My Trip to Antiques Roadshow

In May of this year, I learned something I had long been waiting to hear - I was finally going to Antiques Roadshow! I had tried to get tickets about nine years ago when we lived in San Diego. At that time, you could register for free tickets either online or by calling. My husband and I tried unsuccessfully to get through for about 30 minutes before we gave up. I later learned that all the tickets were gone in about six minutes.

I was watching the show this year on PBS when I heard they would be coming to Raleigh, NC. It is a two hour drive from where I live, but I still jumped at the chance to get tickets. I don't know exactly when the procedure changed, but now they distribute tickets through a lottery system. For several weeks, everyone is allowed to register on the Antiques Roadshow web page. Once the registration is closed, a lucky few are chosen to receive tickets via a lottery system. About a month before the show, I was notified by email that I had gotten tickets and they arrived in the mail about a week and a half before the show.

The show has been on the air since 1997, but tickets are still highly prized items. For the upcoming season, there are only 20 episodes, so people come from all over to get their antiques appraised and be part of the experience. While standing in line talking to people, I learned that one man had a friend from New York fly in for the show and another couple had come from Nashville.

While waiting in the initial line, I saw that others brought their precious antiques wrapped up, stored in boxes, strapped to dollies, hidden in coolers, and even some were brought in on wheelchairs. I was disappointed that while I stood in line, I couldn't see much of what everyone else had brought. The initial line was long, but it moved fast. All we were waiting on was for a table of volunteers to see what we brought (you can bring two items per ticket) and determine the category it fell in, such as glass, silver, toys, collectibles, etc. After that point, there was no more photography.

Once I had rounded the corner of the initial table, I was a bit disappointed. The actual set was closed off with high curtains and we had to wait in long lines outside the set. Only about six people from each category were allowed in at one time. Once I was in there, I got to see other antiques and the appraisers I've been watching for years, but that only lasted about 5-10 minutes. I did get to see Leigh and Leslie Keno, the well known furniture appraisers who are twin brothers. I had collectibles in two different categories, so on my second time around, I got to listen while the guy in front of me spoke to Gary Sohmers, another of my favorite appraisers. You may remember him as the pop culture/collectibles appraiser with the long gray hair pulled back in a pony tail.

After my two items were appraised, it was time to leave. I did get to meet host Mark L. Wahlberg and get his autograph on the way out. Liberty Mutual, one of the sponsors the show, had a booth set up outside and I got a cool t-shirt that lists all the stops the Roadshow is making this year. I also got a souvenir photo and a few business cards of the appraisers as souvenirs.

Overall, I had a blast! Although my antiques were virtually worthless, the experience of going to Antiques Roadshow was worth a million dollars.