assic car shows price to enter

[glenmere15]

im sure this has been covered before but this got my back up.
ive entered my cars at lots of show over the years this year not many however!!!, even if i had pre booked and not gone due to crap weather the entry money has never been returned.This sunday is Mark Woodwards event at Ripon i emailed him asking about entry on the day he replied that it was normal admission price six pounds each i explained that if people like me didnt come he wouldnt have a show, he said no probs, is it time to boycot these money grabbing shows i enter plenty that are far better and no entry fee Otley next week being one rant over sorry.

[darkyoung1000]

I not going to go to the Mark Woodward events any more for just this reason. I have found the commentator to be patronising and unpleasant and paying £6 for the privilege of having someone who doesn't know a great deal about cars insulting the vehicle you've come on is not my idea of fun.

Cheers,
Tom

[benjj]

My first Mark Woodward event (Ripley Castle last year) was my first and my last.

Absolutely no attraction to that sort of thing. I left after an hour(after paying) to go for an actual drive - much better use of precious time.

[supersport]

I don't know anything about Mark Woodwards or his events but what I would say, as someone who has organised events, is that these things aren't free to put on and so it is not reasonable or practical to return entrance fees for those that chose not to turn up for whatever reason.

In many cases the venues take the gate money and the organisers still have to pay a ground rent and incur other costs involved in putting the event together.

[benjj]

I think the point of the post is that:

A) a lot of car shows charge the owners of display cars to attend.

B) they charge punters too (of course)

C) without A there is no show, ergo car owners should be either free or heavily subsidised.

My opinion is that if a car show can't make money by making the display cars free then they shouldn't be in business. Their argument is that they would have to make the punters tickets more expensive. Yes, and they wouldn't come, and it still illustrates a shoddy business plan.

[TheMighty]

And when was the last time you organised this type of event, because you are very wide of the mark on the strategy employed by most promoters of these types of motoring events? Nothing here illustrates a shoddy business plan, it simply illustrates your lack of recognition of the specific key stakeholder groups and their interests in the business. If as you say it illustrates a shoddy business plan then the answer would be that if a car show cannot be commercially viable on general public admissions only then it should cease to exist. That's fine. Lets have no classic car shows. Would the general public care? Probably not. Would there still be a demand amongst owners? Of course there would.

I can't comment on what Mark Woodward Classic Events provides in terms of a show, but I can and will comment on the attitude of some "owners".

As owners of vehicles within any given niche, it is us the owners who are "the punter" ie: the primary market. Members of the general public who may or may not attend are an added bonus. I couldn't be so presumptuous to think that enough members of the general public would want to look at any of the vehicles which I may own or any others which I would be interested in as to form a show which would be a commercial success without me and my fellow car owners contributing financially. Its funny but in my experience of those who think they shouldn't pay because they have a car to display, most have the least interesting cars in the worst general condition (and usually own something German).

Car shows are about sharing cars and knowledge, and having fun times with those with those with a common interest. They are not about trying to make yourself look special to Joe Public and it seems to me it is this attitude which leads to these sort of comments. If you want Joe Public to "ooh and ahh" at your pride and joy then go stick it in the middle of B&Q car park on a Saturday afternoon. If instead you want to go to a well organised event with like minded people with added attractions, which has probably had to be licensed, has risk assessments in place along with, an event management plan, traffic management plan, first aid cover, a major incident plan, adequate facilities at an appropriate venue, stewards, security, access and egress planning, refuse and recycling collection, fire prevention and planning, noise impact planning, provision for lost children, safety barriers and fencing, electrical provision and safety planning and post event reviewing, then I'm sorry but it might just cost you a fiver or two!

Edited by TheMighty on Saturday 1st September 18:34