Andrew Augustine, or ‘Augie’ was one of over two hundred vendors with tables at the recent Chicago Sports Spectacular that was held at the Donald E. Stephans Convention Center the weekend of November 17th through the 19th. This show generally happens a couple times a year and, although smaller in size than the National Sports Collectors Convention, which was held earlier in the summer, the growth and interest of the hobby has helped this show get bigger.
In addition to many many tables of sports cards, sports memorabilia and autograph tables, there are in certain places a table or two of fun random odds and ends. I happened to find myself at a far corner of the show on a relatively calm first night of the show, when to my surprise, someone yelled out ‘REBEL BASE CARD!’ I turned and a nice fellow greeted me and mentioned he was a listener to the show. After talking to him for a few minutes, I felt this might be a fun opportunity to learn more about who sets up and sells at the show.
Here then is our conversation.
So it pays to really go to the far corners of the Chicago Sports Spectacular, where I get to meet AUGIE - I don't see a lot of cards, but I see a lot of memorabilia - you were telling me, this is not your main gig.
Ah no, I'm a teacher, so this is kind of my side hustle. I've been doing this for years. My dad and I were setting up at shows when I was just a little guy, and he's more into the, you know, the sports memorabilia side of it. And so, going to a card show, there's just lots and lots and lots of cards, but there's not a lot of little bobble heads or Funko Pops or just some of the kitschy stuff. I've got some Starting Lineups here that, you know, guys our age - that's the nostalgia for us. So, they might see a player that they like growing up, and grab a Starting Lineup. But it's just - this is fun. I do this a couple times a year, and I enjoy it.
I have to say that, coming from like the national, which was here earlier this year, to a show like the Chicago Sports Spectacular, you got to feel like maybe there's a little less pressure. It's a little more relaxed than some of the bigger shows.
Yeah, yeah, and, you know, I'm a local guy, so I don't travel outside the area.
It makes sense for me, because, I can go home and sleep in my bed every night, I can eat my own food every day, but, you know, some of these guys are coming in from all over the country, spending lots of money, making lots of money, but for me, it's just - I like doing this a couple times a year. My passion is more, you know, Star Wars, Star Wars, action figures, but this kind of helps pay for that a little bit.
Well, talk to me - we have a little bit of everything here. We've got lots of bobble heads, drink ware, you've got, like you're talking about, the Starting Lineup (figures). What are some of your bigger sellers, or is it just something where you get surprised every time?
Bobble heads and Starting Lineups are what helps me pay for this show.
It's crazy just, you know, people, for some reason, they see that bobble head or Starting Lineup, again, like they did as a kid. It's something that's small, doesn't take a lot of space, they can set it on their desk, so those are usually some of my bigger sellers at shows like this.
I know at this point you have to be an old pro, but there are some things that probably, you've got to be real careful about packing up repeatedly. Do you worry about that kind of, you know, damage, and is that just part and parcel of what's happening?
Yeah, I mean, I'm careful, you know, some of the bigger items I try to avoid, just because they take up a lot of space and they can get damaged a little bit easily. So some of these smaller things can go in a bin, I can just put them in a storage unit for the next show, six months from now.
Do you collect yourself, or is it just, is this, you just see this completely different?
Yeah, no, because I'm a Star Wars action figure collector, so this just helps me pay for that nonsense that I got myself into 45 years ago, whatever it is now, so yeah.
Does this get stored somewhere? Do you have a storage facility, or do you have to make arrangements with family?
No, the wife would kill me if this went back to my own home, so yes, I have a storage unit that this basically all gets back to way. So it gets put there after the show, and then like I said, next show, I'll go do it all over again.
And how has the show, folks, been to you? Do they treat you guys pretty well?
Yeah, I mean, this is, honestly, besides the national, this, a lot of dealers here said, this Chicago shows are always some of the better shows. And attendance, and just, yeah, they do treat us right.
And I am kind of curious, you're, seems like you're maybe a one person operation here. Do you go look at other things, or is this just like, this is my home, and when I'm done, I'm done.
Yeah, it's tough, you know, maybe in the morning, as I'm setting up, I can kind of walk around, drink some coffee, and let's see what other guys have. But like, you know, I don't, the good thing is I don't really collect a lot of this stuff that could get me in trouble, I think. But yeah, I can maybe get around a little bit.
Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, and you know, like it's one of those things, I never quite know what I'm going to find. But I'm happy I found you today.
Yeah, thanks Greg, appreciate it.
The next show will be March 15-17, 2024.
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