I was at It's a gas show and was talking with another vendor and got on the topic of shows.
Last year you had Dave Parr show in Terra Haute last weekend in April and next weekend was Dayton then next is Evansville and then Cheese show... that was 4 shows in a row with in 5 hours from each other! As a vendor it would suck... as a buyer good?
So the topic... i would like to here from a vendor stand point and buyer stand point?
Are there to many shows?
Do we need 2 peotone shows?
Do we need 2 dixie shows?
Do we need 3 or 4 shows in a row?
How far apart should the shows be?
How long should they be? 1 day or 4 days?

I will give my opinion now as a buyer only. LOL

There are becoming to many shows. I think guys need time to find stuff and come to a show with new stuff.
Its bad enough to see the same stuff over and over in booths.

Having 4 shows in a row... as a buyer its good i guess but as a seller... that is a lot of travel and expenses. Back to guys need time to recover from there selling.

I like a 1 day show! After 6 hours of looking i am good with hanging with other collectors... maybe have a beer or 2 and done. I don't need 3 days of walking around looking at the same stuff hoping someone new will show up.
I think Peotone does well at fall but not as good in spring? Maybe cut it back to 1? Don't know... it's been working with 2 peotone and Dixie shows so why change it.

I didnt go to the Dave Parr show, never been to the Dayton show or Evansville or the Cheese show. I normally go to Missouri, Peotone twice a year, Columbus and Iowa. I also went to John Mancinos show last year (Great time) and am planning to go to Evansville in the future. The success of the show or lack there of will most likely dictate if there are to many shows or not.

As a buyer I think that many shows is great as it gives me a chance to go to which ever one I want. As a vendor I would think it sucks but still they also get to choose which ever show is the best for them. As far as how many days a show should last I like fast shows. Evansville, it's a gas and peotone are pretty fast and I only have to be there for a couple days total. I also like check the oil show its a little slower as its three days for me but what's cool about that show is its a even playing field for the buyer and seller. The show does not start until 3 or 4 pm on Thursday and that's for both the vendor and buyer. I don't like showing up on Sunday for a show on Wednesday

I agree Wes Maxwell,, I think the buyers and sellers will sort it all out just by the results of attendance, it will sort it out on it's own , " find it's own level"... there is away more collectors out there today than 10 years ago..

Wes I agree there are more collectors and pickers or so it seems. Some are good and some watch to much tv

The more the better. If the show does not draw the vendors and shoppers? They will fade away. I can't think of a show that has become extinct because of a lack of intrest.

I agree. There are more people in the hobby than there was 17 years ago when I started. I encourage novice collectors to get out to the shows. It's the best learning experience to touch and feel and compare.

All depends on where in the country you are. Up this way there is only one a year in CT 2+ hrs away which is very small. John's 4+ hrs away in NY and further north there is nothing anymore. I would LOVE to have the problem of "Too many shows within a 5 hr radius"...lol

I'm in line with Wes Maxwell... I have a lineup of shows that I plan to go to regardless, then I always try to add in a random show or two. I go as a buyer & seller... some times I setup, sometimes I dont. Lately I've been getting a booth regardless because its cheaper than paying the early bird fees for both my wife & I.

I will always go to the Missouri show, both Peotones, Iowa, & Columbus. Some times I add in Chicago coin-op, Indy ad show, and last year the Terre Haute show. I hope to go to Evansville & Dixie soon, since I've never been.

Its a lot of shows... but I think the reason we see a lot of the same stuff at each is because of prices & not so much the frequency of shows.

I will admit though, the cluster of shows in April that you are referring to has kept me from going to a lot of them. Shows within 2 weeks of each other is just too much to attend. But I'm fine with not going to them all, leaves something new to plan for the next year.

I agree with Eric. We need more shows on the east coast.

I live in Oklahoma and the only close shows we have are the Ozarks and Pate.Everything else is a long haul for me. I personally would love to see more shells in my area.

Interesting... more shows towards the west of MO?
Being in Evansville, the geographical area for shows is huge. with in 6 hours i have 10-12 shows.
Location is huge! I will add going to 6 shows a year or so the vendors come with the same thing for each show.

I live in Massachusetts and I would like more shows up my way there are a lot of collectors up here for most of the shows I either have a day of driving or flying would be nice to have a
big show local once a year.

I also concur with Eric and believe that the number of shows in an area is driven by the number of collectors. I only attend two shows; John's show as a vendor and the CTO show as a buyer. Both of these shows are in June, well run, and for me, the first gives me the necessary funds to allow me to attend the second. It would be great if there where other shows in less that a 4 or 5 hour drive later in the year in the Northeast.

I agree with Eric and Jeff and believe that the number of shows in an area is driven by the number of collectors. I only attend two shows; John's show as a vendor and the CTO show as a buyer. Both of these shows are in June, well run, and for me, the first gives me the necessary funds to allow me to attend the second. It would be great if there where other shows in less that a 4 or 5 hour drive later in the year in the Northeast.

it would be nice to bring a truck and trailer and load up with stuff, there were soo many large and heavy items I held back on at the it's a gas show because it was a 21 hour drive for me, so I flew in and took items back with me on the plane and shipped the rest back ups, I don't mind traveling just one large local show would be nice.

I have been doing my show for nine years,every year it gets bigger and better. I would love to make it the premier east coast show. Anyone near should plan to attend. There is a ton of stuff to do near by and we are in an antique community with about 15 stores. Anyone wanting to come feel free to contact me and I will assist in any way I can. Thanks

This will be decided by the market. If there is enough supply and people, there will be shows to match. If not you'll see the quantity and quality of shows change. Capitalism 101.
Added to the mix are the more frequent high volume auctions that will affect the supply needs and impact shows down stream.

Another question... does an auction help a show?
If so, before a show or after?
Seller might think the auction before will hurt his sales... after gives a seller to buy more or buyer might save his money for a item in the auction?

Thoughts?

The market will decide if there are too many shows.
I can't imagine MO, IA, IL, IN, WI, MI, and OH being able to support another show.

Yes, we need two shows each at Peotone and Chip's.

Duration of the show should be determined by the size of the show. I'd like to see the shows start on Friday or Saturday and end on Saturday or Sunday. The mid-week shows are difficult to attend for those of us that are still working.

An auction in conjunction with a show is good.

I know this was not the question, but I think a show in the Rocky Mountian area would work? Centrally located in the country. Colorado?
Ric

I think it is good that we have all these shows. More shows means possibly closer to some people. Being in Western, KS there are not to many close. Most are a ways away. Just my opinion.

Good topic John, I wonder who you were talking with...hum..LOL
First I realize that one monkey does not make a zoo so my opinions are from my perspective.

The shows that are Spring and Fall, Peotone and Dixie are long established shows that have lasted the test of time. Both shows and both seasons are excellent shows to attend. I wish I could attend the East coast shows but working full time does not allow me..that will change soon I hope. I have always admired John Mancino and Dave Burk for their dedication and impressive travel distance to make it to the Midwest shows, they always bring a nice selection and I hope to make it to John's someday.

Yes, there was a ridiculous amount of shows concentrated in the midwest in the spring this year. It seems to me that we are not getting new dealers into the hobby. Same dealers, same stuff at the shows. This is only a problem if the shows are close, spread them out and the problem goes away. It is a simple matter that most of what we collect originally came from bulk houses and getting new merchandize to market is getting harder and harder because most bulk houses have been cleaned out of the good stuff. This is the reason I think we don't see a lot of new sellers, they can't find the stuff to bring to market. The dealers that have been around awhile seem to have a skill for finding the stuff and bringing it to shows.

But when you look at the number of shows from a geographic standpoint there is plenty of room for more shows. Some areas of the country with large populations don't have an established gas show and I have always wondered why.

I hear on a somewhat regular basis that somebody says "hey lets start a gas show" and for the most part I am against the idea anywhere around the Great Lakes/Midwest area. I have to agree with Wes, the strong will survive. I think some of even the bigger shows don't get the floor traffic that they should based upon the population area and often wonder about that. There is always items at gas shows that crossover into other collecting categories, maybe they need promoted more.

Here in Indianapolis at the State Fairgrounds they don't open the grounds for just one event, they have multiply events and sometimes it's fun to hit the other shows and see whats happening. Could a gas show be paired up with an established antique show/car show and keep the shows bunched together but separate? That is done already to some degree but it seems like an idea that might have potential if given enough considerations to work out the flaws.

Every show I do may have some good/bad points but my favorites are the ones that have a definite start and end times and the promoter manages that. I feel bad for the guy that shows up when the show is advertised and most of the dealers are packed and gone. Another topic of debate with show promoters is like the "What can first, the chicken or the egg?", Who makes the show, the public or the dealers? You can debate that both ways but good show managers and responsible dealers make for a happy buyer.

Respectfully submitted, Tom.

...agreed...

I agree. To get anything good at Pate I rent a spot and go 2 days before the show starts.
Opening day is just for straglers.

Excellent post Tom.

As for there being so many midwest shows and limited number of vendors....I'm not sure that number of shows needs to be spread out more geographically. Spreading the dates out would help. Vendors would being able to bring fresh merchandise to the shows. Buyers would have a chance to replenish their funds between shows. The Dayton show would likely benefit the most from a new date or maybe it just needs to be promoted better.

The reason some shows don't have much foot traffic is lack of promotion. The Peotone shows have outstanding attendance. I don't think any show promoter worked harder than Wayne Swearengen (sp) when he was establishing the Peotone shows. Tim and Kevin have continued to do an excellent job since they took over.

I always enjoyed the antique show that was near the Indy Ad show.