When I initially published this post on this topic in April, 2023 my optimistic self was likely hoping for a sea-change, well maybe a wave or two, but tonight I can see there was nary a ripple.
I can safely say that after listening in on the Collectors Club panel tonight on Zoom. Two dozen or so well-meaning people clustering around the topic of 'The Future of Stamp Shows'. A lot of angst expressed, a few ideas tossed out, little change in the offing. A lot of rearranging of the deck chairs on the proverbial impending iceberg cruise ship.
- Widen the show format to include coins, ephemera, postcards?
- Call it a collector's show? Because stamp collectors and all collectors have 'the gene'.
- Have a no-rules exhibition with...no rules. Absolutely no rules.
- Who knows what a vermeil is and why does anyone need one? I looked it up and have no idea.
- What about an online exhibition or bourse? Young people do not attend in-person events.
- Fees for exhibitors can run into hundreds or a thousand-plus dollars.
- Does everyone have to be a secretary-treasurer? We are overtaxing ourselves with too many organizations administrating a static number of collectors.
The best moment of the program that I saw occurred when one attendee asked what happened to Graham Beck? You know, the YouTube guy I mentioned in last April's post? No-one seemed to know for sure. I watched Graham's final video in which he said his videos were too much work and required an unsustainable amount of effort. Another attendee made a remark about the content not being sound, never mind the popularity of the format.
I found Graham's approach quite entertaining and quite enjoyable. Unlike the future format of shows discussed in this program.
It's understandable that someone has to plan, organize and be responsible for a stamp show. But that should not include sticking with the same-old, same-old. Let's be on the lookout for nothing old, something new, something borrowed from which to take our cue.
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