I believe that is probably the most exhausted I’ve been in all my grownup life. This was an enormous endeavor. I discovered lots and the following one in September shall be a lot simpler.
I ended up with 250 sellers and 440 tables — by far the biggest present I’ve undertaken in my almost 11 years as a card present promoter. I’m fairly certain that this was the biggest present ever held in Wisconsin.
Oddly sufficient, I by no means meant to create such a big present again once I placed on my first present in September of 2014 on the Clarion Lodge in Milwaukee — I simply wished a spot to arrange. I’m far more of a classic sports activities card seller than a present promoter. It was actually a occurs of circumstance that the MegaShow happened because the Oak Creek present has outgrown the Salvation Military, I wanted a venue to accommodate everybody who wished to arrange in Oak Creek. Present Oak Creek ready listing is at 183 individuals and the look forward to area is as much as a yr.
Due to John Nelson, my safety guard on the Oak Creek present and who additionally simply occurs to be the mayor of the close by city of Franklin, I used to be in a position to hook up with the Milwaukee County Sports activities Advanced final yr. Riley from the Sports activities Advanced, who’s superior, and I floated some dates and we have been in a position to decide on April 19.
I crunched some numbers and figured I may make this factor work by charging $50 a desk. I additionally wished to deliver my pals from the Salvation Military with me and lift some funds for all the good work they do locally. With a present twice the dimensions of Oak Creek, I didn’t assume prospects would thoughts donating $2 to the Salvation Military for admission into the present.
In January, I issued a publication to all of the sellers on the Oak Creek present. Within the publication, I introduced the MegaShow and acknowledged that seller registration occurred with desk fee. My plan was to quantity all of the tables on the MegaShow and assign numbers within the order the sellers signed up for the present.
Nicely, apparently, many sellers on the January present didn’t learn the publication and assumed they’d a spot on the MegaShow just because they have been Oak Creek distributors or that I might maintain them a spot in the event that they instructed me they have been going to arrange. Sorry Charlie! Because the publication acknowledged, seller registration occurred upon fee and that’s how all of the MegaShows will work going ahead.
An enormous variety of sellers wished sure spots. Sorry Charlie! Tables have been assigned based on when every seller registered and shall be so going ahead.
Subsequent up was procuring tables. I couldn’t have 250 sellers bringing in their very own tables — that may have been chaos. So I basically took bids from 7 totally different rental firms and signed up the bottom bidder.
Seems I didn’t finances almost sufficient funds for the tables which was an enormous price. So subsequent present, I’m going to must cost sellers no less than $60 a desk, perhaps extra. I’m additionally going to must cost just a little extra for admission and use these funds to offset a few of my prices.
These previous three months have been loopy busy with a whole bunch of potential sellers often contacting me. I additionally labored my tail off selling the present and getting the phrase out.
I gave a number of guys free tables in trade for his or her assist in establishing and taking down the tables. All of them confirmed as much as arrange the present, however most bailed on taking it down. I do recognize everybody who confirmed as much as arrange the present, you guys are superior. Along with the free desk guys, I had an amazing group of volunteers Friday night time who all labored their tails off. Nevertheless, hardly anybody was there to take it down. Lesson discovered.
For the September MegaShow, I’m going to pay the desk firm an sadly giant sum to arrange and take down the tables — which was the toughest a part of the present. Issues shall be a lot smoother subsequent time.
I arrived on the present Saturday morning round 6:20 a.m. I used to be stunned that solely three automobiles of sellers have been there ready for me. There are normally fairly just a few early arrivals on the Oak Creek present.
Riley was there to greet me and we turned on the lights and opened the doorways to sellers. Pictured beneath is the calm earlier than the storm.
So seller load in was form of hectic and quite a lot of guys claimed I double booked the tables and I needed to discover area. Fortunately, I deliberate for this form of drawback and had quite a lot of open tables the place I may simply transfer individuals round. I had a bunch of sellers present up who didn’t reserve tables. I used to be in a position to accomodate all of them.
One other drawback was that some sellers moved their desk numbers, in order that was a cluster figuring that one out. Every desk got here with one chair. Some sellers stole their neighbor’s chairs. Then different sellers simply overtook their neighbor’s area both on the entrance or the again. Sellers that transfer desk numbers and/or overtake their neighbor’s area and steal their chairs simply suck. Should not it’s apparent you could’t put your large signal behind your neighbor’s area or put your stuff in your neighbor’s desk or steal their chairs?
Previous to the present, I attempted to take care of the distributors with a handshake however I believe I want a contract for the September present that lists, what I imagine, are commonsense guidelines. Some sellers I simply might not permit to arrange in September. Unhealthy seller conduct has no place at my exhibits.
So Friday night time into Saturday morning was an absolute cluster. It took me perpetually to arrange my very own tables as a result of I needed to take care of so many seller points within the morning.
As soon as all the pieces settled, the present went easily for probably the most half. One drawback was that I left the storage door open as a result of the room was actually heat. After all, individuals snuck into the present by way of the storage door and averted donating an enormous two bucks to the Salvation Military. I’ve quite a lot of four-letter phrases for these individuals.
On the alternative finish, our great Salvation Military volunteers working the entrance door, Vanessa and Captain Dana, reported 1,500 by way of the door. I believe they could have been overwhelmed by the crowds and didn’t depend everyone. It certain felt like greater than 1,500. The parking state of affairs appeared to replicate greater than 1,500.
Talking of the parking state of affairs — one other cluster. Months previous to the present, I used to be knowledgeable that prospects may park alongside the drive resulting in the venue. Many shoppers took benefit and parked alongside the drive solely to be ticketed by the County Parks Police. Ugh!
There’s a ton of parking behind the constructing that only a few took benefit of. For the September present, I’ll have all of the sellers park behind the constructing. There’s additionally a highway alongside the western aspect of the constructing the place individuals can park. I must lure individuals to park on the west aspect highway.
Now let’s discuss some positives. Most prospects and sellers appeared actually proud of the present. I used to be in a position to get in a ton of recent sellers who’ve by no means arrange in Oak Creek. I used to be actually impressed with the sellers who got here in from Boston, Detroit, Indianapolis, Des Moine and Minneapolis. Many sellers already need to buy tables for the September MegaShow. I liked that almost all sellers stayed till the tip. Looks as if many sellers pack up early in Oak Creek.
The shoppers have been superior! Like among the sellers, we had some prospects flying in as nicely. One among my favourite YouTubers was there — Garrett from Ballpark Recollections. Younger Garrett spends hundreds of {dollars} at each present he attends. He dropped some coin on the MegaShow. Thanks Garrett!!
Most sellers reported glorious gross sales. My gross sales have been fairly good.
On the shopping for entrance, not a complete lot provided. I picked up some 1973-74 Topps hockey. I used to be provided a 1939 Play Ball Joe Dimaggio housed in a Beckett 4.5 holder. The cardboard had a dime-size stain on the underside. I used to be comfortable to see that John, who often attends the Oak Creek exhibits together with his son Dom, bought the Dimaggio. John has an amazing assortment of classic playing cards, together with a 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle.
One of many issues I like about card exhibits generally is that I usually study one thing new about sports activities playing cards and gamers at each present. Immediately, I discovered one thing new from seller Kevin Farrell, who’s certainly one of my favorites. He all the time brings out such cool stuff like classic gloves and bats together with some uncommon and attention-grabbing pre-Warfare playing cards.
Later within the present, Kevin confirmed me a card depicting actress Lilliam Russell, pictured beneath. Kevin bought the cardboard from seller Greg Miller on the present. Many aged-timers might bear in mind Greg from the outdated Gonzaga present. So grateful to have each Kevin and Greg establishing on the MegaShow.
Kevin instructed me that Frank Schulte lengthy admired actress Lillian Russell, and through spring coaching in Vicksburg, Mississippi, one yr, he took some teammates to see Russell’s new play named “Wildfire.” The boys then met Russell at a post-show celebration. Quickly after, Schulte, who owned race horses, named certainly one of his trotters “Wildfire.” As soon as the Chicago sportswriters discovered of this infatuation with Lillian Russell, the nickname “Wildfire” was born.
Thanks for the story and displaying me the cardboard Kevin!
Total, I believe it was a reasonably good day in lovely Franklin, Wisconsin, and I plan on many, many extra MegaShows. I’ll most likely run them quarterly in 2026 along with the monthlies persevering with in Oak Creek.
A number of sellers instructed I make the MegaShow a two-day occasion. I’m just a little frightened that I am unable to bodily deal with a two-day MegaShow. My subsequent concern is safety in a single day within the constructing. I am unable to depart tens of millions of {dollars} of collectibles unsecure in a single day. I must rent in a single day safety. What would that price? My prices are already by way of the roof. With the prices of tables, chairs and venue rental, there may be not a lot left on the bone. I am going to have to consider that one.
A few of the sports activities card collectors complained about all of the Pokémon distributors. Sorry guys, it’s 2025 and the fact is that Pokémon is extra widespread than sports activities playing cards. Pokémon distributors are at each present. I do not thoughts them. Most are good guys… apart from the doosh that took up his neighbor’s area together with his silly billboard-type signal.
I’ve all the time had the coverage that if you buy a desk you possibly can promote no matter you want. You need to put out a desk of frogs, I am advantageous with it. It’s your desk, you promote what you need.
Some sports activities card present promoters are beginning to run all-Pokémon exhibits. I thought of doing one however I do not assume it’ll cease Pokémon sellers from establishing at sports activities card exhibits. Pokémon is right here to remain. Guys who don’t love Pokémon want to only take care of it and transfer on to a sports activities card desk if you’re not all in favour of Pokémon.
Pokémon apart, there are such a lot of issues I like about operating a sports activities card present. I get to hang around with so many great individuals. So nice to see Mark and Deb. Among the best guys on the present is Sean, who was arrange close to me. Sean and his spouse lately misplaced their son Nico. My condolences to Sean and his household.
The factor I hate about operating a card present are the complaints. Most complaints are completely nonsensical. Simply benefit from the present guys! We’re all geeks that love some form of collectibles. Why not cease complaining and simply benefit from the present? There was a lot cool stuff on the MegaShow!
Truthfully, I’m glad the present is over. I’m drained! Nonetheless, an enormous thanks to all of the distributors, all of the attendees, my set-up crew, my safety, the concession guys, Captain Dana and everybody on the Salvation Military, Riley and everybody on the venue. I can also’t thank my bride of 27 years for all of her assist and help. Thanks Lisa!! An excellent large NO THANK YOU to the Milwaukee County Parks Police!!
No relaxation for the weary! I will be arrange in Madison on Saturday, April 26, then I am establishing in Orland on Sunday, April 27.
Subsequent Oak Creek present is on Could 3.
Now for some relaxation!!!
Phrases can solely say a lot. I believe photographs finest describe the present. Get pleasure from these photographs.
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