Random thoughts from GVI....

Kohai999

Kohai999

Second Degree Cutter
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
12,554
The Gathering in Las Vegas IS THE Tactical show of the year....period.

Planet Hollywood Hotel continues to suck. We had to hound them for a rollaway bed for 8 hours after we asked for one. The sink handles in the bathroom leaked, the toilet wouldn't stop running, the carpets in the halls are torn and run-down and the service in the coffee shop blows chunks. I hate this hotel, but it sure is easy to get to the showroom, and that is the number one priority.

Have been going since GII, to say that it is a "must do" is an understatement. I was chatting with a maker who told me he was thinking about giving up shows entirely....and I informed him that he could not make a bigger mistake. The "kids" want to be able to share the "love". Shows are the most direct and immediate way to do this.

For the first time in a long time, I managed to avoid stepping on my penis, was able to repair a few battered relationships from times past, and had a lot of fun. I roomed with Matt Diskin and Joseph Paranee. A lot of you know Joe from BFC and other forums or from shows. I will tell you this about Joe. He is loyal, he is real and he will punch you in the ribs if he feels he has to. Joseph is a dear friend, will support me no matter what I do, but won't take any crap from me either, and lets me know with no question when I am being an insufferable 'tard. You should all be so lucky to have a friend like him.

I had a table this year, first time....K-1. Right across from Mike Snody and Rob Thomas Damascus, had great conversations with both of them. Quad-mates were Philip Booth, Gale Force Customs and Old Pine Forge. Didn't really talk to anyone in the quad itself except for Philip Booth and his lovely wife. I enjoyed him very much. We shared a lot of conversation and he watched my table from time-to-time when I went to lunch or tcb in other areas. His knives sold out pretty early Saturday and he had a great show himself. Hope I can maintain contact with him....he's a lot of fun.

Matt killed at the show, Joseph had the table completely sold out of knives by early Saturday afternoon. A lot of makers sold out at this show.

A word here....I did tremendously well at this show....but many of my knives were sold to dealers. Had some great stuff at this show like...Mayo TNT, Lum Folder with Spyderco Hole, Terzuola ATCF....at great prices....but I only sold two knives to collectors.

NEWBIE COLLECTORS...WAKE UP!!!! This show is so much more than the raffles/lotteries/bid-ups. IF you extract your craniums from your posteriors, you will find some great deals....

IF you are only interested and obsessed with the lotteries, you will miss out of some of those great deals and the attendant profit that can bring. I feel sorry for many of the "new" collectors, they seem incredibly one-dimensional and completely ignorant of knife history. This goes for some of the "new" makers as well. R.J. Martin was telling me about a "new" maker who came up to his table, and had no idea of who he was. Sorry dude, but when a maker has a table price of say $800.00 and the knife can flip AT THE SHOW for three times that....pay attention. Ask some good questions, engage your brain!

Picked up a cool ScotteVest Hat from the Gathering Crew, $26.00 with the choice of patch, which is an EXCELLENT deal. Matt picked me up at the house and forgot to grab a hat. Quit the Rogaine about 6 months ago, and my hair in the front has fallen out like crazy, so a hat is(unfortunatley) danged necessary now. Swapped out the Gathering patch for that of my dojo once I got home and all is good....will actually wear the hat regularly now. Also got a Challenge coin, bit spendy at $25.00, but whatcha gonna do?

Microtech Show Special was a tremendous deal with an Ultratech Spearpoint and titanium shot glass for very reasonable pricing. 50 sets were offered and it was one per customer. This is a very good deal, Hank Greenberg made sure that those who wanted in had a reasonable chance. I love Hank, he is a super human being and inspires me to try hard and be more like him. They sold out maybe an hour after the show opened.

Saw more people interested in Lucas Burnley's Cypops than anything. Friday, when the show opened, the line to his table was 50 deep. Haven't seen that much action at a show since Gunny was signing at Glock/SOG at SHOT this year.

Picked up a "Wonder Woman" braided stainless steel cuff bracelet and "Mardi Gras Beads" (which are actually an awesome wearable flail) from Fred Perrin. Will be getting more beads from him next year, my wife snagged mine as soon as she saw them, which is pretty cool!

Breakdown from the show was easy, peasy......took twenty minutes. I had a bunch of awesome knives from Dave Ellis including an awesome Michael Walker and he let me use his display cases from Arizona Case, which come WITH an airline-friendly shipping case, and the two cases with shipping case weighs 26 lbs. I'm thinking about picking them up for future use.

Matt, Joseph, and I went to the Pampas Grill for dinner on Saturday night.....overpriced, lousy service and the food sucked! We will not be going back.

Had such a good time at the show, didn't want to leave on Sunday.....that is the mark of a great show! Will be back next year for sure!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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best Garsson show review of all time!
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Fantastic review Steven. I enjoyed the read immensely.

Definitely lots to consider. Thank you for posting your thoughts.
 
Great seeing you Steven and thanks for posting your review. I was at the show making a few deliveries and trying my luck at some lotteries, none of which I was drawn for. The show was well organized, lots of attendance and overall a great experience. I will most likely get my own table next year.
 
Great review, STeven. Glad you watched your step. ;) Plus, you and Joe P at the same show is worth the price of admission. The only time I saw Joe down at Blade was when they wouldn't let him in because he left his badge at Matt's booth. You both light up a show, for sure. :thumbup:

Looks like a show to attend, even if tactical isn't ones strong suit.

- Joe
 
canineforge said:
You both light up a show, for sure. :thumbup:

Looks like a show to attend, even if tactical isn't ones strong suit.

- Joe
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Thanks for the kind comments, everyone.

Joe....here is the thing.....lotta purveyors in the room. The "kids" are not really interested in big old forged blades, and that is what a lot of these purveyors have on their tables in varying quantities. Table fees and expenses make a situation that these guys are more likely to wheel and deal over.;)

Might find a non-tactical beauty or two there for a sweet price!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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Glad you kept it in your pants... wait thats not what you meant. Good info regarding purveyors/ good deals due to less interest in non tac stuff. This sounds like a cool show i'd like to attend although I don't see myself attending anytime in the foreseeable future. Good job on your sales! I went to see Alice Cooper and Motley Crue this weekend so I don't feel to upset about missing a great knife show.
 
Thanks for the review Steven. Still want to get a table at some point.
 
STeven, we don't know one another, but I've always enjoyed your commentary, and have been around the knife making industry for over 25 years. I would be interested in your comments regarding the lottery systems being used at The Gathering and other shows?

Many of the buyers appeared to really enjoy this method, and spent a great deal of time placing their bids with various makers. It even appears that they are reluctant to purchase knives which are readily available, preferring to opt for a lottery than put their money right down then and there and secure the knife.

As the Show goes on this results in a lot of the knife makers having knives held in limbo waiting for the lottery, and a lot of potential buyers waiting for the outcome is of various lotteries (with cash in their pockets). As the Show winds down and potential buyers lose out on their lottery draws a scramble begins as they desperately seek something to purchase with their now unspent money burning a hole in their pocket!

I can't help but think that there must be a better way for both parties involved, the knife makers, and the enthusiasts.

I would be interested in your comments in this regard, particularly since you have far more experience at seeing this first-hand.
 
HiltonP said:
STeven, we don't know one another, but I've always enjoyed your commentary, and have been around the knife making industry for over 25 years. I would be interested in your comments regarding the lottery systems being used at The Gathering and other shows?

Many of the buyers appeared to really enjoy this method, and spent a great deal of time placing their bids with various makers. It even appears that they are reluctant to purchase knives which are readily available, preferring to opt for a lottery than put their money right down then and there and secure the knife.
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Hello Hilton. Glad you have enjoyed my commentary over the years.

Lotteries maintain a certain energy level....a high and positive energy level, keeping everyone "pumped up". Phil Lobred was ONE of the first to create a show around it, the AKI....others have followed suit. I attended Dan Delavan's Evening of the Cutlery Arts and the show he did the next day many times, and can tell you firsthand how important the lotteries by Begg, Hinderer and Onion were to maintaining a good population of interested buyers and energy level throughout the day. The reason that it is so pronounced as a difference at The Gatherings is WHO is doing these lotteries. Many of these makers have long, long wait lists, and immediate gratification will always be a strong emotional pull.

HiltonP said:
As the Show goes on this results in a lot of the knife makers having knives held in limbo waiting for the lottery, and a lot of potential buyers waiting for the outcome is of various lotteries (with cash in their pockets). As the Show winds down and potential buyers lose out on their lottery draws a scramble begins as they desperately seek something to purchase with their now unspent money burning a hole in their pocket!

I can't help but think that there must be a better way for both parties involved, the knife makers, and the enthusiasts.
Click to expand...

Makers do not have to wait in limbo. Philip Booth who I mentioned before, as well as Matt Diskin both sold out by 2:00 pm on Saturday....and there were lotteries going on after that. Part of it is ignorance and unfamiliarity on the part of the collectors, I mean....what if they tied up their money on a knife they "liked", but missed out on that "grail(hate this word, so overused)"? What you are talking about is the "hope" a maker develops from a "be-back"....as in "I'll be back." That collector so rarely comes back that a maker is quite foolish to "hold" the knife for them. Sell it.....sell as quickly as possible....if someone is not compelled to purchase NOW there is probably a reason for it.....reason is usually that the collector has limited funds and is trying to get something that they LOVE, rather than something that they "Like".

Unfortunately, at this time, there is no better way. I feel bad for the makers that didn't sell out, but it was not because there was not money in the room. It is more likely that there was not the right pieces from the right makers at the right price in the room.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I enjoyed the show as well Steven, nice to catch up with you again! Enjoyed the write-up
 
With that said, STeven, I HATE Lotteries and it has all but ruined knifeshows for me. :(

I come to buy, not stand around waiting for my phone to ring or my number to be called.....plus I don't enjoy standing in the middle of a raucous crowd hooting and hollering.

I know, I'm an old fart probably too set in my ways, but I've always enjoyed a relationship with the Maker other than for the time I get jostled around waiting for the Lottery to start or handing over my hard-earned $$$'s.

This has kept me from even approaching Makers of knives that I would like to have because they aren't taking orders, I can't buy one off of their table without the aforementioned BS, and I absolutely refuse to pay Secondary Market prices that are f'n ridiculous.

That is all..... :)
 
Kohai999 said:
Hello Hilton. Glad you have enjoyed my commentary over the years.

Lotteries maintain a certain energy level....a high and positive energy level, keeping everyone "pumped up". Phil Lobred was ONE of the first to create a show around it, the AKI....others have followed suit. I attended Dan Delavan's Evening of the Cutlery Arts and the show he did the next day many times, and can tell you firsthand how important the lotteries by Begg, Hinderer and Onion were to maintaining a good population of interested buyers and energy level throughout the day. The reason that it is so pronounced as a difference at The Gatherings is WHO is doing these lotteries. Many of these makers have long, long wait lists, and immediate gratification will always be a strong emotional pull.



Makers do not have to wait in limbo. Philip Booth who I mentioned before, as well as Matt Diskin both sold out by 2:00 pm on Saturday....and there were lotteries going on after that. Part of it is ignorance and unfamiliarity on the part of the collectors, I mean....what if they tied up their money on a knife they "liked", but missed out on that "grail(hate this word, so overused)"? What you are talking about is the "hope" a maker develops from a "be-back"....as in "I'll be back." That collector so rarely comes back that a maker is quite foolish to "hold" the knife for them. Sell it.....sell as quickly as possible....if someone is not compelled to purchase NOW there is probably a reason for it.....reason is usually that the collector has limited funds and is trying to get something that they LOVE, rather than something that they "Like".

Unfortunately, at this time, there is no better way. I feel bad for the makers that didn't sell out, but it was not because there was not money in the room. It is more likely that there was not the right pieces from the right makers at the right price in the room.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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STeven, thank you for your rapid, well composed and detailed reply. I appreciate you taking the time.

I must confess to be somewhat fascinated by the psychology and dynamics around the selling of handmade knives (or any other individual craft for that matter). I might not always agree with the different methodologies utilised but they remain interesting nonetheless.
 
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