I'm hoping I can make my first post concise and get some good feedback. Here goes...
I am an active member in a NER division group and a module group that is part of the division. Our division sponsors two train shows a year and are trying to come up with new ways to bring others into the hobby, and into our organization.
The old print media/coupon/flyer thing seems to have reached its maximum impact. More money is being spent than revenue generated and it's time for testing the water using other means of advertising.
Has anyone used social media to advertise their shows/events? How did you do it and what positive ways has it impacted you?
Who do you think the target demographic should be? We are split on this...lots to be said for getting to younger kids and getting them involved but seems like there's a group of 30-40 year olds who have more disposable income/time to invest in the hobby.
Curious as to what others think........
Thanks so much
That's really a tough nut to crack --
We have open houses three weekends a year at our club, and have a portable HO scale modular layout that can be set up away from the clubhouse. We've been to the local Boys & Girls Club, community college, high school, and other venues without anyone really appearing to have much interest.
At the clubhouse we have N and HO layouts indoors and a G-scale layout outdoors.
We advertise open houses on local radio stations and in several newspapers throughout the area. We're just outside a large U.S. Army post and there are many retired military living in the vicinity as well as defense contractors.
Over the years I have been a club member, we have had children as young as 7 join with the proviso that their parents are the actual club members and the ones who are responsible for their conduct. Currently we have an 8 year old and one teenager in the club.
Members have appeared on live radio broadcasts and in a couple of TV shows to publicize our existence.
Despite all these efforts, few people seem to be really interested in model railroading in this area. I guess it's too much competition from the Internet, on-line gaming, iPads, iPods, cell phones, and other geeky devices that get people's attention today. Everyone seems to want instant gratification by walking around staring at a small video screen instead of spending time learning a new or usable skill.
I ditto the comments made by the first responder to your query. We have had juniors come into the club (with their parents) after they see us at a train show with our module layouts. I would say their average "stay" at the club is 12-18 months and then they go off into other things. Currently we have 4 juniors in the club. It does help to have different gauge "layouts". We find that many members develop an interest in both N and HO gauge after initially being one or the other. T-Trak has recently been a hot new interest (N-gauge modules) and we are considering setting up a home O-gauge (Lionel) layout. We sustain a web page which has brought in some new members and we list our club in various web sites. Our 6-8 train show participations bring in new members on a low, but consistent basis. Our main asset is a home layout with a standing N-gauge and HO gauge layout.
I find a lot of model railroaders are lone-wolf types who aren't interested in club associations. Most of our members are adults past 50 who are rekindling youthful interests in model railroading and the club provides them with a reentry platform...so to speak.
One new initiative we are pursuing (I am pursuing) is to actively participate in the various Model RR forums and to write articles for publication in on-line magazines, blogs, web-sites, etc.
Good luck.
Believe it or not, more people these days are exposed to trains...since the 1990s, many metropolitan areas have invested in light rail and commuter rail systems. And many of those rail commuters likely see freight trains passing by.
Speaking of those freight trains, most of the items that are imported into this country, and exported as well, travels on those freight trains. Surely learning how products come from a factory in China to a department store in Illinois would be a fascinating story for those who are curious enough.
Now the challenge is to tie those things together to an appreciation of model trains. I think it's possible if it's marketed well enough...
, . , ,
Ive tried to type a response to this 10 times.
I think $ and competition from other hobbies is hurting new modelers. Look at how the model railroad prices have skyrocketed compared to the bottom falling out of the prices of R/C models and electronics.
I walked into the local hobby shop the other day for a couple balsa sticks to finish an R/C plane kit I was building. Detoured over to the MR aisle and a couple freight cars caught my eye,,,,,,until I saw the price. I about crapped my pants. After that I looked at a couple locomotives and track components just to get a baseline on the $. When a loop of track and a 10 car train is gonna cost $200-$500 for middle of the road equipment, something is wrong.
Ive got a closet full of RR equipment from my younger days and have been considering finally building a small layout,,,,,,,,,,,until I priced everything. I'm 50yrs old and have the disposable income to spend,but wow did this stuff get costly. I truly think the kid walking into the hobbyshop with his allowance or chores money is going to go for the ready to fly or drive R/C vehicle over the 6 pieces of flextrack and 2 freight cars for the same $.
Yikes!
I'll clarify that our group is very inclusive, we do have some younger members ( as young as 9 ) as well as some older members who require a lot of patience based on a variety of personality types ( i.e. austism spectrum ) and are active both as a regional ( NER ) and group ( HUB and HUB module ) divisions.
I'm going to throw the argument of the hobby being expensive back at you. I can think of much more popular hobbies that cost much more than our group does. We have group locomotives and cars so if someone wants to run, they don't need anything but the time in which to do it.
There is a Youth in Model RR group close by and some of those members to graduate into our group but realistically, once those members reach their teens, unless their parents are heavily involved in the hobby, they go away. Some will likely come back, but there is a lack of membersip, it seems, in the 30-45/50 year range. I think by the time most of us reach 45-50, kids are supporting themselves and there is now more disposable income available for the hobby.
At our shows, members run everything from brass steam to economically priced DC locomotives with cheaper cars. No one cares, although only one DC can run at a time, plastic wheels are generally discouraged ( they really mess up the track ) and because we now have a fully working active signal system with detection we are moving towards strongly suggesting wheels with reactors.
I'm hopeful that this latest upgrade and the sheer coolness of it will attract more people, and we will get member sign ups at shows, but I'm brainstorming now to think how to get more people there so that there's a larger attendance and more potential members.
I always have several of my clubs business cards in my wallet and when I get into a discussion on the hobby I give the person a card and invite him/her up to the club. At the shows we attend we give out many cards during the day and I hope the people take them didn't just take one to pick their teeth.
Publicity. Very important. There are plenty of model railroading site, includiing this one, upon which you can announce events, shows, open house. With luck you have a web savvy member who would accept the duty of posting your events to as many sites as possible. Now that MR dropped its coming events section, and RMC is no more, you have to publicize somewhere, and model railroading sites are your best bet.
Your club ought to have a web page, and you ought to make some effort to update it as often as you can. Photos, of the club, the layout, member's projects, club events, are always good. Along with contact information, and a map, so that potential new members can get in touch and find the club layout. A facebook page is free, and nearly everybody is on facebook these days. Start a club email list or Google Group. Add every email address you can get your hands on, even if they are not members. Announce events, meetings, everything, by email. Again, you need a hardworking club member to make this work.
Local newspapers will usually run an announcement of your events. Especially if you write up a good press release, with photos, so all they have to do is merge it into their press copy for the week.
As far as the demographic to pursue, I think anyone from 10 to 70 would be good. Guys and girls.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
dstarrMR dropped its coming events section
It's on-line now
dstarrRMC is no more
RMC has been acquired by White River Productions and is back in operation.
http://www.rrmodelcraftsman.com/
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
I'm going to make sure everything is being put on the various forums, I think we've missed a few.
Website we have. FB page as well but limited posts there ( same small group of people )
Email list is a good idea.
As a female member, I do try to recruit other women and to gently break some old habits ( calling non-rail events "ladies activities " might be slightly dated ) but there are a lot of stubborn guys around :)
Are you in Seacoast, DStarr?
roofintrash Ive tried to type a response to this 10 times. I think $ and competition from other hobbies is hurting new modelers. Look at how the model railroad prices have skyrocketed compared to the bottom falling out of the prices of R/C models and electronics. I walked into the local hobby shop the other day for a couple balsa sticks to finish an R/C plane kit I was building. Detoured over to the MR aisle and a couple freight cars caught my eye,,,,,,until I saw the price. I about crapped my pants. After that I looked at a couple locomotives and track components just to get a baseline on the $. When a loop of track and a 10 car train is gonna cost $200-$500 for middle of the road equipment, something is wrong. Ive got a closet full of RR equipment from my younger days and have been considering finally building a small layout,,,,,,,,,,,until I priced everything. I'm 50yrs old and have the disposable income to spend,but wow did this stuff get costly. I truly think the kid walking into the hobbyshop with his allowance or chores money is going to go for the ready to fly or drive R/C vehicle over the 6 pieces of flextrack and 2 freight cars for the same $.
RC planes are cheaper, but by no means cheap. I can buy a RTF foam airplane for around $150. That may not seem like much, but R/C experieces wear and tear that no model railroad will ever experience. When the mst expensive locomotive and the most expensive airplane you own lose connection with the control....it is an entirely different outcome. I have been surprised at how relatively affordable this hobby is. $5.50 for a piece of flex track, $15 for a switch. I nice, well modeled locomotive with sound for $200. thats not too bad. The last RC plane I crashed had a $50 battery, $210 engine, $150 reciever, $300 in servos. the airframe itself was $350. It ran on $22 a gallon fuel and required a $52 yearly AMA ad $45 year club membership to fly.
Trains are cheap. They just involve more hands on work by the owner to create.
Yes, actually I am in Seacoast. I'm not very active, but I am there. I am also a member in the Amunoosuc Valley RR Association, a transportable layout club up here in the northwoods. AVRA is suffering a membership loss as members die of natural causes, or their spouses' health fails. We are down to the point that we lack enough able bodied members to set the layout up. We have a couple of women members who are real pillars of the club.
Have you thought about asking hobby shops? Maybe you could ask to leave some business cards for your club by the register.
Also, some local businesses have cork boards that you can pin flyers and business cards to. It is great free advertising.
I think there are at least two parts to this. Most MR people start in some way without joining a club. Then some will attempt to find a club.
If your club is welcoming and helpful to new members they will stay for a while.
To stay longer term they must be learning and practicing what they learn at the club. Track laying, wiring and scenry building are hands on activities. So what if the new guy isn't as good as the senior member of the club at doing what needs to be done, let him do it, then GENTLY show him how to improve is next try. You are not a supervisor at work, or a mster tradesman teaching an apprentice, everyone wants to have fun. If the critics are many and harsh, and not doing much else themselves, the new guy leaves.
I will never be young again, but I hope I have not quit learning.
Dave
I have an observation and a new angle.
First, the observation. I'm frankly slightly offended by some people (including some who posted here) who think that all model railroaders, or at least club members, are a bunch of grouchy old curmudgeons. We're not. Yes, we have bad apples in our barrel, but most of us genuinely enjoy helping newcomers. One of the reasons I'm npt as active here as I used to be is because we don'tseem to get many of the "I'm new and need help" type of threads.
My angle: I teach Railroading merit badge classes to Boy Scouts. It's too bad that the BSA decided to merge the model railroading badge into the railroading one as an either /or option, because now most boys want to do the railran option (full scale railroads), because it's easier. Even so, I make sure they know about model railroading, and I get a couple of takers every year. I recommend some local clubs and a trip to the Amherst show every year. These boys are between 11 and 18. It's very satisfying that trains will hold their interest for a day. Hopefully, this effort (and similar ones around the country) will help gain some new recruits.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
With all the heavy weight maketing heft of our host magazine bought to bare on the matter of involving people in our hobby who otherwise have no involvement all that has managed to happen is the maintaining of the status quo.
I think this means that if the numbers of railroad hobbiests remains constant then that would suggest that those who are leaving the hobby at the front end are balanced out by new entrants coming in at the other.
But its not just us as individual hobbiests who have a need to see our hobby healthy its also in the commercial interests of those industry players who supply most of our modeling needs.
If there was a complete drying up over time of all railroad models we as individuals can press on with our hobby. Be it in a much more limited, but possibly a more inventive way. However companies & artisan producers of parts & limited run kits would be facing down the barrel of a serious situation if there was a continuing trend of no new blood entering the hobby.
The sixty four thousand dollar question is how to bring new faces into the hobby & have them stay there?
Most of what we suggest in places like this forum rely on the good will of club members whose effect on increased membership is, it would seem, limited.
We have one hobby we share in common, but that can be broken down to dozens of sub-groups, by, era, road, scale, hi tech, operations, artistic outlet, plus more. Its an absolute minefield for an aspiring modeler to crawl through, especially for a generation of people used to electronic gadgets & addicted to instant gratification.
Clearly these are markedly different times from when our hobby first became popular. The joy of trains as a focul point in towns across the nation has long gone, just like tram cars. It's a huge task, & a thankless one with little reward to expect people to be motivated to accept an involvement in modeling an industry that has no more interest to them than the evolution of floral painted cake tins.
On a personal level I am deeply saddened by the situation I have commented on. With so many other distractions available to people of all ages to capture what discretional spending they can muster, the competition on just that basis alone is daunting.
Right now I see the hobby as being healthy & in good shape. There has evolved in the industy a changed thinking resulting from at long last a correct reading of the market for them to offer as near as possible road specific models appealing to a more demanding group of modelers.
A market that may not be growing in numbers will see manufactures become more inovative, faster on their feet, rather than pumping out the same models year after year to be absorbed by an existing market flush with new members just starting out.
If what I beleive to be correct - I have no statistical evidence that it is - then we who are still in the hobby will be enjoying it for many more years to come - with or without new blood.
Dusty
Dusty hit on a good point: Instant gratification. A lot of people theses days, especially the under 21 crowd expect instant gratification. They are so used to smart phones and computers and plug and play stuff that they expect everything to be "right now." My own kids are 12, 10 and 8, and they think it takes too long to put down a kato unitrak oval under the Christmas tree. They want to see the trains move "now." I think this is why RTR has become so popular. The thought of taking a week or so to build, paint, decal, and weather a car is enought to turn them off, let alone the time it takes to build a real layout. There are exceptions, but most younger people do not have the patience for it anymore which is very sad.
Cost also drives people away but not like most think. I used to volunteer at the NC Transportation Museum and would often go to the Little Choo Choo shop across the street. It's a great little model railroad shop and many families would go there after spending time at the museum looking to maybe get into the hobby. Most get sticker shock at the prices and walk away empty handed. These people do not know that you can go to train shows or Ebay and get a lot of good stuff cheap. All they know is what they see in the store and what they see at online stores. The fact that there is a used market doesn't even cross their minds. The startup cost can be high if only buying new, especially if someone isn't sure that it's the right hobby for them.
I also think there is less exposure to trains. How many thousands of miles of track have been abandoned over the last 20 to 30 years? A lot of towns that once had trains running through them have no rails at all now. How many thousands of kids are out there that live in these towns? When I was at the museum I had many parents tell me that their kids had never seen a train in real life. Some adults had never seen one.
There are many factors at play here and the answers are not easy. Getting people to come to the clubs is only part of the solution. Retaining members is equally important. The key is to make everyone welcome and encourage them to participate. A lot of modelers are scared to let a young person run or touch their trains because they are expensive and delicate, butthis is exactly what needs to be done. They need to be taught the right way to run trains, how to run them realistically, and how to have fun with them. BUT it must be done in the correct manner. Club members need to be teachers who don't scold but give encouragement and positive coaching. Yes new people will mess things up and break things occasionally but let's face it, there's not a club member out there that hasn't broken something or screwed something up at some point in their modeling career. Word of mouth is the best advertising you can get. Make the newcomers feel very welcome, get them involved right off the ba,t and start teaching them. They will spread the word to others and you may find your club building very crowded.
You need to interest parents with pre teen children. The parents may stick around after the kids loose interest and later the kids may return.
Jim
I think, that it will be hard to bring in a vast number of new people into the hobby, regardless of age group, due to the "Out of Control" pricing of goods.
I've have posted on this before and will say it again.
Our hobby, seems to be coming a hobby, where propaganda has become the normal, that no one can build a model anymore.
Why bother is the mantra promoted by a vast majority of manufacturers.
These very companies, seem to think, that everyone, has a unlimited amount of income, regardless of economic standing or pecking order to put it.
Just because one is wealthy, why should you be gouged, just like on the other hand, if you a not wealthy?
Do these same manufacturers, think, that buy pricing their respective goods, to tim-buck-two ( bet you've not heard this term in a while and possibly never?), that their will be buyers.
Not I, and I do think that a few other readers, more than you expect, think the same way!
The way things are going, it appears the next thing that will be promoted, is taking out bank loans, to buy goods, for this hobby!
As this pace continues, expect some of the well known manufacturers, to be exiting business, within the next five (5) years.
I'll let you figure out who these firms may be.
Strange, some may think otherwise.
But, again everyone is entitled to their respective opinon, if you reside in the United States of America.
I actually got into the hobby because of one of your EX forum members that went by the name of TA462. Dave buys a bunch of copies of Model Railroader every month and distributes them at the local Doctors office, an old age home and a couple schools. My son brought home a copy from his school and attached was information on his train club and his contact info. I thought that was a very good idea to promote the hobby. Since then I've become good friends with Dave so that was a bonus all in itself.
-Jon
LakeErieExpresswanted to get involved in a local group
Sorry that you had a bad experience. Here in the Northern California area the local NMRA region and divisions are very active and very welcoming. Many (perhaps not all) others are probably the same.
Business meetings are not the ideal venue in which to get the best out of any group, of course. We are fortunate in this area that there are regular Meets with clinics (including hands-on "how to" sessions), layout tours, op sessions, and more. There are also a number of modular clubs that seem especially welcoming to newcomers.
In addition, annually the NMRA PCR teams with the Layout Design SIG and Operations SIG for a 3-day Meet that includes tours, clinics and panels, and op sessions. The next one is in Novato, CA January 23-26, 2015
Since the original poster's group is making a purposeful effort to outreach, I am sure that newcomers will feel welcome there.
Youngsters enjoying the Silicon Valley Free-Mo N group set-up at a show.
I've never been involved in any clubs other than just a tiny taste, mainly because I was too poor to pay the dues AND still have money for trains - partly due to my 1st wife allocating me only a tiny train budget.
That said, not too long ago I was involved with a modular group who sets up and runs at train shows and I came and ran some trains. There was not room for a barrier rope and on several occasions children were touching or trying to pick up my trains - trains I had saved up and bought and some were Athearn RTR engines with those fragile parts. Nothing was damaged that I was aware of, but it made me understand why some old men are traumatized by young folk around their trains. And these days, many parents let their children run loose and wild! I guess the moral of the story is if you are going to let them participate, don't bring anything you value to the club layout. Just cheap Athearn blue box freight cars and engines.
CTValleyRR First, the observation. I'm frankly slightly offended by some people (including some who posted here) who think that all model railroaders, or at least club members, are a bunch of grouchy old curmudgeons.
First, the observation. I'm frankly slightly offended by some people (including some who posted here) who think that all model railroaders, or at least club members, are a bunch of grouchy old curmudgeons.
Some of the posters are younger folks who are only relaying their experiences - if you didn't treat a young person in an offputting way, then you should not be offended.
roofintrash When a loop of track and a 10 car train is gonna cost $200-$500 for middle of the road equipment, something is wrong.
When a loop of track and a 10 car train is gonna cost $200-$500 for middle of the road equipment, something is wrong.
What I don't understand is why other hobbies can add up to hundreds, or a lot more and people aren't phased but when this hobby can potentially be that much, people are shocked and put off. There must be a perception that toy trains should be cheap as chips. I'm sure many teens spend way more on a super gaming computer (can cost well over a thousand - then add up the cost of the games), or expensive music equipment like electric guitars and amps, etc. Pick your poison, you get the picture, but when it's trains "something is wrong"?
The fact is, I was put off by model train prices in the 1970's but I loved trains so like many other hobbies or past times that require $$, I found a way to afford some trains - as I got older and was able to earn more I could afford more. By the way, here is a little secret, with train shows and Ebay you can often put together a 10 car train for half what you quoted. Just sayin... Anyway, many hobbies or things we like have a price shock value at first, but then we get over it when we find we really like it and want to pursue it. Model Railroading shouldn't be any different IMO.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I'm gonna be 23 this year, and have a decent collection of PRR stuff(which I am going to "museum" or keep them for club layout. By museum, I'm gonna display them on an eventual railroad museum forcy eventual layout), gotten at train shows. I have two locomotives I am nervous when people get around it-a BLI T1 and a Kato Sd40-2 (BLI was the cost, and the Kato is because it is my first undecorated loco I detailed). I do have a guitar setup (3 and an amp). It's just a matter of saving money. I always save at least 50 dollars out of a paycheck, and whatever is left after food,gas,tv,etc goes to trains
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
I'm a dorky guy. I know this. I have many dorky interests and all of them are afflicted by the same phenomenon that makes me keep them to myself or not seek out others that share the interest: the weird dudes.
You know exactly what I mean by "Weird Dudes" too.
No idea how to rectify the situation though, but I view that as a huge obstacle to lots of fields of interest that are not exactly mainstream (and some that are).
Every year our Club sets up at a local Mall in one of the empty Store Fronts.
We have tables set up to display Lionel trains running around some decorated christmas trees - the tables are 30" high and this keeps most little fingers away. We also have On30 and LEGOs.
We have many individual layouts that the various members put together - HO and N Scale.
We have a set of table top HO modules which we let the Visitors do some OPERATIONS on as these modules were built with switching in mind.
We have had the visitors standing in line at times to take a turn running and switching the trains.
With it being DCC we can run several trains at one time which makes it that much more interesting to the Young Operators (there are also some older ones there too) .
The Club members are on hand to surpervise the OPERATIONS and make sure everyone runs at a slow pace.
We put on demonstrations on Scratch Building - Buildings - Loads - Trees and Weathering and there is usually a crowd around the various demos.
We give away Model Magazines that have been donated to the Club that are extras.
We have a sign up sheet and have available Club Applications!
Any thing we can do to promote the Hobby!
That is one thing we are not afraid to tell everyone that - YES! - we PLAY with TOY Trains! ;-)
BOB H - Clarion, PA
riogrande5761 a modular group who sets up and runs at train shows and I came and ran some trains. There was not room for a barrier rope and on several occasions children were touching or trying to pick up my trains - trains I had saved up and bought and some were Athearn RTR engines with those fragile parts.
Jim,Let's put aside your modeling style.
I found for public display running its best to use Athearn BB cars and locomotives or the newer Bachmann locomotives and BB,Roundhouse,Trainman or Accurail cars.
Why?
The public doesn't know or care what tape of model choo-choo is running in fact most just glance over the train as it rolls by.
While some adults and kids like to hear sound equipped locomotives others has ask me how can you stand that noise all day?
Now then.
Every open house and during the week of the county fair a number of adults and teenagers asks me about DCC works or serious questions about the hobby..Some mentions their "small" 4x8' layouts that they "tinker" around with during the winter months.Then there's that famous "I built or am building a 4x8' layout for the "grandson"..Yeah,right I think judging by some of the questions grandpaw asked me..
As far as exposing the hobby to the general public,you just can't beat you tube.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
The most popular trains at our shows seem to be the ones which capture the attention of kids..either my Daylight or Blue Goose or the circus train run by another member or another member's train hauling 15 car carriers. We have ropes and occasionally get a grabber but usually the kids are well behaved.
So far my takeaways are to ramp up activity on our FB page, link it to some of the neat YouTube videos one of our members put together and to look into business cards which we can leave at Hobby Shops, etc. I'll also be posting links to our shows on the forums.
As far as new members, we host a railfun meeting once a month and I actually was asked to co-chair the next activity which is on weathering. I've been experimenting with cosmetics and cosmetic applicators so that should bring some new ideas into what can be dry meetings ( oh look, another slide show of your trip to Colorado ) and we've talked about hosting another montly meeting in an area a little further to the west. Our division spans most of Northern MA which is a large area and some folks don't want to drive an hour or more to a monthly meeting.
For those who tried local clubs or organizations and found them either pricey or unwelcoming, I am sorry. I think our organization tries very hard to be inclusive and welcoming and to provide substance for members to balance out those fees.
We do have a couple of grumpy guys in the mix but what can you do? We also have had a couple of children with parents who think their little darlings are precious and adorable while everyone else hopes they lose interest quickly or move away. Generally good parents=kids who get it.
Thanks for your advice and opinions and keep it coming!