My First APS Stampshow

I will be attending my first APS stampshow next month in Columbus Ohio. I reviewed the program on the APS website and it looks to be a busy time. Numerous dealers, exhibits, and lectures. Would any one have advice so that I can get the most benefit from this event. Am I free to look at the exhibits at any time? Should I have a particular plan laid out ahead of time? Or just go, browse and enjoy?

Gcapmd,

It is hard to give real solid advice without knowing a bit about what you collect, your experience level or what interests you but I will try offer a few things to consider.

1. Depending on your expected days at the show, it might be fun to attend a first day ceremony. (noon on Thursday is the big Dragon stamp release). Yes you are free to view exhibits at any time. You may want to attend the exhibit tour with Ken Martin on Thursday. He is a great person and this will allow you get a quick overview so you can look in more detail later at specific items.

2. If you have never been to a live auction you may want to consider attending one of the evening auctions - you can check out the available material at any time during the day at the viewing area. They will have the full catalog available for reviewing to see if you find anything of interest.

3. You do need to prepare at least a little. Check the dealers list and identify a few of them that might specialize in things that are of interest to you. Example do you like covers vs stamps or are you interested in specific countries or regional areas or stamps with themes. Have your floor map handy and mark off dealers as you visit them and highlight ones that might have been too busy but you want to go back to. If you have collected long enough to have developed a wish list make sure it is current so you don't end up with duplicates.

4. Have at least a few things planned each day but don't be shy to just walk around and visit. Ask questions, the people are there to help you but they will need to know your interests to help.

5. Stop by the APS both - they always have things to look at and they can answer most any question. Consider stopping by some of the society booths to learn about them and see if you want to join any groups. Most of of them will have introductory fliers explaining what they are about.

6. Take cards from dealers/societies you like and maybe write notes on the back of them to help remind you of things they showed you or things you want to look into.

Don't forget to consider books or catalogs that might help you learn more details - getting deeper in to certain areas often requires key literature or on-line references to help increase knowledge and enjoyment.

Bottom line - Have fun, find something that interests you and dig in.

Hope this helps

Thanks for the advice. I collect U.S. and have been doing so since the early 1970's. Mainly mint but used material as well. I have an interest in some of the issues from Great Britain and Israel only on a subject or topical basis. I did check the dealer list out to see who might have some of the material I would have an interest in. I am checking the map to familiarize my self with the floor plan and layout. I did not think about going to the APS booth, that is a very good idea.

There are several reasons to go to a show:

1. Look at exhibits
2. Buy from dealers, USPS, auctions, or from society booths
3. Educational - seminars
4. Social - usually done by society meetings with similar interests

If you go to attend seminars, please sure to check the agenda of times/places. You can just drop into most meetings to listen. APS has a general member meeting and there is a first day ceremony.

That is good to know that I can drop in to a meeting as I did not know the correct protocol. I am sure there will be crowds so I plan to arrive early. Living in Cincinnati, it will be easy to do

Gcapmd,

Another thought, if you have not already done so you should go ahead and pre-register for the show on-line. It will save you time filling out forms at the show and they will have a bag of goodies for you when you arrive. Look for the pre-registration signs upon arrival.

As for protocol - almost all the meetings I have ever attended are short on protocol, introduce yourself and enjoy the people. They are there because they want to have fun as well. Do check as some of the meetings are marked members only and may be official business related. The APS meeting on Saturday morning at 9 is open to anyone and you will get to see some key leaders of the group. Somewhat structured at the start in terms of updates from various departments but then gets into some awards and Q&A which can be fun. Since it starts before the show/dealer floor opens it is a good way to spend the morning and if you get board you can leave at any time as people come and go as needed. If you arrive a bit early you can grab a seat close to the doors on the end - lets you see those who come in and allows for a simple exit if needed.

Enjoy the show.

I live in Columbus so if the OP or anyone has questions about the show and/or Columbus in general, please post here and I will try to help as best I can.

The information that APS has on its website though is pretty comprehensive on the show itself. https://stamps.org/StampShow-SS

Going to be a fun show...I go back to work on July 15th but I had already scheduled show week off as a vacation week before I left for medical leave so I will be free that entire week and hope to be able to go to the show each day.

DJCMHOH - I went to Columbus a few times about 15 years ago when my young son was attending a gaming convention, but have not been back since. I bided my time visiting the nice art museum, the state capitol and attending a MLS game. Just curious if there are any new attractions or other notable places to visit either in the city or no more than a few hours outside, since I will have access to a car. Not so much interested in whatever the trendiest restaurants or night spots would be versus things to do to take a break during the day. Thanks.

"a few hours outside" of Columbus puts the entire state of Ohio in reach. The National Museum of the United States Air Force (at Wright-Patterson AFB, just outside of Dayton) is perhaps of particular note.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland is also something you won't find elsewhere, and Cleveland's art museum is world class (in terms of quality, though not size) and free admission.

Gcapmd!

I hope you have a great time at the show. One of the areas I've always set a good deal of time aside for was the exhibits. You get to see some really great material and dream about "Maybe one day...."

Again, welcome to the Forum!

I guess I meant a few hours round trip so I don't spend half the day in the car. Thanks.

Oracle - the Columbus Zoo on the NW side of the metro area is always a good way to spend a day (especially if you have children, but even just by yourself so much to see), of course it is ranked one of the best zoos in the USA due to the tireless work over the years by Jack Hanna. Probably about 30 min drive from downtown just off the NW edge of the main outer expressway (I-270).

There has been quite a lot of development in the downtown area in the past decade, a lot of gentrification and preservation efforts have been taken, and areas such as Victorian Village, the Short North, German Village and the Arena district are all quite nice areas to visit, while the shoreline area along the Scioto River has been turned into a beautiful park area. Tours of the Ohio State Campus are also popular.

And then if anyone has the shopping bug, Columbus has one of the first "outdoor village" concept type malls built in the USA in the Easton complex on the NE side of the metro area. Lots of great shops and restaurants and very nice just to walk around and window shop.

The Experience Columbus webpage is a great resource for visitors to the metro area to get ideas of things to see and do while in the city. https://www.experiencecolumbus.com

One thing that will NOT be going on at the same time as the show, however, is the Ohio State Fair, which ends on 5th August.

Where is the information about the stamp auction that will be at this show ?

Good question, a Harmer Schau auction is listed on the show schedule, but I don't see anything else on the APS website, SAN, or the Harmer Schau website. And we're 3-4 weeks away give or take.

Thank you very much for the information, DJCMHOH, forgot about Jack Hanna and his involvement with the zoo.

Have a plan, but be prepared to be flexible. The one thing you really need to plan in advance is if there are things you want to shop for. Not having a want list and not having an idea of what you would be willing to pay is not the way to go.

The Harmer-Schau auction will be up on its web site (harmerschau.com without the hyphen) some time next week.