Some Thoughts On Wargames Shows

Wargames shows are a raw-nerve topic...

If you like a show, you'll probably defend it to the last - I understand that. For around 30 years, like many of my circle, I  rabidly supported and gave my time to one show, but at the same time, I visited around 12 shows per year, all over the country from the age of 14.

Every show felt different, but what was always at the core of the convention experience was the sense of being amongst your people. I don't mean race, gender, political view - none of that meant a fucking thing - but rather gamers, be they wargamers, roleplayers of that rarest of beast back then the the jack-of-all-trades who played everything, anytime, anyplace.

Resellers were in the minority and there were, for a long time 'big box' companies were  not a common sight, but over time they have become the norm.

Meanwhile the smaller companies don't bother turning up, a situation which is now spreading to  the medium sized companies who seem to be staying away from all but the largest show, which leads to the question-  Why bother having shows?  

And so what's going wrong?  

It's time that organisers stopped, looked around and gathered their thoughts a little. In the last few years there has been much ado about inclusivity in the hobby. This hobby has always been inclusive, don't let anybody tell you otherwise. Let's face it it's a hobby built on social misfits outcasts and dreamers.  

It's a place where millions over the years have escaped to, to get away from reality, from politics, from social norms which they do not feel part of. So what's changed? Why do we have to make such a shout about inclusivity if it is built-in to the very fabric of war gaming and role-playing?  

In the early 90s when you saw a lot more historical reenactors in the foyers of many conventions, there was much uproar about World War II reenactsors dressing in SS uniforms. But who started that uproar?

Nobody has gone on the record, but you're no longer see World War II reenactors it shows. Remember these were people re-creating at a weekend and at their own expense a period in history. They were not actual storm troopers and I don't think any of them were routinely committing war crimes.

Where was the inclusivity?

We hear a lot of commentary about 'gatekeeping'whenever somebody say something which goes against the flow, but is that not itself gatekeeping but I digress…

What is the purpose of a Wargames convention?

I would argue that first and foremost it's a place to escape the real world with all its complexity, and a place to immerse oneself in what is fascinating hobby.

It's a place to show others your collection in the form of a display or participation game and perhaps in the case of the latter, encourage new blood to enter the hobby without preaching.

And finally, it's a place to see what those who are actively creating products for war gamers and role players, have to offer and perhaps buy some new toys.

But at the same time, the hobby needs a clear delineated identity, and so subjects and products not directly related to the hobby have no place to convention. I'm sorry but if you need cupcakes, retro sweets artisan this or that, and 3-D printed cartoon characters there are other places to get them. They are not I repeat, not wargames related.

By I've probably now, already upset a few delicate little souls, but that's the way the cookie crumbles (weather it's an artisan cookie decorated with a cartoon character, it's up to your imagination) and those delicate souls are in no way obliged, forced or coerced to read this blog.

And so, let's consider the allocation of trade spaces. In my opinion convention organiser should attempt from the outset to get the largest variety of wargaming pertinent traders into the space.

Simply accepting every application for a trade space because those traders are willing to pay you whatever you're asking price for 6 feet of wooden table is, is a recipe for long-term disaster. You need to know in detail what each trader sells/produces. If they are they are simply a third-party reseller and you have multiple stands occupied by essentially the same type of trader, selling essentially the same products you have a problem.

If you have five manufacturers offering Napoleonic miniatures that's okay if they are different manufacturers. But if you have 30 manufacturers producing those same Napoleonic miniatures, and only two manufacturer offering miniatures from other periods, unless you are a period specific show (and it's not unheard of then you have a problem.

We live in a time when there are companies out there who, despite having been around for in some cases, 40+ years, no longer have to advertise. I myself, don't actively advertise, as I have a finite capacity, nor do I trade at shows - admittedly to my financial detriment - because I decided at the outset that I would keep a separation between the metaphorical church and state that is Monday to Friday working in the industry and Saturday & Sunday where I indulge my own hobby passions for my own pleasure.  

Those companies still exist however, and in this age of electronic signs and wonders, a decent show secretary should be sending polite emails to every company they can find - taking into account the above comments on relativity to the hobby - asking them to, without commitment, register whetehr they would be interested in taking one or more stands at 'Perfect Con' (TM) asking them to perhaps reply either way within say 28 days.

Some will say no, some will say yes and some ignorant bastards won't bother. The point is that you must reach out and not expect the mountain to come to Arioch.

A certain show sec' I know, didn't respond to emails from interested potential 'new' traders and after six months I had to step up and try and pour oil on the waters, but to no avail. So, make sure your show secretary is on the ball. It's a two way street.

Don't get greedy with the costs for a stand. This is a considerable outlay for a new trader. Perhaps have a reduced rate for a 'first time' trader and even perhaps have a dedicated 'zone' for new traders in a prominent place. Fuck those large traders who moan about not having a place of prominence... If they are that big and popular, the people will come to them, even if you stick them in the basement with a biohazard warning on the door.

*Ouch!* - I think someone just reached for a voodoo doll...

Similarly, approached clubs and known individuals - this is so much easier these days - and ask if they wouuld like to put on a game. At this stage avoid companies because at the end of the day they get a 'free extension' to their trade stand and some turn up with 2 or three games, which in my personal and humble opinion is taking the piss royally.

Ask them for a few pics of the type of game they want to bring and ask if it's participation or display only. Make it clear that if it's a display game, those bringing it will be reasonably expected to be willing to interact with the public and not just use the show as a chance for a big game without hiring a hall.

Remember that different people have different styles and standards but if soething has been done with passion it will show. So, unless you are a Southern aesthete, don't be sniffy about whether figures are modern, meticulously detailed works of art or just old Hinchcliffe models painted in a neat toy soldier style - Horses for courses.

Now, here I will sort of break a rule, but bear with me...

When I was involved with the running of Triples, I found we had two entire halls that were paid for as part of the package but not used.

I could have got those two halls filled with model railways and/or scale model makers and/or Dolls House enthusiasts. Each would be under the umbrella of the show but with their own area. 

Take it from me, there is a big crossover of the above, and there was real interest from groups who were happy to arrange getting those halls (successfully) filled at NO COST TO THE ORGANISERS... 

Nobody would be 'diluting the genepool' or contaminating the purity of their own hobby, but rather would be enriching each others hobbys - and all are connected to miniature world building.

Want to be inclusive? Here's a great way, that is 100% non-contraversial and does not involve cupcakes or facepainting.

Catering...

Not everybody wants greasy pasties and by Christ, a lot of wargamers should get a Munjaro shot instead of a free figure when they arrive, together with a blood pressure test made compulsory on entering. 

But equally, those shows which have no catering on site, but instead invite artisan breweries and burger stands need to think if that's a good way to go.

Get a local catering company involved. It's not difficult.  If a venue insists on it's own caterers then do some insisting on better food choices than the 'Yorkshire Roll' or terrible overcooked breakfast. I've actually stopped eating at all shows apart from Pudsey, and that's a nostalgia thing... I'll go for lunch somewhere and pay a few quid more for superior catering where I don't have to watch overweight wargamers compacting their colons.

How I remember food running out at Kelham and about a half hour later eating an excellent brie and apple sandwich made by the hand of Duncan MacFarlane - Happy days!

 Display or participation? That is the question...

Personally I don't mind, but a mix of accessible participation games with fast and dirty 'bang ye be dead' rules and a taste of 'big battle' gaming is what would and did, hook me. 

These days, I am less impressed by big games because frankly, witha bit of planning and modest outlay anyone can do it. During the Great Reset, I did just that. I reviewed where my money was being wasted and why. Then I rerouted funds and energy into concentrating on periods one at a time and not starting another until that was done. 6 years later and I have 8-10,000 more 28mm figures ready to go or with a painter - no increase in the annual gaming budget.

The point I am making is that big games are nothing special these days. 'But', I hear you exclaim 'What about the games by X & Y?'  

What about them? Are X or Y in the industry themselves or are they employed in a Blue Chip firm and can afford it? So what? Get off your arse, get your need to do everything to 10% and then sit on a lead pile, in check... Focus and you too my little one can have those big games. 

But I digress...

Less games put on by traders would be my choice or limit them to 1 game on a 4 x 4 board. Don't include them in any declaration of the number of display games... 

If you have people wanting to exhibit or trade at your show, don't have a 'Dead Man's Shoe's' system as many do... Take a chance, and vary the trade year by year. If not, the show becomes suspended in a slowly decaying aspic. Remember Triples?

Bring and buys... 

I know a LOT about this subject as some of you will know. 

1. Keep control of the B&B 'in house'

2. Do not allow a dealer to run it. There are pitfalls here which I can assure you are going to kill the B&B.

3. Tabletop sales... I don't like them for many reasons, but stand back and watch one. 

4. Do not allow dealers to ambush users of the bring and buy and equally don't let them pile stuff on it. Control these people and don't tell me you can't. You can and you should. It's laziness.

5. If you really must farm out the B&B, get a member of the club with insight and 'nouse' to monitor the process all day, and make sure they enforce a few common sense rules. A B&B is not a trade stand. And charge any third party a firm but fair price for the stand.

6. The B&B serves to allow gamers to buy and sell their personal stuff and in turn generates income which will probably be spent befor closing with the traders.

As an aside, a show started a tabletop salesystem  recently, made much of not allowing traders/dealers, and then in the first ten  minutes there was a trader on the tables, selling his stock and handing out busines cards. Nothing was done...

 The best shows I have been to in the last 45 years have been those where there has been a sense of being by the hobby for the hobby and not vanity projects. 

They had painting competitions, clinics and talks and a vibrant atmosphere. Today so many look like cattle sales - really, go and watch a cattle market and then imaging 'Weird Fish' T-shirts & cargo trousers ' on the bovine contingent.

Create an atmosphere where atendees (they are paying you, remember) feel that there's something new and interesting every 6 feet or so. Why could shows do it in the past but not now?

Ask traders why they are not interested in coming to your show... Don't just shrug your collective shoulders and move on. If you have a show where someone's been coming for years and then stops, find out why. f they are just cutting back on shows, encourage them, sell them on coming to your show. Hell, offer them a free or reduced stand for a year and move them around a bit.

A show organiser I respected highly once referred to traders as idiots. Really? They are not idiots at all... We had a large disagreement on that one, for several years as a result. Those traders are paying your club to bring life to a bare table in a cattle shed and in doing so, attract people who will pay you money to let them spend more money with those traders.

Don't get greedy... A day at a show can be expensive, before you even get over the threshold.

I now use the'Kennedy Scale' to judge whether or not I go to a show. If the cost to get to a cattle shed or confrence centre and across the threshold (keep your free figures - they are not free and I throw them away generally) is higher than the price I paid last year to see a virtuoso performance by Nigel Kennedy - including interval refreshments - I don't go. 

Some would say it makes me a poor wargamer, but I prefer to think that I am just able to see that the emperor isn't wearing any clothes...

 

 

It's about expectations of being entertained in decent surroundings. Let me tell you, I'd never seen NK until then, but he entertained and engaged and thus set a standard for me, going forward of how I should spend money on said entertainment.

If you can, take yourself to a model railway show at say Doncaster or York racecourses and you'll see how those venues can 'buzz' when a well run event is held. At those events, the restaurants are open and do a very brisk trade in good quality food which whilst not cheap, is better than a greasy breadcake with some cremated animal parts and an antemacassar egg. 

And those shows are packed with varied and interesting trade stands, because model railways still embrace the small and dedicated companies in with the corporate entities. They are not as afflicted by 'stardom'. 

As a wargamer, I can tell you, yoiu'll find some seriously useful stuff you can use in your hobby as well as see some terrain which most wargamers don't know is possible outside of a 'tits out' shot on a company website or magazine. 

Really, you should go to one of the railway shows. You don't come out feeling that you spent money for no return. 

If your defence is to say that wargaming is struggling then perhaps it needs to die and start again - it will, because there will always be those of us 'on the scale' who need to build miniature worlds and indulge our inner child.

I think the show scene is at the 'Roy Batty' stage... What we need now is an Eldon Tyrell to reconfigure the genetics.