And this, my friends, is what puts me in a bind.
You see, my card show experiences are, how you say, limited. I'm pretty sure that I went to a card show once when I was a kid, for like an hour. I remember going, being there, and then not being there. Impactful stuff, that. Since then, I've attended the Daily international card show that is eBay and literally nothing else. I'm a card show n00b. I predict that I will do foolish things. Or overwhelm myself. Or ultimately find some way to get the least amount possible out of my limited time at the National. And that's where I need your help.
For those of you who have been to The National, or other grizzled card show vets, can I create a strategy to make the most of it, or is it "Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here" from the moment I step through the door? How about this. Here's my plan. If you know how card shows work, please pick holes in said plan and give me better advice.
If you are actually at the National and feel like doing some advance scouting prior to my attendance this weekend, that could be a kind of awesome way to narrow down the booths for me. If you're up to it.
The Plan
I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that "wantlists," while good in theory, are going to bog me down. (please tell me if I'm wrong here and wantlists are, in fact, crucial and necessary) There are some things I know I don't have. There are other things that I know I do have. For the grey area, it will be a game time decision. So, going in, this is what I'm looking for (all Detroit Tigers):
- Refractors
- 2010 A&G Minis
- Pre-1970 Topps
- Really old cards
If circumstances warrant, I'd like to knock out my Topps Heritage needs, and my other A&G mini needs.
So. Tips? Tricks? Advice? I'm pretty sure that I'm in over my head on this one. Also, I will most certainly need a drink at some point this week, and somehow