BLADE Exhibitor List - Am I the only one...

Les Robertson said:
Kevin,



If it is not relative and you didn't want to get into it why did you bring it up?

I didn't bring your shows up, David did. But I knew you wouldn't miss an opportunity to tell us how successful you and your shows were thus my reply to David. ;). Besides, how are two shows you put on years ago relative to our discussing Blade show errors in identifying tableholders.

The shows were money makers! I think Bob and I each made $100 on the first show and $850 each from the second show.

The show was discontinued due directly to the facts that:

A) The hotels didn't want to have a "Knife" show as they felt it would bring "unsavory types" to the show. Bikers were specifically mentioned by one hotel.

B) The hotels (every one of them) in order for them to set aside their aversion of knives if we were to hire a bar for the show (that we had to guarantee a specific amount of money be spent each hour...whatever the amount was missed by...we had to pay). Also, we had to include a banquet that would start at a minimum of $5,000.00.

In order for us to do this we would have had to double the table fee's.

This is why we chose not to continue the Sharp Show.

Now in the future you will not have to discuss things that, even though they are not relative and you don't want to bring them up...you won't have to.

But you right about This would include "you" as "some" of the people who do not have a clue.
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Yes, I'm clueless as to putting on a huge show, not clueless as to how complex large projects are and how even if everyone performs to the best of their ability and then some things still go wrong. How we react to the wrong and make it right is very important. Seems there's varying opinions as to how Blade has reacted/corrected the errors.
 
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Kohai999 said:
Kevin,

Both profit and non-profit companies may provide a similar "knife public service", but the driving mechanisms are different, one is driven by altruism, the other driven by capitalism.

I think spelling a maker's name wrong would be a minimal error, that making a directory such that it is useless to those trying to easily reference that maker's table location would be somewhat of a major error.

I'm NOT trying to crap in the Blade Show hat, for what it is worth, I see your points....HOWEVER....because you are the President of the CKCA, you feel it necessary to stand up for organizations such as they are, whereas I feel compelled to stand up for the individuals which make up organizations.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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I feel it necessary to stand up for any organization or individual of such an organization that I feel is doing their best to promote and progress custom knives whether they do it for profit such as Blade or not for profit such as the CKCA. It ALL helps as far as I'm concerned.
 
Not to change the topic but this thread made me realize I should check out the map in Blade magazine and start marking the stuff I wanna see. I flip the map over in the current blade issue and notice a picture with me yawning. Scary picture actually. Maybe checking the exhibitor map was not such a good idea after all.
 
Hi STeven,

You are of course 100% correct about Blade being a for profit outfit. The goal of every business is to make a profit.

The show was started by Bruce Voyles as both an entrepreneurial event and a labor of love. Being in business does not mean the the two cannot co-exist. My business is an example of that.

When Bob Neal and I did our shows, it was more a labor of love, but we agreed at the outset that we would not continue to do the show if it lost money. We would shut it down. Truth be told, we probably made about a nickel an hour....before taxes. LOL

The Blade Show is now probably closer to the SHOT Show....being an EVENT. Quite Possibly THE EVENT in the knife world.

Interesting in this down economy that they could add another 100 tables. And Im sure they have a waiting list for more.

The question I have is how much is the Blade Show pulling from other shows? Makers, Dealers, Collectors and Money. Without a doubt it hurt the Guild Show to the point that the original tenants stated the show would be held the 4th weekend in July of each year. Moving the show to September. Where it will "Bang Heads" with the Chicago show and it's invitational and auction.

Yes it did seem the new staff was using the names off the checks as opposed to the name on the contract. Whenever you bring in a new staff there is always a learning curve. To my knowledge Mary Lutz (who was absolutely phenomenal in her handling of the Blade Show...talk about a tough act to follow) is still with the magazine. Although I suspect someone with her background, especially with regards to event planning would have no problem finding a job somewhere else if she chose to.

Come noon next Friday...none of this will matter anymore. :D

See you at the show.
 
I just looked and they have me listed under my business name Soos Creek Ironworks, table 18-Q. They must have taken that off the check.......I am trying to fix it.
Thanks

Tom Ferry
 
wow this seems to be a problem of unprecedented proportions. i'm glad makers are speaking up and not being bullied here.
 
:eek: Yikes, I'll have to fire off another "maybe it's just me line"

Maybe it's just me, but since yesterday this thread has gone a bit personal and I don't mean personal as-in "my name as shown in the exhibitor list".


Now back to the actual thread.

I am glad this thread has been useful in that some knifemakers have noticed how they are listed due to it and have had a chance to get it corrected.

It has been useful to me as I have learned about the location of some of the knifemakers that I previously listed as not knowing about their table number on the showroom floor. I also got that link for the updated list.

I hope nobody took my comments as beating up on BLADE in general. I haven't even been to the show (ever) and am REALLY looking forward to it. I have high expectations (the weekend including hotel and travel isn't cheap after all).

As to my original gripe... I consider myself as a man of better-than-average intelligence (at least so I have been told). In that way I know that I should look under possible initials, first name and last name for listing. I even knew about the Montana Bladesmith ;). Tom Ferry's business name I would not have guessed. I also know Ron Best and was looking for him. I only figured out that he must be REB Integral Knives because I know his initials. Nowhere on his website do you find the name "REB Integral Knives". Definitely not intuitive. He must have seen this also as it is changed to "Best, Ronald" in the updated online list.

So all I was saying is that I couldn't find some people, didn't think that this year's listing was as good as last year and was a bit annoyed since it made finding some knifemakers harder than I had hoped.

That's all - nothing more, nothing less. :)
 
What shows other than Blade publish a table diagram?
Just ask because I go to 3-5 shows a year and can't remember seeing any.
I may just miss them as I'm kind of an explorer when it comes to shows.
 
Tom Ferry said:
I just looked and they have me listed under my business name Soos Creek Ironworks, table 18-Q. They must have taken that off the check.......I am trying to fix it.
Thanks

Tom Ferry
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Classic example. I sure know who Tom Ferry is and would definitely make his table a stop in my limited time at the show this year. But he's not under "T" for Tom nor under "F" for Ferry and I would otherwise have no clue what Soos Creek might be. Going from the list, I might well conclude he's not attending this year.

Make the list a phone book. Alphabetical by an individual maker's surname or by a production company's business name. Regardless of individual preferences, that is the easiest way for the buyers to find the sellers - and isn't that rather the point?

Roger
 
There is always a table chart and alphabetical listing at the Spirit of Steel Show.
Incidentally if a knifemaker uses his "forge" name, we will usually list their names both ways.

I personally think it is a big mistake for a knifemaker not to use his own name, as so much of this business and a knifemaker's success is built on the maker's good name he earns over the years. Naming some forge as his company name if he is doing sole authorship is confusing.

It's hard to be noticed as an individual if you're doing "me-too" stuff all the time.
 
OK guys, I know when I'm beat, :foot: I surrender and ready to accept my punishment. :o
Just please don't band me from the Blade Show. ;) :D

But seriously, you new guys/girls going for the first time, don't stress out.
If a tableholder's name is listed incorrectly, it's not like he falls into a black hole never to be found. It's makes it inconvenient, but it's not that difficult to find someone.

After trying many approaches, here's what works for me:
If I'm interested in a specific knife which I know a specific maker is bringing I will go straight to that table (yes, a correct table diagram definitely helps :thumbup:). But otherwise I start at the ABS section and go isle by isle covering the complete area quickly focusing only on the knives while taking notes as to which ones I want to come back to examine. I often play a silly game, in trying to see how many maker's knives I recognize without looking at the maker or name plate (I know, I'm easily amused :D). After the quick pass, I make another round examining the knives from my notes. Then after the ABS, I will go to the Guild section and so on. By the end of day, I have usually covered the floor and purchased my knives. Day two is fun day where I cover the floor again, this time just visiting with tableholders.

Yes, doing it my way you risk coming back and finding that special knife has been sold. :( However, I will take that chance rather than buy the first knife I see only to find others I would rather have purchased.

IMO, one of the biggest mistakes collectors make is thinking ALL the best knives are sold in the first hour, simply not true. Even many of the big names don't all sell out in 30 minutes. For example, Ed Fowler has what a 7 year waiting list if he takes orders at all. He generally brings quite a few knives which can be purchased far past the opening hour. I purchased the finest Tim Hancock knife (a coffin handle bowie pg. 114 of his book) I have ever owned, at a good value off his table around 4:30 in the afternoon on opening day.

Don't stress out, enjoy yourself. There are literally hundreds if not more outstanding knives at Blade Show.
 
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I for one was listed exactly the way I asked to be listed "Fowler Blades"

since I don't have a business checking account the only way they could have possibly found that name was because it's what I put down on the line where they asked how I wanted my table referenced.

I imagine several of these issues are low level helper types at F+W trying to do the best they can with limited information.
 
Irregardless of all the above banter...the Blade Show is the best and biggest there is. I look forward to it a week after leaving the previous Blade Show. I go...not to buy knives..but to buy handle material and to check how other builders are building and finishing their knives. I absoultely love it and try not to miss it.
 
Kevin:

I didn't bring your shows up, David did. But I knew you wouldn't miss an opportunity to tell us how successful you and your shows were thus my reply to David. . Besides, how are two shows you put on years ago relative to our discussing Blade show errors in identifying tableholders.
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I'll write this again, as it appears you missed it the first time.

If it is not relative and you didn't want to get into it why did you bring it up?
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Kevin you will note, I said nothing about promoting a show....until your remarks. Don't try and put this back on David. Kevin, man up and take responsibility for your actions.

Kevin you wrote:

Yes, I'm clueless as to putting on a huge show.
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Exactly right Kevin.

Since you were throwing in the towel and this thread will be dead soon. Just thought I would address your comments.
 
Les Robertson said:
Kevin:

I'll write this again, as it appears you missed it the first time.

Kevin you will note, I said nothing about promoting a show....until your remarks. Don't try and put this back on David. Kevin, man up and take responsibility for your actions.
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I believe you missed it Les as David brought up your shows not I. I just replied stating your shows weren't relative to our
discussion considering they were no where near the scope and/or size of Blade Show.

dbl-edge said:
Les Robertson co-produced a couple of shows in the 1990s and there weren't any noticeable problems. No, they weren't as large as Blade, but Les had no experience at that time with show production.
David
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Kevin Jones said:
And I don't want to get into Les' two shows as to how successful he was or why they stopped as it's not relative here considering the size comparison.
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Les, speaking of maning up, I haven't insulted you in this thread, however you have thrown several my way. And I'm not going to go back and forth with you here in public. It just makes us both look bad. If you feel the need to continue insulting me then do it in Atlanta where it can just be you and I privy to the conversation.
 
Well folks, I talked to Missy Beyer at Blade magazine this morning (BTW, Missy is not on the show staff, she's in advertising but helps with the show because she wants it to succeed).

She wanted me to let you fine folks know that Mary Lutz proof read the Exhibitor List. So it looks like the new staff were not totally responsible for the mix-up. She also said most of the mix-up with the names, was how the contracts were filled out.

For those that don't know, Mary Lutz is still with Blade and is the Advertising Assistant.

Just so you know....

P.S. Les, I had a table at 'The Sharp Show' many years ago ;)
 
I heard my name was mentioned here so thought I should respond.

I will not be attending Blade this year. My wife accepted a position in Missoula, Mt. so we are busy getting ready for the move. I had anticipated this happening earlier in the year (very strong gut feeling) so backed out of Blade then.

I'm sure glad I listen to my gut and made this decision as I have been way too busy the last few months to have any shop time.

My hard work paid off though. We got the house ready and had a good offer the first day it was listed. If all goes as planned we should be closing early june.

As a side note- My niece is getting married but unfortunately for me she set the date the same weekend as Josh's hammer-in so I'm sorry to say I won't be able to attend that this year.

Good luck to all who are going to Blade this year.

Jon Christensen
 
Hi Jon.
Good to hear things are going well for you and family.
A positive story is welcome in these times. :thumbup:
 
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