It is that time of year when the elusive species of Tacticoolus Americanus (common name: American Gun Guy) gets the instinctual urge to migrate to the deserts of Nevada, so that it may engage in its ritualistic behavior of ogling and finger-banging all of the new gadgets and gizmos released to the shooting, hunting, and outdoor industries. Donned in its social “plumage” of button-down flannels, ball caps, and khaki pants, there is no doubt that the massive flocks of this once proud and celebrated apex predator will be slowly and methodically pecking their way through the endless mazes of elaborate nests (known as “booths” to those of us in the scientific community).
Some search for the content to feed their constantly hungry and chirping followers. Some search for mates to help further their business endeavors. But by the end of the week, all of them search for one thing, the fastest flight out of town. This annual pilgrimage will leave the animal exhausted and, more often than not, sick with some form of communicable disease that will linger on for weeks.
Many biologists ponder if this grand and prolific social congregation is just a carryover behavior from some ancient survival mechanism now embedded in its DNA, or if it’s just an excuse for the males of the species to get away from their female counterparts for a week in a den of debauchery and alcoholism. (And… come to think of it… those are not mutually exclusive theories)
Regardless, they have all started to descend, and the great gathering has begun.
What is SHOT Show?
SHOT Show is the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show. It’s a massive gathering of Exhibitors (people who pay for booth space), Buyers (people who go to make business deals), Media (people who go to spread the word about new stuff), and a host of other “attendees” that fall into various categories.
All of these attendees and exhibitors spend about a week walking dozens of linear miles through a massive grid of aisles and walkways; to experience hundreds of booths that can be as small as a folding table, or as large as a multi-story house. It all exists through two convention centers connected by a temporary bridge because no single facility can accommodate it. It’s legitimately massive.
For some, SHOT also encompasses a variety of special and extracurricular events. These can include things like the Industry Day at the Range (a day for select attendees to go and experience a bunch of guns and items in the real world), Industry Education (classes on how to further businesses like retail shops), networking events, mixers, concerts, parties, and my personal favorite… Dinners with friends and compatriots in the industry.
Can I go?
You will notice that there is one category of attendee that is conspicuously absent at SHOT Show; the Average Joe.
This will be my third year attending SHOT, and I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been asked, “How did you get in?” or “Is there any way I can go?”. Well, the answer is actually pretty simple, make it a professional endeavor. I’m not going to be some industry elitist and tell people that the only ones that have any business being at SHOT show are “professionals”, but I can now say with confidence that it truly is not an experience geared for the “consumer”. (If you want that, go to the NRA show… seriously… it’s way better for consumers)
The vast majority of people there have gone with the express purpose of furthering their business. They want to talk about how many units you can sell at your shop, or what type of audience you have on your social media platforms. They want to connect with people that have the shared purpose of doing work. And they definitely don’t want to field conversations about how you’ve been saving up for that one special purchase and are “just about ready” to buy that revolver that they make. (By the way… I’ll clue you in on a little secret… like 90% of the people in “the industry” DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT GUNS all the time)
Don’t get me wrong, there’s lots of cool stuff to see. However, for me (and I’m pretty sure the vast majority of attendees), SHOT is about building professional and profitable relationships.
What can you see there?
Answering “What can’t you see” might actually be easier. Almost anything you can possibly think of related to the outdoor, shooting, and defense industries is there in some way. Except for Sig Sauer… but that’s a whole other story.
Drones? Yup. Lasers engravers? Yes. Dog leashes? You betcha. Socks? Yeah, like 10 different booths of sock suppliers. An AR that can hot-swap between a 12-gauge shotgun barrel, a 556 barrel, and a crossbow bolt launcher? Yeah… some company out there thinks that absurdity is needed in the industry.
Essentially, you can find and talk to someone who sells or makes almost any product you can imagine.
Why?
I can’t answer why anyone else goes. I’m sure some go for the excitement or the week away. I’m sure others go because they are just legitimately fascinated by gear and just want to experience all there is to experience about it. And, I’m also sure some go just so they can collect a shit ton of patches and sales brochures (weirdos).
However, I can answer why Bulletn is going. We are sending a crew out to Vegas for 2 reasons.
- To connect with the people we care about. We have the opportunity to see friends who are manufacturers, exhibitors, and most importantly, a host of trainers who will be attending the show. These are our people, and it’s our mission to help all of them get the word out about their offerings.
- Because you can’t. Whether it’s because you aren’t an “industry professional” or because you just couldn’t find the time or money to afford the trip… we want to help you experience the event and feel more connected to the training community.
If you read this and happen to be attending SHOT Show next week, feel free to reach out to me at Mike@Bulletn.net. I’ll have a patch or a sticker your you.
In the meantime… Get Smart, Stay Ready, and Find Training,
-Mike
