Warning: Verbal diarrhea ahead. Feel free to move on with your lives 
It’s one thing to share a passion with others online. You can interact with images, videos, emojis, and commentary. It’s super cool and super convenient. It’s another thing to meet these people in person. Not only will adding the human element enhance your appreciation for the hobby, it will strengthen your ties with other collectors and creators. These are real people and you get to see them, more or less, unfiltered.
I had a bit of anxiety going into the welcome dinner and that quickly melted away as I got to shake hands or bump fists with a lot of living legends.
The second day started with the jaw-dropping spectacle of the trade floor. Rows upon rows of card tables, covered in everything from vintage decks that date back to the 19th century, to some brand new releases just launching on Kickstarter. The trading floor was part sales floor, part game hall, part history lesson, and part afterparty through every day of the convention. The vibe was electric. It was a great opportunity to share the gems in your collection with collectors who would undoubtedly appreciate them while trying to find a price you can’t say “no” to, even when you said you weren’t selling
Most serious collectors would already have the decks I would bring to show off, so I made the choice to bring my mini deck collection to share some decks maybe others haven’t seen (and perhaps find more for myself). I also brought my collector’s coins to showcase how popular the card accessories category has become.
Throughout each day there were several presentations that related to our hobby in fun ways. The topics were fascinating and presented by people who were informative and engaging. The highlight of the breakout sessions would have to be the club deck reveal. Not only was the presentation flawless, but Elettra Deganello (the designer) was there to meet everyone all the way from Italy! It was an honor to meet someone I have admired for so long. We also got to hear from Judy Dawson who founded the club alongside her late husband, Tom. I was saddened to learn this will be her last convention, but I was truly blessed to hear her speak and I got several opportunities to chat with her one-on-one. She is charming, hilarious, mischievous, and so passionate about the club she calls her second family.
The convention came to a close with and incredible banquet and the Diamond Award winners (congrats to Lorenzo and Marianne!). The event was a red carpet affair, complete with paparazzi and red carpet interviews. Once I said goodbye after the banquet, I felt very fulfilled and like I was part of something truly special. I was especially impressed with all of the moving parts and how smoothly the entire convention went. Special shout-out to Keith for his A/V expertise and to Chris Mayhew for taking countless photos for the archive.
I also wanted to touch on some of the people you will meet, should you find a way to attend in the future. First of all, you should make a bee-line for Lee Asher, your faithful president of 52+Joker. He’s engaging, passionate and eager to meet new faces and old. Then you need to look for the members who serve as the “glue” of the convention. These are the people taking the time to say hello and interact with everyone there. They bring people together by the sheer gravity of their presence and serve as the heart of the club. Along with Lee, that would include Sherman Tsao, Emily Sleights, and Rosemary Reid, just to name a few. If you are looking for a history lesson, be sure to swing by Kevan Seaney's table or take a look at the World Class Playing Cards insanity. There were so many designers in attendance as well, and it was awesome to be able to see them interact with fans of their work.
There were dozens more collectors and creators I got to meet and I will remember this experience for many years. There are too many to list here, but it meant a great deal to connect in person and I look forward to the future of our hobby as we watch together.
In closing, do yourself a favor and attend the convention. I guess I could have just said that and saved the time you will never get back. Bwahahaha
P.S. If you and I met at the convention and we didn’t exchange Instagram info, send me a message so we can stay connected! You can find me there @baconwise
@playingcardophile
