First Convention: SCI or DSC?

[Adipose]

We found the venue and show in Nashville to be huge. I actually wish it was a bit longer, we spent all 4 days in the convention hall and we didnt see everything. There are auctions going on all day long, meetings and seminars, and the dinners are a great time as well as the entertainment.
Nashville is a nice place, but we didnt see much of it except for a couple dinners as the convention has so much to keep you busy..

 

[Philip Glass]

I am planning to go to one convention this January, which will be my first safari convention.

Would you recommend one over the other between the Dallas Safari Club convention in Atlanta and the Safari Club International convention in Nashville; or, are they essentially similar?

(Im not a member of either organization yet)

Definitely SCI in Nashville. You will be amazed!

 

[DmacD]

I have intentions of attending the SCI show in Nashville in 2025. The hotel is reserved, the time has been booked off of work, and my wife is on board for the road trip. Now, for what may be a silly question, but a thought has just occurred to me - Do I need to become a member of SCI in order to attend, or can I just purchase tickets on arrival?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I have intentions of attending the SCI show in Nashville in 2025. The hotel is reserved, the time has been booked off of work, and my wife is on board for the road trip. Now, for what may be a silly question, but a thought has just occurred to me - Do I need to become a member of SCI in order to attend, or can I just purchase tickets on arrival?

You will be required to buy a membership to attend SCI. You might as well do that online to save the time doing so at the show. I believe you can also buy tickets online which are then picked up at the convention center.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I am planning to go to one convention this January, which will be my first safari convention.

Would you recommend one over the other between the Dallas Safari Club convention in Atlanta and the Safari Club International convention in Nashville; or, are they essentially similar?

(Im not a member of either organization yet)

You've received a number of replies and should be getting the picture that DSC being in Atlanta is a bit of an unknown quantity at this point. Ordinarily I would say to pick one or the other, they're both great shows. Both Dallas and Nashville are great destinations.

But.....Atlanta is a city I've no experience with. I've only passed thru there and mostly the airport. The time or two by automobile, we spent no time there. So outside the show for evening entertainment I don't know about.

Nashville however, you just can't help but find something to do. And I've found the downtown area, for a big city downtown, had a feeling of being safer than most.

SCI is more expensive for both tickets and the fact you must be a member. Furthermore, Nashville hotels are quite expensive. But if I were a first timer, with Atlanta being a bit of a crapshoot, I'd lean towards SCI.

 

[Doug3006]

If you asked me a few years ago, I would’ve said you should go to the DSC convention. I have really enjoyed all of them that I’ve attended in Dallas. Now that the SCI convention is in Nashville, I think I like that convention better. With the DSC show having to move to Atlanta this year, I believe the Nashville show will be far better.

 

[skydiver386]

I'd stay clear of Nashville and the SCI Show if I were you. It's full of horrible enablers like Safari Outfits, Taxidermist, Custom Gunsmiths, and other's of their ilk.

On the upside, Prince's Nashville Hot Chicken is only a few blocks away off the strip.

 

[AimSmall]

I'll be the enabler: go to both.

You won't have time at either one to see everything and talk to everyone that you want to.

As far as the DSC naysayers, you should know that: booth spaces are effectively sold out; lots of volunteers are signed up to go; hotels are booking up; donated auction items are on track; local support is overwhelming. All signs indicate a great show.

Besides, become a member - of both. Support conservation - thru both. Support hunting rights - thru both.

Who do you think fights these battles? Do you expect them to do so with other people's money?

 

[375Fox]

I'll be the enabler: go to both.

You won't have time at either one to see everything and talk to everyone that you want to.

As far as the DSC naysayers, you should know that: booth spaces are effectively sold out; lots of volunteers are signed up to go; hotels are booking up; donated auction items are on track; local support is overwhelming. All signs indicate a great show.

Besides, become a member - of both. Support conservation - thru both. Support hunting rights - thru both.

Who do you think fights these battles? Do you expect them to do so with other people's money?

I’m glad to see the positive comments. It’s not bad on this thread but I’m getting tired of seeing so many cheer on what they are hoping is DSC’s failure because they temporarily moved away from Dallas. Hopefully it’s a good show and brings some new people in.

 

[mdwest]

I hope that board members from DSC are following these responses. I'm a DSC member and I'm not going to Atlanta and most of the DSC members I have talked to feel the same. I will either go to SCI or the Grand Slam Club/Ovis show...both are in Nashville this year. I'm definitely going to the TTHA show...which ironically is the exact same venue and dates that DSC gave up this year....in Texas.

I’m at the same place…

DSC life member.. 6x time DSC100 (show volunteer)… that won’t be going to Atlanta.. I’ll be attending TTHA instead and might hit SCI in Nashville…

I have no ill will for DSC… I hope the show does well this year… the international hunting community needs a vibrant, healthy, successful DSC…

But Atlanta isn’t for me… and the way the change was initially messaged and later managed among members was not much shy of abysmal in my opinion.. which made getting excited for Atlanta nearly impossible for a significant number of members I’m afraid…

Hopefully DSC is paying attention, learning, and will take appropriate corrective action..

 

[Scanos]

DSC life member. I absolutely refuse to go to Atlanta. I am very familiar with Atlanta. It is not my destination of choice. Like many, I work and only have time to take in one show. SCI in Nashville is a great fit for SCI and was a great event last year. There really is no choice if you only have time for one show.

 

[WAB]

I’m glad to see the positive comments. It’s not bad on this thread but I’m getting tired of seeing so many cheer on what they are hoping is DSC’s failure because they temporarily moved away from Dallas. Hopefully it’s a good show and brings some new people in.

I don’t feel folks are down on DSC, I’m certainly not, but Atlanta is just not a great place to go. When they move back to Dallas the DSC/SCI dynamic will be interesting assuming SCI stays in Nashville.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I’m glad to see the positive comments. It’s not bad on this thread but I’m getting tired of seeing so many cheer on what they are hoping is DSC’s failure because they temporarily moved away from Dallas. Hopefully it’s a good show and brings some new people in.

I'm certainly not down on DSC. Given the choice in the past, and definitely when SCI was in Vegas, it was DSC hands down as my favorite. I still believe in the organization and it will be back in Dallas eventually.

I do question the choice of Atlanta and the timing of it. From what I've been led to believe KBH Conv Center was trying to work with DSC to keep the convention there as much as possible during the reconstruction. I guess the plan is not to demolish it all at one time and there would have still been access to the halls that it normally uses. But in the end I wasn't part of the decision process so I don't have it first hand to be certain.

I do hope that there won't be damage to the org, I've watched it grow over the last dozen years I've been attending and wish it well.

 

[wesheltonj]

You will be required to buy a membership to attend SCI. You might as well do that online to save the time doing so at the show. I believe you can also buy tickets online which are then picked up at the convention center.

In the past they have a “sale” on memberships on Black Friday.

 

[375Fox]

I don’t feel folks are down on DSC, I’m certainly not, but Atlanta is just not a great place to go. When they move back to Dallas the DSC/SCI dynamic will be interesting assuming SCI stays in Nashville.

Maybe not yourself but posts in other threads appear very petty to me. There is a bigger picture than having a show within easy driving distance for Texas members. I hope Atlanta is a success. I really can’t see the difference of one city to the next for someone attending the show. A convention floor is a convention floor and a hotel bar or a good restaurant is the same in most any city.

 

[Puddle]

Based on the pics provided its absolutely clear to me that attending is exceedingly dangerous - to my wallet!

 

[Adipose]

I dont find this to be a bash on DSC in any way. The OP said he was going to ONE convention this year and asked an opinion of which he should go to. Obviously people are not happy with Atlanta (for good reason) but I think we all love DSC and everything they stand for.
Out of the two I think more have chosen SCI in Nashville. SCI is booked into Nashville for the next 10 years also. Coming from the East Coast, I certainly appreciate it in Nashville better than Vegas or anything out on the west coast. 3 hour flight and an amazing Convention center.

 

[skydiver386]

Based on the pics provided its absolutely clear to me that attending is exceedingly dangerous - to my wallet!

I can attest to this fact. Going to that show with credit cards in your wallet and a desire for custom rifle can be a dangerous thing. It took a considerable amount of money and over an hour of wrangling before I was able to escape the clutches of these Gunsmithing Masterminds.

 

[Green Chile]

If you have any issues with self-control, stay AWAY from the Rigby booth/tent!

 

[skydiver386]

If you have any issues with self-control, stay AWAY from the Rigby booth/tent!

I'll bet as many were beguiled by those nefarious Gentlemen at the Holland & Holland booth.