What Is It With Judging Shows By Attendance?

Coinosaurus

If you are a dealer it should be about how much money you made and new inventory you picked up.

For the organizers its all about table fees and auction fees.

And for collectors it should be about good purchases and good friends.

It seems to me that a show can be quite successful on all of these counts, even with a minimal public turnout.

291fifth

Minimal public turnout is not a good sign.

It signals that something is wrong.

Walkerguy21D

Good points. I've seen busy shows but some dealers still do poorly if they don't have good or at least desirable material. At least if the retail traffic (i.e. attendance) is light, they can blame the venue, the economy, etc.
Poor attendance can be for a variety of reasons - competing shows in the area, exceptionally nice weather, exceptionally bad weather, holidays, etc.

collegecoincollector

I judge shows by the general feel, or "buzz" to them. Like if I see a bunch of dealers excitedly talking to each other, or if a bunch of collectors are asking about the same coins, or if huge groups of people are excited to be at a particular booth or display, etc.

Many small shows or big shows with low attendance will fit these criteria!

coinguy1

Show attendance is easier to gauge, and in many cases, more likely to be reported accurately than the other measures which were mentioned.

Bear

Dealers can sell coins back and forth all day, but the bottom line is

what is being sold to the collector. Low turn outs, show after ,show is

a warning sign for the future of the coin market, especially in low to medium

valued coins.

Longacre

I discount coin show attendance figures. To me, coin shows are not for the public, but rather are a means of providing a bourse setting for dealers. The public aspect is secondary.

FredWeinberg

As mentioned above, "buzz" and 'vibe'
are important to the feel of a show.

The show promoter (whether it's the
ANA, Whitman, LB, etc.) cannot make
the public open their pocketbooks, but
they can get the public onto the convention
floor. That's one of their targets in putting
on a good coin show, or it should be.

A show with good solid attendance by the
public (includes collectors and lookers) can
give the bourse floor a good buzz in
general, even if they're not spending alot.

I know that even if attendee's are not
spending alot of money at the tables, it
still feels good in general to have lots of
folks on the bourse floor.

It would feel better to sell lots of coins,
but the thread asks about Attendance
being a gauge.

ricko

As a collector, I enjoy a busy show. Everyone seems to get a positive buzz on, and dealmaking seems to go better. Cheers, RickO

Coinosaurus

<< <i>Show attendance is easier to gauge, and in many cases, more likely to be reported accurately than the other measures which were mentioned. >>



Not at all. How many beers did you consume w/your coin buds? That is one possible non-attendance coin show metric that can be easily quantified.

Catbert

At some point, dealers selling to dealers reaches a point where the profit potential for material has maxed out. Got to have a retail customer to sell to eventually. Are you dealers saying that the shows are not good venues to sell product at retail? If this is true, then you are narrowing your potential customer base.

ThePennyLady

<< <i>As mentioned above, "buzz" and 'vibe'
are important to the feel of a show.

The show promoter (whether it's the
ANA, Whitman, LB, etc.) cannot make
the public open their pocketbooks, but
they can get the public onto the convention
floor. That's one of their targets in putting
on a good coin show, or it should be.

A show with good solid attendance by the
public (includes collectors and lookers) can
give the bourse floor a good buzz in
general, even if they're not spending alot.

I know that even if attendee's are not
spending alot of money at the tables, it
still feels good in general to have lots of
folks on the bourse floor.

It would feel better to sell lots of coins,
but the thread asks about Attendance
being a gauge. >>



I agree with Fred. Odds are, the more attendance, the more coins being bought and sold, the money being made and spent, the merrier everyone is.

Moldnut

<< <i>Dealers can sell coins back and forth all day, but the bottom line is

what is being sold to the collector. Low turn outs, show after ,show is

a warning sign for the future of the coin market, especially in low to medium

valued coins. >>



I agree with you Bear. Look, lots of Dick Osburns coins are now with JJteaparty.

Barndog

<< <i>

<< <i>Dealers can sell coins back and forth all day, but the bottom line is

what is being sold to the collector. Low turn outs, show after ,show is

a warning sign for the future of the coin market, especially in low to medium

valued coins. >>



I agree with you Bear. Look, lots of Dick Osburns coins are now with JJteaparty. >>



it is kind of fun to watch the same coins make the rounds, isn't it?

Moldnut

Yes it is.

LindeDad

Well if the dealers don't attend. And the collectors don't attend. I would judge it a flop.

SeaEagleCoins

I agree with some of the other posters, a well attended show is always a good thing...

Yet, my recent experience at the annual GSNA show offers up a mystery of sorts...

The first two days were sparsely attended... Thursday and Friday... while Saturday saw the largest amount of foot traffic of the three days... yet my sales on Saturday were very poor, to say it as nicely as I can. While there were many more people on the floor, they seemed to be more of the sight-seeing variety... very few sales were taking place around the show...

seemyauction

Its funny, I judge a show by what I'm able to buy.

If I can't buy any coins its a bad show.

If I buy one or more coins its a great show.........