My Sport Card Expo Experience and Recap.

[will-411]

I always chuckle when you say hello to me and call me Will - it's weird to be known by my screen name, but it always, as I said, gives me a chuckle.

And while we don't know each other well Ameet, I greatly appreciate what you've written, and wish you all the best - here's to future Expos where maybe we'll actually get to know each other a bit - the future is all about possibilities and opportunities. Take good care,

CORY

 

[quincy]

CORY

Are you SURE about that?


And folks, I wanna take a minute here in Ameet's thread to shoutout Cory. An unplanned series of events led to me being on my own manning a double booth with no friendlies in the neighborhood. Cory came by initially, elected to hang out...and then just stayed. He had my back. On top of that, just darn good company and it was fun to shoot the breeze with him in between surges of customers.

So, Cory, to quote Ted Lasso: I appreciate ya.

 

[99goals]

It is good to know that I am not alone in my thoughts. I look forward to the next chapter in my life in cards and not in cards. Lets see what November expo looks like for me. I am proud of the fact that I have so many friends and I am generally viewed as a positive person. I will never make fun of anyone or stoop to low levels to get a rise of our people. See you all in NOV.

Glad to read this post Ameet, looking forward to see you in November!

Dude that would be awesome

Great post, Ameet. Thank you for sharing. It was great meeting you again at the show.

likewise!!

Thanks for sharing and I agree, it is ok not to be ok but it is not ok to not talk to someone about it. I am glad to hear you did.

Glad you had a good show. Hope all the best going forward.

Thanks man

Thanks for the update, Ameet. Hope life treats you well in the coming months. :thumbsup:

Wish I could have been at the Expo, but Canada wouldn't let me go. Oh well, I saved some $$ and got some other great cards instead. What the hobby is all about...collecting what makes you happy. :beer:

Maybe I can make the Fall Expo.

--Curt

Come in Nov. Should be good to go then

Thanks for sharing this Ameet. I understand exactly where you're coming from; both it terms of lacking in bankroll and being lost in the world.
It was nice chatting with you briefly on Friday! Take care of yourself and if you do bring back the YouTube show, I'll be watching!

I am def lost but I am finding my footing. I know what I want to do and I already know when I will exit and sell off my collection. I will do that in 24 years.

Thanks for the report. I always look forward to different peoples expo recap. You had many feelings/descriptions that I have had over the past few years. Continue to reach out, continue to write about it, continue to do what makes you happy. I look forward to connecting again. Reach out if you ever need anything.

For sure man. Thanks for reading

Read every word, man. Be well.

Thanks for the good read read Ameet, glad to see you're still out there!

For sure bro.

Great post!

Thx

So TRUE Ameet after reading over your post for the second time!
Things have changed BUT friendships are everlasting.
See you in November as time is ticking for me.

Totally agree Norm. Good to see you!

Great post, thanks for sharing it. I went through a similar thing, I have adapted and changed how I collect. Now I only collect who/what I really like. I don't look at it as an investment or competition with having to keep up. I truly treat the HOBBY as I did as a kid in the 70-80's. One other big bonus is the old friends we make. Hopefully one of these years I will get to go to one of the big shows and hang with you all.

We all enjoy our slice of the pie as we intend it to be liked. Thats what counts and friends count for a hell of a lot more.

Awesome post, Ameet. You are 100% right when you say that the show (and the hobby) is changing. It's becoming a massive business and it might sometimes feel like us old guys no longer fit in. However, I think we still do. I sold a ton of low end cards and I had SO many people tell me they love my booth because it's not like most of the others. While I do have some high end pieces, most of my stuff consists of what people today would consider low to mid end. There are still people building sets, collecting their favorite players/teams and not looking to spend thousands of dollars on a single card. I'll always be there for them even as the hobby shifts to big dollar cards.

It was nice seeing you, as always. Happy to hear you're feeling better about things

Cheers, brother!

That is great to hear Frank. You are well known too and that helps. I only do cards at the Expo which hinders me a bit. Glad to know that stuff still moves!

I love this post. It's straight from the heart and you don't see that often anymore. This industry has become a bit tricky these days and many are trying to find their comfort zone. I would watch your podcast all day any day without hesitation. It will be interesting where this all ends up, but I am confident those that still enjoy the purity aspect and love of cards will always be around. Cheers

It def will be and I can only speak from the heart. Those who know me well know this is the only way I can be!

A million times this! ^^^

Awesome post, Ameet.

Friends. I know I have many friend in the hobby, but I didn't realize how many friends I have walking the floor of the show this weekend. I lost my dad on April 30 and to say I've been devastated would be putting it mildly. People leaving their table to come give me a hug and share their own experiences and to hammer home the point that if I needed them they'd be there...this weekend was an escape for me but I didn't think it would be as therapeutic as it was.

As far as cards go, it's funny to think that after almost 35 years of collecting sports cards that I'm still trying to navigate the changes that have happened in the last three years. I will say that it's definitely a different atmosphere in many different ways but the one constant has been the people...and unfortunately, that may be on the decline as well as people give up on navigating the new world that is card collecting.

To everyone here that stopped me to offer me their best wishes, thank you.

Honourable mention to Quincy who was gifted a generational supply of Trinidad hot sauce from my mom. I don't know how and when you'll ever finish that vat she sent for you.

Quincy is solid and you are too. I am sad to hear about your Dad and time heals. Keep doing what you do and with a smile on your face.

Hey Ameet, although I didn't do anymore than say Hi to you this year, it was great seeing you, I think a lot of people are in the same position you are in and have similar thoughts. You need to do what makes you happy and it sounds like you are doing that. See you in November!

See you then and I am glad to hear I am not alone.

Ameet,glad you posted this, you are one of those people I I truly come to enjoy in this hobby.I didn't;t attend Expo this time around for various reasons as I'm kind of at a crossroads myself hobby wise. Age is a factor I guess as I'm one of the older members hereAt any rate one of the parts I liked about Expo was making my way over to the area where you and Jeremy were set up. I'd always be greeted with that great smile of yours which was always fun. I wish you all the best going forward my friend, might see you in the fall.
Cheers.
Dan.

Thanks Dan. Please come by in Nov. its always a pleasure to chew the fat with you!

It's easy to agree with so much in this post.....

As Scott stated, it's never been a business to me, and purely a hobby. I thought about heading back to the expo this year, but it would feel like you'd need 10k just to add some stuff to the collection. I feel lucky to have been involved at the right time in this hobby, and equally lucky to have chosen a player who retired when it boomed!

Glad to hear you're doing well, and hopefully I will make it in the fall. Haven't been to the expo since 2007??? Would love to put some faces to the names of the last few who use these boards!!

Chris

agree 100% Come out in Nov!

Hobby friends are the reason that Expo is one of my happy places. Damn good seeing you again, Ameet.

Thanks bro.

I always chuckle when you say hello to me and call me Will - it's weird to be known by my screen name, but it always, as I said, gives me a chuckle.

And while we don't know each other well Ameet, I greatly appreciate what you've written, and wish you all the best - here's to future Expos where maybe we'll actually get to know each other a bit - the future is all about possibilities and opportunities. Take good care,

CORY

now that i know your real name LOL..

Are you SURE about that?


And folks, I wanna take a minute here in Ameet's thread to shoutout Cory. An unplanned series of events led to me being on my own manning a double booth with no friendlies in the neighborhood. Cory came by initially, elected to hang out...and then just stayed. He had my back. On top of that, just darn good company and it was fun to shoot the breeze with him in between surges of customers.

So, Cory, to quote Ted Lasso: I appreciate ya.

Word!

 

[japhi]

Really great post, appreciate the vulnerability.

I have been put off by the hobbies laser focus on 'assets' and 'investing' so much so that I've changed my buying habits. Not towards "sports card investing', rather away from it. To each their own but I frankly don't like the element that it - hyper focus on slab grades - brings to the hobby. I'm not against investment, in fact the opposite, I am pretty obsessed with regulated financial markets and will keep my investing focus there.

But I also recognize it isn't MY hobby, it is everyone's, and the hobby is what you make it.

So thanks for sharing, nice to know I'm not the only one questioning what my purpose is in this new collecting world. Sounds like you have your focus back and I hope you continue to enjoy collecting, no matter what that looks like. I went back to set building and raw cards and have never enjoyed the hobby more. Other guys can fight over Pop 1.

 

[kamper23]

I don't post much these days, but still lurk. Nice to hear that maybe things are turning around for you Ameet. Still waiting for that text that you need to stop for a beer in Prescott.

 

[gomaz]

Thanks for sharing Ameet, I sure wish I didn't fall ill and have to miss it. Expo is my favorite place in the world, set up right next to you, and I was so sad to miss it. But I will be back in November and can't wait to see you and everyone else too!