Looking for everyone's opinion on the best bead show to go to. I am looking for the largest selection, best pricing, etc... I have done local shows but I am willing to travel anywhere in the US.
What are your suggestions?
Thanks!

Although I haven't been to many bead shows, I'm a huge fan, and regular attender, of the Bead & Button show at the midwest Airlines Center in downtown Milwaukee. It's huge, and it lasts a week. It will be from June 12-19, 2005. There are a variety of classes and workshops for beginners, as well as for individuals interested in learning advanced techniques.
I know this may sound like an advertisement, but the Bead & Button show was the one that sucked me into the world of beading. If you are able, check it out.

I've been told you must sell your first born or second mortagage your house for the February show in Tuscon, AZ. But I haven't been to a show yet, so YMMV.

If you're strictly looking to buy beads, I think the Rings and Things Trunk Show is the best. It's nothing flashy, but very organized -- it's a hotel conference room with a ton of tables set up that are all loaded with beads. They have almost every kind of bead you can imagine and their prices are great. Plus, there's no admission fee.

I've been to a few other shows that feature a bunch of different vendors, but I'm not crazy about them because there's too much finished stuff and the prices are crazy, plus they charge an admission fee.

I guess it all comes down to what you're looking for in a bead show though.

Any show I can spend lots of money at[:D]
I do like the Whole bead show www.wholebead.com and Intergem www.intergem.com but you have to wade through the increasing amount of finished stuff to get to the beads at intergem. These are the only ones local enough to me but I'm hoping to hit up the Bead and Button show next summer.

The Rings & Things trunk shows might be cool, but their shows tend to be wholesale only, and you have to provide a business ID or something like that.

Some of us are in this strictly as a hobby, and buy things retail.

I like gem faires because they have good prices on things, and not too much finished stuff. At the last one I attended, I found pearls for $1 per 16" strand. They measured about 3-4mm.

I've never been before, however, the Bay Area Bead Extravaganza is this weekend in Oakland, and I'm going to go to that.

I went to the Whole Bead Show in July, and it was OK. It's coming to my area in December, but I think I'll avoid it because it's supposed to be SMALLER than the one in July.

One where they give the beads to you for free!

Hi Beadsncats!

As you can see from the answers so far, a lot depends on what you need.

Are you buying for resale or as a hobby?
Are you looking for cheap beads or low prices on good beads?
Glass or gemstone? Basemetal or sterling? India silver or Bali silver?
Seedbeads by the tube or by the Kilo?
What's your volume? Single strands, dozens of strands, hundreds of strands of the same bead?

Tucson is some 30 different shows and venues over a 3 week period. Retail, wholesale, finsihed goods, vendors from China, Russia, India, Poland, as well as all over the US. See http://www.tucsonshowguide.com/tsg/

My trunk shows are great for hand picking gem stone beads. But there are a lot of beads we don't carry. Give us a little more info about what kinds of beads you want. Maybe more of us will jump in with our favorite shows.

Hi,
I'm a new member. I'm will be attending my first show this weekend. Just to buy and observe. I'm too new to do anything else. Will anyone be selling or going to the Arlingtion Park Racetrack Craft show this weekend?

[8)] Newbie Lisa

Rings and Things is cool because you actually get to see what you're buying and the prices are good. =) Gem Faire is fun, but the senses get overwhelmed and you want buy everything you see. There isn't much in So Cal... I wish the Swarovski show would come to LA or OC. Or Bead and Button. =P

Thanks to all who have responded!

I am still in the "hobby" mode but may want to take it to the next level in the next year or so. So I am looking for shows that have a good variety of beads and findings at reasonable prices. I would prefer to buy at a show rather than thru catalogs. I like to touch and feel what I am buying!
I am mostly looking for Bali silver, charms, nice ( reasonable) glass beads.
Is the Tuscon show or the Bead and Button show too much to handle, or is it a better place to get better prices. Or should I stick to the catalogs and internet?

Beads-n-cats

Thanks for clarifying your mode, Beads-n-cats!

I think Bead and Button show or Bead Expo (In Miami this year) would be good for you. Less finished product booths than at Intergem or Bead Faire yet a great variety of of the products you list.

Tucson would be a wonderful experience but with 30 different venues over 3 weeks it is overwhelming. http://www.tucsonshowguide.com/tsg/ to see the listings. Bead and Button and Bead Expo are managable shows even for a one day visit. (2 or 3 days is better. Both offer classes.)

Originally posted by BeadDragoness There isn't much in So Cal... I Yeah- what is up with this?? L.A. is almost completely bereft of bead shows! The bead mags have all those enticing ads for shows, but there's never an L.A. date listed. Gem Faire and Bead Faire come through and Whole Bead was here in 2003, but not much else. Lots of people and money here, plenty of bead stores and there's a bead section in the garment district downtown - seems like the shows would be attracted to this area. Contact 11-23-2004 11:35 AM In reply to florencebeads Joined on 09-30-2004 Long Beach, CA Posts 840 RE: What's the best Bead Show? SheSwerves, There is an international gem and jewelry show the weekend after Thanksgiving in Santa Monica. Here's the site http://www.intergem.net/ I found also it here (where one of the vendor offer a cupon for free admission): http://www.allseason.com/non_product/shows/shows.htm I haven't decided if I'm going yet. Florence Signature Beaded Bead Galleries, Patterns and Kits Contact 11-23-2004 1:45 PM In reply to Victim Joined on 08-26-2004 Posts 100 RE: What's the best Bead Show? Has anyone been to a GemStreet USA show??? Contact Page 1 of 2 (17 items) 1 2 Next > « Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Search Community in Beaders helping beaders Making jewelry (Entire Site)