Anyone off to Brick 2015?

BooTheMightyHamster

I go to a number of exhibitions of a similar format to this, many at Excel. Typically, a day ticket will be something like £16, with early entry around £20.
The Brick prices are not just excessive, they're ridiculous.

I'm probably going to the London Bike show - at Excel - this week. 10.00am - 5pm adult ticket... £14. Family ticket, 2 adults and up to 3 juniors - £30.

Given the comments about overcrowding last year, the organisers can't even rely on the 'Well it's a niche hobby, with fewer attendees, so our costs are more.' argument.

Shame. I was going to go, but at these prices... not a chance.

cheshirecat

^ I don't think that's the argument at all - rather its an incredibly popular product at the moment and they can largely charge what they like and still sell out. Additionally, compare it to a ticket to LEGOLAND (£43 for a child, £48 for an adult plus however much to avoid queuing) or any similar attraction and it feels like pretty good value. Parents wont be comparing the ticket to a different EXCEL exhibition, but to a theme park or zoo. AFOLS are probably different in that regard.

One thing I am thinking is that this show feels very different from those that are run by and for LUGS, local charities etc and perhaps these much much higher (some would say exorbitant) ticket prices might highlight that. On the plus side its exceedingly professional, on the flip side its run for profit. I'm surprised no ones worked out the maths of ticket sales and ticket prices, the amount of money that's changing hands and probably profit being made in this commercial venture and the percentage of the show that is basically volunteered/donated with exhibitors time and lego exhibits. I do wonder if at some point an issue will arise along that plane. I hope not as it was clearly a great day out for many kids, but there does seem to be an inequality in it somewhere.

CCC

cheshirecat said:

I'm surprised no ones worked out the maths of ticket sales and ticket prices, the amount of money that's changing hands and probably profit being made in this commercial venture and the percentage of the show that is basically volunteered/donated with exhibitors time and lego exhibits.

Exhibitors get free entry. To many, that and being able to exhibit is probably enough.

It is similar to bricklink, the whole catalogue is still input by volunteers not paid employees. The owners manage the back end, but the catalogue itself is volunteered. People still volunteer their time and money to maintain it.

Martin

Commercially, Brick and a Bike Show are worlds apart. I imagine every single exhibitor/participant at a Bike Show pays to exhibit there. That offsets the cost of the tickets to visitors as the exhibitors want people to go there. It costs Brick money to get fan exhibitors there, so paying visitors have to fund that. And the organisers have to earn a living out of it or they can't do it at all.

Beximus

Glad to know that there's going to be more there next time. Maybe this means more space needed, and more that needs to be paid to the Excel?

We never found that it was so busy that we couldn't get in anywhere, except around the sellers stalls and the ToysRUs stand - indeed, around the mosaic there was plenty of space in the afternoon. The kids bit in the back corner did seem to be in quite a lot of space though, with not so much in it. We did like the little Christmassy market bit very much, although we couldn't get a seat there, it was nice to have snacks on sale - the cakes were lovely.

cheshirecat

@Martin, whilst I agree that the income streams of those shows can't be compared, I would love to know what percentage of each ticket sale went on those costs for Brick to get fan exhibitors there.

Martin

We will never know. I do know that having organised STEAM for the past ten years it is a difficult balance of making a profit for the museum to simply keep it running and encouraging fans to exhibit. I rely on the phenomenal goodwill of (mostly) UK fans to display there knowing that the only beneficiary is the museum. However, most fans are commercially savvy so Brick has that dilemma but on a *much* greater scale. I applaud Warren and co for taking it on. It's a full-time job and then some.

bulbathor

Does anybody know what was in the VIP bag last year? At 200% more than standard entry on the Friday I'm curious what the precedent is and if it's worth it.

EvilTwin

bulbathor said:

Does anybody know what was in the VIP bag last year? At 200% more than standard entry on the Friday I'm curious what the precedent is and if it's worth it.

Copying and pasting from my own post about Brick 2014:

- the "VIP" goodie bag was also disappointing. The main contents were a polybag set (30215 Legolas Greenleaf in mine, not sure if they were all the same), a 2x4 brick advertising Fairy Bricks on one side and Minfigs Me on the other, and a copy of The Lego Movie DVD. Which would be reasonable, but I would bet that most people prepared to shell out for VIP ticket for a Lego event probably already have it at least a couple of times over... I hope I can find someone to give mine to for Christmas

As well as the above there were a few colouring sheets and flyers and so on. Also the VIP ticket allowed people "priority" (tiered) seating for the stage events (there wasn't really anything worth seeing) and there was a walled-off VIP seating area with a separate coffee stall.

I saw a few other similar comments about the VIP bag not being particularly good value. Since the price has shot up, maybe they plan to do something a bit more impressive this year. I won't be bothering with it though.

sir_Bricksalot

Not sure if anyone can help me out here but any difference in picking between going on the Saturday or Sunday?  I'm in London and looks like there are still tickets available for each day so I'm pretty flexible.  

Any tips on which might be the quieter/better day or is it just going to be pot luck on what time i'm there really?

SirKevbags

Based on last year I don't recall much difference between the Saturday and Sunday except for the fact that visitors had a break from me because I couldn't actually speak! If you want a quiet time then try and take the day off and go on Friday.

Rails

I am thinking about getting a VIP ticket for the Birmingham show as I live locally so would probably attend at least two of the four days. Just weighing it up at the moment though.

MrGudz

I'm thinking of the Birmingham show as well.

Dfenz

From memory, last year's Fanzone was busier on the Saturday than the Sunday but not by much. The Birmingham show has the extra day to thin out the weekend crowds so I would expect the London weekend to be much busier especially as its closer to Christmas. It will be interesting to see how different the Fanzones are at each venue as presumably there will be people exhibiting at one but not both venues.

rdflego

I'm off to the Birmingham one on the Friday, praying it will be quieter than any day over the weekend. I am debating going to the London one but will have to see how Birmingham is first

cheshirecat

i definitely won't be at the London show, much better things to be doing that soon before Christmas. don't yet know if i'll be at the Birmingham one.

AdeelZubair

I will be attending the London one. I have applied for exhibiting there however the results have yet to be revealed, however I I was told they will be revealed this Friday to everyone who has applied, fingers crossed! If not I'll still be there on one of the weekdays.