WELCOME TO SALUTE 51
Welcome, if you are reading this ahead of Salute and are thinking of coming, or have not visited for a few years, I urge you to try and make it. The day is a brilliant celebration of the hobby and several thousand passionate gamers will be attending. You will find an open minded mix of great people, wonderful games and awesome traders.
Salute draws people from all over the world and it’s a fantastic opportunity to meet up with fellow gamers, share ideas, catch up with old friends and maybe even make some new ones.
If you are reading this at the show, thank you so much for attending. We really do appreciate your support, study this guide carefully as it will help you navigate your way around the show and ensure you get the most out of your day.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all the attendees, traders and those hard working souls who agree to put on a game at Salute. Without your support Salute simply would not be possible. Your fellow gamers want you to know we really do appreciate your efforts.
Salute is not perfect, so please bear with us. It’s a huge event managed by a group of enthusiastic hard working amateurs who give up many hours of their own time to make the show a success. Sometimes things go wrong, often through no fault of the organisers but we endeavour to fix them straight away and learn from what happened. Our goal is simply for you to have a great day out and ensure everyone has an enjoyable experience.
My advice, after 20 plus Salutes, is pace yourself, Salute is not a sprint. Half way through the day take a breather, reflect on what you have seen, re look at this programme, cool off by the water and reflect what games you might have missed? Very often great games and clever ideas are to be found in the less obvious tables. Pluck up the courage ask questions or join a participation game. Later in the day traders are less busy and are more able to talk about what exciting new things are being planned. All the tables are manned by enthusiastic gamers who will be only too happy to talk about their games. This is an opportunity to learn something new and hear from other people about their experiences. Don’t be shy. No matter what age you are you are never too old to develop new skills.
Be warned, the floor is hard; wear appropriate footwear. Lighting generally could be better (I use my phone torch to read those difficult to see figure codes in the darkest corners of a trade stand ). If you are not used to London event prices take steps to ensure you have enough food and water to get you through the day.
Remember, this show is about you and it’s your attendance that makes Salute a success. Please come and join us, I encourage you to fully engage, make a day of it and meet fellow enthusiasts who share your passion for this great hobby.
You never know you might learn something or be inspired to try a new period. Martin Gane