Final Nail in the Coffin for Stamp Shows?
by Lloyd A. de Vries

Is the coronavirus epidemic the final nail in the coffin for stamp shows? The short answer is no.

However, it may well be sounding the death knell for many shows. They were on life support before the large drops and outright prohibitions and restrictions on public gatherings and travel. Coronavirus, in effect, pulled the plug on them.

First, nearly all shows rely on dealers taking tables or booths. If dealers can’t travel, if dealers don’t want to sit in an enclosed area all day with people they don’t know passing through, and if dealers aren’t sure large numbers of people will attend a show, the show cannot afford to go on.

Second, many shows are staged by clubs, and rely on member volunteers for everything from taking tickets by the door to setting up frames and moving tables. These shows were already hurting for personnel, for myriad reasons that previously have been discussed here and elsewhere. Now the epidemic threat may further reduce the number of volunteers.

Third, some shows won’t be able to afford the costs of canceling this spring’s events. Most venues have cancellation penalties that may or may not be waived by the threat of disease or government restrictions to prevent contagion.

I just took a look at one of the contracts for a fairly recent past Americover, the annual show of the American First Day Cover Society until this year, when Americover becomes part of Great American Stamp Show (formerly the American Philatelic Society’s APS StampShow). Since the show was already held and the language was similar to that in other hotel/show contracts we had, I think I can quote from it.

That contract stipulated there would be no penalties for cancellation “upon the occurrence of any circumstance beyond the control of either party – such as acts of God, war, government regulations, disaster, strikes…, civil disorder, or curtailment of transportation facilities.” But does that include a state or national health emergency? Are those “acts of God?” Could a show sponsor afford the lawyers to argue the case against the venue’s lawyers?

Money spent in advance of a show on advertising, printing programs, signage and so on can’t be recouped, no matter what. How deep are the sponsor’s pockets?

Fourth, venues may not be as willing to book a stamp show as in the past, as they seek to make up for this spring’s downturn. A hotel can book four or more weddings — all with open bars and catering — in the period taken up by a stamp show. The prospect of the show being held every year and guaranteeing some income without the expense of attracting brides and their mothers may not seem as attractive after this year’s cancellations and retrenchments.

We saw hotels in particular less interested in offering discounts or even hosting shows after the Financial Meltdown in 2008. I think we’ll see more now, because the “leisure” industry is particularly hard hit by this epidemic.

My feeling is that strong shows will survive, but the weak ones won’t. We’ve seen that trend for the past several years. Now, in my opinion, it will accelerate. The APS once had an even three dozen World Series of Philately shows. Now there are 28. Next year…?

The views expressed here are solely those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of any organization other than The Virtual Stamp Club.