Worry less about what you are going to buy, and more about who you are going to meet, see, befriend, and spend time with. This hobby is full of great guys, and the Chicago Show is one of only three of four events (along with the December London Show, the West Coaster and the New York Symposium) where you get a chance to meet or visit with just about everybody. Just to give you a short "who's who" of attendees:
Manufacturers:
Andy Neilson, Gordon Neilson & Helen Mock Sergeant of King & Country;
Rick Wang of Figarti and the Figarti team (which sometimes included his wonderful dad, health permitting);
John Jenkins of John Jenkins Designs;
Gerard Prime of Frontline;
Thor of Aeroart St. Petersburg;
Richard Conte of Conte Collectibles;
The Honour Bound Team;
The Britains Team.
Dealers/Distributors:
Pete & Shannon Reuss of Treefrog treasures;
Mike, Tony, Bob, Sue Neville and Dispatch Dave of King & Country, UK;
Clive Gande of Greygoose Collectibles (Figarti's European Distributor & my personal bodyguard - its a long story, I'll tell you at the show);
Fred Gennard of Toy Soldiers Paris & his friend Thierry Dez;
Matt Murphy & the Hobby Bunker team;
George Guerrerro & his dad from Minutemen Toy Soldiers;
Tim Tyler from Troops of Time;
Bill Sager from Sager's Toy Soldiers;
Craig 'Bubba" McClean & the Old Toy Soldier Home team;
Paul Hermann of the Toy Soldier Shoppe.
The above are a far from exhaustive list, and there are a ton of great collectors, many of who are treefroggers, who attend. Get into the rooms of the above manufacturers and dealers. Talk to them, get to know them as people, and you will have an amazing time!
