Cardhound Matt will be roaming around The 45th National Sports Card Convention in Chicago (well, Rosemont anyway) on Thursday at least. If you are a Cardhound loyal or a member of the Vintage Baseball Cards group on Facebook, please chime in below. I’ll be handing out some fun Cardhound merch and hope to visit as many collector pals as possible.

If you are a dealer, drop your booth # so we can find you! Some dealers have offered fun perks for VBC members in the past–and it works.

If you are new to the National, here are some tips for surviving and thriving:

Have Goals

I try to focus on making the most of this unique experience. If you’re shopping for that specific grail and price is no object, go for it! But for the rest of us on a budget, here are some ideas for an enjoyable experience:

1. Meet up with some social media card pals IRL! I met several long-time Facebook acquaintances last year, and now boast many actual friendships as a result. Plan a meetup.
2. Get an autograph. The list of guests is always impressive, and while there’s not always “value added” in a signed item above and beyond the cost of the ticket, it’s an experience to meet one of your old idols, even if just for a second.
3. Transact ahead of time and do the deal in person. It’s a great chance to avoid shipping and transaction fees, and another opportunity to make a new connection.
4. Fill some sets. I tend to not spend big money at the National–it’s not exactly a liquidation sale. But there’s vintage and binders everywhere–so the show is a good chance to save shipping fees on $2 set cards, and it gives you something productive to do on a budget.
5. Take in the sights. The big auction houses will be showing off some of the best cards and memorabilia in the hobby. Vendors will be handing out freebies. There’s a lot more to do and see that’s not just “shopping.”

Survival Tips

With your goals in place, there are some other ultra-necessary tips for making your National Sports Card Convention trip a memorable one (in a good way):

1. Bring cash. Sure, all dealers accept various forms of payment these days–but cash is king.
2. Ignore sticker prices and just make offers. Don’t be shy–(most of) the dealers are there to sell, now show. And speaking of prices–run your comps ahead of time. Don’t count on reliable internet or cell service. Do your homework and trust your gut.
3. Dress appropriately. You might expect that these places are equipped with modern conveniences like “air conditioning,” but the space will be packed, and on a super hot day the body heat will overwhelm the venue. If the forecast calls for heat, be prepared.
4. Wear comfortable shoes. I kept track one day the last time I was in Chicago and I had walked 7 miles by the end of the day!
5. Take snacks and hydration. The food lines tend to be long, and the food itself will be both bad and overpriced. Plan some nice meals away from the show, but bring your own healthy snacks.

If you want a more in-depth look at a National experience, here’s last year’s report logged by a fellow Cardhounder.