My trip to the Warley National show last weekend, was busy. You might expect that, but a collegue's illness left us short staffed on the Sunday, reducing my wandering time to pretty much nill. When i did escape, it was mainly to grab product photos.
So, in the absense of a proper show report, I'd like to chuck out a question.
When walking in to Warley, are you slightly in awe of the event?
What I mean is, do you feel a pressure to try to pack as much into your visit as possible, combined with the realisation that it's simply too big an event to see everything?
Does this pressure hinder your experience of the day, or make it more exciting?
I'm trying to get a feel for the mood of the audience. It's years since I attended as a visitor, so I'm out of touch - which is why I'm asking you.
I certainly didn't see everything, but I did grab a few photos which you can see on Flickr.
And of course, there was cake. Phil from RMweb dropped off some delicious millionaires shortbread (not normally my favourite, but this was yummy!), my boss collected a mince pie/marzipan cake from the cafe, Carol from the Locoladies obliged with fantastic Victoria sponge, and KR Models persauded me to try a branded cupcake. All very satisfactory!
6 comments:
No I don't feel overwhelmed.
Whilst I enjoy a general look around there are always a few things that stand out for me & where I want to spend time. As Warley is so large there are more of them than at smaller shows and that makes it very valuable.
I haven't been since before Covid but in recent years ve started at the specialist trade stands , then visited my must see layouts for the first time before working my way round. I try and do it in reverse order to most people.
Fortunately the layouts I like are rarely the big draws for most people. It is surprising how much more relaxed it is around the layouts that aren't plastered with "As seen in" stickers
Phil
I attended this year and thoroughly enjoyed it. My approach is two fold. Firstly I look at what layouts are to be there and note the ones I really want to see in the flesh. Secondly I look at what trades may be there and also make a list of what I may be interested in - motivated by a) possible price reductions and b) no postage and c) checking it out in the flesh.
I then mark up on the plan where the stands are that I want to visit. On arrival I try and deal with the purchases first - I know that means carrying stuff later on but so be it. Then a break, check the plan and what I have done to date, a drink and a sit down. Then on to the layouts and demos. I also like to give personal thanks and feedback to people/trades who have helped or inspired me during the year. Phil, you were one of those who received my persnal thanks for the parcel book.
I attended Saturday, attended with an "early entry" due to pre booking. Arrived at venue around 8:30am to park, walked across from Car Park E to the venue and go in the modest but well behaved queue.
Did I do everything - no I missed out on Modelu! Shame but all in all delighted with the show. It was comfortable to walk round and not too crowded.
Pleased you liked the cake Phil. I can’t take the credit for it as Jill made it for us to take. And yes , it was amazing. We also made £200 for Breast Cancer Awareness charities by selling some crochet tress, a proportion of Corina’s card sales, and also kind donations from people who visited our stand. A really good weekend all round!
To be honest this will be the last time I go. I thought it was poor. I was so looking forward to it but left feeling very disappointed. Many of the layouts I have already seen in magazines so there was very little new. There was also the annoyance of not being able to see some layouts properly due to their height of the ground (there were two that were well over 5 foot off the ground) and one or two whose owners insist on controlling the layout right in front of it so you cannot see the detail, particularly true of one 009 layout. Warley has always been our look forward layout as dad and I live in the South West, so it is the easiest to get to as many of the other Doncaster, Milton Keynes and Ally Pally are simply too far or too difficult to get to. It seems that Warley is suffering because there seems to be too many big exhibitions now when in the past it was just them and Ally Pally.
Awed? Not particularly - mainly because I've been there a number of times as a punter - I know what to expect.
Rushed? Well I was this year, because I couldn't get there on the Saturday - and the rubbish train service on the Sunday meant that I didn't get there until about half past twelve - so I was racing around, trying to ensure I dealt with as much as possible of what I'd planned.
Despite the transport - imposed lack of time, I managed to get done about 90% of what I planned - so probably not bad going.
I also managed to see a number of layouts - and have catch up with a number of people - but there were some people I didn't get chance to catch up with. Some I wasn't able to have a meaningful chat with - some I never saw at all - somewhat frustrating, really.
In fact, I didn't even get chance to stop for a relaxed "lunch", near a certain magazine stand - and to think that the Stollen stayed in a sealed pack until I got home ... .
(Just for the elimination of doubt, I had no plans to munch the stuff, just out of reach - I wouldn't dream of that. People from my side of Offa's Dyke tend to be civilized ... .)
For me, a number of factors determine whether I'm able to get to Warley, or any other show - not only if I want to go there - there's also "minor" stuff, like other commitments and availability of transport.
Saying that, a big company which runs blue "interdeck" coaches with a "man in yellow" logo have recently managed to really "shoot themselves in the foot".
They've got about a dozen of their "interdecks" based at Cwmbran bus depot - with a bus stop outside which they pass on their way to the motorway. They've suddenly decided to tell their drivers to drive past the stop without stopping to pick up passengers. Their excuse? A "driver shortage" - which driving past this stop empty will do nothing to alleviate. It doesn't matter how clearly anyone dares to point out that this excuse is blatant nonsense - they're not shifting from their ridiculous line - and they're not prepared to listen.
Oh well - another few years and I should qualify for a railcard (and a free local bus card, which I intend to mainly use with a small local rival operator, who knows how to treat his customers and staff).
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