I am talking as a newer member, only been here for four years. If you want to keep the hobby inexpensive go to the trading sessions especially the first one on Wednesday, you have to be pre-registered for that one. You will have an overflowing room of chippers all happy to trade chips with you. The members of the club for the most part are friendly and a plethora of information. Go to the splash bar where chippers hang out on down time and talk to some members. You will meet some members that will talk to you about the hobby and what they found this year at the show and share their enthusiasm for the hobby, You will also see the work that goes into organizing the convention and the show. The educational seminars to me are worth the trip to Vegas all by itself and I live 2,000 miles away.

All I am asking you is give it a try before you give up. I was reading the other board and I know you got into a back and forth match about when the convention was held and location and prices for rooms etc. etc. Every week in Vegas there are conventions and one as large as ours you have to commit years in advance so do understand the people who worked so hard to put it together for no compensation had no way of knowing. Anyways every week in Vegas there are numerous conventions.

All the dealers are also club members and you can visit each table in the three days and sit down and talk to all of them if you choose. It's all fun which why the members go to the convention, all fun. You will meet the authors of the major guides that are out on the market and everyone else in the hobby. There is just so much to do and you will always find club members playing poker in the SP poker room.

Introduce yourself as new to the hobby. Just give it a try since you already are obviously a member and I am guessing pre-registered for the convention.

I think if you go to that first trade session on Wednesday which is the largest you will be amazed and also amazed on how many trades you make all at no cost as no money can change hands during trade sessions.

Only thing I regret is not finding this club many years ago. If you come, say hi to the old fat bald Italian guy playing poker, that will be me.