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record show experiences

I went go a record show yesterday.  Lot of junk.  Took a couple of records to trade or get cash for them.  They together were worth at least 150.00.   Guy offered me 20.  They are mint.  He even said he would put one of them in his private collection.  Lol.  There was a lot of junk.  Frustrating.  Are their any good record shows in the northeast USA?  Is it this way at all record shows?
tzh21y
paraneer's avatar
paraneer
818 posts
 

Why were you there?

I go to about 6-8 shows per year (two different circuits) and always enjoy and get amused by the experience. IMO, there are three types of attendees..

1. Newbies getting into vinyl buying just about every cheap copy of classic rock albums they can find. Most use Crosleys and its a hipster thing.

2. Collectors who could care less about sound quality and who most likely will never listen to it. But its rare and collectable. And these same types will demo records they are interested in on the vendors Fisher Price or Kenner Close and Play that the vendor happened to bring before they lay down hundreds of dollars. BTW, ever see the preponderance of junk TT’s at these shows demoing records?

3. Then there is me. The audiophile listener who is looking for the best sounding, most pristine copy of a title I really enjoy. I once made a deal for $25 on a mint Japanese 12" 45 rpm pressing of a title I really like. After the deal was done the vendor then offered to play it on his Fisher Price. I told him if he does that, he is not getting my $25.00.  He bagged it and I went home with my one purchase. It is now one of my two best sounding reference recordings.

Since you mentioned a lot of junk, I suspect you may be number three. If so, get to know the vendors that routinely do these shows. They will bring and hide the good stuff they find for you - Japanese pressings, sealed albums, 1/2 Speed Masters, etc. If you just buy one at a show and its a keeper, then its a success.

whart's avatar
whart
3,043 posts
 
Paraneer- you've captured it, I think. The attendees are pretty colorful. I've never gone to a comic book convention or a hacker get together, but I'll bet the vibe/character of attendees is similar. I've met some pretty interesting people in the process of buying records, more often by phone, email and Internet than shows, but I've scored occasionally at shows.
(I think the real high value gems - that meet both #2 and #3  of your list typically wind up on the Internet; like wine, the stuff that fetches a price is often auctioned). 

I recently came to the conclusion that if one is more focused on the cleanliness of their records than on their personal hygiene, they are truly obsessed. Thank goodness the new social standards permit wearing pajamas as streetwear. I'm not being critical; I've actually adopted the style myself. 
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
it also depends on vendor to vendor. one vendor i've seen had junk stuff such as harry bellafonte, louis prima priced to $30 each and looking beat in and out LOL.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
Oh I was not looking for book value.  They were mint.  I doubt he will ever see a copy of either records I brought in even close to the condition these were in. Ever.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
I see many good records on the internet.  What I was really looking for was some kind of trade.  I just have a hard time trusting when I cannot see the record.
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