I wonder if people complain about these prices on food and beer when the pats are palying the colts in a run for the superbowl....problably not because its expected.....

Shows suck.

:rotf2:
yeah, but aren't we gonna see you at RISAA Joe?

Yes...I'm going....
I know I'm better off working on the website than selling at a show, but yes I'm going.
You work at a show and even if you do well you have not accomplished anything lasting...It's like 60+ hours work...People will say that you get a big bounce and you get a lot more regular customers and your business grows from the exposure - but they're wrong about that just like they're wrong about everything....

Somebody will come along in the near future with a better idea for shows.....Not me, but somebody will. A smaller more specialized show system would work much better.

like, say, a surfcasting only show?

I bet Bass Pro will...DOH!

I know they have a spring fever sale or something like that...great deals on gear too!

I think for a lot of people--myself included--shows are more of a social thing, and a chance to beat cabin fever. I never buy a lot of gear--I think I spent $10 on some 5 oz Ronz eels and another fin on a Derby hat, since I haven't been to MV since 2001. But I know that I'm going to run into people who I haven't seen in awhile.

I also think that the internet has removed some of the allure of shows--especially the big mega-shows like Worcester and Suffern, NY. I used to attend Suffern religiously, even though it was always the same vendors in the same places, and 80% of it wasn't stuff I'd ever be interetsed in--like Montana elk guides, beef jerky and miracle knife vendors, and the like. What used to get me there every year like clockwork was the chance to see the new fishing gear for that year from all of the major manufacturers, and to leave with an armload of catalogs. These days, guys fish in August with "new" reel models for the next season after getting one online from an overseas source, and a catalog is basically a few mouse clicks away. I remember the last year that the MSBA show was at Braintree Armory. The Abu rep was showing off this hot "new" Abu model called the 6500 Mag Elite. I'd already been fishing with one for two years after buying it online from England ;) New to the US market was the only "new" part of it.

Someone before me already did about 8 years ago:

SWE Fishing Show

River's End Tackle also does something similar although on a smaller scale.

And, I concur, shows suck. I can't wait for April 2nd.

did you post that Pete at the time! I didn't know!! too bad I missed it, sounds great

Definitely. It was stickied at the top of the main forum for about a month. ;)

you didn't just say stickied....did you



great show the boys at swe put on.....

What else would call it?.... :hihi:

Ohh yeahh, I was gone that weekend skiing.
too bad, next year!
I can't wait for RISAA, I've got gear-fever now

I had a great time, I think a lot of people relate the shows with amazing deals on equip. Which is fine, we all look for getting things cheaper if we can. For me spending $15 to hang out talk fishing and get to meet some new faces is worth it. One thing we all know is you can't please every one and I think the msba guys have done a great job at trying. So if you went to the show and left pissed cause it wasn't to your liking, then something is definatly wrong with you. There is a lot worst things we have all spent our money on.

something other than stickied......damn you made me say it twice

[QUOTE=Mike P;475677]Many patrons don't spend anywhere near that. Many spend less than $50.
QUOTE]

I too want to say that I dont think anyone is questioning the fact that MSBA outs on a good show and they try their best for location etc. but the fact of the matter is it cost me a good chunk of change just to go. $25 in gas, $15 to get in (which wouldnt be bad if I knew MSBA was getting a big chunk of that but I doubt it...I am sure it goes to overhead) and I went alone...I cant imagine people bringing spouses or kids what they spend.... I am already spending $40 to get there and in the door. I spent $17.00 on lures/raffle ticket and $4.00 for a med coffee (and no it wasnt very good) I will admit when I got home I felt a little guilty/absurd for spending $60 and all I had to show for it was 2 lures.

I think I lost track of what my point really was but anyway I guess I just mean to say it can be a very expensive show to go to. Although a good show not a show I go to every year and the cost being a big reason why. Now I know not everyone has to drive 180 miles round trip like I did....but I am sure plenty of people had to factor gas$ like I did.

Not me. I made my brother-in-law drive. lol

I did buy him a coffee and a bagel though...

I still think he got the better of the deal since last fall I drove to Wellfleet when we shrink wrapped his father's boat. My Expedition isn't very gasoline friendly....

I only live a couple of towns away from Foxboro so the ride wasn't a big deal for us. I don't know if I'd do 180 miles but I'd make a decent run to attend the show.

I'll say it again. The economics of these shows may not be great, but by this time every year I am gnawing on some braid so the shows; SWE,MSBA and RISAA, give me some relief. MSBA keep doin what you are doin and I'll show up. Hell I cut a deal with the Boss, we go to MSBA then we drive over to Wrentham Mall

What Mike P said
 

The show is more social than it is anything else. Its fun to put names with faces and spend time with people that you have everything in common with. I didn't go or work it this year. My real job took precendence. Saving my vacation time for Booofishing in May, snd the first run.

I know many of my fellow clubmembers spent countless hours bringing the show to fruition. Wherever it is held it is an extraordinary undertaking. It will be interesting to see at the next meeting how successful the show was.

One more thing, I wouldn't pay $7.50 for beer if I was dying of thist or $4.00 for a medium coffee, that is made from concentrate, if someone was holding a gun to head.

Also, you're talking about people who have the scratch to buy season tickets, for the most part. And many of them tailgate before the game, so I would imagine it's primarily beer sales. The more you buy, the less you feel the pain of the $15 for 2 passing to the counterman ;) After a couple of trips, you probably start leaving the fin in change from a $20 for a tip :D

I enjoyed the show as I have in years past at the Armory, Cordage and Kingston. Kudos to the MSBA for their hardwork in pulling this off.

With that said, I think those who say this is primarily a social event need to look a little deeper. If what you are looking for is a social event, fine, but that doesn't help the vendors who need to make enough $$ to justify their effort. Vendors need customers to buy product to make it worth their while and many people are attracted to the show not for social ties, or for that matter an interest in the social gathering, but to buy stuff.

Having people come and talk is great, but if the vendors don't sell anything, why bring the goods? Just go to a club meeting and hang out...

The danger I see for this expo is a downward spiral.

It was very evident to me that this year was significantly down in terms of vendors. Last year appeared (to me) to be down compared to the year before. I am now questioning whether I will go next year as their is less to look at and shop for. With lower attendance, fewer vendors will show up. It is a death spiral.

Also, those who say RISSA should be moved because they have only been doing it for 4 years are missing something called competition. Last I checked the RI show has 4-5 times the vendors as the MSBA show. Newer yes, but much bigger. I only have time for one show and if I had not been away next weekend, it would have been RI not the MA show.

Competition is what it is.

That said, I'm thrilled with my new CMS rod and assortment of RonZ plastics. I enjoyed Flaps presentation as well.

I think there has been a lot of honest feedback on this board that MSBA should listen to. If a social gathering is desired, fantastic. But if an expo with vendors is desired, there may be some trouble ahead.

great post cape codder
with all thats been said I'll add my .02......
I will attend anywhere the club does a show....but after 2 years, I don't think Gillette is the place for it...a free trade show, ya....but not if you have to spend all that coin and still not find an abundance of gear or deals.....bigger isnt alway better
I do understand finding space is an issue....but there is always a solution....kudos to Patrick and the crew....
THE SHOW MUST GO ON :)

Again....must reiterate......11 vendors cancelled Friday due to the weather....that roughly translates to 1/10th of the shows vendors......that is one reason things seemed lean! What do you think would happen to the RISSA show if the same thing happened? There would be cancellations and the show would be missing some vendors.

Remember....if you don't support these events...in good years and in bad....they will disappear.....then you will have something to complain about!

I want to thank the MSBA people for putting on a great show. My dad had a booth there for the first time this year (Laura-Jay Charters) and he was very happy. I was only there for the set-up, but the fact that there were 5 guys waiting at the loading dock all with dolleys waiting to help you transport your gear was impressive.
We saw a ton of people, sold almost all of the daisy chains I crimped up, overall it was a success. (Thanks to the pt Jude guys for loaning us an extra table, or my tuna gear would have been on the floor).
Normally we only do 3 shows, 2 small ones and RISAA. We'll definately be back next year.
That must be a ton of work with an all volunteer staff. Great Work guys.

I haven't been to the MSBA show since it moved to Gillete - not that I don't want to go but because I don't like "Big Venues". It was always my favorite show before it moved.
The RISAA show is a turn off for me - too big and what I shell out for parking and entry could buy a Beachmaster.
The SWE show is smaller - much more intimate - free parking, free entry. Hard to beat. Nice talking with a vendor without 10 guys looking over your shoulder. This show and Plugathon are my favorites. They give me the fix I need to get to casting time.

But success of various shows sometimes means expanding to a larger space - a real fine line here.

One thing is sure - the guys who put on these shows work their but off - they deserve lots of credit.

DZ

MSBA Show
 

I enjoyed the show. A few great presentations, and some great custom gear got me worked up for the season. Plus talking w/#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&, made the $15.00 well worth the trip. Heck, $15.00 is less than a round of drinks at your favorite watering hole.
Great job MSBA, the show was fantastic.

The MSBA show was great thanks for all the people that stopped by the booth. Ya bigfish is right We cant afford to have this show dissapear. Its always been one of my favorites and i've attended it for years. Remember you got people like patrick doin all the organizing and johnny "cherrybeak " cherico setting up and everyone else that helps out. They do it for us not for them . Thanks for a great show see you next year no matter what SANTINI

Thats always been my thoughts DZ.
IF I'm not looking for a deal on a big ticket item, the parking and entrance at RISAA or other big shows just isn't worth it. A beachmaster?
Parking/Entrance is 1+Dozen eels or 4 Redfins on sale :D

The future of the MSBA Expo for next year will be in the hands of its membership at Wednesday nights meeting. Hopefully everyone will realize the value and importance of holding this event. I believe that without the weather we encountered just before the show, the expo would have been a huge success! We don't live in a perfect world, but everyone did everything possible to make sure that everyone had a great time and things went as smoothly as possible. The seminars were awesome and there was still a great variety of fishing equipment and charter services. I'm glad that all of the vendors that were present gave credit to all of the MSBA members that were there to help load and unload. I've never seen anyone work at anything as hard as Patrick did on this event. Hopefully, MSBA membership will take everything into consideration and agree that an expo next year would be the best thing for this club.