RECON - 2023 A View From The Trenches.

 

 

Recon at Pudsey was always a fun show for me. In the 80s we had Recon in the Summer and Winter Recon in the, well... You get the idea.

 For the last few years it's been a December show, and it's great. It's not without it's faults, but the venue, Pudsey Civic Centre gives it the feel of a proper 'old school' medium sized show. The catering is generally good, with standard wargamer's fare.

How many shows can you go to, and get two tickets, two breakfast sandwiches and drinks for £16?

The ambience is enhanced by the fact the the PCC is all decorated for Christmas and the attendees are almost universally in fine mood and well disposed to the world in general.

This year was the first time The Pit Gaming Store have run the show and I have to say, they have largely improved the show, expanding the area used for commercial exchanges ad getting even the renowned Dave Thomas to attend.

We arrived a few minutes after the doors opened and it was already filing nicely. As I have said, the atmosphere is great. Traders are usually happy to have a relaxed chat as for many it's a wind-down from a hectic year at the coalface of the hobby, and many are traveling fairly short distances. 

People browse and meander in a pleasing manner unlike the normal cattle market feel of some of the larger shows. It's all in all a great way to pass a Saturday.

The Pit have really injected some life into the show, but I have a couple of small niggles which I would politely like to address:

1. Don't bother with the Speed Painting competition. In fact don't bother with a painting comp at all. I am a veteran painter and have won 22 prizes in my time, up to and including Salute. 

Historically, you got a fair variety of painters, but modern competitions seem to be dominated by a certain self-congratulatory clique of You Tube Personalities, who take the same few figures around, year after year. I have stood back and watched them at play and they are a pack and exercise a nepotistic pack mentality. 

That fills me with dread for the future painters. The whole thing is becoming dominated by a few people and a few companies dictating what is and what isn't well painted. It's toxic.

2. There are a ridiculous number of Big Box discounters and 3D printers selling the same stuff. You can only sell or buy so much GW/Warlord tat. Reach out to traders, do some research and try to get the same kind of mix you saw in the 80s and 90s. Many of those companies are still out there. Get companies who sell different stuff to each other interested. Again, I have spent a few decades on both sides of the table at shows, and I know what I am talking about.

All in all, Recon is improved, but needs some fine tuning to really bring out all of it's potential. Leverage the goodwill you are obviously generating.

Will I return in 2024? Hell yes...