BLADE Show '24 Observations.

The only reason I drove to the venue was to have a place to drop off materials I bought (handles, steel, etc). Then drove back to the hotel and Uber'd it back for the Pit (no drinking and driving boys and girls!) Next year I already booked my hotel, and I am staying right across the street from the venue, so walking to and from.
 
We (son and I) went Sat. only. Encountered no line to get in by 10 or so, but the “backpack bump” was certainly very common. Going against the grain, I like card pay ( much simpler and quicker) for food and parking. Plus it saves my cash for knives! Son’s truck is lifted (welcome to GA bubba) so we got a premo spot just inside the gate before the headroom disappears. Saw some old friends and met Joe Flowers for the first time at the Condor booth. Caught the cutting competition for the first time this year around. With family in the area I prob will never get to the pit but maybe next time… Don’t like crowds either but maybe the show just a victim of its own success ( add a4th day??).
 
We (son and I) went Sat. only. Encountered no line to get in by 10 or so, but the “backpack bump” was certainly very common. Going against the grain, I like card pay ( much simpler and quicker) for food and parking. Plus it saves my cash for knives! Son’s truck is lifted (welcome to GA bubba) so we got a premo spot just inside the gate before the headroom disappears. Saw some old friends and met Joe Flowers for the first time at the Condor booth. Caught the cutting competition for the first time this year around. With family in the area I prob will never get to the pit but maybe next time… Don’t like crowds either but maybe the show just a victim of its own success ( add a4th day??).
To be fair, a lot of the gripes as Halfneck Halfneck points out are primarily issues on Saturday. Friday isn't as packed, most likely because the casuals aren't there. Saturday is always the worst day of the weekend every year for crowds, and all the issues that crowds bring. Aisles stop being easy to walk through, parking evaporates, and yep, most of us carry backpacks to hold purchases so hands are free to inspect potential new purchases. I do not generally attend the show on Sundays, but given that you start seeing empty tables Saturday afternoon as makers/people who've sold everything pack it up, I expect that adding a fourth day would probably be difficult. The only day you could really add would be Thursday, and honestly, it would mean that makers are all sold out of their choicest stuff by Friday, unless they held things back for Saturday. That would then mean they'd have to show up with enough items to attract people to their booth three days instead of two. Some tables, knives blow out by Friday at 11AM, so not sure how that would work.
 
Adding a 4th day probably wouldn't do much except at cost. Sundays are fun, because most of the masses are driving home, custom makers are more apt to sell what they still have a t a reduced price (so as not to worry about carrying that stuff back with them) and the ability to actually talk to an individual maker is higher. Saturdays are chaotic.
 
..... Don’t like crowds either but maybe the show just a victim of its own success ( add a4th day??).

Adding a fourth day would cause the number of makers (especially handmade makers) exhibiting to plummet.

4 days is a LONG show, especially for small scale operations. Everyone I know hates 3 day shows and a fair number of them have already dropped three day shows or are considering it. 4 day shows would push them over the edge.

Some makers already cut out early on day 3 of a 3 day show or don't show up at all.

One day or maybe two day small(er) boutique type shows are the future for high end handmade knives and the makers/collectors.
 
Ok. You guys have convinced me. I'm NEVER going to go to one of these shows. LOL! 😉

Agreed I have zero patience with oblivious \ inconsiderate people...... If they bumped into you they sure as shit bumped others as well.......Sorry don't fix it.if you keep doing it in my world and I will let you know and not cordially😠.

Better I go to the mountains by myself...😉
 
Ok. You guys have convinced me. I'm NEVER going to go to one of these shows. LOL! 😉
Yeah, right! See ya next year. Prob right about long shows. As a user the custom folders are out of my price range-I sure love to see all the new stuff tho
 
I have never but I have considered attending one of these years I would hope to have a better experience than the OP. One trip like that and no way would I go back.
 
Ideas: Move show to Orlando area instead of worst-traffic-in-US Atlanta. Have a private pros (suppliers, manufacturers, makers, buyers) only day on the first day and only open the last two days to the public.
 
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Ideas: Move show to Orlando area instead of worst-traffic-in-US Atlanta. Have a private pros (suppliers, manufacturers, makers, buyers) only day on the first day and only open the last two days to the public.
I like the idea of the move to Orlando as that would benefit me personally! LOL However having "private pros" having access to all the makers for a whole day would probably spell the end of the show. We already see some of the resellers out there who get early access to makers' tables (some of whom have no issue selling to these folks) and so that knife you paid all the expenses traveling to the show hoping to purchase is now posted up on Arizona Customs, or EBossHoss at a significant markup Friday by lunchtime. I know people who would stop attending if they knew that there was zero chance at getting their hands on a desirable knife at table price because flippersresellers had already swooped in and picked all the tables and makers clean of the best knives. 🤷

I would probably stop going myself if I knew there was going to be no chance at picking up something good.
 
One of the problems with moving a show this large, other then finding a place as big or bigger to host it is getting a date blocked for it. years ago when the Knifemakers Guild left the Marriott in Orlando...that was it. from what I heard a few years after they left was if the Guild wanted to go back to the Marriott in Orlando there was a six year wait for the previous dates they had there.
The traffic in Orlando is no ride in the park either ha ha. although I personally hate Orlando...living in Florida, I admit there's a lot to do around there if your traveling with family.

Any big show anywhere is going to have logistic problems with traffic, parking, food and what have you but when you look at the size of the Blade show I think the people running it did a pretty good job running and setting it up, a lot of the problems are third party money grabbers like the parking lots and stale soft pretzels.
I only go every other year, driving from the Tallahassee Fl. area and that's only because I don't like the traffic as soon as I get near Atlanta...or any major city for that matter.
 
I like the idea of the move to Orlando as that would benefit me personally! LOL However having "private pros" having access to all the makers for a whole day would probably spell the end of the show. We already see some of the resellers out there who get early access to makers' tables (some of whom have no issue selling to these folks) and so that knife you paid all the expenses traveling to the show hoping to purchase is now posted up on Arizona Customs, or EBossHoss at a significant markup Friday by lunchtime. I know people who would stop attending if they knew that there was zero chance at getting their hands on a desirable knife at table price because flippersresellers had already swooped in and picked all the tables and makers clean of the best knives. 🤷

I would probably stop going myself if I knew there was going to be no chance at picking up something good.
I agree with everything you said with exception of moving BLADE to Orlando. I argue that Las Vegas, NV would be an exceptional location. They can handle large events, larger than BLADE with ease, there is plenty of hotel rooms, restaurants, shopping and Harry Reid Airport is nearby. For those that look for something to do in the evenings there is plenty of entertainment options. It is even spouse friendly. You can explore BLADE show all day and your spouse can enjoy the many attractions to be found on the Las Vegas Strip.
 
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