No more Euro

[Babelfish]

Ian: As you may remember Euro was relocated to the Saga Pavilion in Sandgate (a couple of miles down the road from Folkestone) in 2000 while Leas Cliff Hall was being renovated.

If the mood is to return to Folkestone, I reckon you could do a lot worse than look at that place again as a possible alternative venue to L.C.H.

A picture says more than a thousand words, so here's a link. Scroll down and have a gander.

http://www.folkestonechoralsociety.org/concert-venues.html

- Steve

 

[Johan]

For me the show had become a great whoar sucking money out of every pocket

Aah, yes ; now I understand why Ian uses the word "punters"

 

[ellie]

Cheers Steve I do remember it well I had a stand their when I had I & E Miniatures it was light and very modern one worth a look at will contact them for prices and compare.

Johan

cheers

Ian

www.elliesmiatures.com

 

[frank h]

Hi
Think it comes down to ...............Will it be ....Live at Leeds

Or .........Wont Get Fooled Again.............At Folkestone

Frank

 

[Blind Pew]

Hi
Think it comes down to ...............Will it be ....Live at Leeds

Or .........Wont Get Fooled Again.............At Folkestone

Frank

You can always trust an old rocker to come up with the goods!

 

[Rich Sculpts]

-

 

[peedee]

There are some huge assumptions prevailing in this thread, the two greatest are...
1 Europeans won't travel beyond London from the South.
2 The name should be kept as 'a banner' to attract visitors and traders.
that being the case..
Why have I just spent two and a half days enjoying the company of hundreds of Europeans at Telford at a hugely popular event listening to all the European languages, making great new friends and listening to the gossip of what went on the night before ?

One guy as an example flew from Poland to Luton and used SIX buses to get to the venue and his hotel.

If the venue holds the right mix of trader club and competition They will come, if it's not true why have modellers flocked to Euromilitaire in it's heyday, and this year, MSS and SMW & SMC in the same period of the year?

So..... Euro is dead....Let it go.

What you miss is what you created yourselves both at and outside the venue.
All we need is the will to provide and a decent location not far from one airport, Luton, Gatwick, East Midlands, Manchester or Glasgow.

If it is treated as an Expo style event...you start with the right basis and provide the attractions of a modern European show.

Dare I suggest we move forward with something like a 'FIGUREXPO' new name and a blank sheet.
Everyone knows it's not Euro......That is a positive.
The word will get out about the standards and mood we want.
The 'names' of our hobby can be invited to workshop.

We are all talking about what we miss...lets create it afresh.

The popular social side of Euromil always took place by folks drifting between the hotels and eateries meeting up and so it doesn't matter which ones they are.

To me it just seems simple.

Move on with a blank page elsewhere but provide what is popular everywhere.



Paul

 

[Nap]

Paul

WISE words from you mate

Euro is dead ,shuffled off it's mortal coils ,no more , finished ...lots of happy memories , friendships , and amazing models ....that's what I will remember .


Looking forward to seeing what's going to happen with great guys working away looking at a NEW event

Nap

 

[Bootneck]

I don't want to be pessimistic about the desire for a new show. I was a big supporter of Euro having only missed two shows in the thirty odd years it ran.

What nobody is discussing is funding. Just to use Ian's figures from the Leas it will cost around 8 -9 k to stage a Euro style show.
6.5k for the hire of the hall,+insurance,catering,advertising,awards and other costs. Who will fund this? No one individual will sign a contract for this amount with no guarantee you will at best break even.

Lynn Sangster & Ray Lamb took a gamble when they set Euro up & it paid off,the world is a different place today.

We can suggest all the venues going but it comes down to cash in the end.

The trade apart from Ian of Ellie's miniatures & & Stuart of Stormtrooper have been very quiet on this subject.

Peter.

 

[Babelfish]

Ian has taken it upon himself to try to come up with an alternative/resurrected show and is to be applauded for that. But so many conflicting ideas, suggestions and opinions are now being aired ("Euro is dead!!" / "No it ain't!!") that I'm starting to think that this discussion is going round in circles now and is in danger of becoming counter-productive.

- Steve

 

[brian]

Euro is a particular type of event,unlike Telford etc,etc,It's mainly a figure show and was the premier event for figures.I can't get my head round why the 30th event was a success, but this years was a bummer according to most people who've commented on this thread.It's been suggested that it could have been because the 30th was an anniversary,which i don't buy.
I personnally was surprised that it cost £8000 approx to put the show on,as i thought it would be a lot more.
Maybe it's my age, or because i'm a purist,when it comes to this hobby of ours,but Euro to me, and still is the best weekend of the year for me,for numerous reasons.The hotels are rubbish ,the beds are lumpy,the place is slowly falling to bits,it costs too much to get in etc,etc,etc,.FFS,it's a weekend away with your mates, and like minded people and we all knew that the place wasn't as good as it used to be,so why the big drop off this year?
We're up to 11 pages on this thread already,and why?Because the company that ran it pulled out.It obviously isn't a very successful company that pulls out for £8000, especially at short notice,unless they're ready to go tits up.Could we stop comparing it with the IPMS shows, as it's a different show altogether, and always has been
The question you must ask yourselves,would you have attended the next Euro if the company hadn't pulled out?
I for one would definitely be going,no matter it's shortcomings, and the cost.
Not enough heard from the overseas lads!!
Brian

 

[Babelfish]

Euro is a particular type of event,unlike Telford etc,etc, ... Could we stop comparing it with the IPMS shows as it's a different show altogether, and always has been

100% agree.

I personnally was surprised that it cost £8000 approx to put the show on,as i thought it would be a lot more

Me too.

The question you must ask yourselves,would you have attended the next Euro if the company hadn't pulled out?

Yes. Room at the Clifton already booked (note to self: must remember to cancel)

- Steve

 

[Bootneck]

Euro is a particular type of event,unlike Telford etc,etc,It's mainly a figure show and was the premier event for figures.I can't get my head round why the 30th event was a success, but this years was a bummer according to most people who've commented on this thread.It's been suggested that it could have been because the 30th was an anniversary,which i don't buy.
I personnally was surprised that it cost £8000 approx to put the show on,as i thought it would be a lot more.
Maybe it's my age, or because i'm a purist,when it comes to this hobby of ours,but Euro to me, and still is the best weekend of the year for me,for numerous reasons.The hotels are rubbish ,the beds are lumpy,the place is slowly falling to bits,it costs too much to get in etc,etc,etc,.FFS,it's a weekend away with your mates, and like minded people and we all knew that the place wasn't as good as it used to be,so why the big drop off this year?
We're up to 11 pages on this thread already,and why?Because the company that ran it pulled out.It obviously isn't a very successful company that pulls out for £8000, especially at short notice,unless they're ready to go tits up.Could we stop comparing it with the IPMS shows, as it's a different show altogether, and always has been
The question you must ask yourselves,would you have attended the next Euro if the company hadn't pulled out?
I for one would definitely be going,no matter it's shortcomings, and the cost.
Not enough heard from the overseas lads!!
Brian

Brian
The point I was trying to make was yes £8000 is not a huge sum of money in the scheme of things but who is going to put this money together? MTM is a company, Ray Lamb & Lynn Sangster both had companies and were willing to take a gamble. Unless someone is willing to sponsor the show it's not going to happen,then £8000 becomes a huge sum. No one individual will put this money in and I for one would not blame them.
I agree with the comments we are going round in circles & we have not heard from the continentals but why would they they have their own shows.

 

[peedee]

Euro is a particular type of event,unlike Telford etc,etc,It's mainly a figure show and was the premier event for figures.I can't get my head round why the 30th event was a success, but this years was a bummer according to most people who've commented on this thread.It's been suggested that it could have been because the 30th was an anniversary,which i don't buy.
I personnally was surprised that it cost £8000 approx to put the show on,as i thought it would be a lot more.....Edit...Could we stop comparing it with the IPMS shows, as it's a different show altogether, and always has been. Brian

No Brian sorry I disagree buddy.
Look...it doesn't matter wether it's an IPMS show, model rail, top flight sport, or the international hardware federation show.
Simple facts are, provide what people want and they will come
the only difference with the IPMS show is that the membera fees supplement the costs of Telford.
That centre has just trousered half a million from this hobby....so maybe they can be compared favourably as a bunch of old guys getting it mostly right mate.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

"The question you must ask yourselves,would you have attended the next Euro if the company hadn't pulled out?"

Hard to tell! But it depends mainly on two things for me. First Im going to the World Expo in Chicago, with a three week vacation with my ol lady.
And also I had a great time at SMC and Im willing to give that another go.

There are other places I want to visit as well such as Ingolstadt and Moson. It will probably not be Moson but likely Ingolstadt, Ive booked a hotel at least.
So perhaps 2017 is a bad example for me personally and before obligating I would like to know of place and time as well as options for travelling there and local accomondations. Personally I do less and less shopping and more travelling.

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

 

[Nige]

Brian

The hotels are rubbish ,the beds are lumpy, the place is slowly falling to bits, it costs too much to get in etc, etc, etc, FFS,it's a weekend away with your mates, and like minded people.
" How about spending a weekend away with your mates and like minded people in hotels that are great, that have comfy beds, in a place that isn't falling to bits". Clearly some are more willing than others to bend over and take it up the *** year after year. Maybe our Europeans friends are smarter and have voted with their feet.

The question you must ask yourselves, would you have attended the next Euro if the company hadn't pulled out?
Absolutely not. Already committed to SMC. Have no desire to visit Folkestone again.

Euro is a particular type of event, unlike Telford Could we stop comparing it with the IPMS shows
I don't see any reason to get irked by comparisons to an IPMS show so just disregard it mate. It is though a National competition, trade show, for hobbyists run by hobbyists, with many attendees from all over the world. Even some of the traders who attend Euro are there. But you are right Euro is no comparison. Telford is much bigger and immeasurably more successful (not for figures though) - and its still in existence

 

[stormtrooper miniatures]

Unfortunately to me anyway it seams that things are not good.

Things have changed alot in the hobby lately...the internet and facebook being the biggest.

Who actually needs to go to a show !!!! You have to want to go and its this thats changed....the trade providing a great weekend for people aint gonna last long without people purchasing goodies off them and it was this person ...the buyer...thats becoming a rarety.

Thats the main reason euro finished...the trade got annoyed and voiced it at the show and after. This was passed to me in my commuinication with MTM. They blamed the trades lack of special offers and new releases. This and the lack of any helpers i suppose finished it.

Whatever can be ressurected will have to have this in mind.

Euro was also the starting point of the silly season for traders...it was a catalyst...thats now gone too. As a manufacturer i now have to plan differently...it could be a good thing who knows.

Stuart

 

[Tommys War]

I've not contributed to the discussion simply because work, family and business commitments have meant I have been simply too busy.

But my 5 minute, lunchtime, view is that I think IPMS Telford is being treated a bit harshly here, just to give you context; At Telford this year I took double what I did at Euro this year. A table at Telford is half the price as it was at Euro.

Simple economics mean the price of a table at Euro had priced them out of the market. The modelling world has moved, MyTime Media had not and they made themselves irrelevant. I had not re-booked for Euro 2017 and I understand that there were many other traders that were also undecided and it is my understanding that it was this and the fact that one of their major traders stated they would not return in 2017 made them realise that the game was up.

In terms of the future, I was already considering attending SMC in Eindhoven next year (I'd say that as long as I can get a table then I'm probably 90% certain) and Telford will be rebooked.

Simply put, as much as I liked Euro, I have to go where my customers are. A few people are asking where the continental European modellers are in all of this? Well, at SMC! The fact that SMC was so close in the calendar to Euro finally did it this year. Simple fact is that Euro and SMC went head-to-head, SMC won in the first round with a clear knock-out.

I do think another show could replace Euro, and I've told Stu I will support it wherever possible. Whether Leeds, Folkestone or elsewhere I'll do my best to be there.

 

[Helm]

Maybe it's my age
Brian

Which is what, a 175 now ?
Steve

 

[brian]

Brian
The point I was trying to make was yes £8000 is not a huge sum of money in the scheme of things but who is going to put this money together? MTM is a company, Ray Lamb & Lynn Sangster both had companies and were willing to take a gamble. Unless someone is willing to sponsor the show it's not going to happen,then £8000 becomes a huge sum. No one individual will put this money in and I for one would not blame them.
I agree with the comments we are going round in circles & we have not heard from the continentals but why would they they have their own shows.

I know the continentals have their own shows,but that's never stopped them going to Euro ,as it's seen as a prestigious show, where to receive an award at Euro,especially these illusive Golds, is a feather in ones cap and is recognised world wide.
I've never noticed a change in the overseas friends that attend year in,year out.e.g. Spanish,Italians, South Koreans etc,etc,
I'd like to know all these overseas shows costs and profits,which seem to be doing o.k. I wonder!
I agree with you regarding no one individual would put the money in,but i would expect that a group of like minded people may be considering investing in the show.
Once again,us Brits, see something not doing well,and we can't wait to come up with all the negativity, and like a pack of wolves finish it off.
In all the years i've been in this hobby of ours, i've never heard, or read any negativity about any other shows in the U.K. or overseas.Makes me wonder why i've wasted the last 30 years going to Euro.
I await patiently for the next knife to be plunged into the dying corpse of Euro.