If the hobby spending slows (unlikely), less dealers set up and there are fewer paid attendance, my guess, is some prices would go down for a while. I never blame a promoter for maximizing their profits. The market takes care of greediness, most times.
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Originally Posted by Exhibitman
Promoters believe that trade nights and similar sideshow events drive traffic. I am not sure that is true, but as long as tables sell out, the promoter can focus on increasing traffic (admissions) without worrying about the dealers. Every dealer setting up at trade night or in the hallways or even in the food court at the National (as was the case in Cleveland) represents a paid admission. I don't know how many of them would have stayed home but for the trade night (maybe none), but if the dealers buy all the tables despite the parasitic card show/trade night, there is no downside for the promoters to allow it. Dealers, believe it or not, have no leverage to negotiate with a promoter if the shows sell out or if there is a waitlist. I am curious to see whether that changes when there is an actual recession and the hobby as a whole contracts and dealers drop out of shows. I recall in prior periods being offered discounted tables and even free autograph tickets for the guests to get me to take a table.
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