Craig, I have a sign for both spectators and unruly club members. YOU TOUCHA MY TRAINS, I BREAKA YOU FINGERS As far as the poor soul that runs -9's with wood reefers, YIKES!!! And stay away from my trains!!! Good luck!
Hey Rod, funny you should mention a sign. We had one a few years back that read: "Trains are like your wife, you wouldn't want other people touching her" (it included a picture of Marylan Monroe (spelling?). All was fine with that sign untill we had some irate Mother come up and complain about the sign. According to her it was, "The most SEXEST thing" she had ever seen! LOL Then we had a sign that said: "Any fingers cought touching the layout or trains will be removed and can be picked up after the show." Had complaints on that one too!!! Dealing with the public can be a strange time!
Craig: Excellent signs. It's ashame that there are too many pc police that can't take a good joke! Anyway, we used to have a saying about some of the nimrodded public (it applies to trains as well as Harley's) - "If you have to ask, then you just don't get it" (That of course was second to "you toucha my bike I breaka you fingers!") Happy Railroading! Russ/NYC (fughedaboudit!) The Hoffman Valley Railroad NARA#28
I must thank my dad for teaching me manners around layouts and anything else. Whenever I tried to touch something, he would put on his big bad wolf face and growl "DON'T TOUCH". HE is real good at giving a look that could make us kids shrivel up. And if we tried it agian, maybe two more times, it was off to the truck. And that was a very boring place, never had AC or any other upgrades like a radio, never allowed to play that anyway..as if that stopped us!!! Might explain why I attacked the seat with a six inch jackknife at the age of two(yes, I actually got it open) Scared the people in the doctors office and boy did I hear it for that one!) Well, I think my dad has lost his touch a little bit, that or it only worked on the sibs, cause there are kids that will keep going at it even after his look. Oh Well. I call it bad parenting. And boy are some kids rude. Ever listen to their mouths? They are worse then many teenagers I know! One thing I really hate about layouts(as a kid) is that they are all so darn high that I could not see all of the neat little action going on. Anything to fix that? It is th kids that we are trying to gspark the most interest in, and they are the one who are most excited by this huge "Toy." I like the chairs, but they look precarious for standing on. maybe a podium/catwalk type set up, with a railing, and then at least two feet(for member maintainance crews) to the layout. Anything to stop kids from trying to get a better look by grappling the edge. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> Actually, the kids trying to touch is not my problem, my problem is when the parents just sit back and watch it happen!! I even had a mom let her kid touched and when I said kindly, "No touching please", the mom laughed! It's those kinds of people that make me mad. Hell, I wish I could find out where there car was in the parking lot and put my hands all over it....think they would be happy? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Yes, these are people that burn me up. Ever wonder why kids and adolescents are like they are today? But don't worry too much, some day those parents will be wishing they had instilled better manners...when their children have grown into criminals, players, druggies and slackers...unless they still don't care. Those people I have a quick mezssage for. "OUT! Come back when you learn some manners." Too bad we cannot charge this lady and everyone else like her. "OK, you think it's funny that he touches the layout? You think he cannot harm anything? You think that it doesn't matter if he pushhes the train over and it dashes into a million pieces on the floor? Then You can pay one dollar for every touch, three dollars for every derailment, ten dollars for every broken detail part, and one hundred dollars for every broken engine. Did I mention that we have closed circuit cameras"? Oh, and we now take Mastercard and Visa for your convienence, along with a ten percent finance charge. Too bad we cannot put THAT sign up!!! And these PC Police, who gave them jurisdiction? I see nothing wrong with your signs, yes, maybe it is a little sexest, but lets turn the tables on this lady and ask her if she likes it if another girl start hitting on her husband. And what is really sad is that these are the same people that laugh whenever their kids are touching the layout. WHEN WILL THEY LEARN???!!!!! How about teaching courses/ ten minute lectures about handling trains? the points: 1)Only pick it up or provide assistance if it is specifically asked for 2)Touch only what the man with the club hat/nametag/ownerlogo says. If he says no, then don't do it. 3)I don't know about the next one...shot in the dark. Only rerail train by lifting the trucks, and then using care to make sure not to destroy the entire layout around the site. 4)You do not rerail a train by firmly pressing down on it and rolling back and forth. A rerailer might be of assistance, but only with the proper care. 5)Don't touch 6)No sneezing onto the layout. 7)No blowing onto the layout 8)Leave the dust/weeds/grass alone. 9)The Owners are God/The court/King. While you are in their domain, you will conduct yourself in a proper manner. 10)All children will be escorted...If not by a parent, then one of the members...and maybe some of the parents and members too. 11)Take only with your cameras. 12)Ask what the switch/button/contraption does. Don't try to figure it out yourself. 13)Have fun 14)No setting drinks on the layout. 15)No Eating next to the layout, it is not a table. 16)No souveniers. 17)Let the trains do the smoking around the layout. Even if you do not respect yourself, you do have a filter. Others are not so gifted. 18)Yes, that engine might look just like the twenty dollar givaway over at the tryandsave, but it is not. Always treat it like a very expensive custom detailed Rolls Royce. Sorry for the ranting. [ 09 May 2001: Message edited by: Benny ]
A simple change to the sign would fix the 'sexist' bits - change wife to spouse and take down the photo of MM. I prefer the 'removed fingers' sign better anyway The mom who laughed at the 'don't touch' - was she holding a camcorder? These things should have a warning on them "You will lose all self control and common sense when operating." - I suppose if little Johnny knocks the engine to the floor and if it managed to pull 40 loaded hoppers with it then the good people at America's/Australia's Funniest Home Videos will give them heaps of money. OK - my little rant about camcorders - back to the regularly scheduled train programs. Looks like Brissy was fun - you guys got any more photos?
"Danger, 10 Million Ohms!!" was always a favorite of mine. The PC police, I'm sure don't have a clue, anyway. Have seen some very nice diplays that were on a level below that of the spectators--allowed a great view, but there were barriers, plexiglass or other. The only way to deal with some people is not allow them to be able to touch, let's face it.
How about this sign: "No touching this layout, violators will be swiftly shown to the exit." OR "If children are cought touching trains, they will be sold for profit. For some, that's a relief. this is the same for adults too." Or "touch my trains,I break yer veins. Break my trains, I break yer nose"
I have to agree with most everyone: shows are definately a test of patience, whether from the kids in the crowd or your own club members We do install rope stanchions to keep the crowds at bay at our shows. We also employ the use of DCC handheld throttles with the operators walking between the stanchions and the layout to control their trains. This serves to allow for audience participation and interaction, as well as keep folks from entering "no man's land". (In the pre-DCC we sent "train spotters" out into this area with radio headsets.) Setting up/ tearing down/ crowd control are all legitimate issues at train shows. However, if we are to continue to grow the hobby, we must attempt to reach new modelers. A public show is one of the best ways, especially with the demise of many hobby shops! Harold
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by chessie: However, if we are to continue to grow the hobby, we must attempt to reach new modelers. A public show is one of the best ways<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Shortly after relocating to Australia my wife saw an ad for a train show - she asked if I wanted to go - like she had to ask Anyway this marked my re-entry into the hobby - without that show I don't think I would have gotten back into it. Well at least not yet anyway.
This time it looks like I'm the odd man out. I have to disagree with just about everyone on this topic. We had this discussion at our club a few years back. Let's start off with the main purpose. If you just want to gather with other members, and run trains, do it at the club building or in your basement. 99% of the time, we put on train shows to attract an audience that will pay admission, and generate funds for the club/s. The better the show we put on, the more likely people will be to return to next year's show. You are asking families to spend their money to come see your "show", then you want to put-up chain link fence to keep them back! Out N-track layout has no ropes, fences, or plexiglass, and it doesn't suffer, because we operate the layout from the outside. We keep an eye on the spectators, and only rarely have to politely ask them not to touch. We provide small plastic step stools all the way around, so small children can see better. Part of the "show" is to greet people, and give them a guided tour of the layout, pointing out the details they would normally miss. I believe too many club members "hide" on the inside of the layout (where most of the controls are located) because they don't want to interact with the crowd. We moved our control pannel to the outside of the layout where we can both watch the trains and the spectators. We have received may compliments for doing this. This allows the people to come up to us and ask questions. We get a lot of new members this way. Our layout consistently takes top honors at shows, even though ours may not be the biggest or most detailed, and I believe it's because of the way we treat the people who pay to see our "show". Some lessons learned: If you don't want it touched, dropped, broken, stolen, etc., leave it home. I don't take my $100 Katos to train shows, I take my $25 Life-Likes. We don't do "operations" at shows, because the spectators don't understand what we're doing. They always ask "Why did the train stop?". They came to see trains moving, and that's what we provide. We try to have something for all age groups. We may have a highly-detailed autorack train, but we also have a "Thomas the Tank Engine". Please, come out from behind the layouts, and let the public meet you, and get to know how much fun we have doing this. The more people we attract into this great hobby, the more products will be made/marketed/sold to everyone. It's in our best interests to do this. Just food for thought... Robert
I agree with you for the most part Robert and do think that clubs shouldn't use their best equipment/modules for shows. However, there is a lack of respect by a minor segment of the show-going public that necessitates such barriers (especially at larger shows) The funny thing is, I have actually seen more adult nuisances than children. In fact I attended a show this past week with my 6 year old daughter and she told two adults on seperate occassions that they should not touch anything, politeley of course. They ignored her and my daughter turned to me and said "they just don't understand daddy" So, yes it IS our job to help people to understand. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a barrier for some to get it. Classic case of the whole class getting punished for one SOB's mistake. Happy Railroading! Russ/NYC The Hoffman Valley Railroad NARA#28
I agree with Mopac's views on this subject. We have these shows for several reasons. 1. Attract people to the show like the Gats or Greenberg shows) 2. Attract people to N scale 3. Attract people to our club 4. Show off our stuff. and there are probably more. Our club uses the aristo radio throttles. We are on the outside of the layout with no barriers. We can interact with visitors and even let the kids and the women "run the train." We show them how to use the throttle to make the train stop, start, reverse and all the while using our Atlas or Kato locomotives. We run Thomas too. The kids love it. We get all kinds of questions and even some of the guys from the HO club come over. Some people even ask if a particular module is for sale. We rarely have trouble with the kids or adults. We are working on a small interactive module where people can operate and do some switching. Remember at these shows the people generally regard you as the expert in model railroading so get out from behind the backdrop and get out front with the people.
Whilst I and my friends have been operating at shows, either on my layout, or a club layout, we always tried to have someone on the outside, to talk to people and answer questions, or to point out some detail. When someone seemed genuinely interested, and sensible, I would often invite them into the operating area inside the layout, to explain the controls, etc. This was always appreciated, and did a lot to get the person hooked on model trains.
I do like it when there are operators in front of the layouts. But that almost always requires a physical barrier at very crowded shows. And I think we are all in agreement that a show layout with not trains moving on it is pretty boring. I don’t mind some switching (actually I can watch that for a long time) as long as something is happening. I know the exhibitors probably get tired of watching the same trains go round and round, but that’s what a public show is about. I would like to see the trains stop and drop off a few cars and pick up a few more once in a while too. [ 10 May 2001: Message edited by: yankinoz ]
During last weeks train show there was always at least one of us walking around the front of the layout answering questions. Most of the questions were about the layout in particular making trees and the water effects. Everyone appreciated our help and yes it made the exhibition interesting for us guys as well
If it weren't for clubs running layouts at train shows, I would have never modeled in N scale. HO on bare plywood still looks okay, but N scale on bare plywood looks....well....pathetic. It wasn't until I saw N scale running on some excellent modules at the Lynden Washington train show that I became convinced that I could own, enjoy, and have fun running N scale. So for all you guys in clubs running at shows...thank you.
rsn48 When did they have the train show in Lynden Washington. That is where my wife came from and I am from Bellingham
