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03 June 2008

Ask Mecha Work Type Question So, say you are going to a gem and mineral show this weekend. When you get to the door, someone is going to hand you a guide to the show. Would you prefer this guide to be organized [More:]a) by location - a list of the dealers on each floor, b) just alphabetical or c) by what they sell, i.e., jewelry dealers in one section, minerals in another, etc.?

We've always done it by location and then alphabetically before but I'm kind of thinking about reorganizing it this year. While we're at it, bonus question! What would make YOU want to go to a gem & mineral show - and by show I mostly mean a conglomeration of people with a lot of shiny shit they want to sell you? The shit is very shiny though. It's fun just to wander around and be dazzled.
Hmm... I think that would depend on the number of dealers. Basically, the guide's got to cater to two different types of patrons - the browsers, who would probably like it sorted by what they sell, and the people looking for specific booths, who might like it either alphabetically or by what they sell.

I used to go to g&m shows with my parents all the time. They liked shows that weren't too big (say, the size of a stock show barn, rather than the size of a convention center), but still offered some variety. They also liked shows that had auctions and silent auctions.
posted by muddgirl 03 June | 09:18
I'd prefer all three. Say, a map, an alphabetical list and another list by category. If it can only be one, though, maybe the map.
posted by box 03 June | 09:30
I would like it by floor and then by what they sell, so I know if I am on the 2nd floor I can hit all of the silver booths (or whatever) before I move to the next floor.
In the back, maybe you could have an index that lists vendors alphabetically with their floor in parens next to the name.
posted by rmless2 03 June | 09:32
1. Organized by what they sell, with a number next to each vendor name, accompanied by a map with the number in the location of the vender.

2. What would make me want to go? The surprising new knowledge that they have jewelry at a mineral show! I thought those things were for rockhounds. I love gemstone jewelry and that might get me out there. A low price (or free) would help. The thing that would put it over the top for me is free demos and presentations - like, if I could learn how to tumble rocks and maybe take one home, how people cut gems, maybe make my own something-or-other at a station (something simple like beach glass earrings or something), an 'everday geology' walk around the neighborhood with a geologist who could make stuff like sidewalks and foundations seem interesting, some fun aspects like food made of crystals (rock candy, pretzels with kosher salt, drinks with lots of ice, snow cones, lollipops, margaritas [i wish]), Magic Rocks, have some live music and play up the pun in "rock" bands....
posted by Miko 03 June | 09:36
No, no, map not an option. Map too hard. Make head hurt. ;-) Text frames easy, simple! There are 25 dealers on two floors.

It has to be one 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper, 2 sided, b & w, copied right here in my office on our fancy schmancy laser copier printer thingie and folded into a nifty booklet. We - and I use the royal we, here - would vastly prefer there to be no insert, since an insert has to be, like, inserted. Done in InDesign, probably, or Illustrator.

Miko, you'll love it. We crack geodes & pan for gem stones right outside and there's a geology walk of downtown on Saturday morning.
posted by mygothlaundry 03 June | 09:39
By location and by what they sell.
To get me to go:
1) Free. I'd never ever pay to go to a show where you'd be buying something
2) Hands-on, interactive education. Exactly like what Miko said.
posted by Stewriffic 03 June | 10:03
By what they sell. Could be tricky, though, if some dealers fit into multiple categories. But unless I was a regular at one of these things, I could care less about where to find a particular dealer -- I'd just want to say "ooh, silver things -- I'll head over there."
posted by treepour 03 June | 11:01
What box said. Too bad a map isn't a possibility. Also, what Miko said - fun stuff for kids and adults. No entrance fee or really cheap since it's basically a sale.
posted by deborah 03 June | 15:25
Sounds fun!
posted by Miko 03 June | 17:20
I have been watching this a lot. || BUYER WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED,WHEN WILL YOU SEE ANOTHER LIKE THIS.

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