Doors open at 8 a.m. However, depending on the turnout and location, people are likely to begin lining up with their items earlier than that. Please be sure you have printed out and signed your release form; if you forget your release, it will take you significantly longer to get into the event and to get your appraisal.
Your first stop will be the registration table. If you have your signed release, this should be a relatively quick and painless moment in your life. You (and your guest, if you have one) will be given a card with a number and bar code on it. That will help us keep track of you, your release form and your item.
Once you've received your card, you and your item will move on to one of three sorting areas. Here Pop Nation experts will guide you to the proper location for your appraisal. Although the registration form calls for you to choose a category (TV memorabilia, toys, etc.), our expert appraisers may have more specific knowledge about your item, and we want to make sure the right expert evaluates it.
Once you have your card, one of two things will happen. You may have such an incredible item, personality and story that you'll be sent immediately to the TV appraisal area. That probably won't happen very often. Most people will move to appraisal areas that are separated by categories. Once you are in these subject appraisal areas, you'll be given a group number (similar to the ones used when boarding airplanes) so you'll know when to come up for your appraisal. While waiting, you can mingle with fellow collectors or buy refreshments at our concession stands. Pop Nation producers will be in the appraisal areas looking for great people and stories; our experts, in addition to providing appraisals, will also be looking for items to be included in the show.
Once you meet with the subject appraisers, again, one of two things will happen. First, you'll be given an appraisal by a Pop Nation expert, and second, you may be selected to be videotaped. If you're chosen to be taped, you will not receive an appraisal at this point. Instead, you will be sent to the TV appraisal area, where you will need to fill out forms regarding your appearance on television and the handling of your item. After that, your appraisal will be videotaped. This, however, does NOT guarantee that you or your item will appear on television.
After the appraisal is videotaped, you may be offered cash on the spot for your item by an independent buyer. Selling the item or not is strictly your decision. The price is strictly a negotiation between you and the independent buyer.
And if one-on-one transactions don't appeal to you, there's still another choice: You can trust the market and put your item online for bidding by the public. The auction would occur this fall, live, to complement the airing of the episode you're appearing in. Not comfortable with computers? The online-auction facilitator QuikDrop will be present to take your item and, waiving its usual fee, perform all the associated duties for you: photograph the object, monitor bids, answer questions, process payment, etc. For more on their services, go to quikdrop.com.
While Pop Nation will make every attempt to move people through the process as quickly as possible, it is impossible to predict how long lines will be or how long it will take to get an appraisal. People selected to be videotaped should expect to spend most of the day at the event, and Pop Nation will provide refreshments for these people. However, you may not appear on the series even if your appraisal is videotaped. The producers of Pop Nation will determine who appears on the show.
The Pop Nation on-the-road events promise to be exciting and full of opportunity. Everyone will get an appraisal ... and you may also get a chance to make money and appear on national TV!
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