Andy,
First, I'm sorry you had that problem -- if it makes you feel any better, I've had the same thing happen to me!
We include contact information for every event we list. It's always a good idea to phone or e-mail the organizer before an event if you're unsure about it -- it's a really good idea when it's billed as a model/doll/railroad/etc show that covers a lot of subjects. The organizers usually have a list of vendors they can use to give you an idea of what to expect at the show.
Again, sorry about what happened, but I hope this will help!
Matt Usher