Joe Hohmann posted:I assume the "rent" for the fairgrounds is much higher on weekends than week days. I remember a meet where the modular group I was with (Flower City) had to vacate the Black Hall a bit early on a Saturday due to a wedding reception. As far as weekends go, we are a group of train nuts, not a family with kids looking for weekend entertainment. Being with a modular group for entire weekends gives you a feel of reality, almost as good as being a dealer at a Greenberg-type weekend show.
Several years ago I was told by the staff at the EDiv's membership desk that the York Fairgrounds would only rent the fairgrounds to the EDiv on a SUN to SAT term and it did not matter if they used 7, 6, 5, or 4 buildings (the rent fee was the same) and they must adhere to the fairgrounds operating hours and security procedures. Obviously facility rental terms can change based on the local mgmt, area economy, supply and demand. I'm sure someone "in the know" can shed more light on the current and/or possible future options.
Rich883 posted:MartyE posted:In reality if Saturday was such a boom for those who have to work, then we wouldn't even be having this discussion. Unless the public are going to start coming out in droves then IMO Saturday is still going to be a bust as will a Sunday show. Thursdays and Fridays are currently the big days. I really don't see that changing. Sunday IMO is a non starter because the dealers want to get back and are often a days travel away.
Personally for me whatever works best for the EDTCA, after all it's their meet, works for me. I'll adjust my schedule accordingly. I've said it before, they are the victim of their own success. The train meet turned into a large show that is difficult to support given the current social dynamics.
Marty, I agree that every works best for EDTCA, it is their event. However, I think the Saturday performance is more that it is the third day of a three day show. It would be much diferent if it was day two of a two day show.
I agree with Rich's assertion regarding Saturday's turnout during the 2 day (FRI/SAT) era. My York experience only goes back to '98 and due to professional and personal demands it wasn't until the last 3 years that I was able to attend on FRI, but all prior meets were limited to SAT. IIRC the 2 day SAT attendance was not as big as FRI, but it was quite crowded. The SAT crowd continued into the first several 3 day SAT meets/shows but by 2006ish you can easily tell from the halls and available parking that SAT attendance of both members and dealers was declining.
Prior to the current decline in membership, attendance and table fees I believe that the EDiv BoD was too rigid or possibly arrogant in its lack of promotion of the meet to membership and train collectors. The no photos and little promo info to the trade when the hobby was experiencing its second surge from the late '80's to early 2000's was opportunity lost. The current photo policy is good and the limited public entry offering hopefully helpful, but those might be too little too late to make a material impact because general public advertisement of the meet/show is virtually non-existent. Rather the financial and volunteer (time and physical) demands and resources will likely determine the current and future formats of this meet.
Based on the financial cost and as important the volunteer requirements to run such an event I think its wise for the EDiv Board of Directors to gather as much information as they can. The EDiv's BoD operational bylaws likely permit them to perform certain functions - like this table holder survey - that do not require "FULL" membership approval. Once they obtain their needed information they are better able to make an informed decision/proposal to present to the EDiv members if required.
