Minnesota Card Show Concept

[TwinGnats]

I've always wanted to produce a card show since I was a kid. I'm not really looking to make much money at it, I would just love to put on an old school show with 30-40 dealers that would drive a lot of attendence.

Assuming I can get a site cheap enough what I would like to do is:

$20 Table fee per dealer + $10 for additional tables (Goal of having a minimum of 30 different dealers)
In addition to the table fee each dealer provides $20.00 card (Somebody local or someone who is selling well) to be put up for a drawing for the people in attendence.

All extra cash over the facilities rental will go toward advertising the show

30 dealers give this $600 to work with plus another $600 in cards that would be given away to attendees. With the table fees low the dealers will be able to loosen up on their prices and the giveaways could drive attendence. With the giveaways it could be done where everyone in the drawing puts down their address/email and over time build up a significant mailing list.

Ideas, concepts, interest? I think I might have a lead on a facility where it could be held that would be cheap enough. I was also thinking the show would be held 3x or 4x a year.

 

[mchenrycards]

20 dollar table fees probably will barely pay for the facilities let alone the table rentals. You might want to investigate your costs before setting table prices.

My partners and I promoted shows for years in the Chicago area and I would be happy to give you advice if you want it. But I would encourage you to look at different venues to find out what hall rentals will be. If they dont have table to provide to you you will have to rent them from the local rent-a-center which is an additional cost.

Good luck and pm me if you need advice

 

[Sjrmn91]

I think it's a great idea. Where are you thinking of having it?

 

[TwinGnats]

I gotta peg down facility which I think I can get for $200 with the tables/chairs.

 

[CollectorsCorner]

You could definitely charge more for a table in MN, all of them around there go 70-95+ a table and they fill out.

 

[Musial Collector]

My two cents, you have to compete with the following:
Valley West every month
Har Mar and Maplewood every other month
Earle Brown twice a year
Twinsfest

Thats just off the top of my head
What would you do different to entice all of the dealers to come to your show?

 

[G $MONEY$]

You need a big name autograph guest(s) or several smaller auto guests that are popular with the locals to attract the dealers and buyers, especially if this is your first show.

 

[Mudpuddlehuddle]

There is a guy who just stopped promoting shows.. Mike Krieger I think is his name. There is room for someone else to do shows but if you want (good) dealers to sign up where people will want to show up for them you need a nice enough facility. His last show was in Maplewood mall. Maplewood show I sold 800$ worth and you sell to a lot of people that aren't necessarily coming just for the show so its a lot of extra buzz around the show since people see it. I don't have nearly the amount of product as most guys so i'm sure there is guys who did better. It was 90$ a table (for Fri, and Sat) and I know most dealers there would gladly pay the same for the same venue. Some Vallley West regulars (Twin Cities Sports Card Collectors Club) members were mentioning they liked the venue much more for the extra 15$ difference of payment from the Valley West show.. Just my opinion and something to chew on. -Mike