AACA Artifact EXPO

[drdave514]

Anyone here going to the 9th annual AACA show on April 2-3?
It's at the Drawbridge again. Looks like their site is down at the moment.

[Trask]

I sure wish we had one of these on the West Coast Sounds like a good time

[Steve Valentine]

I set up tables there last year, but just for one day. I can't go this year because of work and I'm not going to make arrangements to get off to go. I really didn't like the fact that you have to pay for tables just to display only. I have been to numerous shows in the past 30+ years and this is the only one that has charged for display only tables. Even though Cliff gave me a discount last year it still cost me $50 to set up, plus $40 in gas, and another $20 to eat so I had to shell out over $100 just to display. I can do the Ripley show for just the price of gas and food or about $40.

[joshuaream]

I liked the show when it was in the summer, that made it a lot easier for my schedule... But it is a great show filled with good people.

[Aboman]

The AACA Expo info is at Welcome to the AACA National Ancient American Artifact Exposition Home Page. There will be over 135 tables full of ancient American and World artifacts, displayed by AACA members.
Steve, I completely understand your comments on the cost. The fact is that the facility and table costs of holding most shows has gotten outrageous. It is very hard to find any place large enough yet still affordable. For this very reason, there are a lot less shows everywhere in NC, and in the US. I put on two Archaeology Days a year in public halls, which are always full because the halls are small and the tables are free.
I will make an offer to ANY AACA member- I will pay for ONE display table at the coming Expo. Anyone who would like to take my offer, just email me at president@theaaca.com
Cliff

[drdave514]

That's just odd, in my opinion. It's one thing to charge for dealer tables but display tables?

I realize there is a huge cost to host the show. However, charging display tables but then only charging $3 at the door?? Have you been to any other kind of shows? Boat shows, Gun shows, Golf shows, etc... You can't get in anywhere for $3.

I've run a lot of things and it appears to me that you want to fill up your dealer tables at a fee and then get as many display tables in as possible for free to get the maximum people through the door for at least $6 per person.

[jdneill]

Since they moved the date i won't be able to make it...there is another show at the same time in Peru Indiana that I plan on going to. Hopefully you guys can take pics to post.

[dcameron]

I'll be there on Saturday.

I preferred the old summer date, although attendance seemed down the last few years.

[Aboman]

Originally Posted by drdave514

That's just odd, in my opinion. It's one thing to charge for dealer tables but display tables?

I realize there is a huge cost to host the show. However, charging display tables but then only charging $3 at the door?? Have you been to any other kind of shows? Boat shows, Gun shows, Golf shows, etc... You can't get in anywhere for $3.

I've run a lot of things and it appears to me that you want to fill up your dealer tables at a fee and then get as many display tables in as possible for free to get the maximum people through the door for at least $6 per person.

Dave, I've never seen free display tables at any artifact show other than a few local shows held in the public halls (which now are charging as well due to "the economy"). But now that I've made the FREE EXPO TABLE offer, maybe it will become more popular at all of the shows.
I've never seen anyone charge $6 to get in any artifact show, either. Most shows have free admission. This isn't a boat or gun show, it's ancient relics, which attracts a specific crowd for sure. A different crowd from the dreamcatcher collectors that go to the so called "ethnographic" shows that bring in tons of people as do the gun shows.
When you need a large place and a lot of tables- it costs money. The tables alone will cost you at least $10-20 apiece anywhere you rent them. Please check into it- we need a place that will hold at least 150 tables, plus the tables, for a 3 day weekend, at a price that will allow completely free display tables for members. The Drawbridge Hotel is raising its prices after this, and the Expo will probably either disappear or be held elsewhere more affordable (which may not even exist).
If a suitable venue is out there, I'd be all for free tables for display at future events.

[drdave514]

I completely understand where you're coming from in terms of the cost. It's a LOT. And artifact shows are certainly not dealing with the same crowd as gun shows in terms of dollars. But the draw to having a show is having artifacts to display. The show organizers don't really care if they are displaying or selling but rather just need a lot of artifacts out to draw in the people and cover costs. The display tables don't really need to be free but just covering the cost of the table should be enough to create a great Cost/Draw ratio. The dealer tables should obviously cost as it's an inherent part of their business and something they are willing and used to doing. Not to the point of being prohibitive but enough to cover the table rental and part of the hall rental.

$6 and free parking(maybe kids free) is super cheap entertainment.

At gun shows(I know, a different animal) you're looking at $50-70 for tables and $6-12 per person to get in. Even if you just look at the ratio of table price vs. patron price you can see that the fees to get in an artifact show are really low.

I guess the point is, it's a show. Shows make money off the people who come to the show. Not from the people putting on the show. A local theater doesn't charge the actors and let the crowd in free.

If I weren't 60 miles outside the area I would certainly be willing to help look into venues and crunch the numbers. Feel free to PM me the overhead #s, table #s and the average number of people coming in each day and I'd be happy to look at them. I'm not here to criticize but would like to see the show be as big as possible and not take a loss.