PNG show in Rosemont ...

LochNESS · January 30, 2014 12:44AM

From this morning's ANA email blast ... apologies if there's already a thread on this topic, I couldn't resist posting after all the Rosemont bashing these boards have seen ...

"PNG/ANA NUMISMATIC TRADE SHOW
The Professional Numismatists Guild, in partners with the American Numismatic Association, is pleased to announce a Week of Numismatics. Come to Rosemont Illinois for the 2014 PNG/ANA Numismatic Trade Show, and stay for the World's Fair of MoneySM.

The Trade Show will be held in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, August 2 - 4, 2014, with the World's Fair of Money setup at 3pm on August 4th.
Unlike events of the past, the Trade Show will be open to the buying public. Advertising in the numismatic media commenced this month, and will continue through August. Admission will be $6 for all three days, and FREE with an invitation or when you bring in the coupon below. All PNG and ANA members will be eligible for a table at the Trade Show, whether or not they will be taking a table at the World's Fair of Money.

There will be a consolidated floor plan, with all tables being assigned front and center to the main entrance. Tables will be assigned on a first come, first served basis, once the star system placement has been completed, so be sure to submit your application early. Go to www.pngdealers.org for a bourse application.

One lucky public visitor each day will win one of three Double Eagle gold coins donated by PNG members as valuable door prizes. Don't miss this unique combination of numismatic events!"

IMO they are trying hard but still missing the point. They need more attractions than the coins themselves to draw the masses.

ColonelJessup · January 30, 2014 12:59AM

<< .....

IMO they are trying hard but still missing the point. They need more attractions than the coins themselves to draw the masses. >>

Beyond the $20 ($1200+ cash value) door prize/lottery/whatever, your suggestions for such attractions might be..... ?

dollarsandcents · January 30, 2014 1:01AM

I'll be there!

edited to add: Hopefully the strippers will be of a higher caliber than in prior years.

LochNESS · January 30, 2014 1:07AM

<< Beyond the $20 ($1200+ cash value) door prize/lottery/whatever, your suggestions for such attractions might be..... ? >>

• Live music, especially numismatic-themed (there's got to be at least one band out there; if not then I volunteer)
• a street magician who can make 'silver dollars' disappear and re-appear behind kids' ears (I've got some Kagin For Gov'nor tokens they can use)
• a free screening of some documentaries on numismatic topics / projector against giant white wall (every convention center has at least one)

These are just a few brainstorms. I posted a bit on this subject last Fall, in the Rosemont-bashing thread we all came to know and love/hate. I personally think Rosemont sounds like a great spot but the location isn't my issue.

LochNESS · January 30, 2014 1:13AM

Actually, let's go a step further ...

Themed areas of the bourse which mirror the history of the coins:

•revolutionary fife band for the early chain cents and darkside coins of that era

•oak ridge boys type string band for the civil war era and California goldrush coins

•classic rock / blues band for the modern stuff

Posters, banners, historically accurate flags ... Anything they can do to spruce it up.

If you think the music will distract from business then have the concerts outside the bourse near the entrance. Many comic conventions do this to great success.

pruebas · January 30, 2014 1:15AM

OK, so I'm usually the first one to bash Rosemont (and Cobb County), but music and magic aren't the answer.

Dealers want people who buy coins from them or sell coins to them. Serious collectors don't want "dead wood" clogging the aisles.

Whatever the attraction (and I vote more and varied education) should be in the meeting rooms and not the bourse floor.

LochNESS · January 30, 2014 1:40AM

I understand your concerns, but ‘what the dealers want’ isn't the issue; we know they'll come. It's the attendees (and their kids) that we aim to attract. And since they are changing the floor plan, maybe they can leave the corners of the room for attractions instead of ficus trees and ferns? No? ok then meeting rooms it shall be. Concert rooms as they are now called. I bet you'll be surprised how much traffic they receive.

• spruce up the awards, have a ceremony; give them in the evening; Use a large meeting room or adjacent ballroom. Use a podium, give an introductory speech, play some pre-recorded awards music and make it cheesy (read: fun!)

• add to the list of awards. Give one to the "best educational YouTube video by an amateur" and another for professionals. Then screen the video for the audience. Awards themselves are minimal cost and if need be, I'll sponsor one myself dangit!

I'm just tired of attending conventions for photography, music, and comics/media, and seeing all this cool stuff, and then going to the same old tired boring coin convention. We are going to die if we don't change.

LochNESS · January 30, 2014 6:57PM

No other comments? Really? Well then don't complain about the low turnout. You can't expect a successful "show" without entertainment.

Ask any event planner and they'll tell you that "dead wood" is what brings people through the door.

highwayman1 · January 30, 2014 11:39PM

Bears in vests jumping through flaming hoops shouldn't be the focus of our efforts to get more people to coin shows. It would probably get a few more people with kids in the door who would otherwise have to entertain their kids otherwise but it could also chase away other, older folks who tend to spend far more $ on coins so most dealers would likely resist this.

It begins far before that. Most who collect today started their collecting as children who received coins from relatives. Others've come to the hobby as adults -- often looking to get rich with coins, good or bad (bad, of course), it's a reality.

So, advertising is a must. The latter group needs to know about coin shows. That puts some of the impetus on show promoters - they need to promote their shows better which will attract more "I've been thinking of buying coins - oh, neat, a coin show" kind of visitors, some of whom will become serious collectors in time, assuming their passion for coins extends beyond a bottom-line. Otherise they'll become dealers.

Kidding of course. Many of my dealer friends are very passionate about coins.

pruebas · January 31, 2014 12:01AM

<< No other comments? Really? Well then don't complain about the low turnout. You can't expect a successful "show" without entertainment.

Ask any event planner and they'll tell you that "dead wood" is what brings people through the door. >>

The "dead wood" I was referring to were brought through the door via the idea of being entertained, and have planted their fat axxes in the way of people trying to get business done on the bourse. Remember the bourse is a place of business for the dealers, so as long as nothing gets in the way of that, they might be amenable to helping fund other parts of the convention. Frankly, most dealers couldn't give a darn about kids/families showing up (and rightly so), which is partially why they are gone on Friday.

If the ANA wants to cater to families, they need to do it apart from the bourse, which is the big moneymaker for them and the participating dealers.

In my view, the Long Beach show had the wrong idea by having sports figures sign autographs at the show. The volume of people, the lines, and the publicity did nothing for the coin dealers. I have no idea if it helped business for the sports card dealers, but they don't keep the lights on at Long Beach anyway.

LochNESS · January 31, 2014 1:45AM

<< ... most dealers couldn't give a darn about kids/families showing up (and rightly so)... >>

The future of our hobby? You really don't want them?

<< Long Beach show had the wrong idea by having ... volume of people, the lines, and the publicity ... >>

Do you hear yourselves?
If Q. David Bowers were giving a fun Q&A session where collectors (and dealers) could approach a mic and ask him anything their hearts desired, THAT would draw people.
If TDN and other semi-famous dealers were giving short presentations on their experiences acquiring and handling rare coins, THAT would bring people.

Without kids and "long lines" this hobby WILL DIE.

giantsfan20 · January 31, 2014 9:28AM

Dealers want people who buy coins from them or sell coins to them. Serious collectors don't want "dead wood" clogging the aisles.

Whatever the attraction (and I vote more and varied education) should be in the meeting rooms and not the bourse floor. >>

Not sure about "Deadwood:"

:Coin shows need everybody they can get in the door these days and besides who knows what the "public' will bring in the door or purchase.

The second party shows need more variety in the educational area they should pattern the talks like the FUN shows who have varied and interesting talks not just some historical related theme of limited interest to most.

LochNESS · January 31, 2014 9:38AM

A lot of us got into coins because we liked the history, and/or have enjoyed learning about the history of our coins during the process of acquiring them. A great way to draw new collectors into the room and inspire them to buy is to advertise the history.

Imagine walking into a bourse and seeing a small, quiet fife band standing in the corner. Upon closer inspection you see their period clothing and some info-banners explaining the historical significance of early American coinage. Then you see some dealers' tables selling those exact same coins. I bet they'd sell a heck of a lot more coins that day.

As a professional musician, I can tell you that the fife band in the corner DOES NOT have to be so loud and obnoxious that they distract from business elsewhere on the bourse. In fact, over the typical hum of a crowd, you probably wouldn't even hear them from the middle of the floor. And they aren't playing the entire time. Maybe ten minutes on, 20 minutes off.

I once performed at a 4th of July bar-mitzvah where they had a juggler on stilts walking amongst 300 guests during the lunch hour. Not only did he manage to avoid tripping on people, but he distracted the kids long enough to allow parents to mingle and socialize. How great would it be if you could entertain the kids and do business with the parents at the same time ... think about it.

oreville · January 31, 2014 11:31AM

I would like to see PCGS and NGC and others offer a free slabbing of a single raw coin worth under $35 or so. Kids would get free shipping and parents pay a nominal shipping cost.

When CAC came to the CT show in Stamford CT and offered free grading of a few coins per person, it really brought the crowds in.
The key difference I am proposing is the coins would be graded back home and shipped to the owners at a later date.

What a way to bring the kids AND parents to the show.

LochNESS · February 2, 2014 5:00PM

Great idea! I can totally see that drawing crowds of people who may otherwise not have attended.

Get people in the door using some kind of attraction (free TPG slab, coin author Q&A, famous person signing autographs, etc.)

Trust the dealers' coins to do their job (and sell themselves).

I think some décor would help. Some lighting, some colorful banners, some drapery on the walls, anything. People dressed in period clothing or festive costumes. But maybe I'm alone on that point.

PNG show in Rosemont ...

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