How does a new seller get into ANY major card show these days?

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

For a three day big show, at least $800.

Yikes! I really am living in the past. That's what the National used to run, how much is THAT now?

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Yikes! I really am living in the past. That's what the National used to run, how much is THAT now?

Around $1500

[Exhibitman]

depends on where you are, I guess. The 800 table show in Anaheim over Labor Day weekend was $600 for an 8' table for 4 days. A 2-day show in Pasadena on November 18-19 is $200 for a 6' table. A dinky local HS gym show I went to last weekend was $65 for a 6' table for 1 day.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

The 800 table show in Anaheim over Labor Day weekend was $600 for an 8' table for 4 days.

Wow, 800 tables! That's almost a "West Coast National" scale show. How did it go?

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Wow, 800 tables! That's almost a "West Coast National" scale show. How did it go?

Exceeded my expectations in every way. I wrote a daily serial each day on my substack.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Exceeded my expectations in every way. I wrote a daily serial each day on my substack.

Glad to hear!

And yes, shows fill up, and it sucks not being able to get a booth. At the Net54baseball dinner this year Joe D (hi Joe), one of the Natinoal promoters, said there is a 2 yr wait for a table.
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[bcbgcbrcb]

I would be thrilled if that is the case, Leon. So, if I put my name on their waiting list today, in the next 2 or 3 years, they will have a booth for me?

Considering they lose about 100 booths this year by going to a smaller venue in Cleveland, I assume that leaves out numerous dealers who would already have National seniority over me. That’s on top of the existing waiting list, which I’m sure is extensive. Unless they build that show up to a 2,000 table event by 2026, I don’t see any way that it’s happening. Might be what the public wants to hear…..

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Leon

Glad to hear!

And yes, shows fill up, and it sucks not being able to get a booth. At the Net54baseball dinner this year Joe D (hi Joe), one of the Natinoal promoters, said there is a 2 yr wait for a table.
.

I'd say that's conservative since I'm a priority two and am not assured of a table next year. So how would someone on a wait list make it in two years?

I was on the wait list for about 5 years for both the National and Strongsville before I got in. I was already in Chantilly and Philly before things got tighter. I don't know how things are today but I did one East Coast National with no wait so the White Plains and Hofstra Shows may be available. I did The old Robert Morris Show after it moved with no wait in Pittsburgh, and I know one of the big shows in Texas is always trying to get me to come down so they must have room. Not sure about the Boston shows though they are ones we have considered adding to our repertoire, and we got in to Burbank with their move to Anaheim but then decided we couldn't justify the huge expense (travel more so than show). So opportunities for big shows are out there, just look around.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Around $1500

No 0ne ever said it's cheap to set up at the National. Back when I was splitting a table, 7-8 yrs ago it was around a thousand, if I remember correctly.
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[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Leon

No 0ne ever said it's cheap to set up at the National. Back when I was splitting a table, 7-8 yrs ago it was around a thousand, if I remember correctly.
.

Agree but some on this board thought it was cheaper than the current fee. I was just giving the facts.

[ncinin]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Agree but some on this board thought it was cheaper than the current fee. I was just giving the facts.

Facts are the fee for a 10X15 booth at the National is $1295, which is the best deal of any show in the business. I am shocked the fee hasn’t risen in many years, which is a testament to the cash cow the show is for the promoters.

As a point of reference the National 10X15 booth gets you two eight foot tables and one six foot table for setup day Tuesday through Sunday.

At Chantilly a 10X16 booth I pay $1400 beginning in 2024 for Thursday setup through Sunday. The last show was $1350.

Strongsville is $375 per six foot table for Thursday setup through Sunday.

March and November Chicago shows cost $495 for one eight foot table and $450 for each additional table.

For what you get the National is cheap.

[bcbgcbrcb]

The National is absolutely the best one to set up at no matter how you look at it. That’s why it’s so disappointing they can’t operate with some type of dealer rotation. I’ve been in the hobby for 40+ years and used to do some pretty significant business and am looking at the real possibility that I’ll NEVER get a chance. If the hobby suddenly tanks at some point and dealers start bailing out, who wants to get involved then? That would be of no interest to me.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by ncinin

At Chantilly a 10X16 booth I pay $1400 beginning in 2024 for Thursday setup through Sunday. The last show was $1350. For what you get the National is cheap.

The National is, indeed, cheap, although travel and accommodations can add up. For many years at Chantilly I would pay $250 for an eight-foot table and open it up with two of their skinny six-foot tables on the sides and the thicker eight-footer in the back. You could grab as many tables as you wanted. That gave me a lot of table space, but you had to keep a sharp eye out for theft with customers coming into your open booth like that. I did lose a couple things over the years but nothing major.

[ncinin]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

The National is, indeed, cheap, although travel and accommodations can add up. For many years at Chantilly I would pay $250 for an eight-foot table and open it up with two of their skinny six-foot tables on the sides and the thicker eight-footer in the back. You could grab as many tables as you wanted. That gave me a lot of table space, but you had to keep a sharp eye out for theft with customers coming into your open booth like that. I did lose a couple things over the years but nothing major.

Not all booths are 10X16, just some at the front of the show.

Interior 10X10 booths are $500, Corner 10X10 booths are $650 and they charge for the extra backup tables you use.