Hunt's Philly Show and David Hunt

[prewarsports]

I dont believe you NEED the autograph guests to have a successful show from the dealers standpoint. If you need to buy a $300 Joe Montana autograph to get you in the door then chances are you arent spending much at the show. If you DO spend a lot at the show then chances are you would have gone without the autograph guests anyways.

As an amatuer economist here is my thinking on marginal costs, If each dealer pays $600 for a table instead of the same $100 the gun dealers get charged then each dealer is kicking in $500 to subsidize the promotors fees toward the autograph guests. If your average dealer makes a 50% profit on his vintage items then EACH dealer has to make an extra $1000 from guys who would not be at the show but for the autograph guests to break even! I find that number to be a longshot. I have yet to meet a single person in the hobby who buys vintage baseball cards and also pays $$$$ to get living players autographs. The two dont really jive together, but even if that guy does exist, he would probably be at the show anyways!

Just my thoughts, and BTW, I think David is a really classy guy and I have no idea about his costs involved in the show and things like that are ALWAYS more expensive then people think.

Rhys

[Jaybird]

I agree that the autograph guests aren't pulling people towards the vintage cards. Maybe they come by a table and see a $5 card that "looks neat" and buy it, but I wouldn't think that's the same guy buying a $500 Collins McCarthy card.

I'd prefer a smaller show with more vintage dealers and people that know when you come there, that's what you'll get. I'd be extremely loyal to a show like that and think a lot of other people would as well if you knew you were going to see great dealers and an interesting assortment of vintage.

Also, as I've said before, who needs Sunday at a show? Let's save everyone time and money and bag Sunday and it'll be cheaper for everyone.

For Hunt, I think he caters to both groups which is why he does the autographs. Those people bid in his auctions as do the purely vintage collectors. So, he needs to do both. But, Rhys makes a good point, why should the vintage dealers be subsidizing the autograph guests if the return isn't likely to come from those same guests?

[wonkaticket]

Originally Posted by prewarsports

I dont believe you NEED the autograph guests to have a successful show from the dealers standpoint. If you need to buy a $300 Joe Montana autograph to get you in the door then chances are you arent spending much at the show. If you DO spend a lot at the show then chances are you would have gone without the autograph guests anyways.

As an amatuer economist here is my thinking on marginal costs, If each dealer pays $600 for a table instead of the same $100 the gun dealers get charged then each dealer is kicking in $500 to subsidize the promotors fees toward the autograph guests. If your average dealer makes a 50% profit on his vintage items then EACH dealer has to make an extra $1000 from guys who would not be at the show but for the autograph guests to break even! I find that number to be a longshot. I have yet to meet a single person in the hobby who buys vintage baseball cards and also pays $$$$ to get living players autographs. The two dont really jive together, but even if that guy does exist, he would probably be at the show anyways!

Just my thoughts, and BTW, I think David is a really classy guy and I have no idea about his costs involved in the show and things like that are ALWAYS more expensive then people think.

Rhys

100% agree, I spend a fair amount on cards and never once gone to a show to get an autograph or been drawn to a show for autographs.

John

[Fred]

I've never been drawn to a show for the autographs...

I do remember a Fort Washington show I attended years back. I thought it was just a good as a National in terms of quality of dealers and inventory of vintage material.

You guys on the east coast have the best shows. On the west coast we get garbage... (unless it's a National and there haven't been many of those in Anaheim).

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Fred

I've never been drawn to a show for the autographs...

I do remember a Fort Washington show I attended years back. I thought it was just a good as a National in terms of quality of dealers and inventory of vintage material.

You guys on the east coast have the best shows. On the west coast we get garbage... (unless it's a National and there haven't been many of those in Anaheim).

I'll bet you have better shows that what we get here in Nebraska.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I'll bet you have better shows that what we get here in Nebraska.

Dan I bet if someone thought they could get $600 a table you'd have a show or two.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

Dan I bet if someone thought they could get $600 a table you'd have a show or two.

I'd be running it.

[bh3443]

In my thirty plus years of running decent local shows I can honestly state that the quality of your show arrives from having good honest fair dealers with decent inventory to draw customers.
Anything else can be considered an added attraction or de-traction!

I lost money three times in three decades of promoting shows. Once it was due to a ridiculous insurance bond I needed in addition to my normal one, and the other two we're because of my poor choice in two autograph guests. One player just didn't draw people and then there was Brad Park walking out of my show 20 minutes after I paid him.

If some one tells you they are going to "water the lawn", don't assume it means they are using the restroom!

I sincerely hope every one can find a comfortable way to enjoy our hobby and grind out a living with out the drama. I always noticed some collectors were jealous of the dealers and some of the dealers were jealous of me the promoter.

Well, this promoter is now happy simply to be here enjoying life as a collector in what is my version of card collecting paradise: net 54.

At the end of the day that's all we have are memories. I'm proud to say that my best hobby memories are of the time spent with people on this board.

Happy Holidays,

Bill Hedin

[Jewish-collector]

Originally Posted by prewarsports

I dont believe you NEED the autograph guests to have a successful show from the dealers standpoint. If you need to buy a $300 Joe Montana autograph to get you in the door then chances are you arent spending much at the show. If you DO spend a lot at the show then chances are you would have gone without the autograph guests anyways.

As an amatuer economist here is my thinking on marginal costs, If each dealer pays $600 for a table instead of the same $100 the gun dealers get charged then each dealer is kicking in $500 to subsidize the promotors fees toward the autograph guests. If your average dealer makes a 50% profit on his vintage items then EACH dealer has to make an extra $1000 from guys who would not be at the show but for the autograph guests to break even! I find that number to be a longshot. I have yet to meet a single person in the hobby who buys vintage baseball cards and also pays $$$$ to get living players autographs. The two dont really jive together, but even if that guy does exist, he would probably be at the show anyways!

Just my thoughts, and BTW, I think David is a really classy guy and I have no idea about his costs involved in the show and things like that are ALWAYS more expensive then people think.

Rhys

I, too, agree. There are collectors for every part of the sports card & memorabilia hobby. There are a bunch of collectors only into the shiny stuff. Some only into autographs. Some only into game-worn memorabilia. So on and so forth. So, it depends on what your focus is. Here it's vintage baseball cards.