Was the Denver ANA as grueling as all of the show reports make it out to be?

Longacre

The one common thread that I am seeing from the Denver show reports by dealers, is that the show was a grueling, almost 10 day marathon. Not being a coin dealer, I am not sure exactly what this means. I understand that the business is cutthroat and you always have to have your A-game. However, other than the long hours, I am not sure how physically demanding the coin shows are. Again, not having sat on a bourse for 10 days straight, I am sure I don’t have a full appreciation for what it takes to conduct business in the coin world (not the fluffy, QDB-reading Pollyanna world that I live in). Perhaps it is more of a mental challenge than a physical challenge. Is working the bourse a truly grueling process? In my profession, I tend to work on deals where you are stuck in a conference room for a week at a time (and, dare I say, tax lawyers are not the most pleasant bunch that you ever want to be around). Is the coin profession “just a job” for dealers, similar to any other profession, and for a collector who would think that spending 10 days on the bourse is Coin Nirvana, a dealer views that as exhausting? Is dealing with the happy public, who are pursuing their hobby, any consolation for the long hours?

PS. Please note that this is not a dealer-bashing thread. I am just curious.

ColonialCoinUnion

I laugh at grueling. Ha.

WTCG

A very brief response...

A 10 day marathon of coin shows can feel repetive and tiring. Chances are you're working for at least 12 hours per day with no rest in between. For three days in a row in Denver I did not eat or drink anything from the time I woke up (around 7am) until at least 8pm in the evening. Since I did not rent a bourse table at this past ANA, walking and running around all day can be physically demanding, but I consider it excersise and consequently I do not have a problem with that. Working during a coin show requires a lot of mental strength as you can imagine.

Interest in coins is one of the major positives that can offest the lethargy and stress of working on the bourse floor.

kranky

Well, I did see WTCG hoofing it all day long lugging that case around, and it wasn't at a leisurely pace. He's clearly "at work."

I had one dealer explain it to me this way: up at 5 AM, breakfast, arrive at the bourse at 8, spend 10 hours mostly on your feet, bourse closes, dinner, go to the auction (either lot viewing or the actual auction sessions), get back to the hotel at 10 PM. Day after day. On top of that I think it would be mentally tiring to be 100% alert any time someone is looking at a coin or the case is unlocked, do math all day in your head (and don't screw up, the stakes are high), evaluating coins offered to you.. all that without any "do-overs" if you make a mistake, and rarely having the chance to tell yourself "I'll set this aside and go through it again in a few minutes just to be sure I did it right."

I help Pat Vetter at his table twice a year for two days each time, and it is mentally tiring for me... and I don't have much to do.

Cladiator

I think Brad Karoleff put on at least a marathon of miles each day between the auctions and the bourse.

RYK

I was bidding in my first live auction in St. Louis last month. One thing that I did not realize is that you have to stay focused. Even though I was only bidding on coronet $5's, I spaced out and completely missed a lot I intended to purchase. If I were a high end dealer working the ANR sale or Platinum Night, I would think that you really have to be prepared and concentrating because a little mistake could probably cost you some money and/or a valued client a coin.

Lakesammman

It was easy.

I did it all in 3 days.

Tee time at 6AM, 18 holes later the show at 11AM. Vest pocket sell a few coins by 5 PM. Beer by 6PM.

Grueling?? I think not.

Barndog

I'm sure between the pre-shows, auctions, setup, bourse hours, and break down that it was a very tiring week for dealers. Heck, one collector we all know was so wiped out after one day shopping the bourse that he slept all day on Thursday!

Lakesammman

All kidding aside, it's ALOT of work. My hats off to the folks that can do it well.

MrEureka

The only thing that made this show more grueling than other ANA conventions was the altitude.

coynclecter

Is there anything that says you need to work every day 12 hrs to grind out every last dollar you can??

There are a lot of professions where you could work 24/7 if you wanted to but if you run yourself into the ground due to greed than there is no one to blame but yourself.

I know some dealers are making some big $$ so I have no sympathy. They might consider less time and be willing to live on a little less profit. Others who need to put in 80 hr weeks to make a living need to find another job.

Coinosaurus

Longacre-

You need to hang out with one of your dealer buddies on the other side of the table for a couple days straight at a show. I think you'll get the idea after that

ColonialCoinUnion

<< <i>Is there anything that says you need to work every day 12 hrs to grind out every last dollar you can??

There are a lot of professions where you could work 24/7 if you wanted to but if you run yourself into the ground due to greed than there is no one to blame but yourself.

I know some dealers are making some big $$ so I have no sympathy. They might consider less time and be willing to live on a little less profit. Others who need to put in 80 hr weeks to make a living need to find another job. >>



I look forward to your comments about my wardrobe.

Coxe

I sure see how grueling it would be if your just cannot change the channel for days on end. You have a table to run and have to work the bourse as opportunities are there for you in that limited window. Then you are representing bids for clients and yourself in those endless auctions. It is nice if you specialize in a series and can avoid most sessions. Sure you can bring along an associate and probably do. You do need that other bidder number to step in if your cut-bid is challenged by another bidder and you need to secure a lot for a client. The cashflow stress is constant undercurrent as well. It's no wonder some lose it a little when a guy walks up to their table with a VAM book asking to look at their 8 tailfeather 1878s.

Derek2100

An out of town show can be a demanding experience - I try to mix these with my other hobby - strip clubbing for stress relief. But sometimes there is an inner struggle - spend the money (profit) on coins or girls? This is where that high end MS 64 coin at $200 beats the heck outta that MS 65 at $750! I had one show where the girl I had met the night before (mid range SC) was still asleep when I went back to my table on the bourse at 10am (opening to the public) and came back to the room at 4 pm and she was just waking up as sweet as ever. We then partied awhile, had a great time and then went out to a really super dinner at a romantic seacoast restaurant in La Jolla. Boy do I like those San Diego shows! Gurelling? Its all mental attitude. If yer making money from show sales or getting good buys on the bourse its fun, but if you have nothing but broke losers coming in the door with no money spend or nothing to sell, well its a drag.

Woodward

I was watching the Super Bowl a few years back, not really paying attention, and then all of a sudden I had this thought, "Did I really see what I think I saw"? I logged onto the Internet, and quickly confirmed I DID see it.

I just had another one of those moments. I can't believe what I just read.

MrEureka

I can't believe what I just read.

I had exactly the same thought. How could CCU possibly have been so stupid as to remind us of his show attire?