I want a train show that's more than a flea market/gawkfest

[Anonymous]

Don't get me wrong. I love seeing other people's work, and finding good deals is always fun. The big show for this area (Ohio/WV/Kentucky region) is in a week or so, and I already know what will be there: the same layouts, the same stuff they were trying to sell last year, etc. However, I've noticed one thing that was sorely lacking: workshops. No how-to clinics, no modeling method demonstrations. I know I'm nitpicking and whining, but has anyone else experienced deja-vu at an annual train show, like, "Isn't this the exact same show I went to last year?"

[pike-62]

You are not alone. most shows are like this. In fact I am going to be a vendor at two or three shows this spring that will be just as you described. As a vendor I try to have new stuff as much as posible but, with my product line I must also have the same stuff show after show. I do agree though that some vendors need to get a clue. there is one guy who sells used freight cars. These are all without boxes, no knuckle couplers and mostly tyco and bachmann trainset pcs. He usualy is asking $6.00 each or 4 for $20. Just across the aisle is a guy selling new blue box kits for $5.00. As far as workshops go I have attended some shows that had these but for the most part finding someone who is willing to do them is getting harder all the time. I did one workshop several years ago on casting small parts and only had 2 people show up for it so I figured it wasn't worth doing again.

Dan Pikulski
www.DansResinCasting.com

[Bikerdad]

The other thing you need to consider is "who's putting on the show?" If its being done by an NMRA group, then it will usually have workshops. If its GATS or Greenberg or the like, probably not. Who's the target audience? Existing model railroaders, or the general public?

[cmrproducts]

What you need to go to is the NMRA National in July. They have clinics and the National train show. But it is only once a year.

Most people only go to the shows to buy stuff not sit around and watch a clinic.

NMRA Divisions put on Jamborees and they are sometimes a 2 day thing but usually only 1. They have a number of clinics and sometimes have a white elephant table but not usually a lot of vendors. Then the NMRA Regionals are a 2 day or so clinic, layout tours and usually have some vendors.

Local train shows are only for buying/selling trains.

BOB H Clarion, PA

[jwr_1986]

There are four show I go to each year and only the West Springfield one has any workshops. i sat in on a scenery one and did learn a lot but then again i'm relatively new to this. The other three have only gotten worse and two of them are being infected by Lionel at an alarming rate.

Jesse

[IRONROOSTER]

I find most of the dealers are the same from year to year. There is usually some new stuff, some old stuff. But that's kind of like most hobby shops. Since my LHS doesn't carry S scale the train show is my hobby shop. Fortunately, the Great Scale Model Train Show is a good one.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cmrproducts

Most people only go to the shows to buy stuff not sit around and watch a clinic.

Local train shows are only for buying/selling trains.

BOB H Clarion, PA

On the contrary, I, and plenty of people I know that enjoy MRRing go for more than just to buy stuff. The problem I think is that some people/clubs see these shows as "hey check out how great we are" (that's nice. Saw it last year bub. And the year before. Oh by the way, you're water tower you built ten years ago is falling over.). What these shows could be are windows into the fun and facets of the hobby. Instead of using their modeling talents soley to show off once a year, more ought to be implementing ways to encourage others to increase their own skill. Workshops and how-to clinics are great ways to do that. Perhaps the lack of interest would be solved if the clubs who sponsor the shows put more investment in advertising that mentions, among the other aspects of the shows, such workshops.

If there weren't a good target group for this kind of thing, then why is this forum so popular?

Sorry, but shows are not just for buying and selling tyco junk and overstock. And if they are, then maybe that's not a good thing! [:0]

[Jetrock]

What is it that these shows should feature that they don't? Personally I don't really care for the idea of workshops, and there is plenty of incidental "second-order effect" activities at a train show that is limited to club layouts and vendors--model rails tend to be a gregarious lot, and it's very easy to strike up conversations, meet people, share ideas, invite folks over for an operating session.

[CBQ_Guy]

If you want workshops, aka clinics, go to a local NMRA meet.

Then you'll get to see just the same layouts time after time. [;)]

[Anonymous]

any body know about any shows in the ri/conn./mass. area

or any model clubs because i am interested in this stuff
[:)][:D][8D][:p][}:)][;)][B)][8][8][:(!][xx(][|)][^][V][?][banghead][bow][C):-)][dinner] [dinner]

[MisterBeasley]

I google for "train shows <pick a state>" and get a heap of hits. There's one this Sunday (3/20) in Weymouth, MA, and a couple in April in the southern part of the state. Of course, that's just Massachusetts. Your results may vary.

Train shows are what you make of them. Most don't have clinics or demonstrations, but I like looking at layouts for ideas, and browsing bazaar-style, so I'd rather spend a few dollars at a "fleamarket/gawkfest" then plop down twice as much for a J. Lo movie, a bucket of cholesterol and a floor that's stickier than instant roadbed.

[Anonymous]

We go to the big Springfield show every couple of years. We don't go every year just because it is so repetitious.

The display layouts are dominated by the modular clubs, and even if some of the modules change each year, for us it all blurs into a big loop of track. Its fun looking at the details in each module, but we don't feel we'll be missing anything by skipping a couple of years.

What I wish we had over here was a display tradition like in Britain, where clubs and many individuals design layouts for the show circuit. Each layout gets invited to some of the shows, but there's a different mix at the different shows. And any given show is likely to have something new each year. Its in the best interest of show organisers to make sure they have a varied and interesting mix of layouts each year to attract attendees. If there's a layout you saw in a magazine and particularly liked, you can check out which show(s) its appearing at and go see it. When the layouts get a bit worn, they get retired and the folks make a new one. Visually, we find this is much more creative and stimulating for the audience than just plugging new modules into a big oval.

Cheers,
Mo

[grayfox1119]

Maureen, what you want is a show that has all the MRR magazine experts participating in demonstrating new techniques ( as well as old for newbies), laying tracks, latest DCC issues, modeling for operation, demos by vendors, scenery, molding, scratch building, etc. etc.
I think that the best you can hope for at a show, is what we see at West Springfield, Mass. Yes, there are "flea market" type booths, but there are demos as well. This year demos ran on both Saturday and Sunday.
Some people have mentioned go to local MRR clubs. But you asked about SHOWS, so I will keep my answer focused on what you asked for.
What we need to do Maureen, is contact the show leaders in advance of next years shows, and tell them what we want to see. Will this work? I don't know, but it certainly can't hurt, and it just might work if enough people are interested.
My 2c worth.... BTW, you drive all the way from Ohio to Springfield? How long does that take you?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by grayfox1119

Maureen, what you want is a show that has all the MRR magazine experts participating in demonstrating new techniques

***, no. Eek, that's a bit of confusion from somewhere. I was only saying that what I'd like to see in a show is a greater variety of layouts, not just new modules tucked into a big oval. I'm wistful about the constantly changing variety of layouts they have in the British shows.

QUOTE:
What we need to do Maureen, is contact the show leaders in advance of next years shows, and tell them what we want to see. Will this work? I don't know,

Well, the British shows are based on an existing tradition of individuals and clubs preparing layouts (not just modules) for the show circuit. So I don't think we could quickly jump start a change here -- we don't have all the new travelling layouts in the design pipeline that they always have. Somehow we'd have to start encouraging people to work on exhibition layouts. But to do that, they'd need to know they had a welcoming venue with room for them. Maybe we could talk MR into sponsoring prizes for new operating layouts at some shows across the country? If prize winners were featured in the magazine, they could then become featured attractions at other shows. The pump would be primed and the waters might start flowing.

QUOTE:
BTW, you drive all the way from Ohio to Springfield? How long does that take you?

I only drive to western Mass from Boston. Not too long at all. [:I] I think I see where the confusion came from -- yankeejwb, who started this thread, was talking about shows in the Ohio area and the lack of workshops there.

Cheers,
Maureen

[TurboOne]

Since I returned to MRR we have had the GATS in San Diego. I had a blast as I was just getting back into the hobby. Met lots of great people, and learned. Had a great demo from an N gauge guy on scenery. His layout was fantastic. Also there was a circus display there that really fired me up. I do wish we had choices like you Northeasterners. You have so many shows.

Take care

Tim