Does the Los Angeles Pottery Show say anything about the state of collecting?

Hello all. The Los Angeles Pottery Show is this weekend, May 20-21, at the Pasadena Convention Center. I have attended the last five years or so.

According to emails I have received from various vendors who will be there, the L.A.P.S. was started in 1999 by two producers. After last year's show, the producers decided the show would be the last, and they retired. The current owner, Kyle Shiroma, bought the show and revived it for this year.

Granted I attend for only one day, and for no more than an hour or so, but from what I've seen I would be hard-pressed to find 10 customers under 50, and none under 30. I don't think many people that age collect anything, whether it's stamps, coins, fountain pens, etc.

I certainly hope the show is a success and I am planning on attending. But, I was wondering if this is indicative of pottery collecting, or if popularity is cyclical, or perhaps this is just local to Southern California. For instance, I know there are many wonderful historic potteries in Ohio, so perhaps pottery collecting is stronger in the American Midwest.

 

I would like to tell you the pottery trade is booming in Midwest but I can't. Some shows have disappeared entirely and others are clearly struggling. Not only are the attendees old but so are the dealers. I have to be honest, though, and admit that I didn't get the collecting bug until I was 40+. By then I was settled and had a little extra time and cash. So maybe...