Since the show, we've received feedback in all forms, including social media, the live chat we held last month and surveys we've sent to all of the show's exhibitors and attendees.
Over the next few weeks, we'll be addressing the questions we've received and posting the answers right here on the blog.
Q: Any thoughts on improving the check-in process for the next two years?
A: Many thoughts actually. We will move the main registration area and employ stanchions similar to what airports do to control lines.
Q: How about a separate show for law enforcement?
A: Even though law enforcement accounts for 27 percent of the floor space, less than 10 percent of the attendees register as law enforcement. The fact is that the vast majority of the LE products displayed at the SHOT Show are purchased by traditional sporting goods or firearms retailers and they don't want to travel 10 minutes or more to another venue, according to our surveys.
Q: You still haven't addressed the fire hazard of being stuck in a basement on lockdown if there were a serious threat. A small incident at the end of the show and the entire basement is locked down by rent-a-cops?
A: In response to this question that was posted on our Facebook page, there was a power outage that occurred at the Sands after the close of the 2010 SHOT Show. A detailed response on the situation is provided here by Karen Haigh, senior director of operations for Reed Exhibitions, which manages the show for NSSF.
Q: Can anything be done to improve the Package Center for the Palazzo/Venetian? It was understaffed and there were long lines to retrieve packages.
A: We are addressing that with Sands management.
Q: We've heard that there was a new Sands Convention Center under construction. If this is true, will be able to go there next year?
A: The plans to build a new Sands Convention Center went the way of the economy and there are currently no plans for a new Sands CC.
Q: The main aisle seems a little narrower than in the past and therefore it was a bit congested. Is there any way to make the aisles a little bit wider?
A: It is narrower by about 4 feet. We could widen the aisles by cutting down on the number of exhibitors on Level 1 and Level 2 but then we spread the show out even more.
Q: Can anything be done to reduce the cost of meeting space prior to show opening for exhibitors?
A: It doesn’t look like it at this time. The Sands is a privately owned building and the cost of meeting space is significantly higher than the convention centers in Las Vegas or Orlando, which are publicly owned buildings. Food and beverage costs are higher as well.
Q: How about going back to the 10-foot-by-10-foot grids for booth selection?
A: This may allow users with enough points to take a spot they want instead of being shuttled to the corners. Good in theory, but doesn't take into account the number of booths that are 30 feet wide or larger. In reality, we would end up with even more dead-end aisles than we have now.
HOW ABOUT SWITCHING EVERY OTHER YEAR WITH ORLANDO,FLORIDA
I will NEVER return to a SHOT show at that horrid Sands facility!! David M Dobin
Shot Show needs a major tune up. Orlando never looked so good. As the old saying goes,” it can always get worse”! It did!
L.P.Brezny
Booth numbers need to be visible on all booths. The numbering sequence was virtually impossible to follow. The map of the rooms were useless resulting in much wasted time.
I would love to see the Shot Show back in Orlando, at least every other year or every 3rd year. It just is’t possible for me to fly to Vegas. The cost is more than my little company can afford.
I’ve been attending the Shot Show since Texas. This year was the biggest unorganized mess I’ve ever seen. I spent most of my time lost and confused.
I have yet to see a positive post in any of these comments on any postings about the shot show. I have nothing nice to say either as it was a cluster you know what! It seems it bothered the vendors as well as a lot of them were rude even when you were spending money. It was our first and if it is anything like it in the future, it may be one of the last.
I find it hard to believe that one of the 10 largest conventions in the world, cannot book the show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. That site was perfect, and easy to navigate. The staff was awsome, and went out of their way to accomodate the attendee’s. PLUS PARKING. Monorail access, and affordable food. The Sands is the pits, and it is a mistake to return to that venue. You risk chasing away attendee’s with the high cost of the Sands and the minimal space, and horrid layout of the show. Sorry Shot Show Staff, but the idea of the Sands is not a good choice, and Florida is too remote for a considerable amount of attendee’s.
What happened to Dallas??? I have attended SHOT in Orlando, Las Vegas and Dallas. This year I didn’t find a person I talked to that was happy with the Sands. Compared to all locations I have attended the Sands is the WORST. Many will not return to the Sands. Dallas is more centrally located than Vegas in the west or Orlando in the east.
The preference for the city of the show is often related to the home city of the attendee. Las Vegas has much more to offer for most than Orlando, and is more centrally located. Travel to Las Vegas is less expensive than to Orlando. Accommodations are better in Las Vegas. A permanent home in Las Vegas would be fine with me.
The Sands center is terrible venue compared to the Las Vegas Convention center. I would like to see the Show back in the Las Vegas Convention Center.
It is my understanding that other cities do not have facilities big enough for the SHOT Show now that it has grown so much, so Dallas and New Orleans are now out of the question.
I have been to every SHOT Show and prefer Las Vegas as the permanent location. Just move it back to the Las Vegas Convention Center and it will be fine.
Perhaps it’s time to meet half way: Those who demande the show be in January and those of us who feel the Sands is inferior in every way to the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). If a February date can be found with the LVCC, perhaps we would all be a little better for a superior venue, even though it upsets those who want a January show.
The numbering of booths could be made more clear. The maps were most helpful. Parking for the mobility impaired certainly could be improved. We parked a block away in a private lot because there was nothing else available. The media day was great and the show in general was most enjoyable. The added food and beverage vendors were a most welcome addition.
I have no idea why Reed and the SHOT Show got boxed out of the Las Vegas Convention Center in January for the next several years. I agree that the Sands Center is a mess and the best we can hope for in 2011 is that it will be less of a mess. I would rather see the show move to February if the LVCC is available. The last thing I want to see is a move back to Orlando, even for one year. There were 8-10,000 fewer attendees at each of the last two Orlando Shot shows when compared to the Las Vegas shows.
Keep the show in Las Vegas. Get it moved back to the LVCC even if the dates have to change. I understand we will have to endure the facility for 2011. After this year’s experience we will, at least, be better prepared for “The Sands Trap”.
David – Sorry to hear that.
Dick – You’re right, and it took us a day too long to get them posted. Then, attendees couldn’t see the numbers because the aisles were packed. We’re working on a mobile phone app and location kiosks to help with that issue, along with better and more signage.
Ray – You’re not the only person to suggest Orlando over the Sands, and we are talking to the folks in Orlando about 2013 and beyond.
Family Firearms & Finishes – Let’s face it. Human nature being what it is, very few people ever reach out with praise even when an event or experience is largely positive. All I can say, yet again, is that we’re working on making 2011 a much better experience all the way around.
BLS – Actually, we’re the 22nd largest trade show, and the shows ahead of us at LVCC are larger than we are. And, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, their attendees spend more in the casino, restaurants and shops. If we don’t go to the Sands or Orlando, as you suggest, then it’s between Atlanta and New Orleans, neither of which is an attractive or cost-effective alternative.
Mike – None of us were happy with the Sands as compared to LVCC. Dallas is unfortunately too small for our show.
Gary – We’re doing everything we can to do exactly what you suggest. The big question is what to do in the meantime.
Bryce – Thanks for taking the time to let us know about your experience.
John T. and George – No can do in February at LVCC, but March is a possibility. Unfortunately, that doesn’t leave manufacturers with enough production lead time.
I have been to many trade shows around the country, either as a vendor or an attendee.
Complaints of some nature are normal, usually about low attendance or booth cost.
But the 2010 SHOT Show complaints from both attendees and exhibitors that I have talked too, at the show and afterwards, have been 100% negative.
I have never attended a trade show and left so angry each day. I was having dinner tonight with a rep group, and their comment was that they were not going again in 2011. I can not imagine a scenario that would make me want to spend the dollars to go back in 2011. I will visit with the vendors I need to see before and after the show by phone or email This will be easier I could not find some of them at this years show show!
When I have a good experience or good customer service, I DO respond to the powers that be. The folks at registration were great. But other than my AT&T phone service, I can’t remember such an unpleasant experience.
Yes the Shot Show in Orlando is great. Vages is such a pain to get to sometimes.
I have to agree with many of the previous posts. Navigating the SHOT Show this year was pretty bad. Orlando and LVCC shows were much, much better. The numbering of the booths, especially on the lower level was terrible and I wasted alot of time looking for specific vendors. Even though I live in the east I get the Las Vegas draw but a return every couple of years to Orlando would ease the out of pocket expenses for those of us on the east coast. Perhaps some type of discount “coupon book” or something along those lines would help defer the VERY expensive costs for eating at the Sands. My son and I went to the Food Court at the Venetian and spent $32.00 on two combo meals with drinks at the Nathan’s Hot Dogs. I figure since this is the first year at the Sands there are some bugs to work out. I hope Reed Exhibitions, the Venetian/Sands staff and the SHOT Show staff can fix these problems for next year. You have a great product and have built a good reputation with the quality of past SHOT Shows. Fix these problems and keep up the good work. See you in 2011.
Bill Lammie
It appears that the SHOT Show is stuck with the Sands per contractual obligations. It is suspicious that the SHOT Show has been booted from the LVCC after being held their for so many years. Did the organizers decide to not renew the contract to save money? Remember, you get what you pay for.
Based on the below quoted facts from the 3-18-10 SHOT SHOW Blog, it would seem that elimination of a segregated LE section would conserve floor space since many of the exhibitors in the LE section already have -and have had for years- a booth in another section. Those items in a manufactures line designated as “LE” can be shown in their Firearms or General shooting & Hunting or Outdoor Clothing booth. Wasting floor space through the duplicate of booths in an effort to serve 10% of the attendees is not practical in a facility that is already undersized. As for those companies in the LE section that do not have a booth in another section; their products still fall into one of the other three categories and they can pick the one that best represents their product line.
“Q: How about a separate show for law enforcement?
A: Even though law enforcement accounts for 27 percent of the floor space, less than 10 percent of the attendees register as law enforcement. The fact is that the vast majority of the LE products displayed at the SHOT Show are purchased by traditional sporting goods or firearms retailers and they don’t want to travel 10 minutes or more to another venue, according to our surveys.”