The Pasadena Antiques Show, August 9, 2009
It’s really tough work sitting at a show when there’s very little to do. Kinda like Chinese torture. The show opened on Friday. I wish I knew why. There were very few people and of those who showed, there seemed to be even fewer buyers. 8 hours of sitting. It’s easy when people are asking questions and making purchases, but not this Friday.
Irene Stella seems to have it right. She’s the promoter of the Pier Show in NYC. It’s a 2-day show. The public comes en masse and everyone makes their decisions quickly whether to purchase or not. It’s good for the public and good for the dealers. I would like to see the Pasadena show shortened to 2 days, but it’ll never happen.
Saturday was much more lively. Attendance was good, interest was good, especially in Tiffany Studios desk set items, and sales were decent. Now if only Sunday would be like Saturday, the show would have been good, but alas, no dice. Attendance wasn’t very good and interest was poor.
In my opinion, the main problem is that there isn’t just one important show in the LA area that everyone MUST attend. There’s one little show here and one little show there and as a result, LA is a difficult city in which to do well. It doesn’t matter how wealthy the residents are if they don’t show up. I say that because I’m always amused by show promoters when they try to convince me that I should do a new show in some city. “Do you know what the average income is within a 50-mile radius of the show?” I couldn’t care less, because that’s not what’s most important. It’s getting those people to attend the show that’s most important and that’s way tougher than it sounds.
On to Chicago in a couple of weeks and then Baltimore over the Labor Day weekend. That’s the one I’m looking most forward to. It’s big and important, so everyone shows up. It doesn’t guarantee I’ll do well, but at least I’ll have a fighting chance.
Please send me your suggestions or questions about art glass, lamps, Louis Icart, shows, auctions, etc. If it’s interesting, I’ll answer your question in a future blog entry.
Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail or 516-922-2090.
Dear Phil,
Thanks for the email reminding me to look at the site and stay updated.
I am up at 6 in the morning saw the email from you and opened it and read with delight what is going on in your business…occupational hazard sitting on your tush…I agree boredom and no work is no fun.
Keep me up to date on shades…..the most ignored area in the world of art glass…..
I would like to do a large book, can you help?
We, myself ,Tom Walker and you even can do it i bet we have 500 different shades and then we can probably get another 100 different ones from contacts…..Roberts book will look like the antique it is
A book will drive the market and it was many of the same artisans who made the vases that sell in the 10’s of thousands that made some of the rare shades that go for over $3,000 etc. etc,( but also a lot less and thats the market we want… the new collector who will pay $300 for a shade ….
Now there is a project, are you interested ?
alan honig