Rank the Major Pipe Shows For Me

[jmatt]

I went to the Chicago Pipe Show last month. My first show ever, and loved it. Tried some new tobacco which generated some big sales for the vendors. Bought a Russ Cook pipe I was chasing. Met lots of great people. Great, great experience.
I understand that's the biggest show? What other shows are even close in overall experience?
Kansas City?

NAPSC in Columbus, OH?

St. Louis?

Nashville?

West Coast Pipe Show in Las Vegas?

New York?

TAPS (N.C.)?
I'm in Indy, so Chicago was close enough to drive. Columbus is even closer. I could also drive to St. Louis, Nashville and maybe Kansas City. I fly to Vegas a couple times a year anyway, so I could do that pretty easily too.
Which to pick? Top experience other than Chicago would be......?

 

[jmatt]

C'mon - surely someone's been to multiple shows and can comment on how big/small each is?

 

[jackswilling]

I too wish some members would share their opinions.

 

[zack24]

Kansas City- Great folks in the pipe club there- fairly small show, but quite a few carvers.
Nashville- I went the first year- lot's of music, BBQ, and guys with beards- A fun party!
West Coast Pipe Show in Las Vegas- Large show, smoking allowed anywhere on the floor...and a good party...
One you missed because it was the first year (it's on indefinite hiatus at this point) is the New Orleans Pipe Show- one of the best venues...and what's not to love about New Orleans...

 

[clickklick]

Chicago - The end.

 

[docwatson]

I used to attend 5 or 6 shows per year and have done this for decades. Now I am down to my two favorite venues. Chicago and Vegas. I'd love to attend the Columbus show however but it is always during a vacation time of the year for me and I am away. All comments about the Columbus show are highly recommended, maybe I'll be able to attend that one some day. for now it's Chicago and Vegas, two of the best IMO.

 

[philobeddoe]

I've only been to Columbus, but I've been going for several years. Columbus is kind of a Goldilocks sized show, by that I mean that it's just big enough to be worth a several hour drive, but small enough to drive home the same day, without a hotel room. From the videos and pics I've seen of the Chicago show, it looks like a multi-day affair, if you want to see and do everything. You can tour the Columbus show in about three hours, four if the crowds are bad. Also the people have always been gracious and kind, it's a very low-key vibe, you cannot smoke in the ballroom, but you just step outside, maybe fifteen feet from the main doors.

 

[georged]

Click on the "Pipe Events" sub-board from the main menu, then go one page back into that board's history, and you'll find full photo reports from every major show last year. Go back in time another page for the 2014 reports & etc.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Been to only two: Chicago and Vegas. Both are great shows, fun, good folks.

 

[lonestar]

I wouldn't rank any of the shows, they are all great. They each have their own atmosphere, each different, but Chicago isn't *better* than Columbus or Kansas City just because it's bigger. A quieter show that you can really catch up with old friends and get to know new ones is just as much fun in my eyes. I like them all.

Vegas is a show that starts early in the week, with Smokers showing up around Wednesday at the Casino.

Most of the other shows are going to see attendance start around Thursday/Friday.

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

I've been to Chicago once and Columbus twice. They were both good shows. The Columbus show was well attended the second year I went. The show was at the Ramada the first year I went. I don't think vendors were too excited about the location, so the NASPC was able to secure another location on the other side of town. The new location seems to be working as I believe it's been there the past 3 years and will be there again this year? The Columbus show seemed big to me until I went to Chicago and realized that it's dwarfed by Chicago. Nonetheless, it's still a good size show that's well attended and worth the drive.

 

[jguss]

if size is the criterion, then i'd say vegas is second after chicago (especially now that richmond is gone). i've been going for a number of years now, and always have a great time. pipes, friends, vegas; what's not to like?
but ryan's point is on the money. size isn't, or shouldn't be, the only criterion. each show that i've attended has its own flavor, and all have been worthwhile.

 

[pipestud]

Plus 1 what Lonestar and jguss said.