[Slater]

Anyone ever been to this event? Sounds like a great time, but all I've got is a C&R license.

[seeker_two]

The SHOT show is mainly for dealers & reporters. I don't think that C&R's are allowed through the door. :(

However you can go to Gunblast.com (http://www.gunblast.com) for some really good reporting & pics from the last two shows. And they're going to be posting daily from the next one too.

Besides, the SHOT show mainly deals with new-fangled hardware, not the REAL guns...:D

[larryw]

I've been to the SHOT show twice. I'm not a dealer nor do I work in the industry (outside providing ongoing financial support to the industry).

First time, I simply went to the web site and registered. Where it asked what company, I listed my employer (computer networking company) and job title. A couple months before the show, my pass came in the mail where I was listed as a "Guest of the Show" on the badge. Now they mail the invite to me well in advance.

So yes, anyone can go, although some vendors won't want to spend their time on a user. Remember when you talk to the vendors that many are there primarily to sign up new dealers and distributors; identify yourself as a user so they can spend their time to their company's best advantage. This keeps complaints down and makes sure we lowly users can keep going.

But the vast majority are very happy to have a real customer to talk to: Tasco doesn't talk to users, even when their booth is empty; any mystery why they went away? Guys from Ruger, SW, HK, Remington, Marlin and Beretta gave me a guided tour and seemed genuinely interested in my comments. Rob Latham convinced me to buy a (lemon) TRP instead of the Wilson Combat gun that Bill Wilson spent some time showing me; gonna have to talk to Rob about their QC problems next time I go. A very sharp and attractive young lady from Crimson Trace was hopeful that lefty 1911 grips were in the works (still waiting :) ). And Para spent a great deal of time proving that a DAO 1911 wasn't really that dumb an idea (sweet trigger).

Absolute blast, highly recommended way to spend several days (one day isn't nearly enough) with like minded people. Many vendors do offer show specials, especially the last day of the show (so they don't have to ship things back home), so be prepared to do more than just look.

[Snake Eyes]

I'm curious about your experiences. I am in Vegas on a regular basis and would like to attend SHOT. After reading your post I went to the SHOT Show Website (http://www.shotshow.org/) and at the top of the page is this:
NOTE: Only members of the trade may attend the Show, and must provide a valid Federal Firearms License (FFL) number, State Tax Number, or Industry Related Business Card. No one under 16, including infants will be permitted on the Show floor.

When did you first register and attend? Are they still sending you invitations?

Has any one else here had success attending in the last couple of years?

[Jeff OTMG]

Slater, yes, I have been to all but one SHOT Show since 1984. Next year it is being held in Las Vegas once agian. For an idea of what is there you are welcome to review my website at www.shotshowreports.com

[feedthehogs]

Went to the shot show in Orlando.
Was just as I pictured it, guns, guns, guns..............................

Everything you ever wanted to see about guns, knives, outdoor gear, etc was there for the asking.

Best thing was getting a picture with Mikhail Kalashnikov.

Came home with about two trees worth of catalogs and a bucket full of freebies. Also got the catalogs in the CD format.

My local dealer, who is a close friend would have got me in, but my membership to FCSA sent me a complimentary pass that I faxed with my app to the shot show office. A few bucks later and a two hour drive and I'm in.

As I am not in the industry though, I did not waste the time of the sales staffs who have to meet with FFL's and dist. It would not be fair to them to waste their time. Just dealt with the general floor people.

I do 4 to 5 industry shows a year in my business and I know how tight everyones time is just to meet with the regulars and not the general public asking questions.

[larryw]

Snake Eyes, that keeps the riff-raff away; if you don't ask you don't get.

I didn't go to Orlando last year, but did receive the invite in the mail for it. Will be going to the one in Vegas next year (where are the showgirls with Tasers??!!?! :D ).

[Standing Wolf]

...or Industry Related Business Card

Never minding that those aren't proper nouns or adjectives, it shouldn't take anyone longer than about ten minutes to cobble together a business card.

That said™, trade shows are usually about 43.286% as exciting as watching paint dry, unless, of course, you thrive on hype.

[Travis McGee]

LarryW:

I don't have an FFL, but I've got a state sales tax exemption in California, a load of business cards, and next week I'll have a ton of books to sell which deal with the RKBA.

http://www.enemiesforeignanddomestic.com/bookcover.jpg

This is what Claire Wolfe says about it:
"A sniper opens fire on a crowded football stadium on the first day of the season. The crowd panics and stampedes. A thousand people die ... and the federal government immediately goes not only into gun-banning mode, but into a post-911-type security frenzy that ultimately brings the country FIST (Firearms Inspections Stop Terrorism) checkpoints and brutal demonization of gun owners. The alleged (and quickly deceased) sniper has conveniently used a "military-style assault weapon," and conveniently fits the profile every anti-gunner loves to hate. The loss of freedom looks unstoppable. But is it?

"And that's merely the opening of Enemies Foreign And Domestic, the first novel by Matthew Bracken. Unlike most freedom-movement novels, this one is loaded with action and populated by characters you'll believe, like, and identify with."
--Claire Wolfe, author of "101 Things to do 'Til the Revolution" and "Don't Shoot the Bastards (Yet)"

Not to blow my own horn too much, but most of the folks who have read advance copies of the entire book say it's far better than Unintended Consequences or any other novel dealing with the second amendment that's ever been written.

I think Enemies Foreign And Domestic will sell like crazy right out of gun stores, and not only at gun shows and on the internet. I want to raise awareness of the book and have it distributed to gun stores right along with reloading manuals etc. Every gun store has a book shelf or two, and my goal is to have "Enemies" placed on all of them.

If anyone has any insights about breaking into the SHOT show in an effective manner for promoting my RKBA novel, I'd really appreciate the advice.

Matt Bracken

[larryw]

Hi Matt.

Couple random thoughts on marketing your new novel.

- First thing to do is work with Amazon.com or others to get the book listed. Key point is getting national distribution with 24x7 ordering so you have a source to point people to. These companies also have programs where individuals can sell items, mostly used books, but this will work for you if they don't want to carry it or need a proof of concept first. Everything you do should have this "buy it now" URL listed. Pay attention to affiliate programs; you can use these to drive sales from many web sites/sources. It may be a good idea to set up a "SHOT Show Special" program at Amazon where people can buy it at a discount the week of the show.

- Buying booth space at trade shows are not an effective means for a small company to get noticed, but is a necessary evil once established. Exhibiting is very expensive (last time I had my company exhibit in Vegas, the budget was $500K) and the qualification of the resulting leads is key: are they a real prospect, or did they just come over for the freebie/ogle at the booth bunny? There are better ways for the small players to take advantage of the trade show opportunity.

- Go through the exhibitor list and contact those you think would be sympathetic, especially 2A organizations, media companies and people like Ron Barrett (2A activists). Tell them that you'll be at the SHOT show signing your new novel and ask them if they'd like to schedule a booth appearance/signing. Raffle off a book every day at each of these booths, and make sure its displayed at the booth along with "what it is and where to buy" flyers (remember show special, incent them to act now). Promise to prominently include these companies names and contact info in the "Thanks To" section that will be at the front of the book in the next press run. You have to give the exhibitor a reason to loan you their very expensive space: drive people to their booth and keep them coming back.

- Trade shows have areas where companies can, for a fee, distribute printed materials in the central lobby. Contact show management and ask if you can, as someone not exhibiting, participate. If they say no, ask one of your exhibitor partners to sponsor this if you pay (you'll need to include their name, booth number and signing schedule as incentive). Photocopy a couple thousand of these 8 1/2" X 11" "what it is and where to buy" flyers on bright paper.

- Send a copy to every member of the 2A press who agrees to look at it (don't just send it cold, it will be ignored or discarded, contact them first). Also get copies to Jim Scoutten and Tom Grisham. Walk the aisles and stop and talk to everyone with a "PRESS" flag on their badge: offer them a book in exchange for a business card and the promise of a mention if they like the book (offer to mail it to them so they don't have to lug it around; they'll probably have plenty of reading material for the flight home already).

- Get to know the members of the press and build a relationship. Follow up is the most important thing you can do here. They're busy and being driven in many directions and will forget about you unless you establish a relationship and keep after them. Establish yourself as an expert in 2A issues and invite them to use you as a reference and source of quotes; you want them to start quoting you as "Matt Bracken, author of one of my favorite books..." Send them ideas for articles; they have a page count to meet each month and writer's block is rampant.

- Ditto for Rush Limbaugh. He's a voracious reader and often recommends books on his show; I read everything he recommends. Roger Hedgcock would be another guy to approach and since he's local to you, see about getting on his show (which will open the door to many others if you're able to speak well in a public forum).

This should keep you busy for a while. :) Good luck!

LW