My two cents.....I need 4 weeks in the States and 2 weeks in Europe to fill my year up. Two weeks/two shows, even the biggest, just do not make that up. My middle two weeks is made up of my own little road show to clients and smaller shows, although the smaller shows does not realy book hunts. I like DSC early in Jan and SCI at the end simply because it is the two BIG 'uns and it is nice to start and finish with them. The early date of DSC in Jan does suck a little though. Looking forward to seeing all you "Safari tramps" there next week!

Cheers,

Thanks for an honest reply.

Indy: to answer your question regarding show scheduling, DSC has contracted with the Dallas Convention Center for our convention until at least 2018 and the dates for these shows are set, all in the first part of January. I can't say how SCI schedules their show, but our dates are set. Regarding the number of exhibitors, Todd was correct; we have a waiting list of over 400 potential exhibitors but the board of directors chooses not to grow our show "too big"...

Karl

Die Ou Jagter , yes I am not happy with not attending DSC after nearly 20 years of full throttle support and at last count 8 donated elephant hunts or nearly $300 000-00 in donation value , yes many africans have made a plan and good for them but I have not heard one single african outfitter state he was happy with the show dates , as a close friend of many of the present and past DSC executive they to have expressed dissatisfaction , it has nothing to do with living in a glass house and casting stones - particularly that I have nothing to do with the dip pack and shipping industry that has your goat ( pun intended).

SBB: I can understand your frustration at the early show dates; but "airline prime time" is something we hunters have to deal with when we hunt overseas from mid May until mid September as well so I figure that is just part of the cost of doing business regardless if you are a hunter or outfitter. A part of your post intrigued me though and I would like to find out more about your though process if you would like to PM me with specifics I will address them for you.

quote:

Originally posted by Safaris Botswana Bound:
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.

Karl

bggy458
PM sent

Good for you SSB....

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, please instruct your volunteers/staff as to the location of the AR Hospitality room( assuming there is one). not a single person i asked last year had a clue as to location...

Yea Indy,SBB, and Larry I agree.Way too early, and I know many US hunters that won't be attending DSC this year as they too are still on their family holidays.

They could have it opening week of deer season & I would still be there.
The DSC conv. has become a big family reunion to me, would not miss it for anything!
Never been to SCI & can't find a reason to go.

As I reflect on this thread and many others over the past I seem to find the exhibitors posting here about SCI and now DSC are dissatisfied with the dates, rates, donations, help etc, but yet both shows have very long waiting lists. Something just doesn't make sense or maybe it is just me. Have a good day!

I'd like to formally apologise for telling the truth.

The Houston Safari club convention is between them Jan 11-13th,, however smaller it still offers the opportunity to book hunts and meet potential clients. Many of us "host" our Ph's and outfitters while they are here in the states and organize "dinners" or parties for them to meet clients as well. I have an "extra" car that I can make available as well after instructions on WHICH SIDE OF THE ROAD TO DRIVE ON!!!!!
I would hate to make that trip accross the pond twice for two different shows. Let's make our friends from accross the pond feel welcome and help them out with some hospitality!

I just e-mailed my outfitter & offered to put him up in our home & loan a vehicle if he needs it.

jdollar: I agree some of the staff and most of the volunteers were unaware of the AR hospitality room last year; however the folks at the concierge desk had the location and will have the location again this year. For all interested, the AR hospitality room will be located in Room C-2 which is outside the show hall and down the hall to the right about 150 yards or so...I believe it is the same room as last year. Hope to see many of you there.

Karl

Karl
Just take a jumbo sharpie & mark AR (REALLY BIG) on the door.
That way we can use it year after year.
Surely the DCC would not mind you defacing their door for us.

Just an observation here. I only manage attending the DSC Show one time out of every 3 to 5 years, due to scheduling conflicts.

From experience however, be it DSC/SCI you pick the event, there is ALWAYS scheduling conflicts for someone that wants to attend and that applies to everything in a persons life, up to and including dying.

Make the best of a bad situation. I wish I could attend the DSC show every year but that just ain't gonna happen. Again just an observation.

Cecil: I believe I'll let you do that...I'm sure I can't afford the new door. I will try and get some sort of sign for the room. Convention Center management is realllly picky about signage though, but we will try to work something out.

Karl

Its part and parcel of being in the business of Outfitting and Guiding. You schedule in the dates, apologize to the family for the 15th time as you leave them in the middle of summer back and head to the States.
Yeah we're off on New Years day, not the best timing in the world and with SCI at the other end of Jan its does become a balancing act . Last year we made 2 trips, as work comittments back in NZ drew us home. This season with the generosity of our Texan friends we'll stay on and visit with them.
Its pure economic for us, we have to be able to generate enuf income from our month in the USA, you also need to appreciate that if I'm not guiding (I'm a flyfishing guide in the summer) I'm not earning ,the same with the aviation side of our lives. If we aren't here doing it we have no income so the Shows are doubly important.
See you all in Dallas
Gerald

Karl,

Perhaps it would be helpful if you would post here all pertinent info about the AR hospitality room, i.e., confirmed location, dates and hours of operation.

Thanks

As a DSC LIFER, a major vendor, and a regular at the BIG 3 shows( DSC, SHOT, and SCI) I can promise you that there are schedule conflicts wherever you attend, or wherever you are coming from. BBS, would you prefer the week BEFORE for DSC, during Christmas? I promise you the industry types( gunmakers,clothing mfg's, ammo etc..will NOT miss SHOT SHOW(scheduled the following week), and they are a lot of DSC's corporate base, which is one reason's for DSC's tremendous growth.My guys at CHIFUTI, will do DSC, be in town to wrap up paperwork, then back to Zim, then back for SCI. Perfect? No, but a possible solution. I know MANY outfitters who take advantage of the time to visit friends and set up 'private meet and greet" parties with friends of their clients.I would hope that any outfitters who are considering giving up their place in the ever growing line of companies trying to get into DSC think carefully, as that spot will vanish in seconds and perhaps not be available when more preferable dates for another convention arise. Just food for thought.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Fulson:
My guys at CHIFUTI, will do DSC, be in town to wrap up paperwork, then back to Zim, then back for SCI. Perfect? No, but a possible solution.

Dave, with all due respect, having to purchase multiple sets of round trip tickets at several thousand dollars a person does not sound like much of a solution to me. Maybe for Paul and Andrew but not all outfitters are as well situated. Seems to me the solution is for SCI and DSC to coordinate their schedules and have just a week and a half gap between the shows.

It is no skin off my nose, but there have been several threads lately talking about how the incomes of PH's are so low, it is a labor of love that creates financial hardship for many, etc., to then make them have to buy several round trip tickets or live in a hotel for several weeks because the two organizations will not talk to one another would irritate me. Also makes me wonder what the professional associations that represent PH's, like PHASA, ZPHGA, SOAZ and others have done or are doing to let their voices be heard on behalf of their members regarding convention scheduling.

Not my fight, I will let others joust at this windmill.

Maybe SCI or DSC should have a monopoly, like the electric utilities.

I can sympathize with having to buy multiple airline tickets, etc., after dropping $100K a year on safaris.

Will the pocket change expenses never end?

I thought Thursday night was leather craft night at the neighborhood center, surprised you are not out doing billfolds, bead work or maybe some origami. Remember, be sure to the put the teeth in, the ladies aren't impressed with that "all gums" smile.

Good one Mike!

quote:

Originally posted by bigguy458:
jdollar: I agree some of the staff and most of the volunteers were unaware of the AR hospitality room last year; however the folks at the concierge desk had the location and will have the location again this year. For all interested, the AR hospitality room will be located in Room C-2 which is outside the show hall and down the hall to the right about 150 yards or so...I believe it is the same room as last year. Hope to see many of you there.

Karl

thanks a lot for the info, Karl. i didn't see the concierge desk last year but tried the info and registration desks without success. now that i know the building layout( as well as the room number)- no worries. since last year was my first i had no idea where to look( in fact i didn't even know there were meeting rooms). forewarned is forearmed AND THANKS A LOT FOR THE TEXAS HOSPITALITY!

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
I thought Thursday night was leather craft night at the neighborhood center, surprised you are not out doing billfolds, bead work or maybe some origami. Remember, be sure to the put the teeth in, the ladies aren't impressed with that "all gums" smile.

quote:

I thought Thursday night was leather craft night at the neighborhood center, surprised you are not out doing billfolds, bead work or maybe some origami. Remember, be sure to the put the teeth in, the ladies aren't impressed with that "all gums" smile.

By god, Jines you made me spew egg nog all over my PC!

highlander, booth #?

While i still contend the DSC dates are a pain in the backside, coordinating SCI and DSC is likely an impossibility all factors considered . I am not talking political issues.

I am not saying that buying two tickets is THE solution, just pointing to it as A solution for guys that are more interested in spending holidays at home vs doing business in the states.

Here's really the Question.....Why do Texans need their "own" Safari Clubs ?

So that we will already be all set up with existing, operating clubs when we secede.

I wonder if there is this much angst on the golf forums about the dates for the PGA Merchandising show and the Golf Industry show? And do golfers worry about how and where their local pro will stay between the shows?

DSC is NOT just for Texans!
I live in La. & am a member of both DSC & SCI.
The DSC show is large enough to offer me anything I may be interested in & sm. enough to be able to find everthing.
In other words, it's perfect for me.
By the attendance, it must be pretty good for many others as well.
DSC is a volunteer based club with a very sm. paid staff. Most of the folks you'll meet working there are volunteers that love their club & are willing to give of their time & money to help make it a great success. I'm one of them. If you attend the show & you see a short, fat, bald headed guy with a white beard, wearing a security vest, walk up & introduce yourself to me. I'll be glad to meet you & welcome you to OUR DSC conv.
There is a very lg. number of Texans that go on safaris & are willing to support their own club, so the question isn't why do they(we) need their club, but instead, WHY NOT?
If you good folks in Montana want your own club, knock yourselves out, I'll probably sign up to be a member & support ya'll as well.
Happy New Year

Well said, Cecil.

Karl

Great Response Cecil !! Just thought that an organization is more effective when like minded individuals band together, instead of splinter groups forming and diminishing the overall usefulness and effectiveness of what seem to be a common goal. Nothing against you Boys from the Lone Star....we've got a few hiding out up here in Montana !!!

2833 Ed. see you there.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
I thought Thursday night was leather craft night at the neighborhood center, surprised you are not out doing billfolds, bead work or maybe some origami. Remember, be sure to the put the teeth in, the ladies aren't impressed with that "all gums" smile.

Sorry for not getting back to you, but the internet has been down at the senior center.

To express my deepest sympathies I have bribed the ladies group to embroider a crying towel for you but will be in mostly blues and grays, their favorite colors. They do love their Lone Star beer.

So thank your lucky lone star that the next time you're crying about something, maybe Valentino can give you a dry-off with the towel. I'll give it to you at the DSC convention*.

*Best to wash it first as it may contain traces of denture wash, viagra, mouth wash, and other unknown substances.