The organizers of last week’s Great American Coin and Collectibles Show held last week in Tampa would appreciate any input about the show, especially from those that actually attended the show. It is most helpful to send input directly.
If you are a collector, please send your input to collectorinput@gmail.com.
If you are a dealer, please send your input to dealerinput@gmail.com. Further, if you are a dealer, it is particularly helpful to describe your business model and its reliance on Public at a show. For example, is your business model wholesale dealer-to-dealer, retail to Public, or a combination of both? If the latter, what are the approximate percentages of each? Also, do shows in various locations offer you opportunities to meet in person with key clients?
@TrickleCharge said:
When I used to go to reptile shows there was almost always a cost to get in the door. I was always happy to pay a $10 or $20 entry fee and figured if there wasn't an admission cost then there probably wouldn't be a show. I like saving a buck as much as the next guy, still I can't help but wonder why many coin collectors seem to be put off by a low entry fee to attend a show.
People are funny when it comes to money. Of course we all prefer not paying for a show but it’s unrealistic thinking with everything being so expensive today. Not going to a show over $30 when you’re prepared to spend several hundred dollars or more makes very little sense to me.
We had a garage sale many years ago when we were moving. An older woman driving the most expensive Mercedes stopped at our house. There was a dish that she was interested in. She asked my wife how much it cost. My wife told her it was a dollar and she looked at it for ten minutes and asked my wife if she would accept fifty cents. My wife declined and she left.
I get it, but, did you charge admission to the garage sale? 😀
Nickel and diming over a $1 tchotchke is one thing, but, other than warehouse clubs, people are simply not conditioned to have to pay to enter a retail bourse. It's the dealers who are done a grave disservice when they pay a table fee, and then see public attendance depressed because the public is turned off by admission fees designed only to help promoters cover their nut. Every single retail store in the country pays rent to a landlord, but customers are not expected to cover it through an admission fee for the honor to have the opportunity to make purchases.
YMMV, but, if I had a table, I'd want every opportunity to turn a lookie-loo into a buyer, rather than sitting in a half empty hall populated only by die-hards, and then leaving early because it turns out to be a huge waste of time and money. Promoter's costs should be covered exclusively through table fees. If that is not possible, then the show is not viable.
Period, as both Nashville and now Tampa are proving. Dealers might be annoyed by having to deal with some members of the public, but the hobby is not actually a viable business if all dealers can do is wholesale inventory to each other.
@Randoms said:
If I’m going to spend a couple hundred dollars I can do that at home. Then I can spend that time I would have spent at the show doing something else.
If you’re a big spender of course $15 isn’t going to matter. If you budget $500-1000 a show and 10% of that is spent on parking, entrance, etc… You will probably budget your time and money elsewhere
Having spent the last 34 years in the transportation industry, I would hear your same comments a lot. People would complain over a plane ticket costing $150 from NYC to LAX without realizing they were going to be there in 6 hours with a free movie or two, free sodas, and a bathroom 70 feet away vs 2 days of hard driving…plus gas, tolls, a hotel for one day …and their time. A little less than literally $4 an hour was way too much money, so they’d rather have the aggravation of driving, the loss of time, and the wear and tear on their car…not to mention the drive back. The same folks who did complain but did buy a ticket, had no problem with a $10 beer at the airport, nor a $25 hamburger because those were ‘well worth the price.’ Kinda boggles my mind. People would pay $5 at the circus to see a fake double headed woman with a mermaid body…..but I paid $10, got to see three of the most rare coins in existence…met some great people and dealers, and got some great coins and information. I’ll pay $1.50 an hour for that experience. Cheers, karl
@Randoms said:
From my perspective I found three coins to buy online, I spent an hour at the gym, and the $15 went to lunch.
The Tampa show isn’t for people like me. You put obstacles in the way I did something else
You bought coins based on what the person selling them wanted you to see…..so you may or may not get what you actually wanted. I’ve bought on line and was pretty taken aback at what the seller posted and what I actually received. Also, I walked over 8,800 steps…so there’s my ‘hour at the gym” and the only obstacle I saw was actually nothing since I wanted to make it happen. Met some wonderful people/dealers, bought some great coins, saw some once in a lifetime coins, learned a lot and had a great time. It’s all in what you want to do. YMMV…..cheers, karl
I have never been to a coin show but I have been to antique/kitch shows with my wife. The best shows charge 10 to 15 dollars but then give you a coupon that ALL the venders have agreed they will accept as payment towards a purchase. This encourages purchases and according to a man at last junk fair in Shakopee the venders get to turn the coupons in for a refund. James
We can argue about my opinion all day. Ironically every coin in my core collection was bought online. Friday I will attempt to sell the last of the raw coins that I bought in person.
I would have had to make up a bike session or done it after a long day of driving. So I didn’t really miss out because on anything. Here are the options of how I’m going to spend my day. If I go to Tampa show here are the extra steps. I wasn’t interested so I passed
GACC Fort Lauderdale April 1 - 4, 2025 Broward County CC, this per the sign up form (as previously noted).
So initially I was ready to go to the GACC shows. There were only two initially and in Tampa. Things didn't go as planned and wound up in Fort Lauderdale (above) and Rosemont in Sept after the initial Tampa. Then the initial Tampa show happened and as known to many had poor public attendance and a few other items but seemed fairly well executed for an initial show.
However, there was and still is for some after the Tampa show, negative and/or questions about the Fort Lauderdale show. Some of these were (there are more) - It is the week following the Baltimore show (just like Tampa after Long Beach) - The Tampa public attendance - The dates of April 1 - 4 are during Spring Break and Fort Lauderdale is a popular spring break location, which brings up a few questions / concerns.
Now, I am recently told, there is a music festival about the same time. So I searched for it and found Tortuga music festival April 4 - 6 (so at end of GACC or maybe arriving during). I was curious about GACC location and room rates for Tortuga festival (unknown what the GACC will be but hopefully half or less of Tortuga and again this is for Tortuga below). So below is a screen shot of the Tortuga hotel map (room rates $400 -/+) and I put a red dot/star when the convention center is (unfortunately not a long distance away). However, perhaps for some this is a positive thing, a festival to attend at the end of the coin show.
It will be interesting to see how this develops and from the past I have seen or heard the negatives on shows but then some give in and go. Claim it is a can't miss a show mentality thing. This one appears to have a hill to climb (if I made that a mountain to climb then could cue Elvis ).
@lilolme said:
GACC Fort Lauderdale April 1 - 4, 2025 Broward County CC, this per the sign up form (as previously noted).
So initially I was ready to go to the GACC shows. There were only two initially and in Tampa. Things didn't go as planned and wound up in Fort Lauderdale (above) and Rosemont in Sept after the initial Tampa. Then the initial Tampa show happened and as known to many had poor public attendance and a few other items but seemed fairly well executed for an initial show.
However, there was and still is for some after the Tampa show, negative and/or questions about the Fort Lauderdale show. Some of these were (there are more) - It is the week following the Baltimore show (just like Tampa after Long Beach) - The Tampa public attendance - The dates of April 1 - 4 are during Spring Break and Fort Lauderdale is a popular spring break location, which brings up a few questions / concerns.
Now, I am recently told, there is a music festival about the same time. So I searched for it and found Tortuga music festival April 4 - 6 (so at end of GACC or maybe arriving during). I was curious about GACC location and room rates for Tortuga festival (unknown what the GACC will be but hopefully half or less of Tortuga and again this is for Tortuga below). So below is a screen shot of the Tortuga hotel map (room rates $400 -/+) and I put a red dot/star when the convention center is (unfortunately not a long distance away). However, perhaps for some this is a positive thing, a festival to attend at the end of the coin show.
It will be interesting to see how this develops and from the past I have seen or heard the negatives on shows but then some give in and go. Claim it is a can't miss a show mentality thing. This one appears to have a hill to climb (if I made that a mountain to climb then could cue Elvis ).
>
I just did a quick search of hotels in the Hollywood area where I reside for the dates of 31 March to 5 April, 2025. Plenty of accommodations ranging from approximately $110 a night on up are still available. Stay on the beach anywhere in FLL/Hollywood/Aventura/Miami and you will always pay a premium. The prices generally do not move much as people who generally travel here for beach fun don’t mind paying extra to walk out the hotel doors right onto the sand. So the early bird will get the much more affordable places to stay if they look now. Cheers, karl
@lilolme said:
GACC Fort Lauderdale April 1 - 4, 2025 Broward County CC, this per the sign up form (as previously noted).
So initially I was ready to go to the GACC shows. There were only two initially and in Tampa. Things didn't go as planned and wound up in Fort Lauderdale (above) and Rosemont in Sept after the initial Tampa. Then the initial Tampa show happened and as known to many had poor public attendance and a few other items but seemed fairly well executed for an initial show.
However, there was and still is for some after the Tampa show, negative and/or questions about the Fort Lauderdale show. Some of these were (there are more) - It is the week following the Baltimore show (just like Tampa after Long Beach) - The Tampa public attendance - The dates of April 1 - 4 are during Spring Break and Fort Lauderdale is a popular spring break location, which brings up a few questions / concerns.
Now, I am recently told, there is a music festival about the same time. So I searched for it and found Tortuga music festival April 4 - 6 (so at end of GACC or maybe arriving during). I was curious about GACC location and room rates for Tortuga festival (unknown what the GACC will be but hopefully half or less of Tortuga and again this is for Tortuga below). So below is a screen shot of the Tortuga hotel map (room rates $400 -/+) and I put a red dot/star when the convention center is (unfortunately not a long distance away). However, perhaps for some this is a positive thing, a festival to attend at the end of the coin show.
It will be interesting to see how this develops and from the past I have seen or heard the negatives on shows but then some give in and go. Claim it is a can't miss a show mentality thing. This one appears to have a hill to climb (if I made that a mountain to climb then could cue Elvis ).
>
I just did a quick search of hotels in the Hollywood area where I reside for the dates of 31 March to 5 April, 2025. Plenty of accommodations ranging from approximately $110 a night on up are still available. Stay on the beach anywhere in FLL/Hollywood/Aventura/Miami and you will always pay a premium. The prices generally do not move much as people who generally travel here for beach fun don’t mind paying extra to walk out the hotel doors right onto the sand. So the early bird will get the much more affordable places to stay if they look now. Cheers, karl
That might help. Hollywood looks to be a few miles away and certainly not a problem for many with Uber and such. Coin shows typically try to find hotel rooms within a few blocks or even across the street from the show convention center. As noted hopefully GACC can get some for half the price shown on that festival map. I was kind of hoping to see the convention center more removed from the area (like in Hollywood or similar) as I did not recall from the prior FUN.
@lilolme said:
GACC Fort Lauderdale April 1 - 4, 2025 Broward County CC, this per the sign up form (as previously noted).
………
I just did a quick search of hotels in the Hollywood area where I reside for the dates of 31 March to 5 April, 2025. Plenty of accommodations ranging from approximately $110 a night on up are still available. Stay on the beach anywhere in FLL/Hollywood/Aventura/Miami and you will always pay a premium. The prices generally do not move much as people who generally travel here for beach fun don’t mind paying extra to walk out the hotel doors right onto the sand. So the early bird will get the much more affordable places to stay if they look now. Cheers, karl
That might help. Hollywood looks to be a few miles away and certainly not a problem for many with Uber and such. Coin shows typically try to find hotel rooms within a few blocks or even across the street from the show convention center. As noted hopefully GACC can get some for half the price shown on that festival map. I was kind of hoping to see the convention center more removed from the area (like in Hollywood or similar) as I did not recall from the prior FUN.
Hollywood is pretty close with several nice places on US-1 to grab a nice dinner (Jaxson’s, Granpa’s Dania Beach Casino, etc.). I would say from the convention center those places are about 10-12 minutes away…and just south of the FLL airport. There are also a few new hotels on US-1 too. Hopefully those wanting to attend will find reasonable accommodations…and great weather while they are here!
@lilolme said:
GACC Fort Lauderdale April 1 - 4, 2025 Broward County CC, this per the sign up form (as previously noted).
So initially I was ready to go to the GACC shows. There were only two initially and in Tampa. Things didn't go as planned and wound up in Fort Lauderdale (above) and Rosemont in Sept after the initial Tampa. Then the initial Tampa show happened and as known to many had poor public attendance and a few other items but seemed fairly well executed for an initial show.
However, there was and still is for some after the Tampa show, negative and/or questions about the Fort Lauderdale show. Some of these were (there are more) - It is the week following the Baltimore show (just like Tampa after Long Beach) - The Tampa public attendance - The dates of April 1 - 4 are during Spring Break and Fort Lauderdale is a popular spring break location, which brings up a few questions / concerns.
Now, I am recently told, there is a music festival about the same time. So I searched for it and found Tortuga music festival April 4 - 6 (so at end of GACC or maybe arriving during). I was curious about GACC location and room rates for Tortuga festival (unknown what the GACC will be but hopefully half or less of Tortuga and again this is for Tortuga below). So below is a screen shot of the Tortuga hotel map (room rates $400 -/+) and I put a red dot/star when the convention center is (unfortunately not a long distance away). However, perhaps for some this is a positive thing, a festival to attend at the end of the coin show.
It will be interesting to see how this develops and from the past I have seen or heard the negatives on shows but then some give in and go. Claim it is a can't miss a show mentality thing. This one appears to have a hill to climb (if I made that a mountain to climb then could cue Elvis ).
Any inaugural show is going to have a tough time with attendance, but all things considered I think it was well done and I’ll definitely be attending the FT Laura show, I’m a sponsor actually.
As far as I know most college spring breaks are done by the end of march, and it’s still early enough before the snowbirds go back up north shortly thereafter. I think if there was a live auction there, it could help big time with the attendance, and I will pass along my thoughts to Larry about the vouchers for the attendance fee. Hell, I’ll take all of the vouchers if people want to sell them to someone else for $10 or 50c on the dollar.
@lilolme said:
GACC Fort Lauderdale April 1 - 4, 2025 Broward County CC, this per the sign up form (as previously noted).
So initially I was ready to go to the GACC shows. There were only two initially and in Tampa. Things didn't go as planned and wound up in Fort Lauderdale (above) and Rosemont in Sept after the initial Tampa. Then the initial Tampa show happened and as known to many had poor public attendance and a few other items but seemed fairly well executed for an initial show.
However, there was and still is for some after the Tampa show, negative and/or questions about the Fort Lauderdale show. Some of these were (there are more) - It is the week following the Baltimore show (just like Tampa after Long Beach) - The Tampa public attendance - The dates of April 1 - 4 are during Spring Break and Fort Lauderdale is a popular spring break location, which brings up a few questions / concerns.
Now, I am recently told, there is a music festival about the same time. So I searched for it and found Tortuga music festival April 4 - 6 (so at end of GACC or maybe arriving during). I was curious about GACC location and room rates for Tortuga festival (unknown what the GACC will be but hopefully half or less of Tortuga and again this is for Tortuga below). So below is a screen shot of the Tortuga hotel map (room rates $400 -/+) and I put a red dot/star when the convention center is (unfortunately not a long distance away). However, perhaps for some this is a positive thing, a festival to attend at the end of the coin show.
It will be interesting to see how this develops and from the past I have seen or heard the negatives on shows but then some give in and go. Claim it is a can't miss a show mentality thing. This one appears to have a hill to climb (if I made that a mountain to climb then could cue Elvis ).
Any inaugural show is going to have a tough time with attendance, but all things considered I think it was well done and I’ll definitely be attending the FT Laura show, I’m a sponsor actually.
As far as I know most college spring breaks are done by the end of march, and it’s still early enough before the snowbirds go back up north shortly thereafter. I think if there was a live auction there, it could help big time with the attendance, and I will pass along my thoughts to Larry about the vouchers for the attendance fee. Hell, I’ll take all of the vouchers if people want to sell them to someone else for $10 or 50c on the dollar.
Absolutely on the new show attendance and especially when trying to do a larger show that relies somewhat on people traveling longer distances (long drive or flying) and staying overnight versus a small local show that tries to get people in the metro area or similar to show up.
I hope my posts don't come off as anti-GACC as that is not so. Just forwarding what I hear. For instance as far as the spring break a dealer mentioned it at Tampa and then I heard it from others. As previously stated, it might not matter how much the spring break actually impacts the show because it is in the 'heads' now and after Tampa maybe not willing to take a chance on it. Similarly, the music festival I heard from someone that I know did not look it up. So they had to be told and indicating again that there is some talk going on. After being told I did look it up and found it not to be during the GACC but at the end. I did want to note the hotel prices as the one at the bottom is close to the CC and I wonder if GACC can get room blocks below $200 again.
Monday morning quarter-backing there are some things I would note. The Tampa show set out to go big (my words) and came up short. I do agree it was fairly well organized (as previously stated) and I kind of expected that with Larry's past experience with ANA and CSNS. So the MMQB I would have a smaller target and try to overachieve. The low budget annex area, cancel for now and put all dealers in one room (in Tampa the annex got cancelled and this is what happened). The displays in the middle of the bourse, again cancel that. It just presents somewhat empty tables, spreads the dealers and attendees further apart. Do typical display area. That stage area with presenters / talkers. If inside the bourse area to bring in more people, then don't have the stage and speakers pointing out into the bourse. Turn the stage 90 degrees (or a little more) and have the speakers point to empty area in the front or back of room. Some of the presentations just created noise for those on the bourse to overcome. Forget the special security times for attendees to explore the area (this was cancelled at Tampa). While the dealer day worked fairly well for Tampa just do it in the bourse area (remember I am cancelling the low budget annex so those rooms don't need to be rented). The $15 cover charge to 'keep the riff raff out' was also mentioned by several. I like one idea of doing $5 as the riff raff isn't going to pay anything and then if people apply online at least a week ahead, then make it free. I am forgetting stuff I know. The point is to focus on doing the best mid-size more standard show as possible and build for there. Avoid starting big and building down (or cancelling things). Oh, keep the idea of the auction companies not being up front and the first thing someone sees when they walk in. I agree with Larry that dealers with collectable coins should be up front.
Thought on auctions. Years ago the auctions were kind of big coin show items. Many well attended and some went to midnight and beyond. Let's fast forward to today and all the online bidding possibilities. In-between these two the auction attendance slowly dropped as the online bidding became more versatile and reliable. There would be some who would be at a show and prepare for the auction by getting something to eat and going to their room. In their room between auction lots they could eat, talk on the phone, do inventory, work on sales, work on upcoming lots and not disturb or be disturbed (be more comfortable). Auction attendance slowly went down and the auction room more empty than full mostly. And of course covid shut it down.
So when discussing auctions at shows I think they would need to be somewhat special like a Bass to attract significant attendance. Typical auction lots may result in similar results to mostly empty auction rooms. Also not many would travel any distance for the typical lots. Another thing is auction results. Do they improve? Is there a reason for the auction company to travel all the people necessary to put on the on-site auction and their equipment and setup and with reliable internet. If special lots were done (like a platinum nights) and expectations came up short, would this cause consigners to question why it was done onsite versus the now new normal with all the other lots? I don't know.
@lilolme said:
The dates of April 1 - 4 are during Spring Break and Fort Lauderdale is a popular spring break location, which brings up a few questions / concerns.
Agreed. I don’t want to see anyone here on a “Coin Collectors Gone Wild” video!
Comments
The organizers of last week’s Great American Coin and Collectibles Show held last week in Tampa would appreciate any input about the show, especially from those that actually attended the show. It is most helpful to send input directly.
If you are a collector, please send your input to collectorinput@gmail.com.
If you are a dealer, please send your input to dealerinput@gmail.com. Further, if you are a dealer, it is particularly helpful to describe your business model and its reliance on Public at a show. For example, is your business model wholesale dealer-to-dealer, retail to Public, or a combination of both? If the latter, what are the approximate percentages of each? Also, do shows in various locations offer you opportunities to meet in person with key clients?
I get it, but, did you charge admission to the garage sale? 😀
Nickel and diming over a $1 tchotchke is one thing, but, other than warehouse clubs, people are simply not conditioned to have to pay to enter a retail bourse. It's the dealers who are done a grave disservice when they pay a table fee, and then see public attendance depressed because the public is turned off by admission fees designed only to help promoters cover their nut. Every single retail store in the country pays rent to a landlord, but customers are not expected to cover it through an admission fee for the honor to have the opportunity to make purchases.
YMMV, but, if I had a table, I'd want every opportunity to turn a lookie-loo into a buyer, rather than sitting in a half empty hall populated only by die-hards, and then leaving early because it turns out to be a huge waste of time and money. Promoter's costs should be covered exclusively through table fees. If that is not possible, then the show is not viable.
Period, as both Nashville and now Tampa are proving. Dealers might be annoyed by having to deal with some members of the public, but the hobby is not actually a viable business if all dealers can do is wholesale inventory to each other.
Having spent the last 34 years in the transportation industry, I would hear your same comments a lot. People would complain over a plane ticket costing $150 from NYC to LAX without realizing they were going to be there in 6 hours with a free movie or two, free sodas, and a bathroom 70 feet away vs 2 days of hard driving…plus gas, tolls, a hotel for one day …and their time. A little less than literally $4 an hour was way too much money, so they’d rather have the aggravation of driving, the loss of time, and the wear and tear on their car…not to mention the drive back. The same folks who did complain but did buy a ticket, had no problem with a $10 beer at the airport, nor a $25 hamburger because those were ‘well worth the price.’ Kinda boggles my mind. People would pay $5 at the circus to see a fake double headed woman with a mermaid body…..but I paid $10, got to see three of the most rare coins in existence…met some great people and dealers, and got some great coins and information. I’ll pay $1.50 an hour for that experience. Cheers, karl
From my perspective I found three coins to buy online, I spent an hour at the gym, and the $15 went to lunch.
The Tampa show isn’t for people like me. You put obstacles in the way I did something else
You bought coins based on what the person selling them wanted you to see…..so you may or may not get what you actually wanted. I’ve bought on line and was pretty taken aback at what the seller posted and what I actually received. Also, I walked over 8,800 steps…so there’s my ‘hour at the gym” and the only obstacle I saw was actually nothing since I wanted to make it happen. Met some wonderful people/dealers, bought some great coins, saw some once in a lifetime coins, learned a lot and had a great time. It’s all in what you want to do. YMMV…..cheers, karl
I have never been to a coin show but I have been to antique/kitch shows with my wife. The best shows charge 10 to 15 dollars but then give you a coupon that ALL the venders have agreed they will accept as payment towards a purchase. This encourages purchases and according to a man at last junk fair in Shakopee the venders get to turn the coupons in for a refund. James
We can argue about my opinion all day. Ironically every coin in my core collection was bought online. Friday I will attempt to sell the last of the raw coins that I bought in person.
I would have had to make up a bike session or done it after a long day of driving. So I didn’t really miss out because on anything. Here are the options of how I’m going to spend my day. If I go to Tampa show here are the extra steps. I wasn’t interested so I passed
CRO Road Report Post Mortem:
https://coinraritiesonline.com/road-report/
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
GACC Fort Lauderdale April 1 - 4, 2025 Broward County CC, this per the sign up form (as previously noted).
So initially I was ready to go to the GACC shows. There were only two initially and in Tampa. Things didn't go as planned and wound up in Fort Lauderdale (above) and Rosemont in Sept after the initial Tampa. Then the initial Tampa show happened and as known to many had poor public attendance and a few other items but seemed fairly well executed for an initial show.
However, there was and still is for some after the Tampa show, negative and/or questions about the Fort Lauderdale show. Some of these were (there are more) - It is the week following the Baltimore show (just like Tampa after Long Beach) - The Tampa public attendance - The dates of April 1 - 4 are during Spring Break and Fort Lauderdale is a popular spring break location, which brings up a few questions / concerns.
Now, I am recently told, there is a music festival about the same time. So I searched for it and found Tortuga music festival April 4 - 6 (so at end of GACC or maybe arriving during). I was curious about GACC location and room rates for Tortuga festival (unknown what the GACC will be but hopefully half or less of Tortuga and again this is for Tortuga below). So below is a screen shot of the Tortuga hotel map (room rates $400 -/+) and I put a red dot/star when the convention center is (unfortunately not a long distance away). However, perhaps for some this is a positive thing, a festival to attend at the end of the coin show.
It will be interesting to see how this develops and from the past I have seen or heard the negatives on shows but then some give in and go. Claim it is a can't miss a show mentality thing. This one appears to have a hill to climb (if I made that a mountain to climb then could cue Elvis
).
https://youtube.com/watch?v=_KWVk0XeB9o - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Piece Of My Heart
.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=D0FPxuQv2ns - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Maybe I'm Amazed
RLJ 1958 - 2023
>
I just did a quick search of hotels in the Hollywood area where I reside for the dates of 31 March to 5 April, 2025. Plenty of accommodations ranging from approximately $110 a night on up are still available. Stay on the beach anywhere in FLL/Hollywood/Aventura/Miami and you will always pay a premium. The prices generally do not move much as people who generally travel here for beach fun don’t mind paying extra to walk out the hotel doors right onto the sand. So the early bird will get the much more affordable places to stay if they look now. Cheers, karl
That might help. Hollywood looks to be a few miles away and certainly not a problem for many with Uber and such. Coin shows typically try to find hotel rooms within a few blocks or even across the street from the show convention center. As noted hopefully GACC can get some for half the price shown on that festival map. I was kind of hoping to see the convention center more removed from the area (like in Hollywood or similar) as I did not recall from the prior FUN.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=_KWVk0XeB9o - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Piece Of My Heart
.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=D0FPxuQv2ns - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Maybe I'm Amazed
RLJ 1958 - 2023
Hollywood is pretty close with several nice places on US-1 to grab a nice dinner (Jaxson’s, Granpa’s Dania Beach Casino, etc.). I would say from the convention center those places are about 10-12 minutes away…and just south of the FLL airport. There are also a few new hotels on US-1 too. Hopefully those wanting to attend will find reasonable accommodations…and great weather while they are here!
Any inaugural show is going to have a tough time with attendance, but all things considered I think it was well done and I’ll definitely be attending the FT Laura show, I’m a sponsor actually.
As far as I know most college spring breaks are done by the end of march, and it’s still early enough before the snowbirds go back up north shortly thereafter. I think if there was a live auction there, it could help big time with the attendance, and I will pass along my thoughts to Larry about the vouchers for the attendance fee. Hell, I’ll take all of the vouchers if people want to sell them to someone else for $10 or 50c on the dollar.
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Surprised no mention of dates and details on their website about their upcoming FtLauderdale show being only 6 months away.
Guess they figure no rush to do and no need to promote in advance.
Also parking at convention center is $20.gacc.show
Absolutely on the new show attendance and especially when trying to do a larger show that relies somewhat on people traveling longer distances (long drive or flying) and staying overnight versus a small local show that tries to get people in the metro area or similar to show up.
I hope my posts don't come off as anti-GACC as that is not so. Just forwarding what I hear. For instance as far as the spring break a dealer mentioned it at Tampa and then I heard it from others. As previously stated, it might not matter how much the spring break actually impacts the show because it is in the 'heads' now and after Tampa maybe not willing to take a chance on it. Similarly, the music festival I heard from someone that I know did not look it up. So they had to be told and indicating again that there is some talk going on. After being told I did look it up and found it not to be during the GACC but at the end. I did want to note the hotel prices as the one at the bottom is close to the CC and I wonder if GACC can get room blocks below $200 again.
Monday morning quarter-backing there are some things I would note. The Tampa show set out to go big (my words) and came up short. I do agree it was fairly well organized (as previously stated) and I kind of expected that with Larry's past experience with ANA and CSNS. So the MMQB I would have a smaller target and try to overachieve. The low budget annex area, cancel for now and put all dealers in one room (in Tampa the annex got cancelled and this is what happened). The displays in the middle of the bourse, again cancel that. It just presents somewhat empty tables, spreads the dealers and attendees further apart. Do typical display area. That stage area with presenters / talkers. If inside the bourse area to bring in more people, then don't have the stage and speakers pointing out into the bourse. Turn the stage 90 degrees (or a little more) and have the speakers point to empty area in the front or back of room. Some of the presentations just created noise for those on the bourse to overcome. Forget the special security times for attendees to explore the area (this was cancelled at Tampa). While the dealer day worked fairly well for Tampa just do it in the bourse area (remember I am cancelling the low budget annex so those rooms don't need to be rented). The $15 cover charge to 'keep the riff raff out' was also mentioned by several. I like one idea of doing $5 as the riff raff isn't going to pay anything and then if people apply online at least a week ahead, then make it free. I am forgetting stuff I know. The point is to focus on doing the best mid-size more standard show as possible and build for there. Avoid starting big and building down (or cancelling things). Oh, keep the idea of the auction companies not being up front and the first thing someone sees when they walk in. I agree with Larry that dealers with collectable coins should be up front.
Thought on auctions. Years ago the auctions were kind of big coin show items. Many well attended and some went to midnight and beyond. Let's fast forward to today and all the online bidding possibilities. In-between these two the auction attendance slowly dropped as the online bidding became more versatile and reliable. There would be some who would be at a show and prepare for the auction by getting something to eat and going to their room. In their room between auction lots they could eat, talk on the phone, do inventory, work on sales, work on upcoming lots and not disturb or be disturbed (be more comfortable). Auction attendance slowly went down and the auction room more empty than full mostly. And of course covid shut it down.
So when discussing auctions at shows I think they would need to be somewhat special like a Bass to attract significant attendance. Typical auction lots may result in similar results to mostly empty auction rooms. Also not many would travel any distance for the typical lots. Another thing is auction results. Do they improve? Is there a reason for the auction company to travel all the people necessary to put on the on-site auction and their equipment and setup and with reliable internet. If special lots were done (like a platinum nights) and expectations came up short, would this cause consigners to question why it was done onsite versus the now new normal with all the other lots? I don't know.
Ok, that above reminds me of:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=_KWVk0XeB9o - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Piece Of My Heart
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https://youtube.com/watch?v=D0FPxuQv2ns - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Maybe I'm Amazed
RLJ 1958 - 2023
Agreed. I don’t want to see anyone here on a “Coin Collectors Gone Wild” video!
Nothing is as expensive as free money.