TedsGG1 posted:Time for my rant.
As a former partner in that show and current dealer I can only say you have no idea how much they charge for renting that venue and costs associated with putting on an event like that. That $8 price was due to go up before the partner transition 3 years ago. I commend them for holding off as long as they could. Are you aware that there is a head charge for every admission ticket collected? It keeps going up, no doubt it has...again. Things aren't as easy nor as lucrative as people might might think.
Do you know that several years ago they jacked up the electrical drop price by surprise and we actually lost money on every drop that year?. We ate that just so there were no repercussions. But howl they did when we had to raise the price to barely cover costs. They've now added a charge for the extra parking lot security for that weekend. Oh, and the hourly price of that went up, too. So did the table rent. There's also promoter's liability insurance. Yup, that goes up too. The fairgrounds has also been fighting a tax reassessment for years that tripled the taxes on that lot. Thank greedy local government for that. Guess who they pass the increase along to?
Someone pointed out the ticket price for York. York admissions are dropping, big time. ATMA shows have been holding their own and been fairly steady even through the decline and/or demise of other shows. Why's that? Marketing efforts.
Most Greenberg shows are now $10. I'll take this show any day over doll houses and toys. Why aren't you squawking about Greenberg? This show predates Greenberg and has remained a fixture on the train show circuit and is celebrating its 40th year.
I do very well at this show as a dealer in spite of the table prices that increased several years ago to mirror Greenberg. There was a howl from dealers over that. Know what? ATMA still sells out tables at every show or darn close to it. Why? because it's a darn good show, in spite of flaws.
Sadly, the days of $10 tables and $3 admissions is pretty much over for large shows of this caliber. I guess there's someone in every crowd who will crow at any price increase then plays the "I'm not going anymore." whine. Vote with your wallet. Better yet, try running your own show.
And finally my favorite saying: Everything looks easy to those who don't have to actually do it.
End rant.
See the rest of you at breakfast!
LOL! $10.00 tables?
Its a New CENTURY for cripes sakes! Who does that? The cheapest I have seen is $20.00 tables AND YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!
Im looking forward as a hobbyist trying to thin my collection at this show!
