A Challenge to Figure Modellers

[Dan Morton]

How many of you like the rising prices of figures? How many of you like the fact that there are very few young guys and gals interested in this hobby? And apparently fewer and fewer year after year.

OK. Consider for a second that the two factors are related. I'm not an economist or a businessman, nor do I play one on TV. BUT...declining sales volume in any business would seem to lead inevitably to higher prices, right? The figure makers are making small profits (most of them) and carrying lots of loss leaders on their inventory. Why? Fewer buyers. If I'm wrong about this, please tell me.

Here's a proposal or a challenge for each of you with a sincere interest in furthering this hobby in the future. Recruit! Find more people (young, old, male, female, whatever) with an interest in this hobby. Invite them into the fold. Buy them a ticket to a model show. Help them get started painting or sculpting. If you love the hobby, we're the only ones who can keep it alive.

End of sermon. Morton is now getting off the pulpit and offers his humble apologies to the congregation.

All the best,
Dan

 

[slaj]

I totally agree with you Dan. My deepest concerns in this hobby is the lack of newer faces on the scene. Maybe your suggestion can be taken into account and we try to roll up our sleeves and do something about it. I'm not saying it will be easy with all the distractions kids have these days but we'll have a clear conscience that we at least tried.

Stephen Mallia

 

[Bluesking]

BRAVO - I have been alarmed for some time now at the steady decline in numbers, I continue to wave the flag but there are too many distractions these days I fear.

 

[renarts]

Moneys got nothing to do with it Dan.
Music CD's are $15+ ea. Games are $50 ea. Consoles are $300-600. Concert tickets $25-100 ea. Paintball another money pit. Fishing? Motorcross, tattoos, ipods $100, legal downloads $1 ea. all of them compete for attention to an already over stimulated, high fructose corn syrup packed, want it now, don't want to have to do anything for everything youth. They have the money. Based on the kids I have working for me (16-21) there is a retarded bubble that makes me doubt the future of the human race much less the hobby.
Before you guys jump on me for picking on your kid, I don't think that's who Dan meant, since you guys should already have instilled an interest in your prodginey, but its the outside population that needs to be hooked. I just don't see it happening. But I'll take you up on your challenge. I vow to get at least one new person interested in the comming year. May not be the age bracket you were looking for, but new blood is new blood. Maybe the principle of pay it forward will apply.
I have to admit though, this is not the first time I've heard such a challenge. Heard it on the paintball field, the historical re-enactment community, the model building community, scuba diving, archery field, photo clubs, etc. Its something that everyone hope for to perpetuate their own endeavors.

Mike

 

[Dan Morton]

Stephen, Stephen and Mike: It may be naive of me but I believe if just 25% of us went out and found one "convert" of any age every year, it might make a difference. I have found so much fun in this hobby, made a number of good friends, enjoyment in craftsmanship and studying history, hey, I'd just like to see it thrive.

And lower model figure prices WOODN'T HOIT!!!!



All the best,
Dan

 

[Wlas]

A difficult challenge, Dan. As Mike pointed out the distractions for the $$$$ is intense, but I will point a finger in another direction. History as taught by the public school system here in the U.S. is abysmal. As the Good Book said: It is easier for a fat man to pass through the eye of a camel than for a public school history teacher to create passion for the Past and an understanding of it's relevance to Today and Tomorrow ( or something like that ). Without this foundation 'turning' youth towards our hobby is a Herculean trial. I DO find a number of youths involved in painting miniatures, tho'. Most of the fantasy/SF painters are quite young compared to we fogeys. So the patience and desire to create still exists with youth, but it's channeled away from historical miniatures.

 

[ckleisch]

I would like to address your question on this subject after having polled some of those very same teens age 16 through 20 representing a typical High School ROTC group. First many they do not know that this hobby even exists. There is an interest after an explanation of what is involved. Those that would have an interest and there are many have no interest in the figures currently on the market ie historical items. They state that they have no interest in history. They are interested in figures that parallel the culture and the computer gaming icons. These would represent things like: Spartan 117 from the game Halo, God of war figures, Final fantasy figures, anything involving dragons and quote "bad ass fantasy knights on horse back". That about sums it up from the teen perspective from 30 ROTC members of a local High school. IE the ones with brains, energy, drive and deans list. Yep that is the future.

 

[Paul Kernan]

All legit points but I don't think it has anything to do with money or finding a hobby. Ever been to a Warhammer GamesDay or a paintball tournament...lots of teenagers, spending lots of money. It is as Mike stated, simply the competition for their time and money. My teenage sons were heavily involved in Warhammer but are now die-hard paintballers. Neither inexpensive pastimes. Now add to the mix sports, school, part-time jobs and girlfriends (MAJOR influence on what is cool or not )

I think it may just be a natural progression. Life moves on. I wonder how many of us modelled like crazy until our mid-teens, lost our way and then 'discovered' our hobby again 10-15 years later. I know I did, getting back into the hobby around 28 and then switching to figures in my mid 30's.

If we are to recruit maybe we should be concentrating on older demograhic groups rather than on teenagers who apparently have the attention span of a hummingbird and the bacchnalian(sp?) desire for instant gratification. I'm hoping my boys come back to the light some day :lol:

Paul

 

[Dan Morton]

Paul, William, John...All interesting points and all have merit. I guess my POV is - we just need to recruit...any age. Let's get more people involved...period.

All the best,
Dan

 

[Blind Pew]

I think everbody has talked a lot of sense. Especially the bit about people simply not knowing that we, as a 'community' even exist in the first place.

I would suggest a major factor is children's toys. Whether we like it or not, what we do is essentially an extension of the toy soldiers or Action Man (G.I Joe in the U.S) that we had as kids growing up. Only the stuff we do now is more 'serious'. Boys simply don't play with those toys to anything like the same extent.

My other half teaches 8-10 year olds and on the odd occasion I've seen them, they play with Star Wars figures and such. Plastic Airfix-type WWII soldiers that we had are not very evident, if at all. Until 1977 that's all there was, then George Lucas brought out a successful film and culturally we've never looked back

Maybe in the 70/80s WWII was more in people's minds than now. Inevitably, those that participated in it are getting thinner on the ground. Remember, when I was in school I had 1 or 2 teachers who actually took part. Today's teachers are their grandchildren.

I do believe though that getting kids interested through the fantasy/sci-fi avenue is probably the way to go.....

 

[Chevalier de Malte]

Personally I do not think its a money problem, manufacturers will raise their price, modellers will still buy ... that has been going on for ages! About the idea of having new blood, true there are many distractions, school and studies involved but do we realise that this hobby is on the shadow side for some ... how many kids know about it!

When kids get involved to fantasy gamesworkshop games they are immediately hooked ... by the way it is a very dear hobby as well! I think its our way of marketing this hobby, we have to get involved in schools, scouts groups and youth clubs ... advertise our expos to the general public and also show some basic models in show as normally the standards are so high that surely would not help a novice to get the step! MMARKETING is the key word to get this hobby servive!

Ivan

 

[Dan Morton]

I think Ivan's point about marketing is well made. I'm certainly no expert on advertising, but it seems to me that all of the marketing done by this hobby is insulated and designed to reach roughly the same group. I wonder if it would be possible to have a hobbyist group (who??) fund some outreach advertising? Anybody in the hobby involved in advertising professionally?

All the best,
Dan

 

[Wendy]

I do believe fantasy and sci-fi are excellent starters (gateway figures? :lol: ). I started painting LOTR figs (and still do), but I've added larger scales to my collection as well, including historical figs. The transition may lead to interest moreso in ancient eras than modern, but who knows? Also, there are many companies that make historical wargaming minis, so that could be another way to increase interest. Personally, I prefer not to buy anything from GW anyway.

True, schools tend to quash any desire for learning after graduation (and even before?). I was very bored even in honors history where the study wasn't nearly as superficial as regular classes (looking back, still too superficial and slanted IMHO). Now, reading about the events and personalities pertinent to the figures I purchase is quite enjoyable even if I must rely mostly on sources from the library and the internet (like the good guys here ). Help people rediscover a love for learning and the hobby will always be healthy.

 

[Dan Morton]

Wendy - WELL SAID! The lifelong love of learning is a gift without price!

All the best,
Dan

 

[PJ Deluhery]

Wendy made some of the point I want to make. There is a HUGE interest and lots of money being spent in the gamer arena. Painting these figures is a start for many that - hopefully - will graduate to our approach. If you've been to CMON and other such sites you can see there is incredible talent out there. I think there is plenty of new blood out there; it's our job to attract them. IMHO, we do not do enough to show our work outside our own community. I agree that we need to recruit.

I have found that this interest often sells itself. Many times, it attracts someone who is in a parallel endeavor: gamer, artist, history buff or such. I think a good way to recruit is just to show your work in public.

I have been involved in several local displays and have found it most rewarding, both in the appreciation of my work and the interest it generates in figures and history. (And I say this somewhat modestly) the public has loved these displays. In fact, I met one of my (now) long time friends as a result of his display at a local library.

I suggest you consider talking to your local museum or library about putting together a small display for the next historical anniversary program they are planning. Be present to talk about the history and the figures. I'll bet you will find either a closet painter who never knew anyone else in the world did this stuff, or you will inspire someone to ask: "How do you do this stuff?" At that point, offer to bring them to a club meeting. I find our figures are a good attraction for the public, and I bet you will be invited back next year. If you take pictures of your displays, you will develop a "portfolio" to show other prospective venues.

On a personal level, I came into this artform thorugh an interest in toy soldiers. I am seeding the next generation by having a supply of Schleich and Papo knights and the Schleich castle in a spare room. When the kids come over, they want to play with these toys and I get the chance to develop in them a sense of figures and history, which I hope may lead them someday to what we do.

 

[vergilius]

It's interesting to read about this apparantly global problem.
We have one benefit though ; we 're spread around the world. We can reach them all; in Ireland, poland, the States, asia... even in my small village here in Belguim !
But we better don't push them. We better leave them alone if someone doesn't have any interest. For myself I was always interested in history and modelling. I always wanted to be able to paint such beautiful figures. You can support someone and encourage his/her interest but if you push them, you'll just drive them away. They need to have a born interest in it. we will never be a big group. Needing an interest in history, be artistic and have lots of patience.
My big problem was, finding someone who could teach me. One day my girlfriend saw an advertisment about a modelling show nearby. Apparently there was a club just a few hundred yards away from where I work !!
I think that's what we should improve ; our public relations. Letting them know where we are and making it easier to come to us. Next year for instance our show in Antwerp will be free!
So everyone out there can come and have a look ! Let it be heard to everybody !!!

 

[PeteC]

It sounds like some kind of pyramid scheme. I think it was mentioned already but it's rare that a teenager gets involved in what we do. It's the 30+ age group that supports the hobby in my opinion. Let's face it, it's a hobby of solitude and that's not something that appeals to teens. It does work well for older, "settled down" types though. Plus, if a person doesn't have a proclivity for this sort of thing already, they won't be suddenly "inspired" to get involved.

I agree that an awareness campaign would be more effective than the Jehovah's Witness type of approach. Especially if it's outside the little "hobby" circle. Art magazines, history publications and even local press. I'm going to plug the APG here and say that those kinds of efforts generate media attention which is what we need. Another thing to consider is an observation that a well known kit maker told me: The hobby is really financially supported by folks buying kits, building them and painting them and never displaying them outside of their home.