By Karine Hains, Editor-in-Chief

As hobbyist and collectors, we all love to attend card shows. Unfortunately, for some people, the opportunities are far and few… One thing is for certain however each and every collector would love to attend the National Sports Collector Convention, which is held in Cleveland, Ohio from the 29th July to the 2nd August 2009 this year. When attending a card show, there are a few things that everyone should remember…

1. Know your audience

If you intend not only to buy but also possibly to trade and sell at the show, be aware of the geographical location of the event you are attending. In a local setting it is likely that cards of local favorites will be more in demand than out-of-towners. If the event is bigger and on a national scale, you might want to remember to bring your “A-grade” trade bait. Many dealers will already have plenty of bargain bins and will be unlikely to want to help you offload the cards you have been stuck with for a while.

2. Be Prepared

Whether you are a set-builder, a player or a team collector, know what you are looking for. Cary a want list with you so you can focus on those items you are in dire need of acquiring and are not completely sidetracked by the sheer volume of items on offer. If you are organized and know what you are looking for, it will be much easier for you to have a successful experience and not come out of the show feeling like you spent way too much money on things you might not have needed.

3. Take your time

When you buy an item on eBay you normally check the other listings to see if you are getting a good deal right? When you pull a great card and you want to trade it, you take the time to field through the many offers you receive don’t you? Well, acquiring new cards at a card show is exactly the same thing. Look around! If you find a card you need, make sure to check if another dealer has it for less. You wouldn’t want to buy an item only to find it $10 cheaper three tables further up…Although, use your judgement, if a card has an extremely low print run and you believe someone else could buy it before you have had the chance to return than by all means get it. The key is to use your common sense and to be able to get as much as you can for your money.

Of course, if your collection focuses on one of the “darlings of the hobby” you may need to move faster than if you are one of the very few to collect your player. It’s always a good idea to pay attention and see if other people are looking at the item you are interested it.

If you will be attending the show for multiple days, you may be able to get much better deals if you use your patience and wait until nearer the end of the event when dealers are looking to unload. A discount purchase means that you can make more purchases, surely that would be worth the wait.

This also applies to trading, if you are trying to unload some of your cards, see what else is out there before pulling the trigger on a deal.

4. Do not break the bank

Remember, this is a hobby! The goal is to enjoy yourself, not to come out filled with self-hatred. The best piece of personal collection can leave a sour taste in the mouth if bought when it shouldn’t have been. Know your limits, set yourself a budget and do your very best to respect it. If you really cannot, make up for it on your hobby investments in the next month or couple of months. After all, we are only human and sometimes, we just cannot resist the sight of a forever-desired card or piece of memorabilia.

5. Pick up some trade bait

If you have money left, it might be a good idea to pick up trade bait for the long trading months ahead before the next card show. You may also be aware that someone is missing a certain card for their set or that they have been after a specific card for a while, if you see it, pick it up! Helping each other out goes a long way in this hobby and they will remember your gesture. Of course, if we are talking about a massively expensive card, you might want to get in touch with them to confirm that they do indeed still need the card.

I hope this has been a helpful read for you and that you will have fun whichever card show you chose to attend…I know I will!