It seems things are changing every day. We've learned about some cancellations regarding model train shows: https://ctt.trains.com/community/news-products/2020/06/milwaukees-trainfest-2021-wgh-shows-cancelled
Rene Schweitzer
Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader
Venues cancelling train shows, or any exhibitions for that matter, for 2021 sounds a bit premature, no-one knows what the situation's going to be like a year, or even six months from now.
The club I belong to, the Virginia Train Collectors, is still planning on having our summer show on August 22d in Charlottesville VA. We have no plans to cancel unless the venue, the Rivanna Fire Hall, cancels it.
By the way, I was at the World's Greatest Hobby show in Chantilly in February of this year. Great show! It'll be a shame if they cancel all the 2021 shows, but of course it's their choice.
Anyway you look at it, it's a "bad choice, worse choice" situation for venues, municipalities and states. The bad choice? Drop the restrictions and risk the disease. The worse choice? Keep the restrictions and expect economic disaster due to lost revenues on all levels. And the push-backs from various businesses and municipalities directed at their respective state governments have started already and are getting more strident with each passing day.
There's no easy way out.
A temporary remedy might be outdoor, flea-market style events.
fifedog A temporary remedy might be outdoor, flea-market style events.
Great idea!
That might be doable, but remember, as a rule these things have to be planned a long time in advance. And if a venue isn't allowed to hold gatherings due to goverment regs, well, they just can't schedule.
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
That might work for some shows in the summer or in warmer climates, but not for fall/winter shows in the Midwest. One has to consider the weather for Midwest shows, especially in the fall and winter, where rain, snow, and freezing weather can affect attendance at indoor shows.
The thought hit me for summer or warm-weather shows, some kind of tentage or overhead screens would have to be rented and set up to protect folks from direct sunlight, the exhibitors at any rate. It's do-able, but what the expense would be as opposed to renting a hall I don't know.
Some power for a test track or layout displays would probably be needed as well. On the positive side guys with outdoor displays could turn their smoke units up to the max, with nobody complaining!
Aside from that, an outdoor show might be fun!
Just went to the Gettysburg gun Show this past weekend and it was indoors with a lot of people! (lines out the door). Few were wearing masks. So a train show may be possible now. FYI Gettysburg had few Wuhan virus cases and we are "Green" now and can eat in resturants with distance between the tables and all stores are open.
Good to know Pennsylvania, or parts of it, are "open for business" again!
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