The DC Record Fair makes its bi-annual return, bringing approximately 1,500 vinyl enthusiasts to the Eaton Hotel with hopes of finding new additions to their record collections.
Going on its 14th year, the DC Record Fair is the largest event of its kind in the DC area. It has earned the reputation of being the place where the most elusive records can be found. And the prospect of finding a pressing that’s held an indefinite place on one’s wishlist is precisely why the venue was filled to the brim from the moment they opened the doors at 11 am.
Fair-goers look through stacks of books and bins of vintage records.
On the second floor of the Eaton, a dozen tables with crates of records lined the back wall of what looked to be nothing more than a very wide hallway. Walking further down the hall, you’d come across a table full of vintage books, a makeshift bar, and a backdrop for the guests to take photos against.
Bill Gardner, a seasoned record seller and DJ, mans the first table in sight at the entrance of the venue. He shared that his favorite part of fairs like this, as well as the numerous ones he’s attended thus far, is “helping people find new music for their collection and also things that they’re looking for”.
His own love of records started when he was a kid. “I started collecting music at 6 years old, bought my first record when I was 6 actually,” he recalled. “And so I just want to pass it on and see it on all different sides of the spectrum as different people look for different things.”
But once you near the end of the hall you realize there’s a lot more to this event than what meets the eye. A line of people waiting to walk through a door where loud music and overlapping chatter emanate from. After a 5-minute standstill, the line moves forward and the hallway opens up into a spacious room lined with over 40 vendors selling records, CDs, magazines, etc. dating back over half a century.
“I love the enthusiasm, and I love the turnout, I love the crowds, but, at the same time, it may hinder browsing through the records.”
Hundreds of people moved in waves in an effort to get around the jam-packed space in order to browse an almost overwhelming amount of crates. Arianna Hardy, a new record owner, spoke on this new experience. “It’s a bit crowded so your mind goes everywhere, but I really enjoyed it,” she said. “It’s something new, I’ve never had a record before so it was really cool finding new music that you never heard of. I wish it was a bigger space, that’s the only thing. Otherwise, I’d be in there for hours looking at music. They can probably have all my money, or my dad’s money.”
The crowded venue made crate-digging especially difficult for the attendees.
While many left the event with over-stuffed tote bags, they also left with a feeling of slight discontent on how difficult it was to navigate the space. However, the popularity of this fair could be perceived as a symbol of the steadily rising popularity of vinyl records as a whole. According to a report from the Recording Industry Association of America, vinyl records outsold CDs for the first time since 1987, making up 71% of physical format revenues.
The resurgence of the vinyl record community is one that Jon Meyers, one of the DC Record Fair organizers, is glad to see showcased at his event. “I think largely it’s to bring together community of vinyl folks. And it seems to be growing exponentially year after year after year and people are in line inside so I think that we’re onto something,” he said.
However, Meyers recognized the difficulties that come with this level of success. “I love the enthusiasm, and I love the turnout, I love the crowds, but, at the same time, it may hinder browsing through the records. I know I was waiting to wait so that might be the slight downside,” he said.
