WGH 2021 Virtual Show

[C855B]

This Saturday, 4/17/2021: http://wghshow.com/

Working link is (currently) by registration only at the above link, that they're "limiting" viewers to 10,000. I suspect that limit is going to fall away once they realize that 10K is hopelessly optimistic and possibly there are enough of us educated in the ways of the Internet to realize that the registration system is an e-mail harvesting scam. I registered anyway, curious what they're going to do with it. If I am spammed by MRR companies in their consortium, so be it.

I just received my registered link in e-mail, and am miffed - they broke the #1 rule of links in e-mails, the human-readable link is nothing like what's underneath. That trick is the domain of scammers and malware sites. I'm actually a bit surprised that my e-mail program didn't flag it as dangerous. The link underneath the visible link is encrypted identification, a click-through encapsulating my registration info. The visible URL, www.wgh.life currently goes to the registration page; whether that will be the case on Saturday amounts to a "we'll try that first" before using the personalized link.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Are folks finding these types of virtual events fulfilling or entertaining?

Maybe it's just my experience and line of work (where I'm on calls like these for at least half of my day), but virtual events, even with a better topic, all just feel a bit too much like "just another work meeting" to me.

How do you guys feel?

[MK]

The biggest turn off with these virtual events (and not just MRR ones) is that it's a "one way" show.  Unlike an actual train show or event where you can carry a productive two-way conversation.  These things are more like work presentations, as you said Ed.  Things are just jammed down your throat.  Yes, there are often Q&A sessions at the end but then it doesn't become spontaneous and you end up with a whole bunch of people trying to squeeze in and ask questions.

Maybe my attention span is waning as I get older but after about 5-10 minutes of these presentations I start drifting off and since I'm already on the computer, check e-mail, TRW ( ), my investment portfolio and surf other websites, etc.

[wcfn100]

I just received my registered link in e-mail, and am miffed - they broke the #1 rule of links in e-mails, the human-readable link is nothing like what's underneath. That trick is the domain of scammers and malware sites.

You think a readable link that started with  "http://xow9z.mjt.lu" would be less suspicious?   

Jason

[C855B]

Are folks finding these types of virtual events fulfilling or entertaining?

Good point, although I didn't experience the full impact of the Zoom meeting purgatory. The Zoom experience for me was limited to MRR meets in the earliest days of lockdown, a few with the TRW party, and one with the local club.

I've maybe clicked around on one virtual show, and found it unsatisfying as you suggest. There's too much intro and blah-blah-blah before getting to the models, I guess because they feel compelled to fill their allotted video length. I only registered this time because this particular show supposedly has a few "new release!" announcements. I usually walk-through in-person shows at a brisk clip for anything new or interesting, and that's hard to do with a video presentation where you might fast-forward and miss something important.

You think a readable link that started with  "http://xow9z.mjt.lu" would be less suspicious?   

Ha!    Of course you're right, but if they were handling the functional link through wgh.com or whatever it wouldn't look nearly as bad.

[Missaberoad]

Are folks finding these types of virtual events fulfilling or entertaining?

Maybe it's just my experience and line of work (where I'm on calls like these for at least half of my day), but virtual events, even with a better topic, all just feel a bit too much like "just another work meeting" to me.

How do you guys feel?

As someone who lives far away from any significant community of model railroaders. (3 hour round trip to my LHS or a "local" club and 26 hours one way to the closest RPM meet)
Personally I love the advent of Virtual Meets, I've been following the Hindsight clinics and hope they continue once the covid restrictions pass. They give an opportunity for people to experience that side of the hobby that otherwise wouldn't. It's a refreshingly egalitarian change to what is sometimes a closed off, stuffy behind the times hobby.

The fact that I work a physical job outdoors without much "screen time" probably helps too.

[Sokramiketes]

Are folks finding these types of virtual events fulfilling or entertaining?

Maybe it's just my experience and line of work (where I'm on calls like these for at least half of my day), but virtual events, even with a better topic, all just feel a bit too much like "just another work meeting" to me.

How do you guys feel?

The one I have liked is the Hindsight 20/20 Virtual RPM's.  Content is high quality, and it's nice to have it on while sitting at the workbench.  I haven't been intrigued by others because of Zoom fatigue overall.

[learmoia]

We have a booth (for the sole purpose of getting more eyeballs on our youtube channel), and they got their 10,000 signups (more actually)..

But they released the "schedule" with 2 or 3 30 minute breaks which I think will be the first stumbling block and I'm skeptical that they will be able to hold people's attention ALL day...

They are trying to do 'live' videos with virtual chat.. which is good.. but it's just open chat.. no DM'ing..

I only saw 4 hobby shops.. Most of the booths I saw didn't have a way to drive sales from the show other than "go to our on line store"
.. Since we do virtual shows every week we just filmed special shows for this show and invited everyone to our youtube channel.. with a 2 day show special on anything they want from the videos.

My goal out of all this is to get 585 subs so I can use the Youtube app to do videos instead of Steamlabs that crashes all the time..

So if 6% of the registrants subscribe to our channel... SUCCESS!!!..

[C855B]

As suspected, registration is not required on show day. Click on https://www.wgh.life/ and you're in.

[learmoia]

You don't even need to register to chat..   

Well.. they got 10K peoples contact info to notify them of future shows.. so theres that..

~Ian

[C855B]

You don't even need to register to chat..   

And I did. Chat, that is. Said "Hi!" to Neal at Neal's N-Gauging Trains, he's local to us. He and his family are members of our MRR club. Also checked-in at ScaleTrains.com, thanked them for the Standard Turbines and confirmed they were shipping next week.

All in all, an OK experience. I didn't peruse any of the clinics, just like I normally don't do at an in-person show.    The whole thing was organized in a way that I could go from "booth" to "booth", each requiring a back-click to the main floor menu, or, rather, palette, to move to the next booth of interest. If there was one change they could make, it would be "next" or "previous" click buttons to do a virtual walk "on" the show floor. That would give each vendor or manufacturer exposure they wouldn't otherwise get if you were only visiting familiar logos or names on the main floor page.

[learmoia]

As a Dealer, The only measure of success we could figure out was # of people in chat.. and we had maybe 20 people pass through.. maybe max 3 at one time... Maybe others were passing through without chat..

I noticed once I moved through 2 or 3 booths, I would get kicked out of chat, so I'm guessing others just didn't bother with it.

The MFGs were obviously getting the most activity.. Kudos to ScaleTrains.. I think he was on the whole time live chatting about whatever..

We got some response.. we got some sales... we called in some extra help in case we were overwhelmed.... and it was slow/steady through the day.. picked up a bit at the end....

We ran our specials through Sunday giving people the opportunity for people to watch other videos to add to thier order.



~Ian

[learmoia]

We have a booth (for the sole purpose of getting more eyeballs on our youtube channel), and they got their 10,000 signups (more actually)..

My goal out of all this is to get 585 subs so I can use the Youtube app to do videos instead of Steamlabs that crashes all the time..

So if 6% of the registrants subscribe to our channel... SUCCESS!!!..

Well.. as we near the end of the weekend 24 hours after the end of the show here are the results..
10,000+ signups to the train show.
Youtube subs needed: 585 (to get 1000+ subs) Return rate of 5.85%

Youtube subs gained this weekend: 10....... Return rate of 0.1%   

The quote in my signature couldn't be more appropriate right now..

“You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.” ~Homer Simpson

The Streamlabs app lives on to irritate me for many days to come...

To the TRW members who may have subscribed... thanks

We do have a 5-6% click through rate on our videos..... so thats good.. (i guess.....?)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLC27XG5r3c6dqqfAmXXiWw


The actual response that mattered.. (people giving us money in exchange for model trains..).. that part went well... so I suppose it was an overall success..

[Mark5]

Hey, I would have never known that Caboose Stop has N scale from the website: http://www.caboosestophobbies.com

But, looking at the Youtube channel there is N scale:

I would definitely swing by if I was anywhere within a few hundred miles. 

Maybe the main site needs a little tweaking.

Mark

[Point353]

Well.. as we near the end of the weekend 24 hours after the end of the show here are the results..
10,000+ signups to the train show.
Youtube subs needed: 585 (to get 1000+ subs) Return rate of 5.85%
Youtube subs gained this weekend: 10....... Return rate of 0.1%   
We do have a 5-6% click through rate on our videos..... so thats good.. (i guess.....?)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLC27XG5r3c6dqqfAmXXiWw

The actual response that mattered.. (people giving us money in exchange for model trains..).. that part went well... so I suppose it was an overall success..

Looks like there might be some items I'd want to buy, but I'd rather see a text listing of the inventory that I could quickly scan or search instead of having to sit through 15 minutes of video (with Darth Vader breathing in the background) in the hope that there mightl be something of interest.