Collect-i-Bowl Strikes Again

Mar 03, 2011 by Kylie Jane Wakefield

This past Sunday, February 27th, Brooklyn Bowl played host to Collect-i-Bowl, an event that featured over 25 vinyl record dealers showcasing their thousands of records to prospective collectors.

Mike Schnapp, aka DJ Uncle Mike, organized Collect-i-Bowl and spun records for the event, which included free bowling and lasted from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Schnapp, who DJs at Brooklyn Bowl every Saturday, said that compared to the other two shows held in spring and fall of 2010, this one was the best yet. “People are happy because it works,” he said.

For the record dealers, the shows are a useful way to set up connections and browse one another’s collections. “We are a tight knit group, and we’re all looking out for each other,” Schnapp said. “There’s a network of people who go around. They used to have stores but they became a burden so now their records are in storage. People drove here from everywhere in the North East area.”

Dino Proserpio, who has been in the business for about five years and is based in Boston, journeys throughout the United States selling records. He started because he had too many records after buying for 18 years. Now, he just buys to sell. “I would do this even if I didn’t make money because it’s so much fun,” he said.

Another dealer, Chaim O’Brien-Blumenthal, is a college student from Brewster who brought 1,000 records to sell on Sunday. He’s been a dealer for five years, but has been collecting for 15 and owns 10,000 records. The most prized possession he had to offer was a $200 record by Lucia Pamela called “Into Outer Space.” He displayed a sealed Replacements record, “Let It Be,” for $100, and the rarest album at his table was a sealed “Nonesuch Guide to Electronic Music.”

Although O’Brien-Blumenthal said accumulating and selling records is his passion, it has been tough in this economy. “These shows are great but there is a lot of looking and not buying,” he said. Nevertheless, he has sold records to thousands of people and has a large base to reach out to. One day, he said he would like to open a shop of his own.

Collector Ashley Marenda was perusing for blues, heavy metal, and folk albums at the show. She has been a connoisseur of records for five years and ventured from Suffolk County to look for new music. “This event is awesome,” she said. “It’s really hard to find a gathering like this on Long Island.”

Even people who were just there to bowl ended up enjoying the record show portion of the event as well. Melissa Levitt, a Manhattan resident, said she frequents Brooklyn Bowl because “I like to spend time with my family in a fun, comfortable venue that’s old fashioned.” Levitt ended up buying the Bob Dylan single record “Visions of Johanna” because her five-year-old daughter was named after the song.

Laura Billard, a local designer who creates and sells her own line of rock’n’roll inspired hair accessories called Dollsville, NYC, planned to purchase a few albums depending on how many hair bows people bought. “There are some pretty amazing Wanda Jackson records I want,” she said. This was the first Collect-i-Bowl she attended. She usually sells her hair bows, decorated with pictures of Elvis Presley, skulls, or Pabst Blue Ribbon online and around the city.

Musician and collector Randy Gregg, who helped set up Collect-i-Bowl, said the whole day was great. “We have a good following through word of mouth,” he said. “We’re becoming a reputable show, and Brooklyn Bowl offers so much.” The bass player, who has toured with Dee Snider, Thin Lizzy, and Iron Maiden, worked at Slipped Disc Records on Long Island for a number of years. Although the store closed down a few years ago, the former employees now play a leading role in coordinating the shows.

Schnapp said he is excited to hold even more record shows and spread the word about Collect-i-Bowl. “I’m psyched. Records are in vogue now, which is really nice,” he said. “I love Brooklyn Bowl and the staff is always asking when the next show is. Even they get excited. They’re very musically astute.”

As for his own collection, Schnapp said he couldn’t part with any of it. “I have a one-foot-wall of records. I’ll never get rid of them.” But like others at Collect-i-Bowl, he is faced with a similar affliction. “I have inescapable vinyl addiction,” he said.

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