Featured Antique Show Admittance Fees

Some of the local antique shows in my area of the country are charging entrance fees of $8+. Personally my rule is that I don't pay money to spend money when there is no added value, such as a free lunch. There are a number of antique malls nearby and they don't charge for admittance, so that makes the choice easy for me at least.

Your thoughts? Is there anything special about antique shows that can make them worthwhile?

 

Charging entrance fees deters buyers.

Fair organisers should encourage footfall.

 

Ive never thought much about it,really. Most of the ones Ive gone to were usually for a charitable cause,like a childrens hospital. Many museums charge a nominal fee now too,does that mean you'll never go to a museum again ?

 

I am on the board of our local antique dealers association, we run two shows and charge admission ($7, $6 with card or ad). The admission goes to fund either our scholarship (given yearly to a local community college grad who is going on for a 4 year degree) or grants that we award every year for preservation of antiques (given to libraries, historical societies, etc.).

Other show fees around here go to benefit the schools, historical societies or churches that host the shows. Usually the dealer fees pay for the space, tents and any paid help like porters and police, the gate always goes to the charity.

 

All the "real" shows around here (Denver area) charge an entrance fee - usually about $5 or a tad more.
If I wanted to go I just paid it. Cheaper than going to see some crappy movie.

 

The funny thing is, it doesn't even keep out the looky loos. They'll pay to get in but don't wanna pay for your stuff.

 

Part of the problem for me is that I like to go antiquing with my parents. Admission at $8x3 is a good chunk of change and there is no guarantee that if I paid I wouldn't find a show full of overpriced items or modern junk. On their Facebook pages some of these shows seem to be geared towards decorators not collectors.

 

I tend to avoid the ones with entrance fees, cheapskate that I am. I used to pay up for one in a church, but the prices were so high inside that I rarely found anything worth paying that extra $5 on top. Add in the lousy handicapped parking and...yeahright. I do still pay it for one synagogue rummage sale. They aren't cheap either, but it's worth it. An $8 charge is ridiculous; once it gets up that high I skip it without a backward glance or second thought. Those higher priced admissions are usually to shows with the decorators rather than collectors as Joe mentioned, and to other people who want to pay retail.

 

Here in the UK you have to pay to get into the fairs, On the first day one of the fairs charge £20.
I go to that one on the second day when its £5.
It varies with different fairs and different organisers but if you want to go in you have to pay.
One I'm going to in 4 weeks time just put their gate charge up to £7.50, when there is two of you it adds up over a year.

 

We had a Depression Glass show run once or twice a year a number of towns away here on Long Island that had an entrance fee of about $8 or so for adults.
Not sure if that is still being done anymore. I attended it twice in total when I was a newbie to glass.

We also have a combo vintage car show and flea market that always happens on Father's Day which I never understood since most people have other things they have to do that day. There was an entrance fee of about $6 per person.
I went to it once only. There are more vintage cars than vintage bric a brac so
the price is not worth it for me.

 

You would really hate one show I sell at, they charge $10, no discount! It's in a very well-to-do area and I always have a great show there

 

There's an antiques show that's held at a fairgrounds here that charges $25 to get in two hours early, and $8 for general admission. Vendors pay $175-260 for their spaces too... I'm surprised each year that it's still being held.

 

If the prices inside were good and there wasn't much modern shabby upcycled stuff, I might pay the admission. If I saw a lot of "decorator" or shabby chic and dealers wouldn't negotiate I'd be asking for my admission fee back! I'd rather go to an antiques mall if available.

 

I usually recommend going to antique shows, to people who don't know very much. Usually the dealers who do antique shows specialize, so you are apt to see the higher end items. It's a good place to ask questions, learn, and compare prices. You also get to make contacts with people from out of the area.

 

The area where I live has No (zero) decent antique shops or malls any more. There is one good show that happens once a year. They have been charging $8, and it's very easy to get a $1 off coupon. I go every year. A couple of relatives from out of town visit me and we all go together. There are only a couple of dealers who specialize in photos. One is way too expensive. The others, though, are great. They charge reasonable prices, always give discounts if I buy several things, etc. They keep track of who their returning customers are, and personalize their services to all. I would go to the show every year for that one booth alone. I always find good additions to my collection.

I like what Messilane said about the admission charge being cheaper than a movie. Hadn't thought of that!

 

I don't go to antique shows much anymore.....I still need to eliminate....not accumulate!!!! But I never minded a charge if it was $5 or under, and depending where the charge went!! AND if it had a reputation for being a GOOD show!!!

 

The big outdoor show I attend regularly is $6.00. It is $25.00 to go in the day before during set up and before regular hours the day of the show. My experience is that it used to be well worth the early entry fee when the market was strong. Quit going early several years ago. I still go but no longer bust my butt to get there at opening. Usually arrive after the show has been open a couple hours and hit the dealers up for bargains at the end of the show. They are usually pretty motivated to sell then. I used to do this show many years ago but quit when the market tanked.

Used to attend higher end shows that charged more (up to $20.00) but haven't bought high end merchandise for years now. The market demands cheap carp and I give it to them .... LOL! Most better merchandise I buy for myself is at bargain prices found in my travels or on ebay.

 

I like to hit the dealers just as they are starting to pack up.........
I've made my best deals the last 15 minutes of the show...

 

With jewelry, you go early and then go back near to closing, especially at church sales. Once I hit a sale and they let me in half an hour before the official start time. They were still throwing stuff on the table and not looking too closely after a while. My sister got 18k earrings out of that pile ... for $8. (Merry Christmas!) I'm not sure if hitting it early at antique sales would have the same results.

 

We're mixing the different venues.

I understood the question to be about Antique Shows, which to me depends on who is hosting the show, as to the type of dealer that will show.

The International Depression Glass group host a show in our area. Used to be only depression glass, now encompasses EAPG to MCM, with the major focus on depression glass.
I grew up in the Bay Area, the Atherton Antique Show was what I called the museum show. It was always top quality, high end. Nothing affordable, but where you went to learn.
And there are the specialty shows, ephemera, dolls, vintage clothing.

When you all are talking about outdoor markets, I'm envisioning more of a flea market atmosphere, which isn't really a specialty niche. In that case you're going to find bargains.
I don't think of finding bargains at Antique Shows.