As we get ready for the start of the safari show season I was struck by just how incredibly stupid the show schedule is this year. With DSC January 3-6 and SCI January 23-26, the schedule could not be more inconvenient to many of the members of both organizations. In particular I am speaking of the outfitters and guides that depend on the shows for bookings, have to travel great distances to attend and are left to deal with the fact that the shows are three weeks apart. So for many the Hobson's Choice is to either incur the expense of travel twice or incur the expense of living in a hotel for weeks.

I understand that the two organizations compete, do not seemingly get along, but there are many people that are members of both. I also understand that scheduling depends on convention center and hotel availability. However, one would think that out of some modicum of respect for their members they would try to do a better job of coordinating the schedule to minimize the inconvenience and expense to the their members. I can understand SCI not giving a hoot since based on numerous conversations with many outfitters they find the way SCI treats exhibitors as reprehensible. But DSC seems to be more attuned to the needs of exhibitors.

A know this is largely just a rant, but I do feel for the outfitters and guides and forcing them to shoulder this burden when the shows already represent a huge expense for them.

. . . I will climb down off the soap box now.

Fortunately there are some other shows they can attend. Lots of traveling and eating away from home.

Mike

That's true Mike but most of those shows will not even come close to resulting in bookings sufficient to cover the costs of attending. That is why the Houston Safari Club show is so poorly attended by exhibitors.

It would be nice if there was only a week between the 2, but I don't see it happening.
It would be like asking Ford & Chevrolet to coordinate on something.

Mike, no disagreement on the lack of coordination but I have heard more and more this year about people being pissed with DSC over the fact that they have to travel from Africa over New Years in time to set up and make the show. Seems the biggest schedule error given that the show normally to my memory is a week or later is on the DSC side. Recognizing that is an unpopular position as most on AR favor DSC it seems but it is what it is. I will not make either this year but I hope all have a great show.

DALLAS- Starts January 09, 2014

SCI Las Vegas Feb 5-8 2014


Next year looks the same with the large date gap in Conventions.

I believe it is the DSC scheduling so close to New Years that created this years problem.

Also, most of the african attendees spend the between time visiting and staying with friends and former clients at their homes, so the expenses are dramatically reduced. I know I have hosted house guests between the shows.

There are also other shows, like SCI chapter banquets, held between DSC and SCI that many attend. I can tell you from personal experience that scheduling these events is no easy task. I handled venue scheduling for 10 years for two large hunting fundraisers and it is a thankless job.

In the spirit of making lemonade from lemons, I'll simply suggest that many of our AR members open their homes to visiting PH's. Over the years, I've hosted the Vincents many times since we're good friends and I live only 2 hours from Reno. They usually stay for a few days either before or after the convention, and I try to introduce them to some of my acquaintences who have an interest in African hunting. Have also hosted Peter Johnstone several times over the years, and have always enjoyed all of their company.

AR members, this is an opportunity to enjoy your favorite PH as a guest in your home. Help him save on some hotel costs, and introduce him to some of your hunting friends. They appreciate it. If each PH could stay with a friend or two between conventions, it would save them some $$ and give them a chance to visit with friends. It isn't as good as sharing a campfire togehter, but it comes darned close.

Besides, they're funny to watch in a duck blind.Talk about a fish out of water!

Perhaps they are trying to push attendees to choose.

I don't think 4 weeks in the USA is any big deal for most outfitters - but the timing is really bad, especially for all of us from the southern hemisphere, which makes up a very large chunk of the outfitters at these shows. January is our summer holidays and we must leave our loved-ones at the worst possible time, especially considering how little time we spend at home in the first place. I have to leave on New Years Eve to be ready in time for the DSC convention - not the first time that has happened either.

As for Houston Safari Club. HSC seems to want to keep it at the smallish venue and there is a waiting list to get in there. That is what HSC wants to do (keep it small) and that is their choice.

There are also plenty of other conventions/events to attend in between times.

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:
Perhaps they are trying to push attendees to choose.

Yup.

I thinkit is a fact that many PHs do stay free of charge at some of their clients homes.

But, the time period involved to attend the two shows is rather long, and may be some PH cannot afford to be away for that long??!!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I thinkit is a fact that many PHs do stay free of charge at some of their clients homes.

But, the time period involved to attend the two shows is rather long, and may be some PH cannot afford to be away for that long??!!

I cannot disput that, DSC should be the week before or the week after sci, no question of that.

Are not these shows for the Clients, I almost didn't go to Dallas this year because of the early strat glad to se them move it back a week as I wouldn't hve gone for sure if it started on the 2nd.

If it wasn't for the exhibitors, the clients would not go there.

If it weren't for the clients the exhibitors wouldn't either. If it wasn't for clients exhibitors would be farming or something else. I know my clients are more important to me than I am to them.

And talk about rocket science, the Cotton Bowl is on 4 January...

The Cotton Bowl is usually during the show, but this year it is a bigger than usual draw.

I am making my first trip to DSC. The dates SUCK!!!! Not sure of the reasoning but not well thought out in my book.

Mike: The reason the DSC show is so early is because that is when the Dallas Convention Center was available, we certainly would have preferred to have the convention start a week later. It is inconvenient for the DSC staff and volunteers as well, but we are going to try and put on the best show possible. As convention chairs, my wife and I will be pretty busy, but I hope to meet as many AR members as possible. Hope to see all of you next week!

Karl

Jorge,
Who is playing in the Cotton Bowl this year?

I think A&M and Okla.

Karl, we know you have broad shoulders!

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
If it weren't for the clients the exhibitors wouldn't either. If it wasn't for clients exhibitors would be farming or something else. I know my clients are more important to me than I am to them.

Chicken or the egg??

quote:

Originally posted by bigguy458:
Mike: The reason the DSC show is so early is because that is when the Dallas Convention Center was available, we certainly would have preferred to have the convention start a week later. It is inconvenient for the DSC staff and volunteers as well, but we are going to try and put on the best show possible. As convention chairs, my wife and I will be pretty busy, but I hope to meet as many AR members as possible. Hope to see all of you next week!

Karl

Karl looking forward to seeing you and your lovely wife! We'll be there Wed and will be there for all the events. See you Thursday morning when I pick up my badges!

Today I live within 40 miles of the convention center in Dallas and I don’t like the DSC convention being so close to Christmas and New Year. I’m sure the traveling exhibiters to the show from all over the world it is a pain that time of year. I agree, as well, that the DSC and SCI should be one week apart so the exhibiters had time to travel and set up for the second show.

It really doesn’t matter to me personally that they are close together because even though I’ve been a member of SCI almost since its beginning I’ve never been to an SCI convention, but I have never missed the DSC, even when I lived 650 miles away in El Paso, Texas. When I lived there I was about half way between the two shows and I still came to the DSC show. Still I would like the DSC to be a little later after the holiday travel problems than it has been the last couple of years. I think it would be much better for the exhibiters.
...................................................................

quote:

Originally posted by bigguy458:
Mike: The reason the DSC show is so early is because that is when the Dallas Convention Center was available, we certainly would have preferred to have the convention start a week later. It is inconvenient for the DSC staff and volunteers as well, but we are going to try and put on the best show possible. As convention chairs, my wife and I will be pretty busy, but I hope to meet as many AR members as possible. Hope to see all of you next week!

Karl

Karl,

It is a pain for guys coming from oversees, but it is what it is at this point.

I do want want to compliment Lea and Lynda at DSC. I called this morning with an issue, they stopped what they were doing (even though I am sure they are somewhat busy right now), and it was resolved within a half hour. They have always been very personable and responsive everytime I have called. Thanks for the help!!!!

Chicken or egg bull. It takes customers or clients for any business to suceed. Anyone in business that forgets that little nugget will be panning for government relief.

When was the last time the DSC and SCI shows were within a week of each other?

Guys
As a member of both DSC and SCI, as well as a major exhibitor at both, let me point out that convention centers book YEARS in advance, so that explains some of the date complications. I promise you that DSC did not see these dates as "first prize" but these were the dates open to them. SCI faces the same things. Also, the SHOT SHOW is right after DSC and it is THE major industry for many of the same vendors you see at DSC and SCI. Very busy for those like me who must attend all three.

Ed and Jorge: I am looking forward to seeing both of you as well, and Ed, broad shoulders are coming in really handy right about now...

Mike70560: Thanks so much for the compliment, I will pass it along. ALL of the DSC staff is extremely busy and has been for about 4 months preparing for the convention (as well as handling their normal duties).

Karl

Conventions like this usually have to be scheduled years in advance.

Why the heck don't SCI and DSC start NOW and schedule their shows intelligently starting about five years from now?

Sure they're competitors. But if it were easier to attend, more exhibitors would attend and draw more hunter-clients.

quote:

Originally posted by Indy:
But if it were easier to attend, more exhibitors would attend and draw more hunter-clients.

I think both have a waiting list as it is so I'm not sure how MORE exhibitors could attend.

Then after SCI is the sheep show back in Reno jan 31- feb 2. A least if it was in between it could help.

I hear a long list of excuses (e.g., only time space is available, conflicts with the SHOT show, trying to force exhibitors to choose, etc.) and not a lot of answers. I have the same question Indy has, why not start now and coordinate the future dates to minimize the inconvenience on the traveling outfitters.

That said, none of the outfitters seem to have much of a problem with the gap in the dates apparently given the lack of response.

i have voiced my deep displeasure with DSC about the dates being so close to the festive season holidays , from a perspective of a outfitter who has loyally supported both SCI and DSC , I pointed out the obvious - outfitters and PH's spend months away from their families and loved ones and in Africa we celebrate the December holidays as family time - all southern africans , so to ask our family to understand leaving again early in the family holiday is just down right unacceptable and inconsiderate. Most of us plan for a month at least in the USA for visiting and marketing so the time between shows is often not a problem but there are 2 major issues with early January - most families are still on holiday till mid January and airline prime time is early january - travel is at a premium difficult and much more expensive than mid january which is shoulder time to peak period. I plus many of my friends are not attending or exhibiting at DSC due to the unacceptable dates , this in the short period will have little to no affect on DSC but I put it to you that this lack of consideration or due care of international outfitters and companies is a fast growing trend in DSC. that said we hope all attendees have a great show and look forward to seeing everyone at SCI.

Graeme: DO NOT BLAME DSC !!!! They only did this because I ASKED THEM TO. I thought you would bring your lovely children with you, and leave them at my house......and not come back for them for at least a year. I have a grandaughter that would be extremely happy with that plan. Ha-Ha.
Seriously......I am sorry, because if the shows were somewhat closer together your entire lovely family might be here and spending some time with us. Now I am going to DSC to find another operator who will be offering Elephant hunts in Bots for trophy Elephant in 2016.
Ha - again!!!!! B

SBB, first let me get my crying towel then I will share it with all the hunters waiting for their trophies from Southern Africa. When one inquires as to the status of their trophies and are told we shut down on the 16th of December for holiday and will return Jan 16th, well that is expected to be acceptable. Well we have no choice except to hunt elsewhere, which I have. My trophies taken in May of this year are hanging on my wall as I type. Those trophies were taken in Ghana. I don't want to hear well they have a smaller hunsting trade. If the trade in southern Afrrica is so large why not just staff properly, could it be they just don't care. So if your friends don't want to come to the shows in the states stay home and see how your business grows. The basic jest of this is quit crying.

P.S. To the previous post. The only reason I am sorry to miss SCI Reno is not getting to see you. My hunt with you only gets sweeter as the days go by. I am honestly SORRY for the guys who did not get to do Bots before the crazies have done their damage.
FOR ANYONE READING THIS.......GRAEME STILL HAS THIS YEAR TO GO. NG 47. Don't blow your last chance!

Graeme Pollock, Safaris Botswana Bound, and the committee working to get the screwed up politics of Bots reversed - approved this message.

Die ou Jagter - how the frog you connect your crying towel and lack of trophy delivery to my post alludes me , you must be pissed on Christmas juice or just .....

Die Ou Jagter - I now get it ! you are one of my favorite comedy club members who I have avoided playing with for some time - but it was only time that would bring you out to play

You seem pissed about the USA shows, and all I said those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. I am sorry if this escapes you.