First Convention: SCI or DSC?

[ActionBob]

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)

Really depends upon you and your likes and wants. As far as cost. DSC is WAY cheaper. As for the quality of the show, both are great. I thought DSC was bigger at least it takes me longer to get through it. Although I am usually going through with more friends plus bumping I to more people I know and more AH members at DSC.

However with it changing to Atlanta? Who knows.

As for fun, @Just Gina have a blast in Nashville and scheduled extra time just to enjoy the city. Plus the evening events and headliner concert is over the top.

If you aren't going for the Nashville experience and are all business. I'd try DSC first, especially as it is so much lower cost.

 

[Safari Dave]

I live in Georgia also, but the SCI Convention is much more appealing.

I try to avoid downtown Atlanta...




However, I might end up going to both and just deal with the hassling "urban outdoorsmen" in ATL.

 

[Belk]

I live in Atlanta and DSC will be great! I prefer the DSC shows over SCI.
Great restaurant's

 

[WAB]

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.

I live 2 hours from Atlanta and roughly 3 hours from Nashville. When at the shows we like to schedule dinners in great restaurants and enjoy the city. We simply do not enjoy Atlanta and will not attend a convention there. We had a great time in Nashville last year.

 

[mdwest]

A convention floor is a convention floor and a hotel bar or a good restaurant is the same in most any city.

I disagree…

I’m in Detroit right now for a conference…

The hotel we’re staying at is great…

We’ve had exquisite meals the last 2 nights..

And Detroit still sucks… it was a horrible choice for this event..

I find Atlanta marginally better…

 

[sureshot375]

In other news a group of grumpy old men who share a passion for traveling to Africa are unsure about traveling to Atlanta. Lol.

I grew up around Atlanta and spent about half my adult life in Atlanta. The facilities and ease of travel to Atlanta are a major benefit. There are too many amazing restaurants to begin to list them all. Plenty of good night life if that’s what you want.

I don’t get all the huffing and puffing. Besides, Maybe it will introduce DSC to a new market.

 

[375Fox]

I disagree…

I’m in Detroit right now for a conference…

The hotel we’re staying at is great…

We’ve had exquisite meals the last 2 nights..

And Detroit still sucks… it was a horrible choice for this event..

I find Atlanta marginally better…

I personally don’t want to go to any city. However if there is a good hunting convention there I’m not going to complain. I am tired of the negativity around the DSC show in Atlanta. I hope it’s successful.

 

[franzfmdavis]

Thanks ya’ll for all the responses! I just booked a room and got tickets/membership to SCI for 2025, and will try DSC next time!

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I’ll start with between SCI and DSC, I’ll go to whichever my work schedule better accommodates and that could end-up being the Dallas TTHA show just for an afternoon following a flight home.

I’ve been to SCI & DSC, as well as a majority of the major National Hunting/Shooting shows including several in Atlanta, like NRA and Blade Show. I’ve never had issues with Atlanta while at shows. Travel into Atlanta is VERY simple. I lived close by for several years so know a good number of restaurants off the beaten path. I also learned through experience what places to avoid while working in Atlanta. I think DSC in Atlanta will be fine and suspect they may actually break some attendance records. Below is my take on the two shows (good and bad).

IMO SCI is much bigger, more internationally focused and has a bigger African draw. SCI is a little more expensive, and you get more of the old money vibes. This was a bit of a negative for me. I definitely felt like/knew I wasn’t getting the same attention from a couple perspective outfitters on my list compared to some of the others I saw. SCI requiring you to be a member plus buy tickets is a higher cost and keeps a lot of the 1 Day local crowd out which I like from a shopping perspective. No one likes having to wait on tire kickers so this is a plus. If you’re a watch guy (OP is) you’ll be amazed what you see on people’s wrists.

DSC is a little more laid back and after hours is a little more of a party to my. There’s a lot of Texas Oil/Ranch money walking the show floor, but it doesn’t jump out at you the way it does at SCI. When DSC is in Dallas I‘Ll always try to visit, even if only for a partial day and evening like 2 years ago. I tend to see more people I know at DSC. As mentioned above my someone else the negative to DSC for me was the number of North American & Texas Exotic/Deer Outfitters at the show. I can get that in Harrisburg or TTHA if that’s what I’m shopping for. Lots of hunters in GA, AL, SC, NC, TN, KY, and FL which are all driving distance. I think this, plus the lower cost barrier for entry will benefit DSC being in Nashville and help their overall attendance numbers. I’m not sure if it’ll help the outfitters sell hunts and their auctions raise money since these non international outfitters are geared towards the local attendees coming on the weekend. I dislike DSC on Saturday due to said tire kickers. Less high end, non Rolex’s on wrists at DSC.

If I’m going to have a good time without an agenda DSC is my show. When i have an agenda and I’m shopping for a hunt or trying to narrow a few options down SCI is my choice. As an aside, if I had to pick just one show to attend in 2025, it’d be Sheep Show.

 

[Adipose]

So many of us belong to both SCI and DSC. At one time there was just one Safari Club, then back in the 80's a few broke off and started DSC for whatever reason. I would think those folks are most likely gone now. Both groups do great things and it's difficult to devote the time and expense to attend both, especially if the members are limited to vacation time and not wanting to take valuable hunting time away. I know most of the vendors also display at both.
Wouldn't it be great if the two once again Joined forces to create the 1 single largest hunting conservation group in the World. Maybe it's time to let whatever personal feelings and knock them chips off shoulders and just move forward for the good of the hunting community. Everyone is on the same team and fighting for the same thing. If we were to combine our membership, money, ideas I feel we could all get a lot more done, or is the status of board members more important than conservation.
If I was President of either org my first call would be to the other saying, lets talk.

 

[Philip Glass]

Not planning on either in 2025. But 2026 planning SCI. I figure if have to travel might as well do SCI bigger and more outfitters.

Yep

 

[Philip Glass]

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 already have plans made and hotel booked for TTHA!

 

[Philip Glass]

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?

Yes you must be a member to attend. Go to www.safariclub.org and you can buy your membership, get your convention passes, and book your hotel. Get it done and we will see you there!
Welcome to the club!
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

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 think we are cheering for failure. I am not. I am a DSC Life member. THe move to Atlanta, regardless of what anyone says, was stupid. The Convention center is not going to be in the state that they said it would be in January.
Dallas has always been the fun show and SCI is where business gets done.
I'll always support both.

 

[Philip Glass]

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.

SCI will be doing something like an 8 year run in Nashville.

 

[Philip Glass]

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.

Those of us from Texas may have a different opinion. Sure a venue is a venue. But moving a Texas club from Texas is a bone headed move!

 

[375Fox]

I don't think we are cheering for failure. I am not. I am a DSC Life member. THe move to Atlanta, regardless of what anyone says, was stupid. The Convention center is not going to be in the state that they said it would be in January.
Dallas has always been the fun show and SCI is where business gets done.
I'll always support both.

SCI will be doing something like an 8 year run in Nashville.

It will be interesting to see if outfitters report higher bookings at Atlanta initially. I can believe your statement about DSC being fun and SCI being where business was done. A lot of business was done at DSC but also used as yearly tourist attraction since so many could drive to it on a Saturday and return home. I’ve been to DSC in Dallas twice and booked 3 hunts. If a person has to fly, pay for hotel rooms, and meals they are there for a purpose not just to walk around and look. Until the move to Nashville nearly everyone had to pay significant travel expenses to visit the SCI show. The atmosphere might slowly change with a long run in Nashville from business to fun like you described in Dallas. I’d like to see the SCI show but so far hasn’t aligned with my work schedule, but DSC show has.

 

[Tusker]

for african safari, handsdown DSC is better. I have done both for about 15-20 years and SCI is declining heavily (this is a fact). Mainly becasue the way they treated their exhibitors. DSC is now competing directly at the highest level.
As per the location/venue, a lot less people attended last SCI but the attendess where true buyers (zero tire kickers) so one thing for the other, vendors where happy with less traffic but higher sales.
My impression is that DSC will do well this years in Atlanta. They bring in a lot more people than SCI,,, maybe too many.

 

[WAB]

SCI will be doing something like an 8 year run in Nashville.

I’m hoping it’s permanent! Absolutely brilliant move by SCI.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

SCI will be doing something like an 8 year run in Nashville.

From what I can tell SCI kind of lucked into a home run with Nashville. Quite certain they did not forecast it being such a successful venue. They'd be wise IMO to never leave Nashville unless conditions deteriorated.