Mopic5
Super Member
First off, this was an absolute blast! My thanks go out to fellow table compatriots Andyman and Piece-of-Pete for helping me and my buddy Stephen (Swap Newbies) with advise on pricing and learning the ropes in general. I think we all meshed extremely well, covering for each other and keeping the two listening stations simpatico. Couldn’t think of two nicer guys to share the weekend with. Now if I had a nickel for every time Pete and Andy cracked me up, I’d have gone home a rich man. But I did go home a richer man for the experience of these two fine gents.
Also a special thanks to ahhhhh Greg (Retro Stereo) for his suggestions about vintage speakers in cabinets – which basically boiled down to: “If you’re not planning on giving them away, don’t bother bringing ‘em”. This advise was given not from on high, but from somebody who readily admitted to having schlepped 8 pairs of speakers to an AK swap room a few years back only to schlep 7 pairs back to Minnesota. Well Jeff, we pretty much kept to the same ratio, with six out of seven sets reloaded in “The Princess” van.
At first we thought that the slow elevators were going to leave us all wishing we had brought rope ladders and block and tackles for a direct load-out to the atrium floor. But that wasn’t the case at all. Exhibitors and member listening room folks, were all so giving that the only bottlenecks we saw were from tipped Molson’s.
What I did hear from the departing exhibitors in the afterglow was they were thrilled with the venue and the attendance.
Suggestions for keeping the Swap Room viable for the future?
- If we want to see vintage gear continue showing up, it seems that we’ll have to attract more of the “starter” crowd to the rooms. The “Old Salts” will have none of it. They’ve been there and done that.
- Maybe some agreed upon operating hours for the Swap Rooms so that table renters won’t be anchored for the entire Fest. I know there was a lot of people and gear that I’d have liked to have seen and heard.
But if I had to do it all over again as it stands, I’d still plop my $40 down for a table next year.
Biggest surprise…
Out of 135 records that I sold for a buck, 60% were classical.
Another special thanks to the ladies who manned the tables and kept the “flow” going. I’m sorry that I don’t remember their names, but I know they were school lunchroom ladies, who had a talent for keeping things moving.
And to young “Jeff” who was so unselfish with his time and energy in helping us load in – thank you. I owe you a few beers.. er Cokes.
Dave & Nancy, what more can be said, but thank you ever so much for the time, effort and energy in putting this all together – once again!
All best,
Mario
Also a special thanks to ahhhhh Greg (Retro Stereo) for his suggestions about vintage speakers in cabinets – which basically boiled down to: “If you’re not planning on giving them away, don’t bother bringing ‘em”. This advise was given not from on high, but from somebody who readily admitted to having schlepped 8 pairs of speakers to an AK swap room a few years back only to schlep 7 pairs back to Minnesota. Well Jeff, we pretty much kept to the same ratio, with six out of seven sets reloaded in “The Princess” van.
At first we thought that the slow elevators were going to leave us all wishing we had brought rope ladders and block and tackles for a direct load-out to the atrium floor. But that wasn’t the case at all. Exhibitors and member listening room folks, were all so giving that the only bottlenecks we saw were from tipped Molson’s.
What I did hear from the departing exhibitors in the afterglow was they were thrilled with the venue and the attendance.
Suggestions for keeping the Swap Room viable for the future?
- If we want to see vintage gear continue showing up, it seems that we’ll have to attract more of the “starter” crowd to the rooms. The “Old Salts” will have none of it. They’ve been there and done that.
- Maybe some agreed upon operating hours for the Swap Rooms so that table renters won’t be anchored for the entire Fest. I know there was a lot of people and gear that I’d have liked to have seen and heard.
But if I had to do it all over again as it stands, I’d still plop my $40 down for a table next year.
Biggest surprise…
Out of 135 records that I sold for a buck, 60% were classical.
Another special thanks to the ladies who manned the tables and kept the “flow” going. I’m sorry that I don’t remember their names, but I know they were school lunchroom ladies, who had a talent for keeping things moving.
And to young “Jeff” who was so unselfish with his time and energy in helping us load in – thank you. I owe you a few beers.. er Cokes.
Dave & Nancy, what more can be said, but thank you ever so much for the time, effort and energy in putting this all together – once again!
All best,
Mario
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