There’s no business like show business…
While this popular phrase is borrowed from the 1954 movie of the same name and the famous song in the stage musical, Annie Get Your Gun, given it’s “awards season” in the ‘show’ business, I think it’s also timely to shine the light on stamp shows.
Since joining the Trajan team, I have been making a concerted effort to attend as many stamp and coin shows as possible, and, I have become a fan of the shows for many good reasons.
Yes, of course, it’s important for me – and members of the team – to be at the shows representing Trajan and meeting our readers and advertisers first-hand. But, more important, the shows are a great opportunity to track and monitor the pulse of the collecting community.
Being the newbie on the stamp scene, there are two key observations I want to make about stamp and coin shows.
First, kudos to the show organizers.
Organizing a show is a lot of work, whether it’s sponsored by a stamp club, an individual or a business. It takes a lot of time to pull it together, not to mention the importance of trying to keep everyone happy.
Why do they do it? Overall, it’s because they feel there is a need in their local communities to bring dealers and collectors together. And, there’s the desire that, hopefully, the shows will entice new collectors – something we all want for our philatelic community.
So I encourage you to thank the organizers at every opportunity you have for bringing a show to your community. Support them… and bring a friend, or the family, to the show with you.
My second point is I believe stamp shows are vital to maintaining and growing the community. We need the shows to nurture and enhance the strength of our stamp community.
Stamp shows are the perfect opportunity for the collector – from beginners to the advanced – to gather with other collectors to learn, share, buy and sell and help to grow the community. Personally, I have learned a lot more about the hobby by attending the shows and one of the best outcomes is I have made new friends.
I know for some collectors, going to a show may feel intimidating at first, but the rewards you’ll receive in terms of finding “that stamp” or enhancing your knowledge will pay off in dividends. If still reluctant, go with a like-minded friend, or join a stamp club. And, for the low price of admission, stamp shows are a great deal (and investment) to find under one roof a vast assortment of stamps, first-day covers, postcards or revenues to fill your collecting goals.
Stamp shows are also the best opportunity to support our dealers. If we want them to continually find and offer us new materials they need collectors at the shows to buy, sell, trade and introduce collectors new to shows.
While the show business in Hollywood is busy this time of year handing our awards, the best ‘award’ you can give to Canadian stamp shows is to support them.
Stamp shows are the heartbeat of our community. Support as many as you can by attending, buying and selling and inviting others.
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On a closing note, I will be overseeing the editor’s role on an interim basis. I want to thank Bret Evans for his years of service to Trajan Publishing as editor of Canadian Stamp News. I wish him good health and the best in his future endeavours.