John West Wrote:
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>
... The key in my mind is to coordinate events
> so they don't compete with each other
...
I agree, John -
BUT there is also the consideration that having two
somewhat similar events - close together in terms of both distance and time and that attract
some of the same customers - might actually enhance one another, just as having several auto dealerships side by side attracts a larger audience to that part of town? That's certainly the case when attendees at the D&S RailFest in Durango can be attracted to a C&TS event in Chama a couple of days before or after (or vice-versa), but it may also be the case that some folks who won't travel a long distance for a two-day charter might make the trip if four or five days of related activities are available on the same railroad, adding to the customer base of both the "bargain" and the "gonzo" excursions.
In the specific case of the C&TS, the difference between the two events might be something as simple as the time of day they're being run, along with the number of run-bys planned (and where) and the respective sizes of the photo lines. If held within a few days or even a couple of weeks, the events might even be able to share some of the expenses - such as refurbishing some special equipment or having the tenders re-lettered accurately - without really competing due to the specific differences between the offerings and the prices thereof. (In 2010, for example, the railroad took advantage of the special paint applied to #489 for a one-day "semi-gonzo" event in May to offer something different to the fans riding the 40th Anniversary foto freights in August, rather than re-painting #489 shortly after the May special or using one of the other engines with a "normal" jacket color.)
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Rússo
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/2014 05:52PM by Russo Loco.