chubarker Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Two signing events and a convention within the space of two weeks is a lot to take on and I'm wondering whether the guys have spread themselves too thin. Finding last minute guests is obviously difficult, but with three events (Plus another only weeks away) I'm guessing it's been panic stations over the past couple of weeks. Maybe with hindsight, having three events back to back wasn't the best idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators DavidB Posted March 6, 2008 Moderators Share Posted March 6, 2008 Whether there was an event last week, or next week, or whenever .. it wouldn't have made any difference to the cancellations if that's your general complaint .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mousybrown Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Maybe they have overstretched themselves a little in a way, but can't you look at it overall and say that what theyve achieved is good. They've got all these events in a row and yet several big guests for each one. Maybe there not to everyones tastes but you can never garentee they will be, just being able to get as many guests as they have for each one, to me, is a achievement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators DavidB Posted March 6, 2008 Moderators Share Posted March 6, 2008 Plus some guests for this event probably weren't available for last week etc, so they wouldn't have attended. It does have its plus points too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintageSW77 Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 (edited) i agree maybe midlands and manc should have merged elsewhere i live in manchester and ill be solely using the convention as a shopping trip mind you there is no word of all tables being filled like the midlands ill have a peek at Emma...five years ago id have been exited but Buffy has kind of fizzled out for me,ill get Pinheads sig and continue my browsing this will be the first time i wont be getting an early bird an all cant you give Tom Baker a call ? Edited March 6, 2008 by vintageSW77 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovbug Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Maybe its sheer bad luck, maybe it is a case of not being able to give the time to search for more guests, as i never thought Manchester had that many gets prior to the cancelations. I'm not sure at this point, but what i've found out is somtimes the events with fewer guests can surprise you and be the most fun! I will be at Machester this Saturday trying to make the most of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintageSW77 Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 (edited) maybe they should have signed up a big bunch of guests immediatley instead of leaving the manc visitors waiting til the con was almost upon us remember last time? Malcolm Mcdowall being the only name announced for months right up to the event pretty much it worked last time but this time its fell on its face im sure ive missed something im sure Brian Blessed has got an xmas Panto to prepare for thats stopping him from attending and Burn Gorman has got his BIG shop to do this Saturday ..maybe i shouldve asked him why he wasnt appearing when i saw him in Sommerfield on Wed night (incidently girls hes a bit weedy looking in real life) ive thought screw it and organised my own convention with Elvis,George Lucas,A.L.F,Bela Lugosi,Garry Glitter,2nd Stormtrooper on the left and Kenny Baker appearing this Saturday oh hang on .....unfortunatley everyone has cancelled apart from Kenny Baker Edited March 6, 2008 by vintageSW77 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovbug Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 ive thought screw it and organised my own convention with Elvis,George Lucas,A.L.F,Bela Lugosi,Garry Glitter,2nd Stormtrooper on the left and Kenny Baker appearing this Saturday oh hang on .....unfortunatley everyone has cancelled apart from Kenny Baker I'll have a gold pass please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE MOOCH Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 maybe they should have signed up a big bunch of guests immediatley instead of leaving the manc visitors waiting til the con was almost upon us remember last time? Malcolm Mcdowall being the only name announced for months right up to the event pretty much it worked last time but this time its fell on its face im sure ive missed something im sure Brian Blessed has got an xmas Panto to prepare for thats stopping him from attending and Burn Gorman has got his BIG shop to do this Saturday ..maybe i shouldve asked him why he wasnt appearing when i saw him in Sommerfield on Wed night (incidently girls hes a bit weedy looking in real life) ive thought screw it and organised my own convention with Elvis,George Lucas,A.L.F,Bela Lugosi,Garry Glitter,2nd Stormtrooper on the left and Kenny Baker appearing this Saturday oh hang on .....unfortunatley everyone has cancelled apart from Kenny Baker CLASSIC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lams9999 Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Of course it does not have anything to do with the cancellations but I think the number of guests at a G-Mex event has never been so low (independently of the quality of the guests which is a subjective matter). I have always stated that around 18 events or so a year is waaaaay too much ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charmer Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I'm not really sure you can over stretch with these these things personally. I mean, as long as you're able to put them on then you're not over stretched. Cancellations don't make it over stretched. Under staffed would be over stretched and something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_mk Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I'm not really sure you can over stretch with these these things personally. I mean, as long as you're able to put them on then you're not over stretched. Cancellations don't make it over stretched. Under staffed would be over stretched and something like that. I think that perhaps things are a little over-stretched. There are a finite amount of guests willing to do events in this country. If you offer them a choice of 12 dates, then you will spread them thinner than if you offer them 8 dates. Yes, some guests will not be able to make any events, but the average number of guests per event will be higher (and likely of higher calibre). There is a knock-on effect. Shows with a smaller number of guests attract a smaller number of attendees (which is great from those who DO want to meet one or more of the guests, as the queues will be smaller). A lower number of attendees decreases the revenue Showmasters receive as well as putting of some traders from getting a stall. This jeapordises future events. Similarly, attendee figures have been hit by the increase in variety in dates and locations of events. I've been to EVERY English Showmasters event (since before the event started in Middleton hall CMK) and yet I will be missing this GMex because of the sheer number of events this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BN7 Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I quite like the events with a few less guests and a few more events themselves because it makes each of them less crowded and there is less pressure to fit so much in. Past events, like the last LFCC have been rammed because of the number of top notch guests in one place at once. Collectormania Midlands was a really enjoyable experience for me, no hassle, no big crowds or bun fights for VQ tickets.... It's certainly the way I'd like to see the events continue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lams9999 Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I think that perhaps things are a little over-stretched. There are a finite amount of guests willing to do events in this country. If you offer them a choice of 12 dates, then you will spread them thinner than if you offer them 8 dates. Yes, some guests will not be able to make any events, but the average number of guests per event will be higher (and likely of higher calibre). There is a knock-on effect. Shows with a smaller number of guests attract a smaller number of attendees (which is great from those who DO want to meet one or more of the guests, as the queues will be smaller). A lower number of attendees decreases the revenue Showmasters receive as well as putting of some traders from getting a stall. This jeapordises future events. Similarly, attendee figures have been hit by the increase in variety in dates and locations of events. I've been to EVERY English Showmasters event (since before the event started in Middleton hall CMK) and yet I will be missing this GMex because of the sheer number of events this year. Exactly what I think Chris. Too many events a year will just kill the market Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik_Doof Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Not only finte guests, but finte visitors. Showmasters had massive amount of repeat custom due to the shows being spaced out evenly in the year, suddenly we have 2-3 shows within weeks together and people have to decide what show to go as they can only afford one in the time period. Personally, i've attended every Manchester event since its conception due to it being "around the corner", but I had to skip this one in favour of MK and even thats in doubt now due to the latest batch of cancellations. They've expanded into new locations too quickly and it looks like it's bit them on the ass. Hopefully they'll trim down and get back on track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmah Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 I like to go to as many shows as I can but with them all being so close together I cant afford them all in 1 month .... I get paid once a month and dont have money for 2 shows and a convention as well - I am only going to Eclipse and anyway I live south so to go to Coventry and then 1 week later drive past Coventry again to go to Manchester is too much .... Why cant we have fewer shows and more spread out - unless anyone can find me a money tree and see if it really does grow on trees? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VODKA123 Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 I like to go to as many shows as I can but with them all being so close together I cant afford them all in 1 month .... I am in a similar position. I enjoy the shows and like to go to as many as I can afford. Maybe if they were more evenly spread out it would be easier, and if when they did a specialist con they tried not to have guests from that show elsewhere the same month. I know not everyone would agree but it would mean that I didn't have to choose which event to go to and decide who my favorite star was etc. But I suppose it is down to trial and error at the moment and to expand they have to experiment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siluria Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 To be fair, yes there are a lot of events this year and not everyone can get to all of them either due to money or time contraints - me included. I think a lot of the issues with guests this year is the Writer's Strike. Most of the US series are effected because they're having to go back to filming when normally they would have been on a break. I don't blame Showmasters for guests cancelling or being unavailable when clearly the actors have commitments or their livelihoods to protect, I'm taking it as a bonus when they turn up . I went to GMEX today and it was very quiet and seemed smaller in terms of the numbers of dealers, but it was relaxed - no mad queue's, no waiting hours for your numbers, and plenty of time to talk to the guests who were all pretty fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jael001 Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 (edited) I would normally have considered going to Gmex, but with Eclipse next weekend and Lockdown 2 weeks later, I simply can't manage it. I didnt go to the Midlands event either. In the past I've tried to go to all the MK events and I've done 2 or 3 of the Gmex ones so far, but now there are just too many and I can't go to them all. Edited March 8, 2008 by jael001 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfprincess Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 There is just so much variation to what people like nowadays, I suppose SM are trying to cater for everyone....it was much simpler back in the good old days of just MK and london tho lol xx props to the SM for being able to multi task x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators DavidB Posted March 8, 2008 Moderators Share Posted March 8, 2008 I didn't go to Manchester, but that was simply because there's no-one I want to meet. If there was, I'd have found a way to go, but it's not close enough just to pop along and look at the stalls lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avengers7 Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 I think they have over done the conventions this month. I love going to them and spend lots but even I couldn't afford 3 weekends in a row. Coventry was great thou. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I P Freely Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 I'd like to have seen the Coventry event actually taken place as a Cardiff/South West event instead. Especially with the Dr Who/Torchwood interest at present, it would seem a more logical choice? Catering for fans in the SW corner that maybe can't make the other ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruffy Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 How can you ask whether SM are over-extending themselves when they are the ones taking all the risks to bring lots of events in various locations . They should be applauded rather than criticised Lets face it, isnt it about choice and noone is asking people to go to every event but have more to choose from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzy Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 How can you ask whether SM are over-extending themselves when they are the ones taking all the risks to bring lots of events in various locations . They should be applauded rather than criticised Lets face it, isnt it about choice and noone is asking people to go to every event but have more to choose from. Hear, hear!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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