Some Really Sad News Received

 

I recently received what is to me the saddest hobby news since the sudden and unexpected passing of Duncan McFarland. It's not the loss of a fellow gamer I'm pleased to say, but it is nevertheless a loss I feel almost as deeply. I refer of course to the decision of Alumwell Wargames Society, of which I was once Secretary back in the mid '70s & 80s, to call time on their annual Show WMMS, of which Phil & I were the organisers in that same time frame.  This sad decision for what should have been its 50th anniversary has really been forced on them by decisions taken by local councillors and centre managers in respect of unreasonable hikes in hiring costs. This would have pushed up costs to traders and to attendees by a considerable amount which may have impacted either or both categories of the hobby in attending, which in turn might lead to losses on the event. So, yet another foundation of my hobby is cut away. I sure you will understand that I feel it almost like a bereavement,  but I'm also angered at the wider implications for all of us in this wonderful hobby.

Before the malign effects of the Plague/Coronavirus Phil and I might have attended anything up to 20 shows of all sizes over the course of the year. Over the years many have slipped from the calendar: think Triples, Derby Worlds, Midlands Militaire, Northern Militaire, and now WMMS. The most recent of these is perhaps also a victim of the Cost of Living crisis brought to us by incompetent politicians from the Orange Idiot Trump, through to our own bunch of incompetents past and present ~

While many I'm in no doubt would see all this loss as just another symptom of the greying of our hobby, I'm not so sure it is. At the recent TOP I saw many wargamers much younger than me eagerly perusing the games and parting with wads of moolah at the various trade stands. The daily adverts on the Web and in monthly hobby magazines shower us with new and innovative products, hobby Kickstarter projects have swollen exponentially over recent years, established companies bring out new ranges regularly. The hobby is in rude health it would seem. So, why are many established  shows seemingly in decline outside the biggest events like Salute, Partizans and Hammerhead, none of which come near rivalling the size and pull of Midland Games Expo? I've been discussing this recently with my son Matt  who I have to say put some uncomfortable points for me to reflect on. I'll just offer you a flavour of what he thought...

How many things can you do today that we're exactly the same now as in the 70's? The world has moved on and demands different things. 

They have become nostalgia experiences for old men. And the thing about old men is there are less every year...

The historically orientated events can be an embarrassment, the paucity of ambition that they show is astonishing ~

"A dimly lit sports hall and a few treasle tables?  Check. Great we have an event. No need to change anything..... Ever...... that will do." 

The pull is not the event it's a meeting with people who also go, and of they don't go then you don't. It's a social event with little or no provision made for socialising...they need to look at what it is they offer and change up where they need to. 

Choosing an appropriate venue is first on the list...anywhere but a sports hall. There are purpose built venues who specialise in events. Why a sports hall with no windows and a car park for 50 cars? 

Makes you think I'd hope as it has me. I'll takes the points in order shall I? 

The greying of the hobby is a long established point. Yet as I said I see many much younger folk at the events I have attended over the years. What I don't see are women and young families in any number, though thankfully both categories are found at events. At wider gaming events I speculate you'd see far more. I can't really argue that old men are time limited but I would argue there is more life in us yet as a group. We are also the group largely with the disposable income on which traders (and shows) depend.

The assessment of shows' lack of ambition does touch a nerve though. It's hard to argue that many sports halls are not fit for wargames shows' needs, think lighting and hard floors for a start. Car parking is another matter of concern as attendees frequently travel a fair distance to events. In respect of WMMS I wondered why when the club had to move venue it had not explored moving to Wolverhampton racecourse with its modern facilities and bountiful parking. It hasn't harmed Vapnartak or Colours it would seem. Maybe Matt has a point about lack of ambition? 

Of course I agree with Matt when it comes to the socialising aspect of shows coupled with the paucity of facilities for the same. Perhaps this stems from the original motive for founding many shows, namely to raise club funds? Once a club comes to rely on this source of income there's little obvious incentive to innovate. But without innovation an event might be one poor attendance from closing, Traders do need to cover costs at the very least after all. Are they voting with their feet?

What do Hammerhead, Salute, Partizan, The Other Partizan have in common? A large, purpose built facility; on site catering & parking - though at a price with Salute; they guarantee a large and varied market place for attendees to part with cash, which in turn brings in both the trade's big beasts but also punters in number.

There are undoubtedly other trends influencing the shelf life of any shows: the change in our habits brought about by lockdown; the rise of Internet shopping - think the demise of High Streets widely reported in the media; the cost of travel and accommodation; competing events in the wider world; the cost of living crisis; perhaps even BREXIT!

All in all perhaps the loss of shows is a sign of evolution in our hobby, rather like the rise of the bijou 'game in a box' - which I've derided in earlier blog posts. We may be too close to events to readily perceive trends, time will tell. Though even the largest events may not be immune to folk voting with their feet I'd suggest. There must be a place surely for some proper market research to explore both motivation of traders and punters when it comes to what they look for when choosing which events, if any, they will attend. Sadly I don't have the magic answers...