tomk Posted July 12, 2010 Report Posted July 12, 2010 The IPMS/Red River Scale Modelers are one year old this month and we have nearly doubled in size. We thought a "Swap Meeting" would be fun. However, we have no idea how to do it. Could you share? Thanks...President Tom
Dick Montgomery Posted July 12, 2010 Report Posted July 12, 2010 Happy Birthday! Many clubs do Swap Meets without any model competition in the mix. Some do a White Elephant kind of thing, some do silent auction, and some just set up tables with each modeler negotiating for swaps or "sells" as they see fit. Sounds like fun! Be sure to take some digital images and send them to the IPMS Assoc.Webmaster for Events, Mike Lindsey!
Ron Bell Posted July 12, 2010 Report Posted July 12, 2010 Some have done a "grab bag". The members put a kit in an opaque bag and put it in a pile. Each member then selects one from the pile that is not his and gets a "surprise". Spice it up a little and say they HAVE to build it by a certain meeting. I've seen it done with bags of scrap parts as well, like bombs or cockpits or tracks or road wheels or whatever. The bags are labeled "mil.veh." or "a/c" or "ship" or whatever so you pick one that fits your needs. It's cheaper than giving up a whole kit and, in reality, will more probably actually get used by the modeler.
ewahl Posted July 12, 2010 Report Posted July 12, 2010 At IPMS/Will-Cook, we have the Annual Vendor Night. Any member can bring kits, decals, books, tapes, CD's, etc., to sell to anyone else who might want the item. For browswers only, we charged $2 per head to shop. We asked $2 for each vendor table surface for an 8' table. We learned that we need more publicity in advance to bring out browswers from the surrounding area. Ed
ghodges Posted July 12, 2010 Report Posted July 12, 2010 You can do it anyway that your members think would be beneficial and fun. You can "secret swap" with things under wraps; have a "vendors night" to allow anyone to buy, sell, and swap as they see fit; or have an "auction". Just remember a couple of things: 1) allow extra meeting time, especially if you go the auction route. 2) discuss and agree on the format and rules ahead of time for whatever "thing" you decide to do (no hurt feelings) 3) check with your meeting venue to be sure there's no problems with "retail activity" in their space (some churches and libraries are iffy about such things, especially if they feel you'r trying to sell to the public and make a profit) We hold a kit auction each Novemeber and it's great fun! In fact, we're going in with 2 other clubs this year in order to expeand it, vary it, and have even MORE fun! Best of luck! GIL
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