So, I've heard that TCA membership is not required for this year's show. I just checked the website and they still have pre-show info from Oct 16 on there. Can I just show up and buy an entrance ticket? How much?
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My understanding is:
Non-members are not able to visit all the "Halls" - some remain for members only (as they should).
You would get to visit the manufacturer's exhibits/hall, as I understand - and more.
I don't know about children; they have not been allowed in the past (again, as it should be), but the new "civilian" access may allow that in those areas.
I was a TCA member for 2 years and only able to attend one show per year. For me, attending the show was not worth the total cost
The dates for the York show are April 27-28-29th this year
So far there has only been vague and incomplete information about the public admission to the York Meet, other than what has been mentioned above.. Even the Eastern Division website has no mention of it yet. I'm sure all the information will be included once the meet registration booklets are mailed out, which will also be on the website when it's released.
At October's Meet the Eastern Division had a table in the lobby of the Orange Hall. I'm guessing that is where non-members would register to attend in April for admission to the Orange and Purple Dealer Halls.
But as time is growing short, you can call for general Meet questions at 1-814-928-0196 or email meetchair@easterntca.com.
Also, children have always been allowed to attend the York Meet. You list them on the registration form.
I don't know about children; they have not been allowed in the past (again, as it should be), but the new "civilian" access may allow that in those areas.
Where did you get this piece of information?
Children most certainly are allowed at the show, and have been for as long as I've been a TCA member.
I don't know why anyone would go to York in April or October and not join the TCA on a 6 month trial membership. It's only $20 and you can see all the halls. You can only be a trial member once but since 2 halls is most likely going to cost you $14, why not spend the extra $6 and see all the halls? You might get hooked and become a regular member.
-Greg
In the issue of CTT that I just received, Lou Palumbo writes in his monthly column that Saturday hours in the Dealer Halls will be extended to 4:00 pm.
Public admission will be $14 for one day per family or $20 for two days per family.
I'm assuming that Lou knows what he's talking about.
Your thoughts?
Your thoughts?
My thoughts: Why hasn't the Eastern Division communicated these decisions to the Eastern Division members?
They also could pass the information on to National, and ask them to do an email blast.
We should not have to learn about what is going on through a non-TCA magazine column.
it's going to be interesting.
BURF, are you going in April?
Traindiesel posted:So far there has only been vague and incomplete information about the public admission to the York Meet, other than what has been mentioned above.. Even the Eastern Division website has no mention of it yet. I'm sure all the information will be included once the meet registration booklets are mailed out, which will also be on the website when it's released.
At October's Meet the Eastern Division had a table in the lobby of the Orange Hall. I'm guessing that is where non-members would register to attend in April for admission to the Orange and Purple Dealer Halls.
But as time is growing short, you can call for general Meet questions at 1-814-928-0196 or email meetchair@easterntca.com.
Also, children have always been allowed to attend the York Meet. You list them on the registration form.
I already registered last week. All the information is on the TCA Easterns' website.
All the above questions can be found there.
Buzz
None of the limited April Meet information listed on the website addresses public admissions, restrictions or pricing. Only a small mention of the dealer halls being open to the public with the days and times on the first page of the Meet notice. The last page with the Fairgrounds map shows the Orange Hall as the spot for the public to register. But non-members will not have a Meet Notice to know that.
BURF, are you going in April?
Doubtful.
I don't know why anyone would go to York in April or October and not join the TCA on a 6 month trial membership. It's only $20 and you can see all the halls. You can only be a trial member once but since 2 halls is most likely going to cost you $14, why not spend the extra $6 and see all the halls? You might get hooked and become a regular member.
Neither do I. If this information is accurate, then effectively they've opened the entire show to the general public.
C W Burfle posted:Neither do I. If this information is accurate, then effectively they've opened the entire show to the general public.
Yeah all 20 of them that might hear about it.
Well, we're one day away from Feb. already and it appears that few in the hobby, and virtually no members of the general public, appear to have much of a real clue about what is open to who, and for how much and when, at the April York Meet. If the "open to public" thing was going to be widely promoted, they (whoever "they" are) have pretty much dropped the ball.
I will be there, eager to see how this all shakes out. My expectations in that regard are modest at best.
Pretty much why I said 20. I think I'm being optimistic. LOL!
Yeah all 20 of them that might hear about it.
It's a bit early to start advertising to the locals.
I'd say that getting a mention in Lou Palumbo's Classic Toy Trains column is some really good PR.
When I was running advertising for a local show, I would have been thrilled to get a mention like that.
I just visited the Eastern Division web site.
They have a column about York by Lou Palumbo reproduced.
I missed any comment about the show being open to the pubic.
Even though the site identifies the column as being from the "current issue", it must be an older column. (Nothing like an out of date web site!)
I also missed any information on the site itself.
If the Eastern Division is serious about opening the show to the public, the website should have already been updated.
C W Burfle posted:Yeah all 20 of them that might hear about it.
It's a bit early to start advertising to the locals.
Considering most magazine lead times are 3 mos or more, they have fallen behind. I imagine if they contacted OGR Allan Miller wouldn't have posted what he did. The word should have gotten out by now via websites, magazines, and at minimal some of the forums. This one here has a York only forum that we are posting in right now as well as a TCA section. All free to publish the news.
I want this to succeed to help maintain the hobby but it does seem a bit half hearted from the surface. I'd love to be wrong and the big push is "right around the corner". Then again so is the spring York meet / show.
Considering most magazine lead times are 3 mos or more, they have fallen behind. I imagine if they contacted OGR Allan Miller wouldn't have posted what he did. The word should have gotten out by now via websites, magazines, and at minimal some of the forums. This one here has a York only forum that we are posting in right now as well as a TCA section. All free to publish the news.
Is OGR unaware?
It's my impression that they have been in on what's happening from the very beginning.
And I think you are discounting the column in CTT.
C W Burfle posted:Considering most magazine lead times are 3 mos or more, they have fallen behind. I imagine if they contacted OGR Allan Miller wouldn't have posted what he did. The word should have gotten out by now via websites, magazines, and at minimal some of the forums. This one here has a York only forum that we are posting in right now as well as a TCA section. All free to publish the news.
Is OGR unaware?
It's my impression that they have been in on what's happening from the very beginning.
And I think you are discounting the column in CTT.
I'm not discounting it but is that an advertisement? Nope it's a column that if not written and submitted wouldn't be there. Sure OGR has been aware of it. Again it's still not an advertisement of a notice, it would be a column. Relying on the hope that someone mentions it in their column isn't getting the word out proactively. Either way I hope they do have a great deal of success. I personally don't have a dog in this fight as I am a member and will continue to be one.
Traindiesel posted:None of the limited April Meet information listed on the website addresses public admissions, restrictions or pricing. Only a small mention of the dealer halls being open to the public with the days and times on the first page of the Meet notice. The last page with the Fairgrounds map shows the Orange Hall as the spot for the public to register. But non-members will not have a Meet Notice to know that.
Brian,
I mis-spoke. I was alerted to register via an email sent to me by the Division. I clicked on the register link in the email i was sent. I believe there was some information about the hours for April York in the registration process.
Sorry for the mis-information.
Buzz
I have received no official word from the TCA Eastern Div. or the TCA itself about the April meet changes. I would have been happy to publish something to give it a bit of a "push" (many OGR readers are not online participants), but now it is simply too late because I am already working on our June/July issue and the previous issue are in production.
Relying on the hope that someone mentions it in their column isn't getting the word out proactively.
You assume that the ED didn't know the mention was coming. Maybe they did.
A mention in a column can be more valuable than an advertisement.
I will agree that notices to the magazines should have gone out.
You might be surprised about how often that is missed by show promoters.
The folks who have been doing a nice job of running the Eastern Division show as a closed one may not appreciate what should be done to promote an open show which includes:
Show notices to all the toy / train magazines (most have a schedule of shows column)
Flyers to area hobby shops and at other area shows. (flyer needs to be well designed / eye catching)
Press releases to all newspapers, radio stations and TV stations in the target areas
In the case of the ED/TCA, I'd include press releases to the toy / model train magazines too
Display advertising in appropriate local papers, usually the Sunday before the show (very expensive)
Then there is the possibility of billboards and lawn signs in the area of the show.
We didn't do this when I was involved, but it is commonly done for shows in my area now, and seems to be very effective.
Interesting, I have no idea whats going on with the eastern division at this point. Maybe they don't know either.
Allan Miller posted:I have received no official word from the TCA Eastern Div. or the TCA itself about the April meet changes. I would have been happy to publish something to give it a bit of a "push" (many OGR readers are not online participants), but now it is simply too late because I am already working on our June/July issue and the previous issue are in production.
I agree with Allan on this. I live at ground zero for all of this and I guarantee outside of the TCA, no more is known about York by the surrounding public now than last year. You have to advertise to reach the public. There are plenty of cheap newspapers (Penny Saver up north, The Advertiser here) to put out the word but I see nothing. Unless the TCA plans on some kind of ad blitz in the weeks leading up to York, I don't see the attendance numbers going up in any meaningful way. I guess we will know in a few months. BigRail
No doubt the EDTCA does an excellent job with the York meet. I always have a great time and enjoy myself. Perhaps they are just figuring this all out so I'll wait and see. I just thought for as big a deal as it is there would be more out there about it.
Is it possible that the Eastern Division leadership hasn't fully embraced the idea of opening the meet to the public and are just doing the minimum necessary so it can be said, "OK, the York Meet is now open to the public."
Good Lord willing, I will be at the April meet and will have a thoroughly enjoyable time as I have at every meet I've been fortunate enough to attend since 1990 when I moved back to the mainland from Hawaii. I felt it was kind of neat to have a "special event" that benefited TCA members, just as many other special-interest groups have member-only events for their supporters. Sorry to see that go, of course, but we find ourselves living in a fast-changing society (unfortunately, in my personal opinion).
The Eastern Division has ALWAYS hosted an excellent event, and I thank them for the good times and fine memories they have provided.
I agree with Allan on this. I live at ground zero for all of this and I guarantee outside of the TCA, no more is known about York by the surrounding public now than last year. You have to advertise to reach the public.
True, but advertising also has to be properly timed.
Advertisements placed now would be quickly forgotten.
GG1 2340 posted:Traindiesel posted:None of the limited April Meet information listed on the website addresses public admissions, restrictions or pricing. Only a small mention of the dealer halls being open to the public with the days and times on the first page of the Meet notice. The last page with the Fairgrounds map shows the Orange Hall as the spot for the public to register. But non-members will not have a Meet Notice to know that.
Brian,
I mis-spoke. I was alerted to register via an email sent to me by the Division. I clicked on the register link in the email i was sent. I believe there was some information about the hours for April York in the registration process.
Sorry for the mis-information.
Buzz
Buzz, no problem at all. In fact your reply caused me to go back to look deeper and I finally found the Meet Notice for April. A few days ago they still had last October's Meet Notice posted.
To find it you have to drill down on the 'Registration' tab in the main menu of the ED website. But on the meet notice there's only a small mention on the first page that the Meet is open to the public, but no details at all.
Also on the website they have a link to their Facebook page. I don't do Facebook but I couldn't find any info about the York Meet there either.
I'm thinking what Bob Kazian said above could be true.
Well, here we go...I Googled "train shows", and got a site Trains.com. Lo and behold, they had: Billy Budd, Commonwealth Fire Hall, and Reliance Fire Hall all listed with links to all the details. All the ED has to do is submit the details for the York Fairgrounds Show.
I'd bet there are thousands that use this site to find shows.
I doubt the ED will list it there. What would they say, At the York , PA fairgrounds. You can only go certain day's and you can't go in several of the buildings. etc.
eddie g posted:I doubt the ED will list it there. What would they say, At the York , PA fairgrounds. You can only go certain day's and you can't go in several of the buildings. etc.
Well, they will have to spell it out SOMEWHERE.
You can look here for the current York Meet Notice.
Are they mailing out the York meet notice book soon? March 13 is around the corner.
I registered already. I'm waiting for my badges.
I was sent a email with registration instructions.
Just go to the website and register.
Buzz
I wish March 13th was around the corner.
Registered and like Buzz indicted all the answers are on the official site - no need to speculate.