Readers Studio 2009 - Thursday dinner in NJ

[birdsong123]

Terrific idea! A friend and me will be driving down together. We're not sure of our arrival time, so we may arrive fashionably late, but we'll definitely come along for the fun!

At that point we'll likely need a light nightcap.

Looking forward to seeing you there and meeting some new friends!

[Scion]

Just a quick reminder...

I just a note from the Amberstones about a deadline headed our way for people attending. The very reasonable Group rate at the Readers Studio hotel is only valid through 31 March. So if you're coming and haven't reserved your room, you should... pronto!

[Satori]

Ok so we are coming up on the RS 09 really fast. Hopefully everyone has a roommate, a room, a ride and a packed bag! Some of you may be familiar with the AT Trade Train that runs over in the Tarot Games area. When ATers assemble at the Reader's Studio every year we run a Trade Train as part of the festivities. And since this year has more ATers attending than ever before, and our very own Solandia will be joining us, what better time to offer a really big Trade Train than Readers Studio 2009!

I'm already assembling some really great decks to put on offer for this years Train, and I know that both Scion and Morwenna are too. The NING site for all people associated with the Tarot School and the Studio has a thread running right now where you can post your wishlist and tantalize riders with some of your offerings if you so choose to dangle any bait.

Not a member of the NING site? Please PM either Scion or myself with your email address and we will hook you up. Hope to hear from you soon!

[rachelcat]

Even though enjoy a trade now and again, I'm not one of the trade train congniscenti. (Oh the shame . . .)

So, the RS Live In-Person Trade Train Extravaganza, is it cool to have mundane, run-of-the-mill items on your trade and wish lists? Or should I start a new thread on the ning for that kind of thing for trading among the wider RS group?

Just wondering . . .

[Scion]

There's no such thing as run of the mill! Everything is fair game on a trade train!! In a way that's what makes it a trade train in this case: anything can go on the table. It's more of a swap-happy gathering than a game. We don't do train-style "sequential" picking or competitive scrambling for decks in real life. That could get gory, and Franniee is lightning fast...

Actually the way it worked last year is that the trade trainers just piled into a hotel room and swapped swag... some fancy and some defiantly in-print and easy to find. Books too. Oracles. Stones. Bags. You name it. It was just a perfect venue to trade with friends, and since we KNEW we were meeting, we were able to plan a bit.

Actually more than a bit, Aulruna hauled a MASSIVE Astrological Oracle thing from Europe that I'd been wanting. 20 pounds this thing must've weighed. That is Tarot love, I tell you. I love the idea of people discussing what they're looking for, because I can make sure and bring stuff that people want. Some amazing AT trades happen every year at the Studio and I'm sure this year it'll only escalate.

Now, that's not to say that additional trading doesn't happen in the larger RS community. It totally will, and I know I've seen a thread along those lines up on NING. But (to put it simply) I love hanging with the ATers and I can only fit so many people into my hotel room. Plus it's hard to keep that many wishlists in your head when you're prepping. 20 lists I can handle, but 120? Gack. LOL Not to play favorites, but I feel like face-to-face time with the AT crowd is one of the greatest benefits of the Studio... so trading only facilitates that.

[rachelcat]

Thanks for your kind reply and info. Ok, I'm in! I'll check out the ning post and I will definitely see you at the trade!

[Satori]

rachelcat, some of the hardcore collectors speak a language all their own. I sit and listen because I realize that I learn a lot from them and I love talking Tarot, even when it is about something I've never heard of!

I've learned something about myself. I like to collect decks, but, if it is something that I just don't see myself using I won't keep it. I just won't keep a deck that I can't pull out and use some time. It doesn't feel right to me, to keep lots of decks around that I won't use. And still I have decks that I don't use but can't let go of....go figure.

So don't fear if you have new releases or mass market popular decks that aren't all that historical, rare, oop etc. I don't either. Bring what you can and be surprised when you get there and see us all in frenzy over it! Controlled frenzy.

It would be fun to play a Yankee Swap game or something. You know, wrap a deck in gift wrap and put it on a table. Then we all draw a number or get a number as we enter. Then number 1 picks a gift and opens it. Number 2 can either pick a new gift or take number 1's gift or something like that....and it keeps going until everyone has a deck/gift. I can't remember all the details of that game....help!

And of course we still trade stuff without the game....but do you think something like that could be fun?

I can almost hear Scion rolling his eyes.

[Melvis]

There's an 'official' swap table, too, right? I thought I saw that on the RS website. If so, I have to make sure I get around to all the trading opportunities!

<gollum>Deckssess...must have preciousss deckssess...!</gollum>



Peace,

Melvis

[Scion]

Yep... the swap table can produce some amazing swaps. I've found wishlist stuff there, and without realizing it I've left wishlist stuff there for other people. But it's more of a freeform flowing all weekend deal. Half treasure half trash. Then you have the rabid table-to-table folks swapping stuff on the fly... not to mention random gifting opportunities with friends. And the vendors! And the free Llewellyn decks you get at registration. It has kind of a mellow "Here, would you like this?" vibe.

The weird part is, it's not even as much of an acquisitive frenzy as you might expect. LOL More like friends passing things along organically. Very fun and synchronous. Sue mentioning to me that she liked the Moon Oracle and me having an extra in my bag, or someone buying the WRONG "Golden" Tarot and me wanting to trade for exactly that one (Ettensi in that case). Not to mention it's the most Tarot decks you're likely to see in action under one roof any time soon.

I was just saying to Queen of Spades, I don't even have that many "wishlist" decks I'm looking for, but I'm psyched to bring stuff that people might be looking for. As Mira Nair might say, "My heart is as open as the Sky." So definitely thow a couple things you're eager to trade in your bag.

As for Satori doing her Yankee swap, that wasn't my eyes rolling...

[Sheri]

I was just thinking that if I wore all the clothes I'm taking in layers, that will free up space in the suitcase I am checking for the decks I'm taking and maybe for what I am bringing back...

Sheri