Folks, I have attended a couple of SCI Conventions in the past. I intend on attending the DSC Convention in January. How is DSC the same or different? Any suggestions?

Jim

It is smaller. More relaxed. Totally different group of people.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
It is smaller. More relaxed. Totally different group of people.

I have not been to either.

Would guess like going to Vegas to tramped up casino that strips you of every penny you have for an evening, or to a very close friends house for a friendly dinner!

Last SCI show I attended was 2014 ( IIRC ! ) in Reno. Last DSC show I got to was 2020 and my first was 2018.
I enjoy DSC's show more than SCI. As Larry says it's smaller but for me still big enough that it takes at least two days getting around, talking to guys, to do it justice. Also, I think DSC has a larger core of purely hunting related exhibitors and much fewer of the "lifestyle" exhibitors with a pretty tenuous connection to hunting. It's a personal preference but I like that. Dallas downtown and the hotels selection is pretty good.
I've never really made any friends as such at the two SCI shows I attended. I felt that I was just a number they pumped through for the show, which is fine as I wasn't expecting to find new friends anyway. I am a DSC member and volunteered for the 2020 show setup. I couldn't help but make friends there as the guys are just so welcoming and even the club officers from the president, and wives, down are also on the floor helping out. There's no snobbery but instead a warm welcome as if you are family. All these guys are easily approachable. And DSC looks after their volunteers very well. I'm looking forward to getting back to another DSC show when CV restrictions finally relax enough.

quote:

Originally posted by 30.06king:
Last SCI show I attended was 2014 ( IIRC ! ) in Reno. Last DSC show I got to was 2020 and my first was 2018.
I enjoy DSC's show more than SCI. As Larry says it's smaller but for me still big enough that it takes at least two days getting around, talking to guys, to do it justice. Also, I think DSC has a larger core of purely hunting related exhibitors and much fewer of the "lifestyle" exhibitors with a pretty tenuous connection to hunting. It's a personal preference but I like that. Dallas downtown and the hotels selection is pretty good.
I've never really made any friends as such at the two SCI shows I attended. I felt that I was just a number they pumped through for the show, which is fine as I wasn't expecting to find new friends anyway. I am a DSC member and volunteered for the 2020 show setup. I couldn't help but make friends there as the guys are just so welcoming and even the club officers from the president, and wives, down are also on the floor helping out. There's no snobbery but instead a warm welcome as if you are family. All these guys are easily approachable. And DSC looks after their volunteers very well. I'm looking forward to getting back to another DSC show when CV restrictions finally relax enough.

I am obviously biased, but have never been to the big SCI show. I never felt the need to with DSC in my backyard. I may some day, but to see the spectacle and “enjoy” the other options in Las Vegas.

The DSC convention is put on by mostly volunteers. The worst is the union contract the venue has with the Freeman group for “assistance” during setup and takedown. That has nothing with DSC. Despite that, volunteers are all over helping out with everything.

Although I have not been able to join the AR room at DSC because of working the booth, I do find that as a great gesture. I have been able to meet some members as they pass by.

Chalk and cheese comes to mind!

Thank you for the responses. I look forward to attending. I assume they have the evening dinners, auctions, raffles..

I also heard that it is a lot less expensive to attend.

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Singleshot03:
Thank you for the responses. I look forward to attending. I assume they have the evening dinners, auctions, raffles..

I also heard that it is a lot less expensive to attend.

Jim

It is definitely less expensive to attend. I tend to think the hotels & meals are more expensive.

In the past, they have had evening events.

Got the following message.

“Saeed, SCI was started as a TROPHY club. DSC broke off because they did not see eye to eye with them. Nothing has changed. Two clubs with totally different outlook on hunting”

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Got the following message.

“Saeed, SCI was started as a TROPHY club. DSC broke off because they did not see eye to eye with them. Nothing has changed. Two clubs with totally different outlook on hunting”

I just hope SCI and NRA quit the bs. Stupid infighting invaded DSC. In the end, let’s all collaborate for the greater good.

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Got the following message.

“Saeed, SCI was started as a TROPHY club. DSC broke off because they did not see eye to eye with them. Nothing has changed. Two clubs with totally different outlook on hunting”

I just hope SCI and NRA quit the bs. Stupid infighting invaded DSC. In the end, let’s all collaborate for the greater good.

I really hope certain individuals involved in DSC keep their eyes open.

These are individuals beyond reproach, and have always been credit to us all.

But, as the DSC gets bigger, I don’t want to see certain undesirable elements take hold.

SCI and the NRA have to the dogs, because WE allowed them to!

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Got the following message.

“Saeed, SCI was started as a TROPHY club. DSC broke off because they did not see eye to eye with them. Nothing has changed. Two clubs with totally different outlook on hunting”

I just hope SCI and NRA quit the bs. Stupid infighting invaded DSC. In the end, let’s all collaborate for the greater good.

Yup. The last press release was full of outright lies.

If the amount spent on legal fees because of these people is any where remotely close to the rumored amounts , the members should start a class action lawsuit against the dissident group.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Got the following message.

“Saeed, SCI was started as a TROPHY club. DSC broke off because they did not see eye to eye with them. Nothing has changed. Two clubs with totally different outlook on hunting”

I just hope SCI and NRA quit the bs. Stupid infighting invaded DSC. In the end, let’s all collaborate for the greater good.

Yup. The last press release was full of outright lies.

If the amount spent on legal fees because of these people is any where remotely close to the rumored amounts , the members should start a class action lawsuit against the dissident group.

These are the ones who want to turn DSC into another SCI!

Let us make sure they never succeed!

Jim,
I think you will have an absolute blast if you make it to the DSC Convention (SCI convention is good, too), but I, like Marcus< am a bit biased. My wife and I were convention chairs for DSC in 2013 and were blessed with good weather, no pandemic, great exhibitors and even better volunteers and attendees. All made for a good show.
I'm concerned that some international exhibitors may not be able to attend due to Covid restrictions in their home country, but I am hopeful many will be able to make it.
As an exhibitor, Marcus (DCS Member), mentioned the union decorator used at the convention center and their "assistance" during set up and take down. I'm told there will be a new decorator this coming year, Freeman is out, but the new decorator is made up of former Freeman employees so I suspect that apple won't fall very far from the tree as far as "assistance" goes.
There are the usual evening banquets, not inexpensive, followed by a live auction. One doesn't have to attend the banquet to bid on the live auction items, it can be done online or you may enter the banquet hall to bid as soon as the live auction starts (at least that has been the case up until now, if that proves to be incorrect I will post that correction). There are the usual raffles and the raffle girls are pros at getting people to buy tickets, best in the business. Silent auctions, too, I believe one will be required to sign up online or in an app to place bids on silent auction items.
All in all, it has been a very good and entertaining show in the past and hopefully will be again in this Covid era. As the first "big" show of the year, I suppose all of the other conservation groups (outfitters, too) will be using it as a barometer to gauge how their show might go.
PM if you have any specific questions I might be able to answer.

As a booth holder at DSC I really enjoy the show. Some of my collectors has started coming to the show to grab a piece before it goes and they have really started enjoying the show as well. They manage to keep it extended family friendly . It's my favorite trade show.