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.

[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.

[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.

[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