There are dozens of gem shows to feast your eyes on when you go to the downtown Tucson or visit the hotels around the area.

What to Know Before Heading to Tucson

Before going to the Tucson gem show there are important things that you need to consider:

First on the list is the traffic that you might encounter since there are on going road constructions. There are on going repairs around the down town and the Interstate 10. The interstate project might not be finished until 2010. The city has also opened internet traffic cams that you can check over the internet so you have an idea of the volume of cars that you need to deal with.

The local government encourages gem show goers to utilize the free shuttles going around the down town. These free shuttles can bring you to dealer sites, parking, and the University of Arizona.

You should also prepare for the tickets which are available at the convention center. Remember that without the ticket, you can't get to view the gem show.

Things that May Come Handy

Your eyes will enjoy for sure in the Tucson gem show but there are things which will be very practical if you bring them with you:

?Rolling Suitcase ? This will keep safe your good buys in the gem show safe while you walk around the dealer shops to look for more purchases. A shoulder bag might cause back and neck pain if you carry it for hours.

?Zip lock bags- Bring different sizes of these bags if you can. It will be very useful when vendors in the gem show will not provide individual bags for your gems. When you place them in individual zip lock bags, they will be protected and beads that might fall off will be easy to find. You can also mark the bags with the prices in case you want to resell them later on.

? Shopping List ? A shopping list will save you a lot of time and effort when you walk around a lot of stalls and shops. You can create a list of what to look for, write canvass prices, and keep track of your favorite dealers.

?Proof of Business ? Since you will be dealing mostly with wholesalers, they might ask for your reseller license. It will be wise to keep a lot of copies of your reseller license. You also need to prepare a lot of business cards when you go to a gem show.

?Personal Survival Kit- A bottle of water, baby wipes, or hand wipes will help you enjoy the gem show. Some light snacks will also be perfect to survive a long day.

The Tucson gem show is an annual event that will help you boost your business in terms of expanding your gem collection, business contacts, or creative ideas.