Great show and tips guys. Always great to hear from the experts 😆. As much as I would love to go and check out all the cards.I think meeting people is definitely the top thing i would love to do if I went.
I have never been to the national but I have been to multiple day shows. The one thing I would add to the great advice you guys gave would be bring snacks. To many times I have been so involved with a show that I forget to eat lunch. Being able to have a quick snack is always helpful. On that note, try to have a good breakfast. You don't want to be only a few hours into the show and start to get hungry.
Thus will be my 6th National. My #1 would be budget. Set a budget and stick to it. Don’t “set it and forget it”. Set it and stick to it!!!!! Stay hydrated. Take water and drink it. Take snacks (I prefer cashews/peanuts). Also, if you see something that you like and want, DON’T take a picture and then come back. It will be gone. Pick it up, put it in your hand, negotiate (ALWAYS NEGOTIATE), and then buy it. If you leave, it’ll be gone when you come back IF you can even remember where it was to begin with. DON’T cock-block tables, DON’T put your stupid zion cases on showcases, and for God’s sake, DON’T be rude to dealers or other buyers. Just cause you can, don’t mean you should!!! Other people paid good money for this experience, try to make it pleasant for everyone. Finally, pace yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Have a game plan and stick to it. Time goes by so fast and the National will be here and gone in a blink of an eye. No regerts!! Last year, my #1 goal was to go up to Jeff Wilson and sing, “you ruined the hobby that I love with your bull$hit, Jeff Wilson, Jeff Wilson” and I accomplished that goal. Everything else was just gravy (great, now I want gravy). Make that list and check it twice. Lastly, just have fun. This is the biggest nerd-fest that you will ever go to and having fun should be the most important thing you take away from it. Life is short and you may never have the pleasure of going again. My 1st one was in 1995 and I got to see Mickey Mantle sign. That’s something I’ll never forget. It was in St. Louis, MO. Again, that’ll never happen again. Can you imagine the National in St. Louis? Crazy. My prediction is that the National will never be held in Atlantic City ever again. So, if you went, you’ll have those memories. Just have fun, enjoy the hobby, and make some friends. People are the most important part of the hobby, not cards……
