcements don't include reasons why.

Doh! that is my only regular show each year as my in-laws live in Milton Keynes and Campaign always coincides with my mother-in-laws birthday. Nice show in a slightly unusual location.

Apparently Colours was cancelled by the club, but no specific reason has been made public.

Campaign clearly has venue problems, and the Cavalier venue is apparently facing demolition.

<Hobilar1> Bovington is also apparently on it's last legs, but the club website give no reason.

The venue for Campaign – a large open space on the Centre MK – will not be available for most of the year due to a desire to hold longer displays like the summer indoor beach and Santa's grotto. There was a window for an earlier show but it was too soon to get organised. Campaign went dormant in the past but was resurrected so maybe next year.

From my perspective, it is sad to see familiar names go, but equally I have to ask whether we had overload on the circuit. Looking at how closely spaced some of them are, my bank balance is grateful that the ones I usually try to go to are thinning out slightly, if only to keep me solvent.
Perhaps the solution is for clubs to regionalise slightly and hold half a dozen really big ones each year, rather than lots of little ones? Having been to Cavalier and Sidcup Skirmish, my reaction was 'nice, but not worth going back to' – too far to go for too little return on my investment of time and money. I'd much rather do Salute, Colours and SELWG (as a SE based gamer) and possibly Warfare too – because there is more to see / do and also its easier to justify a full day out.

To be honest, it was always going to end up going this way for the shows.

7-8 years ago shows were a goldmine for traders and gamers. Good 'captive' markets, Bring and Buys, etc.

The problem has become that there are so many show, so close together and people have become more conscious of what they are spending and what they are spending it on.

Sooner or later something had to give and I think this is the start of it. We will see a lot of the smaller shows fold in favour of 4-5 bigger regional shows.

Hi Hobbybox
You might be right, but as an old timer in the hobby I have to say I've heard the same story you've written for 20 years. Things have changed on 'the circuit' without a doubt, lots of shows have gone, but lots have risen. There were many traders who did not see 8 years ago as a goldmine, they were saying the 10 years before that were the 'Goldmine'.

I always see this argument on a par with the 'kids of today' argument.

Where a show drops off, another takes it's place. 10 years ago I attended shows throughout the summer, they died off to the extent there was nothing between end of May and September (I didn't go to Claymore in August). Now shows are starting to pop up again through the summer.

Sorry to disagree with you Iain!

Nick

Regional shows are all very well depending on the region. Down our way, we (Exeter) would have to combine with either PAW in Plymouth, or Reveille or Blast-tastic up Bristol way. Not exactly close neighbours for a group hug or combined show, good shows as we all are (or should be in Blast tastic's case, it not actually happened yet..)

@ Nick

I'd expect nothing less mate, lol

I agree with you to some extent, but my experience of the show circuit was the 7-8 years ago leading up to about 4 years ago.

For me, the biggest change I noticed was the online presence of companies. The number of internet only 'discounters' has reduced the ability of many people to make good money at the shows, if you're a reseller.

Perhaps it is time for the traders to start organising the shows but along the lines of a convention

Not just the trading element but also lectures and presentations plus huge break out areas for games

More along the lines of the stuff they get in the state's?

It's always sad to see events go. Wartorn in Scarborough is building up as planned for summer and is likely to slightly grow. Our weekend at the seaside looks set to continue for the forseeable future.

@ Eric The Shed:

We took over the running of our local show, Smoggycon, last year, and will be taking it to a new venue with a new name for 2014 ( battlegroundshow.co.uk ) This is I think the way to take the shows forward, with a company able to provide the financial and organisational backing, and then linking up with local clubs to provide some manpower on the day.

So many shows only exist because a handful of people give up a massive amount of their own time, often for very little reward, and they have to deal with the huge amount of stress and pressure involved in running even a small event.

Similarly to us, Kallistra are now running their local Sci-Fi/Fantasy 'Hammerhead' show, and Baccus are hosting their own 6mm show in July with the guys from Wargames Emporium.

Just a final point about moving to a more US styled convention, I think the main stumbling block for that in the UK would be the lack of suitably sized venues. To hire anything of a decent size in this country, you have to fill it with traders just to cover the costs, so having a large amount of floorspace not earning money is hard to pull off.

I've been to Campaign the last two years and really enjoyed it. The venue is light, spacious and airy, and decent food and coffee is near at hand.

Even though some members of the public passing by stopped to see what was happening in the games, I don't think we converted many of them to the hobby. I find wargaming isn't the greatest spectator sport. I hope MKWS manage to sort out another venue, although my Missus will miss the chance to indulge in unsupervised retail therapy whilst dumping her purchases with me. It's not many shows you can go to where you can buy a 600-figure 15mm figure army and find that your wife has in fact spent more at the venue than you!

@Leon Pendraken

I must correct you Leon, Hammerhead is definitely a Historical, Fantasy and Sci-Fi Event and has been for many years. Hammerhead has more historical games than fantasy and science fiction participation games. Of the 25 participation games booked for this year, 16 are historical games covering a variety scales and periods.

Details of this year's Hammerhead show are available on the Hammerheadshow.co.uk

The Hammerhead Show is on Saturday 1st March at the Newark Showground, only 2 minutes from the A1, Newark Junction – simply follow the signs to the Newark Showground.

Apologies for that Sally, I had it as Sci-Fant in my head for some reason! Did it used to be just those genre's?

Apologies accepted! Many years ago when the show was called Fantizan, it was the fantasy arm of the Partizan show schedule and was run by the Newark Irregulars.

Just to confirm, Overlord is a very vibrant show which is going from strength to strength, and as usual will be taking place on 2nd March 2014. The show is ran by Abingdon Wargames Club and is in its 16th year.

This year's show features 25+ traders, 15 Participation/Demo games, a great bring & buy, free car parking, on site catering and a great atmosphere.
This show has become one of the largest in the South Midlands/Thames valley and at £2.50 GBP single entry is a great day out.
For more details, please visit our web site or facebook page.

abingdonwargames.org.uk
link

Hope to see you there

Steve
Show Organiser
Abingdon wargames Club.

Re Campaign, I have been trying to contact MKWS. Their only contact point seems to be just an email link on their website to their Chairman. I have sent a few requests for any information and also the chance of another venue. So far no answer. I've been trading at MK since their first outing in the Shopping centre. It's smashing! It's open, light and airy, my wife and I really enjoy that weekend away. The days can be long but it is very worthwhile. It would be a shame to see it leave that venue. I have heard rumours, Health and Safety issues etc??? It would be just nice to know why, what and how. Of course, no one has to give a reason, as a trader we have no given right to be invited to attend. Also as with Colours, it would just be good to know.
Again as a trader, I find the so-called 'smaller' shows are very 'cost effective' and it's good to know that we are supporting organizers and their efforts in some small way. There is also more 'time' for customers, I like a chat!

FWIW I was told at the weekend that it's due to a change in management at the Shopping Centre,who are now looking to let that space to longer term events – this is what happens with the event space in Westfield, which is used by corporate brands for marketing new phones and cars and the like, and a new company did take over the centre in
June last year…so it does sound a credible story..

Running these shows for the clubs is a lot of hard work, mostly carried out by a very small number of people who get paid nothing for their hard work.

Sometimes it is difficult to get enough people who are able and prepared to make that kind of scrifice.

My club is lucky to have such a large membership but even with such a large membership it is difficult to get enough interested to run the show, even though it pays for most of the clubs costs for the year.

Andy

Exactly right Andy

The Weymouth show 'Fisticuffs' is in its 27th year and still going strong.
Will be held again at the Weymouth Pavillion Sat May 31st

Hi
Does anyone know if there will be any traders attending the Nationals at the Icon Centre this coming weekend?
Cheers

Not from what I've heard.

There will not be any traders or display games. It's entirely a tournament.