Saturday, December 5, 2020, Salvation Army Community Center, Oak Creek, WI
These are challenging times. Operating a card show in 2020 is an extreme challenge. I had one dealer cancel because he contracted Covid. I had three dealers that did not show up, did not call. I had 12 dealers on my waiting list, I could have plucked three off the waiting list if the absent dealers would have called to let me know they were not coming.
Thankfully, I did not have the mad rush of cancellations that I had the previous two months. I wish I could offer tables to everyone who wants them but with Covid, we are spacing out the tables and I cannot fit more than 67 tables in the building. Once we get through this mess, I can add more tables and dealers. But for now, I am just stuck.
I am getting more calls for dealer tables than ever before. I am kind of flabbergasted. It is a bit overwhelming. Anyone remember when the show was at the Clarion Hotel and I had just eight to ten dealers? Now I have 40 plus setting up and another dozen on the waiting list. Still no staff to help. It is just me to manage all the dealers plus take on mass amounts of calls from customers.
I also need dealers to stop requesting certain spots in the building. I just can't accommodate you. With such a large waiting list, just know you are lucky to even be set up at the show!
I try my best, I even gave up my tables so someone from the waiting list could set up. Then I had a cancellation the night before the show and ended up with one table.
More rant: I am thinking of hiring a bouncer to deal with the knuckleheads who refuse to wear a mask or take it off once they enter the building. The show is only allowed to run thanks to the kindness of the folks at the Salvation Army. They have made it clear that the show ends if folks don't wear their masks. I think we're treading on water right now. One or two selfish A-holes are going to ruin it for the rest of us. I can't believe how selfish some people are!
Rant is over. Thankfully no one has reported contracting Covid from the show. Most people are pretty good about wearing their masks. I really appreciate everyone who sets up, attends the show, and wears their masks.
For the most part, we have a very safe and successful event. I appreciate all the kind words and compliments I receive at the show. It is you good folks that keep me motivated to take on this beast and keep it going every month. It is a huge job and a TON of work.
One dealer told me I am going to have some competition because he is going to start his own show. Well, all I can say is good luck and more power to you! I don't consider any other show competition and I will never discourage anyone from operating their own show. As you know, I had some real trouble with the promoter from the Orland Park show when I started my show in 2014. I felt and still feel that Milwaukee is far enough away from Orland Park, Illinois, that there really was no conflict. I have also been really lucky because Keith at Gonzaga Hall has been really supportive of my show. I will offer that same support to anyone else who wants to run a show. Just be respectful and don't run it the same day as mine nearby. You can pass out fliers at my show and I will encourage folks to set up and attend your show as well. The bottom line for me is this is my hobby, I do this for fun. I never wanted to be a show promoter. I only created this show because I wanted to set up somewhere in Milwaukee on a Saturday. There were no Saturday Milwaukee shows at the time. I like to buy and sell cards. Running a show, not so much.
After this past show, I am hankering to set up again soon. Unfortunately, there is nothing else happening locally. I do not feel like driving three to five-plus hours to set up in some foreign burg. I welcome another local show!
I did indeed have some fun at the show on Saturday. I bought a ton of stuff from Bart Taylor. Thanks Bart! He also watched my table so I could go out and collect table fee from the dealers which was a huge help!
I appreciate everyone who stopped at my table and purchased some cards. Sales were down for me from November. I plan on bringing out my showcases for January and hopefully spur some better sales. I had brought out mostly football binders and was surprised I did not have better sales. I had some really good stuff. Oh well.
It is always fun talking cards. It is great fun buying cards. But I do have other interests. I am a huge classic rock music fan. I have been a big fan of The Who since I was a kid. I worshipped Pete Townsend and many childhood friends called me "Pete." So it was only natural that another huge Who fan was set up across from me at this show in the person of Bob Smith. Early on, I observed a tattoo on his arm that looked like The Who's mod insignia. Bob and I got to talking and indeed he had the mod insignia tattoo. Bob told me he has seen The Who 30 times! I am not worthy! I saw The Who twice in 1982 but did not get to see Keith Moon. Bob sold me a cool photo collage he created of Pete Townsend. Thanks Bob! It was fun hearing about Bob's concert experiences.
At the show Saturday, we did not have quite the crowd that attends a Who concert. Seemed like the crowd was a little down from last month which is understandable because we are in the middle of a freakin' pandemic! So I did have extra time to talk and stick by my table which made the day more fun for me.
I already have a dealer waiting list for next month which I suppose is a good problem to have. The calls requesting tables for the January show started on Sunday, just one day after the December show. Dealers! If you can't make the show for any reason, please call, text or email!!!! Let's allow others to enjoy setting up at the show!!
I hope everyone has a terrific holiday season! See you next year!
Tony
These are challenging times. Operating a card show in 2020 is an extreme challenge. I had one dealer cancel because he contracted Covid. I had three dealers that did not show up, did not call. I had 12 dealers on my waiting list, I could have plucked three off the waiting list if the absent dealers would have called to let me know they were not coming.
Thankfully, I did not have the mad rush of cancellations that I had the previous two months. I wish I could offer tables to everyone who wants them but with Covid, we are spacing out the tables and I cannot fit more than 67 tables in the building. Once we get through this mess, I can add more tables and dealers. But for now, I am just stuck.
I am getting more calls for dealer tables than ever before. I am kind of flabbergasted. It is a bit overwhelming. Anyone remember when the show was at the Clarion Hotel and I had just eight to ten dealers? Now I have 40 plus setting up and another dozen on the waiting list. Still no staff to help. It is just me to manage all the dealers plus take on mass amounts of calls from customers.
I also need dealers to stop requesting certain spots in the building. I just can't accommodate you. With such a large waiting list, just know you are lucky to even be set up at the show!
I try my best, I even gave up my tables so someone from the waiting list could set up. Then I had a cancellation the night before the show and ended up with one table.
More rant: I am thinking of hiring a bouncer to deal with the knuckleheads who refuse to wear a mask or take it off once they enter the building. The show is only allowed to run thanks to the kindness of the folks at the Salvation Army. They have made it clear that the show ends if folks don't wear their masks. I think we're treading on water right now. One or two selfish A-holes are going to ruin it for the rest of us. I can't believe how selfish some people are!
Rant is over. Thankfully no one has reported contracting Covid from the show. Most people are pretty good about wearing their masks. I really appreciate everyone who sets up, attends the show, and wears their masks.
For the most part, we have a very safe and successful event. I appreciate all the kind words and compliments I receive at the show. It is you good folks that keep me motivated to take on this beast and keep it going every month. It is a huge job and a TON of work.
One dealer told me I am going to have some competition because he is going to start his own show. Well, all I can say is good luck and more power to you! I don't consider any other show competition and I will never discourage anyone from operating their own show. As you know, I had some real trouble with the promoter from the Orland Park show when I started my show in 2014. I felt and still feel that Milwaukee is far enough away from Orland Park, Illinois, that there really was no conflict. I have also been really lucky because Keith at Gonzaga Hall has been really supportive of my show. I will offer that same support to anyone else who wants to run a show. Just be respectful and don't run it the same day as mine nearby. You can pass out fliers at my show and I will encourage folks to set up and attend your show as well. The bottom line for me is this is my hobby, I do this for fun. I never wanted to be a show promoter. I only created this show because I wanted to set up somewhere in Milwaukee on a Saturday. There were no Saturday Milwaukee shows at the time. I like to buy and sell cards. Running a show, not so much.
After this past show, I am hankering to set up again soon. Unfortunately, there is nothing else happening locally. I do not feel like driving three to five-plus hours to set up in some foreign burg. I welcome another local show!
I did indeed have some fun at the show on Saturday. I bought a ton of stuff from Bart Taylor. Thanks Bart! He also watched my table so I could go out and collect table fee from the dealers which was a huge help!
I appreciate everyone who stopped at my table and purchased some cards. Sales were down for me from November. I plan on bringing out my showcases for January and hopefully spur some better sales. I had brought out mostly football binders and was surprised I did not have better sales. I had some really good stuff. Oh well.
It is always fun talking cards. It is great fun buying cards. But I do have other interests. I am a huge classic rock music fan. I have been a big fan of The Who since I was a kid. I worshipped Pete Townsend and many childhood friends called me "Pete." So it was only natural that another huge Who fan was set up across from me at this show in the person of Bob Smith. Early on, I observed a tattoo on his arm that looked like The Who's mod insignia. Bob and I got to talking and indeed he had the mod insignia tattoo. Bob told me he has seen The Who 30 times! I am not worthy! I saw The Who twice in 1982 but did not get to see Keith Moon. Bob sold me a cool photo collage he created of Pete Townsend. Thanks Bob! It was fun hearing about Bob's concert experiences.
At the show Saturday, we did not have quite the crowd that attends a Who concert. Seemed like the crowd was a little down from last month which is understandable because we are in the middle of a freakin' pandemic! So I did have extra time to talk and stick by my table which made the day more fun for me.
I already have a dealer waiting list for next month which I suppose is a good problem to have. The calls requesting tables for the January show started on Sunday, just one day after the December show. Dealers! If you can't make the show for any reason, please call, text or email!!!! Let's allow others to enjoy setting up at the show!!
I hope everyone has a terrific holiday season! See you next year!
Tony
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