What is your "plan" for viewing coins on the bourse?

Longacre

During the last major show that I went to, I became quite "disoriented" when I tried to walk around the bourse floor and take a look at things. I am usually quite a methodical person, so I was not sure why that happened. I felt as though I was looking at the same cases and missing others. It was in NY, so I am not sure if the pushy New Yorkers, manhandling me as they jockeyed for position, was the cause. Does anyone have a method for making sure that you see everything, rather than wandering around aimlessly?

ms70

I bring a dayplanner type portfolio. In it is a calculator, my want list, price guides, and a note pad. I basically get a floor plan of the show (when available) and as I go around
the floor I jot down what I like & where it's located. I also write down the grade & price. Once I've gone around the entire floor I decide what I really want out of what I saw
and then go back to get it. If no floor plan is available I just draw a rough sketch & write in the name of the dealer.

Caution: I have had occasion where I've gone back to get something I decided on just to find it was bought!

RYK

I usually know specifically what dealers I want to visit. I check the floorplan and the table assignments and go to these tables first. Then, I wander around aimlessly and get shoved around by New Yorkers.

Don't forget to bring:

Your loupe
Water bottle
Comfortable clothes (especially shoes)
Price guides
Reference books (DW's book on NO gold, for example)
Paper/pencil, PalmPilot, or some other means for taking notes.
Your cell phone (so I can call you and get a live blow-by-blow report).

Do not bring:
Your Heritage catalog (they have them there and who wants to schlep around a telephone book, anyway?)

BillJones

I have certain dealers with whom I almost always do business at every show. I make a bee line to their tables so that I can get into the que to run their boxes. After I have hit all of those dealers, I have three or four of them, I branch out to the next level to people with whom I sometimes to do business. After that I have a general inspection to see what others might have. And yes, there are a few dealers whom I've found to be a complete waste of time, so I don't waste time on them at all.

AlaBill

My last show was a lot like Longacre's experience. I had one day only, spent most of my time with 2 dealers, and after getting home and reviewing the vendor list, realized there were at least 4 more I wanted to see.

My problem on retrospect, is I had NO PLAN. I wandered around, peered into cases, and wasted a bunch of time.

RYK... I forgot my loupe, had to buy one, forgot my reference material, had to do without, and had to chase refreshments from the area. Great ideas.

rays

I mainly wander aimlessly, but always stop first at Heritage for lot viewing.

dimples

At the last ANA show in NY I got flustered when Laura kept screaming " WANNABE" over and over as she ran around the bourse. I left quickly thinking she was a NY baglady.

LanLord

I know what you are talking about.

I suffer from sensory overload at every show I go to. I have a full plan prior to walking in the doors, but that goes out the window once l am there.

All I can say is, make a list, stick to your list. If you figure out how to do that, PM me with how you did it.