Test of Resolve attended Carronade, Claymore and Battleground in 2004 and 2025 and are considering our options further south in 2026, althogh being based in Central Scotland does limit us a little in terms of distance. What shows would people recommend? It seems difficult to get into the more popular ones such as Vapnartak and Hammerhead. We take a gaming table alongside the stand and run short participation games to give people a feel of the rules.
My experience selling books at conventions and similar (so not wargames show but the economics are probably the same) is that the three big costs are
The cost of the Table/floor space
How far it is from you (cost of travel)
Do you have to stay overnight because of the distance
I suspect you know what sort of sales you can expect, but the first thing I'd check is how much they're charging for the space. You can cope with expensive space if you live near by.
But if you have to travel two hundred miles to get there and book a B&B then frankly the table better be inordinately cheap ;)
I came to the conclusion that overnight stays pretty much never paid
Jim
I guess also is how much store do you put into advertising rather than direct sales. Obviously direct sales to cover costs on the day is a great starting point and yet there is the unquantufyiable bit about getting your face and product known
Quote from: Jim Webster on Dec 06, 2025, 05:52 PMI came to the conclusion that overnight stays pretty much never paid
We do make money on local shows, and as I have relatives nearby Battleground in Middlesbrough qualifies, but it is as much about making people aware of our rules as selling books. We have put on participation games at Hammerhead and Historicon on this basis, but find that we reach more people with a trade stand / taster game combo, as well as defraying the cost of the expedition and perhaps even making a profit,
Phalanx looks doable but there does not seem to be any obvious way to contact the organisers!
Quote from: Dave Knight on Dec 07, 2025, 02:17 PMPhalanx looks doable but there does not seem to be any obvious way to contact the organisers!
I think it is run by St Helens Spartans. I think they have a website, possibly Facebook etc.?
If Middlesbrough's a possible stopping-ground, you might find Border Reiver in Gateshead (first or second Sat in September usually) an option. It is a smaller show, but usually draws a decent, enthusiastic crowd. It's the sole survivor of what were once about three annual wargame shows in the Newcastle-Gateshead area back in the late 1970s-early 80s.
Quote from: Sharur on Dec 07, 2025, 03:28 PMIf Middlesbrough's a possible stopping-ground, you might find Border Reiver in Gateshead (first or second Sat in September usually) an option. It is a smaller show, but usually draws a decent, enthusiastic crowd. It's the sole survivor of what were once about three annual wargame shows in the Newcastle-Gateshead area back in the late 1970s-early 80s.
I attended Border Reiver as a member of the public this year and it seems to have declined somewhat over the years. It is a shame that it is not better supported. I was one of the organisers of the Warrior show that ran from 1981 to 2006 and there too numbers slowly dropped off, and with it trader interest.
Quote from: Dave Knight on Dec 07, 2025, 04:02 PMI attended Border Reiver as a member of the public this year and it seems to have declined somewhat over the years. It is a shame that it is not better supported. I was one of the organisers of the Warrior show that ran from 1981 to 2006 and there too numbers slowly dropped off, and with it trader interest.
I was there too! Yes, it's never really recovered since the pandemic, and I don't think having to shift it to the Sunday this year helped at all, given how lousy public transport is in general in NE England.
About the only show we regularly support is Phalanx in St Helens. I reckon it still as a good show but it probably isn't as good as ten years ago?
Quote from: Jim Webster on Dec 07, 2025, 05:00 PMAbout the only show we regularly support is Phalanx in St Helens. I reckon it still as a good show but it probably isn't as good as ten years ago?
I managed to find a contact email and have sent off an enquiry so we will see what the response is. It would be good for us to venture further "down south" from Scotland
Ones where attendees have deep pockets and want your products would seem to be the simple answer to your question.
But seriously,
Personally I think Partizan and Hammerhead are good shows, but probably very much too far for you to travel
Quote from: GavinP on Dec 07, 2025, 10:36 PMPersonally I think Partizan and Hammerhead are good shows, but probably very much too far for you to travel
We did attend Hammerhead with participation games twice. It did necessitate an overnight stay and so was quite an expensive trip but early on we just wanted to spread the word about the ruleset. We did the same at Historicon, which was much more expensive again.
Our observation was that an awful lot of wargamers at shows are much more interested in the traders than looking at the games in any detail. Also it is much easier to have a conversation (sales pitch 8) ) from a trade stand than whilst trying to run a game.
The problem with Hammerhead and Partizan now is that they have waiting lists for traders and it is not easy to get in. We would be willing to make the trip even if it made a loss for the publicity value alone.
So on that point is it better to have a game led event rather than a trader led event?
A game led event might have a few traders but the majority of space is taken with competition games etc
A trader led event has on balance more trade space than games
For me, personally, a trader led event. But then I'm lucky to have a decent wargames club close at hand so get to play games every week.
I attend virtually no shows these days but drawing on past experience, a show with good demo games and plenty of trade. My issues about gaming with people I don't know mean participation games are usually wasted on me (though, if my wife is with me, she loves to have a go - she was playing Snoopy v The Red Baron at Recon). Competitions are fine but I don't find them particularly visual and the participants are, quite rightly, engrossed in the games.
So should demo games also be participation games? They don't have to be....
Well, the obvious answer is to come along to Colours at Newbury on 5th September 2026, although some may consider that I have a slight bias in this regard.
You could take a trade stand at the show, together with a 6'x4' table nearby for a game. We would welcome this.
However, if this seems a bit too much for a first visit, try putting on a demonstration/participation game, which we do not charge for. That way you can judge interest.
Whichever option you choose, travel is fairly straightforward. Catch the 00:26 from Falkirk and arrive at Newbury Racecourse (which is next door to the venue) at 09:17 on the Saturday morning. The show opens at 10:00am. At the end of the show, catch the 15:31 to arrive back in Falkirk just after 11:00pm.
This is the best show in the south of England and we welcome new, innovative games, especially if accompanied by their authors. Traders regularly comment to me that not only do they sell more stuff than at many 2-day shows, but that it breaks all-time records for turnover in a single day.
Last year the games floor was heaving. When Adrian Nayler put on a demo game of Blood Red Roses, he was unable to make a single move until after 3:00pm due to visitors asking about his game!
8)
I really must get along to this one next year
Quote from: Nick Harbud on Dec 18, 2025, 08:43 AMWhichever option you choose, travel is fairly straightforward. Catch the 00:26 from Falkirk and arrive at Newbury Racecourse (which is next door to the venue) at 09:17 on the Saturday morning. The show opens at 10:00am. At the end of the show, catch the 15:31 to arrive back in Falkirk just after 11:00pm.
Unfortunately taking all our paraphernalia by train is not practical. We would have to drive down on the Friday and stay overnight. It is then a long drive back on the Saturday evening after a (hopefully) busy day at the show, or another overnight stay.
We find that a stand/table combo generates a lot more interest than a demonstration or participation game on its own which is why we have switched to this format.
OK, rooms can be booked at the The Lodge (https://www.guestreservations.com/the-lodge-newbury/booking?currency=GBP&checkIn=02%2F13%2F2026&checkOut=02%2F14%2F2026&rooms=1&adults%5B1%5D=2&children%5B1%5D=0&_gl=1*5qa573*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..*_ga*NjY4NTEzOTY1LjE3NjYwNTQyMjA.*_ga_WF186HV3S4*czE3NjYwNTQyMTkkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjYwNTQyMTkkajYwJGwwJGgw&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrr-T0PjGkQMVuKNQBh1pTQNnEAAYAiAAEgIjS_D_BwE) hotel on the racecourse or at any other suitable flop house around Newbury. There is normally a discount on The Lodge prices available to show attendees, but I do not know what it it might be yet.
I recommend contacting the trade coordinator, Ian Black, at ColoursTradeNRWS@gmail.com (ColoursTradeNRWS@gmail.com) if you would like to explore this further.
8)
Of course, the other solution to transport/accommodation is to send all your gear ahead and travel independantly. This is what Deep Cut Studios (who travel from Lithuania) do at Colours. The box of stock arrives on Friday and the man himself appears at Heathrow early on Saturday morning. Generally he sells all his stuff before leaving on Saturday evening.
Clever idea