EXHIBITING AT ANA
by Bob Fritsch
PART 3 - Putting It All Together

By now you should have your exhibit all set up, the theme chosen and the layouts completed.  You’re done, right?  BZZZZZ!  WRONG!  Your work is just beginning. 

The purpose of an exhibit such as yours is to tell people about something you like and are willing to tell them about.  Have you succeeded?  Now is the time to take a step back and look at what you have created.

Does the exhibit fill its intended purpose?  Are you presenting the story the way you want?  Will people looking at it learn that story?  You will be able to spot several errors right off, but that only goes so far.  Get others to help you, to look at the display and to give their opinions.  Ask them what they learned by looking at the exhibit and listen to what they have to say.  If they go away with a different impression than the one you wanted to convey, then you must do something about it.

Is your title and scope clear?  Do you show what you describe in your scope statement and does your statement accurately describe what you’re showing?  Do you have the title in each case (for multi-case displays) and is it obvious as a title?

Is your numismatic information (both basic and special) complete for what you are showing?  Look at the items on the judging sheet and decide which ones are relevant to your exhibit and adequately describe them.  There is no sense describing mintage for Disney coins, for example, unless it’s a limited edition.  Does your Special information tell the story?  Do you attempt to answer questions before they are asked?  [Example:  You say you chose to show only part of your collection.  Why did you do that and what was your selection criteria?]

Do you have anachronisms or typos in your displays.  Both deduct BIG points as this is supposed to be a scholarly pursuit.  [An anachronism is something that doesn’t belong in the era of the display.  Don’t show a 50-star American flag in a display of Century of Progress coins.]

First time exhibitors have an edge in creativity and originality as they haven’t gone through the process before.  This is always hard to judge as we have “seen it all before.”  But a fresh approach counts points.  As you become more experienced as an exhibitor, you will tend to fall into a routine so your exhibits can be spotted as yours because of the technique and your “look.”  Judges are not supposed to know whose exhibits they are judging so everyone has an equal chance at an award, but it doesn’t always work out that way.

Is the display attractive?  Do the backgrounds and graphics get in the way of the coins?  Do you have too much or too little in the space you are using?  Have you physically presented your story so people are drawn to it?  In other words, do you have a good balance in your presentation?  Neatness counts, but only to the point of stray material in the case (a scrap of paper, etc.).  Please don’t show your coins in holders as this detracts from the overall presentation (unless they came in a nifty presentation holder).

How complete is your exhibit in terms of your statement of scope?  If your title starts with “A Selection of…” the judge has no way of telling if you are showing everything you said you would and usually deducts points.  One exhibitor a few years ago showed “My Indian Cent Collection”.  The 1877 (key date and very expensive) was blank with a note saying, “I can’t afford this coin.”  The display didn’t win an award but the judges thought that was really neat.

How difficult was it to assemble your collection?  If it took all year and six trips to various locations to get all your coins in the exhibit, tell us.  If you went to the Zoo and pressed 20 coins in one day, the degree of difficulty is necessarily low.  If there is no statement the judge has to guess at this mark.  How rare are the coins in the case?  If only one is rare, point it out and make a big deal about it.  Condition of most elongateds is “Mint State” as they don’t circulate after they are rolled.  Try to show the best coins you have.

Once everything is completed and you know you have the best exhibit in the world, do yourself a favor and do a backup.  Make two of everything that goes into the cases (except the coins, of course).  Titles, maps, pictures, graphics, writeup – everything.  And put the backup in a separate suitcase or bag than the original.  A few years ago, the airline lost one exhibitor’s display.  The coins were in their carry-on and they used a paper grocery bag to hand write the presentation.  Good recovery but not very attractive and not really what we are looking for in a national competition.  Don’t let it happen to you!

Don’t forget to send in you exhibit application by the published deadline.  You can find applications and rules online at http://www.money.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=National_Money_Show&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=5002, or you can write to the ANA at 818 North Cascade Avenue; Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3279.  You must be an ANA member to exhibit, and I will be glad to sponsor your application.  My address is at the end of this article.  While you are visiting that  particular page, take a look at Bill Fivaz’s article about preparing a willing exhibit.

Now the big day comes and you arrive at the convention center with exhibit all ready to lay out.  Go up to the Registration Desk and let them know you are an exhibitor.  If you are pre-registered for the convention (strongly recommended), your badges and ribbons will be ready for you, if you did not receive them in the mail before leaving home.  You get a ribbon that says “Exhibitor” and another one that gets you in the door during non-public hours to do your display.  You must place the exhibit on the morning of the opening day or earlier.  I generally do mine the day before.

Once you are admitted to the bourse and/or exhibit area, find the exhibit coordinator who will show you the location of your case(s) and give you the paperwork.  Grab the Windex and paper towels provided because that is the first thing you want to do – clean the cases inside and out.  Don’t wait until the exhibit is laid then do the cleaning.  Windex leaves little spots all over everything and that means deducted points.  Examine the glass top from several angles to ensure you got all the fingerprints and gunk that glass naturally attracts.

Once the cases are clean, start your layout from the bottom up.  Make sure your background lays flat (unless you purposely want it unflat) and continue upwards.  Constantly step back for a long view to ensure everything is just perfect.  When you get it all done, CAREFULLY close the top of the case.  If you do it quickly, air will rush out and blow stuff all around and you’ll have to open it back up to realign everything.  Once the top is closed take another long view for a final chance at adjustment.  Be very finicky so everything is exactly how you want it.  Then call over the Master at Arms to lock the cases.  You will show him your inventory and you both will sign it.  ANA is now responsible for your coins until you take custody again on Sunday.  Clean the outside of the glass one last time.  You may clean the glass as many times as you wish during the entire convention but you will not be able to get into the case except in extraordinary circumstances.

That is not the end by a long shot.  The judges will meet on Wednesday afternoon to get their judging sheets, special instructions, and to ask/answer any questions.  Judging must be done by Thursday evening, so if you see a bunch of people with clipboards looking at exhibits, you will know what they are doing.  As a matter of courtesy, do not bother them while they are doing their work.  I strongly urge you to attend Judges Training on Thursday morning and try your hand at it.  It will make you a better exhibitor by being able to see an exhibit from a different perspective.  Judging sheets are returned to each exhibitor early Friday morning and there is a short period where marks can be challenged.  All challenges are handled quickly so the awards can be fabricated in time for the ceremony on Friday afternoon.  The final judges’ meeting is Saturday where difficulties are pointed out and results can be discussed among them.

Sunday morning, exhibitors are invited to stand by their exhibit and talk about it with others.  This is a fun time and a good chance to boast about your hobby.  Although the schedule says you cannot rescue your exhibit until after 2PM on Sunday, in practice you can get it just about any time during the day, especially if you are heading home before the published time.  If you do not plan to be there for the full convention, you may designate an agent in writing at the time of application to set and/or retrieve your exhibit.

Please send any questions you may have to me at bobfritsch@earthlink.net and I will be glad to answer them.  Use the words “TEC Exhibit” in the subject line so I do not toss it as spam.  If you need to become an ANA member, I will be happy to sponsor you – you can sign up online at www.money.org.

So there you have it.  It’s a lot of painstaking work.  It’s a lot of time invested.  But it’s also our hobby, our passion, and it’s exciting.  It is worth every minute and dollar you put into it.  See you on the Exhibit Floor!

Click here for PART 1