les
New Member
Posts: 1
|
Post by les on Sept 20, 2016 18:21:06 GMT
Just got the Mag and read at the bottom of the presidents column the comment that each club will only get 4 passes that cover set up on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Oh well I need to renew the membership but as this will be a total constrain I will look to pay £15 for a two day pass and come in with the public with my trolley of boxes and then set up placing the models on the stand than pay £23 to renew and still have grief. If I have read this incorrectly apologies to the committee, if however this is correct I suggest this ridiculous action is revoked.
|
|
|
Post by duncan1098 on Sept 20, 2016 19:33:19 GMT
Will be a real pain, half our club won't be able to set up on the Friday, so will have to queue up Saturday morning then set up their models when the show is open to the public, that should be interesting. Think there will be a lot of upset people
|
|
|
Post by thesheenemachine on Sept 20, 2016 21:29:54 GMT
Despite the reasons behind the decision, it's simply a mistake. I hope the trial will run for just this year, then the EC will come to their senses. For the first time since we begun displaying, we have 6 members attending for two days. This action will only deter them from bothering in the future.
|
|
|
Post by John Tapsell on Sept 23, 2016 22:18:42 GMT
To clarify the reasoning behind the decision to restrict the number of passes per group, the following resonse was posted on our IPMS (UK) Society Business Facebook group. It explains why we've been forced to look at introducing this restriction. Hello Everyone Seeing the various comments and questions popping up on this page, I wanted to take a little time to explain and put some background to the decisions made by the EC regarding access to SMW this year, and to answer a few of the direct questions.
Recent legislative changes mean that the responsibility (and liability) for pretty well all that happens at an event is now being placed firmly on the organisers of the event and not on the venue itself. In simple terms that means IPMS (UK) and those volunteers who organise and manage the event carry the can for anything that goes wrong unless we can demonstrate that it was the fault of the venue – such as the roof falling in. We've already seen two claims against model shows, one a few years ago and another this year so don't think that this will never happen. As an example, although not strictly from our area of operations, a very short internet search found this article today relating to a claim brought against a building contractor to show the world we are operating in these days:- www.constructionenquirer.com/…/foreman-run-over-on-…/
One aspect thrown up from our Risk Assessments is that we need to manage the number of people present in the exhibition halls at times when the show is not open i.e. 9am to 6pm Saturday and 9am to 4pm Sunday, whilst build up and break down occur. You can blame health and safety or insurance brokers, the venue or whoever you feel appropriate, but it doesn't change the reality of the commercial environment in which we operate the largest scale model show in the world.
The way we've chosen to implement the change is to introduce an additional 'exhibitor' wristband. These will be issued on a scale of four bands per display group. With roughly 200 display groups present, four exhibitor passes per group still equates to 800 people. There will also be all the volunteers helping to operate the show in various ways who will of course have their own wristbands not from this allocation. Then there are those traders who will have their own wristbands but are also members, so we reckon that there will be around 1200 plus IPMS UK members who will be able to gain access to the main halls – well over half the estimated number of members attending. Sorry that this has only been issued to everyone quite recently, but as with so many things we do it takes a lot of time to get information, discuss it and turn it into an operational process. For those with long memories, you will recall that we used to have a similar system of exhibitor passes in place so this isn't a totally new concept for us. It is also fairly standard at many of the regional shows we attend through the year although at those additional admissions usually need paying for of course. Bluntly put, I doubt anyone commenting via this page will have much issue qualifying for and receiving an exhibitor wristband.
All other IPMS members will need to collect the usual IPMS weekend wristband and will have access to the show from 9.00am each day. Without wanting to go too far off topic, I'm starting to think that perhaps SMW is being thought of as a three day event nowadays, but it simply is not that. Until 9am on Saturday morning, it is in “build up” and everyone in the halls should be involved in this – be this in club displays, trade stands or the event as a whole – but I think we've drifted more towards being effectively open from mid Friday afternoon, an issue we have been forced to address.
Now to a little more detail which may help to clear up some issues – the full details will be distributed via the exhibitor packs to each group, the next magazine and the website, but this may help a little in the meantime.
Friday: At this stage our intention is to restrict access to those who have an exhibitor wristband. We MAY relax that restriction once the bulk of the vehicles have been removed from the exhibition halls but please don't assume that will be the case. If you are there on Friday then you will be able to collect your standard IPMS wristband (UK, or Overseas).
Saturday and Sunday morning: At this stage our intention is to restrict access to people with exhibitor wristbands before 9.00am.
Sunday afternoon: After closure at 4pm, we will be operating a “limbo” period until 5pm for those without exhibitor passes to pack up if necessary and leave, after which only those with exhibitor wristbands should remain in the halls as full break down and vehicle access may start.
Kitswap and competition: given that these are now in the separate spaces off the foyer it will be possible to drop off items on Friday and first thing Saturday without access to the main halls and thus needing exhibitor wristbands – within the timings published for those areas of course.
Anyway to concluding on a more positive note, I don't think the restricted number of wristbands will have as much impact as you might expect. It may require a little careful planning but it should be feasible to redistribute the available bands such that all who need them to set up will get them. Paul Regan (for the whole EC)
|
|
|
Post by rgriffs on Sept 25, 2016 9:35:26 GMT
paul. thanks for your clarification. i can quite rightly see the reasons behind your decision, and you are quite correct in saying it is a 2 day show with prescribed opening times. i have no doubt all points i mention here have been thought about. exhibitors are just concerned that due the delicate and sometimes cumbersome exhibits that we have, in the past, brought into the show early saturday morning, (not all can or will be able to set up on friday). we may well experience a mad dash at the public entrance between exhibitors desperate to move their stuff into place, then all unpacking at the same time,(in itself quite an experience) and non exhibiting members dashing around to get their first quieter views of the show before the public is allowed in. it could be argued that our exhibits can be set up by other exhibitors/friends who do have access, however, most modellers out of courtesy, do not handle others models.
|
|
|
Post by John Tapsell on Sept 25, 2016 18:34:58 GMT
All the points you raise are ones we are fully aware of, but there is no easy way to address them given that we have to reduce the number of people in the halls. We have limited time to introduce a solution before the 2016 show meaning a) we've had to define a solution at short notice and b) it doesn't really give much chance for Branches and SIGs to absorb the changes and prepare alternative arrangements.
We're still looking at whether we can put some additional measures in place to ease the problems that are likely to occur but can't guarantee we can do that in the time available.
Regards, John Tapsell
|
|
Ant
Kit Basher
Posts: 113
|
Post by Ant on Sept 30, 2016 8:44:13 GMT
Whilst I appreciate we live in a crazy litigious world these days, and there is a need to limit the number of people setting up before the show, using wristbands is totally the wrong way of doing it. I belong to a SIG which typically has 7-8 members displaying and requiring setup. I'm sure there are many smaller exhibitors who only have 1 or 2 people in attendance, so a block limit of 4 each is insufficient for some and an excess for others.
Also more importantly if there is a limit of 800 people it does not have to be the *same* 800 people. It's not like the show itself where you are tying to prevent free entry. A transferrable pass makes so much more sense - you limit the instantaneous numbers, meeting the requirement without restricting any one individual. Members come in, do their setup and when finished can then hand the pass over to someone else on exit. With a wristband, the come in, set up, go home... and then no-one else can make use of that "person allocation" in the hall.
If you end up causing a surge of general setup to happen in the first hour when IPMS members are also permitted to start viewing the show, you're actually increasing the risk of incident...
|
|
darby
Sprue Cutter
Posts: 20
|
Post by darby on Sept 30, 2016 15:09:24 GMT
Ant I think the main problem/issue is that this has been forced onto the IPMS at short notice and they have no other choice but to implement the entry restrictions. Due to these restrictions I have had to make some hard choices as to what I bring to display. Club models will be no issue as two of our club will travel down Friday with all the models in two cars. The problem I will have, is that I also belong to five SIG's, I can not drive to each SIG leaders home address to drop of models so have decided to take with me on the Saturday ONE model for ONE SIG. I have emailed them the size of the base that the model sits on and have asked for space to be left for me to drop the model off, once I gain entry at 9am The other four SIGS will I'm sorry have to go without. Could this cause big problems with the SIG's in future, probably. Only time will tell.
|
|
|
Post by duncan1098 on Oct 1, 2016 16:47:24 GMT
I think a lot of clubs and sigs will be setting up well after the show opens on the Saturday, as there is always a queue well before the show opens, out of our 8 members exhibiting four will be setting up when they get in on the Saturday, and can't blame them if they don't spend an hour plus queuing to get in there first, so won't be setting up till well into the morning, am sure this will be the same for many clubs. I would not like other people to handle my models and wouldn't like to handle other people's
|
|
|
Post by John Tapsell on Oct 7, 2016 21:59:45 GMT
Ant I think the main problem/issue is that this has been forced onto the IPMS at short notice and they have no other choice but to implement the entry restrictions. Due to these restrictions I have had to make some hard choices as to what I bring to display. Club models will be no issue as two of our club will travel down Friday with all the models in two cars. The problem I will have, is that I also belong to five SIG's, I can not drive to each SIG leaders home address to drop of models so have decided to take with me on the Saturday ONE model for ONE SIG. I have emailed them the size of the base that the model sits on and have asked for space to be left for me to drop the model off, once I gain entry at 9am The other four SIGS will I'm sorry have to go without. Could this cause big problems with the SIG's in future, probably. Only time will tell. Darby - I'm slightly at a loss as to why you feel unable to bring models for all the SIGs you belong to? You only need one wristband from one of those groups to give you access on Friday and Saturday morning. If (for example) you were issued with a band by your Branch, it allows you into the halls for the set-up period. You can bring in any models you want. In fact, it helps the other groups because they can allocate a band to someone else if they don't need to give it to you (because you already have one from a different group). Regards, John
|
|
darby
Sprue Cutter
Posts: 20
|
Post by darby on Oct 10, 2016 7:36:01 GMT
Simple answer John All have been allocated and I aren't getting one.
To make matters worse my DD should have gone out on the 30/9 like previous years but has not this time. Membership sec has been informed and is looking into it for me.
|
|
|
Post by ancient on Oct 10, 2016 9:04:17 GMT
Iam aware that there is a page to ask the committee questions, but as this is about SMW I have posted here. First of all some plain speaking, and some facts. Friday pm and early Saturday am at SMW. TRADERS TRADE and members buy and that is impossible to control. This is the time to get bargins, and more to the point to buy hard to get and limited items at full price.So if we do not get a set up pass we are being discrimiated against. The Viewfrom the stage in the latest IPMS Magazine states that 25% of the membership will get in Friday and early Saturday. So you are admitting DISCRIMINATION AGAINST 75% OF THE MEMBERSHIP. So when are you going to bring in a two stage membership price for the First class Members and the Second clss members? I appreciate that the committee works very hard to set up this show, and I make a point of seeing Paul every year to thank him. I have been a member of IPMS for many years more than I care to remember ,and have never posted before, but I feel so strongly about this that this is the first time I have posted. Sorry if I have posted in the wrong place.
|
|
|
Post by NoelSmith on Oct 10, 2016 17:23:41 GMT
I think that this is all getting a bit out of hand judging by the last post. A set up pass is exactly that! A pass to set up a stand for the show, not to go kit hunting from traders a day before the show officially opens to the detriment of other fellow members. Are there not enough bargains in the Kit Swap over the weekend? I would point out that only IPMS members have access to it for the mornings of both Saturday and Sunday.I am also a very long standing IPMS member, from 1974 in fact, but do not expect any back door privileges or trader access before the show officially opens. As I do not do any stand set ups I cannot access the show until the Saturday morning anyway along with the majority of members, and I accept this. However, I do not consider that there is any 'discrimination' taking place by IPMS against any of the membership let alone 75%. The EC has enough on its plate with the organisation and running of the world's premier scale model show and keeping on the right side of health and safety legislation. I am afraid the odd miffed member wishing to jump the queue for a kit or two has to be very low on the priority list unfortunately.
|
|
darby
Sprue Cutter
Posts: 20
|
Post by darby on Oct 10, 2016 17:54:36 GMT
Further to my earlier post John, It seems that the membership sec has done her stuff and my DD has now been taken out.
Totally agree with you Noel, show starts 9am Saturday morning.
|
|
|
Post by ipmsdave on Oct 11, 2016 6:46:06 GMT
I have watched the comments on this subject with some disbelief. Why is it that some members assume that decisions made by the EC for the benefit of all are designed to specifically frustrate them? I know from long experience that the EC gives careful thought to decisions, although this one was forced at short notice. I am not, and never have been a member of the EC, but have long experience of Branch administration. For many years I have arrived on the Friday to set up our Branch stand and want to get out as soon as possible to avoid the people milling around aimlessly. This is not aimed at those who are working on the set up but those who have been whingeing. I have never considered trying to buy from a trader on the Friday, they are too busy anyway. Dave Allen (Member 0147 since 1963)
|
|