Attending My First Show - Young Kid on the Block
As a novice marble collector, for a bit over a year, I've been anticipating my first convention/show for a while. But as the event draws closer, I can't help feeling anxious. I’ve been to many collector-focused shows before, from fossils to shoes, but I’ve always gone with little intention past ogling some goodies and growing my collection. This event I have many goals and desires further than just perusing or purchasing goods, of course it will still be fun to explore some cool mibs!
There are a number of questions that I am eager to pester both vendors and visitors with:
- How long have you been collecting?
- Where do you connect with other enthusiasts other than shows?
- How often do you attend shows?
- What resources do you use to learn from?
- Is there any online marble content you engage with? (YT, forums, etc.)
- What are your favorite supplemental marble items?
- How do you transport your marbles to shows?
- What are your favorite marbles?
- What is your favorite marble story?
It’s no secret that the established demographic of marble collectors is aging, and it is up to us younger generations to continue carrying the torch. For decades, devoted marble historians have sleuthed newspaper archives, compiled resources, and published books - and while there are a number of internet resources that aid new collectors, they seem lacking in both their formatting and depth. Spend a few hours on the login protected forums and you’ll soon realize that probably less than 1% of the vast world of marbles is archived on the easily found public sites.
While the Mid MO show is smaller in comparison to others around the country, I hope that there is at least one person that I meet with a connection to the established online sites or forums. Even though my posting has been anonymous and still in its infancy, I hope that the work I have produced thus far provides a sense of credibility and inspires others to see how marbles can adapt in the modern technological landscape. I would love to meet an owner of an online marble publication and agree upon a project that I could produce to show the value of modernizing content.
Attending my first show is sure to be a significant milestone for me and the MetaMibs project. It's a chance to immerse myself in the culture of marble collecting and see firsthand how it all works. I'm excited to see how the vendors set up their booths, how the collectors interact with each other, and how the overall atmosphere feels. I can't wait to hear about collections, favorite marbles, and the stories behind them. I know that being surrounded by people who share my love for marbles will be an unforgettable experience that’s guaranteed to inspire me as I continue to grow the MetaMibs project!