Observations on the current state of the hobby from a show this weekend

[abbeyroadwalker]

Awesome, thanks buddy! I'll have to head over there! Gotta love a buyer's market whenever we can get them. Time to load up on good deals. Just no more Peyton Burdick, thank you.

I wonder what TC has been selling for at these mid-size shows....

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by abbeyroadwalker

Awesome, thanks buddy! I'll have to head over there! Gotta love a buyer's market whenever we can get them. Time to load up on good deals. Just no more Peyton Burdick, thank you.

I wonder what TC has been selling for at these mid-size shows....

Saw last night on IG (SportsWaxPromotions) for 2023:

Jan 21 & 22nd - Salisbury (West End Plaza)
Feb - TBA
Mar - TBA
Apr 1st - Salisbury (West End Plaza)
May - TBA
June 2nd, 3rd & 4th - "HOBBY DAZE" Charlotte (literally said BIG @$$ SHOW)
July 15th - Mooresville (CMC)
Aug - OFF
Sept 23rd & 24th - Mooresville (CMC)
Oct 21st - Salisbury (West End Plaza)
Nov 11th & 12th - Morrisville (CMC)

- My assumption is that either Feb/Mar will be Mooresville and May will be Mooresville. I just think dates need to be looked at. Not sure if they would do back to back months at the same location. Maybe March is a new location, maybe in Charlotte.

- Also I love when promotors are listing their future dates so dealers/myself can plan which weekends

- Really curious to see the June show called Hobby Daze. I wonder if it is going to be like a regional (like Dallas or Philly) show and hopefully the promotors around Charlotte are working together on this. That would be really cool if once a year they had a semi-big show in the city.

[bravesfan#1]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

Saw last night on IG (SportsWaxPromotions) for 2023:

Jan 21 & 22nd - Salisbury (West End Plaza)
Feb - TBA
Mar - TBA
Apr 1st - Salisbury (West End Plaza)
May - TBA
June 2nd, 3rd & 4th - "HOBBY DAZE" Charlotte (literally said BIG @$$ SHOW)
July 15th - Mooresville (CMC)
Aug - OFF
Sept 23rd & 24th - Mooresville (CMC)
Oct 21st - Salisbury (West End Plaza)
Nov 11th & 12th - Morrisville (CMC)

- My assumption is that either Feb/Mar will be Mooresville and May will be Mooresville. I just think dates need to be looked at. Not sure if they would do back to back months at the same location. Maybe March is a new location, maybe in Charlotte.

- Also I love when promotors are listing their future dates so dealers/myself can plan which weekends

- Really curious to see the June show called Hobby Daze. I wonder if it is going to be like a regional (like Dallas or Philly) show and hopefully the promotors around Charlotte are working together on this. That would be really cool if once a year they had a semi-big show in the city.

The bubble for shows in NC is going to pop hard. 3 large promoters now running shows almost every other weekend, plus other smaller promoters running mall and hotel shows. Wayyyy too many, we used to have one show a month, max.

Plus kinda shitty this Sportswaxpromotions guy has undercut Insidepitch to book shows in Salisbury at the same venue. The show is Salisbury is already a terrible selling show, can’t imagine that dumpster fire 5x a year now.

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by bravesfan#1

The bubble for shows in NC is going to pop hard. 3 large promoters now running shows almost every other weekend, plus other smaller promoters running mall and hotel shows. Wayyyy too many, we used to have one show a month, max.

Plus kinda shitty this Sportswaxpromotions guy has undercut Insidepitch to book shows in Salisbury at the same venue. The show is Salisbury is already a terrible selling show, can’t imagine that dumpster fire 5x a year now.

Just saw that they just released the 2023 schedule (Inside Pitch). Will post it below.

I have never been to Salisbury and have heard mix reviews along with the Hickory one. I have heard before that they were really good, but have fallen off recently (could be seasonal too). Also there is a promotor (not sure where you are located at, I am in Charlotte now even though my name is Raleigh) in SC an hour or less from Charlotte along with one in the Wilmington area too.

Agreed, that it is getting to be a lot of shows and there are quite a few that are two days. They almost need to do larger quarterly shows, then in between rotate places for smaller shows that happen twice or once a year. Then have a large show in NC and have that rotate locations. Really can consolidate shows for sure.

[Raleigh504]

2023 NC Shows (Inside Pitch):

Jan 7-8: Raleigh
Jan 14: Hickory
Feb 18: Salisbury
Feb 25-26 Raleigh (by Tidewater but on the IP page)
Apr 1 Hickory
Apr 7-8: Winston Salem
Apr TBD: Raleigh
May 20: Hickory
Jun 10: Salisbury
Jun 17-18: Raleigh
July 21-23: Raleigh (Tidewater)
Aug 19: Hickory
Sept 16-17: Raleigh
Oct 7: Hickory (Toy & Comic)
Oct 14: Hickory
Nov 11-12: Raleigh
Nov 18: Salisbury
Dec 8-10: Raleigh
Dec 15-16: Winston-Salem

[Raleigh504]

AS OF NOW 2023 NC SHOWS (various Promoters):

Jan 7th & 8th - Raleigh (Fairgrounds IP)
Jan 7th - Charlotte (Hilton Executive Park CCG)
Jan 14th - Hickory (Convention IP)
Jan 21st & 22nd - Salisbury (West End Plaza SWP)
Feb 18th - Salisbury (West End Plaza IP)
Feb 25th & 26th - Raleigh (Fairgrounds TW)
Mar 4th - Charlotte (Hilton Executive Park CCG)
Apr 1st - Salisbury (West End Plaza SWP)
Apr 1st - Hickory (Convention IP)
Apr 7th & 8th - Winston-Salem (Fairgrounds IP)
May 6th - Charlotte (Hilton Executive Park CCG)
May 20th - Hickory (Convention IP)
June 2nd to 4th - "HOBBY DAZE" Charlotte (SWP)
June 10th - Salisbury (West End Plaza IP)
June 17th & 18th - Raleigh (Fairground IP)
July 15th - Mooresville (CMC SWP)
July 21st to 23rd - Raleigh (Fairgrounds TW)
Aug 19th - Hickory (Convention IP)
Sep 9th - Charlotte (Hilton Executive Park CCG)
Sep 16th & 17th - Raleigh (Fairground IP)
Sept 23rd & 24th - Mooresville (CMC SWP)
Oct 7th - Hickory (Convention IP) - Comics
Oct 14th - Hickory (Convention IP)
Oct 21st - Salisbury (West End Plaza SWP)
Nov 4th - Charlotte (Hilton Executive Park CCG)
Nov 11th & 12th - Raleigh (Fairground IP)
Nov 11th & 12th - Mooresville (CMC SWP)
Nov 18th - Salisbury (West End Plaza IP)
Dec 8th to 10th - Raleigh (Fairgrounds TW)
Dec 15th & 16th - Winston-Salem (Fairgrounds IP)



SportsWaxPromotions - SWP
Inside Pitch - IP
Tidewater Collectibles - TW
CLTCardGuy - CCG

May color code if I keep this list updated for 2023

[Raleigh504]

Also, I noticed for alot of these places that getting a table is now $60+ for one day and $75+ for two days. I remember seeing tables being $50 for some of these shows.

[byronscott4ever]

I read posts in here and wonder why Minnesota can’t have at least one big annual show…Twins killed TwinsFest at a good venue which used to fill the void

[bravesfan#1]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

AS OF NOW 2023 NC SHOWS (various Promoters):

Jan 7th & 8th - Raleigh (Fairgrounds IP)
Jan 14th - Hickory (Convention IP)
Jan 21st & 22nd - Salisbury (West End Plaza SWP)
Feb 18th - Salisbury (West End Plaza IP)
Feb 25th & 26th - Raleigh (Fairgrounds TW)
Apr 1st - Salisbury (West End Plaza SWP)
Apr 1st - Hickory (Convention IP)
Apr 7th & 8th - Winston-Salem (Fairgrounds IP)
May 20th - Hickory (Convention IP)
June 2nd to 4th - "HOBBY DAZE" Charlotte (SWP)
June 10th - Salisbury (West End Plaza IP)
June 17th & 18th - Raleigh (Fairground IP)
July 15th - Mooresville (CMC SWP)
July 21st to 23rd - Raleigh (Fairgrounds TW)
Aug 19th - Hickory (Convention IP)
Sep 16th & 17th - Raleigh (Fairground IP)
Sept 23rd & 24th - Mooresville (CMC SWP)
Oct 7th - Hickory (Convention IP) - Comics
Oct 14th - Hickory (Convention IP)
Oct 21st - Salisbury (West End Plaza SWP)
Nov 11th & 12th - Raleigh (Fairground IP)
Nov 11th & 12th - Morrisville (CMC SWP)
Nov 18th - Salisbury (West End Plaza IP)
Dec 8th to 10th - Raleigh (Fairgrounds TW)
Dec 15th & 16th - Winston-Salem (Fairgrounds IP)



SportsWaxPromotions - SWP
Inside Pitch - IP
Tidewater Collectibles - TW

May color code if I keep this list updated for 2023

Wowwww, 25 shows not counting the 10-15 shows across Hendersonville, Wilmington, Charlotte, and Jacksonville each year. It's just not sustainable with this amount of oversaturation in our market.

Insidepitch and Tidewater are the established promoters. Your traditional dealer that was doing shows pre-covid will fall back on these two dealers as the market contracts. From the pics I've seen and reports from the shows, this SWP guy really markets the young crowd. Lots of ultra modern and new wax at his shows, plus all the peli-bois pretending to be a dealer. As that market continues to shrink and is no longer liquid, I just don't see that guy continuing to fill up the building in 2023.

If he sticks to Charlotte, he might be ok though because Tidewater and Insidepitch stay out of that area. SWP is dipping his toe in other promoter's turf now, will be interested to see how it shakes out.

[SetBuildingGuy]

I went to the Shriners in Wimington MA on Friday. There was a light crowd this year which I Was happy about. Picked up a lot of vintage for my baseball sets. Some vintage football too. Too many dealers selling graded cards. I do not care for them. In fact i bought a few in the past and they were a pain to break the cards out of. the prices on the newer stuff is insane. 1000s of dollars for rookies. You could get tom brady rookies for less than some mac jones cards???? I expect this new stuff has a long way to fall.

[yodastories]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

At Charles Mack Citizen Center from 9am to 4pm
215 N Main St Mooresville, NC

I've been to that show twice this year. First time was pretty good, but the one a month or so ago was kind of disappointing as a baseball collector. Seemed to be a majority of football and basketball (which makes sense around here, of course).

Also, I'm not a super paranoid masked up person, but I am in a couple risk categories and covid is still very much a thing. The room was packed to the gills with people without a mask in sight. The venue should have been twice the size with the crowd that was there, and that has nothing to do with covid, I just don't like having to rub against people to walk by a table. I did a couple laps with a mask on and left without buying anything.

I don't think I'll go to another show here.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by byronscott4ever

I read posts in here and wonder why Minnesota can’t have at least one big annual show…Twins killed TwinsFest at a good venue which used to fill the void

Same reason we haven't had a decent show here in Seattle in the 23 years I've lived here.....dealers don't want to come.

In your case, why would dealers drive to Minneapolis-St. Paul when there are tons of shows in Illinois, Ohio, etc. to set up at.

[byronscott4ever]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Same reason we haven't had a decent show here in Seattle in the 23 years I've lived here.....dealers don't want to come.

In your case, why would dealers drive to Minneapolis-St. Paul when there are tons of shows in Illinois, Ohio, etc. to set up at.

I think it’s more about no one putting on a big show…and you can’t show up if there’s no show

TwinsFest was a nice big show when it was at the Dome and there used to be bigger shows when cards were normal and I figured the card spike would lead to a big show. MN has dealers at the National and pretty sure the Dells show had plenty of people who would come here if possible

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by bravesfan#1

Wowwww, 25 shows not counting the 10-15 shows across Hendersonville, Wilmington, Charlotte, and Jacksonville each year. It's just not sustainable with this amount of oversaturation in our market.

Insidepitch and Tidewater are the established promoters. Your traditional dealer that was doing shows pre-covid will fall back on these two dealers as the market contracts. From the pics I've seen and reports from the shows, this SWP guy really markets the young crowd. Lots of ultra modern and new wax at his shows, plus all the peli-bois pretending to be a dealer. As that market continues to shrink and is no longer liquid, I just don't see that guy continuing to fill up the building in 2023.

If he sticks to Charlotte, he might be ok though because Tidewater and Insidepitch stay out of that area. SWP is dipping his toe in other promoter's turf now, will be interested to see how it shakes out.

Yea, definitely a lot of shows for sure. I would think in 2024 the weaker shows would contract a bit. Also sucks as someone who likes to set up, if you go to a bad show, with the increase cost in getting a table, it could affect future shows if you have enough poor sales.

SWP, he does cater to the younger crowd although going to shows in Charlotte, Winston and Mooresville mainly, there are a chunk of the same dealers at each that make their rounds along with the buyers too. I also get catering to a young crowd (not saying shoe bois or any of that) but getting younger collectors in isn't a bad thing. For sellers, it is almost you have to know your audience or just bring a lot of various stuff to sell

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by yodastories

I've been to that show twice this year. First time was pretty good, but the one a month or so ago was kind of disappointing as a baseball collector. Seemed to be a majority of football and basketball (which makes sense around here, of course).

Also, I'm not a super paranoid masked up person, but I am in a couple risk categories and covid is still very much a thing. The room was packed to the gills with people without a mask in sight. The venue should have been twice the size with the crowd that was there, and that has nothing to do with covid, I just don't like having to rub against people to walk by a table. I did a couple laps with a mask on and left without buying anything.

I don't think I'll go to another show here.

I went to two shows (not the last one, but in April and then in the summer when it was a two day one). That building really isn't the best and the smaller room was packed. The 2-day show was in the larger room and on day two when I went, I guess dealers didn't show up since they didn't do well on day one.

Two day shows in general are just hard to do since it is such a time commitment for vendors and there could be a loss of foot traffic too (people say they will go the next day and end up missing out).

I will be curious to see which room they have it in for this Saturday. Definitely not as much baseball as other shows, but as someone who sells, honestly it is best to have a lot of various sports/years/price range because it gets more eyes on your table.

[Neal]

Originally Posted by SetBuildingGuy

I went to the Shriners in Wimington MA on Friday. There was a light crowd this year which I Was happy about. Picked up a lot of vintage for my baseball sets. Some vintage football too. Too many dealers selling graded cards. I do not care for them. In fact i bought a few in the past and they were a pain to break the cards out of. the prices on the newer stuff is insane. 1000s of dollars for rookies. You could get tom brady rookies for less than some mac jones cards???? I expect this new stuff has a long way to fall.

I agree to an extent. The markets of vintage and ultra modern are uniquely different and will continue to be so

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

[solt0131]

Originally Posted by SetBuildingGuy

I went to the Shriners in Wimington MA on Friday. There was a light crowd this year which I Was happy about. Picked up a lot of vintage for my baseball sets. Some vintage football too. Too many dealers selling graded cards. I do not care for them. In fact i bought a few in the past and they were a pain to break the cards out of. the prices on the newer stuff is insane. 1000s of dollars for rookies. You could get tom brady rookies for less than some mac jones cards???? I expect this new stuff has a long way to fall.

A buddy of mine did that show and said the traffic was very light and sales were down. He said there were just not as many people through the door as there normally is for that show.

Seems to be the trend nowadays.

[theshowandme]

Going to Philly for the first time in a few weeks. Hoping dealers need Xmas money and are willing to cut deals. Been hard to find the last few months!

[solt0131]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

Going to Philly for the first time in a few weeks. Hoping dealers need Xmas money and are willing to cut deals. Been hard to find the last few months!

My table of cards will be all under $1 and it's going to be ridiculous. If you can't make money buying off my table at The Philly Show in December then you don't belong in this hobby. I am hoping to go home with nothing.....that's how good of a deal they are going to be at the show.

[notfast]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

Going to Philly for the first time in a few weeks. Hoping dealers need Xmas money and are willing to cut deals. Been hard to find the last few months!

Depends what you’re looking for.

Like don’t go looking for higher end vintage expecting a bargain.

[Stein316]

Is there a master list or solid database of shows? I'm looking for shows in the Pittsburgh area.

[dwr11]

Originally Posted by byronscott4ever

I read posts in here and wonder why Minnesota can’t have at least one big annual show…Twins killed TwinsFest at a good venue which used to fill the void

I heard there is a large show (300 tables) in the works for April 20-23 in downtown Minneapolis at the Hyatt.

[byronscott4ever]

Originally Posted by dwr11

I heard there is a large show (300 tables) in the works for April 20-23 in downtown Minneapolis at the Hyatt.

Great news, thanks!

[byronscott4ever]

https://www.cardshowmn.com/

[elsoblanco]

Originally Posted by bravesfan#1

Wowwww, 25 shows not counting the 10-15 shows across Hendersonville, Wilmington, Charlotte, and Jacksonville each year. It's just not sustainable with this amount of oversaturation in our market.

Insidepitch and Tidewater are the established promoters. Your traditional dealer that was doing shows pre-covid will fall back on these two dealers as the market contracts. From the pics I've seen and reports from the shows, this SWP guy really markets the young crowd. Lots of ultra modern and new wax at his shows, plus all the peli-bois pretending to be a dealer. As that market continues to shrink and is no longer liquid, I just don't see that guy continuing to fill up the building in 2023.

If he sticks to Charlotte, he might be ok though because Tidewater and Insidepitch stay out of that area. SWP is dipping his toe in other promoter's turf now, will be interested to see how it shakes out.

What is currently the best show to attend in NC? Maybe a show with memorabilia for sale and not just cards.