Saturday, September 16, 2023, Woodstock North High School, Woodstock, IL
As you know, I am a card show junky. I try to set up at a card show every weekend. I’ve got a pretty big range of where I’ll go — Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Every so often I venture out even further.
On Saturday, September 16, 2023, there were five different shows in my range which has me wondering… are there too many card shows? Can there ever be too many card shows? There is certainly not enough card shows focusing on vintage. None of the five shows on Saturday have much of a showing for vintage. I will always choose to set up at the show with the most vintage dealers because that always translates into the show with the most vintage customers.
Since none of the five shows Saturday have much vintage, I chose to set up in Woodstock, Illinois, because it is the closest to home. The other shows Saturday were Green Bay and Oconomowoc in Wisconsin, Bridgeview in Illinois, and Michigan City in Indiana. I have set up at all of these shows in the past and will set up at them again in the future. Did I say I was a card show junky?
Attendance seemed down in Woodstock. I don’t know if folks were visiting these other shows or what. I do think that the Woodstock show should have better attendance considering it is the only regular show in McHenry County, Illinois, which has some decent cities and well-to-do areas.
As a show promoter myself, I know first hand that it is tough to get people through the door no matter where your show is located. I tried to help get the word out for the Woodstock show on Saturday but I think I only brought in a handful of people. I know promoter Curtis makes a solid effort promoting the show as well. I’m thinking that maybe we should all try and post about this show in some more neighborhood groups instead of just focusing on sports card sites.
This show has such a great venue and such a great group of regular dealers, there has got to be a way to get more people to attend… or maybe there are just too many shows. Who knows? Any way, I do like this show and would like to see more people come on out.
I did have quite a few sales on Saturday, though, most of them were in the dollar or two range and did not add up to much. My sales were much better at the August Woodstock show which I think was only competing against two other shows instead of four.
I observed that there were a bunch of new dealers on Saturday, including long-time friend Jeff Peterson, who was set up at Woodstock for the first time. He said he had a good day. It looked like a lot of the dealers had nice crowds at their tables.
I had to leave early to take my daughter to work. I wonder if I stayed to the end, like I normally do, if my sales would have been better.
On the buying front, I picked up a stack of 1974 Topps football. Another guy offered me sets from 1982 through 1994. I was not interested.
One of the best things about the Woodstock show is that there are always some great people and good conversations. I was set up next to Anthony and Donny. I always enjoy hanging out with those guys. My main man Phil, always seeks me out to talk a little guitar. My pal Willie made the trip out to Woodstock. It is always great to hang out with Willie. Young Nick always stops by my table with some legal questions.
I’ve got a regular customer at this show who lives in Cary, Illinois, that always has some good memories to share of growing up in New York and collecting cards. An older couple stopped by and cleaned me out of Ellis Burton cards from the 1960’s. The guy told me that Burton was his favorite player as a kid and he has a collection of hundreds of his cards.
Luckily for me, it is not all about making money. I enjoy when people share their history with me. Saturday was an enjoyable day. I really appreciate Curtis for putting on the show. I know it can be a headache with dealers reserving space then not bothering to show up. I think Curtis had a few of those on Saturday. I get them at every Oak Creek show.
The next Woodstock show is on October 21. I can’t make that one. The boy wants to come home from college for a visit, so, I’m heading out to East Lansing on October 20 and will be driving home on October 21. I am sorry to miss the show and recommend that everyone attend!
The October 21sr show is the last one in Woodstock for 2023. I plan on being back there for 2024 and will let you know when I have more info.
Anyway, Woodstock was the first show of a double-bill weekend. I was set up in Orland on Sunday. Orland blog coming soon.
Next week, I am heading out to Michigan to see the boy and set up at the Lansing Mall show. I am probably bringing binders. I should have my oddball binder ready to go for that one. My latest edition of the oddball binder has some 1959 Fleer, 1960 Leaf, 1961 Golden Press, 1963 Topps Peel Offs, 1964 Topps Rub Offs, and 1968 Topps Game along with some other goodies. I am hoping to have some 1969 Topps Deckle Edge and some 1962 Post baseball ready to go before I head out to Michigan on Friday.
The next Oak Creek show is coming up on October 7. I am getting a lot of interest in the show already and will have a bunch of new dealers along with all the old favorites. Hope you guys can come out to Oak Creek on the 7th.
Have a great week everybody!
As you know, I am a card show junky. I try to set up at a card show every weekend. I’ve got a pretty big range of where I’ll go — Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Every so often I venture out even further.
On Saturday, September 16, 2023, there were five different shows in my range which has me wondering… are there too many card shows? Can there ever be too many card shows? There is certainly not enough card shows focusing on vintage. None of the five shows on Saturday have much of a showing for vintage. I will always choose to set up at the show with the most vintage dealers because that always translates into the show with the most vintage customers.
Since none of the five shows Saturday have much vintage, I chose to set up in Woodstock, Illinois, because it is the closest to home. The other shows Saturday were Green Bay and Oconomowoc in Wisconsin, Bridgeview in Illinois, and Michigan City in Indiana. I have set up at all of these shows in the past and will set up at them again in the future. Did I say I was a card show junky?
Attendance seemed down in Woodstock. I don’t know if folks were visiting these other shows or what. I do think that the Woodstock show should have better attendance considering it is the only regular show in McHenry County, Illinois, which has some decent cities and well-to-do areas.
As a show promoter myself, I know first hand that it is tough to get people through the door no matter where your show is located. I tried to help get the word out for the Woodstock show on Saturday but I think I only brought in a handful of people. I know promoter Curtis makes a solid effort promoting the show as well. I’m thinking that maybe we should all try and post about this show in some more neighborhood groups instead of just focusing on sports card sites.
This show has such a great venue and such a great group of regular dealers, there has got to be a way to get more people to attend… or maybe there are just too many shows. Who knows? Any way, I do like this show and would like to see more people come on out.
I did have quite a few sales on Saturday, though, most of them were in the dollar or two range and did not add up to much. My sales were much better at the August Woodstock show which I think was only competing against two other shows instead of four.
I observed that there were a bunch of new dealers on Saturday, including long-time friend Jeff Peterson, who was set up at Woodstock for the first time. He said he had a good day. It looked like a lot of the dealers had nice crowds at their tables.
I had to leave early to take my daughter to work. I wonder if I stayed to the end, like I normally do, if my sales would have been better.
On the buying front, I picked up a stack of 1974 Topps football. Another guy offered me sets from 1982 through 1994. I was not interested.
One of the best things about the Woodstock show is that there are always some great people and good conversations. I was set up next to Anthony and Donny. I always enjoy hanging out with those guys. My main man Phil, always seeks me out to talk a little guitar. My pal Willie made the trip out to Woodstock. It is always great to hang out with Willie. Young Nick always stops by my table with some legal questions.
I’ve got a regular customer at this show who lives in Cary, Illinois, that always has some good memories to share of growing up in New York and collecting cards. An older couple stopped by and cleaned me out of Ellis Burton cards from the 1960’s. The guy told me that Burton was his favorite player as a kid and he has a collection of hundreds of his cards.
Luckily for me, it is not all about making money. I enjoy when people share their history with me. Saturday was an enjoyable day. I really appreciate Curtis for putting on the show. I know it can be a headache with dealers reserving space then not bothering to show up. I think Curtis had a few of those on Saturday. I get them at every Oak Creek show.
The next Woodstock show is on October 21. I can’t make that one. The boy wants to come home from college for a visit, so, I’m heading out to East Lansing on October 20 and will be driving home on October 21. I am sorry to miss the show and recommend that everyone attend!
The October 21sr show is the last one in Woodstock for 2023. I plan on being back there for 2024 and will let you know when I have more info.
Anyway, Woodstock was the first show of a double-bill weekend. I was set up in Orland on Sunday. Orland blog coming soon.
Next week, I am heading out to Michigan to see the boy and set up at the Lansing Mall show. I am probably bringing binders. I should have my oddball binder ready to go for that one. My latest edition of the oddball binder has some 1959 Fleer, 1960 Leaf, 1961 Golden Press, 1963 Topps Peel Offs, 1964 Topps Rub Offs, and 1968 Topps Game along with some other goodies. I am hoping to have some 1969 Topps Deckle Edge and some 1962 Post baseball ready to go before I head out to Michigan on Friday.
The next Oak Creek show is coming up on October 7. I am getting a lot of interest in the show already and will have a bunch of new dealers along with all the old favorites. Hope you guys can come out to Oak Creek on the 7th.
Have a great week everybody!
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