Great article and topic. Thank you. It's weird because I have collected books, CDs, tapes and vinyl for a long time. But events like Record Store Day, while great for the music business and record store owners, kind of don't do it for me. It is nice to have some limited editions or signed books and vinyl releases... but the way it has all got marketed as a thing to do is strange. I'm kind of leaning more towards some ideas Henry Rollins has shared about good music and books these days. Why make them so rare? If it is really good music and really good writing, I want other people to know about it, not hoard it to myself. Of course, there was a financial consideration for independent publishers and record labels. It costs a lot of money to print a book or press vinyl, so making a limited run and selling it out could help recoup the costs. Some fine publishers who make really beautiful books, and some labels to, will also make the special editions for the collectors, and have a cheaper standard edition for the rest of us. I think that is a good model, because there is something nice about holding something beautifully made, and those crafted objects will be rarer. So I guess I am of two minds. On the one hand, have the artful editions for those who want them, but instead of making just those. These are the masterworks you mentioned, even if they exist in more numbers than a singular piece of art or something crafted. But for things where there can be multiples, always have a standard for those who want physical books & music and let it spread to those who would enjoy it.
Collecting stuff is an instant dopamine hit. I look at them as dust collectors.
The majority of it is not worth as much as we think. Just look at silent gen / boomer china dish collections. No one wants that crap while the people who have kept it in mint condition to give to their kids think its worth thousands of dollars. It will be the first thing in the donation pile when they pass.
Yeah I doubt the "collections" of most people's junk are worth all that much, likely rounding to 0. I do think the flea-market type events where people go to sell stuff like this are fascinating places just to see what people value things at. You'll likely quickly be humbled!
Same - it's fun finding cool pieces of art for the house at these things - usually for a great price. I have no idea if "rare" or common and don't really care, just like if it looks cool
Great article and topic. Thank you. It's weird because I have collected books, CDs, tapes and vinyl for a long time. But events like Record Store Day, while great for the music business and record store owners, kind of don't do it for me. It is nice to have some limited editions or signed books and vinyl releases... but the way it has all got marketed as a thing to do is strange. I'm kind of leaning more towards some ideas Henry Rollins has shared about good music and books these days. Why make them so rare? If it is really good music and really good writing, I want other people to know about it, not hoard it to myself. Of course, there was a financial consideration for independent publishers and record labels. It costs a lot of money to print a book or press vinyl, so making a limited run and selling it out could help recoup the costs. Some fine publishers who make really beautiful books, and some labels to, will also make the special editions for the collectors, and have a cheaper standard edition for the rest of us. I think that is a good model, because there is something nice about holding something beautifully made, and those crafted objects will be rarer. So I guess I am of two minds. On the one hand, have the artful editions for those who want them, but instead of making just those. These are the masterworks you mentioned, even if they exist in more numbers than a singular piece of art or something crafted. But for things where there can be multiples, always have a standard for those who want physical books & music and let it spread to those who would enjoy it.
Collecting stuff is an instant dopamine hit. I look at them as dust collectors.
The majority of it is not worth as much as we think. Just look at silent gen / boomer china dish collections. No one wants that crap while the people who have kept it in mint condition to give to their kids think its worth thousands of dollars. It will be the first thing in the donation pile when they pass.
Yeah I doubt the "collections" of most people's junk are worth all that much, likely rounding to 0. I do think the flea-market type events where people go to sell stuff like this are fascinating places just to see what people value things at. You'll likely quickly be humbled!
I enjoy going to our local flea market once a year. Lots of interesting characters and generally a really good people watching place.
Same - it's fun finding cool pieces of art for the house at these things - usually for a great price. I have no idea if "rare" or common and don't really care, just like if it looks cool