Blade Show 2011

[JDieseljoe69]

I am finally going to a Blade show after many, many years of wanting to go. So any Blade show veterans have any suggestions to make my show experience very enjoyable??
How early should I get in line(I have 12pm Friday VIP passes)??
Is the show elbow to elbow with people or fairly spread out??
Any must see exhibits/shows??

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Mods if you feel this should belong somewhere else please move it, I was not 100% sure where to put it.

 

[sheathmaker]

I am finally going to a Blade show after many, many years of wanting to go. So any Blade show veterans have any suggestions to make my show experience very enjoyable??
How early should I get in line(I have 12pm Friday VIP passes)??
Is the show elbow to elbow with people or fairly spread out??
Any must see exhibits/shows??

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Mods if you feel this should belong somewhere else please move it, I was not 100% sure where to put it.

The line for entry will get very long, but the doors don't open until 12PM so by 12:10 or so everyone is inside so it makes little difference in the big scheme of things.

The show is in a very large room so it is spread out, but it is a huge show and yes, it can be elbow to elbow.

Once you get in you will just be overwhelmed, so slow down and just go aisle by aisle and enjoy yourself. It's a good idea to review the show layout (Map, available at several places in the lobby and in your latest Blade Magazine) to locate the places you think you'd like to see first. This is a good way to pass time in line waiting to get in.

Enjoy, it sure won't be a wasted trip!

Paul

 

[Alann45]

How early should I get in line(I have 12pm Friday VIP passes)??

If there is some special item you just much have from a maker, get there very early to be in line. By 12, the line is quite long.
If not, no reason to rush to stand in a long line. It pretty much is gone by 12:10 or so.

Is the show elbow to elbow with people or fairly spread out??

Its very well layed out. On Friday, I never felt crowded at all.
Of course there are exceptions. The large Busse area was about 4 or 5 deep most of the time.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Download and print a copy of the show/booth flooplan (or this months Blade has a copy in it) and go over the exhibitor list marking any folks you espcecially want to see.
Wear comfortable shoes!!
Take you time and enjoy.

 

[chickenplucker]

Just be aware. The VIP pass that you have normally means that you still have to stand in line to buy your discounted 3 day pass. Then you get in line to wait for the doors to open.

 

[Triton]

I guess I've never understood the waiting in line thing. As has been mentioned the line is gone after the first ten minutes or so. If you are first in line will you really get to a particular makers table first to buy that coveted item? It seems unlikely, the really coveted items already were purchased by dealers and other people "helping set up" long before the show opened. The exception might be the Busse table where people line up so they can get this or that thing whenever it is unpacked, usually with a bunch of loud carrying one. There's no harm waiting in line, but no real benefit either as far as I can tell. To each his own.

 

[JDieseljoe69]

Just be aware. The VIP pass that you have normally means that you still have to stand in line to buy your discounted 3 day pass. Then you get in line to wait for the doors to open.

chickenplucker, thanks for the info, I was not 100% sure how they worked. The pass says to submit it with $10 at the admissions counter of the show-any info or help on that one would be appreciated.

I guess I've never understood the waiting in line thing. As has been mentioned the line is gone after the first ten minutes or so. If you are first in line will you really get to a particular makers table first to buy that coveted item?

Triton, I am with you, I think I just might wait a few minutes while the line clears, then head in. There is only one hard to find knife I am after, funny it is from one of my local makers. He only makes a few knives every year.
Any other help is greatly appreciated!!

 

[tacmedic909]

YOU WILL HAVE A GREAT TIME OVERALL....but....you can and probably meet the rudest pple. It will be nothing but asses and elbows through the show(at times). For the most part people will courteous and polite but like gun shows and other events there will be those that can ruin it for you but don't let them, lol. The Emerson and Strider tables are always busy and packed with hundreds of pple throughout the day so be patient. Good luck and congrats for being able to make it this year!

 

[JDieseljoe69]

tacmedic, Thanks, I am sure I will have fun!! I figured there will be few rogue rude people but I am going to assume most will be as friendly as can be. I have been wanting to go to a Blade Show for well over 15 years now, I finally found some suckers to drag with me