Chicago Show Information here (1 Viewer)

[Dimestores]

I am new at posting on the forum, as I didn't realize that a thread existed on the show. The wonderful Shannon opened my eyes and gave me a new password when I forgot the first one. After reading the thread from INDY, I thought I should provide some further information about the workings of the show. It sounds like many of you really know the ropes. Room trading was invented 30 years age after the very first show when we realized that most of the vendors never had time to see what each other had and therefore bought very little. Since most of us are just collectors selling off our excess, buying is more fun than selling. Things have grown considerably since then but I still think "buying is more fun than selling". As for timing, Wednesday night has some rooms open but most people who check in Wednesday are getting ready to open Thursday. Sometimes those arriving early on Thursday, find the rooms are not ready yet ( the Hotel does have to clean them) so they go shopping until they can check in, that works for everyone. Thursday night is a busy one and by Friday afternoon everyone is checked in and open. I do not control the hours of open rooms, I do ask that that the rooms don't open before 10 am and be closed by 10 pm, you can hang out behind the closed as long as you want, I ain't your mother. We do tend to congregate in the bar after hours. Saturday during the day things are usually pretty lively, but slow down around 4 pm, when we have the Show Hospitality Party. The vendors start to pack up after 6 pm so they can get things ready for the show on Sunday. There are usually 12 to 15 local vendors who do not set up in the hotel so there is more new stuff to see on Sunday. I encourage all the visitors to room trading to come to the Sunday Show, both for the new items that show up and to support the itself show with their admissions. Thanks for your support for the last 31 years, it has been fun for me and hope for all of you too.

 

[Shannon Reuss]

Welcome to the forum Don and thanks for all the great information!

 

[Sahara]

I am new at posting on the forum, as I didn't realize that a thread existed on the show. The wonderful Shannon opened my eyes and gave me a new password when I forgot the first one. After reading the thread from INDY, I thought I should provide some further information about the workings of the show. It sounds like many of you really know the ropes. Room trading was invented 30 years age after the very first show when we realized that most of the vendors never had time to see what each other had and therefore bought very little. Since most of us are just collectors selling off our excess, buying is more fun than selling. Things have grown considerably since then but I still think "buying is more fun than selling". As for timing, Wednesday night has some rooms open but most people who check in Wednesday are getting ready to open Thursday. Sometimes those arriving early on Thursday, find the rooms are not ready yet ( the Hotel does have to clean them) so they go shopping until they can check in, that works for everyone. Thursday night is a busy one and by Friday afternoon everyone is checked in and open. I do not control the hours of open rooms, I do ask that that the rooms don't open before 10 am and be closed by 10 pm, you can hang out behind the closed as long as you want, I ain't your mother. We do tend to congregate in the bar after hours. Saturday during the day things are usually pretty lively, but slow down around 4 pm, when we have the Show Hospitality Party. The vendors start to pack up after 6 pm so they can get things ready for the show on Sunday. There are usually 12 to 15 local vendors who do not set up in the hotel so there is more new stuff to see on Sunday. I encourage all the visitors to room trading to come to the Sunday Show, both for the new items that show up and to support the itself show with their admissions. Thanks for your support for the last 31 years, it has been fun for me and hope for all of you too.

I don't know if you are affiliated with the website or have any input into what goes onto the Chicago Toy Soldier info page but would it be at all possible for maps and a diretory of whos in what room# to be placed on the website so a copy can be printed off. Only reason I ask is because last time I attended the show all the directories and maps were gone and I was taking wild guesses at remembering who was in what room and floor?

 

[jazzeum]

I don't know if you are affiliated with the website or have any input into what goes onto the Chicago Toy Soldier info page but would it be at all possible for maps and a diretory of whos in what room# to be placed on the website so a copy can be printed off. Only reason I ask is because last time I attended the show all the directories and maps were gone and I was taking wild guesses at remembering who was in what room and floor?

Dimestores is Don Pielen and not much goes concerning the Chicago Show that he doesn't know about.

 

[Sahara]

Dimestores is Don Pielen and not much goes concerning the Chicago Show that he doesn't know about.

Well I really hope that he checks in on the forum sometime before the show so he could possibly put that request up on the site.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Chicago Hospitaller Knight Annual Party Figure...

I'm not going to the Chicago Show...

K&C is giving away a Hospitaller Knight Gift figure at their Annual Dinner Party to all the guest that attend...

I do collect all the K&C Knights/Saracens and would like this figure...

if anybody brings one of these figures home...I would like to buy it if you don't collect this series...

 

[em_linney]

First off, great show again this year! I have visited the Chicago Show about 6 times and always on Sunday. I've been aware of the "room trading" but don't really understand it. This thread helped but I still have questions. Is it for vendors only, or if I showed up on a Friday, can I just wander around to the various rooms and purchase product? or is it only for trading? Also noticed that this year there was a special auction, I believe on Saturday. That would have been fun to attend. Does that happen every year? What is the best source for hearing about those types of opportunities?

Again, great show, and thanks to the organizers, vendors, and manufacturers that make it so. An annual event that I always look forward to....only 363 days to 2013 OTSN!

 

[jazzeum]

As usual Don and everybody associated with OTSN did a great job so thanks to Don and all and already have my hotel reserved for next year.

Brad

 

[Steven Chong]

First off, great show again this year! I have visited the Chicago Show about 6 times and always on Sunday. I've been aware of the "room trading" but don't really understand it. This thread helped but I still have questions. Is it for vendors only, or if I showed up on a Friday, can I just wander around to the various rooms and purchase product? or is it only for trading? Also noticed that this year there was a special auction, I believe on Saturday. That would have been fun to attend. Does that happen every year? What is the best source for hearing about those types of opportunities?

Again, great show, and thanks to the organizers, vendors, and manufacturers that make it so. An annual event that I always look forward to....only 363 days to 2013 OTSN!

During room trading, which takes place mainly Thursday to Saturday with a few rooms open late Wednesday, many of the vendors display their wares in their rooms and sell to the public, so you can wander around the various rooms and purchase product. There are about 10 vendors who only attend the Sunday show and a few vendors who only sell from their rooms. I am not sure if your reference to a special auction was to the silent auction at the Customer Appreciation Dinner sponsored by three K&C dealers (Sierra Toy Soldier, Treefrog Treasures and Troops of Time) that was attended by Andy Neilson and Richard Walker. This was the first year that there was a silent auction and it was only open to the collectors who paid to attend this dinner. The websites of these three dealers mentioned there would be a silent auction at the dinner but not what would be offered. :smile2:

 

[kogu]

First off, great show again this year! I have visited the Chicago Show about 6 times and always on Sunday. I've been aware of the "room trading" but don't really understand it. This thread helped but I still have questions. Is it for vendors only, or if I showed up on a Friday, can I just wander around to the various rooms and purchase product? or is it only for trading? Also noticed that this year there was a special auction, I believe on Saturday. That would have been fun to attend. Does that happen every year? What is the best source for hearing about those types of opportunities?

Again, great show, and thanks to the organizers, vendors, and manufacturers that make it so. An annual event that I always look forward to....only 363 days to 2013 OTSN!

Hi em_linney,
although I did not make it to Chicago this year, I did attend a number of shows during previous years, and I can honestly say that the days prior to the main event on sunday, are the most exciting and fun-filled days. While roaming the two floors, each with many rooms, you have a chance to meet with a lot of fellow collectors, dealers and manufacturers in person. Plenty of chances to buy stuff, talking Toy Soldiers and getting close with the majority of "who's who" in the Toy Soldier World from around the globe.
The Chicago Toy Soldier Show is truly one of a kind. The main event on the sunday is spectacular simply due to it's size and the number of dealers who are attending.
But for me, the days prior to the show, the room trading, starting partially as early as wednesday night, and getting up to the full amount during thursday through saturday, that is the real thrill of the event.
If you get there, say on thursday, you will have the possibility of 4 days, 96 hours, of experiencing, talking, seeing, negotiating and admiring, breathing ^&grin, nothing else but Toy Soldiers.
After enjoying that for a few years, and with the participation on this forum, it even gets better, 'cause beside the total Toy Soldier experience you will be looking forward to meet with fellow collectors and friends you made within your hobby.
I very much want to encourage you to check out the room trading next year.
This year I didn't make it, but next year I will be there again and I am very much looking forward to it.
Konrad