FAT DADDY'S SPORTS
  • HOME
    • BIO
    • Reach Me
  • CARD SHOWS
    • Gonzaga >
      • Photos
    • MY SHOW! >
      • Smith & Gordon Show Photos 2014
      • 2015 Photos
      • 2016 Photos
  • STORE
    • eBay
  • PHOTOS
    • Card Show Photos >
      • 2012 Card Show Photos
      • 2013 Card Show Photos
    • Recent Pick-Ups >
      • Page 2
  • BLOG
  • LINKS
    • YouTube
  • STUFF
    • ARTICLES
    • BOOK REVIEWS
  • FAQ
  • BUYING

Ouch!

8/20/2022

0 Comments

 
Saturday, August 20, 2022, Da Region Sports Card Expo, Merrillville, Indiana

I am so disappointed. I had such a nice streak going but it all came to a screeching halt today in Indiana. I just bombed.

On the plus side, this was promoter Mitch LaRock's first show at the venue which is absolutely awesome. May be the best venue I have ever set up at.

Mitch has been running this show for about four years. I set up at the very first one but have not been able to make it back due to scheduling conflicts. Initially, this was a one day show. It is now a two-day show with several autograph guests. Horace Grant and Al Weis were signing at the show today.

I contacted Mitch a few weeks ago to see if I could just set up on Saturday because I had Orland scheduled for Sunday and I hate to miss the Orland show which is one of my best. Mitch said several dealers were setting up on just Saturday and I could as well.

One mistake I made, which I regularly goof up on, is that I failed to ask the cost of tables. I just regularly book shows and show up and pay whatever the promoter asks me to pay. I have never paid more than $100 for two tables except for the big shows. I only charge 50 bucks for two tables at my Oak Creek show. I learned upon arrival this morning in Merrillville that my table fee was $200. Ouch! I was required to pay instanter. Oddly enough, some the other guys setting up for one day were only charged $150. Not sure why I got charged more than others.

So, I had quite a hole to dig out of from the get-go. I really love the venue, though. An absolutely huge room. Great lighting. Lots of dealers... customers, not so much. Without my old friend Dave Frazier, I probably would not have sold much at all. This turned out to be a total loss. Probably my worst show ever because of the huge table fee.

Terry D., who hates when I bring my binders, is going to say my poor sales were the result of my decision to bring out binders. Though Terry may not believe it, there are many shows where I do very well with the binders. I have bombed out in the past with showcases. I don't think it was an issue of my display, there just were not many vintage buyers. 

It was nice to see Dave Frazier. I also found Dave's loupe when I was packing up which I am dropping in the mail. I also bought some non-sports cards from Dave, my only purchase of the day.

I did enjoy chatting with Tony Schaefer and his wife Kate, who went out and brought back lunch. Thank you, Kate! I also got to chat with Mike Johnson and Dennis Barrett, Jeff Talamantez, Dave Kania, Alex Rauter, Jim C., Terry, Mike Slinkman, Andrew Wipijewski, Derek, '86 Fleer Bill and Josh Brothers. So the day was not a total loss.

Oh well. This was not my first bad show and won't be the last. I am looking forward to rectifying the situation in Orland.
Picture
Pretty great venue... just not a great amount of people.
Picture
Picture
Picture
So a guy brought this oddball program to me asking if I knew its value. Inside was Cappelletti's signature and several more from the '64 Patriots. The only other autograph I could decipher was Babe Parelli. I could not come up with a value on this item. I advised the guy to submit to one of the large auction houses. He told me as I was leaving that he sold it for $1,000.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Tony Gordon

    Vintage Sports Cards Addict

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.