Featured Antiques Roadshow Tickets

You have actually educated me, I was still of the mind that people only called in. I stand corrected.

 

Two (or three?) years ago I won tickets to Nashville, and only sent in two entries... one for me and one for the person who was going to go with me. But... Nashville was the first filming of the season, and I decided it was too close to the date to afford to go. (Good idea to make reservations ahead of time!) So I contacted another member here on this forum who got me in touch with a woman to whom I gave the tickets. She enjoyed the day quite a bit!

Having only applied once, I didn't remember that one was supposed to send information telling them which items they are bringing? That's a sense that I got from earlier posts in this thread. Do I understand that correctly? I don't remember telling them anything about what I would bring. I do remember large objects like furniture were supposed to be mentioned because of logistics.

 

When I went, approximately 10 years ago, they only required you to send info if you wanted to bring a large (ie: furniture) item. I brought a set of Robsjohn Gibbings Widdicomb nesting tables but did NOT let them know ahead of time as they weren't considered a "large" item by their standards. I got the idea the rule was simply so they could plan for the logistics of the matter. And, if the item was not of any interest, to discourage you from bringing it.

 

They do something called "Early Bird Tickets," which refers to the time you are required to be at AR (6:30am).

When you apply to get general admission tickets, you are given the chance to tell them about the two pieces you plan on bringing. Three photos, where you got the item, the "cool story" about the item, what you paid, how you got it, etc. You are not required to do this to be eligible in the general lotto. It's a bonus.

They then look over these EBT/photo entries from the time they release the general tickets, to about 3 weeks before each taping, and choose 20 interesting ones that they are going to film. That's why you have to be there at 6:30! If you had already won general tickets, you'll only receive 2 tix, not 4.

This makes sense because time is money in filming and this way the producers are guaranteed a decent selection of items for an episode, even if everything else is a dud. Also so they can film throughout the day instead of having all the items appear at the end when they don't have time to shoot. I suspect being EBT doesn't mean you'll be guaranteed to be in the episode (just the potential), and of course they'll still film on-site surprises.

 

I think it was 20 years ago that I won tickets for Boston. The tickets were for a specific time and they asked us not to show up early to reduce the size of the lines. They only asked us to contact them if we wanted large items that required special handling appraised.

We did have to wait in line for approximately 20 minutes. When we reached the entrance, we had to show what we brought and we were given passes for the tables of those specific appraisers. Our time was later in the day, and many seemed wiped out with little energy left. One of the Keno brothers looked at one of my grandfather's hand carved pieces. I didn't tell him that I knew who carved it. He said the carver was very talented and the piece was impressive because of how difficult it is to work with that type of wood. He said it was the high end antique of the future.

 

I think they started asking for information about items during COVID. They had limited number of people bringing things and needed to make sure they were worth showing on TV.

 

Very impressive item with a great story and history!

 

that looks stunning Marko

 

wow on your cameo, that is beautiful @mirana. Love the research you have done on it, thanks for sharing

 

You can't say all that and not post a picture or few of it to share with us!!

Thank you! I think it's cool, but cameos are a bit niche so I never know what others will think.

Thanks, I'm very happy to share with y'all here at least if AR is not interested this year! I'm a decent researcher, but it's always a group effort. Obviously, my sister was amazing with the genealogy assist that was a big key to the puzzle. Also, the gals over in Bronwen's Cameos: Show and Tell mega thread have been excellent, excellent teachers on 19th c cameos, Saulini and other masters, etc. so that I could recognize the work when I saw it in the first place.

Bronwen and PepperAnna have other Saulini (Tommaso, Luigi and workshop of) pieces if you do a forum search, but the thread in general has a lot of beautiful work if anyone liked this piece and wants to see more 19th century master works.

 

rZam\nt........now that's a rant !

Santa Fe 2015....just watched it......and it reminds me how much I like and learn from this superior production....
BUT...... it also reminded me about what I hate , watching AR ..

those folks...who bring stuff in that they know nothing about....hoping..praying...that their item will make them rich..
You can almost tell them right away....
they show only a feigned interest in the appraisers comments.....getting restless until a value is revealed...
like the woman I just watched.......who's first reaction to a 6 to 8 thousand estimate was... " you want to buy it ?? "

 

Hahaaa I do think most people are very nervous in front of a camera, especially center stage with a minimum crew of maybe 8-10? people staring at them from behind camera and lighting set-up. Not even counting any audience. I've worked with a lot of first-time background actors who have actually signed up to be on camera, aren't even the focus, and are veryyy nervous. The camera just messes a lot of people up. I've seen multiple people forget how to walk normally. It's bizarre.

Additionally, it can be overwhelming and your brain just....doesn't remember how to function or what was said lol. Big money being discussed is probably a bit of a jolt out of that!

I do agree that it annoys me when people don't care about the history of the items or the free expertise they're receiving. It probably shouldn't, because we've all sold a thing or thousand here, but I think history is awesome and want others to as well. I had to take a break from antique R eddit because it was a constant stream of value demands with no community contribution, thanks, or interest in those objects. I'm not even opposed to value discussion, but damn y'all can do an eBay search! And give something back to people who helped you!

 

Well , I'll defer to your experience ... with the understanding that anyone seeking out AR tickets...... wants to be on camera.....mostly want to understand the history of their items..... and all want to hear that what they have is worth a boat load of cash !!
Has anyone ever shown up at the Roadshow and asked not to be on the centre stage with their Tiffany lamp, or civil war Southern Generals uniform, or Great Grandma's Tang Dynasty horse ????

 

I watched the Old Sturbridge Village and saw someone I know (and can't stand, which is mutual) on the show with her chunk of jade. Anyone who tag sales and knows her figured out what she left out of her story. Her piece was bought for one price and badgererd down from probably twice as much if not more. Did she know how much it was worth? She feigned ignorance, but we all know better. It was either for the cameras or her standard behavior.

They don't show nearly the number of no-hopers they used to. If they hit a really funny one, maybe they would.

 

I wonder if our own cameo guru @Bronwen can add anything to your cameo?

 

We have discussed it in the Cameo mega thread, while I was researching it! I go straight there every time lol. As I said above, I owe a lot to her and others in that thread for even knowing about Saulini in the first place!

(Everyone should check it out... Lots of cool stuff to see....I might be biased. )

 

OH I love some good DRAMA! Now I'm going to have to go watch that one...

"No-hopers" like people who's antiques aren't what they think they are? I do want to learn about fakes and forgeries and the surprise of a low appraisal, but there's something a bit cruel about surprising someone on camera and embarrassing them. There's enough of that on reality TV and social media.

 

I, of course, an completely neutral, and I agree there's lots of cool stuff to see.

 

I am sorry I must have missed reading that.

I am suffering from a head cold that is clouding my brain.

Congratulations on a wonderful find!!!

 

But your first instinct was to help connect us because you knew we'd enjoy it! And you were right! I appreciate someone looking out for me. Never something wrong with that.

I hope you feel better soon!