"Salute 2016 -- my first visit!" Topic

I recently relocated from Chicago to Switzerland, but I am not going to be sidelined from the hobby because of trivialities such as an intercontinental move… hence, here I go: I am signing up to attend Salute in London in a couple of weeks!
I understand shows in the UK are rather different affairs than US conventions, with less emphasis on games, and more on shopping (not that I ever did much more than shopping at HistoriCon, either…)

Have Salute veterans any recommendation to share for a first time visitor?

Wear trainers or other comfortable shoes – you'll be knocking up a couple of miles of going around the stalls.

Arrive early if you can. Or, miss the first hour and stroll in.

Food and drink in show is poor, but there's some reasonable stuff on the concourse but it's a bit pricey. Take the hit – don't ruin the day worrying about being ripped off for a sandwich!

Get an advance ticket – it's a lot cheaper this year (£12 compared to £20.00 GBP on the door).

Check out the show guide in advance in Miniature Wargames with Battle Games – plan which games you want to try and get into if you're looking for that. Some are very short. A lot are Traders offering stripped down versions as "tasters" (you'll probably win these – no one buys a game they lost first time out…). There are a few games that will need an hour or more of your time – the show is only ~7 hours so pick wisely.

If possible bring a lot of money.

Enjoy yourself.

Also, bring a back pack and a good carrier bag rolled up in it.

My word of advice from a american gamer's point of view. Have fun and don't rush around, enjoy this wonderful gaming experience.

Most show organisers I know don't really want you to wear a back pack at a show. It would be better if you carried it in front of you rather than knock someone else about when it is on your back.

A small day bag (~25litres) shouldn't really be an issue IMHO – agreed that the people who turn up with a 70litre bag are a bit annoying. But far worse (to my mind) are the one's with wheeled luggage trundling behind them. That's an all day trip hazard!

There is lots of shopping, so it is a bit like Christmas come early.

Check the Warlord's website for the floorplan… link

And although there is some emphasis on the shopping, there are still plenty of participation and demo games.

With 190 vendors and only 8 hrs to visit, that gives you 2.5 minutes per vendor…if you want to see them all. Plan what you want to see or buy and dash accordingly!

Really only 7 hours max to visit but probably less since not many folk will actually get in the door at 10:00, less time queueing for a pee, actually doing a pee, oh, and eats, and take a picture or two, and, asking other people where to find so and so.

Probably more realistic to track down 10 specific traders, spend half an hour queueing to get to front, selecting products, paying for products, finding next trader, plenty of time for natures requirements and chatting to people.

If it is of interest come on over to the Peter Pig participation game of Hammerin' Iron ACW naval. I suggest his because the game will allow you to sit down for half an hour, have a great game and then carry on. It would allow you to meet some other gamers on a nice informal basis. There is much to be said for getting in early on the participation games whilst those around you do the queuing. Having done many Historicons I think you will find the day high tempo!

Have a good day.
martin

It is quieter at lunchtime!

It does get a lot quieter in the afternoon – 3PM onwards is the easiest time to get to trade stand, but of course all the new items stock has pretty much gone by then

The participation games often start wining down about 3:30ish – can be hard to find much still running after 4PM.

Blimey – when did the ticket price go up to £20.00 GBP?

I think it was about £15.00 GBP last year on the door on the day. Advance tickets are £12.00 GBP this year up a £1.00 GBP from 2015.

Warlords started using a third party ticket vendor to make the process much smoother for them ie. it's all taken care of. I guess they are very much pushing for advanced ticket sales by having such a difference in the price between advanced and on the door tickets. I guess if it's easier that's one good reason, another is that it must ease their cash flow – Salute must be pretty expensive to stage.

The site is like a big hanger, no soft surfaces. It gets to be quite a din (as in loudish ongoing ambient sound of chatter etc, it can in itself be a bit tiring).

There are participation games. But for most people traders are the draw and it is about the only place you can see figures with your own eyeballs and compare figures.

You will walk, lots! and its a hard surface so comfy, forgiving shoes are a must.

The food court in the main centre is OK quality but pricey (charging what the market can bare etc, normal passing trade is for corporate events) so consider bringing a packed lunch or snack. Definitely bring a bottle of water ( 2 small ones, or a larger one) as I found it can get quite dry in there at the atmosphere is controlled and we Brits always seem to make the air conditioning too dry and warm.

Transport for London's Journey planner is your friend
tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey
Custom house is the best stop. The Docklands light railway is a bit like the raised portions of the Loop only newer/more plastic.
You will need a one day travel card or pick up a pay-as-you-go oyster card and put 10 or 20 pounds on it. (a must for London travel as many services no longer take cash)

More details on that here:
tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments

It is a short walk from the station to Excel. Up the stairs, away from the station (there is only one way here) to the building on the left (only a couple of minutes walk)

The Jokey British bit:

We do queues, there will be a few here, one leaving custom house station and if you are there around opening time, to get in. It can seem quite massive.

;)

Blimey – when did the ticket price go up to £20.00 GBP GBP?

There's no real reason not to get an advance ticket as they can now be bought up to, and including, the day of the show.

I guess the differential is getting so big in order to "encourage" the last few die-hard cash only customers to think again!

Just to echo the above, it's all about the shoes!

The floor has to support the weight of the biggest Semi's allowed on British and European roads, without them ending up in the car park below. You have no idea what hard is until you have spent a day on that floor.

All the above, plus a couple more:

Bring cash – many of the (smaller) traders won't have mobile card readers to pay for the shinies you buy

Clothing – wear layers that you can strip off or put back on as the temperature changes in the hall. And shades for when you go outside (unless it's raining – this is the UK!)

Just to note that although there is the show guide in MWwBG, it may be easier for your planning to download the PDFs of the map, traders and games from the Salute website. Then you can mark up the map with the locations of the games and traders you really want to visit.

Terrement
PM sent.

In the show guide where's the entrance? Is it the right hand side of the plan.

It is on the right hand side.

John T

By the way DestoFante you will let us know how you got on I hope?

Now I live in the US, this will be the first Salute I shall miss, in like forever! either putting on a big WWII demo game, or just meeting old mates, and enjoying the total immersive experience!

Have a great time, enjoy the show, and get inspired!

John

John – your vast 54mm(1/35th) are sorely missed.

The UK's loss is the US's gain.

John T

Adolfo

Hope you enjoyed yourself

Dave