Tucson Shows and Shuttle

Jewelry Discussion
1

Okay. I’ve decided to go. I’m very excited and I have some
questions.

I don’t know the city. If I find a room, how do I find out if the
shuttle picks up there? Or if it doesn’t pick up at that
location, how can I find out if there is a nearby location where it
does pick up?

Also, the Tucson Show Guide lists the shows, but doesn’t say if
there is a charge for admission. Do they all charge for admission?

And last, is there a property or location where I absolutely should
NOT stay for any reason?

2

Good for you, the Tucson show is amazing PLUS the Orchid dinner.

Check the show guide, http://www.tucsonshowguide.com, for shuttle
routes and venues. No charge for any of the venues I have ever been
to in 30 plus years of attending. The shuttles are free but the
drivers accept tips. Register ahead of time thought each show’s
website.

Many shows time frames overlap, I would suggest coming during the
weekend that AGTA and Rio’s catalog in motion are going as most
venues are running at that time. The Tucson Gem Show is actually many
organizations having their own shows running at the same time. Each
organization has it’s own set of requirements for registration
although many will not need any registration and hence non-industry
folks can go into these shows.

Many shows relie on AGTA’s registration and if you can get into AGTA
you can get into any of the other shows. AGTA is the highest quality
show where serious buyers only are allowed in. As far as where NOT to
stay I can’t address that but I’m sure someone can. I live here in
Tucson and have never looked for a room during this time. I would
suggest getting a hotel on the shuttle routes or a public
transportation connection from a shuttle stop just to ease your
transportation concerns. Suntran is the local public transportation
authority and I’m sure they have a website.

Sam Patania, Tucson
www.patania.com

3

Hi Linda,

Glad to hear you’re going to make the trip to the greatest gem show
in the world!

I’ll see if I can answer some of your questions.

The shuttles generally just run between shows. There are usually 4
or 5 shuttle routes that go to shows in the same general area. They
all stop at the Tucson Convention Center so it’s possible to
transfer from one route to another. The shuttles are usually 15
passenger vans. Many of the larger ho/motels provide their own
shuttle service (drop off & pick up) from the ho/motel to a show.
Then you can ride the free show shuttle.

The only show that I’m aware of that charges an admission fee is the
one sponsored by the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society. It’s the show
that started it all over 50 years ago.

As with any metropolitan area, there are always some motels to stay
away from. These are often mixed with clean/safe properties, so they
can’t be listed by a geographical area.

Dave

4

Be sure to come to Tucson when the Orchid dinner is being held.

There are many hotel in the down town area.

The only show that charges an entry fee is the Tucson Gem and Mineral
show. It is basically a retail show open to the public. Unfortunately
it is held at the end of many of the other shows. By the time the
TG&MS starts most visitors from out of state have left Tucson.

The TG&MS has some display cases of excellent jewelry from around the
world and mineral collections that are very good.

The AGTA show is mainly for gem dealers and as Sam said they are for
serious buyers only therefore it is harder to get into.

The GLDA show is also for more serious gem buyers. the GLDA show is
slightly easier to get into.

Some shows are easier to register with. You will need business cards
and a copy of your business license. Most of the other show will give
a badge to anyone with any type of business license. You might find
the wife of a gas station owner buying jewelry wholesale.

It could take you two days just to go through the massive G&LW show.
They have maybe 300 to 400 dealers at the Holidome alone. The
Roadway Inn has another section. This show carries everything.

Be prepared for massive crowds. Especially at the beginning of the
main shows. There are many independent organizations holding shows.
Some shows run for a week or two and other shows run longer. There
are rock dealers set up at a gas station. Other dealers are set up
along the freeway access road.

There are shuttles routes that will take you to any of the many
shows.

Bring a back pack or something to carry all your new found
treasures. It is difficult to look while holding a paper bag full of
stuff.

A BIG SUGGESTION: If you find something you like but are not sure you
want to buy it without looking at other things make a detailed note
where the item is. The shows are so massive that if you don’t mark
where to return to buy a selected item you may never find it’s
location again. The show catalog has maps of all the shows. This is a
good place to make location notes.

The weather is usually warm during the show. The biggest
disappointment you will have is when you go home and look at all the
treasures you bought and see so little compared to what you have see
at the shows. You will thing surely you must have bought more stuff.

Hope to see you at the Orchid show.

Lee Epperson, Phoenix
leessilver@aol.com

5

Hi Linda,

with regard to Tucson, I should mention that I’m looking for people
to share a three bedroom contemporary townhouse on Grant Rd. (very
close to a lot of the shows) on a Monday through Saturday basis for
the duration of the show. Along with sharing the house which is in a
gated community with a pool and jacuzzi comes a hearty breakfast,
coffee and tea and guided tours to the various shows, wireless
internet, cable, jewelry videos and books and a jewelers only
cocktail party at the end of the week. Please email me with any
questions/interest.

Here are a few tips: 1. You really do need to have a tax I.D. number
since most of the good shows are wholesale only and require it just
to get in. There isn’t a fee to get in, just the tax I.D. #. The
shows are all over the city and yes, there are shuttles, but I always
felt it more convenient to have my own car. Tucson is a VERY spread
out city spanning 30 or so miles from city limit to city limit. It
seems like there are new show sites popping up every year, and unless
you’re superhuman, it’s nearly impossible to get to all of them in
one visit. If you want to stay at a hotel near the shows, you’ll need
to BOOK NOW. And expect to pay based on the proximity. Hotels know
they can up their prices for the show and they do! Also, you probably
don’t want to stay in a hotel or motel that will be PART of the show
as you’ll have a hard time getting parking there when you’re wanting
to get back to rest after a long day of gem hunting.

I hope this helps!

Polly Spencer
Mary Amalia Jewelry
148 High St.
Portland, Me. 04101
207-772-1285
maryamalia@aol.com

6

Can someone tell me when and where the dinner in Tucson will be in
'06? I checked to site and it still had '05’s time and place posted.

Also, thank you for such a great response to my house sharing offer.
I still have a few places left. For those of you who didn’t catch
that the last time, I have a 3 BR townhouse in a gated community on
West Grant Rd. in Tucson and am interested in sharing it during the
gem show. I have put together a pdf (not the best but it gets the
point across and has a few pictures of the interior of the house)
with all of the pertinent Please email me off the list
if you want me to send you the pdf. I’d like to keep this all
jewelers and it’s intended for people who’ve either never been to the
Tucson show or have been but would like a guide through it. I’ll be
acting as a tour guide of sorts and we’ll also have evening
activities like watching instructional videos, discussions/problem
solving, etc.

Save The Date

The 10th Annual Tucson Orchid Dinner, 2006
Time: 6:30pm - 11:30pm

The Savoy Opera House
6541 East Tanque Verde
Tucson, AZ 85715

Thanks,
Polly Spencer
Mary Amalia Jewelry
148 High St.
Portland, Me. 04101
207-772-1285
maryamalia@aol.com

7 
I don't know the city. If I find a room, how do I find out if the
shuttle picks up there? Or if it doesn't pick up at that location,
how can I find out if there is a nearby location where it does pick
up

The show guide has a shuttle schedule on line, you can check it out
then look at a map also on the gem show guide website with the
various hotels.

Also, the Tucson Show Guide lists the shows, but doesn't say if
there is a charge for admission. Do they all charge for admission?

I primarily attend the wholesale shows, and none of them charge
admission.

And last, is there a property or location where I absolutely
should NOT stay for any reason?

You’d have to ask a local for that.

Lisa Hawthorne
@Lisa_Hawthorne1