What does trouble me slightly is the sense of entitlement that some enthusiasts have. The one who would rather take pics at the end of the museum’s entrance road rather than pay to come in; the one who brings sandwiches and a flask rather than paying for lunch in the museum’s tea room; the one who doesn’t buy a programme. Best quote I’ve heard? “I don’t need to pay and come inside your museum, I paid three years ago so I don’t need to come in again.” Oh well, that’s a good job as it cost money to put on the event three years ago but we’ve run this one on fresh air…?
I think its a bit disingenuous of you to criticise the enthusiast by the roadside (or rail side). There are plenty of people - myself included - whose main interest is photography, and its an inevitable truism that the best place to get pictures of vehicles is not in a tightly confined yard (or station platform) where Johnny Clampett is sticking his head in the doors. I went to Rydabus earlier this year - and yes, I did buy a programme, but I then spent almost all of my time beside local roads where to all appearances I was a freeloader (no I didn’t buy a greasy burger or a cup of tea though - if there had been more healthy and appealing options at a reasonable price I might have spent more). I got what I wanted out of the day, and I also put a few quid in the coffers (no idea whether that went to the museum or in part to the owners of private vehicles that took part) but I’ll admit organisers don’t always make doing so overly easy for those who have genuine motivation for be offsite during an event. Having said that I do attend one particular preserved bus site regularly, and I always make a reasonable donation (not just coppers) - I know what it costs to run such establishments and operate vehicles, and I think its only fair. Watching what goes on with the general public though, its apparent not everyone else thinks the same way.
I also sort of get the “I paid three years ago so why should I pay again” thing if nothing much has changed - not so much with running private vehicles, but if its a museum then it needs to be dynamic in terms of what it exhibits or it risks putting off returnees.
This year I’ve been to a few bus events, and some of them were [IMO] very poorly attended. Take the Wythall gig at Gaydon for example. Yes its a bit remote but there were free (although very poorly patronised) buses from Leamington Spa station, and otherwise its a great location with lots of space and other things to do. But I think the significant admission fee - which was to get into the British Motor Museum - would have put quite a lot off. As a result, visitors were rather thin on the ground and those that were there weren’t spending much. Anecdotal evidence suggests plenty of other events with substantial entrance fees have suffered the same this year. People just don’t have so much cash to splash at the moment - I think many are holding back for one big splurge on an annual holiday rather than spending lesser sums week in, week out on leisure activities. The flip side is that I know several “free” bus events this year have done rather well in terms of attendance. Hopefully those made a few quid from things - be they donation tins, food and beverage, or selling merchandise.
I also volunteer at a major preserved transport establishment, as operating crew. Its true - there has been a significant drop in returning volunteers since covid, and there is a constant drive to recruit new faces. That is affecting what can be offered on a daily basis. Admissions (paid once, then free return for the rest of the year) have held up fairly well so far this year - I suspect the true test will come from attendance numbers during the school holidays. But the site offers much more than just a ride on a vintage vehicle - I think that to get a share of what disposable money people (families especially) have its necessary to offer more than a pamphlet and a bus ride.
To return to the original question: I’d appaud any move to regularise payments at preserved bus events. I’m not convinced it would be a panacea given the tough financial conditions some folks find themselves in at the moment. And to grab what money people have, an event needs to offer rounded entertainment for whole families, for more than just an hour or so. Owners of vehicles who choose not to PSV them also need to accept that they’re doing it primarily for themselves and any financial help that comes from the public in such circumstances is, while helpful, coincidental. Yes, yes, I know owners are doing it to ensure historic vehicles remain and can be seen doing what they used to do, but I’d argue that except for the fickle enthusiast market, to most people a preserved bus is a preserved bus is a preserved bus - and once they’ve ridden on one or two they‘re unlikely to spend riding another that looks similar except for the paint job.
