Well I decided to take some vacation time off work and go to my first nwtf convention. What tips and advice do you guys have for someone who has never been?
It's BIG, lol. Make sure you get directions (the have great signage) to the custom call building. It's separate from the main show area.
Go see a show at the Grand Ole Opry if you never have. It's very close to the convention and is a legendary musical venue. Worth visiting even if you're not 100% into country music.
LOTS of walking, wear good shoes. Walking shoes. Take a backpack for the stuff you buy, handouts and such. Take water. And lots of money. LOL
Enjoy the calling contests some. Find the call making part, it was moved to elsewhere in that huge hotel.
It's a blast, but your feet will be tired at the end of the day.
Try to go on Thursday or early Friday. The weekend is jammed with folks. Agree with hitting up the Grand Ole Opry, but buy tix in advance.
Wear layers. It is February outside but gets very warm inside with all of those people.
I appreciate the input. I have the hotel booked and bought concert tickets for that Wednesday. Can't wait to go.
My Nwtf rep says they have construction going on this year and have lost alot of parking for the convention. Building another ballroom i guess. That and being the 50th year its going to be crowded! But have fun, its awesome!!
Go see Mike Robare if you are looking at box calls or trumpets.Z
If you don't want to pay the Opryland parking charge or parking is full, you can always park across the street and take the shuttle. There is also a mall behind it. Some people will park at the mall and walk in.
Quote from: Notsoyoungturk on January 05, 2026, 11:11:57 AMThere is also a mall behind it. Some people will park at the mall and walk in.
Guys, be careful with that mall, my wife and daughter did more damage to my net worth at that mall than I did at the convention 🤣😆😊🙄😳
:TooFunny: Should be warning signs... Park here at your financial risk.
Pick up a show layout for the vendors. It's a big floor and this will help you find any specific vendor you want to see. You can download it to your phone which works very well also. Be patient it gets very crowded plan on spending at least one entire day on the showroom area if you want to see all the vendors. Go to some of the seminars that occur they are great. And catch some of the calling contest. They are long but you can ease in and out between callers. If I can I usually try to catch some of the finals.
Mostly have fun.
I'm not going to make it this time. As far as parking...park at the Mall.
I did not think.as much of it the last time I was there 2 years ago.
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I am in need of more of this bourbon, so I want to visit the Peg Leg Porker distillery in Nashville during the convention, never been there before, heard they have a smoke house too?
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head north for real bourbon my brother!
never heard of that stuff sounds good though
Quote from: kytrkyhntr on January 29, 2026, 08:33:06 AMhead north for real bourbon my brother!
never heard of that stuff sounds good though
For the delicious Buffalo Trace
luckily im very close lol
Quote from: kytrkyhntr on January 30, 2026, 08:16:10 AMluckily im very close lol
You are truly lucky. Would love to visit that distillery
After going to a few of them. Try and get all your shopping and looking in on Thursday. Friday and Saturday is a mad house. Especially Saturday. I'll be there. Bubba
Well I appreciate all the advice that everyone provided. My wife and I caught a concert at the grand ole opry on Wednesday and that was a great time. I wouldn't have thought of that if it weren't for the suggestion on here. The show itself was overwhelming. I'm not into crowds and was not prepared for how busy it was. And that was on Thursday when I went. My favorite part was visiting with all the call makers. Being able to play their calls and picking my favorite call on the table to purchase was an awesome experience. I think that I would really enjoy going to unicoi after experiencing that. I just wish unicoi wasn't during deer season. I left with several calls that I am very happy with.
If you thought it was busy Thursday you should have been there Friday and Saturday. It just keeps getting bigger every year.
Quote from: accttiger on Today at 12:39:25 AMIf you thought it was busy Thursday you should have been there Friday and Saturday. It just keeps getting bigger every year.
I was there Thursday and it was the most crowded on a Thursday I have seen. I'm glad I was there on the weekend. It must have been crazy!
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Quote from: kytrkyhntr on January 29, 2026, 08:33:06 AMhead north for real bourbon my brother!
never heard of that stuff sounds good though
Peg Leg Porker is owned by Carey Bringle. It's the namesake of his competition bbq team and restaurants.
He calls it peg leg after himself. He lost his right lower leg to cancer at a young age.
I can't speak to the quality of the whiskey but his bbq is quite good