Prepping for The National

Our biggest event of the year is next week, so let's chat about plans and tips for ensuring your time in Rosemont is as fruitful as possible. It can get overwhelming quickly, so being prepared will help you have the best National possible.

Comment with your tips and tricks for the community. And hit me up on IG if you'll be there. Love meeting folks IRL.

Before the Event

• Show info

  • Download the official Ludex app

  • Know where and when to pick up your entry passes

  • Know the floor layout, including the 2nd floor

  • Find your favorite dealers and favorite their location in the app

  • Clarify show hours, as well as hours and locations of trade nights

• What do you want to buy?

  • Create a list of the specific cards you want to buy and price them out

    • Understand the current comps, as well as the range in which you're comfortable spend. This clarity will make negotiations much smoother.

    • Keeping a bulleted list in a note on your phone is the easiest way to access and maintain your list during the show.

  • There is no show on the planet that has the diverse selection of cards like The National. If it exists, it'll be at The National, so dream big knowing you'll most likely be able to find whatever you want there.

• What are you bringing to trade/sell?

  • While most folks go to shows to buy from dealers, there are also folks who bring their cards to sell and/or trade. Remember that you'll be walking a ton and that you'll need to carry those cards all day and night, so be selective on what you bring. Make sure the cards are worth the hassle.

  • Price your cards

    • Nobody likes sitting around waiting for others to comp their cards, so handle this before the show so you know what you've got.

• Bring supplies

  • Seems simple, but bringing your own penny sleeves, top loaders, team bags, sticky notes will help keep the cards you buy/rip safe throughout the show.

  • Bring an external battery to charge your phone or devices. If you need power chords to charge, bring those too.

  • Having your own snacks, water bottles, extra pair of socks, hand sanitizer, etc. will help you maximize your time at the show.

• Sign up for athlete autographs

  • There is a huge selection of players from all sports who sign autographs inside the autograph pavilion, so take a look at who will be there and buy a ticket for your favorite signer(s).

    

    Kyle Tucker & Xennial

  • Buy a card of player(s) to have them sign

    • Find a card that you like the look of and that exemplifies who that player is to you. For example, I'm getting Pedro Martinez's auto this year, so I picked up his first Upper Deck card. Simple, cheap, but he looks so fresh and young, and talking about him being a Dodger will make for good fodder when I'm showing family and friends after the show.

      

• Bring unused redemptions

  • Topps and Panini offer black box exchanges for unsubmitted redemption cards.

  • Normally you need to schedule time with them before the show, so check each company's details to see if you can get one or more of these at the show.

• Make plans with friends

  • Seeing your online friends IRL is the best part of the National along with the cards, so figure out who you know that will be there and make plans to connect at some point. It's a hectic week, so carve out time beforehand to see your favorite people.

  • Reserve tables at restaurants near the Donald E Stephens Convention Center (DES) like Gibson's for lunch, happy hour, or dinner to ensure you have a place to connect with friends outside of the show.

At the Show

• Get there early. Lines to get your passes get crazy, and the line to get into the show can stretch out to the street.

  • FYI VIP has different pickup times and locations, so know where you need to go.

• Take your time, it can be overwhelming.

  • Don't spend all your money right away. Know your budget and make sure it'll last however long you'll be at the show.

  • Yet, if you see something important for your PC, grab it. It'll be gone if you leave and come back

• Wear deodorant, please.

  • IYKYK

• Remember where you saw cards and take pics of the table/number.

  • You'll forget real quick if you don't.

• Bring water, snacks, comfortable shoes, change of socks, etc.

  • A backpack works great to carry your non-card stuff, as well as any larger card/mem items you pick up during the day.

• Drop off your PSA submission asap. The lines get long quickly.

• Sealed wax wrapper redemption

  • Each manufacturer offers special show-only packs in exchange for sealed boxes of certain brands/products. Whether you buy it at the show or bring it with you, you can present your sealed wax to the company and they'll give you a silver pack for each box.

  • TBD on what those products will be this year, but find out as soon as you get to the show.

  • The lines to exchange get long very quickly, so find out what time each company begins exchanging and plan to get in line as close to that time as possible.

  • UPDATE: Topps has ended its wrapper redemption program, but sounds like they will be selling the National packs without redemption. We'll see how this goes.

    

• Say hi to influencers

  • They're normal people just like you and me, and they normally love meeting other collectors, so go up and introduce yourself.

    

    King of the Kards & Xennial

• Explore brand activations

  • So many brands do so many cool things on the show floor, so save time to take part in all of the fun activations. They usually come with free cards/supplies 😉

    

    Courtyard.io spin and win

• Trade nights

  • The official trade nights are big and fun, but the hotel lobby trade nights are where the big deals are made

• Take pictures/videos

  • Even if you're not a content creator, preserve your memories. Who knows, your friends and family might actually care about our hobby. Maybe. Some day.

• Take a break and enjoy Chicago

  • Aside from the best card show on the planet, Chicago is also a decent city to explore (sarcasm).

    • Hit up a Cubs or White Sox game

      • Yankees at White Sox: Mon-Thur

      • Yankees at Cubs: Fri-Sun

    • Spend a night at Lollapalooza, which is happening this same weekend

    • Eat, eat, eat.

      • Italian beefs, deep dish or tavern pizza, etc. Chicago is one of the best food towns in the world, so make the most of it while you're there.

After the Events

• Record your pickups and sales

  • Not only for potential tax reasons, it's good to understand the financial and PC changes made at the show.

• Follow-up with your new contacts

  • Send a quick DM on IG to help ensure you stay connected with folks you met at the show.

    • Don't wait too long. That memory of yours and theirs ain't as strong as it used to be.

• Reserve your hotel for next year asap

  • Trust, if you want a room walkable to the DES center next year, you need to book it stat.

  • The show is always the last week of July, so no need to wait for dates.

Hope that helps those who need it. The National is such an incredible and exhausting experience, so the more you plan the better it'll be. Let us all know if you have any other tips or tricks for the rest of the community.

Thanks and see y'all soon!

Xennial/Craig