What shows are worth attending as a trader?

[Erpingham]

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.

[Imperial Dave]

So should demo games also be participation games? They don't have to be....

[Nick Harbud]

Well, the obvious answer is to come along to Colours at Newbury on 5^th 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!

[Imperial Dave]

I really must get along to this one next year

[Dave Knight]

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.

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.

[Nick Harbud]

OK, rooms can be booked at the The Lodge 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 if you would like to explore this further.

[Nick Harbud]

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.

[Imperial Dave]

Clever idea