Saturday, October 2, 2021, Salvation Army Community Center, Oak Creek, WI
I would like to start off this blog with a rant.... A week before the show, I was overbooked with dealers and was scrambling trying to figure out how to fit everyone in. Then slowly, day by day, dealers started to drop out. By midweek, I was no longer overbooked and started to add some folks off the waiting list.
On Thursday morning, I received a Facebook text from a potential dealer. I told him I was all booked up and added him to the waiting list. Then by 6 p.m. that night, the flood gates opened as four our five more dealers dropped out. I should have let that one guy come and set up!
On Friday, the day before the show, I was out to lunch and received another call from a dealer who cancelled. By the end of the day four or five more dealers dropped out. I thought about contacting the guys on the waiting list but in the past they have never been able to set up on such short notice. So I decided to place a post on Facebook stating that whoever responded could set up the next day. Only four guys responded and only two of them actually showed up.
Ugh! It is next to impossible to operate this show when 10 or 15 guys cancel a day or two before the show, not to mention the several guys that didn't bother to show up, didn't bother to contact me.
I am really pissed off. I really don't want any of these guys who cancelled to ever set up again! I certainly am not going to allow the no-shows to ever set up again.
My waiting list continues to grow but I can't get those folks into the show when dealers cancel at the last minute. A couple of the last-minute cancellations were legit, the rest, I'm not so sure about. So I've decided to create a one strike policy. All those guys that cancelled at the last minute get just one more opportunity. If they ever cancel again at the last minute, they will be banned. How hard is it to give me a week or so notice before cancelling? They are all on my shit list.
Did I say I have a large waiting list (and a growing shit list)? Potential dealers continue and continue to contact me for tables. Some of the new dealers that cancelled are going back on the waiting list. I honestly have no confidence that any of these folks will ever actually show up. If you book the space, you have a responsibility to show up!! These are mostly grown men, what the hell is a matter with you?
I would like to start off this blog with a rant.... A week before the show, I was overbooked with dealers and was scrambling trying to figure out how to fit everyone in. Then slowly, day by day, dealers started to drop out. By midweek, I was no longer overbooked and started to add some folks off the waiting list.
On Thursday morning, I received a Facebook text from a potential dealer. I told him I was all booked up and added him to the waiting list. Then by 6 p.m. that night, the flood gates opened as four our five more dealers dropped out. I should have let that one guy come and set up!
On Friday, the day before the show, I was out to lunch and received another call from a dealer who cancelled. By the end of the day four or five more dealers dropped out. I thought about contacting the guys on the waiting list but in the past they have never been able to set up on such short notice. So I decided to place a post on Facebook stating that whoever responded could set up the next day. Only four guys responded and only two of them actually showed up.
Ugh! It is next to impossible to operate this show when 10 or 15 guys cancel a day or two before the show, not to mention the several guys that didn't bother to show up, didn't bother to contact me.
I am really pissed off. I really don't want any of these guys who cancelled to ever set up again! I certainly am not going to allow the no-shows to ever set up again.
My waiting list continues to grow but I can't get those folks into the show when dealers cancel at the last minute. A couple of the last-minute cancellations were legit, the rest, I'm not so sure about. So I've decided to create a one strike policy. All those guys that cancelled at the last minute get just one more opportunity. If they ever cancel again at the last minute, they will be banned. How hard is it to give me a week or so notice before cancelling? They are all on my shit list.
Did I say I have a large waiting list (and a growing shit list)? Potential dealers continue and continue to contact me for tables. Some of the new dealers that cancelled are going back on the waiting list. I honestly have no confidence that any of these folks will ever actually show up. If you book the space, you have a responsibility to show up!! These are mostly grown men, what the hell is a matter with you?
Next up in the rant are all the cry baby dealers... stop your crying! I'm not your mother and I don't want to hear it! If you are a dealer in the gym, you have no reason to bitch. The gym continuously has the largest crowd out of the four rooms in the show. I can at least understand the guys in the Game Room bitching. For some reason, the crowds seemed to skip the Game Room this month. One of the contributing factors was all the dealer cancellations which left me with only half of my normal number of Game Room dealers.
Next month, to get more folks to visit the Game Room, I will be giving away free packs at my tables in the Game Room. So visit me in the Game Room at the November 6th show for a free pack of cards!
Is there another promoter in the country who works as hard as I do at promoting their show? I doubt it. Dealers, cut me some slack and stop bitching!
I must add that the majority of dealers that set up at my show are top notch and I could not ask for a better group of dealers. There are always a handful of whiners, I think these folks might be better off setting up elsewhere and not at my show.
One final rant... I hired a security guard --- who did not bother to show up! Unbelievable!! Thankfully, I did not receive a single report of theft. I am going to start looking for a new security guard.
Next month, to get more folks to visit the Game Room, I will be giving away free packs at my tables in the Game Room. So visit me in the Game Room at the November 6th show for a free pack of cards!
Is there another promoter in the country who works as hard as I do at promoting their show? I doubt it. Dealers, cut me some slack and stop bitching!
I must add that the majority of dealers that set up at my show are top notch and I could not ask for a better group of dealers. There are always a handful of whiners, I think these folks might be better off setting up elsewhere and not at my show.
One final rant... I hired a security guard --- who did not bother to show up! Unbelievable!! Thankfully, I did not receive a single report of theft. I am going to start looking for a new security guard.
Despite the overabundance of last minute dealer cancellations, despite the cry babies, and despite the security guard blowing off the show, it was really a tremendous day.
Former Brewers Pitcher Don August showed up around 8:30 a.m. and enjoyed walking around checking out the dealer tables. Then he and I sat down at a table in Fellowship Hall and invited folks over for an autograph.
Admittedly, I was a little nervous at first because I am a huge baseball fan and get star struck when I am around a former major leaguer. As I was driving to the show, I was thinking about all the great players Don pitched against like George Brett, Don Mattingly, Ricky Henderson, Wade Boggs, Kirby Puckett and on and on. So for my first question I asked what it was like to pitch to George Brett. Don said it was impossible. He hit everything. Don said he was able to get Don Mattingly out with regularity and he could hear Mattingly cuss as he trotted to first on a pop out.
It wasn't before long where I felt like I was talking to an old friend. Don August is an amazing guy! A super nice guy and a joy to be around. He rewarded me with tons of awesome stories. I did not know he played in Taiwan where he learned how to write his name in Chinese. See picture below. He also played in Mexico and Italy. He has so many stories and plans to publish a book. I can't wait to read it! I am going to have him back at the show for a book signing next year.
Former Brewers Pitcher Don August showed up around 8:30 a.m. and enjoyed walking around checking out the dealer tables. Then he and I sat down at a table in Fellowship Hall and invited folks over for an autograph.
Admittedly, I was a little nervous at first because I am a huge baseball fan and get star struck when I am around a former major leaguer. As I was driving to the show, I was thinking about all the great players Don pitched against like George Brett, Don Mattingly, Ricky Henderson, Wade Boggs, Kirby Puckett and on and on. So for my first question I asked what it was like to pitch to George Brett. Don said it was impossible. He hit everything. Don said he was able to get Don Mattingly out with regularity and he could hear Mattingly cuss as he trotted to first on a pop out.
It wasn't before long where I felt like I was talking to an old friend. Don August is an amazing guy! A super nice guy and a joy to be around. He rewarded me with tons of awesome stories. I did not know he played in Taiwan where he learned how to write his name in Chinese. See picture below. He also played in Mexico and Italy. He has so many stories and plans to publish a book. I can't wait to read it! I am going to have him back at the show for a book signing next year.
Don was scheduled to sign autographs from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. but stayed until noon! A huge THANK YOU to Don August for attending the show, signing autographs and chatting with everybody who came by!
So I normally get a chance to walk all four rooms in the morning but obviously could not walk around at this show. We had a nice crowd in Fellowship Hall. My buddy Andy watched my tables from 9 to 11 a.m. then Rachel watched my tables from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thank you Andy and Rachel!!
Those two really worked it because my tables were crowded all day long. I had customers from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Needless to say, my sales were excellent. Much better than last month.
When I finally made my way into the gym around noon, there was still a good crowd in there. Most every dealer in the gym reported good sales. The hallway and the Game Room seemed a little light on attendance. I wish folks would visit the dealers in the Hallway and the Game Room. There is some great stuff there and you are missing out!!
Hallway dealers, though, reported good sales. Most of the Game Room dealers were unhappy. I plan on setting up in the Game Room next month and hope to lure more customers into that room. Again, I will be giving away free packs of cards.
I did end up buying some cards but it was really difficult to do since I was crazy busy with Don August then collecting table fee from the dealers. I was at my tables for about an hour. Dave brought me a box cards including some cool 1955 Topps Double Headers. See picture below. Robin brought me a box of 1960 Topps football. Some other guys brought me cards but I was unable to look at them, I just did not have the time.
So I normally get a chance to walk all four rooms in the morning but obviously could not walk around at this show. We had a nice crowd in Fellowship Hall. My buddy Andy watched my tables from 9 to 11 a.m. then Rachel watched my tables from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thank you Andy and Rachel!!
Those two really worked it because my tables were crowded all day long. I had customers from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Needless to say, my sales were excellent. Much better than last month.
When I finally made my way into the gym around noon, there was still a good crowd in there. Most every dealer in the gym reported good sales. The hallway and the Game Room seemed a little light on attendance. I wish folks would visit the dealers in the Hallway and the Game Room. There is some great stuff there and you are missing out!!
Hallway dealers, though, reported good sales. Most of the Game Room dealers were unhappy. I plan on setting up in the Game Room next month and hope to lure more customers into that room. Again, I will be giving away free packs of cards.
I did end up buying some cards but it was really difficult to do since I was crazy busy with Don August then collecting table fee from the dealers. I was at my tables for about an hour. Dave brought me a box cards including some cool 1955 Topps Double Headers. See picture below. Robin brought me a box of 1960 Topps football. Some other guys brought me cards but I was unable to look at them, I just did not have the time.
Overall, I thought this was a pretty good show. Seemed like we had a nice crowd. Seemed like most dealers had excellent sales. If I could just get dealers to show up and get a few of the babies to stop their whining, this show would be Nirvana!
I had quite a few texts, calls and Facebook messages relating to the show over the weekend, please be patient, I will answer everyone but it may take me a few days. I hope to eliminate some of the lame dealers for the November show and introduce some new dealers off the waiting list.
Looks like I am going to have former Packer Bob Long signing soon. I'll let you know when I get more details.
Up next for me is the show at Rock Church in Rockford, Illinois, next Saturday. I have never set up at this show or at a show in Rockford. I am looking forward to the new experience. I plan on bringing out display cases and filling them up with football cards. If anyone planning to attend the Rock Church show wants me to bring something special, let me know.
I really have to thank everyone who attended the Oak Creek show this past Saturday. It is this consistent and excellent attendance that allows me to be a little more flippant with my rogue dealers than I normally would be. Thank you guys so much! Thanks for reading through my rants! Thanks for spending your hard-earned money at my show! Next show at the Sal is on November 6. I have already started to add new dealers for the Game Room. It should be another great show!
I hope to see everyone in Rockford next week! Cheers!!
I had quite a few texts, calls and Facebook messages relating to the show over the weekend, please be patient, I will answer everyone but it may take me a few days. I hope to eliminate some of the lame dealers for the November show and introduce some new dealers off the waiting list.
Looks like I am going to have former Packer Bob Long signing soon. I'll let you know when I get more details.
Up next for me is the show at Rock Church in Rockford, Illinois, next Saturday. I have never set up at this show or at a show in Rockford. I am looking forward to the new experience. I plan on bringing out display cases and filling them up with football cards. If anyone planning to attend the Rock Church show wants me to bring something special, let me know.
I really have to thank everyone who attended the Oak Creek show this past Saturday. It is this consistent and excellent attendance that allows me to be a little more flippant with my rogue dealers than I normally would be. Thank you guys so much! Thanks for reading through my rants! Thanks for spending your hard-earned money at my show! Next show at the Sal is on November 6. I have already started to add new dealers for the Game Room. It should be another great show!
I hope to see everyone in Rockford next week! Cheers!!
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