Euro 2016

[mick3272]

I really love Folkestone and Euro is Folkestone,but I have to agree Nick,I saw 2 or 3 places in the leas where the masonry was bad and crumbling and the place looks like it could do with a complete over haul,the hotels are good and bad,all people want is to sleep and drink in them so I think that trend will continue,I'd like to perhaps see it moved to somewhere like the saga,where Euro was held in 2000,it was a nice venue within parkland and a modernised building,people could still use Folkestone as a base as well,I just feel the leas has had its day

Saga in Sandgate would be a great venue, I know they do hire out as I have been to a couple of concerts there, ample parking, and grounds for marques etc.
It used to be the old District Police Training School prior to saga. Good idea Brian why didnt I think of that.
Mick

 

[Nap]

For those that haven't seen it ...


Nap

 

[Hawk_Uk]

Just a small point, and for those to young to remember , Euro has been held there before. When the Leas Cliff was shut for redevelopment. If my memory serves e right there were a few complaints about that show as well.
Having attended both Scale Model Challenge in Eindhoven and more recently Scale Scotland both of which are held in large Hotel Conference Centers this to me is the way to go. They are good social events access is much easier, usually with plenty of parking.

 

[MalcC]

Lol,

I just thought with Euro organisers watching their pennies that they just picked some random vagrant as the guest of honour!

Gells

Not everything is done by the organisers, there's a great deal done by volunteers who do what they can to help make the show work.
But if we're just going to get inane and stupid comments, we won't bother in future.

Before anyone else thinks about posting something thinking their being clever and funny, think again, because with out the volunteers, they wouldn't be a Euro.
And believe you me, many of the volunteers are pissed off already.

Malc

 

[Nap]

Hi Guys ,

Malc raises a extremely valid and important point ...all shows IMO would not go ahead with out the help of volunteers no matter how large the show .

So much is done by these folk whatever it is with maybe just a coffee thrown in !

Certainly Bugle Call (November 27th at Nailsea) is dependant on volunteers wether it's the wives or other modellers ...our guests of honour at BC will be a reenactment group ..and that's so much more to think of in addition to the actual show organising

Well said Malc

Nap

 

[Nicholas Ball]

Saga? as in Saga holidays? what you trying to say Brian, we are all old fogies now!! They used this centre some years back, but I got the impression that as it is all glass, and the weather was nice, the rooms were too hot and the sun's reflection on the competition pieces was not good for viewing.

The thing with a conference centre, is that you can arrive on the Friday, park the car and have no worries about drinking over the next couple of days. Don't need to get up at the crack of dawn to buy a damn parking ticket either!!! another saving

One thing about the competition and the closing of the hall from 3pm till Sunday.

At Einhoven, the hall closes at 2 pm ish? and reopens at around 3.30 pm. Everyone can go off to the bar then for food and drink if required unless they are judging. I know as one of the Judge's on the flats at Euro that we had all looked at the entrants throughout the morning and had a pretty good idea of what was what by the time we came to Judge. Golds seem to jump off the table anyway. Obviously we still needed to pick up and discuss each piece in turn, but overall, one and a half hours was plenty of time to make fair and I believe honest judgements.
I know there are larger and more difficult classes, but again I assume that most of the judges had been around before hand and had a fair idea how things were progressing.
Einhoven have as many figures as Euro, if not more.

One advantage to this would be that on the Saturday night, whilst everyone is together, vegging out and having a bevvie or two, competitors could ask why they only got this or that, and time could be spent with them answering their queries. Critique is still in my opinion the best learning tool in the box, although you have to be open minded to accept it. ( as long as it's done fairly )

To all the volunteers, I salute you.We in the BFFS appreciate all that you do​

 

[Gellso]

Not everything is done by the organisers, there's a great deal done by volunteers who do what they can to help make the show work.
But if we're just going to get inane and stupid comments, we won't bother in future.

Before anyone else thinks about posting something thinking their being clever and funny, think again, because with out the volunteers, they wouldn't be a Euro.
And believe you me, many of the volunteers are pissed off already.

Malc

Whoa whoa whoa there fella!
Bit harsh jumping in there with the stupid and inane accusation.
This wasn't a direct dig at any of the Volunteer staff, I know the importance of volunteers in any organisation having been one myself for most of my adult life.
If I thought for one minute that homeless guy was an actual volunteer I would never have posted the comment.
Have a look at what the comment is and not what it isn't.
There was absolutely no hostility meant with it and it truly was an off the cuff remark which was in no way meant to be taken literally and if you revisit the post there is certainly no mention whatsoever regarding the volunteer side of the competition.
I will send you a personal message to apologise for my comment as it seems to have hit a raw nerve but also to discuss why the volunteers are pissed of as obviously my post seems to be a catalyst for something else which clearly is an undercurrent problem.

Grant

 

[MalcC]

For those that haven't seen it ...


Nap

View attachment 255512

Hi Nap

I do remember this, good parking facilities, but if I remember correctly we had to have marques set up for the competition section, not ideal.
But if we could squeeze in there it would be good.

Malc

 

[ellie]

Well kept out of this one and now feel I should say something, I agree with Stu from (Stormtrooper) the show as flat all round some of the traders I chatted to did not cover the cost of the stand let alone the travel and Hotel. that's bad very very bad.

If we had not had trade orders it would have been a total disaster, we are still a very young company and still making our selves known to the figure world. I said it last year that we would not do Euro this year as the expense was not worth it to us as we do very well on the internet which is where our business is best served. but I was talked into it I said I would give it one more try. well as far as Ellie's Miniatures is concerned we will not do it again that was the last time for us. we can not afford to do a show that is so flat traders can't even cover the cost of the trip.

I have only missed 3 shows in the 31 years it's been going and have to say this was the worst I've ever seen it. one great thing was that we caught up with old friends and made new one's. the whole thing was flat you could get into restaurants with ease and bars were much less full.

We would have done Eindhoven this year but we are away on a family holiday so could not make it. we will of course hope to book the show next year as that was the show that was talked about quite a lot. I will go to Euro as a Punter next year but not as a trader I can enjoy the social side and not have to worry and stress about covering the cost. I wish I could say different but I can't. The show has to change and soon or it will die. If in the future it changes and things get put in place to improve things and not use it as a cash cow for a company who I think cares very little about it.

My Thanks goes out to all the guys who made the nights out a great laugh, and to my good friend Juan Perez who made it to Euro for the first time and got a Bronze well done mate.

Cheers

Ian


www.elliesminiatures.com

 

[stormtrooper miniatures]

Well kept out of this one and now feel I should say something, I agree with Stu from (Stormtrooper) the show as flat all round some of the traders I chatted to did not cover the cost of the stand let alone the travel and Hotel. that's bad very very bad.

If we had not had trade orders it would have been a total disaster, we are still a very young company and still making our selves known to the figure world. I said it last year that we would not do Euro this year as the expense was not worth it to us as we do very well on the internet which is where our business is best served. but I was talked into it I said I would give it one more try. well as far as Ellie's Miniatures is concerned we will not do it again that was the last time for us. we can not afford to do a show that is so flat traders can't even cover the cost of the trip.

I have only missed 3 shows in the 31 years it's been going and have to say this was the worst I've ever seen it. one great thing was that we caught up with old friends and made new one's. the whole thing was flat you could get into restaurants with ease and bars were much less full.

We would have done Eindhoven this year but we are away on a family holiday so could not make it. we will of course hope to book the show next year as that was the show that was talked about quite a lot. I will go to Euro as a Punter next year but not as a trader I can enjoy the social side and not have to worry and stress about covering the cost. I wish I could say different but I can't. The show has to change and soon or it will die. If in the future it changes and things get put in place to improve things and not use it as a cash cow for a company who I think cares very little about it.

My Thanks goes out to all the guys who made the nights out a great laugh, and to my good friend Juan Perez who made it to Euro for the first time and got a Bronze well done mate.

Cheers

Ian


www.elliesminiatures.com

Ian your not alone !!!

I personally am asking why i am going. My head is spinning with thoughts. Its really is a head or heart moment esp as i have set a deadline for stormtroopers as to whether it also carries on as is.

Tomorrow i will mail robin buckland and see what is going to happen . Before i commit i want answers now and action not a veiled promiss

Stuart

 

[mick3272]

WHAT DO WE WANT / EXPECT FROM EURO. ​

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I think we have to ask ourselves what do we want or expect from Euro or any other like show.:-​

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1, To see what is new on the market latest releases etc............................This Can all be done on the internet. Traders will always supply extra photo's if requested.​

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2, Enter into the competition. ...................................................................We had the quality but not the quantity to to justify the event.​

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3, For PF and other likeminded groups to have a Social & Chin wag..... Dont need Euro for that, If you where of a mind you could arrange a social anytime.​

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4, Perhaps its time to spend more time and effort into supporting the local Clubs & shows.​

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Just a thought​

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Mick​

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[ellie]

Cheers Stu, I too would love to know what they are going to do. I chatted to David about it and was basically given every excuse under the sun. I said the tables are way too expensive for a start and us on the back wall had no room to move we had our stock under the table. we had no room for chairs behind and had to keep them folded up most of the time very bad indeed. We paid £320 for a plank of wood and a bit of space behind. it does not take a genius to work out the total cost of the weekend if you include travel, hotel, stock and refreshments then you are looking at getting on for over £1,000 to break even on the whole weekend and that's for a small company like me.

so you have to look at is it worth the money you have to lay out to try and break even at the end of it. Cut the price of the table down and may be a cheaper hotel and more punters through the door and you might just have a chance. but as off this weekend we will not be doing it till something changes for the better.

Sorry for the moan but at the end of the day we run a business and we at least want to make a profit or the next release will be along time coming. what we spent on that show would have paid for a new master which we would have done well with on the internet and not just lined the pockets of the show owners who care very little for the customers and traders a like.

Ian

www.elliesminiatures.com

 

[mick3272]

Ian,
I agree with you and Stu 100%.

I am lucky I live local and had no travel or hotel bills to pay.. I spent Just over £400 at Euro with six traders, plus £130 with two traders a couple of weeks before hand,
Going by your outgoings and the number of traders at Euro, I would be very surprised if any one made a profit worth talking about, judging by the footfall.
Mick

 

[smudger1960]

I love the way you put that ian (a plank of wood) and youre right in everything you say,its a rip off to the traders,god knows what historex and bonapartes paid for the balcony slots,i love euro and always will,however I don't like the leas hall,i'm sorry if i'm going to upset people here,but basicly its a dump on top of a conference room,as many people have said,its had its day as a venue,euro needs to wake up a smell the coffee,it was always a top show when it was run by people who created it and loved the hobby itself and that's whats needed now,not these so called robbing fuckers who call themselves organisers fleecing the traders for planks of wood,i mean £320 !,WTF is that all about.
its needs a new identity and quick,because it hurts me to say it but it isn't going to survive at this rate.
I personaly thought the saga pavilion was a good venue,ok it has a lot of glass,but so does the leas completion room on one side,i'm sure the saga would accommodate a big event like euro again and would make the nessasary changes and requirements required to hold the event.
I read that people moaned about it back in 2000,thats only because it was new to everyone,give it a chance and I think it would be great,folkestone is only down the road and as I said before people could still stay in the regular places.


Brian

 

[Nige]

I don't think cheaper trader tables, entry prices, nor a change of venue in the Folkestone area is going to encourage more modellers to come to the show. I mean even if the tables were free and entry was free, would that encourage more Spanish, Italians, French, Americans, Russians and many others who have deserted the show to rethink their plans and flood to Euro as they used to ?

 

[DEL]

Pick up on Ian and Rolands idea, move it to Leeds.
Ferry to Hull from several European ports. 1 hour on the train to Leeds. Plenty to see in the Armouries and York just up the road.
History, railways, Durham, Lindisfarne, the list goes on.
Oh! and move Figure World to Carlisle

 

[smudger1960]

Pick up on Ian and Rolands idea, move it to Leeds.
Ferry to Hull from several European ports. 1 hour on the train to Leeds. Plenty to see in the Armouries and York just up the road.
History, railways, Durham, Lindisfarne, the list goes on.
Oh! and move Figure World to Carlisle

2 figure worlds next year,one in Stoke on Trent and one in oundle.

 

[smudger1960]

I don't think cheaper trader tables, entry prices, nor a change of venue in the Folkestone area is going to encourage more modellers to come to the show. I mean even if the tables were free and entry was free, would that encourage more Spanish, Italians, French, Americans, Russians and many others who have deserted the show to rethink their plans and flood to Euro as they used to ?

Until we change,we won't know who will attend,maybe some of out friends in the states will attend,they did in 2000 when it was at the saga as did the Spanish and italians

 

[ellie]

We would have loved to have had the chance to run the Leeds show. but companies pulled and threw their lot in with Euro and said they would see how it went. now they know and yes some of the companies who changed their minds ad said maybe we should look at it. well it's a bit late now we had to call it a day when so many pulled out that we could not afford to run it.

well it needs a bloody good shake up and soon

Ian

www.elliesminiatures.com

 

[MrBMB]

Some more pics here

http://www.militarymodelling.com/forums/postings.asp?th=32245&p=1