BCEFA Flea Market

[UnwoundFantasies]

It hasnt been officially cancelled yet. Im sure theres a 99% chance it will be. But I cant help but think they could make Flea happen with some adjustments and social distancing changes. I have to imagine BCEFA would want Flea to happen in an ideal world since they always make a lot of money from it.

- require masks, sanitizing stations
- spread out the tables further
- limit the people at each table/ have queuing lines
- different/creative displays to limit bins and boxes
- potentially able to block off more than the usual 2 streets since lower traffic
- no picture booth, but some social distancing to autographs could work
- move the event later in the fall maybe end of oct/early nov

I know this is just my own wishful thinking lol but what are your thoughts?

[bwayphreak234]

There is absolutely no way this will be happening.

[LizzieCurry]

I mostly just lingered on the "lol" in your post because that's how I feel about the flea market actually going on. Would be nice; would be nearly impossible and certainly not safe even with the best of intentions.

[VotePeron]

Unfortunately, the Flea Market is the single most crowded, cramped, claustrophobic event I attend in NYC each year. It's a complete nightmare with people falling over each other just to look over someone else's shoulders to see what a table may have. So logistically, I think it is physically impossible to make the event as-is "socially distant."

Another huge factor is the shows and artists participating. It is a huge block party, a celebration of an industry that is currently nonexistent, with thousands of peoples lives in jeopardy because of the work their livelihoods disappearing overnight. I don't think any major shows, organizations, or artists would chose to participate, even if it was online. Gathering and shipping all the random articles that make it to the Market would be a huge burden when most staffs are majority furloughed/laid off.

It's one of my favorite days of the year, too. It's crazy to think it won't happen this year. But. You know.

[Heather4]

I highly doubt that Broadway Flea will happen this year, at least in person.  Since many of the productions may have signed things for the spring fundraiser prior to the shutdown, (I believe they were supposed to start fundraising the weekend of the shutdown though I could be mistaken) I wouldn't be surprised if BCEFA did an online version of Broadway Flea with any items that were signed by productions that were running at the time.

[Jordan Catalano]

Friends of mine who run tables have known for months the event is off.

[UnwoundFantasies]

Thanks all! Like I said earlier I highly doubt it would happen but it’s nice to think about and very wishful thinking. So sad.

[Sutton Ross]

The crowds are always so awful during the flea market, so they obviously cannot have it this year. But, I would love it if they did something online with it. 

[stoptheworld38]

I could imagine MAYBE them putting it off and rescheduling it for spring sometime but as previous people have said I see no way for it to happen (safely) at the typical time of year it usually does. Plus, considering that Broadway has been shut down since mid March and still will be through the fall, there's probably not a ton of point anyway...

As much as I in some ways wish they'd do an online version, that would be VERY dangerous for my bank account...

[mufish]

Heather4 said: "I highly doubt that Broadway Flea will happen this year, at least in person. Since many of the productions may have signed things for the spring fundraiser prior to the shutdown, (I believe they were supposed to start fundraising the weekend of the shutdown though I could be mistaken) I wouldn't be surprised if BCEFA did an online version of Broadway Flea with any items that were signed by productions that were running at the time."

No way they could have Flea this year, but this is one thing that would be great if it were feasible.  Probably a fair amount of signed stuff ready to go which will quite possibly become obsolete as a result of cast changes once things start opening back up, shows closing, etc. I can imagine there are some staffing issues in play though - do they have people A, currently working and B, enough staff to maintain their day-to-day AND administer online sales?

[MaddieBB12]

Here's the thread from earlier this year where people proposed some other possible solutions:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1122454# 

[Wick3]

On the BCEFA website I see Sept 20th save the date for “Virtual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction”

I guess it’ll be virtual this year.

[kaykordeath]

Back in the beginning of July the City canceled any large public events through September 30th.

Pretty sure that would include the Flea Market.

[patrickj88]

I also read online that this year it will be "virtual". Yes, it won't be the same. But, I suspect that they will offer "online auctions" and items for sale to help raise
money

[Sutton Ross]

The industry is heavily bleeding so any help would be good. However, no announcements have been made and to put it all online and to ship it all over America would be incredibly difficult. I don't see it happening, unfortunately. 

[ClumsyDude15]

I’m not sure how much this means but Broadway Cares has been selling various items (signed posters, playbills, opening night gifts, etc) via EBay.

I’m not sure how that would work in regards to the Flea Market, but they’ve been selling and shipping items already (a smaller amount certainly) so it is definitely possible.

[Sutton Ross]

I didn't know that, thanks for the info!

[Marianne2]

Would be nice if they made an announcement on what virtual means. We are 2 weeks away now. I usually take the day off from work, but didn't this year since I knew of no street fairs being allowed in NYC at this time. But, now I definitely am working and hope I don't miss out if they move online. If it's just the auctions, then I won't worry because I never bid on anything anyway.

[veronicamae]

It would be an immense amount of work that probably would have had to have been started 6 months ago, but if each table could input a catalog of all their items, especially old Playbills, so we could browse and buy just like any other online shopping, it would be a dream come true.

Sigh.

[Sutton Ross]

I don't think there will be any announcement, I think it's just assumed at this point.

Sigh indeed. 

[LightsOut90]

People have been listing alot of stuff over in the BroadwayCon facebook group if people somehow have money burning through their pockets right now

https://www.facebook.com/groups/734987633274958/

[Wick3]

I agree that word of mouth of this virtual event has been quite lacking thus far. Hopefully we'll hear more soon. In the past only those fortunate enough to physically come to NYC can participate but with a virtual event, anyone who has internet access can partake.

[VintageSnarker]

If people still have the disposable income (and the people buying those big ticket items probably do) then it makes sense to move the auction online. People can still bid.

There are even items from the tables that could sell well (non-auction) like the full cast signed Playbills or the costume sketches. I assume they could even sell more of those signed Playbills if they could somehow safely coordinate getting them to everyone in the cast to sign.

But it doesn't make much sense to sell all of those low-priced items (the endless tables of random non-signed Playbills, assorted T-shirts, mugs, etc.) online. It just cuts into merch sales and unless you're buying a big haul, the shipping isn't worth it.

[cjmclaughlin10]

There was a press release that just came out mentioning E Bay for Day Of stuff, and now I’m seeing FleaBay bundles up https://www.ebay.com/itm/FleaBay-Random-10-Theatre-Poster-Bundle/114401911653?hash=item1aa2e2a365:g:KrEAAOSwMZpfWnTZ

 

 

https://broadwaycares.org/pre-event/2020-broadway-flea-market-grand-auction/

[Sutton Ross]

Oh boy! I did not think this would be happening this year, how wonderful!