Wizard of Oz

arnold, I am sure you and your guests had a great time.

My adventures these days are more like the flying monkeys !

Lol.

Arnold, I can't say that I have.  Maybe it is because I have always had so little room for a layout that I haven't had many levers to pull.  

However, I am looking forward to seeing what stories others post.  Just another way to learn from others.  That way when I have numerous levers to pull, I will know how to do it.    I'm sure someone will say, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"

Remember, everything you think you are missing and believe only the Wizard of Oz can give you, you already  had all along. 

When I have people over, I immediately transform into the "wizard of destruction" Trains de railing- breakers blowing- trains un coupling etc etc. Got to be able to laugh. OH this doesn't happen to you??? You ain't playing hard enough. Nick

It happens to all of us.  Everything runs like clockwork when no one is looking.  As soon as you want to show your trains to someone, Murphy comes out from the shadows and does his dastardly deeds.  

Mark Boyce posted:

Arnold, I can't say that I have.  Maybe it is because I have always had so little room for a layout that I haven't had many levers to pull.  

Same here, Mark.  But on those occasions when I have run trains for visitors, I have noticed that no prestidigitation is actually needed.  They see the trains running, smoking, whistling, chuffing.  They see lights in the passenger cars and twinkling around the structures (I generally run trains with the room lights darkened).  They see miniature automobiles next to illuminated billboards; a bubbling water tower; an airport beacon that shines and rotates.

To most of us who post here, these things are nothing remarkable -- we're accustomed to it.  But to non-train people, they are nothing less than a revelation.  Models that move on their own?  That make sounds?  That move through a miniature world?  These are things that they have not only never seen before, they are often things they have never even imagined.

So while it's true that you're going to need plenty of levers to impress the sophisticated  layoutmeisters, people outside of the hobby are much more likely to see just the magic, without getting distracted by the mundane details of what gauge wire you're using, or how many watts your transformer puts out.

--John

Dan Padova posted:

It happens to all of us.  Everything runs like clockwork when no one is looking.  As soon as you want to show your trains to someone, Murphy comes out from the shadows and does his dastardly deeds.  

I have had that experience in the past, Dan. When I have had derailments with an audience, I tell them that when I have company over, the trains are unpredictable and misbehave, like naughty children. 

In my opinion, the best attitude to have is that of a showman who wants to entertain his audience. (By the way, that's my attitude when I sing at Open Mics.) Consider telling your train visitors that you want to entertain them. Show them your trains, and ask them which ones they would you like to see run on your layout.

Also, ask them which accessories they would like to see operate. Accessories are always a big hit with visitors. I try to tune them in advance so they are more likely to work when I run them for my visitors.

In my experience showing my trains to others, the Postwar trains are heart warming evoking feelings of nostalgia, and the modern trains with their smoke, sounds and announcements amaze them.

When I had relatives over to see the trains a month ago, the biggest hit was my talking MTH subway, especially when it approached my ballpark and they heard the announcement: "161st Street and Yankee Stadium."

Another way to entertain is to tell your visitors to bring a couple of their own locomotives for them to run on your layout. If they squeak, service them with a little light oil or gear oil so their engines purr like kittens. That will make your visitors happy. I also tell them it's fun to run our trains on different layouts, the same way it's fun to play golf on different golf courses.

Thanks so much for your contributions to this thread. You have entertained me with your comments.

I believe here is no better way to promote our hobby than to have visitors over to see our layouts.

Arnold

Balshis posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Arnold, I can't say that I have.  Maybe it is because I have always had so little room for a layout that I haven't had many levers to pull.  

Same here, Mark.  But on those occasions when I have run trains for visitors, I have noticed that no prestidigitation is actually needed.  They see the trains running, smoking, whistling, chuffing.  They see lights in the passenger cars and twinkling around the structures (I generally run trains with the room lights darkened).  They see miniature automobiles next to illuminated billboards; a bubbling water tower; an airport beacon that shines and rotates.

To most of us who post here, these things are nothing remarkable -- we're accustomed to it.  But to non-train people, they are nothing less than a revelation.  Models that move on their own?  That make sounds?  That move through a miniature world?  These are things that they have not only never seen before, they are often things they have never even imagined.

So while it's true that you're going to need plenty of levers to impress the sophisticated  layoutmeisters, people outside of the hobby are much more likely to see just the magic, without getting distracted by the mundane details of what gauge wire you're using, or how many watts your transformer puts out.

--John

I totally agree with you, John. Your above reply is very well stated. Arnold 

Yes, I agree.  Someone who is not accustomed to train layouts will comment on some of the most insignificant things in my thinking.

I have even more satisfaction when young people have a "wizard-like" reaction to a far simpler layout, or even a simple temporary loop of track on the carpet. When they haven't been exposed to toy trains it can be a magical experience. My co-worker's two daughters can't wait to visit our office because they know I keep a box of wooden track and Thomas Trains in my office. 

 I like to play Sir Topham Hatt the Fat Controller, boss folk around and make them explore how it's done themselves 

I don't even turn on the power strips "Reach under at that double button. Now try the black handle top left"  as soon as their eyes stray, I point out a new control, "Now the orange one up(train stops). Now down (whistle makes them grin). Then comes smoke fluid filling..."Not my job" ... etc.etc. till things are moving all over the place, and they get to move on to accessories.

Once the wreck occurs and it usually does (I don't tell them about turnouts   "You call that a wreck?" This  turns to this real fast and they've usually had enough or leave them be a while and talk.

  I'm not much of a showman, stagefright bites me at times with even small groups. I do better from behind the curtain.  (I do take instictively take charge in emergency and stupid crowd situations at times, just not silent groups waiting for entertainment)

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

 

Last night, I had a couple of local train friends (not Forum members yet) at my house visiting my layout. In a much smaller way, I was like the Wizard of Oz, pulling this and that lever, throwing this and that switch, and running trains while playing the recording of my model train song, Who Am I (Rollin' By). I told my friends that my goal was to entertain them.

One of the visitors was completely taken aback, looked at me out of the corner of his eye with a smile, which made me think he was stunned the same way I was stunned several years ago at Phil's house.

The 3 of us had a great time running trains last night. What pleased me the most is that I succeeded in entertaining my visitors.

Each of us can entertain our friends with our trains and layout, and be like the Wizard of Oz.

If you have had such a Wizard of Oz experience, please share it on this Forum.

Arnold 

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!!!" 

I've been facing a situation where I may have to sell some of my train stuff, but it's conversations like these that make me want to keep everything!!

Adriatic posted: 

  I'm not much of a showman, stagefright bites me at times with even small groups. I do better from behind the curtain.  (I do take instictively take charge in emergency and stupid crowd situations at times, just not silent groups waiting for entertainment)

 

Adriatic, you are the true Wizard of Oz! Remember, he was behind a curtain like you! Arnold

So, next time any of you folks go on TCA tour of a layout, remember to sing: "I'm off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, . . ." Arnold

I'm gonna stick to "If I only had a train"

Adriatic posted:

I'm gonna stick to "If I only had a train"

Excellent idea!!  Wish I thought of it!