I have watched a few videos of different modelers, and their operating sessions, and while watching one in particular, the host was talking about his up coming session, and he mentions that “eight guys, who pay money, to come and operate on my layout”.
Is this the norm? Do you have to pay to be part of an operating session?, and if so, about how much is the average cost?
Thanks,
Mike.
Mike:
I have been holding weekly sessions for twelve plus years. I do not charge to attend.
I have had operators drop out after moving, health issues, or after six or so months deciding they just don’t like operations. At present I would like at least one more operator.
Dave
I would never pay a fee to run trains on someone’s personal layout. Never ever.
Period.
If it’s a club layout, club membership dues could be considered, depending on amount and how often it will be operated. Maybe.
But on someone’s personal layout, paying a fee to operate is flat out unacceptable IMO.
I wonder if he meant they pay for travel and meals to attend?
I do know that some guys have a tip jar to help pay for the sodas, coffee, or snacks that are served.
Dave Nelson
I had this same question on another forum, and one of the answers I got was, this might be the case when the host, and his layout, is on a tour that is part of a convention, maybe like the NMRA. This kind of makes sense, as I suspect the organization holding the convention, and sponsoring the tours, may require a fee.
Mike.
He was probably referring to travel costs and the time investment. For something like Great Basin Getaway, there are hotels and meals to cover.
Our club certainly wouldn’t charge anyone to take part in an op session. Members rotate the job of organizing lunch during the 10am-5pm Saturday sessions, and someone usually has donuts there in the morning.
At the home layouts I’ve visited, the host generally provides some snacks, and lunch is either a trip to a restaurant or an on-site potluck.
No.
For those interested in finding potential operating sessions in their area and learning more about operations, the Operations SIG is a great (small) investment.
I would never charge a fee to operate on my layout when I had one. If anything, I went out of my way to make my operators welcome by offering free snacks, drinks, etc. I even had a little “crew room” (just a card table with chairs, really) where we’d sit and talk about trains or life or whatever after the operation.
At my club, the dues are $30 per month. So I guess you could say that the guys are “paying” to operate. But they pay whether they operate or not…or whether there’s an operation that month or not.
The next question is: would I pay to operate a layout? Yes, if the circumstances were right. For example, if the “fee” paid for food that was provided, or if the money went to improve the layout. It would also have to be a heckuva layout operation. And it depends on how much. $10? Not a big deal. $50? No sale.
Paul A. Cutler III
Pay the layout owner? No. Pay for gas to get to and from an operating session, certainly. I’m part of the regular crew on a layout that’s 30 miles away, making it a 60 mile roundtrip. Actually, I’m also part of the crew that’s helping the owner build the beast and I’m actually paying for the privilege of working on the layout. I pointed that fact out to the owner and demanded a 1000% raise. Given that my current pay rate is $0.00/hr, there was no problem getting my pay raised by 10x the current rate. Still, there’s something wrong here. I just haven’t figured it out yet.
Andre
I’ve operated in a lot of places, and have never encounted a host even so much as requesting payment. Operators do incur costs for transportation, and if the session in question was part of a convention, the expenses for attendees include meals and lodging. These aren’t charges paid to the layout owner, unless the host is providing a meal, and even then participation is voluntary (i.e. you don’t need to pay if you choose not to eat what’s provided).
Some conventions do charge for setting up op sessions to cover their own costs, as well as to encourage only those seriously interested in the sessions to sign up. I’ve never participated in any such gathering that required a fee, and it seems mostly limited to NMRA conventions which seem to charge for every activity. There are numerous operating meets that are put on outside of conventions that involve other activities, and I’m not personally aware of any that charge for attendance.
I’m a host for a regularly scheduled operators meet, plus I hold monthly sessions for the locals. I don’t charge a dime. I’ll gladly accept voluntary replenishment of the pop supply in the fridge, any snacks the crew want to bring, batteries for throttles, etc., but I make no demands of such.
Why would anyone charge for an operating session? Why not also charge them for an open house?
I’ve never heard such a foolish idea. We want to encourage people to enjoy our layout and charging anything sends the wrong impression. Should I ever decide to have an operating session, I would pay people to visit me! Perhaps I should do that to family also?
Probably around '08 I “paid” to operate on a N Scale club layout but, that money was for the following banquet. IMHO the all day opt till you drop,the two clinics and banquet was well worth the $15.00…That’s cheap all day entertainment.
Some layouts, more or less run as a business, would charge a cover for going in and seeing the layout.
IF the LION would ever finish the layout of him (or even just clean up the floor), him could have guests there. LION would not think of charging visitors, but him might install a token booth with a way for people to drop money into a collection pot, but then what would you expect if you are visiting a CHURCH? Sure visitors come and go for free, but there is a little pot where people may leave contributions if they are so enclined.
LION would indeed install a guest book, where people could sign in, and in turn take free material about the layout and the Abbey. Like all such guestbooks, that would be enough to get you on our mailing list for our free newsletter, our white papers, and well, yess, an occasional pitch. I think we do a pitch twice a year, white papers twice a year, news letters four times a year, but we doo build up a base of people who want to contribute to our Abbey, and now with monks getting older, and fewer of them working outside of the monastery, contributions are becoming a more important part of our existance.
Oh well…
Operating session of LION is rather simple. Turn Switch on, Watch trains run. Operate the interlocking plant at 242nd Street.
That is all there is to it: 10 trains do their thing.
ROAR
I’ve often thought that paying for an operating session would be a great fund raiser. As an example, to honor the late Andy Sperandeo, designate a week across the country (world) for an operating session, with a specific cost for entrance. Again, as an example, 20 operators at $20 is a $400 donation; with proceeds going to a foundation (existing or created) that funds model railroad projects.
Is there some work required to set up, and administer? Of course. Would it be worthwhile? Yes. 25 sessions of $400 is a $10,000 donation.
Just a thought. I would pay to do it, anyway…
Part of operating a layout is knowing pretty much where destinations are.
I try to have two man operating crews, so that the old hand can play conductor, and the new man the engineer. As my aisles are too narrow, three man crews are out. I am also set up to run twelve trains in a two hour session, after which restaging is necessary.
My layout would not work for fund rasing this way, and my session are held in the evening.
Dave