the KC NAME show
 

What a disappointment. Our local spring show was cancelled so the
national show could be held this fall. I'm not sure what the point was,
this wasn't any larger than we usually get. And, it was downtown at the
Crown Plaza, alongside the quilt show, the KC Royal parade, Octoberfest,
and some kind of kid's carnival. I'm amazed we found parking.

Looked like there was about 25 vendors, some with lovely things, but
much of what I saw was 1/2 or 1/4 scale. Doesn't anyone do 1:12 any more?

The vendor hall and exhibit didn't open to the public until after noon.
That's ok, I can understand paid attendees getting first crack at it.
But then there was a $5 entrance fee! Surprised me as there was no
mention of that on their web page or flyers. Grumble grumble.

The exhibit was another disappointment. The theme of the show was pets,
and there were some cute pet shop window displays, and several tables
with roomboxes. The quality of the roomboxes ranged from ok to awful. I
really didn't see anything that took my breath away, and only one I'd
want to take home with me -- a harvest scene done inside a ceramic
pumpkin napkin holder. There were a few rooms I remembered from the last
show.

Overall, it was one of the least inspiring mini shows I've ever seen. I
hope the rest of the country hasn't gotten this bad. Almost makes me
want to give up the hobby.



Dawn

the KC NAME show
 

Dawn wrote:

What a disappointment. Our local spring show was cancelled so the
national show could be held this fall. I'm not sure what the point was,
this wasn't any larger than we usually get. And, it was downtown at the
Crown Plaza, alongside the quilt show, the KC Royal parade, Octoberfest,
and some kind of kid's carnival. I'm amazed we found parking.

Looked like there was about 25 vendors, some with lovely things, but
much of what I saw was 1/2 or 1/4 scale. Doesn't anyone do 1:12 any more?

The vendor hall and exhibit didn't open to the public until after noon.
That's ok, I can understand paid attendees getting first crack at it.
But then there was a $5 entrance fee! Surprised me as there was no
mention of that on their web page or flyers. Grumble grumble.

The exhibit was another disappointment. The theme of the show was pets,
and there were some cute pet shop window displays, and several tables
with roomboxes. The quality of the roomboxes ranged from ok to awful. I
really didn't see anything that took my breath away, and only one I'd
want to take home with me -- a harvest scene done inside a ceramic
pumpkin napkin holder. There were a few rooms I remembered from the last
show.

Overall, it was one of the least inspiring mini shows I've ever seen. I
hope the rest of the country hasn't gotten this bad. Almost makes me
want to give up the hobby.
Dawn

Sorry you had such a disappointing show. At the NAME National
Houseparty here in Anaheim in June there wa free admission to the
exhibits, but as always a charge for non-attendee admission to the
salesroom (which was open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons). Anybody
with one of the flyers that were available at libraries and mini
shops, or with one of the newspaper announcements, etc. got a small
discount.

I don't know that anything is really going down hill. It may just be a
personal level of satiation - after all, just how much really new can
there be? And if it's too new and different, we'd probably complain
about that too!

We're going up to the "Good Sam" show in San Jose next week. Will let
you all know what our experience is.

- Herb

the KC NAME show
 

Herb wrote:



Sorry you had such a disappointing show. At the NAME National Houseparty
here in Anaheim in June there wa free admission to the exhibits, but as
always a charge for non-attendee admission to the salesroom

Maybe I'm just losing it in my old age, but I can't recall ever being
charged admission before.



We're going up to the "Good Sam" show in San Jose next week. Will let
you all know what our experience is.

Hope it's a good one. Maybe we just had an off year here. Will have to
see what spring brings. :)


Dawn

the KC NAME show - Good Sam in San Jose
 

Well, we just came back from there, and it was an excellent show. I've
never been before, so can't compare it in context, but was very impressed.

It was extremely well organized, with continuing activities for kids,
and had a service where people could ask at the main desk if any
vendor had some particular type of miniatures, and the request would
be announced over the PA. The facilities (Parkside Center in San Jose)
were well fitted to the occasion; they set up a food service stand
inside the show area, with adequate tables and chairs. It's a charity
event; they held a silent auction on Saturday and a major raffle with
about 25 high-value donated prizes.

It was one of the best and most varied collection of vendors I've seen
in a long time. More IGMA members than at any NAME show, and more of
the not-quite-so-high-end vendors than at the Tom Bishop or IGMA
shows. All the vendors I spoke to said that they had a good return on
their investment. A couple said that they had fewer sales but a larger
gross - people were buying UP.

- Herb

the KC NAME show - Good Sam in San Jose
 

Herb wrote:


It was one of the best and most varied collection of vendors I've seen
in a long time.

Sounds like it was a good show. Makes me wish we had more than one a
year here.



Dawn