Saturday, November 16, 2024, Grant County 4-H Center, Marion, IN
I get a lot of comments that I am nuts for driving all over the country for shows. In my view, you are all nuts for NOT driving all over the country for shows because it is fun!
It is definitely more fun when I sell a lot of cards and/or make a nice buy at a show. The Marion show was not all that fun but you live and learn.
The promoter Jerry Hoss is a super nice guy who treated me very well but this show just does not draw much. I don't think more than 30 or 40 people attended the show. I can actually do well at these shows sometimes but I have to do them every month and build a customer base. Marion is too far of a drive to set up monthly.
I decided to set up at the Marion show after seeing it listed regularly on Facebook. A few years ago, Wisconsin dealer Eric Unglaub told me he had set up at this show and did not do very well. I am the kind of person who generally has to try a show out for myself.
Marion is around a four-hour drive from my house in Northern Illinois, so I decided to break it up and spend Friday night at my folks' place in New Buffalo, MI. My GPS read that Marion is about two hours from New Buffalo. Man, it sure seemed like it was closer to a three-hour drive.
Long drive aside, the hardest part of doing shows east of Chicago is that I lose an hour due to the time change. So, I had to wake up at 4 a.m. Central Time, 5 a.m. Eastern Time, to make it to Marion before the show opened.
I arrived at the show at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time. The show opened at 9 a.m. I was worried that I was late but observed quite a few empty tables. Problem was that none of the tables had my name on it.
Jerry saw me wandering around. I gave him my name and he apologized for failing to leave me a table. I wasn't worried. As a show veteran, I figured that someone would not show up.
Jerry rearranged some tables and sort of made me a spot. I was appreciative.
Load in was tough. There is no ramp for the front step. Someone hanging out front told me to go to the side. I found a side door labeled restroom. Then went around back and saw an open door and carted in. Not much space to get in because it was blocked by some other dealer tables.
Later, I noticed a garage door and wondered why it was not open for load in. At the end of the show, I loaded out that side door which was tough because people and tables were in the way.
After loading in and setting up, I walked the room and observed a really great group of dealers. I was surprised at the amount of vintage on some of these tables. At least five tables had solid vintage inventories while many others had a smattering. One dealer had some drool-worthy 1957-58 Topps basketball cards but nothing was priced. I have learned over the years that if a card is not priced that means it will cost way too much. While, I loved seeing all the vintage, it was all priced too high for me.
One of the vintage dealers was my best customer. What a nice guy. Unfortunately, he had a fake 1964 Topps Mickey Mantle in his display case. I don't think he was trying to scam anyone. I think he actually got scammed and has no idea the card is fake. I didn't have the heart to tell him. I see fake vintage cards in dealers' cases on occasion, I am never sure what to do. I don't want to start any fights with anybody but it is a bummer to see the fakes.
I recognized several dealers from the Fort Wayne show. My only other customer of the day recognized me from the Fort Wayne show and purchased some 1960 Topps baseball.
Best part of the show was the free coffee (which I promptly spilled) and the free doughnuts. Thanks Jerry!
Prior to partaking in the free coffee and doughnuts, I had an interesting drive to Marion. I went through a town called Wabash which looked like it was out of a Charles Dickens novel. I love Victorian towns and plan on heading back to explore. Marion, on the other hand, was kind of dumpy and run down. Though, I did see a sign for James Dean's birthplace. I might head back some time to check that out.
I am not sure what Jerry can do to get more people to attend this show. Marion seems like it is in the middle of nowhere but I don't think it is all that far from Indianapolis. Props to Jerry for not charging me for my tables -- much appreciated. I also observed him going around the room and purchasing cards that I am sure he did not need or want but was just trying to help the dealers out.
Even though my sales were lousy and I did not buy anything, I still had a good time. Everyone was extremely friendly. I love talking cards. A lot of folks had never seen Goudeys and I enjoyed explaining a few things about them. I think if you live anywhere near Marion, this show is a good option because there is an excellent inventory of cards there from vintage, modern and Pokémon. As an out-of-town dealer, not worth it because of the small crowd.
On Sunday, I was back on home turf at the Orland show. I'll try and get a blog done about Orland.
Next up for me is the Sports Spectacular at the Stephens Center in Rosemont, IL, from Friday through Sunday, November 22 to 24, 2024. I have a new booth location this time around. I am closer to the middle of the room in Booth No. 45. I am bringing out display cases to the Spectacular. If you want to see any binders, let me know and I will bring them. I will have lots of new inventory in my display cases. Should be fun!
Next Oak Creek show is coming up fast on December 7. As usual, I am sold out of table space. My waiting list is getting crazy. For new folks on the list, it will be months and months before I can get them space at the show. Sorry!
I have some interesting news to report -- my good friend Mark Smith contacted me and asked if I knew of any shows on February 2, 2025. We both saw the Bridgeview show and decided to set up together. Folks in both Milwaukee and Chicago have been asking me about Mark, well here is your chance to see him! Come out to the show at the Bridgeview Community Center, 7900 S. Oketo Ave., in Bridgeview, IL, on February 2nd. Should be a fun!!
In the meantime, hope to see you this weekend in Rosemont!!
I get a lot of comments that I am nuts for driving all over the country for shows. In my view, you are all nuts for NOT driving all over the country for shows because it is fun!
It is definitely more fun when I sell a lot of cards and/or make a nice buy at a show. The Marion show was not all that fun but you live and learn.
The promoter Jerry Hoss is a super nice guy who treated me very well but this show just does not draw much. I don't think more than 30 or 40 people attended the show. I can actually do well at these shows sometimes but I have to do them every month and build a customer base. Marion is too far of a drive to set up monthly.
I decided to set up at the Marion show after seeing it listed regularly on Facebook. A few years ago, Wisconsin dealer Eric Unglaub told me he had set up at this show and did not do very well. I am the kind of person who generally has to try a show out for myself.
Marion is around a four-hour drive from my house in Northern Illinois, so I decided to break it up and spend Friday night at my folks' place in New Buffalo, MI. My GPS read that Marion is about two hours from New Buffalo. Man, it sure seemed like it was closer to a three-hour drive.
Long drive aside, the hardest part of doing shows east of Chicago is that I lose an hour due to the time change. So, I had to wake up at 4 a.m. Central Time, 5 a.m. Eastern Time, to make it to Marion before the show opened.
I arrived at the show at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time. The show opened at 9 a.m. I was worried that I was late but observed quite a few empty tables. Problem was that none of the tables had my name on it.
Jerry saw me wandering around. I gave him my name and he apologized for failing to leave me a table. I wasn't worried. As a show veteran, I figured that someone would not show up.
Jerry rearranged some tables and sort of made me a spot. I was appreciative.
Load in was tough. There is no ramp for the front step. Someone hanging out front told me to go to the side. I found a side door labeled restroom. Then went around back and saw an open door and carted in. Not much space to get in because it was blocked by some other dealer tables.
Later, I noticed a garage door and wondered why it was not open for load in. At the end of the show, I loaded out that side door which was tough because people and tables were in the way.
After loading in and setting up, I walked the room and observed a really great group of dealers. I was surprised at the amount of vintage on some of these tables. At least five tables had solid vintage inventories while many others had a smattering. One dealer had some drool-worthy 1957-58 Topps basketball cards but nothing was priced. I have learned over the years that if a card is not priced that means it will cost way too much. While, I loved seeing all the vintage, it was all priced too high for me.
One of the vintage dealers was my best customer. What a nice guy. Unfortunately, he had a fake 1964 Topps Mickey Mantle in his display case. I don't think he was trying to scam anyone. I think he actually got scammed and has no idea the card is fake. I didn't have the heart to tell him. I see fake vintage cards in dealers' cases on occasion, I am never sure what to do. I don't want to start any fights with anybody but it is a bummer to see the fakes.
I recognized several dealers from the Fort Wayne show. My only other customer of the day recognized me from the Fort Wayne show and purchased some 1960 Topps baseball.
Best part of the show was the free coffee (which I promptly spilled) and the free doughnuts. Thanks Jerry!
Prior to partaking in the free coffee and doughnuts, I had an interesting drive to Marion. I went through a town called Wabash which looked like it was out of a Charles Dickens novel. I love Victorian towns and plan on heading back to explore. Marion, on the other hand, was kind of dumpy and run down. Though, I did see a sign for James Dean's birthplace. I might head back some time to check that out.
I am not sure what Jerry can do to get more people to attend this show. Marion seems like it is in the middle of nowhere but I don't think it is all that far from Indianapolis. Props to Jerry for not charging me for my tables -- much appreciated. I also observed him going around the room and purchasing cards that I am sure he did not need or want but was just trying to help the dealers out.
Even though my sales were lousy and I did not buy anything, I still had a good time. Everyone was extremely friendly. I love talking cards. A lot of folks had never seen Goudeys and I enjoyed explaining a few things about them. I think if you live anywhere near Marion, this show is a good option because there is an excellent inventory of cards there from vintage, modern and Pokémon. As an out-of-town dealer, not worth it because of the small crowd.
On Sunday, I was back on home turf at the Orland show. I'll try and get a blog done about Orland.
Next up for me is the Sports Spectacular at the Stephens Center in Rosemont, IL, from Friday through Sunday, November 22 to 24, 2024. I have a new booth location this time around. I am closer to the middle of the room in Booth No. 45. I am bringing out display cases to the Spectacular. If you want to see any binders, let me know and I will bring them. I will have lots of new inventory in my display cases. Should be fun!
Next Oak Creek show is coming up fast on December 7. As usual, I am sold out of table space. My waiting list is getting crazy. For new folks on the list, it will be months and months before I can get them space at the show. Sorry!
I have some interesting news to report -- my good friend Mark Smith contacted me and asked if I knew of any shows on February 2, 2025. We both saw the Bridgeview show and decided to set up together. Folks in both Milwaukee and Chicago have been asking me about Mark, well here is your chance to see him! Come out to the show at the Bridgeview Community Center, 7900 S. Oketo Ave., in Bridgeview, IL, on February 2nd. Should be a fun!!
In the meantime, hope to see you this weekend in Rosemont!!
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