UPDATED -- Mid-Atlantic Trade Event - Opinions Wanted!

[Rhotchkiss]

3-4 years ago, I hosted a trading event at my office in Maryland. About 12-15 prewar collectors came by, and we talked, hung out, showed off cards, and did some trading/deals. It was a lot of fun, and I get asked from time-to-time whether I am going to have another trade event. Andrew F (of net54) and I were talking a few weeks ago and we decided that it may be time to bring the event back. However, we want it to bigger and better than last time.

This would be an informal event for collectors to meet, show their cards, and trade/do deals. While there will certainly be transactions, this will not be a card show, where “dealers” set up and sit behind tables of cards with asking prices. Dealers are, of course, welcome, but not in their capacity as dealers trying to sell stuff to the gen pop. This is a collectors event; like the old days when you would take your shoebox/binders of cards to your buddy’s house and sit down with a group of kids and trade.


This thread solicits opinions and requests answers to the following queries:

1. How far would you drive/travel to attend?

2. Andrew and I live near DC, so it will be in that area. Is there a preference on Northern, VA (Tysons corner) vs somewhere around I495 in Maryland?

3. Are you more or less likely to attend if we did it the weekend of one of the Chantilly shows? If so, would you be more likely to attend after the show closes or during the day while the show is going on). Chantilly is a 3 day event

Alternatively - is there a time of year that is better than others if not done the same weekend as a Chantilly show?

4. Any preference for a smaller hotel conference room, restaurant, or private office (the preference is to use a smaller hotel conference room)

5. Would your decision to attend be impacted if there was a nominal door charge ($5-$10)?

6. Would you prefer the focus stay on prewar, or just baseball, or open it up to a more broad range of collectors? Note- I am pretty sure that anything after 1979 will be strictly outlawed and YouTubing will be grounds for dismissal.

At this point we are in the “investigation phase”. I will update this thread if/when decisions are made.

Thanks