Let's Talk About Card Shows For A Minute

[JollyElm]

Just being in the musty environs of a card show always makes it worth it. Just a feast for the eyes and soul, whether or not you walk away with great deals or not. Inhaling the cardboard aroma at someone's table stacked with a wide variety of cool old stuff (what I call The Cardboard Menagerie) reduces stress and adds years to your life. If there's a show taking place near you, go.

Better at a Flea Market or yard sale then a card show I got these at the endless 301 yard sale in NC back in 2019 I have done better at Flea Markets/Swap Meets then card shows since the 1980's in NJ Pennsy California and NC

[parkplace33]

It’s all online now. You can find a Nolan Ryan rookie in about 2 minutes. Why wait for a show?

Better to see in person than a scan

[Exhibitman]

Like anything else, i find that the more effort I put in at a good sized show the better the results. Just glancing through showcases is not the way to find rare cards and memorabilia; they are often buried in the stacks, boxes and bins. You have to get dirty and dig through the musty, dusty bins of poorly organized stuff. All of these were 'picks' pulled at shows:



















Go. To. Work.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Like anything else, i find that the more effort I put in at a good sized show the better the results. Just glancing through showcases is not the way to find rare cards and memorabilia; they are often buried in the stacks, boxes and bins. You have to get dirty. Go. To. Work.

THAT's what I'm talking about. I can't wait to go again!

Flea Market being at the right place and right time all bought at Flea Markets in in NJ and PA

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by jingram058

THAT's what I'm talking about. I can't wait to go again!

Me too; unfortunately, I don't know when that will be since I can't make it to the National this year and there aren't local shows in L.A.

[benge610]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Like anything else, i find that the more effort I put in at a good sized show the better the results. Just glancing through showcases is not the way to find rare cards and memorabilia; they are often buried in the stacks, boxes and bins. You have to get dirty and dig through the musty, dusty bins of poorly organized stuff. All of these were 'picks' pulled at shows:



















Go. To. Work.

Yep. Passion finds da goods!

[Hankphenom]

I love and treasure my stuff as much as anybody. I can also handle being alone and left to my own devices as much as anybody. But as I slouch into my twilight years, I realize more and more that what gave my life and the things I did with it the most juice was the PEOPLE I got to know and love through those activities. I remember "Twilight Zone" episodes where extreme introverts got their fondest wish to live in a world by themselves, no other people to bother them, and all the time they could ask for to read their books, or leaf through their card collections, or whatever else they thought was central to their existence. Of course, they soon discovered that it was those other people, bothersome or not, that gave these pursuits their meaning and brought them alive. Just as I feel sorry for anyone who didn't live in the heyday of neighborhood playgrounds like I did and get to experience all of the life-affirming joys, challenges, and life-lessons they gifted me, I likewise am so happy that I was in this hobby during the heyday of shows, where I had so many fabulous experiences of all kinds and made so many great friends I couldn't begin to remember them all. What a joy it was to see so many of the grizzled veterans I shared those with at the recent Philly Show, I could have given them all a big kiss to thank them for being there when we all had so much fun together and for being there still--if they would only shave. I would counsel those recent to the hobby to go to every show you can, no matter how big or small, while they last, I can guarantee that down the road you'll be glad you did, that's where your most enduring and fondest memories will have come from, the associations you developed and all the interesting interactions you had face-to-face. Just a little advice from another old guy pissing in the wind, take it or leave it as you will.