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I’ve been in this Hobby since I was 5 years old, 65 years later I’m still at it. This year for the Holidays my wife talked me into hosting an open house for our home layout. At first I said no and after many questions from her I finally gave in and agreed to do it. She decided to post the event on the neighborhood Facebook page. The response was amazing. Well the open house was today and although it was a bunch of days getting ready it turned out great. I will do it again and not be as hesitant as I was. If you ever get the chance I would say go for it. It’s a great way to share the hobby and maybe get others interested.

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I am glad to hear you and your wife enjoyed the open house!  The layout looks great, what are the dimensions?

My friends and some family members have been egging me to do an open house but like you I have always said "No." After reading this, I might consider doing something in the New Year.
What did you do to prep for the open house?

Bryce

Last edited by Oscale_Trains_Lover_

We had someone walk off with a scale C&O Greenbrier at a club open house.  I was fairly astounded that they could pull that off, it's not like it's a small locomotive.  The story has a somewhat happy ending, with all the friends taking videos, we identified the thief and were able to get it back.  It wasn't perfect, the idiot had painted the tender, and done a poor job, so it was work to restore it.  After that, we had people check in with anything they brought to run so we could make sure stuff didn't get legs.

Any open house I do will be by invite so I know who will be coming.  Sadly, there are still unscrupulous people in this world...

   If a well known individual or cash customer requests to come over and is not a critical person, I would consider their visit.

However it would be necessary for them to leave winter outer wear upstairs and have both hands free to safely come down the full size standard tread-riser residential stairway.

I process personal injury accident claims.  Accidents happen and the property owner is liable, even in the case of unwanted trespassers.

I don't host any general open houses, but I do have plenty of friends, neighbors and relatives who come over to see the layout and watch trains run.

I keep a bunch of old train magazines on hand and they make excellent free handouts to guests, especially children, and are a great way to hopefully get others interested in the hobby. 

It's also a good way to thin my magazine collection without having to trash them.

I’ve hosted my O gauge club several times as well as the occasional neighbor who wants to see why the basement lights burn late into the night.

Have never hosted a true “open to the public” kind of event though and doubt I ever will. A buddy of mine quit hosting on the NMRA’s Piedmont Pilgrimage after he found a couple guys wandering around on the main floor of his home.

Curt

So far this year  my club TMB model train club has had  2 open house weekends We averaged about 500 people per day during the 5 hours we were open In non Covid years we usually got 800 plus Hoping our January/ February shows can be held but with Covid who  knows Fortunately our club is stairs free for our guests Except for a few who were unhappy that we required masks to attend our  other guests had a really good time

@FJI posted:
@Tom Tee posted:

FJI,  what club where??  Sounds great!!



So far this year  my club TMB model train club has had  2 open house weekends We averaged about 500 people per day during the 5 hours we were open In non Covid years we usually got 800 plus Hoping our January/ February shows can be held but with Covid who  knows Fortunately our club is stairs free for our guests Except for a few who were unhappy that we required masks to attend our  other guests had a really good time

Tran Masters of Babylon, Farmingdale, LI, NY.

Great club and layout. I've been there several times.

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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