Dallas Safari Club Convention Summary

[deewayne2003]

Then it failed. Outfitters I talked to said it was the worst show they had even been to.

LOL then we must be talking to different outfitters because the ones I've spoken to about the TTH show said the same exact thing as @mdwest .......

I’d like to know which outfitters you talked to.

I was at TTHA.. I spoke to dozens of exhibitors… most conceded they expected better, but all rejoiced they were there rather than DSC…

Furthermore, when they announced that 2024 exhibitors would be given guaranteed 2025 booth space if they signed up for the show before the close of the last day, there was an immediate line of exhibitors standing in front of the SCI booth paying for 2025 booths.. by noon, I personally witnessed a stack of several hundred booth applications on that desk..

The weather sucked but crowds were still good enough to make it worth the effort and exhibitors were excited about next years TTH show already.

On the other hand the reports from exhibitors regarding the DSC Atlanta show were consistent also..... they will not be returning to Atlanta.

As a DSC life member one comment from an Atlanta exhibitor really struck home.....
"Since DSC has so much trouble communicating from their ivory tower, we will be concentrating resources on Dallas and Nashville for 2026."

I believe that many exhibitors see the TTH show as a chance to get into a new show at the ground level.

Again as a life member I hope that DSC can correct course, but as of now it looks like they handed a prime venue with expansion potential to TTH on a silver platter.

I think it’s telling that DSC does not come on to this forum and address this directly. There is no way that they are unaware of this discussion.

@WAB I agree, but the real question is..... Do they even care to address it or is it beneath DSC to even acknowledge the issue from their "ivory tower"?

I know that sounds cynical but I honestly believe the issues at hand are top down issues within DSC.

 

[Green Chile]

There are senior DSC leaders here on the forum as members. I know because I've talked to them, sold guns to them, etc. I don't know what their plans are but they can see the discussions. I hope they take the feedback where it needs to go.

 

[Troubleshooter]

Then it failed. Outfitters I talked to said it was the worst show they had even been to.

LOL then we must be talking to different outfitters because the ones I've spoken to about the TTH show said the same exact thing as @mdwest .......

I was under the impression that Sureshot375 was referring to the DSC Atlanta show, not the TTHA in Dallas. At least that's how I read it.

 

[lkydvl]

You would DRIVE from Michigan to Dallas for a Convention in January? WAY more adventurous man than me. LOL

Wife and I drove from MN to DSC Atlanta. We had a huge laugh about the Winter Storm Watch and Warnings. Amazing that little snow shut down an entire state.
One major issue we had was the dearth of decent signage in Atlanta, the venue parking and inside. Checking in was frustrating. Lack of decent communication and typing skills had us asking, who hires folks with such limited skills? On the other hand everyone was friendly and as helpful as they could be.

Loved the show tho as it was easy to get around and talk to whomever we wanted to. Gathered what I need for an upcoming hunt in RSA this May and a hunt next year in NZ. As a very regular gun show vendor I knew from the lack of visitors that the show woud be a bust. You can't layout that kind of time and expense for such dismal exposure and make it work. It was a great experience as a first time attendee but we will not be returning. I'll try the SCI next time!

 

[deewayne2003]

I was under the impression that Sureshot375 was referring to the DSC Atlanta show, not the TTHA in Dallas. At least that's how I read it.

I think you read it wrong......

 

[sureshot375]

I was under the impression that Sureshot375 was referring to the DSC Atlanta show, not the TTHA in Dallas. At least that's how I read it.

I was referring to the TTHA show, but I wasn’t there so I was relying on reports from others. It could be a difference in the timing?? Maybe things picked up over the weekend?? In any event I don’t have any first hand knowledge.

I do know that the exhibitors were universally disappointed in the Atl turnout. There is no question about that.

I am new to DSC. I’m honestly relatively new to SCI. I became disillusioned with SCI decades ago and lost all interest. It’s only been the last few years that I’ve been participating, and both organizations are a great thing for our community. I would like to see them both do well.

I wish they wouldn’t act like competitors.

I have zero knowledge the internal politics of DSC . I do think they need to act fast on explaining, or maybe reminding people, about the need to move out of Texas.

If they have good facts about the number of pre registered attendees for Atlanta they should be sharing that asap along with a sincere understanding and acknowledgment of the exhibitors frustration and disappointment.

 

[mdwest]

I was referring to the TTHA show, but I wasn’t there so I was relying on reports from others. It could be a difference in the timing?? Maybe things picked up over the weekend?? In any event I don’t have any first hand knowledge.

It was slow all weekend...

Friday was a total bust.. but that was clearly weather and also simply because it was "Friday".. most of the crowd attending TTHA were locals or from a reasonable driving distance.. Friday was always going to be slow.. people were going to be at work, kids in school, etc.. the snow just made it worse.. if people weren't going to work or school, they definitely weren't going to a hunt expo..

Saturday started slow, but picked up reasonably by mid day.. it certainly wasn't crowded.. but most exhibitors got at least enough traction, interest, and sales on the second half of Saturday to make the show worth their while.. by the close of Saturday I think most exhibitors were frustrated, but had done well enough that they had made the decision that they would return in 2026.. this was especially true of the exhibitors that had booths in both Dallas and Atlanta since they were very in tune with what was going on in ATL and were talking with their teams, etc..

Sunday was better than Friday, but not as good as Saturday.. I think everyone expected Sunday to be better than it was... but the snow kept most of the out of towners from coming for the weekend, and the show wasn't really big enough to warrant spending 2 full days on the floor, so most of the people that visited on Saturday didn't return on Sunday... that said, next year will be 3 halls instead of 2.. and its unlikely that there will be another storm... so I think most exhibitors are betting that next years show will be significantly better than this years show... so they made the decision to book again next year...

SCI also did a very good job communicating with exhibitors about their intentions for the future, about how they were handling the current conditions (snow, etc), and also were very candid and admitted that they made some mistakes with the 2025 show.. it was an inaugural year.. but they also were quick to advise that they were talking to exhibitors, talking to members, talking to consumers walking the floor, etc.. and taking lots and lots of notes.. they already had plans for improving the marketing of the show next year, increasing turn out, making things flow better for exhibitors, etc..etc.. and intended on looking at all of the information they gathered at this years show so that they could make even more improvements..

I think that's where SCI is winning the day... they are engaging all of the stakeholders.. they are communicating clearly.. and they are committing to making changes that the stakeholders believe will make things better..

Where all anyone is hearing from DSC is either silence or excuses..

 

[Green Chile]

In a lot of ways, TTHA/SCI and DSC had similar obstacles this year...new venues for both...bad weather for both...lower attendance than hoped for...but the way they are handling them is night and day different. Anyone can see that. Do you see opportunities for improvement while gathering feedback or is it silence and excuses and no interest in feedback as @mdwest said?

 

[revturbo9967]

I was there all day Friday. I flew in Thursday and rented a car because I don't trust uber drivers in the snow. I got to the show early and was one of the first ones in. I thought it was amazing to be able to speak in detail with outfitters. I was wearing jeans, a long sleeve shirt and sneakers and not one outfit turned their nose up at me. I spent a half hour in Robin Hurts booth and most likely longer speaking with Buzz Charlton. I spent most of the time talking and very little time just wondering around.

Yes it was not as good for some outfits, and some of that was the poor marketing of DSC, but the weather played a huge factor too. My outgoing fight was canceled Saturday and it took another 5 hours before I was on a packed outgoing flight back to Connecticut. Atlanta airport was crippled by this storm.

If it stays in Atlanta, which I believe it supposed to for 4 more years, ill go back baring any weather issues. Its such an easy flight, might as well go and show some support.

My next, next trip to Africa is in the works, and its all because I got to the show...

 

[mdwest]

I'll be amazed if the 2026 DSC show isn't in Atlanta.. unless the contract they have with the convention center there has a crazy lightweight exit clause embedded in it, I think the cost of moving without much notice (a year isn't a lot of notice in the conventions world) would make a move prohibitive..

Assuming ATL is where the show remains... DSC is going to have the same challenges next year that they had this year.. there are A LOT of people that have gone to DSC and spent A LOT of money over the years that simply will not attend a show in ATL... they're going to go to either Nashville, or the new TTHA show instead... DSC needs to realize these people are most likely lost for the next 4 years... and much more importantly, their money is.. which impacts the exhibitors.. and if exhibitors continue to feel negative impact.. they are going to find their own solutions to the problem...

Combine having the same problem next year as they had this year.. with a failed show (doesn't matter why it failed.. blame it on the snow.. blame it on the location.. blame it on the texans.. blame it on SCI for having a competing show on the same dates.. doesn't matter.. what matter is the show did indeed fail).. and the problem exponentially grows (some exhibitors are almost guaranteed not to come back, whether its because they cant afford to risk another loss, or they are pissed at how DSC has managed the problem to date, etc doesn't matter.. the reality is some wont come back.... some consumers wont come back.. again, doesn't matter why... people travel to conventions for a lot of reasons.. talking to vendors and booking hunts is just one of them.. and if some of the very few people that made it this year had anything less than a great time this year, they will be looking for alternatives next year)...

So the question is... what is DSC going to do about it?

Were I in a senior leadership position, I'd be looking at a 3 pronged approach.. I'd be searching hard for a way to appease exhibitors, consumers, members, and volunteers and try to mitigate as much shrink and loss from those that did make the commitment to be there this year as possible.. you have to acknowledge that you're going to lose some no matter what you do.. but you better be busting your ass to make that number as small as possible, or you're going to have huge problems moving forward..

I'd be looking to find a way to convince the thousands upon thousands of people that normally attend DSC, who chose not to this year (long before snow was an issue) to give ATL a try (their previous attempts were terrible)... recognize that many if not most of these people are lost and not coming back... but once again, every head count matters at this point.. and you desperately need those that have supported you for years to support you again.. you need their MONEY first and foremost.. reaching out to a "new" audience doesn't bring a high % of buyers to the show... a guy that's never considered a DG hunt before in his life or that has never attended a large hunting convention before is highly unlikely to stroke a $10-$20K check for a buffalo hunt at his first ever show... you need as many old hands as you can possibly get.. and A LOT of those old hands are now disenfranchised... if you don't get as many of those back as possible, you are in for a very rocky ride (because, again, if exhibitors are losing money hand over fist, it doesn't matter if DSC is doing well or if 50,000 people show up.. the model breaks.. and the show dies in a matter of just a few years)...

and as a MUCH LOWER priority.. I'd be trying to figure out how to get as many new people into the show as possible..

exposing the world of international hunting to tens of thousands of people in the Southeastern US that haven't been exposed before is a wonderful thing.. but if 20K georgians, alabamans, floridians, and south carolinans all attend in 2026.. and all are seasoned deer hunters, but only tire kicking and checking things out for the first time at the show to see what the whole safari thing is all about.. that's not going to result in a ton of sales (see above for why this is a huge problem)..

Dont get me wrong.. we NEED tens of thousands of new people to attend the big shows, to start buying hunts, to start participating in conservation activities, etc..

but it is a very rare thing that a "new" person participates or spends at the same rate as someone that's already been around the block several times..

time is not on DSC's side.. they need things turned around right away.. not 2-3 years from now when they get the brand new guy from Mississippi or Michigan that just attended the show this year to start buying hunts and rigbys..

 

[Nomsag]

Do y’all think any outfitters will chime in?

 

[375Fox]

Do y’all think any outfitters will chime in?

No. They’ll handle it privately with DSC. Their public comments can only hurt them here.

 

[mdwest]

a few representatives that work with outfitters already have (myself included)..

most of the outfitters are extremely busy right now.. its show season.. they are moving from show to show and doing smaller client based house parties and other social gatherings as much as possible as they transit between shows.. this is a time of year that many of them are going to not spend much time on AH.. they're pretty much tied up from sun up to sun down seven days a week from mid January to mid Feb.. and some of them continue all the way through March....

I'd guess most are also patiently waiting to give DSC time to respond and tell them what the plan is (if any) before making any decisions or making any sort of public declaration...

I don't think anyone wants to condemn DSC.. and certainly no one wants to burn any bridges.. whats in everyone's best interest is for DSC to succeed... So I doubt you'll hear any outfitter say anything if their thoughts are negative in any way... other than to acknowledge what is obvious or is an issue that needs to be addressed that everyone would agree is an "issue"..

 

[Green Chile]

That's a good question. Part of the problem is that they have talked to who they want to talk to...and they have seen others speak up and either be ignored or even in some cases threatened to have their space taken. I know that sounds exaggerated but it is not. There have been references and first hand knowledge of that on this topic already. @mdwest has done a great job explaining the system of one group doing their part and contributing to the overall picture. If any of those pieces break, the big picture is in trouble. I know for a fact that outfitters have expressed concerns and constructive criticisms to DSC offline, which is the best place for them to do so. Would they do it here in public...would you if your business depended on it?

 

[pilar]

Do y’all think any outfitters will chime in?

Probably not
But I would like to hear from them on the logistics of moving and setting up their booths, from Dallas to Atlanta and then Nashville. Good, bad , ugly of the experience
When I was a exhibitor many years ago in Houston, the logistics of juggling
The George brown convention center, Astro Hall, Reliant, then HSC moved to the Woodlands creating a storage facility problem
Just curious

 

[mdwest]

I noticed that some (most?) of the exhibitors that chose to have a booth at both shows kept their "primary" booth in Dallas, and then bought a second set of furniture, banners, etc for the show in ATL (didn't move their stuff)..

I think several of the exhibitors that moved to ATL that did not have a booth at TTHA sold all of their booth furniture, etc in DFW and just bought new stuff to use in ATL... I know of at least one AH member that got a great deal on a piece of Rigby's old booth last year after the Dallas show closed down.. The thought was it was cheaper and easier just to sell off what was in Dallas and buy new before the show than to move everything and then pay for storage for a year in ATL.. or to have to come to Dallas to pick everything up and move it just before the show (and pay for storage in DFW for a year)..

I didn't get the impression that many moved their "stuff" to ATL.. they just bought new there, and I am sure are storing it somewhere convenient to the convention center there..

 

[Green Chile]

I know there were exhibitors who if they couldn't sell or give away pieces like flat screen TVs and tables/chairs, they just threw them out and bought stuff in ATL. There is no point in moving and storing some things. Probably some of their clients were able to help them as well with logistics.

 

[revturbo9967]

I noticed that some (most?) of the exhibitors that chose to have a booth at both shows kept their "primary" booth in Dallas, and then bought a second set of furniture, banners, etc for the show in ATL (didn't move their stuff)..

I think several of the exhibitors that moved to ATL that did not have a booth at TTHA sold all of their booth furniture, etc in DFW and just bought new stuff to use in ATL... I know of at least one AH member that got a great deal on a piece of Rigby's old booth last year after the Dallas show closed down.. The thought was it was cheaper and easier just to sell off what was in Dallas and buy new before the show than to move everything and then pay for storage for a year in ATL.. or to have to come to Dallas to pick everything up and move it just before the show (and pay for storage in DFW for a year)..

I didn't get the impression that many moved their "stuff" to ATL.. they just bought new there, and I am sure are storing it somewhere convenient to the convention center there..

Much of these basic items can be rented from the conventions themselves. I work a huge show in Chicago every 2 years and we rent 80% of the items in the booth from the venue.

 

[mdwest]

I dont know about ATL.. but rental costs at KBH in Dallas are insanely expensive...

I suppose you get out of having to figure out what to do with your stuff after the show is over and don't have to pay the cost of storing stuff all year.. but holy shit I was blown away with what the rental company was charging for some items..

As an example, one of the chairs they were renting cost 5x what it would have if you just bought it on Amazon and then threw it away after the show (not exaggerating... I went and found it online)..

 

[Goose Cracker]

I attended DSC in Atlanta this year. Was supposed to attend Fri and Sat but with the weather Fri, we ended up just driving down and back on Sat. I live just outside the metro area. Road traffic on Sat was much lower than a typical Sat in the Atlanta area.

Saturday at the convention was much slower than DSC in Dallas (I've attended a couple of times in Dallas).

It was great from a consumer perspective, but the outfitters I spoke to suggested bookings were down from last year. The awful weather on Friday caused loads of problems.

My buddy and I each booked a buff/eland hunt in Zim (Matetsi) with Dave Freeburn for 2026. I've been to SA five times and hunted Limpopo, the Kalahari, and the Eastern Cape. This will be my first trip outside of SA.

I also finally broke down and replaced my beloved little Meopta 10x32s. I purchased a set of Leica Geovid Pro 10x32s. Most rangefinding binos are much too bulky and heavy IMHO, but these smaller Leicas ticked all the boxes for me.

Appears I missed the MRC booth! Argh!