What makes a great show?

[Jeff1970Red]

Attractive ladies, alcohol, great food...and great cards.

[Rich Klein]

OK putting on my dealer hat here

What I want to see from the promoter is an good effort in getting the word out

If they do the work than most of the rest fits into line.

And as a dealer, it's my job, especially if I sell something slightly outside the norm for a sports card show (Racing items, McFarlane/Starting Lineups, etc.) to get the word out to those collectors.

There have been many threads on many boards about what dealers should do at a show but as a promoter -- your job is to ensure the dealers have the best cards they can have for sale

Rich

[Rich Klein]

It's also my job as a dealer to get the word out as you want to protect yourself as well. I know several dealers at my show have their own email or postcard list they send to their collectors

Rich

[Chris-Counts]

I don't believe bigger is always better when it comes to shows. Where I live, in the San Francisco Bay Area, there are big shows put on by Tristar at the Cow Palace, and small shows put on by Mark McRae in San Leandro. I always enjoy Mark's shows much more — it's not even close. The Cow Palace shows are filled with modern junk, and most of the vintage stuff is way overpriced. Yet I consistently walk out of Mark's shows with all sorts of great vintage treasures and bargains. Also, the atmosphere between the two is like night and day. The Cow Palace is impersonal and sterile, while the smaller and more intimate setting in San Leandro creates a warm and friendly environment. Mark's shows remind me of the wonderful Orange County monthly card shows in the 1970s, and they give me hope that there's still a place for shows in a world dominated by the internet.

[jhs5120]

Personally, I use shows as a "one stop shop" for my collecting need. My show routine is usually the same every time:
1. Consign a couple items that I don't want to carry around
2. Drop off an order with PSA (again, so I don't have to carry it around)
3. Look around the dealers and go bargain hunting
4. Look for dealers with cheap 1960's and 1970's Vg-Ex commons to complete sets

If you have all four of those components and are within 100 miles of New Jersey, I will be there!