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Posted by: GMR Oct 9 2010, 07:53 AM

I never knew that Thatcham had a festival, and it was their 10th. I only just happened to click on the NWN news section and low and behold there is was. Obviously very well promoted.

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=14767

Posted by: DrPepper Oct 9 2010, 03:54 PM

No replies - guess everyone is at the Thatcham festival

Posted by: GMR Oct 9 2010, 04:17 PM

Yes; they probably read what I wrote and rushed out to Thatcham. Next step will be to find out where it is. After that it is easy; they leave to go home. Day completed.

Posted by: DrPepper Oct 9 2010, 04:32 PM

That's why there are still no replies, they haven't found the festival yet - it'll be a late night for some!

Posted by: Biker1 Oct 9 2010, 04:39 PM

Exciting stuff!

Exactly what is a "Himalayan Singing Bowls Workshop"?

Yes I know - go along and see for myself!

Posted by: DrPepper Oct 9 2010, 04:54 PM

You go and let me know - it'll save me the bother!!

Posted by: Biker1 Oct 9 2010, 05:05 PM

Tell you what, better than that, I'll live with never knowing!

Posted by: GMR Oct 9 2010, 06:57 PM

If they don't reply in the next couple of years we should be able to presume from that that they are still looking, or died trying.

Posted by: GMR Oct 9 2010, 06:58 PM

I'll go along with that.

Posted by: JeffG Oct 9 2010, 08:34 PM

Sorry, you don't get off that lightly:

http://www.himalayanbowls.com/index.htm

Posted by: Biker1 Oct 9 2010, 09:53 PM

I knew someone would Google it, which is why I didn't bother.

The excitement that is Thatcham!

Posted by: Richard Garvie Oct 10 2010, 08:11 AM

I have to say, the Thatcham Festival is a great series of events. Most of the events are free to attend and for parents with kids, it's a cheap day out. It's probably not everybody's cup of tea, but you are often surprised with these events. I often trundle along expecting the worst and I'm more often than not pleasantly surprised by what I see.

Posted by: GMR Oct 10 2010, 08:56 AM

At least Newbury/ Thatcham is making an effort.

Posted by: JeffG Oct 10 2010, 01:06 PM

But if you don't look up something you don't know about, you never learn new things!

It all sounds very New Age to me, like crystals and suchlike.

Posted by: Richard Garvie Oct 10 2010, 09:58 PM

I went on a bird walk today... Not exactly the most exciting event I've attended this year, but I did get to see an Egyptian Goose!!!

Posted by: Iommi Oct 10 2010, 10:07 PM

I remember seeing some of them up by the Donnington Grove; they had young.

Posted by: DrPepper Oct 11 2010, 07:12 AM

Newbury Sound has reported that the festival was a success over the weekend with "scores" of people attending - well isn't a score 20? So does that mean about 40 people attended?

Now if Biker1 had gone they would have at least two score and one

Posted by: Iommi Oct 11 2010, 08:27 AM

It would seem that 'scores of people' means a large number, or a great many.

Posted by: DrPepper Oct 11 2010, 09:50 AM

Yea, but they would normally report "hundreds" or "thousands" rather than "20's". Does suggest a poor turnout.

I'm sure it was a great success though, could have been even more so if they advertised the thing!

Posted by: Richard Garvie Oct 11 2010, 02:02 PM

There was around 50 people on the bird walk.

Posted by: DrPepper Oct 11 2010, 02:44 PM

Didn't that frighten the birds away

Posted by: Biker1 Oct 11 2010, 03:02 PM

I would have gone but not sure I could have contained my excitement!

I promise I will visit Thatcham one day when I have nothing much to do.

Posted by: nickbits Oct 14 2010, 09:54 PM

Dear All,

Various comments have been made about Thatcham Festival, lack of advertising, comments about numbers and the excitement level. I would like to point a few things out:

It has been well advertised. Programmes have been made available through out venues in Thatcham and Newbury, in Libraries, Tourist Information, Waitrose and many other shops. Posters have been put up, it has been advertised on Newbury Sound and I also believe on BBC Radio. It has been advertised in Thatcham Connections, the NWN and Advertiser as well as other printed media for over a month, in some cases much longer. Then there are the social media channels and the website, www.thatchamfestival.info.

So it has been advertised, just because you have not noticed doesn’t mean it isn’t well advertised.

Events are well attended, the Bird walk on the 10th had 30 people, the history talk 30 to 40 people, astronomy had 40 people, so they are attended very well. The PALS event tonight (14th) was so packed that I had to stand at the door. Just because some events are not your cup of tea doesn’t mean they are not exciting for others. I have often though things are boring or not exciting. I have been along to several events I would not normally have thought of doing, and have enjoyed all of them.

The whole event is designed to pull the community together and show people what Thatcham has to offer, which if you came to even just the launch day you can see that it is a LOT. Events have covered all ages as well so there is something for most people of any age.

I also note only two events were named in this thread, there are around 50 events, Astronomy, Dancing, Rugby, Walking (with a pub lunch), a quiz night, kids activities, lifelong learning, art and photography to name a few.

Just because something is not your cup of tea, don’t run it down, why not actually see what it is all about first, and perhaps write CONSTRUCTIVE feedback.

Posted by: DrPepper Oct 15 2010, 07:20 AM

Err, that's exactly what it means. The idea of an advertising campaign is to let people know it's happening - by the posts here that appears to have failed.

I would ask what the population of Thatcham & Newbury combined are? Does a turn out of 40 per event represent a decent response? What does the cost per head work out at?

Anyway, good luck with it next year, and perhaps a re-look at how the event is promoted might not be a bad idea.

Oh, and a sense of humor always helps

Posted by: Biker1 Oct 15 2010, 07:29 AM

Yes - we wre only having a bit of fun.

Hope it went well.

Posted by: Iommi Oct 15 2010, 07:53 AM

Often events like these are better if the turnout isn't in the hundreds. It would devalue the experience for people by making it less intimate, and would pose extra logistical problems.

Posted by: Richard Garvie Oct 15 2010, 09:56 AM

Tonight there is a quiz at the Memorial Hall. I'm going, although I don't know how many I have in my team. Get yourself along, and if you do go come and say hello. It would be nice to put some names to faces.

Posted by: nickbits Oct 15 2010, 12:36 PM

I still have to disagree with what people are saying about the advertising, it has been well advertised. I know other events, the Berkshire Show, Newbury Carnival, etc. are apparently well advertised, but I saw little this year, in fact I saw nothing about the Carnival at all. Perhaps it was and I jsut didn't notice it, or perhaps I just wasn't looking for it.

We advertise everyway we can, what else can we do? Helpful suggestions. We have been on the radio in local and county media, posters and programmes put out.

The cost per head, well it is written in the materials but I will point this out anyway, the cost is low. The venues are donated by various organisations so venue hire is negligable. Many of the activities are put on for free, for example the Historical Society have put on two exhibitions and two talks for free, the bird walks have been put on for free, RSPB put on free activities, childrens groups facilitate many activities for free, plays have been put on for free, so the cost is minimal. Most events are free to enter as well. As I said, it is a real community event.

20 or 40 people on a bird walk is huge, any more and you devalue the experience. That is also why many of the events are put on several times in a week.

I have a sense of humour, but some of the comments are not humourous, especially when you know how much goes into getting the event running and how much value it brings to people. I have no problem hearing feedback, just please be constructive, how can we make it better?

Posted by: HeatherW Oct 15 2010, 04:35 PM

I also agree that it has been well advertised. I went with some friends and it was okish. Of course it is not everybody's cup of tea.

Posted by: DrPepper Oct 15 2010, 04:57 PM

Posted by: user23 Oct 15 2010, 05:19 PM

Why is there a picture centring on the Mayor and another person's groin on the home page (on the left) of this site?

http://www.thatchamfestival.info

Posted by: DrPepper Oct 15 2010, 05:31 PM

You seen their faces?

Posted by: Simon Kirby Oct 15 2010, 06:02 PM

It's a rather unfortunate cropping of this portrait aspact ratio image.

Posted by: Strafin Oct 15 2010, 06:08 PM

You don't like the Mayors groin? I guess it not everyones cup of tea.....

I have been to the festival as a resident, and as a councillor. A lot of hard work goes into it from all areas of the community. Volunteers, and groups , put in time and effort and it always very succesful. The town clerk and civic manager are very much unsung heroes of the whole thing. I have to say though I haven't seen it advertised this year; however I live in Newbury now and only pop into Thatcham sporadically. On the years that I have been I have tried and seen many things that I normally wouldn't and really enjoyed them. Also they have a car show, and Meccano display. Get in! I don't see anything even close to the festival happening in Newbury, and the people of Thatcham seemingly appreciate it which is why turnouts are good.

Posted by: user23 Oct 15 2010, 06:19 PM

I'll name that groin in one.

Actually I clicked on the picture and it displayed the one that Simon has added to his post.