2023 March O Scale Meet Ideas

Brad, I kind of like your idea on this.   It certainly would keep things from getting bunched up timewise.    Perhaps, the Colorado O scale group can get their Modular layout to the meet as well.

@Brad Kowal posted:

FRIDAY: Morning/Afternoon: Illinois Railway Museum

IRM is closed to the public mid-March.

IRM traditionally doesn't open for weekdays until Memorial Day weekend.  Electric operations begin the last weekend in April.

Rusty

Nice show this year! Last one I attended was 2000, moved to Colorado and life happens. My wife doesn't have spring break late enough and I've never been able to escape for the days. I'll get there again sometime. Retirement has its perks ya know. 😉  2 kids now under 7 and 800 miles. Dang it.

If you need any assistance or help like graphics or whatever drop me a line. Looks good and keep up the great work. 👍

@Rusty Traque posted:

IRM is closed to the public mid-March.

IRM traditionally doesn't open for weekdays until Memorial Day weekend.  Electric operations begin the last weekend in April.

Rusty

While IRM is indeed closed to the public at this time, it has been open to attendees of the March Meet for years.  In my 5-10 years attending the meet, the only time the museum hasn't been open is when weather and/or grounds conditions were too inhospitable to be worthwhile, and that has only happened once or twice.

The first year I attended the show, there was a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the big downtown stations on Friday night.  I missed it for some reason, and have regretted it ever since as it has never been repeated.  Perhaps that's something that could be pursued.  It certainly would be different.

I had a great time. My only complaint goes to those who decide to leave Sunday and start packing up early. The show ends at 2 pm not at 12.

Dick

@CBQer posted:

I had a great time. My only complaint goes to those who decide to leave Sunday and start packing up early. The show ends at 2 pm not at 12.

Dick

I agree.  That has been an issue for years at all meets.  Unfortunately you can't prevent somebody from leaving.

@Brad Kowal posted:

I agree.  That has been an issue for years at all meets.  Unfortunately you can't prevent somebody from leaving.

True enough and just as you state, an issue for all meets, and when there are no customers in the room and only vendors, it's hard to justify staying.  Perhaps noting who leaves early so as to give them less prime tables next year could be applied?

@mwb posted:

True enough and just as you state, an issue for all meets, and when there are no customers in the room and only vendors, it's hard to justify staying.  Perhaps noting who leaves early so as to give them less prime tables next year could be applied?

There are some things we could do to help discourage packing up early, however I don't know how successful we would be if we started playing games.  Not everybody had a chance to see everything.  Perhaps if we had some testimonials to that, we could show that the extra 2 hours of display is worth it in terms of sales.  Yes, at the end of the Meet it's mostly social time, however there is no additional table, registration, hotel or meal cost to hang in there 2 more hours.

@Brad Kowal posted:

There are some things we could do to help discourage packing up early, however I don't know how successful we would be if we started playing games.  Not everybody had a chance to see everything.  Perhaps if we had some testimonials to that, we could show that the extra 2 hours of display is worth it in terms of sales.  Yes, at the end of the Meet it's mostly social time, however there is no additional table, registration, hotel or meal cost to hang in there 2 more hours.

Not a game; it's business.  People need to understand that while it may be all fun and trains, there's a business being operated and they are participants in that aspect of the meet and that being a vendor comes responsibilities.