Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion So what days should Iowa Gas be?

A lot of comments in other threads as to the days for Iowa Gas not working for people. So my Q is, what days should it be? A lot of people drive 12 hours or more to get there. That is a lot of driving for a one day show. Make it a two day show and add in the auction and you now have a 3 day event plus two days driving time. Anyway you look at it, it is going to run into the work week for a lot of people. The Peotone show was mentioned, it is a Saturday at noon set up, sell till 5pm, then vending from 6 till about 1 or 2 on Sunday when everyone packs up. Another good time but that does not include the auction which is during the work week and some people do not make the show possibly due to the long drive, short vending hours.

A show with 150 venders and no outside foot trafic will still be a success. Venders also buy from other venders. The outside foot traffic will make for a better show but a lot of foot traffic and no venders will be a flop. The venders make a show, you can not have a show without them. People that want to go bad enough will try to take time off work if needed to go. You can not make everyone happy.

Iowa Gas is still the biggest oil can show that I know of with Columbus a close second, maybe while the days do not suit everyone, they are doing it right??

The original format was Thursday/Friday with a Saturday auction. Later a Friday night can auction was added. I like this format. The early trading was Wednesday. (not Monday/Tuesday as it is now)

A huge problem Regarding enforcing the vending times is having controlled access. Considering Columbia and Peotone....they are inside and the building opens at a given time. At an outdoor shoe there is no way to regulate early vending.

We ran out of road so ended up in Iowa Monday afternoon. There were only about a dozen others there and only one person had set up, the rest of the parking lot was "reserved" for Sheriffs officers with dogs.
Tuesday morning saw only a couple more people set up and I was surprised how few had actually set up by Tuesday afternoon. By about 6:00 half the area was occupied but not much selling going on. Lot's of people showed up late and on Wed morning the place was full (full meaning at least 20% less vendors then in the past no matter what you hear). I was VERY surprised how few room to room sellers and buyers there were. This makes no sense unless you figure that folks feel they have already seen most everything outside. Frankly, I was able to buy three nice pieces for my collection in the rooms.
Now to the days and having driven 2000 miles each way. I think a Friday show and Saturday auction would work really well. Many people can take off late in the week and you are going to see everything on the one day, Friday, that is going to be there plus possibly a larger room to room Friday night. For those not interested in the auction vendors that want to can be open Saturday morning to catch those people.

I agree with Jim and Ray.
It takes a alot of hard work to put on a show of this size and I know both promoters will listen.
But we have to support the shows by going.

You said it Maurice you have to support it by going. I cant imagine the amount of hard work is involved behind the scenes putting one of these together so whatever days they pick im good because they are the ones doing the work. I know some may not like that comment, but again they are the ones doing all the work and there must be a reason why they pick those days. Im sure its not at random, such as other events going on at the hotel the day before or day after and so on.

Anyone that has been to IG knows that parking is very limited except for the airports long term parking lot across the street [that can only be entered w/ a Credit Card], so some vendors buy an adjoining space for tow vehicle. Instead of using the airport parking most buyers have to park 3-4 blocks or more away in residential areas, not a fun walk in the heat & humidity [Tues's heat index was 110].

I agree with the first two replies. Going back towards the weekend would make it better for the "new guys" as well as those of us who have been going for a long time. Do we make it work during the week - yes - but wouldn't it be easier to take a few days off at the end of the week instead of all week?? Let's go back to Friday as main swap day- everyone will roll in sometime thursday. Sell until it gets hot on Friday- then move inside for one great nite of room trading. Last minute bargain selling Saturday morning outside - then a 10am auction. See ALL of the show in 2 days -instead of having to pick and choose the 2 days you want to attend (early selling or auction?). If this is not feasible for some reason- let's at least push everything back by a day and go back to Saturday auction, Thursday main selling day. Just my 3 cents. And in reference to other posting about keeping postive- I do ALWAYS enjoy IA GAS, the variety for sale, the fun people, etc.. No reason we can't try to make it suit more people (especially new collectors which are VITAL to securing our investments in petroliana).

I think this question should be put to the vendors actually. I have seen shows fail fist hand cause there was no vendors selling but lots of buyers would show up. That being the Montana swap meet that used to be held in Billings, Mt.
I know the california guys do some selling outside and in their rooms which is great to see. i also set up outside for wednesday and thursday selling...both days were excellent for sales!! But driving 4000 miles round trip to sell ONE DAY and hope i don't get rained out doesn't sit well with me as a vendor.

see your point minuteman..... I too am a vendor - and honestly, one day in the heat is usually enough. Second day sales typically are fueled by falling prices if you choose that path - or I suppose those people who didn't make it the first day. But if it was all focused on one day -EVERYONE would be there (with day of auction as a rain date - pushing auction back later in day).

Can't please everyone that's for sure. Just know there a LOT of people who can't make the trek to Des Moines for a Wednesday-Friday show. Thanks for considering.....

My vote would be for 6am vendor set-up Friday, buyers enter at 8am, and go to Sat at 12 when at 1:00 pm you start the auction. Auction ends later Sat evening and then you can get a jump on heading home or leave Sunday morning. Just a thought.....

We love Iowa Gas. The friends we only see at that show from the Left Coast, the variety of merchandise for sale, etc.

But . . . it eats up an entire week for us.

We need to leave on Monday morning and drive most of the way out. We ended up staying in Iowa City this year and finishing up the drive early Tuesday morning.

With the size of our trailer (24' with an extended tongue) and a full-sized Dodge truck, we need a LOT of 'swing room' to get into our spots at the show. If we get there late, and there are too many other vendors in the lot and set up, we can't ge to our spaces without having them move a bunch of stuff.

We get in our spots and parked, but we don't bother setting up on Tuesday. We get up and out early on Thursday morning and get everything out of the trailer. Same for Friday - an early set up for the early birds.

We are usually one of the last vendors to tear down on Thursday afternoon.

Then if there is anything I can't live without, we stay for the auction on Friday.

Either way - auction or no auction - we leave for home on Friday. If we leave early, I drive straight through and get home late Friday night. If we attend any portion of the auction, we end up getting a place part way home for the night and finish the run on Saturday.

IMO - the move-in system at Columbus is the best thing to happen to that show EVER. It allows those vendors with big trailers to get into the lot first and get where they need to be without having to ask others to rearrange their wares for access.

If Iowa gas had a bigger lot, or one with easier access - or adopted the move in system used at Columbus, the show would be shortened for us. As it is, it takes an entire week out of our schedule

That being said, we ALWAYS have good sales at Iowa Gas and really enjoy the show.

Later . . .

Jim

it was suggested in another thread by another member that we have a survey on Old Gas - something to collect everyone's input and forward to the show promoters. I think this would be an invaluable tool. Let's how Jim or the moderators can get something set up - and as many people as possible who do attend - or would - chime in with their 2 cents..... thanks!
Possible Ideas - open to suggestions of course!

1) Leave as is - Wed/Thur Swap - Friday Auction
2) Thurs/early Fri Morning Swap - Friday Afternoon auction
3) Fri/Sat Morning Swap - Saturday afternoon Auction
4) Sat/Sun Morning Swap- Sunday Auctio

Thanks!

There are too many threads.
Just take it from someone that has made 23 straight CTO (I missed the first one), 24 IG shows, every Fall Carlisle for 10 years, every Fall Hershey for 10 years, every Indy show for about 10 years, Meterie in Georgia, Turkey Run at Datonia, Iola in Wisconsin, Lawarence, KS back in trhe 80s, Carlisle at Bloomington, Il, Tulsa in OK., Columbia in MO., and almot all as a vendor. You don't know how many tents I have put up, and how many tables I have pulled out of my trailer.
Years ago I was doing 22 shows in 52 weeks per year. I know what it is like to put up tents, set up tables put out stuff, and and do the opposite at the end of the show. Then spend every bit of time I could find to try and find more stuff to sell.
Before any of you start saying I only buy to add to my collection, I was also that way, but what if you find five of something, are you going to add all of them to your collection?
I don't mind telling everybody this, but when my wife, Cindy, and I got into the hobby, we were just married, and what we didn't tell each other, we were broke, and I was out of work. One day I told her, I was going to make money (to supplement her job with the government) from this hobby.
Without going into everything I purchased, actually I should say we, I told my wife, NOT OT FALL IN LOVE WITH ANYTHING WE ACQUIRED.
I started showing up at all the above show, one and two days before the shows began. This is when the real selling goes on. While I know the people who put on these shows don't want to hear this, but if you don't get the show started early, the guys will start gathering at the local Wallmart lot and exchange merchandise, then going to the show.

From someone who is 76 years old, having written four books for this hobby, contributed many answers to quiries here on Old Gas, a contributing editor to "Check The Oil" magazines, and have found and sold many very nice items which are now prized items in someone collections, I am slowing down.

So, regardless of what any one says, get to these show when the vendors are setting up, and move fast. Make decision fast, because there is someone right behind you wanting to buy the same item. This is all competition.

It starts on who finds the item first and put it out for sale, then it is who who sees it on a table and buys it first.

It doesn't matter what day the show starts, be there one or two days early, find the prizes, then go home early.

Great finds don't happen on the last day of the show.

Jack Sim

Wow Jack, What an idiotic response, THAT is why Shows have been declining and newcomers are not arriving anymore, Let's just arrive at the shows the Sunday and Monday before the Thursday start date, Then the promoters can just close the gates and go home on Wednesday.

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