Location/Time of year

[Kohai999]

This question posed in another thread, broken off so as not to create massive thread drift.

PS - Could someone explain why there is such repeated complaint made about the time and place of the ABS show? I presume they had heat in Reno in January and will have a/c in San Antonio in August? It can get pretty toasty in Hotlanta in June, but they somehow manage to hold the Blade Show there every year just the same.

I can only tell you from my perspective, Roger.

I get MAYBE 2 1/2 weeks vacation time a year, so it is precious to me.

Short flights are nice, and so are amenities.

Reno had heat....but it is hard to get there when the weather is inclement, and the venue itself had a few "decent" but not first rate eateries. In cold, snowy weather a 20 minute cab ride to a really good steakhouse is "an adventure" and standing out in the cold to get a cabride back to the hotel is also an "adventure". Obviously, this comes from the perspective of a Southern Californian with thin blood and low tolerance for cold. I am sure that YOU would be jogging in your boxer shorts for exercise in that weather.

Though it was a PITA to get there, Reno was appealing for me due to ability to get knives from Bailey Bradshaw,Harvey Dean, Matt Diskin, Dan Farr, Burt Foster, Nick Wheeler and others AND have a pretty good time to boot.

Atlanta is a MUST attend show....but the heat in Summertime does suck, especially when you are late for a dinner meeting at the PepperMill, running/walking to make it there and get food poisoning, and puke at the Alpha Knife Supply booth....but that is another story for another time.

There is just not much appeal for me to go to Texas in the middle of the summer, especially when I can get my fix at Blade, or Josh Smith's show. IF the Expo moves back to Reno in January, I'll be there.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Jose Reyes]

My vote is to move it to NYC around April...

 

[RogerP]

STeven - my opportunity to attend knife shows is even more limited than your vacation time. 2-3 per year is what I can manage, tops. So when I attend a show - it's the show itself that matters most - the makers attending and the knives they bring. Whether it's hot or cold, snowing or sunny, humid or dry - makes little difference to me as I spend every minute possible at the tables.

And while I enjoy the socializing every bit as much as the show itself (our dinner at Blade year before last was a top highlight of the weekend) - most of that takes place inside as well - restaurants, hotel bar etc. What the weather is like outside is usually pretty far from my mind. Friday at Little Rock was sunny and beautiful. Sunday was wet and stormy. Made zero difference.

And if you're a bowie fan or have an interest in US history, you will drag your butt to the Alamo no matter how hot it is.

Roger

 

[Kevin Jones]

No matter whether it's hunting, fishing, cars show or knife show if there's something I want to do, I do it. Matters little if it's 10 degrees or 110 degrees.

I traveled in January from Virginia to Reno to all but one Expo Show as I will travel to every San Antonio Show in August unless there's a family obligation, such as what sprung up during Jerry's Show last year, keeping me from doing such.

 

[gunmakersman]

All I want to know is WHO IS IN THE SHOW. Its all about

MAKER
MAKER
MAKER!

Bottom line.

However, planes don't melt, but they hate ice and snow!

 

[sheathmaker]

Roger and Kevin pretty well summed up my feelings. I'm planning on five shows this year and the weather and the location is of no consequence. I'll be warm enough or cool enough because I'll be inside the show most of the time.

Paul

 

[Lorien]

I like Reno in the off season. Cool town.

 

[Kohai999]

Roger and Kevin pretty well summed up my feelings. I'm planning on five shows this year and the weather and the location is of no consequence. Paul

You are also in bed by, what, Paulie, 7:30 pm?

Us heathens like to get out to the village for some proper conquering and pillaging.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[jdm61]

Why did folks have a problem with Orlando when the Guild show was there? Was it a price issue more than anything else? It sure wasn't a lack of airline flight options. As a Floridian, I know that you no longer find the ridiculous out of season deals in the summer like you used to back when the Guild was there in the early 90's. Key West hotel rooms used to cost about 1/3 to 1/4 as much in the summer as it did in January back in the 80's, but those days are long gone.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Is no perfect time or place. If the show is really good, time/location doesn't matter.

August is historically a slow retail sales month, unless you're selling back to school supplies.

The most successful shows are not run by knife makers

 

[Kevin Jones]

Is no perfect time or place. If the show is really good, time/location doesn't matter.

August is historically a slow retail sales month, unless you're selling back to school supplies.

* The most successful shows are not run by knife makers

* I believe the exception would be the handful of mini-shows put on by makers. Jerry, Josh and Tom Ferry's shows to name the few that instantly come to mind are the model of success albeit limited makers and collectors that benefit.

Jerry Fisk had a very good idea.

 

[Bailey Bradshaw]

I think San Antonio is a great location. August, like Don indicated, is not a good time of year unless you are selling school supplies. The heat is a perception issue. It was hot last year, but only in the low 90's. The Southern half of the country has the same weather or worse when you add humidity.

Move it to early May and don't listen to the makers bitch about higher table fees because the hotels charge more for prime time of year. It's a prime time for a reason.

 

[Don Hanson III]

* I believe the exception would be the handful of mini-shows put on by makers. Jerry, Josh and Tom Ferry's shows to name the few that instantly come to mind are the model of success albeit limited makers and collectors that benefit.

Jerry Fisk had a very good idea.

Kevin, I was not talking about Micro-shows when I made the comment, didn't even enter my mind
You are right though and thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Kevin, I was not talking about Micro-shows when I made the comment, didn't even enter my mind
You are right though and thanks for pointing that out.

I know you won't addressing the micros Don.
Those guys have done such a great job creating a nice little niche for themselves, other makers and their collectors I though a positive call-out for them was in order.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Yeah Kevin, the Micros are smokin but kind of exclusive, so I don't group them in with full size shows. Jerry did come up with a hell of an idea and I'm lookin forward to being there this year. October is a Fine time of year also

 

[jklein7401]

I do not know what all the fuss is about. If I have the time and the makers I like are present, I could care less when and where. I understand many uf us cannot go to all of the shows due to our work schedules. In that case you just have to choose what is the most important for yourself. Is San Antonio hot in the summer, sure. It is also a couple of months after Blade and Josh Smith's show, 1 month before the Guld show and 2 months before Jerry's Micro show. There are so many to choose from they need to be spaced out so working folks such as myself can attempt to get the time off. If the heat keeps collectors away in any sizeable number I would find that surprising. Again, if you like who is there and want to add to your collection I cannot see that as much of a deterrent. As stated May would be fine, but I imagine it still can be plenty hot. If the show is anywhere from November to March you may be snowed in and unable to get to San Antonio. This past winter is a pretty good example. Yeah, yeah I know I am in Florida so that does not effect me. However, I am sure plenty of collectors shoveled out a few times this winter.

Just my opinion, debate is healthy.

Jon

 

[eisman]

My current job makes it hard to have continuity year to year. One year in three I get no vacation, this year I HAVE to take a minimum of 30 days, but there's only 3 months I can use. Luckily I'm close enough to Atlanta to make the Blade show on a long weekend. I used to do the Vegas and Reno shows, FEGA, SHOT, etc whenever I had free time as flying out of LAX or SAC was easy and cheap.

I will say that AUG is a bad month for hunters, the season's open or about to, and that's where our time is dedicated. And it's a big month for hunting related retail. No way I could have done a show then when I was in that business.

There's quite a lot of planning and research that goes into a properly planned show, but you're never going to please everyone.

 

[Mike Carter Custom Knives]

I think location and timing is a factor. If traveling to a show out of town I like to see what else the city has to offer besides the show. This is more true if someone is traveling with their family who might want to do something else while one is at the show. It's easier to justify the trip if it someplace that everyone wants to go to.

Even for the makers a pleasant location might be the determining factor for show they are considering. A lot of people, me included, did not like the Guild show in Orlando. I just don't care for Disney World or thier active anti-gun politics. On top of that everything is overpriced especially the hotel. It was serious concern for me in joining the Guild that I would have to do the shows in Orlando. The new location in Louisville offers a lot more reasonably priced attractions near the show and a much better hotel for the money.

Accessabilty is another big consideration. Florida, California, New York and Texas are cross-country trips for most of the population in the US. Atlanta and Louisville is an one-day drive for about 2/3 of the population.

I have learned that putting on a show is a MUCH more difficult job than most people would imagine. There are so many details that have to come together for it to work.

As for timing, a lot of factors have to be considered there also especially when trying to schedule a big event with a show venue and/or hotel. Other events in the area can greatly affect price and availability. Hotels are plentiful and reasonable in Louisville except for the week of the Kentucky Derby. Then everything is 3x - 4x normal price and sold out. We have several other big conventions every year as do most other cites that have to be considered.

The Guild used to have their show in late July. Then the AG Russell show started up around the same time. So when the Guild moved to KY they decided to also moved the date. The September dates worked with the venue without conflicting with other major shows. The Russell show then moved to the Guild's old time slot. It's never going to work best for everybody.

 

[Marcel54]

What's there to moan about. You guys have the dilema of choice. There are so many shows organized in the States that you can pick the ones you want to attend.

Now for the situation in Europe. We have only a couple of shows a year that are worthwhile, because of the quality of the makers that are in attendance. Want to know how many.....well about 4 (yes four!!!!). Solingen (Germany) in May, Paris (France) in September/October, Gembloux (Belgium) in November and Milan (Italy) also in November. To paraphrase a famous American.....That's all folks.

So do I whine about almost stranding in the Swiss Alpes due to snowfall on my way to Milan...no sir; I was glad I made it to pick up the knives I ordered and then made a detour of about 600 miles (the Alpes were closed up due to the snow) to get home again Why...because I love knives and the guys who make them.

Marcel

 

[3_hard_boiled_eggs]

My vote is to move it to NYC around April...

NYC?


"This stuff's made in New York City? Git the rope boys".