Attendance figure at York this Oct.

For those who are attracted by all the dealers assembled in one place is an incentive for the public to join the TCA to attend the York Meet.

 

If someone could attend the Meet without joining the TCA, then where is the encouragement to join?  Do you think John Q. Public really cares about growing the hobby?  Not to mention the headache for the Eastern Division volunteers to police who can go into which building at any time.

Actually, what jmiller320 posted above is correct:  The York Meet IS open to the public.  All they have to do is join the TCA and that's something they can do at the door.  That's about as public as it needs to get in my opinion.

 

Less expensive than a concert ticket or a ticket to a major sporting event, so let's not have any whining about price.

 

Life is full of choices!

Allan

Remember the old saying - you can a horse to water but ....."

Mr. Broskowitz sir, That over 13,000 figure came in the form of a letter to me from My dear friend Debbie Geiser. Does that satisfy you?

 

164 days till York week.

Eddie,

The Stones couldn't get any satisfaction either.

 

But if you try sometime, you might find . . . .

 

Sigh . . .

Eddie,

That over 13,000 figure came in the form of a letter to me from My dear friend Debbie Geiser. Does that satisfy you?

In that case, sure. Debbie is certainly an authoritative source.

 

However, that still doesn't answer my original question, which was why so long to get an exact number? If one can say that it's over 13,000, why cannot the actual headcount be stated?

I'm guessing we should all wait for Debbie to post the actual numbers for us to see.

 

Jerry

If Eastern Division ran healthcare.gov we'd all be registered already! 

I agree. Plus, the remaining dealers selling "new" stuff would switch their inventory to 80% Thomas the Tank Engine. My conversations with dealers at a "World's Greatest Hobby Show" led me to believe that Thomas was the ONLY thing selling.

Hmmm..comments above explain how it is difficult to pin this down, and why registrations are an estimate of live bodies who entered the halls.  I am aware of
registered spouses who did not enter the halls, or even the grounds, but went off
on shopping and sightseeing trips on their own, or remained in hotel rooms catching
up on rest.  (I heard second hand from one of these who talked to hotel personnel
who stated that train show guests are liked, because they are not generally a bunch of rowdy drunks.  I don't know how much the city of York appreciates the boost from cash
flow from this show, but this city here certainly raves when it captures a national or
international convention)  For myself, I'd like that 13,000 to all be table holders
with a wide choice of mdse., and if I'm the only shopper, that'd be good, too.

OK....I may have missed it as I've never considered going to York....Fall event is the same time as my big car show I do....Spring other things going on.

BUT......Just how much will it cost two people (husband and wife or better girlfriend) never been to York or TCA members?? Parking, fees, membership, entry tickets whatever......the total cost of your first ever trip once on the grounds.....(no travel, food or rooms etc) Thanks

Personally, I think that a more effective strategy to get more people in the doors would be to advertise.  Frankly, I think that everyone who knows about York, is within easy driving distance, who really wants to attend, and can afford to attend is already attending.  Getting more people in the door (and into the TCA) is more of an exercise in reaching out to the people interested in trains who don't already know about York.

 

A 30-second TV spot placed strategically (like during reruns of Big Bang Theory) for a couple of days before the meet, and pointing to a well-organized and dedicated web page for the commercial containing all of the pertinent info (benefits of TCA membership, pricing, hours, directions, etc.), would get the word out to anyone who wasn't already in the know.  If the cost were spread out among the dealers and manufacturers (based on no. of tables/booth space size), it shouldn't hurt too much, cost-wise.  I figure that if the LCCA and Trainz can sponsor shows on RFDTV week after week, then the cost of just a handful of spots a year shouldn't be too bad if spread out among the dealer hall occupants.

 

Best of all, this could be tried one time on an experimental basis, and the effect could be measured by having a registration coupon/application on the web site for new people to print and bring with them.  If sucessful, then this model can be repeated, and if not, then we would finally know that everyone in the region who really wants to be there is already there.

 

Andy

$50. to join the TCA for a year. $12. to register for the York meet. Your wife would be free..........the girlfriend would cost another $12.  Parking is free.

so if you bring your wife AND your girlfriend, it averages out to $6 each!

       
       




actually if you did that it would be much more costly! :-)

just curious whether any stats are kept on first time attendees(?)  even solely relying on member honesty, it might also be interesting to list members attending their 2nd, 3rd, etc.

If you told them your girlfriend was your wife she could get in free also!

Actually, how would the ED handle a domestic partner issue or wife that kept her name? My wife kept her name so if she ever went with me how could we prove we were married and not just living together or my girlfriend? Not many of us carry our marriage licence around with us.

Not looking to stir the pot but has anyone ever had this scenario happen to them?

 

Jerry

Jerry, The TCA application say; Members Spouse/Sig other (attending) FREE.

 

Ahh, yes, marriage is grand, but divorce could be a hundred grand!

Though you need to add $8 (it's $20 at the door) if it's a spur of the moment decision to just "drop in to York today". 

If the meet were open to the public membership in the TCA would probably drop. A lot of people belong just to attend the York and other member only meets.

I just saw the TCA HQ News, no York bounce in membership this October. It was down about 300 again

York attendance down?

Membership down? 

Abandon ship!

Unload all your trains while you still can!

 

My local papers lists toy trains as one of 20 toys not to get your children because they are boring. (The also list wooden building blocks). Model Railroading in "O" gauge and collecting is not likely to grow, I think folks should stop worrying about it, and enjoy themselves. The numbers of folks interested in "O" gauge trains were pretty small in the first half of the 1970's. We who were into the hobby still managed.

 

When I have grandchildren, they will have trains and blocks. I guess they'll have whatever is current too.

 

I was 4 years old when Lionel and AF resumed making trains in 1946. Since I'm now 71, I'm amazed that the TCA membership is as high as it is, especially since over half of the members do not go to York. I have one hobby where there are less than 100 fellow collectors worldwide. The internet has me in contact with about 20 of them.

I have been saying that for years!

 

My suspicion is that some who aren't satisfied with the treasure trove that is available to us now are primarily interested in seeing the hobby grow by leaps and bounds so they can be assured of getting even more "stuff."  News flash:  Ain't gonna happen!

 

Yes, Marty, it's always a bit risky to make guesses about the future, but I'm pretty comfortable with mine.  I've been involved with the hobby for going on 40 of my adult years, and perhaps see things from a slightly different perspective than most because I've also been involved in the industry side of the hobby for much of that time.  I pay pretty close attention to trends and developments, and have yet to see evidence that I may be making wrong assumptions.

 

Those who worry about declining numbers of participants in this hobby, can rather easily change things themselves by simply attracting one new participant each year.  Don't rely on organizations or manufacturers to do the recruiting; the very best recruiting for a leisure activity like our's is on a one-to-one basis.

quote:

My suspicion is that some who aren't satisfied with the treasure trove that is available to us now are primarily interested in seeing the hobby grow by leaps and bounds so they can be assured of getting even more "stuff."  News flash:  Ain't gonna happen!

 

There are also people who are worried about the resale value of their trains. Less people interested means lower prices.

Long ago an acquaintance of mine spoke and spoke often about the need to get new people in the hobby so we'd have someone to whom we could sell our trains.

no recruiting drive imaginable could offset the volume of trains that will come on the market in the next 10-15 years.

That's very true as well, C.W.!  Good point!