Looking for opinions on a new strictly vintage card show

[BobC]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

I was thinking about the Mid-Atlantic Get Together + Trade Event (next weekend!) and was curious to get everyone’s take on a new national strictly vintage card show.

I know the Strongsville show in April is vintage, but that is more a regional show. I was thinking bigger, closer to a major city and airport. Also, just a show for dealers/collectors/traders, no AHs, grading companies or people signing autographs set up.

Thoughts? Feasibility? Would you attend? What would you want? Love to get opinions on this topic

Based on what some of the others have stated, a strictly vintage show may not be able to draw as big a crowd as you are thinking, and something like the Strongsville show may just be it.

By the way, the Strongsville show is literally just a couple freeway exits down from the IX Center where they hold the National when in Cleveland, and the IX Center is literally right at the end of the Hopkins Airport runway. It is only about a 10 minute drive from the one venue to the other, and that probably includes the lights/stop signs as well. How much closer do you need it? I know Cleveland isn't a big super city like Chicago, NY, or Philly, but it isn't nothing either. You just need a car to get around, and unlike the other big cities, Cleveland doesn't have the traffic like any of them. Aside from about a half-hour or so delay at the heart of rush hour, you can pretty much go anywhere you want around the entire city/county pretty darn fast on the local freeway system. Just have to know what you want to see/do, and GPS to know where you're going then. There's a large shopping mall and big retail district just on the other side of the freeway from where the Strongsville show is held at the Best Western, like less than a mile away, so a bunch of restaurants and such are right there without having to go all the way downtown if you don't want to. And yes, I said a large shopping mall. One of the few actual malls still left in the Cleveland area. Bring the wife and let her go have fun shopping while you browse the show.

The only thing I don't know for sure is since a new show owner/promoter has now taken over from Paul Fusco, will he continue to keep the show as strictly vintage, or will he expand and start pushing the modern stuff, TGCs, and whatever else draws people, in the future. That remains to be seen.

Too bad they don't have shows like the old Robert Morse College shows still around. That was a great one to attend, usually with a lot of vintage stuff as well.

[Exhibitman]

it is a great idea but the financial barriers to entry are significant. We (two friends and me) tried it in Los Angeles pre-COVID and lasted three shows. The biggest challenge is getting a reasonably-priced venue. Paying too much for the facility will kill you before you start because your administrative overhead costs are staggering: venue, business license fees, insurance, equipment and material rental, advertising, etc. I lost money every show despite basically selling out. it is also a ton of work.

[Rhotchkiss]

Our hope is that the get together we are putting on outside of DC can effectively become this, except it will never be a “show”, but more of a place for like-minded prewar/vintage to get together and to see what happens. We will see how it goes this year and maybe it will grow. Neither Andrew nor I have any profit motive - in fact we are paying for it all (not food) and not collecting a dime. So let’s see how it shakes out and grow from there

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Our hope is that the get together we are putting on outside of DC can effectively become this, except it will never be a “show”, but more of a place for like-minded prewar/vintage to get together and to see what happens. We will see how it goes this year and maybe it will grow. Neither Andrew nor I have any profit motive - in fact we are paying for it all (not good) and not collecting a dime. So let’s see how it shakes out and grow from there

While I won't be able to attend, I just want to say that I'm happy there are people in the hobby who are both willing and able to create an event like that.

The stamp club I'm in does a tiny show, and while it's not expensive, there's a lot of work promoting it. Just sticking labels and stamps on the postcards we mail out takes more time that anyone would imagine.
(Church hall, I forget exactly, but costs for the whole show all in are under $1000 and we make maybe a couple hundred.)

[JamesGallo]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Our hope is that the get together we are putting on outside of DC can effectively become this, except it will never be a “show”, but more of a place for like-minded prewar/vintage to get together and to see what happens. We will see how it goes this year and maybe it will grow. Neither Andrew nor I have any profit motive - in fact we are paying for it all (not good) and not collecting a dime. So let’s see how it shakes out and grow from there

What is this gathering you speak of?

I wen to the last Philly show and IMO there was a ton of modern, I found one dealer with a handful of Cracker Jacks and that was it.

I will see how the March show is as I have expanded to collecting a few more sets but certainly WAY more modern and pre war was the bottom of the barrel as there was a lot of 50s-70s stuff.

James G

[Rhotchkiss]

James, hear the link to the thread. We have been talking about for months. I hope you can attend

https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=326892