The Tucson Survival Guide
The moral of this story is to know as
much as you can about the gems you
want to buy. Then consider destruc-
tion testing — keep a hammer, bench
block, and safety glasses in your mo-
tel room. Be polite, ask vendors about
their return policies, and state your
own testing policy — especially if you
are buying pearls or turquoise. A small
fi le, a jeweler’s loupe, and a magnet
are handy for testing precious metal
fi ndings, especially sterling silver Bali
beads, which sometimes turn up as
silver-plated brass. Most vendors are
extremely cooperative, and you could
be on your way to creating a long-
time relationship with them.
Hit the Tiny Venues
As you are driving around Tucson,
you will probably spot clusters of
tents and campers on dirt lots or at
small roadside parks. These, too, are
venues, and cash at these places can
net you some great deals. At Mike
Jacobs Sports Park, visible from the
interstate, I ran into amethyst miner
Lyndon Swanson, whom I had met in
Thunder Bay, Ontario, several years
ago. Traffi c is usually thin at these
out-of-the-way places; vendors are
relaxed and may have plenty of time
to chat.Make Friends
In the hustle of the largest gem
show in America, make friends.
People are from all over and are
exceptionally friendly. Strike up a
conversation with someone in a line
or at a picnic table eating lunch. Go
with a group. Take a class and ask
the teacher or your fellow students
for ideas. Go to a lecture to improve
your knowledge and seek out a few
experts. Cultivate business relations
with recommended vendors.
Since I travel alone, I booked a
room at the Hotel McCoy in Tucson,
because the place looked color-
ful and comfortable. A renovated
1940s-era motel, it was decorated
with arty murals, had a small bar, a
communal dining area, and off ered
evening activities, such as lectures
on crafts. Instead of being locked
away in a sterile hotel, this friendly
environment provided me with all
kinds of opportunities to relax and
interact with like-minded people. I
also loved the free chair massage.
Have fun.BETSY LEHNDORFF Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artisthas been writing for since 2010. You
can email her at betsylehndorff @gmail.com.Get Around
the ShowsTHE 2020
TUCSON SHOW GUIDE
AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
DECEMBER 27
INTERWEAVE.COM/JEWELRYOne phrase vendors
hate is, “I’ll be
back.” Shoppers
who utter this
are known as “be
backs.” They never
ever come back.A fellow guest snaps a photo of Betsy Lehndorff getting a free chair massage at
the Hotel McCoy.Richard Salley coaches a student at the Vivi Magoo art retreat at the Hilton.42 LAPIDARY JOURNAL JEWELRY ARTIST