The 2013 Flea Market Thread — Page 3

This was only my 3rd Flea Market, but the patrons were way ruder than the last two I've experienced. However, people working the tables were as great or even better than usual. Bravo!

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I found some really cool things today at the Flea Market!
.'Chaplin' front of house poster
.'Ghost The Musical' Hat
.'Kinky Boots' Poster and Cup
.'Stick Fly' Fly Swatter
.'Shrek The Musical' Shirt
.Brava! Shirt
.Australian 'Addams Family' Program
.'Nice Work If You Can Get It' Poster
.'25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' CD
.I won a 'Shubert Organization' Book
.'Mary Poppins' Cast Signed Poster for $1!

I was there today. I didn't find it as successful as in years past. I think a lot of this is due to the fact that I have now gone every year for a bit.

The best advice I can say about the flea market is to always go twice, once in the morning, and once around 5pm when everything is a dollar or less.

I tried the autograph booth this year, and it was a VERY stressful experience. I got in line 70 minutes before the 1pm slot, and barely made it in. I got everything signed I wanted, but I had read like Jordan, that it was three items per person so I was a little upset when they told me it was two. Still, as their hour was almost over, I did understand the need for it. As a note, Jeremy Jordan was not very pleasant during this hour. Maybe it was because I caught him at the end of it, but he barely made eye contact, and seemed totally disinterested to be there. Everyone else, especially Matthew James Thomas, and Zachary Levi were a delight.


The only item I found in the morning was a Pippin Poster from ART which I was glad I bought as I didn't see them later in the day. It was $20, but I'm glad I got it.

Later in the day, it was a grab bag of both fun and trashy. I LOVED the performers T-shirts I got 2 for $1 and was happy to get a last five years magnet and the how to suceed magnet.

I loved the Bring on the Cheer ornament I got too as well as the White christmas ornament i found.

Oveall this year wasn't as exciting as years previous, and the morning was definitely crazy crowdwise, but as always it is still one of my favorite events of the year.

Updated On: 9/22/13 at 08:57 PM

Things I learned at the Flea Market this year:

- avoid the spin-the-wheel table like the plague
- don't walk in the street, walk BEHIND the tables on the sidewalk, then cut through to the street when you see something at a booth that you want
- leave the market during the matinee shows (2-5pm) and return after
- if you spend $60 at the pick-a-ticket table, you'll only win tickets to one show, and that show will be PERFECT CRIME
- don't assume that the people selling items will know anything about the booth's items for sale. not even prices.
- if you see a unique item, like a huge theatre poster or marquee, the price will be $200-500. and no, they won't bargain down to $50 at the end of the day.

All this being said, I enjoyed myself and bought some windowcards from closed shows at dirt cheap prices. I really do appreciate all the volunteers at the tables, even if they didn't know anything about what they were selling.

I wish that each booth's organizers would better organize and label their items. At one of the booths, they had boxes of unopened items under a table. I asked if the box was of items they were selling, and was told yes but they didn't have time to unpack it yet. I found 6 windowcards that were not on display. I did the same at another table, and found some scripts for cheap.

People who displayed "vulture" attitude, at least that I saw, didn't seem to be theatre people. They were tourists who were looking for bags and clothing. I was highly amused when someone next to me asked what the Phantom of the Opera logo was on a hat she wanted to buy. She just thought the mask was cool.

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Yes, people were really pushy. Strangely, I didn't find the playbills to be too interesting this year. I got 5, but I have gotten more in past years. My rule of thumb with most items is to try to get it for below retail price, unless it is something rare or autographed. I always expect the autographed stuff to be a bit pricy. I also feel like in past years some of the tables had more creative ways of raising money. That was always a riot to see some of that.

And a warning to everyone for next year. I heard from someone at that table with the greatly organized playbills, they won't be doing that in the future. Apparently they are redoing their offices or something and don't have the space to store and organize all of that.

My purchases:

Playbills:
2006 Tony Awards
The Performers
Peter and the Starcatcher
Jekyll & Hyde (Most recent flop)
Nice Work If You Can Get it

Cups:
Elf
Follies
Nice Work If You Can Get it

CDs:
42nd Street (2001 Revival Cast)
How to Succeed... (Daniel Radcliffe)
Catch Me If You can
50 Shades the musical (I won it at the spin the wheel table)
Janelle Monae (Won this too)

Into the Woods DVD
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers DVD
2004-2005 Playbill yearbook-It was only $1!
Signed invitation prop fro Cinderella
Wit Poster, just for the frame it had. If anyone wants the poster, you can have it.
Finian's Rainbow window card (Sadly, this might be destroyed. My water bottle leaked on it in my car on the way home. )

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If you see a unique item, like a huge theatre poster or marquee, the price will be $200-500. and no, they won't bargain down to $50 at the end of the day.

CapnHook, that's not true. One table that was selling a giant piece of the SCANDALOUS marquee was asking $500 for it at the beginning of the day and ultimately sold it for $50 by the late afternoon.

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Updated On: 9/22/13 at 10:28 PM

"One table that was selling a giant piece of the SCANDALOUS marquee was asking $500 for it at the beginning of the day and ultimately sold it for $50 by the late afternoon."

Kathie Lee must have been devastated. I would bet the famous Emily Faye got that piece.

What table had the Viva Forever shirt and when - did you go early in the day?

table outside Sardis had them until at least noon (I got one around 9:30 and we went back for one for my friend) pretty rare deal.

Thanks, Playitagain. I didn't get there until 1PM and went straight to the photo booth waiting area for Bernadette. I would have loved that shirt - I didn't buy a shirt at the theater in London because they cost a fortune! I did get some VF drink cups that I kept and the souvenir program that I gave to Iluvtheatertrash for Christmas.

I did buy the Scandalous poster. I also got an opening night coffee mug that says "A fresh cup of mercy" it was a good day.

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Favorite thing I picked up was an original Tams Witmark script book of Man of La Mancha for $1! One of my favorite shows!