For those of you who attended both, which did you like better; the Dallas Safari Club Convention or the SCI Convention?

I'm going to one or the other next year and want to get the best bang for my buck. My wife doesn't like Reno that much so I'm leaning toward Dallas.

Did not attend Reno this year, however did in the past and have attended Dallas six years in a row... I like Dallas much more and there is a friendly atmosphere... Over the past few years the show has grown and available space became a premium... Yes, they were bursting at the seams and will be moving to the Dallas Convention Center downtown... http://www.dallasconventioncenter.com/
My wife comes with me as well as some other members wives and they sometimes plan things to do together...
I am looking forward to next years convention already and meeting old friends and new AR members again...
I do hope you can make it to Dallas...

Mike

I have attended every SCI show from 1983 to this year's. My only Dallas Safari Club show was last year.

Although the Dallas people do an excellent job for a small local club, the exhibition area seemed to be less than a fourth the size of SCI's and did not attract a great many of the better-known exhibitors that SCI draws. The evening banquets lacked headliners, but were well attended and professionally run. The official hotel in Dallas was considerably more expensive than the Silver Legacy Hotel where I stay in Reno, and everything was a long way from anywhere I wanted to go in Dallas, making taxi rides very pricey.

I went there because a couple of good friends from Africa are pissed at SCI and refuse to patronize it. I'll probably go to Dallas next year to see them again.

Bill Quimby

I have attended SCI for the last 14 years and have never been to DSC. As I posted sometime, somewhere else, I simply won't attend any type of convention held in Dallas. As a hunter I just have no "real interest" in going to a "hunting show" in any BIG city.

I have friends who have attended both shows and based on their reports of DSC, would have to agree with BillQ, that it is indeed a lot smaller, a lot more expensive and just not my cup of tea. I have no doubt that it is well run and all that.

You really can't/shouldn't compare these two shows as they have too many differences. SCI is for members only, DSC lets anyone and everyone attend. SCI has a vastly larger membership than DSC does. SCI has approx.75% more exibitors than DSC. Most of the better known exhibitors are at SCI, DSC has some of them, but also a lot of "local" booths as well. SCI provides transportation to and from the Show via a very efficient bus system, DSC you are on your own (cab, rental car etc.).

Not knocking DSC, it seems they do a good job for a smaller, local Club, just for my money I feel I get a lot more from the SCI Show. Simply attend the one you want or both and be glad we have these great venues to fuel our passions.


Larry Sellers

larry:

I have been to both and I don't understand your comment. I have ph's that I have hunted with in the past that don't come to Dallas because they don't have to. That is fine and dandy but they are after the established hunters who know them by reputation. I belong to both SCI and DSC and if they both are in Dallas I will choose to attend DSC hands down.

joec

joec - Since I made several comments and posted a lot of facts, don't have a clue to which one you didn't understand??? I am sure DSC thanks you for being a stauch supporter. You will get to make your choice in 2013 when SCI comes to your town.

Larry Sellers

quote:

Originally posted by joec:
larry:

I have been to both and I don't understand your comment. I have ph's that I have hunted with in the past that don't come to Dallas because they don't have to. That is fine and dandy but they are after the established hunters who know them by reputation. I belong to both SCI and DSC and if they both are in Dallas I will choose to attend DSC hands down.

joec

Well, as a member of both and as an exhibitor at both I think I have a different take on things than Larry does.
Yes, SCI has more exhibitors but all the folks that are important are also at DSC. There are locals at both conventions. Many that attend conventions choose DSC due to the more laid back attitude and the fact they feel you don't have to rush in order to see everything. Less pressure and more fun.
DSC does not charge you an arm and a leg to get thru the front door. That should leave you a buck or two for your cab if necessary.
There is a place for both conventions. As an exhibitor at DSC I do not have to mess with union cost and there are DSC members that help me get my booth in and out. The booth spaces are not as expensive either. If you drive to the convention parking has been free.
I don't see how you can speak to much if you have not been to both conventions. I have been to both as a buyer of goods and as a seller of goods.
Dallas is a much easier location to get to and out of than Reno.

Harry - Nice to visit a bit with you at SCI and I truly do see your side on some of the issues. Since you live in the Dallas area, no doubt it's a lot easier and more convienent for you to attend/exhibit at DSC than SCI.

As a Manufactures Rep for umpteen years I always preferred a "dealer only" or "member" show as opposed to the general public show.
Nothing against the general public, but when I go to a "hunting show", I enjoy the fact that all other attendees are there for the same basic reason I am. That is to look at and book hunts, buy specialized hunting products, attend interesting, quality seminars, renew old friendships from those aroung the World and such. These things are simply not as easy to accomplish and enjoyable at a "open to the public" show.

All the "pushers" for the DSC show always mention how much easier it is to get in and out of Dallas. Don't really see this fact. How much easier is it than to fly to Las Vegas from anywhere in the USA, take and additional one hour flight to Reno, have your luggage waiting for you at baggage claims, walking 40 yards out the door, wait ten to fifteen minutes for your hotel shuttle to pick you up and deliver you to the door of your hotel. This year we accomplished this in a lot less than one hour total. Dallas on the other hand lands you in a hugh airport, seems like miles of walking to the baggage claim, then an expensive cab ride to your hotel. Just don't see the "easier" part of this equation?

Like I said, attend which ever one turns your crank and enjoy the experience.

Larry Sellers

Larry you are correct, what ever turns your crank. Personally I went to Reno once and that made twice for me first and last. Then I went to the Dallas show three years ago and have been going ever since. As to easy of travel (from Pa.), from Pittsburgh fly to Atlanta connec to Reno. Pittsburgh to Dallas non stop. The accomadations better in Dallas. AR get togeather very nice Friday night geathering for dinner and party on Sat night. The latter of course applys only to AR but then that is where we are posting this string. I find all the vendors I need in Dallas, if fact more than enough. If you are looking for volume of venders come to Harrisburg, Pa and the Eastern Sportsman Show, it runs for 9 days and is the largest outdoor show in the world. Personally the Harrisburg show is enough for me in about 1/2 day. JMO

Have been to both. Fun to spend a couple days skiing over the mountain in Tahoe. Bob

Having been to both (neither this year) I like DSC better. It is more of a hunting show (not as much jewelry and furs), somewhat smaller (making it more enjoyable for me), and less expensive to get in the door. The cost to me is about the same as I fly to DSC but drive to SCI (and have to pay about $100 a day to get in). Next year I'll be at DSC. To me SCI is like "Hollywood goes hunting".

There really is no comparison. DSC is so much better. The overall feel and attitude at the SCI convention is a big turn-off. The comment "Hollywood goes hunting" is pretty funny, and quite accurate. There is no doubt that a lot of high profile types go to SCI just to be seen. All the "celebrity" posturing and bravado that has come to define SCI is on display.

I go to these shows to learn about outfitters, book hunts, talk hunting, etc. I don't care how many diamonds and furs the women are wearing. I don't care what actors are present. I do occassionally miss drooling over the more extensive array of high priced double rifles at SCI, but I can live without them.

Each has their place, but I would wager that every attendee at DSC will feel more welcome and appreciated at DSC. Unless you are part of "the inner circle", SCI makes plain they don't care if you attend or not.

Bill

Both are great shows and deserve to be successful...God I hope so!!!

Think about it folks, these are the only large scale venues for our sport to commercialize, thus propegate itself.

There is no telling just how much good has been done for our sport as a result of these huge undertakings.

Yes there is a bit of that annoying "Hob-knobing" going on and some of the showmanship we could live without, but as a whole these shows help to create, maintain and guarantee the success of our beloved sport!

All shoud go and participate!

JW

When SCI moves to Dallas, I fear it will kill the DSC show.

Few major exhibitors will feel the need to attend both, and SCI will win by sheer numbers.

I can hardly believe that SCI would make such an "in your face" move on the DSC's home turf. I'm no fan of Reno, but SCI's moving to Dallas is not the answer, IMHO.

We need more participation and exposure, and not less, in our sport.

mrlexma - I agree totally with you that we don't need two shows a week apart in Dallas.

The major International exhibitors at SCI were told last week that the move to Dallas would be in 2013. In the meantime they were told, two more years in Reno, possibly the next year in Vegas, Reno my pick up this third year, then Dallas. Most likely after that it would be a flipflop between Vegas and Dallas everyother year. I heard from several internal sources that the intent is to indeed punish DSC.

I to feel this kind of move will eliminate DSC as a major player and that would indeed be a loss to all of us. As I stated before, don't really think you can compare the two shows, it's just my thing to never attend any kind of Convention in Dallas. End of story.

Larry Sellers

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
When SCI moves to Dallas, I fear it will kill the DSC show.

Few major exhibitors will feel the need to attend both, and SCI will win by sheer numbers.

I can hardly believe that SCI would make such an "in your face" move on the DSC's home turf. I'm no fan of Reno, but SCI's moving to Dallas is not the answer, IMHO.

We need more participation and exposure, and not less, in our sport.

Personally, I think that says all I need to know about SCI to discourage me from ever joining. Truly sad because I believe they do a lot of good.

It is a shame when people let their egos take over and run the organization rather than good sense.

SCI members who disagree with the view that DSC should be punished should make it known.

Very well said Charles. I'm a member of both, but the DSC is just plainly less into themselves, both corporately and individually.

Looks like somebody wants to start a p*****g contest by having the SCI in Dallas. Probably hurt SCI more than it would hurt Dallas. Being a member of both DSC and SCI, if the SCI is in Dallas, I would probably go to both, since I live in the Dallas area, and it would not cost much to drive over and check it out. I used to go to SCI every year, I quit going to SCI a few years back because I can book and buy what I want in DSC, and don't pay the Gawd awful entrance fees to SCI. AR has a greater presence at DSC, which is nice. SCI certainly has the glitz, and lots of "eye candy". Guess if you live in Texas, it would be a win-win. Should be interesting.

For reasons I mentioned earlier in this thread it is my opinion that it will be the Dallas club that will benefit from SCI coming to town, and not the other way around.

As for comparing the shows, there is no comparison One is a small, but unusually well-run bash of a local club. The other is an international event, with every major exhibitor in every major field of hunting gathered under one roof.

Bill Quimby

I think those who will be hurt the most by a move to Dallas will be those hunters on the West Coast, especially California, that will no longer be able to hop in the car, and drive over the mountains to the show. When I went, it seemed to be that there were an awful lot of Californian's at the show.

I drive over the mountains every year. If they move I just wont go. No great loss to them Im sure. I dont patronize the dinners or awards, thats for the hollywood types. I just go to book hunts and I can do that on e-mail.

How many will they pick up from the east coast? Will this offset the west coast losses?

I have flown from Florida for something over 15 years. Having it in a more accessible place that isn't a hell hole like Reno doesn't hurt my feelings at all.

Personally, I would prefer Vegas.

I love SCI and the convention, it is an exciting venue and my wife and I try to attend every year. They have something for everyone it seems.
Having never attended DSC I can't make an informed opinion. I do suspect, however, that all the big ego's aren't just in
sci. I really would like to do the DSC show next year, I have a lifelong friend in the metroplex and maybe we could do it together.
I really don't understand why there is so much jealousy between the two groups as they are, or should be, pursuing the same agenda. The ideal scenario is for both to work for the advancement of conservation here and abroad.
Having the SCI convention in DFW is a mistake because it puts the two groups @ odds, whether intended or not. Especially for you young hunters and shooters it will become much more important to present a unified front and speak with one voice , or at least with one perspective in the future. Political correctness is @ the very heart of the socialist plague that is sweeping the USA, and hunting is not very PC in these circles.

quote:

Personally, I would prefer Vegas.

Me too!! I don't like slipping and sliding in the ice and snow in January in Reno.

quote:

Originally posted by Adrian Parham:
I really don't understand why there is so much jealousy between the two groups as they are, or should be, pursuing the same agenda.

$$

I would love to see it in the middle of the country or even float around to please all concerned...
NRA's YHEC, Youth Hunter Education Championships is on an alternating location it moves from Mansfield Pa with Mansfield Univ the hosting location and this year it will be held at Whittington Center in New Mexico and there are teams from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast... You should hear of the fuel bills during this years event...

Mike

Mike

I have been to the DSC show several times and will continue to go every chance I got.

One comment that some one made seems really self destructive to me, in that the SCI show is better, because it is for Members Only.

I am not a member of either SCI or DSC, but I did book a hunt thru an outfitter at the DSC show a few years back.

With hunter numbers declining world wide, why in the hell would anyone not want to attract the general public, because those folks spend money with outfitters or would like to.

When in the hell are hunters going to learn that if they do not stop this bull shit of finding ways to further divide themselves, they are going to end up killing hunting because of that divisivness.

We need to be doing everything we can to attract new hunters, not turn them away because they aren't our kind of people.

Some of the major organizations are turning things into elitist type situations, we don't need that if hunting is to survive. JMO.

SCI going to Dallas reminds me of the lawsuit over the term "Grand Slam" between FNAWS and OVIS - pointless and a poor use of money. I'm with crazy horse on this one, we (SCI, DSC, hunters in general) need to put aside egos and start agreeing and working together to protect hunting. Division is not the answer, but two very large groups working together is a different story.

I just returned from my first trip to Reno. I would have to say that the SCI show was significantly larger. I was only there one day and I wish I had scheduled two days.
What the SCI has over the DSC show is the option of looking at a far greater variety of firearms, especially the high end stuff. There were probably 4X the firearms on display and I mean double rifles and high end mfgs.
It was my first trip and I enjoyed it.
I live in the Dallas area and have been attending the DSC since its inception and it has grown tremendously. It is a good show as well.

Crazy, it is like some people look down on the Eastern Sportman Show, because it has alot for the "common man/woman" i e whitetail, turkey and bear in the eastern part of NA. Not all of us can afford African hunting, but I piont out it is cheaper than many hunts in the western US and Canada. There is room for all at the table from the Big Five hunters to the varment hunters and that refers to the cost not the value of the hunt.

I don't think it will hurt DSC at all. In fact, I think it will help them. SCI runs what amounts to an extortion racket with their floor space, either donate a hunt or you either get sent to the bleachers or nothing at all. If I were an outfitter, I'd book DSC. It's usually earlier so you usually have better availability and it's a hell of cheaper! jorge

quote:

Originally posted by RBHunt:
I think those who will be hurt the most by a move to Dallas will be those hunters on the West Coast, especially California, that will no longer be able to hop in the car, and drive over the mountains to the show. When I went, it seemed to be that there were an awful lot of Californian's at the show.

That will be the case no matter where it is held. People within a couple hundred miles will still go by car for the most part. The people in California are no different from anyone else. As it is now the whole nation has to travel a long way to get to the SCI convention. If more centrally located it will cut the cost on many more people, than it does on either coast! As it is today, people from one coast have to travel completely accross the USA, and at least that would be cut in half for either coast if it were in mid country. The locals traveling by car would simply be a different group than it has been in the past!

I don't believe it is a good idea to change SCI to Dallas/Fort Worth, but San Antonio might be a good choice. Centrally located, with good weather, and pleanty of hotels, and the Alomo Dome can handle a very large show with ease! There is pleanty to do there as well, besides the SCI show, if anyone wanted to stay longer!

San Antonio would not cause any conflict with DSC, or HSC for space, or attendees!All three would benefit, as they would if it were moved to PHX! In PHX the SCI museum is only 90 miles away in Tuscon for a side trip, a short hop on a plane, or drive for a day trip!

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
I don't think it will hurt DSC at all. In fact, I think it will help them. SCI runs what amounts to an extortion racket with their floor space, either donate a hunt or you either get sent to the bleachers or nothing at all. If I were an outfitter, I'd book DSC. It's usually earlier so you usually have better availability and it's a hell of cheaper! jorge

I know some outfitters that display at DSC and skip SCI for precisely this reason. The smaller outfitters can't afford SCI.

I have friends that are in the industry that come from Africa and can do the DSC show, visit local friends, we enjoy seeing them again,, hit the Houston show,visit friends, then on to SCI in Reno, visit friends, then fly back to Africa. Having the shows close together makes it cost effective for them. They can do business and have a little holliday in the states. The DSC is a great entry show for people, cheap, a day pass is about 15 dollars, no membership is required, Dallas is easy to get to, you can make it in a half day from any major city in North America, SCI as far as I am concerned is the next level up for those that want something bigger and do not mind paying a 55.00 dollar yearly membership, and at least a 100.00 dollar day pass and Reno is much more difficult to get to by air, those close enough to drive it would be a no brainer, SCI is the big daddy of safari shows. Both have a huge following and give us as consumers choices on spending our hard earned hunting money. If Both are in Dallas, no brainer for me,, I can drive easily. If they move SCI to Vegas or other major city, makes it easier to get there by plane. See ya'll at both,,drwes

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
I have been to the DSC show several times and will continue to go every chance I got.

One comment that some one made seems really self destructive to me, in that the SCI show is better, because it is for Members Only.

I am not a member of either SCI or DSC, but I did book a hunt thru an outfitter at the DSC show a few years back.

With hunter numbers declining world wide, why in the hell would anyone not want to attract the general public, because those folks spend money with outfitters or would like to.

When in the hell are hunters going to learn that if they do not stop this bull shit of finding ways to further divide themselves, they are going to end up killing hunting because of that divisivness.

We need to be doing everything we can to attract new hunters, not turn them away because they aren't our kind of people.

Some of the major organizations are turning things into elitist type situations, we don't need that if hunting is to survive. JMO.

I do agree with you on this. I like the fact that DSC is inclusive. The guy who has worked hard and may only have enough to go on a hunt once or infrequently can go get motivated with out spending a wad of money.
I am always amused by the SCI elitist who would never venture to that quaint town on the prairie. I am sorry but we will probably never miss you.
Bill

Now Bill, we must be inclusive.

Gentlemen,

Can someone please tell me if this is true.

I understand that if one wishes to get into the SCI sow he has to be a member of SCI. If not he has to become a mmeber before he is admitted.

Or so I was told.

DCS, however, is open to the public.

What are the adimission charges for these shows?

Saeed,

SCI is membership only.

I don't know first hand about DSC, but I have been told that it is open to the public.

Apart from membership fees, attendance at the 2010 SCI convention will cost $65 per day for all four days, $90 per day for two and $105 for one day.

I don't know what it costs to get into DSC, as I have never attended.

This was my first year at SCI, it cost me 390USD that was for a 4 day pass and a one year membership

A two day pass to DSC this year was $25. There is no membership required. No other fees needed to attend.
They also sell single day passes, and four day passes at roughly the same rates. I purchased two day passes so I am certain of that cost. I think the single day pass was $15, and the 4 day pass was $40.

A whole lot cheaper than SCI.

Bill