Save Our Show – plea
Tuesday 14th September 2010, 1:00PM BST.
Northern A&H Society treasurer Stuart Wilson, left, and president Simon Marquis on a Battle of Flowers float launching an appeal for sponsorship to allow the event to go ahead next year. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 1027413)
THERE will be no North Show next year unless more sponsors are found.
Gate fees this August were £27,000 down on last year and its reserves have effectively been wiped out by two days of solid rain.
The event costs around £100,000 to put on but the committee is now in a position where it needs at least £35,000 before it can enter into contracts, from January onwards next year.
For the first time in its near 90-year history the future of the show is in doubt.
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Sincere thanks to the committee for their effort, but the show this year failed due to insufficient planning and there is only one head of the show committee who has to take personal responsibility.
I doubt that this will happen, but ultimately if you accept the responsibility for leading the show, you have to accept the good as well as the bad.
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I dont think it is fair to blame one person as the bad weather leading to poor gate receipts must be a factor.
Trouble is as I see it all the tents that go up for the North Show are also used by the West and possibly the South, so there could be domino effect on all the shows, if the North packs up.
Maybe it is time for the three shows to combine and have a week long island show.
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Guern, I have to disagree, how can you possibly plan for bad weather.
If the North Show had two days of sun, we would not even be having this conversation and the North Show would not be in trouble.
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I did find this years show was not that good but Im sure the weather had alot to do with it.
Hope it will get funding for next year as it would be sad to end it now.
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How can you plan for bad weather?
off the top of my head:
1) Arrange more tent-age space, have some of the smaller acts in that dry space 2) provide umbrellas to the people that do visit – generously donated by local businesses – in the winter i see loads of different company’s umbrellas in town… I am sure that there are loads of other options and clearly the possibility of rain was not considered.
I agree that it may be unfair to blame one person, but that is the responsibility of the job. Previous year’s shows had extra unused tent space to allow for this option – this year did not. That was a choice made, which was a wrong choice.
With regards to the amalgamation of the 3 shows, it has (apparently) already been suggested by members of the North Show that they combine with the West Show. The West show declined the opportunity.
Perhaps the North Show has been in trouble for longer than the 2 days of rain…..
Perhaps the age of the president led to the bad choices being made.
Perhaps the decision to ask for sponsorship from the public in the worst recession for years is another bad choice….
watch this space.
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A bit worrying that the North wanted to join the West – i thought the show would be around for years to come – they have had bumper crowds for the past few years and now one wet day and they are brassic….
guess nothing is outside the recession
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Guern – your points about bad weather planning are all fair enough but you’ve left out one crucial point – the punters. A large percentage of people simply won’t bother visiting the show if the weather is bad.
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Guern, think about your propositions from the point of view of the situation that the North Show was in when planning the event. In September forecasts for the August weather, and there is no way of telling what it will be like, so how could you possibly place a tent order based on the weather. Ordering more space would be cost prohibitive.
As far as I know the tent numbers this year were only down one, this was a tent for the now disbanded Petit Magasain, who covered the cost themselves. So the tent space was not down that much.
The same applies to booking acts. It’s hard for impressive acts to take place inside the tents, with limited space for both the people of the event and those watching so it is by far safer and better for the public if the entertainment is outside.
Umbrellas are a bit of a moot point. The North Show is an outdoor event, and is designed to be able to run in all weathers, but if it’s horrible people will simply not turn up to the show, even with a free umbrella (which would result in the need of about 10,000 for an average crowd sharing them, not only is storage a big problem but so is distribution.)
Maybe the North Show has been in trouble for longer, I believe their finances are a public thing and can be viewed by anyone. But I think blaming the president for a show that went off with very few other problems, and would have done the same no matter who is leading, is just and unfair comment.
Sponsorship in the worst recession? Well, we’ll have to see how that goes won’t we, but they need the money now and how else will they get it?
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Guern
Seems to me that you have a personal dislike for the president.
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I can’t understand that considering how everything is balanced so finely on a knife edge financially the organisers didn’t buy weather insurance, quite common for the big agricultural shows elsewhere to do this.
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JohnT – nothing personal at all, just not liking the potential demise of the show.
Saints – a perfect example of what was missed by the current committee / president and aptly reflects my concerns. If the situation was precarious, why not seek to minimise risks rather than ‘wing it’?
A costly error in my mind.
Lets hope the good people of Guernsey will bail out the Show and hope for a better job next year.
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Saints
Weather insurance is very costly (trying to save costs not increase costs) and also only kicks in if you cancel the show (not really realistic for the North Show)
Maybe they should insure against a shortage of visitors to the show!!!!
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I would like to say thank you to all of you that have posted kind comments regarding the show and sympothy toward its current financial situation.
Guern – I would like to invite you to contact me directly by phone as i believe your comments are based on pure assumption rather than fact!
The show planning begins in September, a lot of people, not just me, are involved. whilst i belive your attack to be directed purely at me this must be very upsetting for the committee to read. I agree that ultimately the blame for a poor show must fall on my shoulders but everything ran very well and we did have a great show for the community to enjoy. perhaps i should have taken meteorology studies prior to accepting the appointment as president!!?
JohnT – you are correct we do use the same tents as the West show, but we use more!!
you mention weather insurance. Good idea, as a professional insurance advisor I had already considered this. Given the astranomical cost to purchase this and the fact that the cover only activates at the time the entire event is cancelled, furthermore that it usually only covers loss of income and not expenditure it seemed non advantageous to spend substantial money on something tht would effectively provide zero benefit.
The North Show has no intention of merging with the the West or South Shows and has not suggested this in any way. The West has not rejected a proposal from from the North, all three shows support each other and will continue to do so in the future.
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Maybe some reputable weather forecasting company would like to sponsor them??
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I have little sympathy for the show… Dont get me wrong – i’m a Guern & think it should continue, but we need to move into the real world now…
I used to go every year & have not been for about 15 years… basically since I was at school. I work in the real world now so I dont get the chance to go… This is guernseys premier show – so why have it midweek when most people are at work??
The days have gone when we all had Thursdays off so why not move with the times…
Put the shows on the weekends when people can actually attend them & they will get much busier & bring in more cash…
Its hardly rocket science now is it…
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W H Bonney – You are spot on, couldn’t agree more.
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My comments whilst harsh are in no way meant to be an “attack” either personal at the president or at the committee – just harsh truth.
My “pure assumptions” are based on “facts” that I have heard and seen myself. Of course in this forum, one can claim anything as there is no ability to verify such claims.
My concerns remain valid and they are concerns of more just one person.
ps – what is the point in weather insurance existing if it provides zero benefit?
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W H Bonney, spot on!
I’ve wondered the same thing for years, as I also used to attend them all when at school but have rarely been able to since in over 20 years.
They should have all been on at weekends for a long time.
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I’d hate to see the North show go. I agree, it would be more popular at the weekend, maybe move it to Friday / Saturday? What about combining it with the Viaer Marche as an option?
North Show president – can you publish an address or bank account where people can send donations (ie the cost of a ticket for those of us who couldn’t face turning out in the rain after a long day at work)- I looked for this info in the press, but didn’t see it. I think you would get a lot of support.
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Damme, there are some comments ere that have given me another of me “cor la” moments, eh. It is thanks to people like the boy Marquis and Mr Wilson and their committee that events like the North Show are put on yer after yer; reading comments like the ones made ere must make em think twice about ever doing something for this ere Island again, eh. That is this simple old bugger’s point really. The committees of the summer shows work all yer round to organise the events, and they do it for free too, eh, for visitors and the people of Guernsey. I finds nowadays that people are often quick to criticise but are very slow in coming forward to offer their time and assistance. If Guern is young enough (not like me), get yerself down to the park next yer and give the boy Marquis a hand to keep the tradition of the North alive. As I think I wrote in a previous post (I am old and forgets what I had for lunch yesterday), the President has been up to the park for many a yer helping, so he knows what he is doing, him. We Guerns would hate to see the shows disppear, especially us to the Vale, Castel and St Sampsons eh!
One further point, because me afteroon nap is creeping up on me, is that me mate in Jersey says his children gets the afternoon off work for their Battle of Flowers, eh. Can the States of Guernsey allow this to happen for the Thursday afternoon of the show ere too? Now that would be fine, eh? A bloney afternoon off to support our show.
This ere typing takes an effort eh?
Samuel Joseph
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Bit concerned about Guern.
Clearly doesn’t live in Guernsey at all. How can you hear “fact” that is so inaccurate and how can you accuse someone of “winging” things when you’re not privy to the decision making process or the planning processes applied by the said committee.
Ageism is as bad as being a racist, even if it infers that a person is too young to carry out a role. I haven’t seen anything that supports that the event was poorly planned or that the President and his committee (they are a team) didn’t plan the event properly. 37 isn’t that young anyway!!!!!
To sit at a computer, with the benefit of hind-sight, and make such sweeping generalisations is, in my view, the actions of a coward.
If you think you can do better get off your a**e and offer to help in a more constructive way rather than pick fault.
One other minor point. based on the weather record of the show over the last couple of years I think it highly likely that the premiums would be fairly astronomical. Guern your the sort of guy that would immediately point out the waste of spending money on such cover if it had been sunny. ie you’re never happy!!
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To all those of interest I believe there is an AGM at Cappelles Community Centre tonight where all those of you with points to raise can attend and say them to the committee in person.
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I would have gone with my two kids and i know others that just the week before spoke of going with picnics and making a day of it. Then upon seeing the weather there was no way i was going to walk round the park with two kids in the rain all day let alone have a picnic. As you say everything was geared for the main arena which would have meant us getting soaked. Also to my mine the battle of flowers over the last couple of years is getting smaller and smaller. i personally feel that possibly each school in the relevant catchment area should be given a grant and make a float for the show. Then like others have suggested the afternoon is given off for all schools to attend like is done in Jersey. Have a look at their battle of flowers ours is nothing compared to that.
lastly, its a knock out this year was a success what about combining this with the north show. The west now has motorbike stunts etc at the show to make it intersting. I think more can be done. Yes if necessary would assist and like others where is the tin on counters to asist financially or details as to where to donate….
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Do live in Guernsey.
Actions of the committee clearly show no consideration of potential risks, hence justificatiuon of “winging it”.
Who is 37?
Not a coward, happy to speak my mind to anyone.
Happy to help, do you?
Sorry you are wrong I am happy.
Shall I resort to accusations similar to yours to avoid dealing with the relevant facts? Let me know and i shall be happy to oblige!
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Wouldn’t all the children be off school anyway as the event is usually held during the summer holidays?
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Guern – I know the president and can tell you that he works in RISK MANAGEMENT and can assure you that every avoidable risk will have been and will always be thought of and avoided where possible.
Cancellation of the show due to bad weather is not an option as the main expediture has already occurred prior to the event. It has to go ahead to recover as much money as it can.
MrsM – it said in the paper that donations could be sent to the show treasurer Mr Stuart Wilson at Mouliere, Route de Carteret, Cobo, Castel.
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Yes, the schools are off anyway!
And Ali – there are grants to anyone who wants to enter a float.
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Another story which shows how the famed ‘stubborness’ of the Guerns is wrecking our Island.
Typical that the South and West Shows won’t even seriously discuss merging with the ‘North’.
Just like States Deputies, keeping their own backyard clean is more important than doing what is best for the Island as a whole!
No wonder we’re all in such a bloney mess!!
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Why would the West Committee merge with the North? The West works and any merger would completely change the face of what is a very successful event.
Good points about time of year; too many people away in the last two weeks of August?
Best of luck North Show President; the volunteer sector is a thankless task – keep your pecker up!
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I feel very sorry for the North Show committee and everyone involved but I suppose it is a sign of the times. I personally would like to know where all this company tax is being spent and feel more could be done corporately to help the likes of little old Guernsey when they hold these traditional events.
I had to have a little chuckle when a certain politician asked for states members to put their hands in their pockets for the north show, maybe it is so we can say, well the local politicians have not coughed up, so lets blame the states for no north show.
By the way states members they need extra cash for Battle of Britain week next year, have you got another few quid. And by the way we would like a bit more for the flumes, public toilets, bowel screening,etc etc how absurd is that.
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An event which has had its day I’m afraid.
Admission price far too high for substandard entertainment.
And Battle of Flowers is a joke and has been for many years now.
If the North Show cannot stand on its own two feet then it should fail.
And any deputy who hands over money, even his or her own, to a bunch of amateurs to run an event which is under threat because of a few wet days should not be running our island.
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Its a shame that popularity of these shows is declining but organisers need to come to terms with the fact that they are. The weather is perhaps less predictable these days too so any or all of the shows could turn in a huge loss next year.
Wouldn’t it make sense to have one improved show for the whole island with enough happening indoors to make it worthwhile in all weathers? It could still contain a bit of inter-parish rivalry if that is what people want. The shows are a Guernsey tradition but like everything else they need to adapt or they will die.
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I attended the West Show with my husband and 9 year old brother in-tow. After £1 to park the car, and £12.50 to get in, plus paying £2 for each ride and ‘fixed’ game it was a really expensive night. Although we thoroughly enjoyed the show, (the 9 year old especially enjoyed the donkeys ;)) perhaps cheaper rates would encourage more families/groups to visit and more money would be raised?
I love the weekend instead of weekday idea… lets watch this space for next year!
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