First Shot Show

[mattiooo]

Going to my first Shot Show this year. I've done other really large trade shows in other industries before, and I know that having a plan really helps.

Any advice for a first timer from those that have been before?

[kwando]

Comfy shoes, get massages daily, and be prepared to walk 20-30k steps daily. Have fun, wish I could have made it this year.

[Shooter45]

Bring a backpack to carry all the paperwork or small items you pick up. It'll be chilly in the mornings most likely so a sweatshirt of fleece is always nice and it's great if you have a backpack to store it in. DO NOT be one of the guys wheeling a cart around. Those people are horrible. There are so many thousands of people in there, the isles are all crowded, yet some asshole is wheeling around a dolly to carry their junk and get in the way.

[crays]

Definitely what kwando said about good walking shoes.

Water bottle, Airborne or Zycam type stuff, hand sanitizer, protein bars, gum/lozenges,lip balm, travel pack of kleenex all in your backpack. Ibuprofen/advil to help with the unwind in the evening/morning. Depending on your phone battery's reliability, a small rechargeable battery pack and cable might come in handy.

But I'm a chronic over-packer.

If you do some searching, there was a pretty comprehensive thread on here a few years ago, with lot's of good tips from some of our seasoned SHOT veterans.

[BPTactical]

+100 on leave the carts at home. Those damn things are painful when some jerk rolls right over your feet!
Hand sanitizer, start pumping vitamins and extra vitamin C NOW!
Breath mints. I don't want to talk to you if your breath is the 7th level of ass.

[ray1970]

Water bottle, Airborne or Zycam type stuff, hand sanitizer, protein bars, gum/lozenges,lip balm, travel pack of kleenex all in your backpack. Ibuprofen/advil to help with the unwind in the evening/morning. Depending on your phone battery's reliability, a small rechargeable battery pack and cable might come in handy.

Lol.

He’s just going to a trade show, not prepping for the zombie apocalypse.
[Coffee]

[mattiooo]

Thanks for all the feedback, and LOL at Ray.

I'm used to large trade shows. Used to go to one regularly that filled McCormick Place every 2 years.

I'm looking for more show specific tips. Things like:
Are there certain things I NEED to do on Tuesday because they're gone by Wednesday?
Vendors you definitely need to visit first?
Things you should save for later days?
Make sure you wait till Friday and then go to....
Etc...

There may not be any, and that's okay. Thanks again for all the answers so far. I appreciate the input.

[OtterbatHellcat]

Hell, I think it was good to ask, ...I've never been to one and I was curious as well.

[Shooter45]

Go to their website, which I haven't yet, and download their app for your phone. It will list all of the dealers and their exact locations. The place is huge and hard to find specific companies if you are looking for them. Geiselle usually does great deals on their triggers at the show, off the record. Go to them first if you are looking for a new trigger to get one before they sell out. Mark all the specific dealers you want to see first to see if you can find any deals on parts/accessories at the show. Then go through the entire show and enjoy everything.

[APEXgunparts]

Plan where you going and what booths you want to visit.
There is not enough time to just wander thru it all.
Load up with vitamins now as most everyone gets sick the week following the Shot Show.
There will be people around you from all over this planet, some just spent many hours in a plane in close quarters with other (possibly sick) people.
Don't eat the food! Had two of my folks get food poisoning on the last day eating at the lunch place on the bottom level.
I skipped that and got food poisoning on the trip home from the Burger King at the airport!
A good pack is a great idea, if you plan on collecting swag and info.
Just remember that you have it on your back when you are walking around people (I have been knocked hard by a pack full of flyers, wearer turned quickly)
No one writes orders anymore at booths, be prepared to follow up the week after if you want to make purchases.
The people paying to display there are needing to see and connect with as many customers as possible, don't waste their time, the future of their company may depend on the outcome of the Shot Show.

Richard

[Justin]

Pack spare batteries or those portable external batteries for your cell phone/camera/laptop/tablet. Wall outlets will be at a premium.

Also, the OTA network was slow when I went, but that was seven years ago.

[spqrzilla]

Be sure to ask ERGO at their booth if they have figured out how to put 30 round magazines in an AR yet ....73095

[colorider]

A lot of the booths will have hand sanitizer available on their tables. HOWEVER, some of them are filled with Astroglide or KY instead. DAMN FUNNY, unless it's you that gets lubed up hands. Fell for it last year. I could not stop laughing and the booth occupants were dying. All the previous tips are spot on. Last year was my first show and I learned a LOT. Didn't have a walking plan and missed a lot. Didn't get sick, but I also may have killed any germs by drinking a fair amount of adult beverages every night. If you have the opportunity to go to any of the vendor or manufacturer parties after the show ends each day. GO! I have no tips on how to get into them. Last year I was invited to the Salient Arms party and it was outstanding. Also went to a few small parties and it was fun.
The Adult Video and Porn expo is also in town at the same time. At the Hard Rock. If you are feeling bold, head over there any night and just hang around the casino area or one of the bars. We went last year just to people watch. Interesting to say the least. !!!!!!!!!!!

[BladesNBarrels]

If you are tasting the outdoor channels' cooking, go early for the fresh samples right out of the ice.
As others said, plan the vendors you want to see.
If you are looking for the ones that sell the odd ball items you can't find easily, visit them first.
Most of all stop every once in a while and look around - enjoy the experience.

[CHA-LEE]

If your day job isn't involved in the gun industry then the SHOT Show is a waste. The SHOT Show isn't intended to be an average consumer type of show. Its intended to be a gathering for the firearms industry so more business deals can be made through normal business to business channels. That and let the firearms media check out new products so they can in turn promote the products in their products (articles, videos, social media, etc).

[Ronin13]

If your day job isn't involved in the gun industry then the SHOT Show is a waste. The SHOT Show isn't intended to be an average consumer type of show. Its intended to be a gathering for the firearms industry so more business deals can be made through normal business to business channels. That and let the firearms media check out new products so they can in turn promote the products in their products (articles, videos, social media, etc).

Outside of that purpose it affords unique opportunities to set up RFIs and testings for LE agencies. Last year we got a sweet hookup from HexMag to give their product a field test and provide our feedback. In return they gave out free mags for some of our range staff.

[Rooskibar03]

Bought a ticket to Vegas, have a few friends going. Still hoping to get a pass. If not I’ll just have to hang out in Sin City. Probably the only time in life I’ll get to go so high hopes to find a way inside.

[mattiooo]

Thanks again for all of the tips. I'm mapping the vendors I need to connect with first, and the ones I want to meet next, and then will browse after that. Anyone know if there is a way in the show planner to prioritize the list?

[colorider]

Bought a ticket to Vegas, have a few friends going. Still hoping to get a pass. If not I’ll just have to hang out in Sin City. Probably the only time in life I’ll get to go so high hopes to find a way inside.

Working on it for ya.!

and would have to disagree with Cha-lee a little. It's an extravaganza if you are into firearms. Just because you are nit buying or selling doesn't mean it can't be enjoyed. Where else would you see just about every firearm and related product in one spot. And be able to see and touch new releases before they hit the retailers. Firearms are not my daily job, but hot damn did I enjoy the show last year. Enough that I'm going again this year.

[Justin]

Your first SHOT is kind of like this:

https://youtu.be/r2pt2-F2j2g?t=1m38s

[Delfuego]

Get the flu now before you go. I heard everyone there already has the plague and you will come home with it.

[Hoser]

I have gone for the past several years for NRA American Warrior and Americas First Freedom Magazine. I put many miles on my feet each year then spend the evenings getting content ready to publish the following day.

Day one, just run around and take a quick look at everything, ask minimal questions. Take notes to see what caught your eye.

Day two, have a plan to go to the booths that you want to see and spend some time at.

Day three, go to the booths that you missed on day two.

If you don't have a plan you can miss entire areas.

[brutal]

Hit the HP booth first, they run out of YETI mugs quick.

Oh wait, wrong show...

[Singlestack]

Went in 2012 representing my local LE agency (I'm not LE). There is tons of LE stuff there, including about a gazillion uniform etc suppliers. The first day I grabbed about every catalog/brochure I could find that was LE related and dragged back to my room about 60 lbs of paper. As soon as I sat on the bed my back seized up and was VERY sore the next 3 days. Day 2 I learned my lesson and just gave my badge at the booths to get stuff mailed to me at home. Lesson learned.

Funny sidebar: I did enter for and win a set of breaching tools from some swedish company, but never received them. Was planning on donating to my city LE.

[APEXgunparts]

Hit the HP booth first, they run out of YETI mugs quick.

Oh wait, wrong show...

YETI has a booth at the Shot Show.
I think it was last year that the "give away" goods arrived a couple of days late.

Another point I should mention.
Some companies will be displaying new products or potential new products.
When asked, please provide some real feedback, but politely!
You can save a company a lot of money and effort by saying what they should be hearing from there potential customers.
It is surprising what a designer or marketing person can miss!

Richard