Need More Youth Setting Up at Card Shows?

[FrankToronto]

We often lament that there are less kids in the hobby today but having organized the Toronto Card Show for a number of years now I've often noticed that there are a lot of vendors who have literally been around for decades with hardly the same numbers following in their footsteps.

I was 13 years old when I was setting up at card shows, we had a group of teens at the last show that had a lot of fun and will setup again, and we have a young rising star who has become a regular at the ripe age of only 21. Still, there is a big gap between the number of vendors over and under the age of 40. I'd like to see more collectors under the age of 40 give setting up at a card show a shot.

Setting up at a card show can be a daunting task but I'd like to make it easier with the New Young Vendor Start-Up Program at The Toronto Card Show.

If you're under 40 and you setup at a card show for the first time and don't make enough money to cover your table, that's OK so long as you had fun and hopefully learned something. I'd like to make it easier at the beginning by offering new vendors under the age of 40 an opportunity to setup at the show at a low introductory rate on a rising rate scale over the course of 3 shows. So while you're learning, your costs are low, and then you can establish yourself into a regular or semi-regular vendor over the course of a few shows without any risk and very little investment.

If you're interested in setting up at The Toronto Card Show and think this program might be right for you, go to http://www.TorontoCardShow.com/dealers.html and e-mail me with the subject line: New Young Vendor Start-Up Program

You just might be one of the well established vendors on the scene 20 years from now, just like many are today who have been setting up at card shows since the 90's!

[doniceage]

I totally agree but the two problems I see is kids do not have the disposable income to pay for a table fee nor the higher end cards that people look for. Our local show here has a lot of collectors not dealers due to the table fee being the lowest I have ever heard of. The fee is only 15 dollars to set up for 2 days. Hence, there are kids from time to time who set up with their parents. I believe the table fee is the biggest barrier in kids setting up at shows.

Don

[FrankToronto]

You need to be able to serve collectors in order for the table fee to not be a barrier, regardless of how old you are.

But a low entry fee helps while learning how to do just that. Over the course of time, the table fee becomes less of a factor.

[doniceage]

You need to be able to serve collectors in order for the table fee to not be a barrier, regardless of how old you are.

But a low entry fee helps while learning how to do just that. Over the course of time, the table fee becomes less of a factor.

Might want to give tips on how to serve collectors from your experiences if you have time. People post on SCF asking for tips from time to time and this would be a good resource. I just know when the fee is so low you can go set up and make it like a big trade night (buy, sell, trade, etc.) without having to recoup your table fee. For me it a hobby so recouping dollars do not factor into it as I enjoy truly interacting with fellow collectors. Hence it no different than spending 15 dollars on a movie for entertainment IMO.

Don

[FrankToronto]

In another thread, I asked SCFers for tips for new card show vendors and I'm hoping to compile a guide and share it soon.

I hear what you're saying about super cheap table fees, but it's just not feasible. Trust me.

[CoolHandLuke]

In another thread, I asked SCFers for tips for new card show vendors and I'm hoping to compile a guide and share it soon.

I hear what you're saying about super cheap table fees, but it's just not feasible. Trust me.

It really depend what type of show, cost of room rental and publicity needed as like everything, the promoter need to make it worth while. I remember in the 90's, there was so many show in the region of Montreal that table cost were very competitive. Now there is one big show twice a year and table cost are definitely high. But there is also a monthly show done in the small community center gym and the cost is much more lower. You also see some under 30 set up.

So it's all about the type of show a promoter want to do. The big one, I am sure the cost are really high for the promoter. The small show is on a other level and this is the best show to start newer seller. So the cost goes with the type of show one decide to make. Never went to Toronto so I really have no idea.

[FrankToronto]

Yes, lots of different factors to consider. But often you get what you pay for.

[FrankToronto]

bump... already got some interest. Only a few tables left during our Double Header on Sat-Sun March 15-16

[Crosby 87]

im in that age range of under 40 . It's $40/table to set up here and show is about 6 hours long. I stop setting up as I wasnt covering my table fee the last 2 times I did it . We had a neighborhood garage sale last week and in addition to normal houseware sale stuff i put a 5 row box out of each the 4 sports of .25 cards. I ended up making $15 on those cards far more than I ever expected to. Next time i set up with probably be my driveway unless table price locally comes down.

[FrankToronto]

$40/table is cheap. Back in the 90's tables were that price.

The cost of a table is only too high if the show isn't attracting enough people to spend money at them.