Euro Minature Expo.

[Dragonsreach]

Euro-Militaire no more!

It's just been announced that Euro-Militaire 2016 will have been the last show.
http://www.euromilitaire.co.uk
After so many years of great modelling competition this years low entry (roughly 50% down on entries) and footfall traffic seems to have been the "Final Straw"

So you'll understand my disappointment for the UK.

2017 might be Scale Model Challenge and or Monte San Sevrino.

 

[SkelettetS]

Just read, I'm actually a bit shocked. I knew it was a decline but didn't knew it was that bad. Although I only went once I thought it was a great event. Too bad.

 

[ten ball]

This is real bad news, it was a great little competition and a great venue for a meet up with friends
I know Andys going to be gutted as well.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Well Andy did end the show with a great award.
The Golden Crocs.

 

[Zab]

Sorry to hear that. Maybe this can be a prompt for the community to come together and start something new?

 

[Dragonsreach]

Sorry to hear that. Maybe this can be a prompt for the community to come together and start something new?

Like Coolminiornot Con UK?

 

[AndyG]

Utterly fucking gutted!! Cant believe it has happened I saw that the numbers were down it was easier to walk around but still there was loads of people there. Very very sad day

 

[ten ball]

The numbers were down on the last 4 years ive been but not to a level for cancellation.
Its seems there's more things going on with the event holders having trouble with getting people to actually run the event etc

 

[Zab]

Like Coolminiornot Con UK?

Yes sir! Try to make something new and positive from this

 

[Dragonsreach]

Well I do know a place that would be a great venue.
Theatre and conference venue with several large rooms.

I just don't fancy having to organise anything that big, herding 20 scouts onto a bus was bad enough.


(Welp, just pulled up the big boy pants and booked the hotel for SMC next year.
Have to sort out the flights next.)

Going to have to seriously "Up the game" or I'll be punching away above my weight there.

 

[Bailey03]

That really sucks. Like 10 said, I'm guessing it had more to do with trouble finding people to run the show (though the fall in attendance probably had some effect).

I've been part of a couple clubs in the US. The one in DC had one guy who had been the primary organizing force behind the show and was desperately trying to get more people involved so he could take a step back from it. Now I'm part of a group in LA, but their show is much smaller than it used to be. I'm trying to push for more outreach and advertising to modelers but they tend to rely on the same dwindling group of attendees from the previous years.

Neither of those shows are anywhere near the scale of Euro, but that means a higher burden of work on the part of the club organizing it. I doubt advertising was the issue, euro is pretty widely known. But if their group is like the ones I've been part of, they may be shrinking in size and the members may not be as willing to spend their time organizing the show. I look at some of the groups here in the US and wonder how much longer they'll be running their shows.

 

[Zab]

Well I know Chicago is a bit worried because attendance was down this year too. Although with world expo next year i doubt that will be a problem. It's 2018 that may be tough for them.

 

[Bailey03]

Not to veer too far off the topic of Euro, but many of the shows in the US are put on by historical groups (MMSI in Chicago, MFCA, NCMSS, SCAHMS, etc). Of the groups I've been part of, there seem to be a lot of old members but they aren't adding new ones all that quickly. The younger crowd of painters are more involved with the forums and shows like GenCon, ReaperCon, and Adepticon. Those shows are not run by local hobby groups. If things keep going the way they are, I expect the shows run by the hobby groups will struggle and eventually fade away.

To bring this back to the original topic, do people feel like that was perhaps what happened to Euro? And what about other shows in Europe? Might they run into similar problems in the next 5-10 years? Or are they doing something that will help them continue to thrive?

 

[Zab]

You may have hit the nail on the head there sir. Many IPMS shows here in Canada are having similar trouble, but more broad figure related shows and even IPMS shows that have embraced the "other" categories that aren't primarily military seem to be doing quite well. Still as big and fun as cons are those smaller more intimate shows have a certain appeal.

 

[Avelorn]

Sad news! Is there any way one could help? I was meaning to go next year as I actually have stuff to enter.

It's been quite an institution.

 

[Dragonsreach]

You've all raised a very good series of points about footfall and the demographics of the shows.

Euro-Militaire/I.P.M.S has historically and generally speaking an older demographic of supporters having come from the origins of Airfix/Revell tank and aircraft kits (which is also where I started back in the 1960's) and born out of World War 2 veterans.
It's these era modellers who always seemed to be the backbone of Euro, so I suspect that it's a combination of age, being unable to adapt to the need for change which may have contributed to the decline.

Fantasy modelling within these groups has only relatively speaking started to gain acceptance/foothold in recent times.
Unfortunatley there is within strictly historical modellers a demand for hyper accuracy which we as Fantasy/SciFi modellers are not bound by. For me there will always be room for both Historical and Fantastic in modelling and painting, which is one of the reason's I've been invited to attend and do a talk about my figures at a local I.P.M.S. Group.

Now last Saturday (12th) I attended the I.P.M.S national show at Telford, 3 indoor football field sized halls full of traders and displays, if that can work, then there is still a requirement/need for a High Class Independant show in the U.K.

 

[AndyG]

I am seriously sad about this but at the same time I am in a complete quandary on what to do. The community needs a competition of international standard that is independent. However the organisation and capital is clearly beyond an individual. It needs a club and it needs sponsorship and good advertising. The venue needs to be near the main airports gatwick and Heathrow if international painters and traders are to come. I am willing and eager to help with this but it will need traders to take the lead here as it is in their own financial interest to do this. I am thinking hassle free Andrea aradia etc. Does anyone have contact with the head honchos of these companies or any other major players?

 

[AndyG]

Right I'm going to go out on a limb here if people can help me and have contacts within the industry I'm willing to organise something. I have a venue in mind its on a good route train and road wise from the airports. Please PM me or rather write on this thread Mike maybe an idea to create a sticky thread specifically to set up a new comp? Ideas and interest off people would be great or if someone can think of a better route forward stich it on.

 

[MAXXxxx]

both sad and releived.
Sad because I heard/seen(photos) so much good about it. Also wanted to attend/enter in 2017 (work permitting)
'Happy' because one less headache less to worry about. No need to organise flight, hotel,no problems with carrying minis, no need to paint, can be lazy.
So it's time to see around where I could go as an alternative...

AndyG: I'm not sure Hasslefree and the others are big enough to take on the costs of organising one. Andrea may be, but don't think they'll take on.
Best bet would be getting the people and companies to Salute.

Funny thing is, that in Hungary there is a similar problem with the yearly "Games Day". The organisation that made it possible until now is no more, the members are alse not available anymore (they wanted the new gen to do it and having life instead of work). Right now a local shop took up the organisation part (with maybe 3 people doing their part), we'll see how successful it will be. Hopefully good enough that they can continue.

 

[ten ball]

ive put the message out on PB and messaged a few people.

This past year or two ive been getting a vibe of a down turn / low interest in the painting side of the hobby. It could just be a trend change towards different forms of media (instagram, facebook etc) so a down turn on forums etc.
But ive noticed it at events also. GD for example had a good turnout but 80% were veterans with not many 'new' faces. Same at salute and of course a real downturn at Euro.

PB site and Wamp have a very low footfall nowadays also.