Knifemaker's Guild Show Sept 17-20

Hello Mike, IMHO the Guild show was great. I sold a few knives and a couple of collectors dropped off a few for me to sell.

I personally think you did a great job getting the word out about "Our" show.:thumbup:

Oh, one other thing Mike,

"Never argue with an idiot. They'll just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience!"

See you next year,

A.T.
 
I went to the show Saturday. It was the biggest and best show I have attended. The other "major" show I have been to was in St. Louis which has about twenty custom knife makers. I was very impressed with the show in Louisville. The makers were all very friendly and willing to talk to you. I especially enjoyed talking to Dave Ricke. The work these people put in the knives is unbelievable. I will be there again next year, no doubt. I hate to see the bickering in this thread about the show and the past history of the Guild. Except for that, everything was very positive about the show.
 
I was at the Guild show this year, and it was a pretty damn good show, unlike the Chicago show, which wasn't much of a show. The Guild show had lots of tables and makers, and a nice crowd the whole weekend, unlike Chicago, which was almost a joke. Did I mention that the Chicago show was a waste of time? ;)

Les, I realize you can't help being the way you are; but, I would think an educated man like yourself(who is in the business of selling knives) would realize that negative comments like you have posted over and over again here in this thread, probably do little to improve the knife industry. Just my opinion, but I think you should be doing everything in your power to promote knives and improving knife shows(like Mike is doing, BTW).
 
HI Don,

Now that you and everyone else misunderstood what I wrote. It was a compliment.

The fact that you have worked hard to get yourself in the enviable position you are in.

I used the word "Luck" as those who create a successful business will often hear from those working for others "You are so lucky that you work for yourself". I hear that all the time. Actually it is a joke between my wife and I (as she owns her own successful business). We bet how many times we will hear how "lucky" we are at a party or some other social event.

So Al, Kevin and Joe you can ease up.
 
I hear that a lot too. Like people think you just kind of fell into it and it's all rainbows and unicorns.
Anyone successfully in business for themselves is lucky. But getting to the successful part takes shitloads of work. And luck.
 
Hi Danbo:

Les, I realize you can't help being the way you are; but, I would think an educated man like yourself(who is in the business of selling knives) would realize that negative comments like you have posted over and over again here in this thread, probably do little to improve the knife industry. Just my opinion, but I think you should be doing everything in your power to promote knives and improving knife shows(like Mike is doing, BTW).
Click to expand...

When analyzing any situation, especially a business situation. You have to understand that there is always room for improvement...always.

Consequently, for improvement you have to address the negative aspects of the situation. Identify what they are and how you can diminish or eliminate their affects.

While table holders will bitch and complain in the bar after the show....few if any will actually approach the leadership with their concerns. Some feel that as a probationary member they don't want to "rock the boat" or as a brand new Voting member are so happy they will look over any negative aspect.

As I wrote earlier I agreed with Mike that the word "Fix" was probably the wrong word. Improve the Guild and it's show was a better term.

When I asked if there was a cost associated with having a photo in the gallery on the show page. Mike pointed out that there was no cost and that the reason that most of the table holders (65%) didn't post a picture is because they Didn't want to "Mess with the Internet."

Harry Matthews corrected that saying that the photo just had to go the Guild Secretary and there was no charge.

What appeared to be a negative comment on my part, followed up by Harry with the "correct" information and procedure. Will Im sure it will add to the number of photos in that Gallery for next years show.

You identify an area that can be improved. Find out what you can do to reduce or eliminate them and fix them.

You will also note that I further proposed an idea that would allow most if not all table holders to get a photo in that Gallery.

You will also note that there has not been any other positive suggestions on how to improve the show...other than by Mr. Negative. :D

Dan I want every area of custom knives to improve. I guess I just have little tolerance for "lip service"

Question for you Dan...where do you think the hundreds of Guild Members that were active 8 - 10 years ago went to?

I know you know the answer....but answering would show more negativity.

It is that "ancient history" where the answers to the current questions reside.

Oh Dan BTW....WOW why so much negativity about the Chicago show???? Didn't you hear that someone spent $100,000 at the Auction? Didn't you see Coop's incredible photos!!!!! It was an awesome show.

Now, don't you like me better with my new Positive attitude. :D
 
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Mike I applaud you for standing up for the guild. But I agree with Les. Though he just ever so slightly more abrasive than me! :D He brings up many good points. You never saw the guild like Les did so your heart cant be broken to see what's its become.

I have gone to over 25 guild shows as collector and maker. I have seen it in its heyday which was last few years of its first 10 years in Orlando. No show will ever match what Frank Centofante was able to make the guild show into during those years. You couldn't walk a foot and a half without running into someone in all directions. There were some 450 tables average and I bet that the average knives sold were at least 7-10. I would be surprise if the average at this last show was even 2. Mind you that would be only 250 knives compared to 3150-4500. And back then the list of makers was much more impressive than it is now. Everyone who was anyone attended the Guild show. Average knife would had been way higher price.

I remember standing up at the guild show meeting a long time ago. I had said that our website and advertising were bad and needed to be improved greatly. To this day I have seen no improvements and the guild had dwindled greatly. I think Les is trying to ignite a spark to get the ball rolling again. I know for one I sure would like to see the guild in its former glory.
 
Les, sorry I misunderstood. Have always had a problem with the word, Luck.

I guess I am lucky but didn't get here "through luck"

Thanks for the compliment!
 
I would agree that there is always room for improvement in a business situation. Les there are probationary members as well as new voting members that are very vocal about the Guild, its future and possible steps that could be taken to improve it. I have found the Board very open to suggestions, even to those made by a nonvoting, probationary member. I have personally made several. I have also pointed out things that could be improved and admitted that I didn't have a solution but would be glad to work on it. My suggestions have been made to the Board members which is where I believe they would have the most effect.

Times have changed and so have the people involved. There are a ton of shows that can be attended, the internet has changed the world market place and makers have come and gone. Things aren't the same. I hear people say that the Blade Show is a make it or break it situation for makers. They either sell there or they don't make it. I don't believe that it is necessary to sell a single knife at a knife show to be successful in this business. What we sell at knife shows is not even a significant part of our business. There are so many other places to sell them that work very well. I do think that shows are important for makers and great for what they are. A show. Let people see firsthand what the maker can do and get comfortable with the maker himself. Shows are great places for people that want to hand over cash and take away a prize. I like that part too. I brought back two from the Guild Show that I ws glad to get. With most makers attending several shows around the country no one show becomes all important anymore.

With makers having a money back, no questions asked guarantee and no deposit on custom orders a lot of the risk has been eliminated from ordering on line. With the quick dissemination of information on the internet, it doesn't take long to find out what a maker has available nor does it take long for a maker's reputation to be ruined by him mishandling a situation or by someone that thinks he was slighted by the maker. It all contributes to the ease of selling and buying custom knives. It has and will continue to change the face of knife shows.

Knife shows have never been static they have always changed. In the late sixties and early seventies I went to large gun shows to buy knives. Then knife specific shows started showing up and knife makers stopped going to gun shows. Now there are knife shows every where that are becoming more and more specific to certain types of knives or certain makers. Invitational and minishows are becoming popular. It has been said that the only thing that is constant is change. Those of us that love knife shows, and I am not just referring to the Guild Show, will have to adapt to the changes and adapt the shows as well or they will fall by the wayside.

Then you have the Blade Show. It is like the Fair coming to town. You still have your radio, TV, X-Box, movies and ball games for entertainment, but when the Fair comes to town it all pales in comparison.
 
I started going to the Guild Show when it was in Dallas. Went to all the first ones in Orlando, Vegas, New Orleans and back to Orlando. Quit going 2 or 3 years ago as the show was no longer big enough to be worth crossing the country for.

I don't know the politics or the business reasons why, but it seems to me that the Guild show started its nose dive when the ABS guys quit coming in any numbers. There went about half of those 450 tables. Then, of course, the Guild drove out a number of big names that were actually major draws for the show. Face it, a show has to offer something pretty special for people to travel any distance to attend. The current show doesn't.
 
In regards to comments about "Premier Shows" being New York, Chicago, Etc.
One of the main purposes of the Guild is to promote the art and craft of knifemaking, and to provide a venue for those new makers who join to show their work and to receive help and advise from us oldtimers. For a new maker, no mattter how good he is, to get a table at one of the "Premier" shows is virtually impossible. At the Guild Show they get exposure to a vast array of collectors and interested public, and hopefull be "off and running" with a promising career as a knifemaker. Yes, there have been problems, but the vast majority of comments on the 2009 Show have been positive, and I think the Guild deserves the respect and support of those who have benifited from it in the past.
 
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