"Would you attend a swap meet?" Topic

So let's say I rented a hall and held a big swap meet. Would you have any interest in attending? There would be, say, 50 tables at $10 USD each for the day. Admission would be free.

Would you consider buying a table? Why/why not?

Would you consider going? Why? Why not?

What if there were open tables for gaming (free of charge to anyone who wanted to run one)?

What things would affect your decision? Assume it is in a city 5 min from a major interstate.

Yes
Yes, $10 USD is affordable and I have lots of stuff to unload.
Yes, I'd be looking for stuff as much as selling.

I'd day trip to something like a swap meet, so games would concern me less or not at all.

Assuming a day trip, it would have to be within a 2-3 hour radius with free parking. That limits my attendance to NY, Eastern PA, and NJ. I like your idea, but your hall may likely be out of my day trip radius.

I should add:

Site has plenty of free parking, you can walk to decent (non fast-) food, other shopping nearby for wives/SOs et. al.

Some arrangement would be made to allow sellers to go shop too.

Sure! I do it all the time for model railroading. $10 USD a table sounds fair to me. I love hobby swap meets. I just attended a nice comic book one in Daytona last weekend. Free admission as well!

Having tables for pick up games or demo games would be nice I guess.

If I lived in your area, I would go. Probably split a table with a buddy. I'd also be visiting your store on a weekly basis and be a lot poorer as a result--but happier! :-) Sadly, I live north of Orlando.

Mark, the Tin Soldier in Dayton did this for several years. Until the last couple of years it was pretty well received.I attended several of them. Attendence was free and you paid for a half or full table.

Thanks,

John

There are two kit collector shows here in Orange County, California that both run once or twice or three times a year. They charge more than that for a table and about five bucks for admission.

Brewer Bros was November 15, 2009 in Huntington Beach, CA at Old World Village.

Mike "Bunkermeister" Creek
bunkermeister.blogspot.com

Absolutely, if it was within a few hours' drive from us. Which is sadly unlikely.

If it were within a 2 hour drive of Stratford ON I would go. My friends would probably go if it were a 3 hour drive.

As with many others, if it was close (1-2 hours), heck yes. If the roundtrip and a few hours at the meet eats the entire day, probably not although I might give it a shot if no more than a 3 hour drive.

If you rented it here in Cincinnati, I'd definitely be there. Chicago? Nope.

I think something like that would be very nice. Back when the elders of my family were still alive (we seem to have a 70 and out policy), I'd accompany ome member of the family or another to gun shows, stamp shows, craft shows, model railroad shows, comic shows, card shows, auto part swap meets, and on and on. Every Saturday I'd go to something different and it was a nice time.

I like your idea. I'd like it even more if it occured within easy driving distance of my home. I'd be willing to make 2-3 hour drive.

Yep ! keep missing the Brewers bros. thing for some reason ? The swap meet and sellers area is one of the main reasons I go to the cons by LAX.

Depending on Where in the Chicago area it was I might make the drive down from here. Cash and weather permitting of course.

I'm there!

Brian

I'm all in too. Love the idea.

Erik

How does 'swap meet' differ from 'flea market'?

Free gaming tables sound good. Would it be 'open gaming' or would GM's submit events in advance?

My idea is this. Book the hall with tables. Sell tables. I'd have X number of tables for gaming. You'd be able to reserve tables if you;re running a game otherwise they'd be for open gaming, eating lunch whatever.

Swap meet or flea market….you say potayto I say potAHto…

I tried doing this in the Atlanta area and had all of 4 people show up for it. It was kind of a let down as I thought it would at least get a decent turn out.
But I would go to one as a day trip. 2-3 hours drive time and Im in. I like the ideas of open gaming and/or some organized games too but would I have time to play anything if I were selling stuff at a table?

I have traveled about 2 hours to go to The Last Square for a very similar event. It was very fun. I would probably not go more than 3 hours away.

That's basically what U-Con is here in Houston (and it's at a church, no less!). I would go, and you did hit on the major points:
- Parking
- Admission price (free is good)
- Table cost is good at $10 USD
- Gaming tables are a nice bonus.
- Near food is good. What's the on-site food/snack availability?

Things I'd pay attention to from your end:
- Have dealer badges with table numbers
- Put numbers on the tables
- You need some type of security (maybe get some volunteers?)
- Be very clear about set-up times and break-down times
- Gamers MUST be run out of the room during set up and break down; there are too many chances for theft when the dealers are hauling stuff back and forth between their vehicles.
- Plan for a loading/unloading area.
- Decide what your age limit for unattended gamers is. Can parents drop off their 15-year old kid to game all day? What about 13-years old?
- Have sign-in sheets on the gaming tables, and if possible, having a gaming director on site.
- If possible, get a good Website together with all this info, including a gaming schedule, if possible.

Best of luck!

We run a similar event at our club each year.

£5.00 GBP per table, £2.00 GBP entry for buyers. We have about 200 people attend.

We run it until early afternoon and then invite visitors to stay and game in the afternoon. We also run a convetional bring & buy and sell hot food.

Here are some pictures I took of this year's event (my first use of photobucket):
link

link

Sounds cool. Sponsor one in Austin please!

I like when stores do it and then they collect the cash and pay out in full value store credit or cash with a small fee deducted.
CW

Mark, I'm in, if you do it near (day trip) our area. I would rent a table myself, and I volunteer to help with security. I've got LOTS of experience in that field.

If there were one in my town I'd surely go to it… but I'm not likely to drive more than an a couple of hours to get to one.

If it was within an hour or two drive I would try to get a bunch of friends to go.

and just where are you thinking of holding this if it comes to pass?

I would really like such an event. As many of the others have said, my drive limit would be 2-3 hours. Although if you run it close to home, that should be no problem for me. I think most of the guys who game with me would come, schedules permitting.

Tom

If it was close, it'd be worth attending.

I would,with,as others have said,a 3 hour drive limit. I'd say that the third weekend in July would be a good time to do it,at least in 2010.

We could all "crash" at your place Mark after the meet!
I would go for sure!

Yes, Yes, Yes and closeness to my present location. I probably wouldn't if I had to get a hotel room for the night, but if I could make it a day trip (and the wife acquiesced) I think it would be a great idea!

Mark – I would go if it was in the Cincinnai area.