Saturday Dealer Hall Hours & Public Admission Cost

I'd guess the dealers will start packing up at 1 pm rather than the usual 11 am. $14. isn't bad for a entire family, but a bit steep for 1 person (a 2,000 table gun show costs $12. @). Time will tell.

I would still like to know how this will be advertised to the public. Looks like CTT readers got a heads up. 

Joe Hohmann posted:

I'd guess the dealers will start packing up at 1 pm rather than the usual 11 am. $14. isn't bad for a entire family, but a bit steep for 1 person (a 2,000 table gun show costs $12. @). Time will tell.

I would still like to know how this will be advertised to the public. Looks like CTT readers got a heads up. Joe? $14 is steep compared to $12?

Joe? $14 is steep compared to $12?

I haven't read the CTT article, but there seems to be a lot more details to iron out that hasn't been published yet. And we haven't heard much from the Eastern Division. That's where all the pertinent information will/should come from.

As far as the Saturday later closing time, I guess the dealers got what they asked for.  As an attendee I love it!

Traindiesel posted:

Joe Hohmann posted:

I'd guess the dealers will start packing up at 1 pm rather than the usual 11 am. $14. isn't bad for a entire family, but a bit steep for 1 person (a 2,000 table gun show costs $12. @). Time will tell.

I would still like to know how this will be advertised to the public. Looks like CTT readers got a heads up. Joe? $14 is steep compared to $12?

Joe? $14 is steep compared to $12?

 

No, $14. for one person is steep vs $14. for a family. The only reason I mentioned $12. is that is the rate per person (forget "family" rates) to attend a HUGE gun show. It's sort of a mental thing..."why should I have to pay as much as an entire family?".

$14 for a family?
The upcoming show in Fishkill NY cost $7.00 per adult and $2.00 per child.
At the Springfield, MA show they charge for parking, and admission was $14 per adult per day, kids under 15 free.
The Great American Train shows charge $10 or more per adult, kids under 11 free.

What do other shows in Pennsylvania cost?

Seems to me that the Eastern Division isn't charging enough.
Then again, I have thought that the Eastern Division doesn't charge table holders or members enough either.

Who asked for 4:00 on Saturday?  By the time the current Saturday closing rolls around, I'm pooped!

I don't think the dealers will like the 4pm closing, but they were the ones that wanted it open to the public. We'll just have to wait and see.

I think $14 / day is pretty steep, actually.  A show like Timonium is about half that and you're good for both days.  I think $10 for individuals and $15 per family would be attractive to the general public.  Remember that doesn't include entry to the member halls and I'm assuming the goal is to attract more TCA members.

George

Since the only "advertising" seems to be a CTT editorial, admission price may be a moot point.

Joe Hohmann posted:

Since the only "advertising" seems to be a CTT editorial, admission price may be a moot point.

Well, so far. Maybe the TCA will advertise in the surrounding York area starting about a month before the meet? If not, then I agree with you it may be a moot point. 

Joe Hohmann posted:

Since the only "advertising" seems to be a CTT editorial, admission price may be a moot point.

If the meet is going to require advertising , then there should be an assessment applied to every table in the dealer halls. I think $100.00 per table would be a good number to start with . That way , the bigger dealers or the manufacturers ( who are behind the request that it be opened up to the public ) would be paying their fair share towards the costs to really advertise this heavily.  If some one dose not want to pay , then they can move into the members hall. Most of the big dealers and manufacturers already have a advertising budget built into their business model . If not ,they should . The E.D. already does a magnificent job with putting this meet together . You can not expect them to carry the entire load by themselves. Jim

Summerdale Junction posted:

Joe Hohmann posted:

Since the only "advertising" seems to be a CTT editorial, admission price may be a moot point.

If the meet is going to require advertising , then there should be an assessment applied to every table in the dealer halls. I think $100.00 per table would be a good number to start with .

Forum members have held up the World's Greatest Hobby Show as a prime example of drawing big crowds. For the Philadelphia show, I was amazed at how many radio ads I heard. They also had ads in newspapers, and even a digital billboard on Rt. 422 (the main highway to the show in Oaks, PA). I'd love to know the $$$ spent on those! On the other hand, I'd hate to see 47,000 showing up at the York fairgrounds.

In my area, local shows are advertised no more than one or two weeks in advance. The Eastern Division has plenty of time.
Paid advertising is costly.
Our local shows do well with placing lawn signs all over the area the show is expected to draw from.
Problem with lawn signs: they have to be collected after the show.

A press release to all the local newspapers, radio, and TV stations is always a good idea, especially when it is written in a manner that can be published as received. Being that the TCA is non-profit, and pours money into the TCA museum, they have a good chance if getting free press if they play up the museum.

I owned an advertising business for several years and understand how it all works. . Advertising will undoubtedly help build attendance BUT York is not a totally open meet but now a combo of a public vs private event.  You can be successful advertising it as such and opening the two dealer halls to the pubic can prove a positive but the restriction on days must be lifted. If you are trying to reach the public you must open both halls for the entire meet otherwise the effort will prove totally useless.  On the plus side if you open the two halls to the public, you may be able to increase memberships to the TCA from non-members that are curious about what goes on in the other 5 halls and want to shop there. I do not see a $14 public admission cost for a family as a big problem but it is a higher price than all the other trains shows.

I know not all but some will run ads for free if it's a community interest thing. Like train shows, boat shows, etc. And they don't have to be considered non-profit a lot of the times.

 If you are trying to reach the public you must open both halls for the entire meet otherwise the effort will prove totally useless. 

We'll just have to disagree. All the Eastern Division needs to do is advertise the days/hours that it is open to the public. Next you will argue that the whole show has to be open to the public.
 

Well, it does say on the cover of the flyer for the meet and I quote, "DEALER HALLS Open to Public". Emphasis on the plural of Halls but I couldn't find any specific information in the booklet. So I don't know if they mean the Orange and Purple Hall or the Orange and Black Hall (modular layout) or all three halls. 

I thought the public was allowed in the Black Hall. They most likely are. I think it would be silly not to allow the public in the Black Hall. 

Believe it or don't the Black hall has always been open to the public. News to 99.99% of the members but its true because its controlled by the restaurant next door and they determine its use.

All this talk about advertising, I would be surprised if many from the general public will show up. I think it will affect the members who dropped out or never joined the National TCA due to the high dues. I know half dozen people who are planning to go now that they don't have to pay the 50 bucks a year and they are all already familiar with York.

Pete

G3750 posted:

I think $14 / day is pretty steep, actually.  A show like Timonium is about half that and you're good for both days.  I think $10 for individuals and $15 per family would be attractive to the general public.  Remember that doesn't include entry to the member halls and I'm assuming the goal is to attract more TCA members.

George

Totally agree with this statement.  Maybe like local Gun Shows in Harrisburg,Pa., TCA will put coupons in the local papers for the General Public to save a buck or two?

C W Burfle posted:

 If you are trying to reach the public you must open both halls for the entire meet otherwise the effort will prove totally useless. 

We'll just have to disagree. All the Eastern Division needs to do is advertise the days/hours that it is open to the public. Next you will argue that the whole show has to be open to the public.
 

I assume with your statement that you have had many years working in the advertising business and with trade shows as I have. Putting out ads with a restriction on how people can attend an event to spend their money is a failing strategy.   Success results from inclusion not exclusion.  Statistics show that opening a show for three days to the public has shown better results than one open for two days.

On the other point, I am not going to lobby for the entire meet to be open to the public . York can successfully be run as two separate shows. Changing that is solely an ED decision but with time I do believe that it will happen. With time all things change and nothing stays the same

Yes we disagree but thank you for your kind, civil and courteous reply.