My final weblog was on the St. Louis present. The next Saturday, December 28, 2024, I used to be arrange in Madison, WI. Form of a loopy present as a result of the ceiling within the upstairs ballroom was leaking water and half the room needed to be shut off. I handled the identical situation when the Oak Creek present was on the Clarion/4 Factors Sheridan earlier than shifting to the Salvation Military, many moons in the past.
My tables in Madison had been situated up in opposition to a short lived wall that shut off the again finish of the room. The present was massively crowded which created a warmth wave. Man, it was sizzling in there! With my diabetes and hypertension, the warmth was robust to cope with. I used to be actually jealous of massive Mark, who introduced a fan.
Including insult to damage, numerous my regulars had been out of city for the vacations so I had my worst Madison present of the 12 months. Loopy! Madison is normally strong.
Nothing to purchase, as nicely. Powerful day throughout.
Pictured beneath is a photograph from my desk of the group on the December Madison present. Wonderful prove!
You’d assume with all these individuals it will have been sizzling on the Joliet present… however no, it was freezing chilly! I stored my jacket on all day. I used to be positive I used to be going to catch pneumonia after boiling in Madison on Saturday then freezing in Joliet on Sunday. Fortunately, I used to be high quality afterwards.
Now I knew the Joliet present can be tight as a result of it was so on my final go to. This time, nonetheless, it was worse. There was no method for me to exit from behind my tables!! The promoter didn’t depart any area to get out! I needed to climb below the desk to get into the aisle which was tough as a result of the aisles are waaaayyy too small!!! On my fingers and knees, I needed to navigate a sea of legs so as to pop up from below my desk. As soon as standing within the aisle, I couldn’t transfer due to the small area and large crowd. I assumed I used to be going to pee my pants!!!
The man who runs the Joliet present is tremendous good and I hate to criticize him however he must take out a row of tables, give sellers an out from their tables and supply prospects some area within the aisles. That present is a cluster%$@#!! I most likely will not attend that present once more until the promoter creates some extra space.
Subsequent up was Oak Creek on January 4, 2025. After the large crowds in Madison and Joliet the earlier weekend, I figured Oak Creek would have the identical kind of crowd — I figured proper! We broke our attendance report with 1,350 via the door!!
Card exhibits are loopy widespread. The sports activities card pastime is sizzling. Pokémon is on one other stage — that stuff is the most well liked factor on the town proper now.
So the large recognition of all these things is creating an enormous downside for me in Oak Creek. I now have greater than 150 individuals on my ready record for Oak Creek. I’m nonetheless making an attempt to get tables for guys who signed up in July! Common sellers, generally, will not be leaving. My downside happens when an everyday supplier skips a present, I then exchange him with somebody off the ready record and each guys wish to arrange the subsequent month. I’m giving the spot to the alternative and a few common sellers are simply out of luck. I’ll get them again in in some unspecified time in the future, however more than likely not after they wish to return. I do not know what to do. I’m not going to kick the alternative out. Sellers have to only perceive that after they skip a present, it’s greater than seemingly that they can not return to the subsequent present. I’ve a restricted variety of area and an enormous variety of guys who wish to arrange. It sucks however I do not know what else to do.
I did determine to run an enormous present, the Wisconsin MegaShow, on April 19 on the Milwaukee Sports activities Advanced, 6000 Ryan Highway, Franklin, WI, so I can filter out my ready record for not less than sooner or later. For information on supplier tables on the MegaShow, ship me an e mail at [email protected]. We will have not less than 400 tables on the MegaShow, perhaps extra.
Again to the January Oak Creek present the place I used to be arrange on the stage within the Chapel which is normally a foul spot however I truly had a wonderful day. I additionally purchased a bunch of stuff. I really like shopping for classic playing cards!!
Listed here are some images from the January 4th, Oak Creek Present:
Anyway, I used to be again on the present circuit on Saturday, January 18, for the Woodstock present. I really like this present. It’s the most old-timey of the exhibits I do. I used to be barely involved previous to the present as a result of there had not been a Woodstock present since October. I used to be apprehensive nobody would present up. I apprehensive for nothing. We had a pleasant crowd.
The Woodstock present is my most constant present. I appear to make the identical amount of cash at each present. Bizarre!
Although, my cheapy containers didn’t do in addition to they usually do. It’s numerous work sustaining these containers. I feel I’ll give them a relaxation on the subsequent Woodstock present on February 15 and convey out basketball binders as an alternative of the cheapy containers.
I additionally purchased some stuff which all the time makes me completely happy!
On Sunday, January 19, I used to be arrange in Orland. I had a monster present in December and anticipated a decline for January. I ended up having one other wonderful Orland present! The cheapy containers had been wiped!! I offered my complete 50-cent field and the identical purchaser bought my 1971 Topps soccer binder. Woot! Nice, nice day in Orland!!
My pal, Chris T., who I met on the Orland present 25 years in the past, confirmed me his newest buy, pictured beneath. Chris collects playing cards that had been written on and he additionally collects playing cards which can be extraordinarily off middle. Each on occasion, he’ll have a bit of present and inform just like the Jim Brown card pictured beneath.
Good crowd, as soon as once more. Madison all the time has an amazing crowd. A few of my regulars, who missed final month, had been again, so gross sales had been higher. I additionally modified issues up a bit. I didn’t deliver out my basketball and hockey binders. As an alternative, I introduced out two show instances and stuffed them with oversize stuff like Displays, Nationwide Chicle High quality Pens, Goudey Broad Pens, some Icee Bear postcards, some slabbed autographs, and a few previous baseball card wrappers. I offered a bunch of these things. Woot!
I additionally purchased a stack of 1956 Topps decrease grade commons. My principal man Jim, came to visit from Milwaukee and offered me some Pirates from the 1960’s. Thanks Jim!
Subsequent up is Oak Creek on Saturday, February 1. As soon as once more, I’m anticipating an enormous crowd. My good friend Don August, who pitched for the Brewers within the late Eighties and early Nineteen Nineties shall be again signing copies of his new guide together with something anybody needs him to signal — at no cost! Don and I shall be arrange on the stage within the Chapel. I am going to even have free packs of playing cards.
Then on Sunday, I’m organising on the Bridgeview present with my pal Mark Smith. I can not bear in mind the final time Mark was arrange within the Chicago space. I can not wait. Must be a enjoyable weekend!!
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