When showing my cels, my plan is ONE book. For
me, it's an 11x14 Itoya that fits perfectly into
this certain sachel I own. Why only one? It's
extremely easy to carry (and would be small
enough for carry-on on a plane). I usually leave
a few empty pages in the back of the book for
anything flat I pick up at the con.
Also, as mentioned, there is always the potential
for damage to the cels when showing them. It's
much easier to watch a single book than multiple
ones. Not to mention, if anyone were being rough
with it, I wouldn't hesitate to step in and say
something or remove it from them. I think if
you're not ready to do that, you shouldn't bring
your things to show. But in all honesty, except
for only ONE person, the few collectors that have
handled my cel book have done nothing to trigger
a protective response from me.
Possible theft is one more reason to have only
one book to watch. Another thing I do is to put a
couple pieces of clear tape over the open edges
of the Itoya's pages -- taping them closed. It's
a pest to take the tape off to put the cels back,
but that means it would be a pest for a potential
theif to do it too. (The original reason for the
tape was to prevent the cels accidentally falling
out of the book.) In the end, I watch my book
like a hawk while it is not in my hands.
However, the big question lingers of what to
bring. When I'm showing my cels to people, I'm
not doing it to stroke my ego -- my only intent
and goal is to amuse and entertain others. A few
things I keep in mind when choosing which pieces
to bring is:
1) Do I have anything that has been repeatedly
commented on? Most people look at a gallery and
say nothing. If people have bothered to comment
on something, it's likely they'd be interested to
see it.
2) What other collectors will be in attendance,
and what are *their* favorite shows? If someone
collects from (or really likes) a given show for
which I have cels/sketches, I'll always pick at
least one piece from that show.
3) Related to #2: Will someone be in attendance
who has a "crush" on a particular cel of mine?
That one goes into the book almost automatically.
4) What have I *NOT* been showing online? People
are always interested to see things they haven't
seen before, especially (as was mentioned) rare
characters or scenes.
5) Lastly, for those final few pages: Do I have
anything especially popular of late, either due
to character or show? Anything especially flashy,
colorful, or otherwise interesting? Will I be
around new collectors who might not have seen a
book cel, a harmony cel, etc?
That said, there are some things I completlely
avoid bringing. Included in that are:
1) Pan or oversized cels -- anything that won't
physically fit in the one book. Too difficult to
carry and too much potential for them to be
damaged, since probably you'd be carrying them
around in something makeshift.
2) Unusually fragile cels. Generally, cels with a
greater risk of being damaged -- anything with
airbrushing, or things that are *already* damaged
in some way that could easily become worse. (Like
a cel with chipped/flaking paint.)
3) Anything COMPLETELY irreplacable. Obviously,
cels are one of a kind, but of you have something
to which you're **SO** attached that you can't
imagine your collection without it, and would be
in tears if something happened to it. . . DON'T
BRING IT.
I've broken rule #3 twice by bringing my favorite
cel (Larva and Garline) to both one of the New
England Cel Collector's get togethers, and then
to Anime Boston 2004. I only did it because I
knew people would be there who REALLY wanted to
see it. But all I can say is just don't do it.
You'll give yourself a frigging ulcer, no matter
how careful people are with your book.
I think it's good for people to bring their cels
to "live" gatherings. I know I have NEVER seen
another collector's book that I didn't like. ^_^
I love hearing people talk about the cels; why
they like them, where they got them, why it's
special, etc. It really brings life to the hobby!
Many Sharp Smiles,
--Drac
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