Re: Carolina Phonograph Show -- March 24-26
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 1:19 pm
Folks,
My objective in making this post is two-fold.
The recent North Carolina show was a phonograph show, appended to an existing radio club show. Though a few individuals put in great efforts and expense to set up and promote the show, there were only six phonograph dealers. In the past, there have been as many as 30 - 40 dealers. Two of the six dealers for this show came from out of state. There were very few phonograph collectors from the North Carolina area that attended the show. The Radio Club had over 90 dealers in the parking lot and was very well attended.
My objective for travelling 10 ½ hours to go to this show was to visit with friends, share details on the upcoming Midwest EXPO, and have the opportunity to look at and buy phonograph items. I had a great time visiting with friends, but based on the lack of attendance, I was unable to achieve my other two objectives to any satisfactory level.
My Plea
Phonograph shows have historically been one of the main ways by which we perpetuate our hobby - buying, selling, learning, and building community. Putting together a show requires a significant amount of work and expense. A lack of attendance and support will quickly signal that shows are no longer the way we perpetuate the hobby, and shows will no longer be.
My plea to you is that if you have enjoyed and benefited from a phonograph show in the past, please consider making extra effort to attend upcoming shows. If you've never been to a show, being in person with other collectors, learning, seeing lots of phonograph items is an experience I have treasured and would encourage to any current and potential collector. The upcoming shows that I am aware of include:
I know that as individuals we may each have challenges, barriers, or issues in attending any particular show. However, the bottom line is that good or bad, our voice as a phonograph community, expressed by our support of these shows, will dictate the future of phonograph shows.
Shawn O'Rourke - [email protected]
My objective in making this post is two-fold.
- Provide a fact-based account of the North Carolina Show
- Make a plea to the phonograph community
The recent North Carolina show was a phonograph show, appended to an existing radio club show. Though a few individuals put in great efforts and expense to set up and promote the show, there were only six phonograph dealers. In the past, there have been as many as 30 - 40 dealers. Two of the six dealers for this show came from out of state. There were very few phonograph collectors from the North Carolina area that attended the show. The Radio Club had over 90 dealers in the parking lot and was very well attended.
My objective for travelling 10 ½ hours to go to this show was to visit with friends, share details on the upcoming Midwest EXPO, and have the opportunity to look at and buy phonograph items. I had a great time visiting with friends, but based on the lack of attendance, I was unable to achieve my other two objectives to any satisfactory level.
My Plea
Phonograph shows have historically been one of the main ways by which we perpetuate our hobby - buying, selling, learning, and building community. Putting together a show requires a significant amount of work and expense. A lack of attendance and support will quickly signal that shows are no longer the way we perpetuate the hobby, and shows will no longer be.
My plea to you is that if you have enjoyed and benefited from a phonograph show in the past, please consider making extra effort to attend upcoming shows. If you've never been to a show, being in person with other collectors, learning, seeing lots of phonograph items is an experience I have treasured and would encourage to any current and potential collector. The upcoming shows that I am aware of include:
- Mechanical Musical Extravaganza in Wayne New Jersey April 24, 2022
- Midwest Music EXPO in Schaumburg, IL June 11 - 12, 2022
- West Coast EXPO Buena Park, California Aug. 20 - Aug. 21
- Mechanical Musical Extravaganza in Wayne New Jersey September 18, 2022
I know that as individuals we may each have challenges, barriers, or issues in attending any particular show. However, the bottom line is that good or bad, our voice as a phonograph community, expressed by our support of these shows, will dictate the future of phonograph shows.
Shawn O'Rourke - [email protected]