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WHAT: 52 Plus Joker's Annual Playing Card Collector's Convention

WHEN: (Wednesday) October 10th - (Saturday) October 13th, 2018

WHERE: Cleveland, OH (Holiday Inn Cleveland - Strongsville - 15471 Royalton Rd, Strongsville, OH 44136, USA

COST: $50 registration (includes your trading table) // $50 per person to attend banquet.

Meet legendary collectors & designers, hobnob with premier card manufacturers, and talk playing cards with other enthusiasts all night long while staying at the Holiday Inn Cleveland - Strongsville (8 miles from the Cleveland airport). The dates for our convention are Wednesday October 10th to Saturday October 13th, 2018.

Register For 52 Plus Joker's Annual Convention - Cleveland

While our schedule is not yet finalized, we expect to unveil the 2018 club deck and several others during the Expert Playing Card Co. reception, have exciting speakers, lots of trading, fun auctions, raffles, closing buffet banquet, etc. Schedule coming soon.

We have a terrific rate for our hotel - $105 per night for double occupancy (includes breakfast for 2)! The rate is vaild for all nights booked during the convention plus three nights on either side of those dates subject to availability. We also receive a 15% discount on all meals in the hotel (alcohol not included).

Complimentary WiFi available in the bedrooms & public spaces.
Complimentary airport shuttle service.
Complimentary area shuttle service.
Complimentary coffee in Lobby.
Complimentary fitness center.

We hope to see a record number of you at this great location this October

Here is the info for this year's convention. It appears this year they have lowered the convention fee to $50(has been $100). They are also adding Thursday back as a full day with a Wednesday evening orientation. Remember you do have to be a member to attend(unless you're attend as a guest with a member). Also, you will be among the first to see some new decks(including the club deck). I believe they unveil at least 5 a year now with most being able to be first purchased there.

I urge anyone here, that has attended a convention, to please post a comment about your experience. The club has been growing steadily over the last few years and we are always looking for new members.

Feel free to go to http://www.52plusjoker.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; to see all the benefits of membership and how to join.

This year I'm planning to attend!

Lotrek wrote:This year I'm planning to attend!

Awesome. Ive got to work My schedule out soon so that i can make it again. Definitely dont wanna miss another year.

Folks who have gone in previous years: are these conventions well attended by non-US-based vendors? I'm not a member currently and I don't know that I'd want to pay the membership and hotel fee just to see inventory I've already browsed online.

Being in Michigan, there's a realistic chance that I can attend the convention this year. I really wanted to go last year, but I changed jobs RIGHT when the convention was occurring, and paying for flights/etc was just too much.

TwoPieceFeed wrote:Being in Michigan, there's a realistic chance that I can attend the convention this year. I really wanted to go last year, but I changed jobs RIGHT when the convention was occurring, and paying for flights/etc was just too much.

I literally work in Erlanger, KY, so if I'd even been aware like six months ago the convention was a thing I probably would've gone. Now I have to decide if it's worth the airfare to go up to Cleveland? I dunno, man. I've seen the videos.

Merlebird wrote:Folks who have gone in previous years: are these conventions well attended by non-US-based vendors? I'm not a member currently and I don't know that I'd want to pay the membership and hotel fee just to see inventory I've already browsed online.

For the most part, the vendors are US based, but there are several overseas members that attend and there are a lot of decks available. Mostly what is available is members selling decks that they have. There are several presentations, a raffle, and you get first look at the decks being released at the convention. Then the final night we have a banquet. The food is always good.

Just a follow up - and I have not been since I hosted the 2014 convention here in Charleston but usually at least a few German, British and other Euro based people show up, and the speaker list typically includes one or more (just like last year and 2014).

Since Lotrek is going, I will be there to see my son pick up his Diamond Award for last year. We truly figured it would be going elsewhere, so it was a surprise!

I likely will be spending some time up in NYC with him and the wife, although currently no specific plans.

Hopefully we will have a good showing this year, and I usually have a meeting with the folks from our friendly playing card forum folks, too. At least we get together and get hammered and / or enjoy poker night if nothing else.

Merlebird, if you can get to the convention relatively easily (which sounds like to be the case seeing that you are in Erlanger), it is definitely not something to be missed! You will not only get to meet and hang out with a lot of the cool designers of today (last year I met Randy Butterfield, Alex Chin, Paul Carpenter, Jody Ekland, Lance Miller and Jackson Robinson), have first or only access to decks (I.e.Club Deck, EPCC new decks and Alex Chin's NPCCD Cabinet ... only 28 made) and a lot of antique and vintage decks at very reasonable prices.

Please note that the convention is not huge in any sense of the word and last year there were around 80 attendees, but it was a blast. A large majority of the attendees are older collectors and have a LOT of great vintage decks for sale as well as a TON of knowledge on the vintage and antique playing cards, but their knowledge of modern day cards is quite limited. We are trying to build up the membership as well as attendance, especially with more modern collectors.

If you are an avid collector, which I think you are based on your presence on this board, this is not an event to be missed. You will surely get your money's worth and more!

I hope to attend again this year, and if I do, I hope to see you there!

I'll be there this year! Hope to see you all in Cleveland.

Lotrek wrote:I'll be there this year! Hope to see you all in Cleveland.

This makes my attendance almost necessary.

Does anyone know if Mark Stutzman plans on attending (or has attended in the past)? I feel like JR, Paul Carpenter, and Mr. Chin will all likely be there. If I could meet all 5 of these guys in 1 visit, my life before 30 might be complete.

I would also 100% love to meet THE SWEDE Lorenzo. That feels like a pipe dream.

TwoPieceFeed wrote:I would also 100% love to meet THE SWEDE Lorenzo. That feels like a pipe dream.

Maybe if folks ask real nice he'll make it a stretch goal on his House of the Rising Spade campaign

I am a club member, but travel is just out of the question for awhile. I am glad that modern collectors are starting to build a presence at the convention and learn more about antique cards.

Coin collecting is big enough that there is a decent local convention and also some other good ones in Texas that I can attend, so I get the general idea.

Anyway, I imagine it would be great just to meet several of the designers in person, especially Lotrek all the way from Greece. Food and conversation with other playing card enthusiasts has to be great. I am sure those that go will have a wonderful time. Card trading and such would just be a bonus. If you can possible make it, you should go.

TwoPieceFeed wrote:

Lotrek wrote:I'll be there this year! Hope to see you all in Cleveland.

This makes my attendance almost necessary.

Does anyone know if Mark Stutzman plans on attending (or has attended in the past)? I feel like JR, Paul Carpenter, and Mr. Chin will all likely be there. If I could meet all 5 of these guys in 1 visit, my life before 30 might be complete.

I would also 100% love to meet THE SWEDE Lorenzo. That feels like a pipe dream.

Mark Stutzman was at the 2015 convention.

Alex Chin, Paul Carpenter, Jackson Robinson, Randy Butterfield are long time attendees. Jody Eklund was there last year. Several Bicycle representatives attend. Bill Kalush representing EPCC regularly attends.

I spent the first 18 years of my life trying to get out of Ohio, then joined the service and finally escaped. I keep saying I don't need to go back.....

But if Lotrek is going.....

I might just have to go. For nothing else but to give him my credit card to keep on file.

If Lorenzo should happen to say he's coming also.... Well, I might need another line of credit....

Haha, that was a good one, Spectre!

I for one have already booked tickets and room. I'll be there and I'll speak in the convention where I'll also present a new deck especially printed for the event Nothing fancy, just photocopied cards randomly thrown in a plastic bag.

Lotrek wrote:Haha, that was a good one, Spectre!

I for one have already booked tickets and room. I'll be there and I'll speak in the convention where I'll also present a new deck especially printed for the event Nothing fancy, just photocopied cards randomly thrown in a plastic bag.

I'm sure of the highest quality photocopies made available and in the best damn plastic bags 1€ can buy!

Geez, and i thought I was gonna be able to get away with no spending much this year.

Just booked my room for the Convention!

Ill wait till closer to the convention just in case something comes up.

Cbkimble wrote:Ill wait till closer to the convention just in case something comes up.

Same. I'm really hoping that I can make it work, financially and time-off-wise, but I'm skeptical.

So, I'm considering going to the convention this year, because I live in Cleveland... what are the pros and cons of attending? What should I be prepared to bring? What's it like? What should I expect?

intlgrrl wrote:So, I'm considering going to the convention this year, because I live in Cleveland... what are the pros and cons of attending? What should I be prepared to bring? What's it like? What should I expect?

If youre a member of 52plusjoker, go to the website and look at the itinerary. It may still be complete yet but that will give an idea of who the speakers will be and times what is going on. Most get together and chat a lot, especially after the doors close for the night. Games are played, prizes are given out during the raffle(including rooms for the night at the hotel), and there's a fun poker night where the prize is a paid night for the hotel.

Everyone is given table space for selling any decks you wanna sell or display some of your favorite decks.

Saturday night is the banquet which is amazing. They began last to have an awards ceremony. The food is always good and there is a silent auction that night.

A few designers that are there almost every year are Alex Chin, Paul Carpenter, Jackson Robinson, and Randy Butterfield. There are a few more that have been making an appearance over that last few years.

Overall it is a lot of fun and I recommend attending. Hope you'll go and have fun.

Well, looks like I'm not going to be able to attend after all. I had everything set up but life happens and things got out of whack.

Cbkimble, sorry to hear you won't make it. I'm getting things in order now to attend and was hoping to see/meet some of the people on here.

As it turns out, the weekend before there is a Red Bull air race in Indy that my wife and I will attend. Then the plan is to head over to Cleveland to finish the week. Airplanes and Playing Cards. That's my life....

Spectre wrote:Cbkimble, sorry to hear you won't make it. I'm getting things in order now to attend and was hoping to see/meet some of the people on here.

As it turns out, the weekend before there is a Red Bull air race in Indy that my wife and I will attend. Then the plan is to head over to Cleveland to finish the week. Airplanes and Playing Cards. That's my life....

A better life than most!

Sadly, it's looking more and more like I won't be able to attend this year.

I'll be there again this year

I have not been in a few years, but I will be in Cleveland (Strongsville). I hosted the 2014 convention here in Charleston.

I don't think that the final schedule has been posted, but I got this preliminary one from Steve Bowling (treasurer) when I paid my registration last night by PayPal.

Lotrek is doing speaker session #3 (Saturday afternoon at 2PM).

We'll have treats and treasures, likely at least one signed set available only at the convention, but almost all of us have Hundertjahrkarte restoration project sets - at least those of us who wanted one.

There's a great "Carolina Barbecue" restaurant not far from the hotel, and we will probably have a get together Thursday evening. Maybe have a combined jawbone session ad hoc sometime Saturday or Friday late - for us & the club website forums.
.

It is with great sadness that I have officially ruled out attending this year's 52 Plus Joker Convention.

Hey all,

I will be attending the 52 Plus Joker convention this year as well. Hope to see you all there.

Lance T. Miller