.....now I'm starting to get nervous, got my plane ticket to Blade

jonnymac44

jonnymac44

Joined
Sep 27, 2007
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Well, like the title says, with some encouragement from my wonderful wife I took the plunge last night and bought my round trip ticket to Atlanta for Blade!:D

I'm not proficient enough to invest in a table or anything, but I do plan on bringing several pieces for some after hours trading and what not.

I'm going to try really hard the next couple of months to put together some decent work. Here is my question, I love everything about knives, but with my current direction, I want to soak up as much as possible from a maker's standpoint. What should I be doing to get ready, what questions should I be asking while I'm there, and who should I be asking? I'm really looking forward to putting faces to many of the names I've gotten so familiar with over the last few years, but I want to learn as much as I want to enjoy the show. I'm a little concerned that once I'm inside I'll just wander around like a zombie ogling all the gorgeous hardware and will forget to accomplish anything:o
 
If I ever go, I have only one question to ask one maker:

"Will you adopt me Mr. Bump?" ;)

I am happy for you Jonny. :thumbup:
 
Patrice Lemée;9440677 said:
If I ever go, I have only one question to ask one maker:

"Will you adopt me Mr. Bump?" ;)

I am happy for you Jonny. :thumbup:
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LOL, nice idea Patrice!:D Maybe we need a "which knifemaker would you like to be adopted and tutored by?" thread;)
 
Prepare to drink. Get a room at the Renaissance. Its worth it not to have to drive. You'll be spending your evenings with the who's who of knifemaking in the pitt there anyway. Every direction you turn will be famous great makers to meet, and tip a beer with. Be sure to come by and see me.
 
Hell ya, Jon! My advice would be make as many knives as you can by then, I think you will travel home lighter.

PS, not having met your wife, I like her already.

Erik
 
Let me start by saying that I am not a knife maker. But I have been a sales and marketing manager and have attended hundreds of shows. Here are some basic rules I used to give the crew:

You are going to have a lot of fun at the show. But there's so much to see and do that you can easily get off track and find yourself coming home with tasks incomplete. Make an agenda of things you absolutely need to do. Force yourself to accomplish those tasks before you start something else. Work - then play - even after hours.

In your specific case, don't forget the marketing. If you have product you're thinking about selling get it professionally photographed. Then, when you get back home you'll be able to build the flyers, catalogs, and website you need to sell your wares.

Talk to the publishing reps at the show. They can get you in print, and provide potential customers. But you need to know who your customer is, they won't tell you that.

Talk to the reps from the various associations (usually outside the main hall). You'll be amazed at who who'll end up talking to, and they can help.

Don't run out of business cards.

Good luck.
 
Fiddleback said:
Prepare to drink. Get a room at the Renaissance. Its worth it not to have to drive. You'll be spending your evenings with the who's who of knifemaking in the pitt there anyway. Every direction you turn will be famous great makers to meet, and tip a beer with. Be sure to come by and see me.
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Andy, you and I will definitely be hooking up! We've got drawings to go over, remember?:D

Some folks have suggested grabbing a room at the Embassy Suites Galleria right across the road. I thought they had a promo going, but I talked to somebody tonight who quoted me $129 a night. At that price I guess I should dole out the few extra bucks to stay at the Renaissance, huh? Besides, the pit is where I plan to do most of the talking about my own knives anyway. Since I'm not paying for a table, I don't think it would be fair to be talking up my business on the show floor. If I bring a few pieces to sell and have my work seen I think it should be after hours.
 
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alb1k said:
Hell ya, Jon! My advice would be make as many knives as you can by then, I think you will travel home lighter.

PS, not having met your wife, I like her already.

Erik
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She's a good one, Erik:thumbup: Although she does refer to all of us here as knife whores:D
 
You are are on the right track to sell after hours imo. Its only respectful to the makers who paid for a table. Have a drink for me and take some pics for us guys that can't go please.
 
Ok, I booked my room at the Waverly. The price difference was not big enough to keep me from staying at the heart of the action:D
 
A couple more quick questions for those who have been......

I don't like the idea of checking a bag full of handmade knives with the airlines, especially after what happened to Ken Onion a couple years ago. Do any of you guys ship blades to the hotel before you go and have them hold them for you? If not, what's the best way to get them there?

Also, I plan on grabbing a cab from the airport to the Waverly, and then I figure most of the time will be spent right there between the show and hotel. I don't think there is any need to rent a car, is there?
 
just go and take in what you can. Thats the simple plan.

My Plan.....Sometimes the best plan is not to have one.

My current Plan is
Step 1 - Make knives
Step 2 - Show up.

Thats it :)
 
Johnny, I flew there with my journeyman's knives; no problem. Just have a lockable case and I put a note in mine saying "please don't screw with these knives, my status depends on them!" Don't know if anyone even read it but I got there and passed! :rolleyes:

m
 
Congrat's on going. I would love to get there some day. Enjoy.
 
anvilring said:
Johnny, I flew there with my journeyman's knives; no problem.

Just have a lockable case and I put a note in mine saying "please don't screw with these knives, my status depends on them!" Don't know if anyone even read it but I got there and passed! :rolleyes:

m
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Ed Caffrey had an interesting post somewhere about shipping his knives together with a handgun for airline travel.

That luggage had a much higher level of tracking and security that was less likely to be tampered with.
 
Jon,

I know we talked already...but...the bourbon will flow like the salmon of Capistrano. You should already have my number. If not, you know where to look.
 
morrowj_98 said:
Jon,

I know we talked already...but...the bourbon will flow like the salmon of Capistrano. You should already have my number. If not, you know where to look.
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Yep, I'll be talking to you in the next couple days Jason.:thumbup:

sharpeknives said:
Johnny,
I'll be there at the show and in the pit. If we meet up I'll buy you a beer.
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That's a deal!

blgoode said:
just go and take in what you can. Thats the simple plan.

My Plan.....Sometimes the best plan is not to have one.

My current Plan is
Step 1 - Make knives
Step 2 - Show up.

Thats it :)
Click to expand...

I like the way you think Brian! Knifemaking by the seat of your pants!!:D

I like the lockable case idea, but was that checked with the airlines or shipped ahead of time? I've got a Maxpedition monsoon bag and I'm considering packing light enough that I can just use that bag and carry on and not check anything at all. It would be nice not to have to hassle with baggage claim!
 
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