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.
