Missed the train show again

[tatans]

Just found out about the local train show last month, missed it again, got to it last year only because I heard about it the same morning as the show last year. I had expected to see some advertising, but no, not again this year, BUT last year I complained to the officials about the total lack of notice of the the show and sale, he told me I was about the 5th person to complain, as I was standing there 3 other fellows complained to him about the same thing, one of the directors said we should have looked at their website, well, If I knew they had a website I may have looked, The fellow beside me exploded and said "are the only people you want here are people who are in clubs?" He replied "who else would be interested??" So it seems here the tight knit society is not the slightest bit interested in anyone outside their organizations, I want to wi***hem a lot of luck in the future. The directors told me they would try and do some advertising next time, obviously they didn't.

[Anonymous]

What area? What organization was sponsoring it?

[Anonymous]

The train show in my area doesnt advertise either.

[red p]

In my area one thing we do with train shows is try to attract new people to the hobby.
and the shows are usaully sponsered by some club,So they are all advertised.
Every March we have a show just for new people,no sellers just layouts and a few beginners clinics.They also have a "make and take" program.

for 2.00 you get a blue box Athearn car,we supply the tools you need to build it,as well as expert help.its real popular with the kids.We even help you weather it.

This last year we had one for track. For 1.00 you got a 1ft.sq piece of foam board a section of track.you sit down at the table and we help you put down the track glue it in place and ballast it.and it makes a nice base for the Athearn blue box car.Of course we also had the Athearn car you could do both clinics for 3.00 as well as a bunch of door prizes which are donated by area hobby shops.

Like I said this program is real popular with not only kids but adults too.I have not seen anything as successful as this that brings new people into the hobby. Mainly because as cheesy as this sounds people leave having accually done it,and have the confidance to know they can actually build a layout.and of course they get to take thier stuff home with them.
I am also a proud member of the club that puts on this show.[:D]

[Jetrock]

Well, hopefully you have their website *now*--do they have an email list or snail-mail mailing list for which you can sign up?

and yeah, that "who else would be interested?" attitude is nonsense, since lots of casual hobbyists, parents with kids who like trains, model rails who aren't "joiners," and out-of-area folks, aren't likely to belong to a club but would definitely be interested in such a show.

The clubs here in the Sacramento area are definitely hip to good promotion--the Roseville club holds a huge show in November that they promote all over the place, and a smaller show in March. The Sacramento club doesn't do a swap meet show but do an open house--a couple of their principals are heavily involved with the local Railroad Museum and know the power of advertising, so their open house is typically very well promoted and attended.

Advertising pays! Spreading the word via goodwill and fun shows helps spread the hobby.