7 Tips for bead shows

I just recently went to a bead show near-by and found lots of goodies. I bought lampwork beads, pearls, dagger beads, geo stone pendants and a spring time colored mix kit that had oodles of random but color coordinated stuff. The people were just fantastic and even those I was pushed out of the way a few times by another avid beader who was blinded by all of the sparkling goodies, I still had a wonderful time.

Bead shows are some of the best times to meet other people, get to know their work and the artistic minds behind them. I met a wonderful lady who does lampwork who was just as much of an artist as Van Gogh. She was just so proud of her work that you can tell this was a real passion for her. I shared the same passion with making beaded things which is why I share with all of you. See how the circle of desire, of love for art, of unbridled passion works? (My husband is now laughing as he finishes reading that sentence. For shame, get your mind out of the gutter!)

Anyway, I’d like to give you some pointers on bead shows and how to find the pearl in the oyster so to speak?

1) Browse. This is the hardest to do first thing walking through the door. If the show is fairly small, like the one I went to, this will be easier to do. It the show is large, good luck.
I say to browse because it gives you an idea of who is selling what and what attracts your attention. Make note of the booths you want to come back to. Start on the outside of the show, work your way around and then dive into the middle. (Seems to be grocery shopping is done the same way….) If something catches your eye, don’t be afraid to stop and look, ask questions, and if it is something largely unusual or one-of-a-kind buy it. If it’s common things, dagger beads or seed bead, the what-not, keep browsing.

2) Compare prices. I bought some dagger beads because I thought they looked unusual. Wouldn’t you know it? I didn’t finish browsing first and I found someone else selling the exact same thing! Luck for me I spent $6.50 and the other booth was selling it for $9.50. Compare, compare, compare!!

3) Fondle the beads. (my husband is laughing again) You can not know the quality of the beads until you handle them. This will also help you understand the quality, heft, and see if there are any broken beads hidden amongst the gems. If for any reason the person selling the beads do not want you to touch the beads then you don’t want to buy them. They are obviously trying to hide the fact that there is something wrong with their beads; most likely the quality is cheep and the price too high. But don’t fret my avid readers, most bead sellers are just as much in love with beads and you and I.

4) Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I know that in a bead show sometimes the price is not on every strand of beads or the price card fell off someplace, so you have to be loud and get the sellers attention. I asked several times the price of things and gently put the beads back saying “beautiful but too much for me”. The seller is there to answer your questions. Yes, even the dumb ones. If they don’t know the answer, that’s ok. You just email me and I’ll get the answer for you.

5) Look for the odd, unusual and the one-of-a-kind. Unless you have a project in mind and you’re picking out the colors, find the things that you can’t find online. I am personally a gleaner and a grab bag grabber. I know that if I get the odd things then I can go online or to a bead store to get the beads to go with it. Bead shows are perfect or the odd stuff.

6) Look for deals on the everyday things. Bead shows will always have someone with a good sale. One booth I bought from was selling fresh water pearls for 3 dollars a strand. Hot dog I was all over it. If I used pearls a lot I probably would have spent a good portion of my bead money on them, but I restrained myself.

7) Enjoy the purchases you make! I know that when I leave I always think back to what I looked at and wished I could have gotten them too. But in the end I know I made the best choices for me and know that there will be other bead shows.

Have a beady day!