MarkSG Posted September 11, 2021 Share Posted September 11, 2021 Now that we are, tentatively, returning to some semblence of normality, and exhibitions are making a welcome return to the calendar, I was just wondering how many exhibitions people normally go to in any given year? By way of comparison, my personal calendar typically includes Stafford, Cheltenham (twice, as it's a bi-annual event), Railex, Warley, Redditch and Leamington. I don't necessarily go to all of them, because there will be clashes of dates with other things, but in most years I'd go to four or five out of that seven. Of those, Stafford is the one I'm most certain of going to (in fact, I don't think I've missed any since I discovered it in, I think, 2003), while Redditch and Leamington are the most variable (not because of any lack of quality, but simply because they seem to be the worst for diary clashes). And, maybe every two or three years or so, I'll find I have an excuse to visit an "out of area" exhibition such as Wigan or Manchester, if I can combine it with another reason to be in that locality. So what about the rest of you? What's your typical exhibition schedule in a normal year? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PMP Posted September 11, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 11, 2021 (edited) Stevenage Define Doncaster Alley Palley York S4 North Railex Larkrail / Warminster Scaleforum GETs Leeds Warley Manchester These are my main shows in rough order to attend, I do sometimes do more if helping out on trade stands. Some of the above aren’t yearly eg Larkrail. I tend not to have an out of area criteria, if it’s of interest I’ll travel. One still on the bucketlist is Railwells Edited September 11, 2021 by PMP Addition Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Phil Parker Posted September 12, 2021 Administrators Share Posted September 12, 2021 Perhaps it is time for @AY Mod to rerun the survey again to see if people's thoughts have changed over the last few months. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 For me exhibitions are a bit of a "wait and see what winter brings" regarding Covid case numbers, re introductions of restrictions / lockdowns etc, I don't quite think we are out of the woods yet. Brit15 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessy1692 Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 (edited) Normally the main ones for me are: Pontefract Doncaster York Leeds Wakefield DEMU Plus we normally end up at some others within striking distance, such as Preston or Newcastle, or if one is near a preserved line to combine the two, especially if it co incides with a diesel running day. Pre covid, we also did a fair few toy fairs too mixed in with the exhibitions but I found these were going down hill a bit and you'd see the same stuff from the same sellers wherever you went! I don't think I have checked to see if any mention of the Leeds or Wakefield exhibitions are on as yet but I'd like to attend one before the end of the year. I think a lot of it will be wait and see like Apollo says. Cheers James Edited September 12, 2021 by jessy1692 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PMP Posted September 12, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 12, 2021 (edited) @jessy1692Leeds is on this year, penultimate weekend in October at the Grammer school… Edited September 12, 2021 by PMP 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 If I recall correctly, in 2019, I attended: Stevenage Basingstoke Alexandra Palace Epsom Expo EM South (Bracknell) Railex (Aylesbury) Kettering - only time I visited and I recall it was the weekend Roy Jackson passed away Woking Scaleforum (Aylesbury) Swansea - because I was helping to exhibit Harton Gill Expo EM North (Wakefield) - if this was the year South Pelaw was there - only time I attended that show Shipley (might have been 2018) - have only gone to this one occasionally as it's a long way Farnham GETS (MK) Uckfield Tolworth Warley NEC The Stevenage show is not returning as the venue is no longer suitable. Not sure how many others will return next year. Epsom and Tolworth are very much the local shows. In some years, I have also attended Peterborough or Doncaster and have also gone to a few others on a one-off basis such as Spalding. I would also normally go where Harton Gill went as I usually helped with the layout. This year, I'm planning to go to GETS, GBMRS (Gaydon) and Farnham. Possibly also Folkestone. I would probably have gone to Uckfield but for a diary clash. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators AY Mod Posted September 12, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 12, 2021 2 hours ago, Phil Parker said: Perhaps it is time for @AY Mod to rerun the survey again to see if people's thoughts have changed over the last few months. I don't think too much will have changed in the last 9 weeks since I last ran it given the consistency in numbers and trends over the previous two similar surveys. There's enough data in there to answer the OP rather than less representative personal lists of shows. The Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessy1692 Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 1 hour ago, PMP said: @jessy1692Leeds is on this year, penultimate weekend in October at the Grammer school… Great stuff, it's on my radar to check so saves me a job! Ta for heads up, looking forward to going. Cheers James Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkSG Posted September 12, 2021 Author Share Posted September 12, 2021 6 hours ago, APOLLO said: For me exhibitions are a bit of a "wait and see what winter brings" regarding Covid case numbers, re introductions of restrictions / lockdowns etc, That's why I'm specifically asking what your ormal (ie, not Covid-affected) schedule would be Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 4 minutes ago, MarkSG said: That's why I'm specifically asking what your ormal (ie, not Covid-affected) schedule would be No indoor events of any kind since Covid kicked off around March last year. Occasional visits to Pub about the only "event" other than shopping. I have attended one outdoor event a few weeks ago, the Classic car show at Tatton park, being outside and spaced over a large area (no crowds) I felt OK. As I said, for me, re Exhibitions (etc) it's still a wait and see thing. Brit15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 Normally about four or five. Unfortunately most exhibitions are at weekends so sometimes other commitments get in the way. But I had planned on going to more when all this kicked off. I especially wanted to try a few of the specialist shows. I had to miss the recent Liverpool show as I went to the ELR, but I'm trying to get to the Warrington one, and Manchester in December if it's on. Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcm@gwr Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 Pre-Covid, as that's what the OP asked, for me was, in no particular order, CMRA- Stevenage (previously St. Albans) Ally Pally Railex- Aylesbury Reading (7mm trade show) Kettering Guildex and some local events as well, as a club we're involved with a museum open day (Stevenage), a mini exhibition at the Howard Centre (with another local club) and our local Village day (Datchworth). Hopefully, most will continue, the CMRA are looking for another venue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM42 Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 I was a 4 or 5 a year man most years. The shows I would make an effort to attend were in no particular order Stafford, but often clashed with work Wakefield, Friday night, gives a whole weekend for other stuff. Shipley, again clashed with work too many times Warley with the club stand Cheltenham, at least one of them, not too far and nice cosy feel And occasionally Chatham, a nice to have if it dropped on the right weekend Others were attended on an ad hoc basis, especially if I was not going alone or was at a loose end. In my days of being an exhibition manager, 40 odd a year was normal and sometimes 3 or 4 in a day. You would never know what gems you might find at any show you went too regardless of size or reputation Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted September 12, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 12, 2021 Pre covid it was rare for me to go to more than 3 exhibitions a year. Weekends are precious family time so I don't tend to be able to travel far. There are a few more local shows but they often have the same layouts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERS Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 Hadn’t realised how variable my attendance is until I looked back through past diaries. 25 in 2019, 19 in 2018, 2015 must have been a bumper year with 32. These ranged in size from Warley to Wrec-rail and locations from Glasgow to Crawley and Bristol. Where there’s an opportunity, two shows in a day make it a worthwhile day (have done three several times and I think five in a weekend is the record!) Have been to Northampton and Cotgrave in recent weeks, both well run and in well ventilated venues, both deserved greater patronage but I can understand the reticence at the moment. From the diary as it currently stands, I have six further shows through to the end of the year, including Manchester for the first time in 39 years, the rest are all smaller club shows, as are most at the moment and deserve support. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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