Sunday, April 15, 2012, Gonzaga Hall, Milwaukee, WI -- Tough night of sleep due to some serious thunder storms. The rain cleared up by the time I left for Milwaukee at around 7 a.m. The drive, load in and set-up went smoothly. I noticed that my usual neighbor, vintage dealer Ken, was absent on this day. My other neighbor, PJ, didn't arrive until after the show started. Also, traffic at my tables was lighter than normal all day long. I think the threat of rain kept people away.
Just before the show opened to the public, Dave, the dealer behind me, was feasting on one of the most delicious-looking pieces of cake I have ever seen. I could only watch and reminisce about the days of yore when I too, ate cake. Curse you diabetes!!
My limited menu aside, the first customer at my table today picked up a 1975 Topps Mini Detroit Tigers team card. A young man, about 12 or so, purchased some '69-70 and '70-'71 Topps basketball. A regular customer picked up a nice stack of '59s. Another regular just started the '63 set and found a nice stack. A new customer purchased some '57 football. Another young guy picked up some '70-71 Topps basketball. A regular picked up a nice pile of '56 football and '56 baseball. Steve picked up my '52 Topps Duke Snider and '49 Leaf Luke Appling. A regular customer picked up some '65s. Another regular picked up some cards out of my dollar box. Then came the lull which is very unusual for this show. I am normally extremely busy at this show, often helping four or five customers at once. On this morning, there was nobody in front of me, so I went and got a cup of coffee. Upon my return, I paced back and forth for a spell.
Just when full-on boredom was settling in, a guy came by with a pile of '69-'70 and '70-'71 basketball to trade. I normally do not like to trade, especially with someone I have never seen before, but I was soooo bored that I was eager to cease pacing and engage in something related to cards. When I trade, I try and do it as fairly as possible. What I've come up with is that I'll figure out exactly what I would price the other guy's cards if they were on my table then I'll have him pick out an equal value off my table. I'm usually overly generous with the way I price other people's stuff. The guy seemed pleased with this arrangement, along with my prices, and pulled some cards from my basketball binder. I took his cards for post-show placement in my dungeon repository at the Casa del Fat Daddy, where the cards will be sorted and priced for future distribution in that rather sharp looking 3-ring binder filled with old basketball cards. I often receive flattering remarks on how the large amounts of duct tape seemingly clothing my binders are awfully impressive.
Customers began to trickle to my table after the trading episode. Jason picked up some '41 Double Plays. A regular picked up some '61 and '76 commons. Gary picked up my '52 Topps Feller and Garagiola. The dealer set up in Ken's spot picked up some '72 football. Another dealer picked out some cards from my 50-cent and dollar boxes. A regular purchased some '55s.
On the buying front, I picked up some '53 Bowman baseball, a nice pile of Johnston Cookies cards, and some '61 Topps and Fleer football.
Overall, an uneventfull show. Even though my sales were down, I still enjoyed myself, which is really what this is all about for me, having a good time. Next up is Serb Hall. I just finished some '79-80 Hockey and some '53 Topps baseball for the show. I should have some '60 Fleer football ready to go as well. Hope to see everyone at Serb on Sunday!
Just before the show opened to the public, Dave, the dealer behind me, was feasting on one of the most delicious-looking pieces of cake I have ever seen. I could only watch and reminisce about the days of yore when I too, ate cake. Curse you diabetes!!
My limited menu aside, the first customer at my table today picked up a 1975 Topps Mini Detroit Tigers team card. A young man, about 12 or so, purchased some '69-70 and '70-'71 Topps basketball. A regular customer picked up a nice stack of '59s. Another regular just started the '63 set and found a nice stack. A new customer purchased some '57 football. Another young guy picked up some '70-71 Topps basketball. A regular picked up a nice pile of '56 football and '56 baseball. Steve picked up my '52 Topps Duke Snider and '49 Leaf Luke Appling. A regular customer picked up some '65s. Another regular picked up some cards out of my dollar box. Then came the lull which is very unusual for this show. I am normally extremely busy at this show, often helping four or five customers at once. On this morning, there was nobody in front of me, so I went and got a cup of coffee. Upon my return, I paced back and forth for a spell.
Just when full-on boredom was settling in, a guy came by with a pile of '69-'70 and '70-'71 basketball to trade. I normally do not like to trade, especially with someone I have never seen before, but I was soooo bored that I was eager to cease pacing and engage in something related to cards. When I trade, I try and do it as fairly as possible. What I've come up with is that I'll figure out exactly what I would price the other guy's cards if they were on my table then I'll have him pick out an equal value off my table. I'm usually overly generous with the way I price other people's stuff. The guy seemed pleased with this arrangement, along with my prices, and pulled some cards from my basketball binder. I took his cards for post-show placement in my dungeon repository at the Casa del Fat Daddy, where the cards will be sorted and priced for future distribution in that rather sharp looking 3-ring binder filled with old basketball cards. I often receive flattering remarks on how the large amounts of duct tape seemingly clothing my binders are awfully impressive.
Customers began to trickle to my table after the trading episode. Jason picked up some '41 Double Plays. A regular picked up some '61 and '76 commons. Gary picked up my '52 Topps Feller and Garagiola. The dealer set up in Ken's spot picked up some '72 football. Another dealer picked out some cards from my 50-cent and dollar boxes. A regular purchased some '55s.
On the buying front, I picked up some '53 Bowman baseball, a nice pile of Johnston Cookies cards, and some '61 Topps and Fleer football.
Overall, an uneventfull show. Even though my sales were down, I still enjoyed myself, which is really what this is all about for me, having a good time. Next up is Serb Hall. I just finished some '79-80 Hockey and some '53 Topps baseball for the show. I should have some '60 Fleer football ready to go as well. Hope to see everyone at Serb on Sunday!
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