National Booth(s) Needed

[Rich Klein]

I'm trying to read the tea leaves between this board and the CU discussion as to when the tables/booths were sold out. My guess is that sometime very early this year the last available booth was sold.

As Rhys said, he waited till March to call only to find out he was on the waiting list.

I would think, going forward, Rhys might reserve a table/booth for the National at an earlier time and if he can not set up, then off-load the table/booth. That is, if his schedule permits him to know that far out. If not, then the suggestion I made might be the answer.

Also, I do agree that Rhys has a fairly unique specialty and therefore would add quite a bit to the show.

But sometimes, planning wins out.

Rich

[prewarsports]

Hi Guys

I only ever wait because sometimes I buy an entire block of four items to sell a bunch of stuff, and sometimes I just set up a photo booth and I dont know which option I want until after the new years when my schedule is a little more solidified. I have a priority 9 or something like that so I am not in any way saying I could not have had a booth if I had reserved one earlier. I just dont get the point of closing the door on hundreds of dealers that could make the show better by deciding a half year in advance that they are going to limit the show floor to a fraction of what it used to be in a hall that could land a B-27 bomber in all the empty space at the end of the hall.

This was really not meant to be a post bashing the show. If I did not think it was worth going to, I would not be asking for a table and offering to pay twice the cost. I just do not understand, from a business perspective, why you would ever limit the number of dealers if they are lining up willing to pay thousands and thousands of dollars for a section of concrete with two card tables in the middle of it when there is a limitless amount of concrete on that convention floor.

[Rich Klein]

Rhett:

That's what I figured as to why you wait. Makes sense to me. One person on the CU board mentioned he procrastinated and he took responsibility for his delay.

I do know that one of the National issues is exactly how many dealer tables/booths to have and they think of many reasons to either expand or contract. I'm sure they have done the math and the logic for either reason.

Perhaps a small block of 5 or so booths can be kept open for people with unique merchandise for sale.

Now, at the small show I run, in case I'm ever oversold by 1-2 tables, I can always remove a table or two of my material and open that up to a vendor. The National can't quite do that however

regards
rich

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Wondering if there's a small ballroom/space close by that you could rent out and recruit the dealers that were shut out of a booth. I know I'd walk over to check out more tables if it was close enough

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

ooooh, there's a demented part of me that loves this idea. Of course you'd probably be blackballed from the national forever, especially when your advertising hit.

[prewarsports]

Not a bad idea. Maybe ill just rent out a small room at a hotel conference room and bring a bunch of photos to show off and anyone who wants to geek out over photography could come hang out! It would be way cheaper, I could buy food for everyone and it would still be less than the National charges There is never anything to do after the show ends (except for the Net 54 dinner) anyways.

[timn1]

Rhys,
I am there, as long as you bring all your stuff (not just photos) so i can buy some of it.

Tim

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

Wondering if there's a small ballroom/space close by that you could rent out and recruit the dealers that were shut out of a booth. I know I'd walk over to check out more tables if it was close enough

+1

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

Wondering if there's a small ballroom/space close by that you could rent out and recruit the dealers that were shut out of a booth. I know I'd walk over to check out more tables if it was close enough

Reading this on my phone I first read it as "bathroom" and the image was both disturbing and hilarious.

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

Wondering if there's a small ballroom/space close by that you could rent out and recruit the dealers that were shut out of a booth. I know I'd walk over to check out more tables if it was close enough

10 years from now, attendees of the "Underground National" will look back at this post as its seminal moment.

[tschock]

Not for this to come off as political (and note the bold word in this sentence), but I would offer that part of the reason that the National may have sold out earlier is that right or wrong, there may be a perception that economy will be on a better track than previous years. This would be applicable whether it was sold out because of more corporate or dealer involvement. I don't think it's the entire reason, but I would be willing to wager it has played a part.

[ValKehl]

With the NSCC promoters seemingly being overly prejudiced toward Chicago and Cleveland to the exclusion of other areas of the USA, I would think that another group of promoters could successfully put on an annual "Winter National" in late February or early March (after Spring Training games have begun), alternating between FL and AZ each year.