Geoff Endacott Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 It is standard policy at Trainwest for carers to be admitted free of charge and it has been so for years. Geoff Endacott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mike Bellamy Posted July 6, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 6, 2010 I raised the original question in the Gauge O Guild Telford topic and I am grateful to David for continuing this in a separate discussion and note that he has removed the concessions from Railex admission as we did at Derby. I was outside selling tickets to the queue and there was some lighthearted banter particularly from people I knew but there were a few more serious and nasty comments from those who thought it was their right to get in cheaper than others On a more humourous note, I was on the door at our local show last year where the charges were only £3 and £2 for concessions. An old guy came towards me saying 'Bus Pass, Bus Pass' and waving it at me - 'Thank you sir, that will be £2' - it then took him several minutes of searching every pocket to find the money - but he knew exactly where his bl@@dy bus pass was Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 On the subject of concessions can I gauge a bit of opinion of the members here please? If a disabled visitor has a carer should the carer get free admission? My view FWIW as not being an EM but sitting in the middle on occasion is that it would engender good will as Monstera suggests and that without the carer the disabled visitor may not have been able to attend. If said carer is a fellow hobbyist it should be left to their conscience to cough up if they have the interest of the hobby and event in mind. I think it would be reasonable to restrict the number of carers admitted free to one per disabled visitor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugsley Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 As one of the others who passed comment on the other thread about Telford - although it is a one stop shop of 7mm stuff, I still think that £12 is pretty steep. If it were £8-9 I'd consider it more reasonable - it's probably something to do with the psychological £10 barrier, or something I think that disabled visitors should be allowed one carer admitted free, as long as the disabled person has payed for entry. (Another can of worms coming here) - I don't think concessions should be provided for anyone other than children, because children need to be encouraged into the hobby and it would be a shame if dad were put off bringing them due to cost. Conversely, often those in receipt of concessions at the other end of the scale have more disposable income than others that don't qualify. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold John B Posted July 6, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6, 2010 Just by way of a comparison for you from "over here" - from my "local" (commercially-organised) "Great Train Expo" (bit of a misnomer, but hey): Admission - $10 (Concessions $8 IIRC) Parking - a further $10, charged by the location, not the organisers. There's no walkable alternative, nor any "shuttle" service laid on. For that you get: A hall full of traders (mostly second hand tat); The occasional manufacturer; Maybe 10-12 layouts, mostly "modulars" of variable quality - ranging between fair to middling for a small provincial UK club expo, down to stuff so poor that would embarrass a UK village hall charidee scout event. Layouts are not invited to attend. You can apply to attend. The organisers pay an "honorarium" (donation) based on square footage which wouldn't even come close to covering expenses for a 2 day show - up to 100 sq ft that donation is $50, maximum ever paid is $150... We don't have an exhibition "circuit" in the UK sense as such over here. The majority of the best layouts never leave the basements (or clubrooms) of the builders.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bigcheeseplant Posted July 7, 2010 Author Share Posted July 7, 2010 I think that disabled visitors should be allowed one carer admitted free, as long as the disabled person has payed for entry. We don't charge for the disabled visitor if in a wheelchair or the carer, to be fair you won't get too many disabled visitors and the goodwill will be worth it. The entrance fee is normally a fraction of the total cost of travelling to a show and that spent with traders, although it the thing that visitors will pick up on. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 At Railex I like the idea of advance tickets being available. I have used this facility and would use it without the discount as it saves time in gaining entry. Concessions for families I think are a good way of encouraging non modelling relatives to attend. For the elderly I think that at present they don't help to encourage people to attend and with an ageing population of enthusiasts, I hope that statement is statistically correct, I think they have become counter productive for the promoting club. In a totally different context an event I have been involved with offered concessionary rates for carers. A couple of years ago there was only one person who did not contribute to the raffle. A bit of digging, just out of idle curiosity, found out that it was the carer of the one disabled guest. Make of that what you will. Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PhilH Posted July 7, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 7, 2010 Double the price for people with rucksacks..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhBBob Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Oh come on ! What are the chances that the carer is a model railway enthusiast just bumming their way in for nowt ? !! About 1% or less ? Need to expand again to the question of expenses paid; now that is a real can of worms. Specialist societies and groups offer fuel costs only. Very fair, I have to cover the van hire cost, but that's all right - after all I chose the size of the layout.. Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bigcheeseplant Posted July 7, 2010 Author Share Posted July 7, 2010 Need to expand again to the question of expenses paid; now that is a real can of worms. Specialist societies and groups offer fuel costs only. Very fair, I have to cover the van hire cost, but that's all right - after all I chose the size of the layout.. Bob I would expect all shows to cover expences van hire, fuel and provide accomodation and breakfasts if you are staying over, although there is a difference between expences and apperance money which I have heard some layouts charge, or having extra operators than needed so they can have a weekend jolly! David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Dayz Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Double the price for people with rucksacks..... Agreed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Double the price for people with rucksacks..... ... and all other contagious diseases? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
298 Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Oh come on ! What are the chances that the carer is a model railway enthusiast just bumming their way in for nowt ? !! About 1% or less ? Need to expand again to the question of expenses paid; now that is a real can of worms. Specialist societies and groups offer fuel costs only. Very fair, I have to cover the van hire cost, but that's all right - after all I chose the size of the layout.. Bob Blimey, we're already on the second can of worms.... Even including the cost of hiring a van, a large layout can work out less than several smaller ones. The whole expenses malarky relies on the exhibitors being fair, as i'm sure 99% of us are. It's the 1% who are MP's or charge an apearance fee who ruin it. As i've said before, is there an upper limit for how much a show could reasonably charge...? Think what Warley would be like if the entrance fee was £15, and the extra money was used to pay for better layouts from wider afield or make better use of the space within the hall for large seating areas, etc. On the other hand, I know of some who think the current entrance fee is too high, and would rather go to several village hall shows instead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kits from Somerset Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 We have had people wanting to double the cost for ruck sacks what about an exit fee for people who do not spend money on trade/societies stands etc as well then. This could be the same as the ruck sack charge, as most people with these mean they will be spending on the traders etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 There are those who make journeys of over a hundred miles each way to visit shows, have to get up at a gawd-awful hour to do so, and get home late - they need somewhere to put sandwiches, drinks, books to read on the train. etc and a rucksack is the most logical and easily carried method of doing so, and taking home purchases - lets admit that what suits one doesn't suit all, and stop whinging about those who consider them a necessity. Lights blue touchpaper and retires! Jack, a defiant user of rucksack, though I do carry it round the exhibition by its handle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Glum Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Jack, a defiant user of rucksack, though I do carry it round the exhibition by its handle. Yup, me too. Seems a bit odd for some to want you to spend money with traders and then deny you a safe and secure means of carrying off the booty. Carrier bags are not clever on the push-bike from the station. Cheers, Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted July 7, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 7, 2010 I don't own a rucksack (never have) but have travelled well over 100 miles to shows on public transport and have sometimes spent what I regard as quite hefty sums of money at said shows and have then transported home my 'shopping' - still without a rucksack, and without any problems even when the journey has included negotiating the Circle Line or travelling on a 'bus. But I must admit I have sometimes arrived home with aching wrists and arms. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mod2 Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 There are those who make journeys of over a hundred miles each way to visit shows, have to get up at a gawd-awful hour to do so, and get home late - they need somewhere to put sandwiches, drinks, books to read on the train. etc and a rucksack is the most logical and easily carried method of doing so, and taking home purchases - lets admit that what suits one doesn't suit all, and stop whinging about those who consider them a necessity. Thanks Jack, I think your balanced post negates the need for any more discussion of rucksacks, something which will lead us nowhere useful. We all know that there are some users who don't use them responsibly, but carping about it in this topic won't change that. Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Steven B Posted July 7, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 7, 2010 There are those who make journeys of over a hundred miles each way to visit shows, have to get up at a gawd-awful hour to do so, and get home late - they need somewhere to put sandwiches, drinks, books to read on the train. etc and a rucksack is the most logical and easily carried method of doing so, and taking home purchases - lets admit that what suits one doesn't suit all, and stop whinging about those who consider them a necessity. Lights blue touchpaper and retires! Not wanting to turn the thread into a rucksack loathing one but, it's not the rucksacks that are the problem. Go to one of the big outdoors shows at the NEC and you'll not get hit by a rucksack despite there being many more. The problem is folk forget that they're wearing one and turn round without thinking that their backs now stick out an extra few inches. There's a nice sign at the National Tramway museum that sums it up nicely: At exhibitions grown men become boys again and stop looking where they're going, stopping to chat in the middle of an isle oblivious to the chaos they're causing, not look where their walking stick is going as they pick up their latest purchasers or clip peoples ankles with their wheel or push chair. All it takes is to spend a little more time looking where you're going and then everyone's happy. Happy modelling. Steven B. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Thanks Jack, I think your balanced post negates the need for any more discussion of rucksacks, something which will lead us nowhere useful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PhilH Posted July 7, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 7, 2010 As the poster who started this I apologise wholeheartedly (I don't really as my tongue was firmly in my cheek) for using the R word. Ah well, I suppose attempts at humour are best left in other places. I must take it seriously. I must take it seriously. I must take it seriously. ........x100 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted July 7, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 7, 2010 As the poster who started this I apologise wholeheartedly (I don't really as my tongue was firmly in my cheek) for using the R word. Ah well, I suppose attempts at humour are best left in other places. I must take it seriously. I must take it seriously. I must take it seriously. ........x100 ditto Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kits from Somerset Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 The entry price must not be concidered too high by the punters if the number stays the same, or go up each year, and the gate money and the rent for the trade stands covers all the costs involved. If the numbers of punters going through the gates start going down, this means the price is concidered too high by the punters becourse there is not enough there or the layouts and or trade stands are not worth the cost to go in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mod2 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 As the poster who started this I apologise wholeheartedly (I don't really as my tongue was firmly in my cheek) for using the R word. Not a problem as such Phil. We know your humour and we'd prefer that a little levity could just stay at that, but unfortunately experience shows that it's guaranteed to set off those who aren't so chilled about it. We don't like it much either, but it's how it is. Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ian Posted July 8, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 8, 2010 Taking the other extreme, I was offered free tickets to an exhibition but that wasn't enough to persuade me to go - it was the roughly 400 mile round trip and seven hours of travelling time that put me off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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