How Do You Feel About Exhibiting?

Does skinny dipping count?

LOL, KGB. Not at my age.

Seriously, there might be another choice like "never exhibited but might try when I have gathered sufficient knowledge and experience about an appropriate subject area".

I am far from that point right now, but I enjoyed immensely the exhibits that were shown at the recent APS show and can only imagine the work, diligence and patience required to acquire the knowledge behind and design of such exhibits. Not sure that I would call exhibitors more serious in general than other collectors, but they are for sure very serious about their particular area of expertise and interest.

perhaps dedicated?

I think there is a certain amount of ego in winning a ribbon

There really needs to be a step between the first two items for someone who's an active exhibitor but not a judge.

If people never exibited anything we would not get to see neat stuff, I am spoiled living in MD because DC has so many museums and Baltimore can bring huge shows of collectables but even collections of things you would never collect are neat. I have seen small things a kid put together that look just as good as the stuff that worth millions when you consider what went into it

My wife and I refer to it as Chunky Dunking!

Didn't vote because you need to add something along the lines of...
"I'd like to but have no clue how to begin."

While I will never be able to afford material necessary to put together a top-flight exhibit, I do have some very nice items which I think would be enjoyed... if I knew what the heck to do with it!

Somewhere somehow I got the impression that, at least at some stamp shows, there was an opportunity for noncompetitive exhibits for those who are not inclined or do not have the material for competing for a ribbon or medal. Maybe one can seek out a lower level show or club meeting and try out an exhibit. The other attendees/members would probably love to see other folks' presentations of a specific area of collecting. Although I will probably never be able to attain the level of the exhibits at the APS shows, many of the exhibits piqued my curiosity and started me thinking about new areas to focus on.

Lamborghini's are really nice to look at and dream about, but I'll never own one. Same way with exhibit quality material for me I'm afraid.

I didn't vote either, for a related, if not quite the same, reason. I am actually working on an exhibit, so have some ideas about how to begin, but I am also unsure whether what I want to exhibit will be considered acceptable or not. I still have a way to go, and am in no big hurry to finish it. Maybe sometime next year I will look for a suitable venue to start with. Whether I exhibit it or not, I'm having fun preparing it.

I do wish there were more discussions here about exhibits and exhibiting, so I could learn more. I'm surprised there isn't a specific forum for discussions about exhibiting and exhibits.

Potential/interested exhibitors: Don't be intimidated or put-off by lack of knowledge and/or the potential cost of material.

1) There are resources for helping novice exhibitors. Probably the most important is the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors (AAPE, <http://www.aape.org>). At any of the 30 or so World Series of Philately (WSP) shows, there will be an AAPE discussion prior to the Judges' Feedback Forum (i.e., the Critique) that can provide assistance. Most judges and exhibitors are anxious to help, too. All that is really necessary is to ask for help and approach it with an inquiring mind.

2) It is not mandatory that an exhibit show expensive material. While it is true that many exhibits represent megabucks in the frames, it is realistically possible to assemble interesting exhibits that win high awards without breaking the bank. Much depends on the subject matter chosen. I have a Gold medal winning single-frame exhibit that has less than $750, perhaps less than $600 or so, in the frames. Also, having megabucks in the frames does not guarantee a high medal. The presentation of the material must be of high quality, too.

I first exhibited in 2000; it's the BEST philatelic decision I've ever made. I knew absolutely nothing when I started and learned as I went along. There are ups and downs, good days and bad days, elation and frustration. I've won all medal levels as well as a Certificate of Participation. Exhibiting isn't for everyone but I would certainly encourage anyone with even a modicum of interest to give it a shot.

I can't vote one the pole because there isn't a category that fits me. That being said I have never exhibited but that is mostly because I have not had time to put one together.

We have a few members of our club that have amazing exhibits and have multiple gold medals from various shows. I love to look at them and do hope to have the chance to put one together some day.

Dianne

Agree that there is a big jump between the top 2 items in the poll. I've been an active exhibitor for about 12 years [I have five different exhibits that have obtained gold medals at WSP shows, plus another that reached vermeil, two others at silver and a couple of other exhibits that have only been shown at the club level, including one that won that club's grand awards]. So fair to say I've more than tried it out. Although I'm eligible to apprentice as a judge, I haven't done it yet. [would like to, but professional and family commitments make it difficult].

On the subject of exhibiting: remember, the "rules" are for WSP shows. Club shows vary widely in their own criteria and rules, and many clubs are very open to anything [one of my local clubs has, or until recently had, a separate exhibiting award for the best exhibit using preprinted album pages]. In the alternative, don't let the rules constrain you, unless you're worried about medal levels. Some people exhibit for fun, for education, or for anything else, without regard to the judging manual.

The key to exhibiting is not expensive material, but instead two other things: 1) subject selection; and 2) knowing your material. Being able to show why something is unusual or difficult to acquire (this is NOT a synonym for expensive, though they frequently go together). The first is to pick a subject you can show fairly comprehensively in the space you have; the second is to show that you know the area and have identified the hard to find or rare material within it. Case in point - I have a one-frame exhibit of the Cleveland Streetcar R.P.O. It won a gold medal the first time out....but there is only one item in there that cost more than about $20. I've been lucky (and patient) enough to pick up some unusual uses of what are otherwise pretty common markings, and I have done the work to know what all the markings are and when they were used.

What is probably my next exhibit - intended for the club level - is a showing of stamps with designated first days of issue in Ohio - one cover for each stamp issue, each with a different cachet maker. That one's just for fun, but a show audience in Ohio might like it.

I agree with those who commend exhibitors for taking the time and hard work to assemble an exhibit. I have a lot of good material for the 1914-1926 Portuguese colonial Ceres issues that I consider to be of exhibit quality. My problems are multiple however. I have no interest in belonging to any clubs, which would be a good place to start out with exhibiting. All my existing material consists of singles and some multiples; no covers which would have to be acquired. Finally is the time issue to actually assemble the exhibit once everything is in hand. Right now, I really prefer to spend my time working on the collection itself.

As an aside, I just remembered that I did an exhibit for my senior year high school Latin class regarding mythology & mythological figures on stamps. But that was way back in the 1960s.

I don't exhibit, but exhibits are the primary reason I go to stamp shows. If you are interested in exhibiting, get the APS judging manual (it's online) and read it to get an idea what an exhibit entails and how it should be put together. Frankly , it isn't that difficult. I remember a BNAPS convention some years ago where an exhibitor was presented a novice award for first time exhibiting and then the Grand Award for his exhibit. In my own case, I get an urge to put an exhibit together every six months or so, get out the manual, read it, fall asleep on the couch, and I'm good for another six months when I repeat the process.