Ric Vatner's Blog

Posted By Ric Vatner on April 15, 2010

One of my friends recently complained that he had to take his kids to “The Show”. That’s the Royal Easter Show which has been an institution in Sydney since 1823 and is still the biggest show in Australia. I couldn’t help smiling as I remember when I had to find entertainment every school holiday for mine.

But then I got to thinking that once people were hanging out to go to the show. It was the most important event in the calendar, so what happened?

A number of things have changed our thinking about it. First, there is no doubt, it has lost its purpose. That’s the real killer. Once an event loses its reason for existing and becomes a purely commercial affair, it stands or falls by what other alternatives are available and whether or not, compared to them, it is good value for money.

It was the later that my friend was questioning. Going to the Easter Show can be quite an expensive day and if you don’t think it is value for money or you don’t enjoy it as much as you used to, you won’t rush back. And maybe that’s why the organizers have to work so hard every year to keep the numbers up.

I wrote an article about this for ESTV and I suggested that it would be a shame to see the show die out and to avoid this happening we should rethink what its purpose could be in the 21st century. Unfortunately organisations tend to leave it until the event is on its last legs before they wake up to the fact that there is a problem. I’m hoping this one man campaign will ring some bells.

In the early days the Easter Show was the one time each year when the city folk got to meet their country cousins. Here the country folk showed off the crops they were growing and the animals they were breeding and they in turn got to see what new technology was available – as well as have some fun and possibly find a spouse for the young ‘uns. It was the networking event of the year.

Why would you go to the show today if it wasn’t to keep the kids happy for a couple of hours? Even “The Show” must find its unique selling proposition and prove it is worth the effort and the money.

I have one idea I think is worth pursuing, I think it could be a mini expo – a time to show off what Australian business is up to? Manufacturers could show off their latest products and hair dressers for example could promote their skills with shows and low cost hair does for the visitors (I think I have seen that happen before). Of course it would keep the entertainment precinct but it has to find a way to attract more than just young families. If it became an expo it would attract not only local business people and hordes of interested visitors but also overseas tourists. It could be a tourist bonanza for NSW.

I think the Easter Show could have a resurgence in popularity and play an important role in getting NSW back on its feet, if we only took the time to think about it. What do you think?

Categories: In my opinion, Life, Love & Philosophy, Public Speaking
Tags: Australia, Business, Easter, Holidays, New South Wales, Oceania, Sydney, Sydney Royal Easter Show, Tourism