Saturday, April 26, 2025, Sheraton Hotel, Madison, WI
New this month in Madison was the regular show on Saturday and a Pokémon show on Sunday. Without the mass Pokémon crowd, attendance at the regular show was down -- which was not a bad thing. It was nice to have some space in the aisles as this show can get crazy crowded. I understand that the Pokémon show on Sunday was crazy crowded.
I brought out a different set up this month because I am so far behind in updating the binders. I had nine display cases filled with vintage cards, something I have not done in Madison in a long time.
Naturally, some of my regulars were disappointed that I did not have the binders. I can bring them out but they are empty. Now that the MegaShow has passed, I should have some more time to work on them.
The display case set up did not do very well. Sales were light. Though, I did sell my 1973 Topps Mike Schmidt rookie to a new customer.
I was surprised that some of my regular set-builders did not even look at my display cases. I know they need some of the stars. I do have them reasonably priced. Why not take a look?
Anyway, I would like to interrupt this regularly scheduled blog to discuss a subject near and dear to my heart -- dealer to dealer courtesy.
So I have been setting up at card shows since the dawn of time and can say from experience that dealer to dealer courtesy has always been a problem. However, since the hobby exploded during the Pandemic and now that everyone and their mother is a dealer, the problem has intensified.
The issue for today's courtesy discussion involves the space behind dealer tables. Now, the Madison show is kind of tight. There is not much space behind each dealer's table. There is no room for shelves, there is no room for back-up tables, and there certainly is no room for dealers to stack up their storage bins behind their tables. Yet, there is plenty of space below each table for dealers to store their bins without taking up the precious space behind the tables.
I have three tables at the Madison show. At this past show, some numbnut dealer located behind me, stacked his bins behind my third table. Making matters worse, the dealer next to me had happy feet and could not stay behind his table without the need to wander out every few minutes. The result, very little space behind my third table. I was annoyed all day.
As you can see from the photo below, there was very little space between my third table, on the right, and numbnut's bins on the left. That tiny space was largely filled by Mr. Happy Feet. So I struggled whenever I needed to get into those display cases located on the end of my table all day long. What makes it so aggravating was that there was plenty of space for numbnut to place his bins below his table and out of the way. I mean, shouldn't it be obvious? Place those bins under your table, numbnut!
New this month in Madison was the regular show on Saturday and a Pokémon show on Sunday. Without the mass Pokémon crowd, attendance at the regular show was down -- which was not a bad thing. It was nice to have some space in the aisles as this show can get crazy crowded. I understand that the Pokémon show on Sunday was crazy crowded.
I brought out a different set up this month because I am so far behind in updating the binders. I had nine display cases filled with vintage cards, something I have not done in Madison in a long time.
Naturally, some of my regulars were disappointed that I did not have the binders. I can bring them out but they are empty. Now that the MegaShow has passed, I should have some more time to work on them.
The display case set up did not do very well. Sales were light. Though, I did sell my 1973 Topps Mike Schmidt rookie to a new customer.
I was surprised that some of my regular set-builders did not even look at my display cases. I know they need some of the stars. I do have them reasonably priced. Why not take a look?
Anyway, I would like to interrupt this regularly scheduled blog to discuss a subject near and dear to my heart -- dealer to dealer courtesy.
So I have been setting up at card shows since the dawn of time and can say from experience that dealer to dealer courtesy has always been a problem. However, since the hobby exploded during the Pandemic and now that everyone and their mother is a dealer, the problem has intensified.
The issue for today's courtesy discussion involves the space behind dealer tables. Now, the Madison show is kind of tight. There is not much space behind each dealer's table. There is no room for shelves, there is no room for back-up tables, and there certainly is no room for dealers to stack up their storage bins behind their tables. Yet, there is plenty of space below each table for dealers to store their bins without taking up the precious space behind the tables.
I have three tables at the Madison show. At this past show, some numbnut dealer located behind me, stacked his bins behind my third table. Making matters worse, the dealer next to me had happy feet and could not stay behind his table without the need to wander out every few minutes. The result, very little space behind my third table. I was annoyed all day.
As you can see from the photo below, there was very little space between my third table, on the right, and numbnut's bins on the left. That tiny space was largely filled by Mr. Happy Feet. So I struggled whenever I needed to get into those display cases located on the end of my table all day long. What makes it so aggravating was that there was plenty of space for numbnut to place his bins below his table and out of the way. I mean, shouldn't it be obvious? Place those bins under your table, numbnut!
Now back to our regularly scheduled blog...
On the buying front, Tim gave me a nice deal on a box of cards largely filled with 1961 Topps baseball. Thanks Tim! I also purchased a 1967 Topps Willie Mays from my regular guy who sells me slabs each month.
On a side note, the dealer in the red shirt, pictured above, is very pleasant, so is the dealer next to him on his left, not in the picture. In general, the dealers at the Madison show are great but you always get that one guy, at most any show, who takes up more than his fair share of the space.
Anyhooo, changes are a-foot at the Madison show. There will not be a show in May as the hotel is rehabbing the ballroom. Next show in Madison will be a 250-table affair at the Alliant Energy Center located across the street from the Sheraton on June 21. Thereafter, the show will rotate on a monthly basis between the Sheraton and the Alliant Center with the next regular show at the Sheraton scheduled for July 26, then Pokémon on July 27, and back to the Alliant Center on August 30. For more info, click on this link: Madison Card Show Announces 2025 Schedule — Monthly Events Continue with Expanded Weekend Shows – Madison Card Show.
I plan on setting up at the June 21 show at the Alliant Center but I booked another show on July 26, a new show in Naperville, Illinois, because I did not know that the Madison show was returning to the Sheraton on that date. I will probably set up at the Alliant Center on August 30.
I know I am a little behind on the blogs. Hope to catch up soon. I owe you a blog on Orland from April 27, Oak Creek from May 3 and Valparaiso on May 4. I've been busy!
Next up for me is the Kane County show on Saturday, May 10, 2025. Once again, I will not be bringing out binders. Then I plan on spending Sunday, May 11, 2025, with my mommy.
Hope to see you soon!
Below is snapshot of spring in front of my folk's place in Michigan.
On the buying front, Tim gave me a nice deal on a box of cards largely filled with 1961 Topps baseball. Thanks Tim! I also purchased a 1967 Topps Willie Mays from my regular guy who sells me slabs each month.
On a side note, the dealer in the red shirt, pictured above, is very pleasant, so is the dealer next to him on his left, not in the picture. In general, the dealers at the Madison show are great but you always get that one guy, at most any show, who takes up more than his fair share of the space.
Anyhooo, changes are a-foot at the Madison show. There will not be a show in May as the hotel is rehabbing the ballroom. Next show in Madison will be a 250-table affair at the Alliant Energy Center located across the street from the Sheraton on June 21. Thereafter, the show will rotate on a monthly basis between the Sheraton and the Alliant Center with the next regular show at the Sheraton scheduled for July 26, then Pokémon on July 27, and back to the Alliant Center on August 30. For more info, click on this link: Madison Card Show Announces 2025 Schedule — Monthly Events Continue with Expanded Weekend Shows – Madison Card Show.
I plan on setting up at the June 21 show at the Alliant Center but I booked another show on July 26, a new show in Naperville, Illinois, because I did not know that the Madison show was returning to the Sheraton on that date. I will probably set up at the Alliant Center on August 30.
I know I am a little behind on the blogs. Hope to catch up soon. I owe you a blog on Orland from April 27, Oak Creek from May 3 and Valparaiso on May 4. I've been busy!
Next up for me is the Kane County show on Saturday, May 10, 2025. Once again, I will not be bringing out binders. Then I plan on spending Sunday, May 11, 2025, with my mommy.
Hope to see you soon!
Below is snapshot of spring in front of my folk's place in Michigan.
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