Feeling left out

[Nosher]

Anyone else feeling left out

Haven't attended a show in years - mainly due to cost. 

Travelling to and from anywhere in East Anglia is simply extortionate and more to the point downright painful. They always seem to be too far away from Payday (although Salute this year fell on payday but I'm having to watch the pennies as paying for accomodation and meals on my course which has wreaked havoc with my bank account!

Feeling distinctly isolated

[Leman]

Never mind, you can always have a pleasant evening with your second cousin in East Anglia.

[fsn]

The best (only?) one near me is in St Helens. Unfortunately my brother has his birthday about the same time and apparently it's rude not to attend family functions.

I'm going this year!

Having said that, I don't miss it that much.

[Ferb]

There's the Diceni show on May 3rd in Norwich you could go to.

[Fenton]

Yeah being over here in Belfast its is too expensive even to get over to Scotland for Claymore etc and too expensive for traders to get over here if we wanted to put one on

[Subedai]

I only go to two shows a year now because of travelling costs and they are Cavalier in Tonbridge Wells and Broadside in Sittingbourne. Both very nice little shows of the 'Old School' type in that they have a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere which gives you plenty of time to browse and chat.

[WeeWars]

I used to go to Salute every year when I lived in London so I feel the urge today as with every year. But we're lucky here because we can look forward to Carronade, a really good show, in only two weeks time. Carronade, also, has more of the charm of the pre scale-creep Salute, which I enjoy.

[Techno]

The best (only?) one near me is in St Helens. Unfortunately my brother has his birthday about the same time and apparently it's rude not to attend family functions.
I'm going this year!
Having said that, I don't miss it that much.

I was hoping you hadn't spotted the 'spelyngg misstayke' before you had a chance to edit it.
I was going to ask where Mount Brother was.....
Hey Ho ! 
Cheers - Phil

[toxicpixie]

I make it to Wargamer in B'ham (now Halesowen!) and WMMS in Wolves, and that's it - and that's only cos they're both local!

[Sandinista]

I was at Salute today and to be honest I don't think you missed much. I collected my pre-orders and that was it. nothing jumped out and said buy me and none of the games inspired me to take a photo. Travel and entry was more than p&p would have been, I know that doesn't help with the feeling of missing out but I was disappointed this year.

Cheers
Ian

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Campaign is free in two weeks!

[Last Hussar]

Where's that?

[Ithoriel]

Claymore and Carronade for me.

Would like to get to some of the shows down South but as others have said .... too pricey. Travel, accommodation, entry, food & drink .... nothing left for new toys. 

[Westmarcher]

Not feeling too left out (although wouldn't mind going to Salute and/or Vapnartak sometime).  Will miss out on Carronade (yet again) but usually manage Claymore - a kind of annual pilgrimage - wife and I stroll up the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and enjoy the Fringe street performers, then we go for a nice lunch, then she goes shopping & I go to Claymore. Usually a good day out. 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Campaign is in Milton Keynes, in front of JohnLewis in the shopping centre!
All welcome.
'Lets go shopping dear, oh look, Toy soldiers!'

[Norm]

I love a wargame show and will do 2 and hope for 4 per year. I always spend, but try and reserve the bulk of spending for the most local show as these things have to be a raw commercial success if they are to survive.

For the same reason I put money into my local and slightly dearer camera shop instead of internet buying because the spin off is that I always have a place to go to be like a pig in poo and I have best advice on hand and service is exceptional well, they are just nice people. It is a quality of life thing.

use it or lose it ...... or so I am told

[fsn]

I support the local model shop - even if they do mostly cater for Radio Controlled and model railway.

I bought an amount of railway track and they asked what kind of set up I had. When I said I was a wargamer they sort of looked at me like I'm not quite all there (yes, I do get that a lot) but they're very kind.

Now when I go in, they sort of keep an eye on me, and shepherd me away from the expensive RC stuff by distracting me with pretty flock or shiny paints.

The problem I have with shows is that they're just a distraction from the true path. I usually just end buying paint or get a great enthusiam for something. An enthusiasm that evaporates by the time I get home.

[Steve J]

I was at Salute today and to be honest I don't think you missed much. I collected my pre-orders and that was it. nothing jumped out and said buy me and none of the games inspired me to take a photo. Travel and entry was more than p&p would have been, I know that doesn't help with the feeling of missing out but I was disappointed this year.

In general agreement with you on this Ian. First time I've been and good to see the show, but much prefer Colours and WMMS as they are smaller, easier to get to and have all the traders I want to see. I did get to see the Lion Rampant game and play in it, which to be honest was one of the main reasons for going. Picked up a nice Pendraken pre-order and some more Empress Miniature moderns, both of which 'covered' the entrance and parking costs as it were. Sadly none of the games really jumped out at me and I wasn't driven to take any pics at all .

Overall view was that it is a big shopping trip for many, many gamers with a some games put on as a distraction. Once again most tables had little, if any information about what was going on, with only a couple actually having anyone to talk to the casual viewer. It was as if we were getting in the way at times...

Don't think I'll go again

[Steeleye]

I used to go to every wargames show I could get to. But, over the years the price of admission slowly went up until it was in the £10 region and of course there are travel costs to consider. Also as I'm having to watch the pennies these days I fell that money spent on fares and admission would be better spent on figures and paint. These days I only go to Salute every couple of years or so.

[jambo1]

I live way up in the North of Scotland and never have the time or inclination to haul my butt down the country to any shows, don't actually think I am missing out too much to be honest.