Saturday, June 22, 2024, Sheraton Hotel, Madison, WI
We arrived back from Hawaii in the morning on Friday, June 21, 2024. I slept all day. I was in a daze when I set my alarm clock Friday night. I thought I set it for 5 a.m. but woke up Saturday at 6 a.m., no alarm. Turns out I set the alarm for 5 p.m., not 5 a.m. Ugh!
It takes me a good hour to get ready which includes loading my bins of cards into the car. I hustled and was on the road to Madison at 6:45 a.m. It is a two-hour drive from my house in Illinois to Madison. Show starts at 9 a.m. I was resigned to be late which is so unfortunate because last month I was early and had the most pleasant set up -- that would not be the case this month.
I actually made pretty good time and arrived at the hotel around 8:35 a.m. I should have worn a hat because it was raining during load in. My cards are protected by plastic bins but there was nothing to stop the rain from hitting my bald head. I stuffed my glasses in my pocket.
I brought out most of the binders this morning. New this month was 1972-73 Topps basketball. I did not bring any basketball out last month. Instead, I brought hockey, which I left at home this month.
As soon as I started placing binders on the tables, customers started to arrive. I had to chase them away. I need the front of my tables free of customers so I can lay out the binders. Folks did not seem to understand and kept coming, inhibiting my ability to set up! It was extremely frustrating.
I have three tables at this show. I placed out all of the baseball and basketball binders on the first two tables then set out to place the football binders on the third table. At that point, the floodgates opened and I could not stop people from attacking the baseball binders. I just ignored them while I'll finished placing out the football binders.
I checked the time once I completed set up -- it was 9 a.m. I was kind of proud that I had everything set up by the opening bell despite my late arrival and the hordes that would not allow me set up. I will be sure to set my alarm for 5 a.m., not 5 p.m., for the July show!!
Folks arriving early to shows is a big problem. I would appreciate it so much if customers arrived once the show officially opened and not before.
Anyway, the Madison show brings out the vintage set builders, and to a man, they all arrive in the morning. My tables are always crowded before noon. Afternoon, tumbleweeds.
Several of the early birds, who blocked my ability to set up, did not purchase any cards. Frustrating. A father and daughter team, that came by my tables three or four times while I was setting up, eventually settled in and purchased several large piles of cards. Nice folks. I just wish they would not arrive so early!
Soon there was a wall of people at my tables including my local football guy, Tom, Ken, Rod, Ben, and the two brothers who have been working on 1956 Topps baseball for the last several months. I sold quite a few cards in the morning. Not quite as many as last month but still pretty good.
On the buying front, Rod sold me a nice pile of 1955 Bowman baseball. Thanks Rod!
Normally, I stick around until 2 or 3 p.m. but there were reports of a nasty thunderstorm heading our way and I packed up at 1 p.m. in an effort to get out of dodge before the storm arrived.
No such luck! I spent the first 45 minutes of my drive home stuck in a torrential downpour made worse by heavy traffic and trucks kicking up spray. It was a scary ride. I tried to stick to the slow lane and was going about 40 MPH because I could barely see out of my windshield. Others zoomed by on my left kicking up spray. The rain stopped once I reached Rockford and had a much easier ride the rest of the way home.
This was a double-bill weekend with Orland on Sunday. Orland blog coming soon.
Next Oak Creek show is July 6. As usual, I have a full house, no more dealer space available. I am also painfully behind answering all my messages. Hope to get to everybody soon.
Prior to Oak Creek, I will be setting up at the DuPage County Fairgrounds on June 29 in Wheaton, IL. The show is operated by the Premier Cardshow guys who always do an excellent job. This will be their first show in Wheaton and I am not sure what to bring out. I am going to bring out two display cases of vintage graded cards. I am really not expecting too many set builders so I do not know yet if I will bring out the binders. I am working on the 1967 Topps baseball binder but don't think I'll have it ready by Saturday. I might just bring out more display cases of vintage raw star cards. What do you guys think I should bring out?
Anyway, there was a big crowd at the Madison show, as usual. Here are some photos:
We arrived back from Hawaii in the morning on Friday, June 21, 2024. I slept all day. I was in a daze when I set my alarm clock Friday night. I thought I set it for 5 a.m. but woke up Saturday at 6 a.m., no alarm. Turns out I set the alarm for 5 p.m., not 5 a.m. Ugh!
It takes me a good hour to get ready which includes loading my bins of cards into the car. I hustled and was on the road to Madison at 6:45 a.m. It is a two-hour drive from my house in Illinois to Madison. Show starts at 9 a.m. I was resigned to be late which is so unfortunate because last month I was early and had the most pleasant set up -- that would not be the case this month.
I actually made pretty good time and arrived at the hotel around 8:35 a.m. I should have worn a hat because it was raining during load in. My cards are protected by plastic bins but there was nothing to stop the rain from hitting my bald head. I stuffed my glasses in my pocket.
I brought out most of the binders this morning. New this month was 1972-73 Topps basketball. I did not bring any basketball out last month. Instead, I brought hockey, which I left at home this month.
As soon as I started placing binders on the tables, customers started to arrive. I had to chase them away. I need the front of my tables free of customers so I can lay out the binders. Folks did not seem to understand and kept coming, inhibiting my ability to set up! It was extremely frustrating.
I have three tables at this show. I placed out all of the baseball and basketball binders on the first two tables then set out to place the football binders on the third table. At that point, the floodgates opened and I could not stop people from attacking the baseball binders. I just ignored them while I'll finished placing out the football binders.
I checked the time once I completed set up -- it was 9 a.m. I was kind of proud that I had everything set up by the opening bell despite my late arrival and the hordes that would not allow me set up. I will be sure to set my alarm for 5 a.m., not 5 p.m., for the July show!!
Folks arriving early to shows is a big problem. I would appreciate it so much if customers arrived once the show officially opened and not before.
Anyway, the Madison show brings out the vintage set builders, and to a man, they all arrive in the morning. My tables are always crowded before noon. Afternoon, tumbleweeds.
Several of the early birds, who blocked my ability to set up, did not purchase any cards. Frustrating. A father and daughter team, that came by my tables three or four times while I was setting up, eventually settled in and purchased several large piles of cards. Nice folks. I just wish they would not arrive so early!
Soon there was a wall of people at my tables including my local football guy, Tom, Ken, Rod, Ben, and the two brothers who have been working on 1956 Topps baseball for the last several months. I sold quite a few cards in the morning. Not quite as many as last month but still pretty good.
On the buying front, Rod sold me a nice pile of 1955 Bowman baseball. Thanks Rod!
Normally, I stick around until 2 or 3 p.m. but there were reports of a nasty thunderstorm heading our way and I packed up at 1 p.m. in an effort to get out of dodge before the storm arrived.
No such luck! I spent the first 45 minutes of my drive home stuck in a torrential downpour made worse by heavy traffic and trucks kicking up spray. It was a scary ride. I tried to stick to the slow lane and was going about 40 MPH because I could barely see out of my windshield. Others zoomed by on my left kicking up spray. The rain stopped once I reached Rockford and had a much easier ride the rest of the way home.
This was a double-bill weekend with Orland on Sunday. Orland blog coming soon.
Next Oak Creek show is July 6. As usual, I have a full house, no more dealer space available. I am also painfully behind answering all my messages. Hope to get to everybody soon.
Prior to Oak Creek, I will be setting up at the DuPage County Fairgrounds on June 29 in Wheaton, IL. The show is operated by the Premier Cardshow guys who always do an excellent job. This will be their first show in Wheaton and I am not sure what to bring out. I am going to bring out two display cases of vintage graded cards. I am really not expecting too many set builders so I do not know yet if I will bring out the binders. I am working on the 1967 Topps baseball binder but don't think I'll have it ready by Saturday. I might just bring out more display cases of vintage raw star cards. What do you guys think I should bring out?
Anyway, there was a big crowd at the Madison show, as usual. Here are some photos:
Below are some of my purchases from the Madison show.
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