My Debut as a Reporter...

For the first time in several years, I did not participate as a dealer in the Manlius Historical Society's spring Antiques Show. Instead, I helped my mother with her booth, which gave her the chance to attend a lecture during the afternoon on "Victorian Dining", and enabled her to sell, schmooze, and enjoy herself a bit more during the long day.

However, the interesting idea I came up with for my own enjoyment, was to attend the show as a member of the Media! Armed with a camera, a notepad, a pen, my Suite101.com business cards, and a nifty Suite101.com baseball cap, I set out with determination to interview various dealers and observe the success of the show.

The Manlius, New York antiques show is held in a small but convenient elementary school. The gymnasium and the cafeteria are transformed by 35 dealers whose wares range from Adirondack and country furniture to Victorian sewing items, and the space is both well laid-out and practical, not fancy! Refreshments are provided, and usually there is a guest lecturer or an appraisal service offered to visitors.

This year, the weather truly cooperated. Because of that, the early-bird customers crowded the front entrance eagerly, and in general there were large numbers attending the show all weekend. Several dealers reported strong sales on Saturday, although the lecture's early-afternoon time cut badly into the crowd's impetus. The hour set aside for the lecture by a gentleman from Rochester's Strong Museum meant almost no sales occurred, until later in the afternoon when the crowd, considerably quieter, returned.

I have never presented myself as a member of the media, even though I have often written about my personal experience as a dealer. This decision was prompted by the receipt of my Suite101.com baseball cap, in token recognition of my hosting of the Suite's 1899 Event last winter. Wearing the cap gave me confidence, and elicited a lot of attention. It made me feel "official" - and served as an automatic conversation-starter.

Other representatives of the media were also present, which made my inquisitiveness less obtrusive, I hope. Several dealers were very gracious in answering my questions.

One of the major topics among dealers at the show was the proliferation of auction sites on the Web. In general, I have found that dealers have been slow to embrace the Internet as a tool for their business, but most have at least visited such sites as eBay. I asked Amanda Taylor of Madison Auction Service how Web auction sites have affected her business:

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