Rene Schweitzer
Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader
Boy Rene, that happened weeks ago. Somebody is out of the loop.
The new show is being run by David Roberts who runs the Heart of America show.
SOUTHEAST GARDEN RAILROAD SHOW
DALTON GEORGIA - Dalton Convention and Trade Center
MAY 1st and 2nd 2009
-Brian
Lewis Polk, a man who knows how to run a business in good times and bad, did, both on his Web Site Forum and in the Club News Letter (AristoCraft Insider), explained that the three Train Shows that AristoCraft had been sponsoring were being run as a "for profit" operation. In view of the Economic Downturn that effects hobby spending, the Southeast and Midwest shows were being canceled for 2009. The highly successful York, PA show in the spring will continue and grow.
Don U. TCA 73-5735
Just to add to Don's comments, they will be having two East Coasts show, the one in March and a second in the end of October (25,26?) at the York Expo center. That's two opportunities for the GR folks to not show up . How are those cardboard cut outs coming?
altterrain Just to add to Don's comments, they will be having two East Coasts show, the one in March and a second in the end of October (25,26?) at the York Expo center. That's two opportunities for the GR folks to not show up . How are those cardboard cut outs coming? -Brian
And what happen's to the folk's on the LEFT ( out ) COAST.
Dave
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
You still the your Big Train Show as far as I know.
Anybody got David Roberts' contact info?
Found the contact page of the Heart of America show site: http://www.hagrs.com/contacts.shtml
Thanks Rene!
'QUOTE'
Lewis Polk, a man who knows how to run a business in good times and bad......
HA HA HA, WHAT A JOKE, I HAVEN'T LAUGHED THIS HARD IN A MONTH.... PLEASE....
To stand up for Lewis, I was part of the shows helping for free. A show can't keep going in the red when it comes to over head and cost just to bring it to pass.. You got to know when to say NO.
Even venders must do better than brake even to keep coming.
He already lost the money for the adds.
Is it REAL? or Just 1:29 scale?
Long live Outdoor Model Railroading.
I guess the best way to support and ensure a train Show is successful and will continue in future years is to attend the Show if possible. I accept for many it wasn't possible for a variety of reasons.
However, I notice the Show boxcar can be bought from a well known Illinois dealer presently which suggests that not all the boxcars were bought at the Show by visitors. A Show boxcar is easily obtainable if you can find a kind friend to get one for you when they attend the Show: I know I have one from the last MWLSTS. This is surely a way of helping the Show.
I have noticed some strains of pleasure regarding the demise of the Shows in some quarters. The Shows, in whichever Country they are held, should be the lifeblood of the Hobby and be an ideal arena for newcomers to get acquainted with what the Hobby, what is available and hopefully make new friends. Fortunately there are many, such as Marty, who give a great deal to the Hobby: then there are the takers!
Alan, Oliver & North Fork Railroad
https://www.buckfast.org.uk/
If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. Lewis Carroll English author & recreational mathematician (1832 - 1898)
Great Western I guess the best way to support and ensure a train Show is successful and will continue in future years is to attend the Show if possible. I accept for many it wasn't possible for a variety of reasons. However, I notice the Show boxcar can be bought from a well known Illinois dealer presently which suggests that not all the boxcars were bought at the Show by visitors. A Show boxcar is easily obtainable if you can find a kind friend to get one for you when they attend the Show: I know I have one from the last MWLSTS. This is surely a way of helping the Show. I have noticed some strains of pleasure regarding the demise of the Shows in some quarters. The Shows, in whichever Country they are held, should be the lifeblood of the Hobby and be an ideal arena for newcomers to get acquainted with what the Hobby, what is available and hopefully make new friends. Fortunately there are many, such as Marty, who give a great deal to the Hobby: then there are the takers! Allen, Just a few comments,1st i dont have any problems with Marty i respect the fact that he is so willing to share with others his trains and it is nice that aristocraft sends him stuff to help him with promoting the hobbie. i dont even have an issue with you even thou it seems that all you do is get on a lot of these forums and yak yak yak about how great aristocraft is and that there the end all be all of largescale, 'NOT' well heres my point. so when im on there forum and i here there owner tell everybody there that we must promote the hobbie ,tell a freind, buy a train, get people interested..and then one finds out that the only reason he is doing the shows is to make a profit, well its kindof like a slap in the face. i went out last yaer and spent 2000.00 of my own money to buy carpet and wood and other things to make a g scale display i could take to shows and show off g scale products because not to many large scalers in my area. $ it all comes out of my pocket not anyone elses, my fuel. hotel, time off from work and so on, to try and promote largescale. ive met a lot of good folks while doing it and even joined a club in witch the guys now do the shows with me, it great to promote the hobby,and im sure there are plenty of others that do the same. so if your saying im a taker you might want to get your facts correct. can you tell me what you have done to promote the hobby?as the owner of that company asked.....please tell me...now please let me make it clear that im asking you nicely to tell me the facts, thats all. no harm no foul. just so maybe i and others can understand... as this is a freindly place please lets keep it freindly thank you..
Allen,
Just a few comments,1st i dont have any problems with Marty i respect the fact that he is so willing to share with others his trains and it is nice that aristocraft sends him stuff to help him with promoting the hobbie. i dont even have an issue with you even thou it seems that all you do is get on a lot of these forums and yak yak yak about how great aristocraft is and that there the end all be all of largescale, 'NOT' well heres my point. so when im on there forum and i here there owner tell everybody there that we must promote the hobbie ,tell a freind, buy a train, get people interested..and then one finds out that the only reason he is doing the shows is to make a profit, well its kindof like a slap in the face. i went out last yaer and spent 2000.00 of my own money to buy carpet and wood and other things to make a g scale display i could take to shows and show off g scale products because not to many large scalers in my area. $ it all comes out of my pocket not anyone elses, my fuel. hotel, time off from work and so on, to try and promote largescale. ive met a lot of good folks while doing it and even joined a club in witch the guys now do the shows with me, it great to promote the hobby,and im sure there are plenty of others that do the same. so if your saying im a taker you might want to get your facts correct. can you tell me what you have done to promote the hobby?as the owner of that company asked.....please tell me...now please let me make it clear that im asking you nicely to tell me the facts, thats all. no harm no foul. just so maybe i and others can understand... as this is a freindly place please lets keep it freindly thank you..
That was my thought as well. However, at this same show two years ago, I tried to attend with my large scale micro layout and was basically told that my layout was not large enough. That was real nice, as this would have been my first time actually having something in a show. I was actually given a good bit of attitude about the ordeal. This show was held in Perry, Georgia, at the Agri-Center there. I would love to have gone. After the show, I even found out from a friend that there was more than one micro layout there. I will not be trying to go again, unless I feel like my micro layout will be a welcome addition.
Its a hard thing, I'm sorry about the layout being rejected. I wonder by who. I also know what its like when us LS folks try to go to a mixed train show and are told we take up to much room and that the show is for "modelers".
AS for helping with shows , we all go through stages, there was a time I would not got to any show because that meant I could not buy any trains. Now after I have more than enough and found more joy in open houses and shows and clinics. I now pay the "price".
AC and Lewis is one of the few company owners who have (over time) regularly sat with me and heard me out on likes and dislikes.
When I make suggetions to other company owner s I get the 'we spend to much already to keep you happy" speech.
Promoting the hobby is more of an attitude, the way you do it or the means you use will vary.
How many times I have recieved e-mails bad mouthing GRYs mag. I give them my little speech, look the other way and keep on keepin'on.
No ONE or company can spoil this hobby for me. If I don't like aproduct I will change it or buy other stuff or make it.
I have been behind the scence long enough to take the good with the bad.
Long live old door modelrailroading!!!
Marty,
Well said.
Karl
Good advice, never thought of it that way. quote...
"No ONE or company can spoil this hobby for me. If I don't like a product I will change it or buy other stuff or make it."
So i will not let it bother me no more and as you say Marty... i will keep on keepin on... and by the way the large scale displays at the shows have so much more interest to people than other scales.just an observation from doing a few shows. they cant get enough of the big trains...
N.S.Great Western I guess the best way to support and ensure a train Show is successful and will continue in future years is to attend the Show if possible. I accept for many it wasn't possible for a variety of reasons. I have noticed some strains of pleasure regarding the demise of the Shows in some quarters. The Shows, in whichever Country they are held, should be the lifeblood of the Hobby and be an ideal arena for newcomers to get acquainted with what the Hobby, what is available and hopefully make new friends. Fortunately there are many, such as Marty, who give a great deal to the Hobby: then there are the takers! Allen, Just a few comments,1st i dont have any problems with Marty i respect the fact that he is so willing to share with others his trains and it is nice that aristocraft sends him stuff to help him with promoting the hobbie. largescale ...... so when im on there forum and i here there owner tell everybody there that we must promote the hobbie ,tell a freind, buy a train, get people interested..and then one finds out that the only reason he is doing the shows is to make a profit, well its kindof like a slap in the face.......... $ it all comes out of my pocket not anyone elses, my fuel. hotel, time off from work and so on, to try and promote largescale. ive met a lot of good folks while doing it and even joined a club in witch the guys now do the shows with me, it great to promote the hobby,and im sure there are plenty of others that do the same.
Great Western I guess the best way to support and ensure a train Show is successful and will continue in future years is to attend the Show if possible. I accept for many it wasn't possible for a variety of reasons. I have noticed some strains of pleasure regarding the demise of the Shows in some quarters. The Shows, in whichever Country they are held, should be the lifeblood of the Hobby and be an ideal arena for newcomers to get acquainted with what the Hobby, what is available and hopefully make new friends. Fortunately there are many, such as Marty, who give a great deal to the Hobby: then there are the takers! Allen, Just a few comments,1st i dont have any problems with Marty i respect the fact that he is so willing to share with others his trains and it is nice that aristocraft sends him stuff to help him with promoting the hobbie. largescale ...... so when im on there forum and i here there owner tell everybody there that we must promote the hobbie ,tell a freind, buy a train, get people interested..and then one finds out that the only reason he is doing the shows is to make a profit, well its kindof like a slap in the face.......... $ it all comes out of my pocket not anyone elses, my fuel. hotel, time off from work and so on, to try and promote largescale. ive met a lot of good folks while doing it and even joined a club in witch the guys now do the shows with me, it great to promote the hobby,and im sure there are plenty of others that do the same.
Just a few comments,1st i dont have any problems with Marty i respect the fact that he is so willing to share with others his trains and it is nice that aristocraft sends him stuff to help him with promoting the hobbie. largescale ...... so when im on there forum and i here there owner tell everybody there that we must promote the hobbie ,tell a freind, buy a train, get people interested..and then one finds out that the only reason he is doing the shows is to make a profit, well its kindof like a slap in the face.......... $ it all comes out of my pocket not anyone elses, my fuel. hotel, time off from work and so on, to try and promote largescale. ive met a lot of good folks while doing it and even joined a club in witch the guys now do the shows with me, it great to promote the hobby,and im sure there are plenty of others that do the same.
Normal 0
Just a couple of thoughts about this thread. Why should vendors expect to make a profit from attending a show? Fact is they should be happy to just break even. They are there to promote their products or businesses. They may also make a few sales but the main reason for their participation is MARKETING. Ford, GM, GE, etc. spend many millions of dollars yearly on advertising in print, on TV, radio, and yes, at shows, to get their products in front of the buyers ….. why should Polk and Bachmann and all the other suppliers large and small be any different?
And on a related subject, why all the hype to get individual modelers to promote the hobby? How does that benefit me (us)? I’m a lone wolf hobbyist and don’t really care if the hobby grows. I know that a larger base will result in more products and supplies but is that necessarily better for the individual modelers? My impression is that a rapidly growing segment of the LS hobby is a bunch of guys with too much disposable income buying up tons of trains and running them out-of-the-box on the grass. If that’s the result of a growing hobby, then I’m not sure I’m in favor of it. So why should I (we) promote this kind of expansion on our nickel when it really only profits the retailers and manufacturers.
That’s my opinion and I would be pleased to hear other’s differing ideas.
Walt
I am sorry if anyone is offended: I don't think anyone who participates on any large scale Forum could be described as a taker - they are an active part of the hobby. They generally give information, advice - good or bad - and most often can be very helpful to their fellow railroaders. It does seem, however, that a very large percentage of LS railroaders do not post on Fora.
Someone asked how I helped to promote the hobby; part of the question was answered by the comment that I have a strong liking for a certain US manufacturer and buy his products. . I have also, in the past purchased from another manufacturer. As our prices are much higher than those in the US it is a more expensive hobby and in these lights I see a very different viewpoint from this side of the pond. Of interest I mention that over nearly three years I have spent more than twice as much on LS railroads as I spent on my second hand car - and it is good car The American modeler (as far as most American models are concerned) is fortunate to have a far greater choice and availability of products than we have in Europe.
Invitations to interested people particularly with youngsters are good adverts for the hobby and then there are open days and small scale shows here. On a Heritage Railway that I work upon we have special week-ends from time to time. In addition to the big 1:1 trains there is a large building made available for the display of models, of many scales, and railroad exhibits. I take a small amount of track and a fair amount of both my 1:29 and 1:22.5 BH stock to display. It creates quite an interest as most folk have not seen large US models - especially died in the wool UK railway railfans. It is not usually known if the interest remains once people get home but sometimes mention of LS Societies and Clubs in particular may give them the "key to the door" into the hobby.
So that is my reply to the questions that I remember being posed. QED
His name escapes me now....but it was the contact email right off the Trains.com web site. I thought it was a bummer. Micros can be very interesting. I'm probably not gonna worry about shows anymore. I'm happy doin my own thing at home.
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