How many knives for a show?

When discussion becomes discord I don't want to play. Discussion is a good thing for all concerned, we get to consider alternative views that may have never occurred to us individually.

In my previous post I neglected to type the word "future" health of our community.

Each of us enter the knife community for our own reasons. I make knives because I have to, they dominate my thoughts much of the time and have been a big part of my life since I was a little kid. Had I never sold a knife I would still make knives. The study of knives, past and present is a joy to me, dreams of knives of the future is icing on the cake.

I am not jealous of any maker, all I hope for is honesty with our clients and ourselves.
 
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The reason so many knife makers fail is that they don't treat it like a business

You Ed can treat it any way you want because you have worked hard and have payed your dues and justifiable have become very respected for what you do in the industry. You can set your price and a show is like a meet and greet for you.

I know I enjoy seeing you and shaking your hand. I especially like when you drop your knife tip down into the concrete :)

But for some this is purely an event to sell there wares and exhibit as much as they can for as long as they can and if they have no more knives for sale they have done a good job

But this simple boils down to the haves and the have nots

Some makers bust there ass but do to demand and other things that happen in life hey can never keep up with the demand

So therefore they struggle to have knives for a show

Makers like Don H , Jason K , RJ Martn, Snody ,etc they struggle to get as many as they can ready for the shows and believe me I have never seen either of these gracious gentleman say to me.....man I wished I would have not brought so many knives. :)

These are the haves ...... They HAVE earned it

Then you have folks that have fifty knives on the table and that's fine but the demand is less so they had the time to get this amount ready

These folks do not have the draw and the demand for there knives

This is life

Is life fair...... not always


So then you have the collector that travels far and wide to come to a show. He lounges in on a Sunday and expects one of the top makers to have a knife on his table just waiting for him. This is ridiculous .

Like anything in life you have to be proactive

Like getting good tickets for the Dead :)

Be there bright and early the first day. Get on the floor and find the makers you have interest in and see what they have

The collectors that no how to work it are reaching out months in advance asking the makers they have interest in what they are bringing etc.


I can remember my first blade

I sat a Jason Knights table the opening morning and my prize was a beautiful Fighter

One of the best I have ever seen

Than you have collectors that are displeased with this and do not want to be part of the hype ( I call it fun )

That is fine but please don't fault a guy for being a maker that is in demand or another collector that will hassle to get a knife. To each his own

This takes place in all things
 
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JParanee said:
So let me get this straight

A maker who is in very high demand only has time to finish ten knives ...... He comes to blade and the morning of the first day he/she sells all 10.

What is he supposed to do, not sell them so he can have knives on the table ?
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Put that little sign up with that 'dirty' 4 letter word: SOLD ;)

I've left numerous knives on a makers table for the duration of a show, or until I leave, so it can be shown.

I've attended many shows as a seller and buyer but mostly buyer these days.....it can be a very long 2-3 days standing behind a table, full of knives or not.
 
Dawkind said:
Put that little sign up with that 'dirty' 4 letter word: SOLD ;)

I've left numerous knives on a makers table for the duration of a show, or until I leave, so it can be shown.
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I stopped doing that, Dudley....I trust the makers, but I don't trust buyers worth a lick, generally speaking, too many gun shows under my belt. The maker is responsible for theft or damage if you leave a paid for item on his table, it puts him in a bad place if the knife gets damaged or stolen....it isn't worth it...it just isn't.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
The point I was trying to make earlier is that different people are motivated by different things. You don't need to be an Ed Fowler to use trade shows primarily as a meet and greet. That's apparently what the knifemaker I referred to earlier uses them for, and he's nowhere near as famous as Ed is. The fact that he didn't have any knives to sell at the show from practically the outset of opening day didn't seem to bother him one whit. I picked mine up on opening day and had he asked me if I'd leave it with him so he could display it until the afternoon of closing day, I'd have done that. What I came away with was a desire to keep buying this maker's knives . . . not just because they're superbly built, but because he just seems to be so darned grateful and relaxed about everything. I really enjoyed spending time with him.
 
Ed Fowler said:
When discussion becomes discord I don't want to play. Discussion is a good thing for all concerned, we get to consider alternative views that may have never occurred to us individually.

In my previous post I neglected to type the word "future" health of our community.

Each of us enter the knife community for our own reasons. I make knives because I have to, they dominate my thoughts much of the time and have been a big part of my life since I was a little kid. Had I never sold a knife I would still make knives. The study of knives, past and present is a joy to me, dreams of knives of the future is icing on the cake.

I am not jealous of any maker, all I hope for is honesty with our clients and ourselves.
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We can not get much more honest than to post on the largest forum in the world.
Your are Rock Star Mr. Fowler. I remember the first time I met you at Blade circa 2003.
You were with a client having a knife photographed by Eric.
I asked you a question and you grabbed that Pronghorn off the table where they were photographing and spent alot of time explaining your knife to me.
I will always remember the time you took to talk to me and it made me feel kind of special..

If it was not for Knifemakers there would be No Knifeshows..

You want to talk about Honesty. Where is the Honesty in charging Ed Fowler a table fee..
You are without a doubt one of Top Draws to the Event and you still have to buy a table..
Why is it that the rest of the United States operates on a system of Capitalism but we knifemakers need to be humble, keep our heads down and stay broke.

You think the CEO of Krause is living in poverty?
In any other venue the show promoter would pay you to travel to the event as opposed to charging you a table fee and giving you a list of rules to follow.
Many members are making reference to Trade Shows, well guess what all those celebrities, and professional chefs, and professional bass fisherman, and professional hunters, and professional race car drivers get paid to go to the Trade Show to promote products.. I met all the guys from Jack Ass at SHOT a few years ago and they were getting paid to attend the event. Mannie the shark hunter and Steve O put raw chicken in their underwear and swim through alligator pits. That is their claim to fame and they get paid to attend shows.

I would pick the top twenty makers in the World and give them Free Tables by the Front Door, send a masseuse to come rub your shoulders and give you some of that flavored oxygen to keep you perky...
 
Thanks Mike: I consider the knife community my family, I have no other. Blade Show is a family reunion for me. I do not feel I live in poverty, I am rich beyond what money can provide. This sentiment gives me my most precious possession, freedom. I can spend months seeking to understand a knife made by a maker who made a great knife hundreds of years ago and by providence send it my way and challenges me to know what for and why. My goal is to share what knowledge I can develop with any who are interested. Some times I get a little excited and over load them, but this is my joy.

I do not feel I am famous, I put my socks on one at a time just like the rest of you.

Your comment about meeting me, made my day.
 
This thread has been a great read. Kudos to all involved for keeping it civil, even though the opinions vary so much.

I am sort of in-between where Mike Snody and Ken~The Virginian~ are (or at least where I think they are).

To preface this, let me say I think Mike has formed himself into a totally unique, powerhouse in the custom knife world. While much of his approach has "gone against the grain" of conventional custom maker mentality... it has brought him financial security/success and a huge following. Not many people can say they wouldn't want that!

I 100% agree that a show should make money for the maker. Saying that a show is only for meeting and greeting is a very nice, romantic notion, and pretty easy to say when you are successfully selling hunting knives for $2,500-$3,000. ;) :) But the bare bones bottom line---- is that it COSTS MONEY to attend a show. If you just attend shows to shake hands and don't ever sell anything, all you're doing is running up debt.


BUT... I also appreciate what Ken is talking about. If a collector is spending his/her time and money to attend a show, they want to handle knives.


So for me, a perfect show is one that I sell everything in the first hour, but get to keep at least a couple of knives on the table for the weekend. Yes, you are taking some risk by holding onto knives that are already paid for... But for me, one of the best ways for me to sell me and my work approach, is for people to handle my knives.

There are a thousand things you can appreciate by handling a knife that you don't get from a 2 dimensional photo. Of course the biggest one is balance and feel. How many times have you picked up a knife that felt totally different than you would have guessed it would based on looks alone?

And the details of construction cannot be seen in photos. I've seen knives that looked killer in photos, but when I saw the knives in hand, there were flaws I consider totally unacceptable--- like plunge cuts being 1/8" off from each other, or a handle being kicked over to one side, or the tip of the blade being way off center....

Of course there are a million fine detail issues that can be hidden in a photo.


I WANT people to pick up my knives, see how they feel, move them around, and break out their micrometer eye-ball to inspect every little detail of my construction quality. A photo will never allow that.


So at the end of the day... if I go to a show, I HAVE to make money, but I need folks to see and handle my knives as well. It's a real catch 22!!! :)
 
Let me put the "ol' leaving the knives on the maker's table thing" into a consequences sort of frame.

IF I was dumb enough to agree to let a maker keep one of my paid for knives on the table, would want the maker's assurance that if something went south with the knife(damage/theft) that my money would be returned on the spot, once the damage happened, repair is not really an option, unless it was something I could fix myself.

Would want to know who caused the damage in that case, so I could publicly mock that person.

Accidents happen rarely, but negligence happens frequently. When I stabbed myself in the hand a couple years ago at the AKI, it wasn't an accident, it was negligence...I wasn't paying attention. These aren't Beannie Babies or orchids we collect, knives can be really dangerous, even to experienced handlers.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
STeven any time you wish to stab yourself at a show (Dumb Ass) :) I will gladly lay one of my knives on the table for you aaaaaand I am sure with your track record it might be worth a touch more :)
 
JParanee said:
STeven any time you wish to stab yourself at a show (Dumb Ass) :) I will gladly lay one of my knives on the table for you aaaaaand I am sure with your track record it might be worth a touch more :)
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I don't want to touch most of your knives Joe, they ugly, just like you.:D

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
NickWheeler said:
If you just attend shows to shake hands and don't ever sell anything, all you're doing is running up debt . . .
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. . . or building good will to be cashed in later. ;) To quote Paul Simon, one man's ceiling is another man's floor.
 
Ed Fowler said:
Thanks Mike: I consider the knife community my family, I have no other. Blade Show is a family reunion for me. I do not feel I live in poverty, I am rich beyond what money can provide. This sentiment gives me my most precious possession, freedom. I can spend months seeking to understand a knife made by a maker who made a great knife hundreds of years ago and by providence send it my way and challenges me to know what for and why. My goal is to share what knowledge I can develop with any who are interested. Some times I get a little excited and over load them, but this is my joy.

I do not feel I am famous, I put my socks on one at a time just like the rest of you.

Your comment about meeting me, made my day.
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You are Famous, Internationally Famous.
The knife community is your family, I have never heard a single respected member of our community say anything remotely negative about you.
You are kind of like Grandpa Walton. You have brought passion and history to the game.. You have motivated thousands of people around the globe.
You motivated me. The time you took to allow me to handle your knife and explain the incredible ergonomics of your signature asymmetrical handle as well as showing the triple temper lines in your blade left a permanent mark on me and no doubt guided my career as a maker. Although my course as a Knifemaker is somewhat atypical I studied all the masters to the point that I knew your dogs name and what you ate for breakfast. My journey would not be possible if not for you and the other hard core veterans out there that dedicated their lives to pursuit of excellence and shared the craft. Your the Ambassador for Knifemaking. Know one else really comes close to you in that regard.
I would ride the river with you any day..
Much Respect from Texas.
 
Kohai999 said:
When I stabbed myself in the hand a couple years ago at the AKI, it wasn't an accident, it was negligence...I wasn't paying attention. These aren't Beannie Babies or orchids we collect, knives can be really dangerous, even to experienced handlers.
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I have only ever been to one knife show, and that was the one. The self inflicted stabbing is something that I will never forget- "hey Steve, what's that in your hand? Ewww!" :)
And not only that, but when it came to being publicly mocked, it was none other than Shelley Berman himself who served it up for you!
I'll always remember you standing up at the banquet subsequent to Shelley's commentary to offer your own words; "STigmata, STigmata!"
Lol, that was classic.
I'm just glad there was no lasting damage and we can all look back on it and laugh.
 
Lorien said:
And not only that, but when it came to being publicly mocked, it was none other than Shelley Berman himself who served it up for you!
I'll always remember you standing up at the banquet subsequent to Shelley's commentary to offer your own words; "STigmata, STigmata!"
Lol, that was classic.
I'm just glad there was no lasting damage and we can all look back on it and laugh.
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I was yelling at Shelly that STigmata was nothing to joke about, lol.

I got a 3/4" scar on my left palm, reminds me that even the coolest cat CAN be a total dumbass from time to time.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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