What Really Happens When the Doors Open (And Whether You Should Be There)
"At opening bell, people will run to their favorite dealers."
That's not an exaggeration. At Round Top's biggest venues, opening morning is a full-contact sport. Lines form at 7 AM. Vendors make final adjustments until the last possible second. And when those doors open? People literally run.
It's chaotic. It's competitive. And some of the best pieces sell within hours.
But is it worth it? Here's everything you need to know about opening day at Round Top.
The Scene
Big Red Barn
The original show, the original chaos.
- Lines start forming at 7 AM
- 9 AM doors open
- Staff hand out donuts to waiting shoppers
- "A couple thousand people, all so excited to get the best finds first"
- People position themselves to get to favorite dealers as fast as possible
Marburger Farm
The prestigious run.
- Early admission tickets available (higher price, first access)
- First five hours are early admission only
- Serious buyers sprint to priority vendors
- "There must have been a literal stampede — we got there 30 minutes after opening and a lot of furniture was already sold"
Blue Hills
Slightly calmer, but still competitive.
- Opens earlier in the show period
- First days see the most traffic
- Best selection available on day one
What Actually Sells First
Not everything goes immediately. But certain categories disappear fast:
Furniture (especially statement pieces)
- Unique dining tables
- Pairs of anything (chairs, lamps, mirrors)
- One-of-a-kind case goods
Tapestries
- Rare and expensive ($15,000+)
- True collectors hunt these specifically
- "Tapestries go really fast"
High-end lighting
- Statement chandeliers
- Murano glass
- Unusual fixtures
Anything truly one-of-a-kind
- Louis Vuitton trunks
- Museum-quality pieces
- Things with provenance/stories
What survives longer:
- Accessories and smalls
- Standard glassware
- Items at higher price points that require consideration
- Things in less prime booth locations
The Early Admission Question
At Marburger, early admission tickets cost more but give you first access.
Worth it if:
- You're looking for something specific and rare
- You're shopping for clients with specific needs
- The thrill of the competition excites you
- Budget isn't the primary concern
Skip it if:
- You're more interested in deals than first dibs
- You prefer a relaxed shopping experience
- You're flexible about what you find
- Budget matters more than selection
The math: Early admission = first access but highest prices Last days = picked-over selection but best deals
Know what matters more to you.
The "Run" Strategy
If you're going to do opening day, do it right.
Before the Show
Research vendors in advance
- Many vendors have Instagram accounts
- Browse the full vendor directory on Round Top Finder — filter by category, style, or venue. Favorite the ones you want to hit first, and their updates will appear in your My Feed leading up to opening day. The Look Book is also worth browsing — it's a curated gallery of vendor photos that helps you spot your targets before the doors open.
- Some post previews before the show
- Know who you want to hit before you arrive
Have a list
- What are you looking for?
- Which specific vendors are known for that?
- What's your priority order?
Coordinate with friends
- If you're coming with a group, split up
- Each person takes different priority vendors
- Text finds immediately
- "You have eyes everywhere"
Opening Morning
Arrive early
- Lines form well before doors open
- Better position = faster start
Know the layout
- Study venue maps if available
- Know where your priority vendors are located
- Have a route planned
Move fast, decide faster
- This isn't browsing time
- If you love it, buy it
- Ask questions while someone writes the sold tag
Communicate constantly
- Group text blowing up
- "COME TO BOOTH 47 NOW"
- Share wins, share opportunities
After the Rush
Circle back for second looks
- Once the initial chaos calms, walk more leisurely
- Check booths you missed
- Sometimes great pieces get overlooked in the stampede
Negotiate less on day one
- Vendors are fresh, confident
- Prices are firmest
- Save negotiation energy for later in the week
What Shoppers Actually Experienced
The "I Missed It" Story
"We got there 30 minutes after opening and a lot of the furniture that we were looking for was already sold."
Translation: 30 minutes late is too late for hot items.
The "I Like the Run" Perspective
"There is a novelty to it. I like the competition."
For some people, the chaos is part of the fun. The adrenaline, the victory, the story.
The Designer Approach
"We have a list divided by house with everything we're looking for. We do the route and go look at all places."
Designers don't just show up hoping. They have specific items for specific clients. They move with purpose.
The Relationship Advantage
"At opening bell, people run to their favorite dealers. We're running to Bird Dog."
If you've built relationships with vendors over years, you know exactly where to go. You might even get a heads up about special pieces before the show opens.
The Case for Skipping Opening Day
Not everyone needs to be there when the doors open. Here's why you might wait:
Better Deals Later
Vendors don't want to pack it up. As the show progresses:
- Pricing gets more flexible
- Negotiation is easier
- "Make us an offer" happens more often
More Relaxed Experience
Opening day is stressful. If you're here to enjoy yourself, waiting a day or two means:
- Smaller crowds
- Time to browse
- Space to think
Still Good Selection
Yes, the very best pieces sell on day one. But Round Top is enormous. There are thousands of vendors. Great pieces remain throughout the show.
One curator said she doesn't see everything even in five days. There's plenty to find.
Different Priorities
If you're looking for:
- Deals over specific pieces
- The experience over the competition
- Small treasures over statement furniture
...opening day matters less.
The Hybrid Approach
Many veteran Round Top shoppers do both:
Day 1 (Opening or Early Admission):
- Hit priority vendors for specific pieces
- Buy the "must haves"
- Claim anything competitive
Days 2-3:
- Leisurely exploration
- Venues you didn't get to
- Detailed browsing
Final Days:
- Return to favorites
- Negotiate better deals
- Catch items you couldn't decide on earlier
This gives you the best of both worlds: first access to priorities, relaxed shopping for discovery.
Practical Opening Day Tips
What to Bring
- Fully charged phone (photos, communication)
- Portable charger
- Comfortable shoes you can move fast in
- Water bottle
- Small bag or backpack (hands-free)
- Cash (some vendors prefer it)
- Measurements from home (know what fits)
What to Know
- Credit cards work almost everywhere
- Vendors can hold items while you think (briefly)
- Saying "I'll take it" immediately = you win
- Sold tags appear fast — don't hesitate
The Psychology
- Scarcity is real but also manipulated — not everything is truly "last one"
- FOMO is powerful — but only buy what you actually love
- The piece you'll regret is usually the one you didn't buy, not the one you did
The Verdict
Opening Day Is Worth It If:
✓ You're looking for something specific and rare ✓ You're shopping for clients with defined needs ✓ You thrive on competition ✓ First dibs matters more than deals ✓ You've done Round Top before and know the game
Skip Opening Day If:
✓ Budget is your priority ✓ You prefer relaxed browsing ✓ You're a first-timer getting oriented ✓ You want the experience, not the competition ✓ You're flexible about what you find
The Middle Ground:
Consider arriving day 2 or 3 — after the initial stampede but before the best stuff is completely gone. You'll have decent selection AND more space to breathe.
Final Thought
The run is fun. The chaos is memorable. The victory of getting THE piece before anyone else is real.
But it's not the only way to do Round Top.
Some people find their favorite treasures on the last day, negotiated down to half price, in a booth everyone else walked past.
The best find isn't always the one that sells in the first hour. Sometimes it's the one that was waiting for you all along.
Whether you're running at the doors or strolling in on Day 3, Round Top Finder helps you show up prepared — with your vendors researched, your route planned, and your favorites saved.
Round Top Finder — Be ready when the doors open. Available on web, iOS, and Android.