Guys, Bruce asked me to comment on this. Let me offer another perspective.
The reason the rules of brown bagging have been put in place. Is because makers complain about makers.
For those of you who have set up at shows. You are familiar with the expense and the time involved. It's not just the 2-3 days at the show. For most, that is the enjoyable part. It's the time it takes before and after the show as well.
Additionally, for the most part you are supposed to stay at or near your table for the whole show. Although anymore Sunday is becoming a waste of time....especially on a 3 day show.
Makers pay for a table, while understanding that the only competition on the room, should be the other makers who have paid for tables. Also, the dealers manage to sell a knife or two at most shows.
So when another maker walks in, who has not paid for a table and can come and go as he please's. This, rightfully so irritates the makers who have tables. As such they go to the show promoter who politely or not so politely asks them to leave.
This is true even if your trying to sell to a dealer. The makers in the room still view that as a violation....because you are a maker.
Typically when I have this happen to me, I ask the maker to step outside of the show area. Preferably where no one, not even customers can see us. At that point it is as simple as, I buy the knife or I don't.
From a dealer's perspective what annoys those of us who actually set up at the show. Is when we see dealers who are not table holders walking through the show prior to it being open to the general public.
Part of the benefit of paying for a table as a dealer is getting in early and seeing what the makers have brought. I have seen dealers thrown out of shows for this. My question was, who let them in, in the first place?
Because I am a dealer, I don't mind brown baggers. I used to have this discussion with many makers. Explaining to them that if a collector brings in a knife to sell. Then sells it, more than likely he/she is going to buy another knife with that money.
But I understand the point of the maker. If you are a maker, you should not bring knives to sell at a show that you did not pay a table fee for.
A couple of suggestions for those makers who would like to talk with dealers about their knives at the show.
Call the dealer before the show and find out if they have any interest in the knife. That way you don't have to wonder from table to table bringing the knife out, letting more makers see it each time.
If possible take a picture of the knife and email it to the dealer.
This will really help narrow the focus.
What you will find is that you now have only 1 or 2 dealers interested in it. You can then make arrangements to meet before the show opens. As most dealers arrive the night before the show. Or you can take us to breakfest before the show
Try and put yourself in the shoe's of the table holders. It's competitive enough right now, you don't need makers who saved the $300 - $600 by not getting a table. Walking in the door and trying to sell knives.
Hope this helps to clear things up. If not let me know what other questions you have.