Conference Vendor Experience Trial Take #1: Fake It Till You Make It.
July 10, 2024
Part 2: Experience as a Vendor
As we explored in Part 1: Attendee at Front Row Card Show (FRCS) Pasadena in May 2024, attending a trading card show involves both energy exchange and active participation in a living marketplace. In this blog, we delve deeper into this dynamic from the perspective of a packstacker attending FRCS Phoenix in June 2024.
It takes an enthusiastic and courageous individual to attend a trading card event, spreading joy through a new and never-before-seen collectible. At FRCS, where most attendees have never heard of Bitcoin Trading Cards (BTCTC), there was undoubtedly a significant learning experience for both the packstacker behind the booth, Brandon, and the visitors.
Brandon, whose passion for sharing the joys of BTCTC with collectors and Bitcoiners has been evident since he joined the community, expressed that his preparation for the show was fueled by a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. He fully embraced the weekend’s festivities and welcomed the learning curve that came with it.
Setting Up The Booth
Brandon was fortunate to have a supportive community backing him at the event, ensuring his experience as a Bitcoin Trading Card packstacker wasn’t alone. He leveraged support from community members like Alladan, who contributed the amazing linens pictured below that made the booth stand out. I also assisted Brandon in refining his approach to being a vendor and ensuring a successful setup.
My suggestion stemmed from an Instagram video I had seen about the 4P’s of being a vendor: Clear Pricing, Bring Your Personality, and Professionalism. The fourth I forgot, but I think the three are a pretty good start — having Product would be a valid fourth 🙂
The Weekend
Saturday proved to be much busier than Sunday, with Brandon and the Bitcoin Trading Card booth attracting solid interest throughout the weekend.
A community member dropped off an S1 OPP Box to be sold alongside an S2 box, a PB22 Van, and a PB22 Surfboard. The lot sold for 0.225 Bitcoin, approximately $15k at the time of sale.
In addition to this significant sale, Brandon showcased his own cards, along with PSA graded cards from a Canadian packstacker who shipped them down for display and sale.
Between the pack rips by the packstackers and the raffle winners, the table was bustling with pack wrappers flying around, while Ultra Pro Premium penny sleeves and top loaders were on standby.
Brandon shared his favorite moments with me: an enthusiastic kid whom he offered a deal of two Bit Block Boom packs for the price of one, a traveling packstacker, Tyrell, who stopped by to open whale packs, and a raffle winner who discovered Bitcoin through the Genesis Packs.
No hobby event would be complete without pack rips and smiling faces!
Brandon kept the Telegram chat lively with updates, making everyone feel immersed in the event with him. His posts sparked lively discussions about pack rips, new community members, and he maintained strong engagement throughout the show.
When deciding whether to attend as an attendee or participate as a vendor at a card show, consider the following analysis depicted in the Venn diagram below. Both roles offer unique experiences with their own set of pros and cons, making each worth exploring as a community member in The Hobby.
Bitcoin Trading Cards — Summer 2024
Front Row Cards Show: Just Getting Started
Bitcoin Trading Cards has committed to upping our presence at traditional Hobby events, so this weekend July 13–14, 2024, we’re headed to Las Vegas.
Front Row Cards Show biggest show of the year is going to bring about exciting opportunities and interactions for those that come by the booth.
Upcoming Event: Bitcoin Nashville 2024
Join us at the Bitcoin Conference 2024 in Nashville — yes, sadly the same weekend as The National in Cleveland — July 25 — 27, 2024 for a thrilling IRL event on home turf. We’ll be partying at the Pleb Party, attending the Dirty Coin viewing, and counting smiles at the conference booth.
Get Involved
The rewarding experience of being both an attendee and a vendor, I encourage you to consider visiting your local card shop or card show to connect with the collector community and explore new Hobby related opportunities.
