I wish there were more shows of a similar nature. The next one is two weeks from Saturday (tomorrow, the 5th), if you don't mind traveling over a couple of states.
TEXAS TREASURE SHOW 2011
Presented by
The Texas Council of Treasure Clubs, Inc.
March 19 -20, 2011
Lone Star Convention Center --- Conroe, Texas
If we rolled the clock, and calendar, back to the era from about 1975 thru 1990 or a few years later, we would have enjoyed a lot of activity related to this great sport. Many metal detecting related magazines available in most stores. Brisk growth in the detecting hobby with detectors sold all over the place. Not just in mass-market stores of the day, like Montgomery Wards and Sears, but coin shops, sporting good stores, gun shops, fishing shops, hardware stores, and then the countless number of good ol' metal detector shops, some also dealing in prospecting equipment.
There were far more people out on a regular basis metal detecting schools, parks, beaches, picnic and camp grounds, and out-of -the-way sites were also drawing a lot of attraction. There were several hundred metal detecting clubs across the USA, with a mast number of them hosting an annual Competition Hunt. Some of these were rather large get-togethers with hundreds of people present and many metal detector dealers. Even some of the bigger hunts had factory representation. Today, things are quite different.
Virtually no magazines in any quantity out there. Far fewer metal detecting clubs, and even a much smaller number of annual competition hunts. Today, we don't see the number of hobbyists out on a regular basis enjoying the hunt for coins in the typical public sites. Not as many metal detector manufacturers as we once saw, so many gatherings that are open to the public are really more limited. The Texas Council of Treasure Clubs might be one of the largest of its type. I'm sure there are a few more.
As mentioned, the GPAA does hold a number of 'Gold Shows' around the country and these do draw a number of dealers as well as manufacturer's reps. In California there is a GPAA show in Redding on 3/19 and 3/20, and if you drive north to Salem, Oregon I'll be working there in a month on 4/2 and 4/3.
I know that I've been working with associates of AHRPS.org to check into hosting some events in Oregon, Utah, and a couple of others states. The key ingredient is making sure we can get the support of major manufacturers, local metal detecting clubs, and any historical societies and agencies in those regions to help support such a large show. Right now it's a work in progress and we might get some arranged by late this year and do them into about May or so next year.
Just start cruising through some possibilities by checking with your computer. You might find some of interest to you.
Monte
