[vcf-midatlantic] Swap Meet feedback: How did it go?

[Sentrytv]

One of the best ideas that you guys had was not requiring an entrance fee for the buyers.

I don’t know how many people on this list realize this but the Hamfests and other computer shows charge for buyer admission.
Sometimes up to $10 or more depending on the venue.
Some of these events have more than just a swapmeet or Hamfest and can justify the charge.

If it is just going to be a indoor or outdoor, especially outdoor swap meet/Hamfest,
 then no charge to buyers is actually a very good idea.

Also, I have seen the Hamfests in the area charge vendors $25 and up for spaces if you’re not a member.
And still charging admission fees of up to $10.

In reality the admission fee for vendors should pay for their operating costs, If done properly.

And the result would be a larger attendance overall.

My observation and two cents.

Mike Rosen



Sent from:
My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device.

On Feb 28, 2022, at 12:23 PM, Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:

To my mind, the event is nothing without the vendors and a perk of
being a vendor should be having early access to other vendors
especially since we want vendors manning their table during open to
public hours. Whatever "official" hours we post, there will always be
"unofficial" hours. And it is worth mentioning that vendors are the
only ones paying to be there.

So early vendor to vendor access at 7am and general public access at
8am seems to be the worst option except for all those other options
that have been tried from time to time (with apologies to Churchill).

   -Adam

On Mon, Feb 28, 2022 at 11:53 AM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic
<vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
> 
> Well I guess they can tighten up restrictions on everybody, to stay at their own table after moving stuff in.
> Until the pre-arranged time.
> 
> But then it wouldn’t be fun would it?
> 
> 
> Sent from:
> My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device.
> 
> On Feb 28, 2022, at 11:27 AM, Dave Shevett via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
> 
> Oh I remember it :). LIke I said, this isn't a new problem.  There's
> really nothing to be done about it.  It's just frustrating to drive a
> long distance to come to an event that is mostly done 15 after it's
> opened.
> 
> -d
> 
> On Mon, Feb 28, 2022 at 11:26 AM Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic
> <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
>> 
>> On 2/28/22 11:02, Dave Shevett via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
>>> Unfortunately, the real 'problem' is something that's the case in any
>>> hamfest, swapfest, etc.  95% of the 'dealing' is done before hte
>>> public arrives.  I am as guilty of this as the next person, but I was
>>> in there 20m after the official opening date, and the piles of 'sold!'
>>> gear was enormous.  Too many buyers, too little gear maybe?
>> 
>>  Hahaaa, surely you remember when you and I would often get a selling
>> spot at TCF in the mid-1980s with the express purpose of getting in
>> early and having a place to put our purchased goodies! :-)
>> 
>>           -Dave
>> 
>> --
>> Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
>> New Kensington, PA
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Dave Shevett
> shevett at pobox.com
>