Rules when attending Knife Shows

Joined
Sep 26, 1999
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It was brought to my attention tonight that I could have been barred from the Little Rock show for doing something I didn't know was not allowed.
As we all know Brown bagging your knives at a show is not allowed.But I was showing off my newest creation and had a Purveyor buy it at his table.I found out that this was not allowed either,I thought it was.So to you new makers who take there knives to a show to have them looked at to get feed back about it,Please be careful and not sell as if you get into trouble with a promoter at the show they can and will barr you for life from there show and this would not be a good thing.
Does anyone else have any feed back on rules like this to help out the new makers here so they won't make these inocent littlle mistakes and be able to enjoy there shows thay attend.
Bruce
 
Bruce,
I have also been spoken to about brown bagging at a knife show. A well known maker said to me I could be thrown out of the show for doing what I was doing. Basically some makers feel that you could be taking away from their business and that they are losing money because they paid for the table and you are selling knives without having one.
I didn't think that there would be a problem selling to dealers though. They quite often have signs on their tables that say knives wanted or buying knives. It's probally best to then make the deal out in the lobby of the show or somewhere beyond prying eyes. You could also say that you were delivering the knife to a customer, and since you would both be there it would save shipping costs.
 
Bruce, this caught me off gaurd as well. I thought it was OK to sell to a dealer at a show. If what you did was wrong, why would the dealer not be just as guilty? If this is a rule at all shows, why are dealers allowed to put up signs saying they buy knives? I carried a knife that I had made into the show to leave with Kenny Rowe to have a sheath made. He had one with him that fit the knife, so I ended up carring it around through the show. I did show it to one maker who asked to look at it, but that was it. Knowing what I know now, I won't do that anymore. I just would not want anyone to get the wrong idea. I guess we all live and learn.
Bill
 
Don't get this wrong now.It is OK to take your knife to a show and let anyone that wants to look at it look.Just don't be standing in the isles selling your knife to someone.I didn't think selling to a dealer would get you into trouble though myself.
Maybe a couple of dealers will jump in here and let us know what they think also.
Bruce
 
I see no problem with selling a knife to a dealer that buys knives to resell. That is how he makes his living. Those dealers rent their tables to do business. The show owner knows this when the application for the table rent is accepted. Bruce sold the knife at wholesale and the purveyor will get retail price. If Bruce tried to sell to someone besides a dealer he would be "Brown-Bagging"
 
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 :D

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.
 
if i have a couple by other makers like a jody samson etc, whats wrong with bring it around a dealers table?
 
Taking pics without asking the maker also seems to be a no-no. A few years back we went to Blade, and since it was my first big show I was like a kid in a candy store. Whipped out the ol digital at one table and got properly chastised.:eek: The maker then went on to tell me that it's a show courtesy to ask before taking pics. I can live with that but just never thought of it. He then told me that many don't like pics being taken because someone may be taking these to copy designs and such. This part really didn't make any sense to me since there are literally thousands roaming the eisles, and since most any of the table holders would be honored to or even pay to have the same knives featured in a major publication. But anyway, show courtesy is to ask before snapping.:)
 
Good info people, thanks for the tips. I hadn't even thought of this fact. Glad I read before I went and did something stupid, as I planned on bringing at least one or two knives to show in Tulsa in Paril, if I can make it. Know better now. :)
 
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