Euro-survey

[brian]

Hi
I've been reliably informed that the number of figures in the competition were way down than previous years, and there weren't as many traders as usual.
As this show is always been the the top show event in the U.K.and one of the best in the world, i was wondering ,why the downtrend this year? I'm asking this question as i hope this is not going to be a permanent trend.
Unfortunately i couldn't attend this year due to work commitments but i would really like to know why the usual people,especially from overseas, didn't come in their usual numbers.
I would appreciate any feedback.
Brian

P.S. I'll be going next year for sure!!!

 

[Figure Mad]

Good question and this realy should an eye opening thread. I have a couple of points that i think may be the problem....

1. Euro could be loosing the foreign competitors due to the cost of coming into England nowadays, hotels, petrol, entry fees and general eating out costs, and if you want to buy figures the they seem to be more expensive over here as well

2. There has been over the last few year a massive increase in the Armour side of Euro, and this has put a damper on the figure side. And oif course its been a good few years since a single figure won best of show. This is only my opinion, but I hope things will now change that A single figure has taken the title this year....

Dave

 

[Chevalier de Malte]

Personally was committed this year and with not many projects I did not do the europilgrimage from Malta but send a single piece with our pal Stephen.

Maybe there is a bigger flow of AFV and dioramas lately but persoonaly I enjoy that as I like to do those as well ... on the other hand I think there are too many shows around europe that may discourage modellers to attend BUT personally EURO is EURO and no place and expo will beat the euforia!

Ivan

 

[megroot]

My thought's.

I was there for the fourth time. There is indeed a way down with figures.
In my opinion they must change the rules. There is one great competition with the people who are already be at the top off figure painting. For a novice or advanced painter there is nothing. Maybe it will be good to go for three or more classes. With AMSS we see the number of figures rising without loosing quality.
We have three classes novice, advanced and masters. It works well.
But when i go to Euro i (novice) has to compete with the masters and grandmasters in the same entry class. So i don't bring figures.

Further i find the prices to high in the UK. For instance. the book from Daniello Cartacci cost's € 23,- and they sold it at Euro for 20 pound. That is € 32,80..

I heard that the price for putting in a figure is much more then on other shows.

So, i like Euro, but for me i think i past a few years... It is always good to meet some guys from the internet but the price's and less more figures let me decide it to don't go next year. (but who know's, i said the same last year)

Marc

 

[vergilius]

expensive !!

Well it's actually quite simple; it's bloody expensive!!! Not just because it's in Britain.
To enter alone cost 10 pound !!! Even if it's the biggest event, that's quite a price. My club (AMSS in Antwerp) has a very succesful show with at least the number of competitors and a very high quality standard and our entrance is free !!
I don't know what they charge the traders to be there, but I've heard it's not cheap for them either and it shows in their prices.
More and more my friends from AMSS are complaining about the prices. Also the change to do a bargain is getting less with the year.
Some of us have serieus doubts to go back next year.

 

[Chevalier de Malte]

Hi Marc

I think you discourage yourself too much in not putting your work besides the masters. I attended 3 times personally and competed for at least 6 other times thanks to any kind soul from our club prepared to do the pilgrimage and I am happy that from 1996 we never came back empty handed . We had novices that competed for the first time and came down with bronze and silver in 54mm classes ... personally I do not see any problem in having my work besides masters, at least I will compare and learn from them as they like to here from you any suggestions ... it's all about sharing and in no competition I have attended I have seen so much friendship between modellers AFVs and Figurines [especially at the Southcliff bar ... oh how I was unhappy this weekend ]

On the other hand I agree that the beginer class or novice need to be set with standard not with age, I think it will gain more popularity ... my perseption of last year was that I notice a good amount of people coming over just to shop rather then enjoy the competition room, maybe due that Dragon launched its DX Europe ... cannot say anything about this year due that our 'flagbearer' will arrive this evening and will not hear any news before our club meeting next wednesday were we celebrate his success in acheiving Gold! Well done to Slaj! [by the way the first gold to team Malta came after 11 years]

Marc give it a try you might be surprised with your results!

Ivan

 

[megroot]

Ivan,
Thanks for your very kind words. Maybe someday i will competed at Euro. But i think my skills are not good enough for doing it.
Beside that i find the entry price to high.

Marc

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi Marc

Some very good points, mate. But do please remember, the AMSS is a club show not an International Show, there is a difference between the two and as with a lot of the american shows they have virtually the same system as you have over at the AMSS, but you can still compete against the masters. Who classes you as a master, only if you want to be a master do you compete against them. I for one do not regard myself as a master, in no way shape or form, but it was after being told to put my figures into the master class, I was lucky enough to get a Silver from your show this year........

Dave

 

[vergilius]

Well that maybe true but I don't see a reason to ask such atrocious entry fees just because it's an international show. Looks to me like they think we going to pay whatever they ask to be part of it.
It's fun, it's great and It's the show to be, but it's getting FAR too expensive.

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi vergilius

I do agree with you the pricing of anything in England is very expensive, God knows, I know I live here

Dave

 

[brian]

Hi
I'm glad i started the thread as there's good feedback regarding Euro.Is the exchange rate for pounds sterling maybe a put off?
Keep the comments coming as if you have your say i'll be passing on what i reckon is the main problem to the Euro orginisers.
Brian

 

[megroot]

Dave, you have a point.
But when is a show an International Show???? It is organised by the AMSS. In AMSS everybody out of every country can compete. This year we had, entry's from France, UK, Germany, US, Canada, Holland, Belgium, Italie and maybe some more.
So in my opion i can call it International .
The price is still € 2,- for a figure with a max. from € 8,- no matter if you send in 10 figures.
But i see the price's are becoming to high at Euro. Or is it my origine of avaricious Dutch.
Yes, i can compete to the masters but that is my own choice. I don't have that choice at Euro.
When i have to compete against guys like Diego Ruina, Piedro Balloni, Dave Maddox, Adrian Hopwood, Hardy Tempest to name some (sorry i forget some) it is i'm Don Quichote fighting against windmills.
I hope i made it understandeble.

I'm not a painter for price's. When i compete it is to see where i'm stand with my figurepainting. Is it good enough, can i improve my work.
I find AMSS or Ingolstadt enough. When i get there a commended or bronze i'm happy. When i get gold at AMSS i must go to the novice, when i get gold there i must go to the masters. So when i get a gold with AMSS at the masters i find myself good enough for competing at Euro. And i know that this never gonna happen.

Nevertheless, i find Euro a big event,i like it, specially the long talks with the guys like you and some other persons that i know only from the internet like Janne Nilsson (Uruk-Hai).
This is what attracks me most at Euro. And some Guinness to.

Marc

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi Brian - I think you should perhaps put your opinion in now before it gets said by somebody else..........

Marc - I am not in disagreement with you the AMSS show is international, I am only saying it started as a club show and grew to the international status it has now, with a club backing. Euro was designed and brought to life as an international show from the beginning..... but i enjoy them both and have recommended your show to many people, its a credit to the AMSS.

Dave

 

[brian]

Hi Dave
I really don't know what caused the drop in numbers,so i thought i would ask the question on this site to see what would maybe show up as a particular problem ,especially to you guys from overseas,as without you the event wouldn't be quite the same.So far it looks like the show being too expensive is showing up as the top choice.
Another reason could be that people are saving up for the World Expo.
My main worry is that this could be a permanent downtrend to a once "must go to show"
Brian

 

[Manfred]

It may be getting very expensive for the Euro users (the currency).

In the nineties I would buy lots of stuff when the Deutsche Mark was favourable against the Pound. So in the last years I only look for things I can't get otherwise or easily here in germany. So the former attraction to buy for a good price is not there anymore.

The entrance fee is out of this world nowadays, IMHO.

Add the hotel ( btw: am I the only one who has never got a good mattress in over 10 years of visiting Folkestone hotels ? ) and the driving and ferry for a short weekend and then the price is considerable.

Also there are more shows now: in the Netherlands, Belgium and even here in old germany. Not to speak of Italy and all the others.

Add the internet. You see new releases first on the net. Ten years ago there was always much new at Euromil. And through the internet you can also buy stuff which formerly was bought at the show.

I have enjoyed Euromil tremendously in the former years, especially the fascinating work and have now skipped the last two. But I plan to go again next year (despite the mattresses ).

 

[megroot]

Marc - I am not in disagreement with you the AMSS show is international, I am only saying it started as a club show and grew to the international status it has now, with a club backing. Euro was designed and brought to life as an international show from the beginning..... but i enjoy them both and have recommended your show to many people, its a credit to the AMSS.

Dave

I know Dave, but many readers didn't know. I now you enjoyed our show and i'm also very happy that you recommended to other people.
Thanks for that. I didn't know Euro was designed as an international show.
So, i learned again something.
I hope to see you in april next year in Antwerp again.
I also like Euro. But the prices, well i think it is the pound sterling.

Marc

 

[Bluesking]

For my two pennies worth; I think once the orgainsers started running the Show for profit and it franchise changed hands they lost sight f what it is for. They are killing off the show in pursuit of a fast buck. I know a couple of manufaacturers are only just able to justify the expense of attending and one bad year will put them off for good. All you have to do is look at the Best of Show prize - used to be a nice Medal - now ....... a tie tack!

 

[Don]

Brian
Just back from Euro, You know it takes us a while, and think this is a great question. Couple of points raised are very valid. Cost is spiralling and not all due to the British Economy, fourteen pounds for a two day pass and two pounds for every entry makes it an expensive show. Another point and very important is the costs to the traders, I counted eight missing companies I would have expected to be there, figures I wanted to buy were not there for me. This must affect everyone visiting the show as if the traders stop coming because of costs per table ( and they are very high ) then people will stop coming. Spoke to a few traders about the costs and they tell me they might not be back next year due to the prices they are charged, or if they do it will be with a much reduced stock, again this filters down to the visitor. Not so many traders equalls not so many paying customers, so surely if I can see this the organisers must see this too.
However it was still a great show which I enjoyed.
Don

 

[Jim Patrick]

Probably the same reason attendance at all shows (at least here in the States) is down. The costs. Organizers can do all that is humanly possible for ANY show but if the costs are too much for the average modeler/ painter to attend.....attendance will be down. I don't think it means a show will become less or even that Roy's BOS (congrats Roy!!!!!!!!!) will become less but eventually if the worlds monetary systems continue to plumet, the quality/ number of entries will drop. I for one enjoy taking my whole family to shows however (wife and 4 children....do the math) it has begun to be a MAJOR undertaking for our finances....to say the least! Until things begin to straighten out, I'm afraid we will start to see fewer people attending multiple shows and what about traveling outside of our respective countries? What of the people who don't have any (mojor) shows within their country? I sincerely PRAY this doesn't effect World Expo in Spain. I personally think, at least here in the U.S., that show attendance will be quite smaller before and after WE as people simply will not have the money to attend several shows.

My 2 cents......
Jim Patrick

 

[Anders Heintz]

When I was at Euro last year I was also a bit awe struck at the hefty price for entrance, being used to shows here in the US where they are held at nice hotels and very cheap to enter.

I believe Atlanta is something like $10 to enter your figures into the show and you receive a nice figure, last year was a 75mm figure by Alan Ball. Chicago is a bit higher at $20 to enter, but still, that is much cheaper then Euro.

And like Manfred said, the hotels leave a lot to be desired, atleast the one we stayed in was pretty run down and must have seen much better days.

But it was an experience to have been to the most famous figure show in the world. Maybe the days that Euro was the show to be at is over, especially with all the international shows around Europe, but it is still Euro Militaire.

I guess the real judgement for me as a figure enthusiast is to ask the question wether I would fly over to Euro from the States just for the show, and the answer is no I wouldnt. But if I was in Europe at the time of the show I would make all efforts to go again as it is a great oppertunity to meet a lot of the forum members that doesnt come over here. But I guess if I was loaded and had more money then I knew what to do with it I would make the trip every chance I got.