The PSMA is an organization of and for Professional Show Managers; Event Promoters; Event Producers; Exhibition Organizers of Shows; Fairs; Festivals and Street Shows including but not exclusively of Antiques Shows; Art Shows; Boat Shows; Book Shows; Bridal Shows; Car Shows; Coin Shows; Collectible Shows; Computer Shows; Consumer Shows; Craft Shows; Doll Shows; Ephemera Shows; Flower Shows; Furniture Shows; Garden Shows; Home Shows; Jewelry Shows; Memorabilia Shows; Sport Shows; Stamp Shows; Trade Shows; Travel Shows; Vintage Clothing Shows and more.
The History of Professional Show Managers Association
It probably was chaos on a small scale when PSMA was formed by northeastern antiques shows managers in 1987. The managers regarded themselves more as adversaries than partners in a greater industry, there was little communication between the managers, and the antiques show world seemed centered “east and north of Philadelphia.” But thanks to those managers, one of whom is a member, Vivien Cord, we have a national organization with national name recognition. Our Officers and Board come from eight states, coast- to-coast, plus D.C., and represent antiques shows but also art shows, blue grass festivals, chocolate festivals, arts and crafts shows, hunting expositions, bridal events, and pet expos! We have a full-time association office to do the day-to-day work of running PSMA. I often wonder if PSMA’s founding “fathers and mothers” would have envisioned our growth and event representation.