PAX East Traveling Hat Traders

Lady Lilybell

With the turn of the calendar and PAX East just around the corner, I'd like to introduce The Traveling Hat Traders.

This is the brain child of my friends. The general idea is to trade off any hats you own for a new to you hat. We will be out and about the convention halls all weekend long. Everyone is encouraged to trade. Any TF2 cosplayers are NOT part of this game unless they choose to participate.

HATS:
-All hats MUST be in a wearable, clean condition.
-A minimum of three hats have to be up for trade. This number does not count the BASE hat.
BASE Hat: This is the hat touching you head. Everyone MUST have a base hat that is not up for trade ever. We need to establish a layer between your head and the tradable hats. It can be a bandana/head wrap/do-rag.
-Hats should be worn piled on the head on top of the BASE hat. Hats can also be attached to a backpack or bag as long as they stay visible.

TRADING:
-All hats, except the BASE hat, are fair game to the other trader. You can not specify which hat the other trader may or may not have. If you don't want to trade a certain hat, don't wear it.
-Every hat is a 1 for 1 trade.

What is a hat?
-Baseball Cap, Knit, Helmet, Shower Cap, Habit, Beanie, Fedora, Lamp Shade, Paper Hat, Beret, Flat Cap, Bowler, Sombrero, Bucket Hat, Straw hat, Coonskin, Tam, Top Hat, Fez, Turban.
If it ends in “hat or cap”, it can be used.

Not considered a hat:
-Bandana/Head Wrap/Do-rag, Masks, Headbands, Visors, Wigs

How will some recognize us?
If the piles of hats don't give you a clue, we plan on large buttons with the above logo.
<button image closer to PAX>

I think I have covered the basics. We would love the communities thoughts, ideas or questions.

The_MadHatter_

I am a hatter (not really) and I approve this message. Hope to see other support this.

Only question, can an item on the "Not considered a hat" list be used as the base hat if it does completely separate one's head from their tradable hats?

Lady Lilybell

If you're referring to the bandana/wrap/do-rag, the answer is yes. I added this to the end of the base hat description.

We have five people or more already willing to participate but we'll need more people.

knightsmanx

I would like to participate. I will be expanding my collection of hats to prepare for PAX. Whether this becomes an attraction or not, I will be wearing multiple hats during PAX (with a base hat of course).
See you there.

PayneTrayne

Sounds like a fun idea to me.

Lady Lilybell

It will be fun!

kropotkin

I have a question. Can the base hat be worn at jaunty angle? If so how much jauntiness will be tollerated?

Lady Lilybell

As long as it stays on your head, it's up to you. As long as everyone is aware of the people around you, the hats can go as high or at whatever angle you please.

Lodovico

I think its a great idea i will be bringing hats to trade with others.

Lady Lilybell

In it's first year, this idea did not work as well but we have learned a few lessons. We traded off two hats in total. Every time some approached us (usually with a corny TF2 joke), we handed them a button and explained the theory of trading hats. This lead to being called a-holes by the ignorant as we passed since we "were not cosplaying tf2 like they thought". We learned we need a small sign to attach to the stack. The closer PAX got, the more busy I became baking cookies and making the fleece hats. So I failed on posting some of the hats for trade and the pins.
I sewed fleece hats (chain chomp, shy guy, piranha plant and cat ears hats) for the exchange and only traded one away. I ended up getting a donation to child's play for the three I had left on Sunday.
Next year!