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July 14, 2022 "Just go to where the people are," I told myself. Coming off a pair of disappointing mall shows in May and June that were sparsely attended, with sales totals to match, I realized I needed to start challenging myself. Ever since my beloved mainstay - the monthly show at Orlando's in St Louis - took a turn for the worse, I've wanted/needed (it's a matter of opinion...just like people who say "I need that card.") to find new locales in which to work. In this regard, and I'm far from the only person saying this, COVID was a godsend. I'm not rehashing all the potential reasons why, but the fact was the card market was on the downturn in 2018-19, and then suddenly in 2020 it was one of the hottest things going. eBay caught fire, as did attendance at any show once people could be out in groups in public again. In short, it was easy to be a card dealer. Put a pin in that. Now let's discuss this past weekend. I set up in two decent spots, but locations that I hadn't visited in a while - the Skyline Room in Rosemont/Des Plaines next to the AllState Arena on Saturday, and the Hyatt Woodfield in Schaumburg on Sunday. I hadn't set up at the Skyline Room since the late '90s, when Friends and Frasier were on TV in non-rerun form. I assumed shows had been going on in my absence, but I guess not. The promotor said this was the first in quite some time, and it was part of a kick-off event. So as to showcase as many different dealers as possible, I was only allowed one table! However, due to someone backing out, I ended up with two. Also, get this - the tables were free!! For everyone, not just your favorite dealer, Monster Cards. That's definitely a first. The show was sponsored by Ludex, a company that has created an app to identify a card from a picture, and then do fancy stuff with it like add it to your online collection, etc. I'll gloss over the math part of this column and tell you that I had to be on the road before 5am to be up to Rosemont in time for setup. However, you avid and loyal readers out there know I have one of the world's best internal alarm clocks. So yes, I was up before my 4:30 alarm. This is one of the lower-ranking superpowers a person could have, but if I can get up on my own volition instead of being jarred awake by the unfriendly tones of my phone alarm, I'll take it. 
There is something freeing about being one of the only people on the road. The best way to summarize the day at the Skyline room was "cold." The A/C was cranked way way up, and despite the body heat from all the customer traffic, it remained cool enough to where I put on a light jacket midway through the day. This is me, who has been known to wear shorts throughout the winter (though mostly in my younger days). My intention of setting up at a show with good customer attendance had finally come through, but where were the sales? Once it hit the afternoon, I realized what was happening. This was a modern card crowd. I knew from the comments I receive on my inventory. There were lots of compliments and almost a sense of wonder. Fathers were showing their sons cards of Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle, but not buying. An unfamiliarity. Not vintage card collectors. I took some solace in the fact that a couple other vintage dealers set up next to me had slow days as well. At least it wasn't just an issue with me, my inventory, prices, bathing habits, attitude, etc. Outside of the free tables, another treat from this show was Ludex springing for a dinner/snack of Raising Cane's chicken after the show closed. They really treated everyone well. And since this doubles as the common man's food blog, here's your pic: 
Since it was still mid-afternoon when I had my chicken, I counted it as a snack and went out for a polish later at a place close to my hotel generically-called Stadium Sports Club and Pizza. I picked this place because I wasn't very hungry and the food looked cheap, and, did I mention it was close to my hotel? I don't want to get carried away, but this meal and the Breaking Bad marathon on AMC that night were pretty much the highlights of my weekend. Someone cared about grilling up this polish sausage and they even perfectly grilled the bun. Mmm mmm! And the Jack/Coke was pretty strong as well. The ambiance was... um, let's not talk about that. But the food/drink were so delicious that I even grabbed a piece of chocolate cake to go. So much for trying to eat healthy on the road. (Sorry, no pic. At some point, it's overkill, right?) On Sunday I (repeat after me) woke up before my alarm and drove slightly out of my way to grab a McDonald's breakfast. Everything was pretty close-by anyway, so no big deal. The layout of the show was odd...there were tables in two different rooms, and also in the hallway connecting them. The room I was in was probably 1/3 the size of the other room, but I didn't care since I was set up next to Tony Gordon. (Check his excellent blog!) This was the other highlight of the weekend - being able to chat with "other Tony" most of the day. I enjoyed catching up, and the time passed by so much quicker. As Tony G mentioned, I did bring out nearly my A-Game for this pair of shows. I wanted to make a splash up in the 'burbs, ya know, where the people are. Not National-level inventory, but more stars and more pricey price tags than I tote to mall shows. Yet somehow Sunday ended up being the worst show I've ever done, sales-wise. I sold one card for $65. Period. Full stop. The end. Nearly had another $90 sale, but the guy was not willing to pay my price for a '67 Hi# - the last card he needed to complete his set. He even tried to show me "comps" (eBay sold prices) of worse-condition and worse-centered cards that sold for less and I didn't budge. Y'all know what good business I do with Hi#s from '52, '61, '66, and '67. Knocking another 1/3 off my price would have been ridiculous. Normally, an interaction like that wouldn't even be a blip on my radar, but that's how slow the show was. "Remember when I almost sold that card and doubled my sales??" Yeah. This is like "Yikes"-level of bad. Mimicking the day before, there was traffic at this show, but aside from Tony G, myself, and one other dealer (overpriced), it was all modern-card dealers. Also the same as Saturday, Tony G barely sold anything either. And our inventories fit together like a glove. My common inventory is super-low right now, while other Tony had his binders with him, which are largely commons and minor stars. I'd much rather we both kick ass, but again it was oddly reassuring that he had a slow day as well. Oh yeah, and the other weird thing was how chilly it was in that room. Not as bad as Saturday, but it got to the point where we propped open a door to the outside to let some warm air in. Man oh man. This will be a show Tony and I talk and laugh about 25 years from now when we're the dinosaurs at shows who(m?) the hobby has passed by. Cold rooms. Cold sales totals. Tough weekend. On a positive note, we're a little more than one week away from The National. Now that baby is gonna be a true indication of where the vintage market is at! I'll be setting up with Joe again, and we'll be at Booth 1508, just a handful of 'islands' away from the main entrance. If my ducks are in a row, I'll have a preview column out next week. As always, thanks for reading and mentioning the columns to me. I do appreciate when Dave comes up to me and says "Hey, you haven't written for a while." That lights a fire under me. Have fun! -T |
Inside My Brain