If anyone is wondering where I am today, I’m preparing for the kick-off of the 2008 Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trades (SHOT) Show here in lovely Las Vegas, NV. OK, I doubt anyone is really wondering… but it’s a nice way to start a post, isn’t it?
What’s the SHOT Show all about?
In its 30th year, the 2008 SHOT Show will be the largest ever. With 1,948 exhibiting companies encompassing more than 715,000 net square feet of space, it is one of the top 30 trade shows in the country, as well as one of the fastest growing, regardless of industry. More than 50,000 industry professionals have registered to attend the SHOT Show from the U.S. and 75 foreign countries.
If you ever felt overwhelmed walking into Bass ProShops or Cabelas, then you would have a tiny fraction of an idea what it’s like to step into the front door of this industry event. After six years of attendance, it still takes my breath away every time. If it has anything to do with guns, ammo, hunting clothing and gear, it’s represented here. It’s where the big dogs like Cabelas and Bass Pro come to snack, where folks like Mossy Oak, Realtree, Browning, and others come to show their stuff. Mingled and mixed you’ll find the suppliers and manufacturers of every tidbit and trinket… some supporting existing business and others hoping to get “discovered”.
The show floor will be crowded with representatives and buyers of all sorts, from small countries to owner/operators of mom-n-pop sporting goods shops. In amongst the crowd will be the members of the sporting media. Celebrities of hunting and outdoors television like Michael Waddell, Bill Jourdan, and Ted Nugent will be seen tripping from booth to booth, while outdoor writers of every caliber will be taking notes and photographs.
Every evening when the show floor closes, the Vegas hotels will ring with hospitality suites and industry parties, as sellers wine and dine the buyers, while those of us in the media just hope to be in the right spot at the right time to catch the sporting scoop of the year… and to get some free food and spirits in the process. These aren’t small-time events either, as the crowd is entertained by folks like John Michael Montgomery, Joe Diffie, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, and this year, Randy Travis!
The show-proper actually opens on Saturday, but today I’ll be out at a couple of live fire range events where firearms manufacturers like Winchester/Browning, Remington, and Smith and Wesson will let members of the press and media get some trigger time with their new offerings. I’ll share photos and notes when I get back to the hotel this evening. I’ll also be providing updates throughout the weekend as I wander the aisles in search of news that you can use.
SHOT Show is really overwhelming. Part of me is a little sad I’m not there this year, if only because I would have liked to meet some of the people I only know through the computer. Still, there’s always next year, which will hold both SHOT Show and the Summit. So there should be lots of opportunities to meet.
Hope you have fun and see lots of neat stuff.