theBaron
Major
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2008
- Messages
- 10,324
We have a couple of discussions going elsewhere in the forum, on the theme of the decline of the toy soldier show. Not a show whose purpose is an exhibition of toy soldiers or figure, but whose purpose is to sell toy soldiers.
Good arguments have been made to explain the gradual decline in the size and number of shows. Collectors, and vendors, are getting older, their numbers dwindling. Online shopping is more convenient and less costly than traveling long distances to visit a show. The cost of staging a show on the scale of the Chicago, East Coast, or West Coast toy soldier shows is constantly on the rise and pricing promoters out of business. Those are just a few that I can recall off the top of my head, and they're all valid.
A common observation about visiting a toy soldier show is that we get to meet up with other collectors, amateurs in the literal sense, and enjoy our common interest in the hobby. It's generally agreed that online activity still hasn't replaced meeting up in person, regardless of the impact of the Internet on trading and sharing information.
But something occurred to me, as I read the updates in Louis' threads about his annual symposium. For the purposes of socializing and interacting live with other collectors, I think we will see an increase in events like the symposium. Britains holds one, too. And beyond collecting toy soldiers, I see this trend emerging in the areas of painting figures and building models. Collectors, modelers, painters, are getting together in small groups, for informal events. Even in my own clubs, I can see this. A couple of us host various small get-togethers throughout the year. We have something to eat and drink, and we show off pieces from our collections, and build and paint, as appropriate. I've seen other groups doing the same thing, here in the US, and abroad as well.
As far as sales go, I wonder if we will see more small, local events, like the show held in Annadale, VA, shows staged in an inexpensive venue, like a Legion or VFW post, or a fire hall. For merchants interested in staging a show, those logistics are more within reach, than to rent out a larger, more expensive venue like a hotel or convention center. And the cost of tables and admission can be kept low, generally. So if there is demand to get out and buy things in person, I can see the small, local show emerging as the more common type of real-time, live event.
I think these developments are already taking place in related hobbies, too, such as in wargaming. I see the gatherings at the local stores we have here in the area, such as our local Warhammer store. Warhammer fans gather there to game, and to paint their figures. And they hold small, very local exhibitions as well, awarding prizes for painting. It happens naturally, organically.
What do you folks think?
Prost!
Brad
Good arguments have been made to explain the gradual decline in the size and number of shows. Collectors, and vendors, are getting older, their numbers dwindling. Online shopping is more convenient and less costly than traveling long distances to visit a show. The cost of staging a show on the scale of the Chicago, East Coast, or West Coast toy soldier shows is constantly on the rise and pricing promoters out of business. Those are just a few that I can recall off the top of my head, and they're all valid.
A common observation about visiting a toy soldier show is that we get to meet up with other collectors, amateurs in the literal sense, and enjoy our common interest in the hobby. It's generally agreed that online activity still hasn't replaced meeting up in person, regardless of the impact of the Internet on trading and sharing information.
But something occurred to me, as I read the updates in Louis' threads about his annual symposium. For the purposes of socializing and interacting live with other collectors, I think we will see an increase in events like the symposium. Britains holds one, too. And beyond collecting toy soldiers, I see this trend emerging in the areas of painting figures and building models. Collectors, modelers, painters, are getting together in small groups, for informal events. Even in my own clubs, I can see this. A couple of us host various small get-togethers throughout the year. We have something to eat and drink, and we show off pieces from our collections, and build and paint, as appropriate. I've seen other groups doing the same thing, here in the US, and abroad as well.
As far as sales go, I wonder if we will see more small, local events, like the show held in Annadale, VA, shows staged in an inexpensive venue, like a Legion or VFW post, or a fire hall. For merchants interested in staging a show, those logistics are more within reach, than to rent out a larger, more expensive venue like a hotel or convention center. And the cost of tables and admission can be kept low, generally. So if there is demand to get out and buy things in person, I can see the small, local show emerging as the more common type of real-time, live event.
I think these developments are already taking place in related hobbies, too, such as in wargaming. I see the gatherings at the local stores we have here in the area, such as our local Warhammer store. Warhammer fans gather there to game, and to paint their figures. And they hold small, very local exhibitions as well, awarding prizes for painting. It happens naturally, organically.
What do you folks think?
Prost!
Brad
While I enjoy it, I can easily see how other history fanatics wouldn't deviate from their pursuit of historical knowledge to take on toy soldiers at today's prices.
