Unchained Preppers
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: JohnyMac on June 11, 2017, 04:21:22 PM
-
Well it is official, I just purchased my airplane ticket and hotel room and am going to the 2018 Shot Show. :dancingGrenade:
A fellow ham is a FFL holder and at breakfast one day I asked him if he had ever been to the Shot Show. He glared at me across his steaming cup of coffee and asked, "do you want to go?"
I of course I said "yes" and he explained that he always wanted to go and the few times he has made arrangements things always fell through.
I reminded him that we were not getting any younger so we shook on it.
He sells to citizens and LEO departments so when it is time to register - I think December; He will register us for the citizen and LEO part of the show.
He asked his XYL if she wanted to go as I did MrsMac and they both said "Four days of walking a gun show...Nah." Their loss I do say. ;)
Now CJS is a old hat at the Shot Show so I am sure he will have some good advise for two wild and crazy 60's something guys, like:
> Sensible shoes,
> Bring the Baofeng's,
> Buy an empty box to send home all of that literature and free give a-ways that we will be hauling back from the show
daily,
> et cetera.
More to come and I am sure I will be posting a daily AAR while there. :stir:
-
enjoy!
-
Reasonable size backpack to carry your loot and get me inside too. Make sure it has a water bladder in it. I suspect a bottle of H2O inside will be close to $9 or so.
Video camera mounted on your shoulder so we can live vicariously with you.
Nemo
-
LOL Nemo, Video camera mounted on your shoulder so we can live vicariously with you.
-
What about the getting me inside part? Ain't gonna happen? ? ? ?
Nemo
-
Nemo, I was invited by a new friend. I think it would be a bit presumptuous to ask him to invite someone he does not know. The only way you get in is you have to be a vendor or have a reason to go, e.g. FFL holder. I can get in because I am going as my new friends employee.
If and only IF, the opportunity arises I will mention you to him.
-
JM, just tell them that Nemo is your personal assistant - you gotta have an entourage.
-
Bring home some pic's.
-
If and only IF, the opportunity arises I will mention you to him.
Don't bother. I cannot go anyway. She has me on too short a string. I cannot cross the state border without her.
Which ain't such a bad thing.
Nemo
-
Bring home some pic's.
Don't worry about pics. Just make sure you can say-- Let's go to the video!!
Nemo
-
My 4 big things for dealing with (read enjoying) SHOT.
1. Sensible Shoes!!! I actually bring 2 pair....I cant underestimate the amount of walking.
2. Sensibel Shoes!!! see where Im going with this.
3. Make a plan- the show is so damn big that you need to plan out where you want to hit. Get the map ahead of time and plan your day....practice your land nav! Follow your plan on Day 1-3 making notes on what you want to follow up on, Day 4 go back to anywhere you had a special interest in.
4.See a show, go to Battlefield Vegas, just do something not stuck inside the convention center
4A. DO NOT GO TO THE AVN AWARDS! To some the porn awards seem like a bonus to being in Vegas for SHOT. All I can saw is the highly polished "top tier" stars are not what you will end up seeing....in reality much more like the C team from a Wed afternoon at a 2nd class strip joint.
I am not a huge fan of literature unless it is something I am very interested in. I usually still come home with about 6-8" tall stack of brochures, catalogs and sell sheets. I do a decent bit of business and do always seem to get a card from every 3rd person at the show :o. You could conceivably collect enough that you would need to visit FedEx to avoid the oversize baggage charges. There is always a ton of swag as well. Lots of morale patches, hats, occasional T shirts....all the way to Bags, Jackets, BCGs, Charging Handles, Brass, Sights, Mounts, Optics if you know the right people.
Keep your eyes open and it usually isnt hard to snag an invite to one of the big parties (Crye, Agency, Q, Trijicon, Leupold, etc). Almost every night there is a big party or 3 to go to if you want. I must be getting old because now I really only do 2 parties tops over a 4 day stay.....hell that used to be the first night.
A big takeaway is this. The guys displaying are trying to make a living and sell their product. Believe only 1/2 of how great that new product is, "everyone" is a former pipe hitter (my best sarcasm), and if some of the guys at the biggest and coolest booths start getting a little short dont hold it against them....they are there for 6 days and will be burnt out by the end of day 2.
Chris
-
There is always a ton of swag as well. Lots of morale patches, hats, occasional T shirts....all the way to Bags, Jackets, BCGs, Charging Handles, Brass, Sights, Mounts, Optics if you know the right people.
Hey, if you need, I have a spare backpack I can send you thats comfortable and rather large.
Also, I put first dibs on a BCG or a 2 or 4 rail handguard to fit standard 16" barrel setup.
Sharing any other swag you might get would be great also. Yes I am needling you (because I cannot go) not begging for swag.
Nemo :( (real sad puppy face is not available here, so interpret the one there as real sad puppy face) *
*and remember, lets go to the video!
-
Thx CJS.
Great advise on the AVS awards. LOL. Too freaken funny!
I am a good schmoozer so hopefully I can come away with some good swag.
At 61, I am not the partier that I use to be. Nor will I have the "rock star" status that I had when I strolled through the Miami Boat Show or IMTECH in Chicago, with West Marine credentials around my neck. ;-)
I will be passing out my consulting business cards too. Hopefully an inspiring retailer will interview me. :dancingBanana: