gem show: quartzite or tuscon

[pstvn]

i have some friends going out to the gem show in either Tuscon or Quartzite. they aren't selling or buying jewelery they're just going out there looking for work setting up booths or general labor and what not. if anyone has some insight into which show is bigger and would have more opportunities for finding work, your comments would be greatly appreciated.

i have met some traveling kids along my way that have told me there is a lot of work to be found. i feel kinda bad it was my idea to go out there but i think im gonna stay here in Texas till spring and do some lampin. i feel like im getting rusty plus id like to work with hoss a little more hes the shit yo.

thanks

[medicatedMELTDOWN]

Tucson's gem show is huge! I can't imagine quartzite being bigger or better. I can't speak in terms of which has greater opportunities for work, but people come from all over the world to go to the Tucson gem shows. I might be there in Feb.

[pstvn]

Are you selling glass? what kind of product?

[medicatedMELTDOWN]

No I'm not selling anything... I don't have a booth or any way to sell stuff. I assumed you probably knew about The Best Bead Show and the Sonoran Flame-off happening at the same time as the Tucson gem shows. Those would be the main reasons I would go and also to met up with lots of talented lampworkers.

[jgottlieb]

Tucson is defenitely bigger. i hardly ever hear quartzite being talked about. You should go even if it is just for the spectacle of it all. this is the second year i will be going out there. My old man is a mineral dealer so i work for him. I missed the flameoff by 3 days last year but i will be sure to get there this year. there is definitely a great opportunity to sell glass, whether you actually work a table or not. there are plenty of opportunities for guerilla vending , and tucson is a pretty cool town although some parts are definitely sketchy. Basically the town is taken over for a month by gem and mineral and related dealers. there are many different shows throughout the time period, the one of most interest to glass people would be the Best Bead Show in the first week of february. Also, make sure to take a drive up in the mountains, mt lemon was so cool, it takes like 45 minutes to drive up and there is always snow on top. Go to saguaro national park too, you will not be dissapointed with the scenery.
Hope to meet some of you guys out there!

[Zed]

Quartzsite is like a giant outdoor flea market where everyone goes to flip the stuff they just bought in Tucson or try again to sell the stuff they didn't. I think more quality stuff gets sold in Tucson by people that are more professional, Quartzsite is a much lower overhead spot for people to unload lesser quality or less desireable stones for cheaper.

Haven't been in ten years though so this may no longer be true.

The biggest difference is that Tucson mostly goes on indoors in pimp hotels and stuff, Quartzsite mostly goes on outdoors in the desert. If your friends are looking for work I'd say that Tucson is probably the better bet, as it is more upscale and the dealers have more money all around. Quartzsite is more of a RV living hippie vagabond crowd.

[HOSS]

i feel kinda bad it was my idea to go out there but i think im gonna stay here in Texas till spring and do some lampin. i feel like im getting rusty plus id like to work with hoss a little more hes the shit yo.


Aww come on, you're going to screw up my hard-earned reputation of being a huge douchebag! :o: