Working the Oak Creek Card Present is just about a seven-day-of-the-week job with calls, messages and texts coming in each single day. So, spending per week in Hawaii put me behind. I attempted to answer messages whereas on trip however it was tough. Then I used to be terribly jet-lagged the week after the journey. Because of this, I actually needed to hustle through the two weeks previous to the present to answer messages, examine in with a lot of the 125 repeatedly sellers, contact people on the ready listing, and listing the present everywhere in the web. It was an enormous job however I acquired it completed!
I used to be slightly anxious with attendance because the present was scheduled over the Fourth of July weekend which impressed me to advertise the occasion additional onerous. I used to be nonetheless attempting to fill a couple of vendor spots on the Friday earlier than the present. I had some sellers initially commit then again out, so I labored the ready listing to fill the spots. I believe I ended up with eight or 9 new sellers, possibly extra. I used to be in a position to fill all 185 tables and even added a couple of guys within the morning to fill some opens spots I didn’t even notice I had. I believe we had 187 tables, as the ultimate tally. I may fill many extra tables however I simply haven’t got the house. I solely had one no-show vendor, a brand new report!
Lisa and I arrived on the Salvation Military on Friday round 6 p.m. the place we had been met by our famous person helpers George and Kristy. It took us solely two hours to set every part up. After arrange, the 4 of us went over to El Beso Mexican Restaurant, 909 W. Layton, Milwaukee.
Wow! El Beso is large and tremendous cool. They’ve an out of doors patio with a waterfall. We’d have sat on the market however the temperature dropped exterior and it was awfully windy as a storm was approaching. We sat in a sales space contained in the multi-level restaurant. The group began off with margaritas. I used to be designated driver and didn’t drink. Lisa had a couple of!
To eat, I went with the steak fajitas which turned out to be the most important order of fajitas I’ve ever acquired. The meals was scrumptious. Kristy went with a fish enchiladas. George had tamales and Lisa had flautas. All of us loved our meals.
We arrived at our lodge round 11 p.m. We discovered it powerful to go to sleep because the neighborhood was booming with fireworks effectively into the wee hours of the morning.
We made it to the Salvation Military round 7 a.m. and there was already numerous sellers loading into the constructing. Usually, I don’t give myself a vendor spot till later within the morning. I prefer to plug myself right into a spot the place a vendor cancels on the final minute — that method I restrict the open spots that day. I prefer to have all of the spots stuffed however there are at all times last-minute cancellations and vendor no-shows. It’s sort of a trouble to do it this manner, so on Friday I made a decision to provide myself the primary spot within the entrance hallway to the precise.
This spot has additional room, so I used to be in a position to give myself three six-f0ot tables by creating slightly U-shaped spot. I introduced out all of my binders. I used to be decided to have a greater present after an actual awful present in June.
I used to be arrange by 8 a.m. Sadly, I am unable to simply sit by my tables and chill. I’ve to patrol the constructing as a result of a few of the new sellers at all times do one thing silly like swap identify tags on tables and swap their spot which actually screws us up. For one, most sellers like their common spots and throw a match when a numbnut strikes their spot. So I attempt to maintain everybody at their common spot. There may be at all times some new fool that may transfer their spot and piss off one of many common sellers.
Secondly, I’ve each inch of house of the constructing mapped out and we use these maps to gather desk charge. I additionally have no idea each vendor’s identify, so I take advantage of the map to determine every vendor. So once they transfer their spot, we do not know who they’re and we do not know whether or not or not they paid desk charge. Truthfully, it actually pisses me off when sellers swap their house. Why would you try this? I’d by no means try this! Simply arrange in your assigned house!!
I caught one vendor switching spots early on and was in a position to transfer him to his assigned spot. I missed one other vendor who moved his spot and solely discovered about it when Lisa tried to gather desk charge and couldn’t determine who was who as a result of the numbnut moved his spot. I went over, figured it out and gave the offender a dressing down. I do not suppose he’ll try this once more!
One other downside I’ve happens when a vendor or buyer takes a chair with a name-tag on it. Most sellers at this present carry their very own desk. I place a chair of their location with a reputation tag on it and the vendor is meant to arrange their desk in entrance of the chair. I even measure out the space between chairs on Friday evening, so every vendor has 8-feet of desk house and a foot between their neighbor to separate every vendor. Some numbnut will swipe the chair with the name-tag at each present. Drives me nuts. Somebody swiped considered one of my chairs within the fitness center. I believe it might have been a buyer who arrived method early and sat down at Dell’s sales space. I couldn’t inform for certain as a result of he sat there for a couple of hours and I couldn’t see the identify tag beneath his backside however I believe it was him. I’m going to be careful for this man on the August present.
It actually sucks that so many purchasers arrive effectively earlier than the present formally opens at 9 a.m. I believe I’m heading towards closing all of the doorways besides the entrance door within the morning and sitting on the door to maintain prospects out till 9 a.m. Prospects that come early actually simply suck. You people have to arrive at 9 a.m., not 6 a.m., not 7 a.m., not 8 a.m. however 9 a.m.! Early buyer arrivals trigger many issues like stealing my chairs with the identify tags. We are also anxious these people will steal from the sellers whereas they’re organising. Then there may be the truth that we can’t get an correct head rely with so many individuals coming in earlier than our Salvation Military volunteer is about up on the entrance door. I’m actually beginning to get annoyed with the early arrivals.
So I used to be slightly pissed off early on however mellowed out as I seen hordes of parents come into the present from my little perch by the entrance door. Wow! What a crowd! To suppose I used to be involved previous to the present! We counted 945 folks on the entrance desk however I do know many extra entered earlier on with out making their $1 donation to the Salvation Military — another excuse why early arrivals suck! We try to boost funds for the Salvation Military! These early scofflaws cannot pay a buck to charity? Man, they suck!
I used to be actual busy at my tables all morning. My newly reloaded 1967 Topps baseball binder acquired hammered. Dave pulled out a ton of playing cards! Thanks Dave! Jeff pulled a pleasant pile from my newly reloaded 1957 Topps soccer binder. Thanks Jeff! Many others discovered playing cards at my tables. Thanks everybody! I had a significantly better present than June. I’m so appreciative. Lisa and I actually loved hanging out with Craig and Doreen! Thanks guys!!
On the shopping for entrance, I picked up a couple of issues. Larry had a 1964-65 Chicago Blackhawks program for me. That one goes into the PC. Thanks Larry! Then on the finish of the present, Mark bought me a slabbed 1959 Topps Warren Spahn and a 1961 Topps Stan Musual. Smaller haul than I had hoped for however I will take it. There was a man who introduced in some playing cards from his private assortment. He had some nice stuff like a Ryan rookie and a few Mantles however he was not promoting. He wished to get an thought on the worth of his playing cards. Too dangerous. I actually wished that Ryan rookie. I advised him it was a couple of $600 card. He mentioned somebody supplied him $1,000. I suggested he settle for the provide!
In different information, as , I give away packs of playing cards to all who come to my desk and ask for one. I buy bins of playing cards from the wax sellers on the present to provide away. I give away fairly great things and spend fairly a bit of cash on these bins. On today, I bought a couple of bins of 2022 and 2021 Topps baseball. Principally youngsters come over and ask for packs. Later, I discovered that one child pulled a uncommon Ronald Acuna card valued round $600. I like it!
Total, an incredible day. Most sellers reported glorious gross sales. I actually loved seeing the massive crowd and lots of smiles on faces all through the constructing. An enormous thanks to everybody who attended the present! No because of the early arrivals and the numbnut sellers who swap their tables!!
Lastly, I need to rapidly focus on the massive theft in Dallas that has the pastime buzzing. Everyone knows Ash, the Dallas vendor with the mega classic stock. I’ve taken images of his tables and posted them in my blogs many occasions. Ash units up everywhere in the nation. He additionally used to go to the Oak Creek present repeatedly to purchase playing cards. He was right here so typically, I assumed he was native and was stunned to later study he lives in Dallas.
Anyway, if you have not heard by now, a bunch of thieves clearly staked him out and deliberate a serious theft which they completed final week. Everybody needs to be looking out for big-ticket classic playing cards being supplied on the market at low cost costs.
This has turn out to be a nationwide information story. See hyperlink: Baseball trading cards worth $2 million allegedly stolen from Dallas card show – CBSSports.com
So sorry this occurred to Ash, one of many nicest guys you’ll ever meet. I actually hope these playing cards are recovered and the thieves find yourself in jail!
Subsequent up for me is the Rockford present on Saturday, July 13, 2024, on the IBEW Native 364, 6820 Mill Highway, in Rockford, Illinois. I ought to have my 1957 Topps baseball binder reloaded by Saturday. I haven’t got any factor deliberate for Sunday. There are a pair new reveals scheduled on Sunday in Hartford, WI, and within the Wisconsin Dells. I thought of organising at considered one of these reveals however I simply do not suppose there shall be any classic patrons at these reveals. If anybody attends these reveals, let me know if there was any classic there. Perhaps I will give it a strive down the street. I’ll find yourself on the Wilmot Flea Market on Sunday. I used to be arrange there a couple of weeks in the past and did actual awful. I’m not certain I shall be motivated to go on Sunday however I simply may!
A giant thanks to everybody who follows my weblog. I obtain so many good feedback on the reveals, I actually respect it!!
Hope to see you quickly!!
Subsequent Oak Creek present is August 3. As normal, vendor tables are bought out. To get on my ready listing, ship me your contact data to abrandongordon@hotmail.com.
Now for some images from the July 6, Oak Creek present:
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