Running my own show!

[celtics_fan_35]

Well it has finally come. As of today I am booked to run my own show! Excited and scared but long overdue! I'm you are in the Manchester New Hampshire area I will be posting my info later this week to get vendors and also shoppers!

[mjohnatgt]

That's pretty cool. Good luck. If you have vintage/antique tables, make sure to announce it on Net54baseball.com Forums (http://www.net54baseball.com) .

[celtics_fan_35]

That's pretty cool. Good luck. If you have vintage/antique tables, make sure to announce it on Net54baseball.com Forums (http://www.net54baseball.com) .

Thank you I will do that!

[glen87]

subscribed for updates, thanks!

[celtics_fan_35]

subscribed for updates, thanks!

Do you do any of the new hampshire shows? I set up in Dover and metheun Ma.

[rttrffg2012]

Congrats.
I am living vicariously through you, as this has been my dream for a long time.
PLEASE update with planning, promoting, day of, and after the show tips and tricks.

Remember to:
1) Have a supply guy- even if you have to do it yourself

2) Promote on all the websites you can:blowout, net54, psa boards, beckett's calendar, facebook groups (social media), and local papers/message boards. Start your own fb,twitter,instagram, youtube, yelp, live blog, etc....

3) Be nice to everyone -*can be difficult! For the life of me I can not understand the attitudes of people at shows. Make sure to greet as many customers as possible. Its better for them to have a positive experience with the show's promoter to offset any other issues they may have.

4) If you are charging admission, give them a free gift: 88 donruss packs, 2 sleeved toploaders in a team bag, gum/candy.

5) Get as many dealers as you can but remember everyone. Give priority to dealers that customers like, sell hard to find cards, are nice people, or those that bring in customers.

other tips:
clear parking signs
food vendor
tables with cloths
showcase rentals
space for hand trucks
tax id # verifications
clean up after the show (people will leave trash on the floor)
lighting/outlets, charge stations
fliers to promote your next show
hand stamp for reentry
staff to take admission,security, go-for (if you are setting up your cards you will not have the freedom to take care of all issues)

[celtics_fan_35]

Thanks for all of the info! I have a supply guy confirmed before I booked, and I have learned a lot from other promoters in the area, even what not to do from how one runs their show.

I have wanted to do this for a long time as well. I'm not in it to make money I just want a great place for collectors and vendors!



Congrats.
I am living vicariously through you, as this has been my dream for a long time.
PLEASE update with planning, promoting, day of, and after the show tips and tricks.

Remember to:
1) Have a supply guy- even if you have to do it yourself

2) Promote on all the websites you can:blowout, net54, psa boards, beckett's calendar, facebook groups (social media), and local papers/message boards. Start your own fb,twitter,instagram, youtube, yelp, live blog, etc....

3) Be nice to everyone -*can be difficult! For the life of me I can not understand the attitudes of people at shows. Make sure to greet as many customers as possible. Its better for them to have a positive experience with the show's promoter to offset any other issues they may have.

4) If you are charging admission, give them a free gift: 88 donruss packs, 2 sleeved toploaders in a team bag, gum/candy.

5) Get as many dealers as you can but remember everyone. Give priority to dealers that customers like, sell hard to find cards, are nice people, or those that bring in customers.

other tips:
clear parking signs
food vendor
tables with cloths
showcase rentals
space for hand trucks
tax id # verifications
clean up after the show (people will leave trash on the floor)
lighting/outlets, charge stations
fliers to promote your next show
hand stamp for reentry
staff to take admission,security, go-for (if you are setting up your cards you will not have the freedom to take care of all issues)

[celtics_fan_35]

And always free admission! Sounds crazy but some people would rather not go than pay $1

[mjohnatgt]

richkern (sabrgeek) is a show promoter in Dallas TX and could help you with it. He'll probably respond here within a day.

[JMarchand1981]

Please let me know when and where. I live in Bedford so I am the town over from Manchester.

Will you be charging a door fee?
Are you getting any of the local card store guys involved (Jeff at diamond king may want a presence at this show since collectors heaven closing has created a gap in the particular market)

So much interest as a consumer. So damn much.

Your supplies guy? Is it mike who sets up in fiver? He us the guy that has the booklet holders for $5 each. So many questions.

[JMarchand1981]

And always free admission! Sounds crazy but some people would rather not go than pay $1

Damnit. I missed this before I typed my reply.

I would pay a couple of bucks, under $5 for a small show. Many others around here feel differently, especially because the monthly in Dover is free.

[JMarchand1981]

Do you do any of the new hampshire shows? I set up in Dover and metheun Ma.

I set up at the Dover show a few thousand mes but I can't stand haggling so I figured I am better as a consumer.

[smalltown]

And always free admission! Sounds crazy but some people would rather not go than pay $1

This. Set up a conscession area/stand for food. You can easily make up the money you would have charged for admission. Plus it can keep people at the show longer.

[sabrgeek]

I'd love to discuss this with you. Please feel free to PM me with your phone # and let's chat. Every promoter has great ideas and when I started I had long talks with a couple of my friends who had been promoting for more than 20 years each. One to discuss "profit" shows and one to discuss my "non-profit" show

Rich

[sabrgeek]

But:

Here are some quick hits:

Promote, Promote, Promote --- anything less than your full effort to start leads to disappointment.

Are there any stores near you -- see if you can co-opt them for help. I got free cards to give away to kids at the last 3 shows of the year that way. All it cost them was dead inventory and a few business cards

Stay within your budget. Don't shoot for the moon --- take the single and be happy before going for the gusto

4) Admission -- that is up to you. I charge $1 as much for head count purposes as to make any money on the customers.

Door Prizes -- DO SOMETHING

parking signs

food vendor (That depends on your location -- at the Comfort Inn -- we are not allowed to have anyone sell food and the hotel does not offer. However, I can bring in Bagels for breakfast or Pizza for Lunch for the dealers and that is perfectly fine. Check with your venue on this one.
At Adat -- because of religious dietary laws, we do provide food but we also let vendors bring in food as long as there is no pork or shellfish products.

tables with cloths: Cloths can be cheap -- don't be afraid to go to Party City if your venue does not have Cloths

showcase rentals -- Only at a huge show.

space for hand trucks. Well yes, this is a bigger issue. Please have your venue do a mock set up for you. That way you are not surprised come show day. I always ask for a mock set up so I can see how the room works. We have three options at the Comfort Inn and they are now familiar with our various options

tax id # verifications. Make sure YOU have one. It's up to your dealers to have this for themselves but if tax people show up -- the dealers must comply or leave the show. Since that is all part of being a dealer, in case that occurs, it's up to you as to refunding the money for their tables. That is, if they refuse to sign up for the tax ID.

clean up after the show (people will leave trash on the floor) -- Yes and make sure you have garbage pails in the room. See if you have to do that or if your place has help on this front Most places have some staff to handle this but yes it is worth checking out. If a hotel, then they will have staff to handle this.

lighting/outlets, charge stations --- Depends on the room. You have no control over certain parts of the room

fliers to promote your next show YES

hand stamp for reentry: Or Name Tags for dealers. I don't find I have much of an issue on this front but other people may. This is up to you. the way the synagogue is set up, we use name tags for the dealers.

staff to take admission; Believe it or not, I can handle this. I do lose a few cards this way but nothing tragic.
At the synagogue show, because of everything we do -- there is a dedicated person at the front to take admission and sell our goodie bags.

Because I have things planned in my mind and write down everything --- I can handle quite a bit myself. I have another local promoter who tells me I handle by myself what he takes six people to handle.

If I think of anything else I'll post -- keep those ideas coming and I'll put my 1 cent worth in

[sabrgeek]

richkern (sabrgeek) is a show promoter in Dallas TX and could help you with it. He'll probably respond here within a day.

Just as an FYI - my Name is Rich Klein. :D

[mjohnatgt]

Just as an FYI - my Name is Rich Klein. :D

D'oh; It's very similar to the guy who runs the college volleyball website, www.richkern.com that I used to use in college to track my Yellow Jackets. We've corresponded, and I should have typed your name in correctly.

[sabrgeek]

D'oh; It's very similar to the guy who runs the college volleyball website, www.richkern.com that I used to use in college to track my Yellow Jackets. We've corresponded, and I should have typed your name in correctly.

It's OK -- if I was upset I would not have put the smiling face next to my comment. But I'm happy to help and I'm glad new shows seem to be on the upswing. There is nothing like actually SEEING cards you are ready to purchase.

[Rareairx23]

Would also like to know a date, very interested

[sabrgeek]

Here are some more of my replies to this thread.

1) Have a supply guy- even if you have to do it yourself.

In my case, there is a store within 3 minutes of the show and his prices on supplies are very fair. It's easier for me to send people to his store for supplies and wax. And if they live slightly west, we send them to Nick's which is about 15 minutes southwest of the show.

2) Promote on all the websites you can:blowout, net54, psa boards, beckett's calendar, facebook groups (social media), and local papers/message boards. Start your own fb,twitter,instagram, youtube, yelp, live blog, etc....

Agreed 100 percent. Especially when you begin, the promotion is super important.

3) Be nice to everyone -*can be difficult! For the life of me I can not understand the attitudes of people at shows. Make sure to greet as many customers as possible. Its better for them to have a positive experience with the show's promoter to offset any other issues they may have.

That is one reason I like to greet the people at the door and even check when possible on the way out to see if they purchased anything. Now there are a few customers who occasionally come which it's unlikely we have anything (Mark Teixeira master collector, 19th century collector) but it never hurts to see what they want

The other thing is NOT to be a pushover, if you are charging admission than honor that. There are reasonable exceptions. Kids and significant others I usually let in for free. Kids because it's fun and the significant others are not usually there to purchase cards. But you never know when they come back to buy gifts. I sold a card a few months ago at a local show to a spouse who saw her husband going through my cards and she mentally noted which ones he wanted.

4) If you are charging admission, give them a free gift: 88 donruss packs, 2 sleeved toploaders in a team bag, gum/candy.
Or a chance at a door prize.

Agreed: However, if we have a guest, I don't usually do door prizes as that does stretch me too far. However, I agree -- make sure your collectors have a reason to come and entice them in any way. You could even do a "loyalty card" which is stamp it 5 times and then the 6th admission is free

But Don't be a pushover at the door either. If you think someone is trying to take advantage of your admission, then feel free to charge them. I had a situation where in our previous location, someone waltzed in, and when I checked for admission he said I can buy everything cheaper on line and left. His wife was very willing to pay the $1 admission for each of them. Really sad in that case.

5) Get as many dealers as you can but remember everyone. Give priority to dealers that customers like, sell hard to find cards, are nice people, or those that bring in customers.

Believe it or not, one thing I do with my dealers -- and it's a reasonably small room is first come, first severed (FOR THE MOST PART). I have a few dealers I like to have as anchors but move others around so the room looks different each time. If you end up with a core of dealers, most of that will take care of itself.

6) I have a complete assortment of Beckett magazines and books at the front table. I can usually tell how good or average the show was, but seeing how many magazines I sold. it's remarkably consistent. And if a local player is on the cover of the magazines, order more and sell those back issues. At my last show I sold more Beckett FB magazines with Dak Prescott on the cover than I did of the current magazine. And yes, the prices of the 2 magazines were the same. Plus, they have a full return policy which you can follow so there is little risk on this.

[sabrgeek]

I have a list I keep on my desk (and need to update that) of 25 or so places, including this board where I need to post or create listings for. The more you do, the more you might hit collectors. who might not know about your show.

[celtics_fan_35]

Thank you all for the replays! I have so much to do but I will be getting back to you all as soon as I can! I'm getting my flyers done and a facebook page then I will announce all of the info on everything!

[celtics_fan_35]

Here we go.... it's official! First show will be Sunday January 22nd from 9-2 @ the Executive court banquet facility in Manchester NH.

30+ tables of sports cards, memorabilia, toys and much more!

Feel free to ask any questions and message me for table reservations!

[glen87]

Here we go.... it's official! First show will be Sunday January 22nd from 9-2 @ the Executive court banquet facility in Manchester NH.

30+ tables of sports cards, memorabilia, toys and much more!

Feel free to ask any questions and message me for table reservations!

any updates?

show is scheduled for tomorrow

[celtics_fan_35]

any updates?

show is scheduled for tomorrow

Yes sir! It is on for tomorrow! 34 tables as on right now! Lots of variety from vintage to modern, packs and boxes, supplies, legos, wrestling, memorabilia, legos and a lot more!

[JMarchand1981]

Yes sir! It is on for tomorrow! 34 tables as on right now! Lots of variety from vintage to modern, packs and boxes, supplies, legos, wrestling, memorabilia, legos and a lot more!

I should be there if my kid is feeling better.

[celtics_fan_35]

I should be there if my kid is feeling better.

I hope that they feel better! It's free to get in and I have freebies for all kids who come in! Plus I have 4 awesome cards that are door prizes! Check out the facebook page! The door prizes are there!

Jim rice on card auto
Dee brown auto
Terry oreily auto
Troy brown super bowl goal post relic

And more that aren't posted!

[glen87]

anyone from here setting up?

[JMarchand1981]

I hope that they feel better! It's free to get in and I have freebies for all kids who come in! Plus I have 4 awesome cards that are door prizes! Check out the facebook page! The door prizes are there!

Jim rice on card auto
Dee brown auto
Terry oreily auto
Troy brown super bowl goal post relic

And more that aren't posted!


Where is the Facebook page?

[celtics_fan_35]

Where is the Facebook page?

Double Header Sportscard show

[nepatsfan12dt]

Congrats man and hope it goes well! A friend and I are running our first show together next month.

[celtics_fan_35]

Congrats man and hope it goes well! A friend and I are running our first show together next month.

Thank you! I'm excited!!!

[JMarchand1981]

Great show. Great guy running it too!

[sabrgeek]

Awesome news. Keep it going and make it a huge success now and in the future

Rich

[celtics_fan_35]

Thank you guys! It was great but it can always be better!