Thoughts on getting a tale

backtines

backtines

Well-Known Member
First off the title of post should have said thought on getting a table not tale .lol


Hey guys ,I've been selling knives aprox 3 years now strictly as a hobby . A few days ago I've sold my 100th knife. I've also been two 3 knife shows in my life.. I've been to a ton of gun and knife shows but the gun and knife shows around here show tons of guns and maybe a few real makers for knives.

Rudy Joly invited me up to one in Ct last year which was pretty cool and I went to one in NJ yesterday..
All of the knives that were in jersey yesterday seemed like a ton of art type knives .. Really beautiful knives. I mean the workmanship involved with these knives were absolutely beautiful. As they were at Rudy's show, but at Rudy's show , I felt that there were more knives there in the style that I make , then there was in jersey..

Quick question, are there different types of knife shows and styles ? I though at knife shows there are all different types of makers..

So I have a few other questions.

No 1 , do you think my stuff is good enough to get a table at a show ? I always feel that my stuff isn't good enough , especially after seeing those knives at the Jersey show.

No. 2 how much does it cost to take a table at one of these shows? It just felt like it was a real expensive show yesterday. The show was in a ritzy type hotel too.. I'm just saying the feel at Rudy's show " Felt " a lot more comfortable to walk through.

So I guess that's it.. Lots of people tell me that I should try a table one day, but the people that are telling me to do this is my wife and others that have no idea what they're looking at , when the look at knives. Like I said before , every knife I make I always find mistakes in them . I mean I'm getting better at it , but I still think it may be a lack of confidence..

Oh yeah no 3. How many knives does one bring to a show?

Thanks for listening guys.
 
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Yes your knives are good enough to sell at a show.
The Blade Show tables cost about $500.00 this year.
Come to the Blade Show,there will be any and every kind of knife there. The cost of the table will be the least of your expenses. You'll spend more than that on Knifemaking supplies while your there.:biggrin:
And while you are there you can get an application for The Knifemakers Guild,get your knives inspected and application signed.
Oh,and one more thing,you can buy a knife from me!:biggrin:
Seriously Mike,your knives will be much better than some there,not quite as good as others. You will benefit tremendously from going to this or any knife show but the Blade Show is,THE,show.
Come on down!
 
C'mon Mike, you have no worries.
I've seen and handled your work, it's more than passable and your leather work is exceptional. Our mutual customer is still talking about how pleased he is. We all have doubts about our ability in some way but when those potential customers start racooning your work at a show and never say a word about your percieved mistakes.....it's a confidence builder. Even better is when the other makers ooh and aaaah over your work. As makers we point out what we think is a booboo to each other in conversation but most of those booboos turn out to be almost imperceptable to others. It's time to put yourself out there....I just hope your hat still fits afterwards.

The hard part is the travelling, expenses and finding time to commit to a 2 day show, for me anyway.

Rudy
 
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Calvin Robinson said:
Yes your knives are good enough to sell at a show.
The Blade Show tables cost about $500.00 this year.
Come to the Blade Show,there will be any and every kind of knife there. The cost of the table will be the least of your expenses. You'll spend more than that on Knifemaking supplies while your there.:biggrin:
And while you are there you can get an application for The Knifemakers Guild,get your knives inspected and application signed.
Oh,and one more thing,you can buy a knife from me!:biggrin:
Seriously Mike,your knives will be much better than some there,not quite as good as others. You will benefit tremendously from going to this or any knife show but the Blade Show is,THE,show.
Come on down!
Click to expand...

Take "Top Dogs" advice. You are making good knives and will love the show.
 
Bruce Bump said:
Take "Top Dogs" advice. You are making good knives and will love the show.
Click to expand...


Thanks guys , I think I'm gonna do it.. Unfortunately , I can't make the Atlanta show.. Those dates clash with some stuff going on over here . But I think I'm gonna give it a shot . Maybe a smaller show to start..
 
You should go to Blade and take it all in. It's exciting to meet everybody and see the knives first hand. To have a table there keeps you from seeing the show. I actually like smaller shows because I go on "overload" so quickly at Blade.
 
Mikey,
All knives have inperfections because they are made by humans. Your's are very functional looking and you dress them up nicely with your choices of materials and your style is fine!

I have never gone to the blade show show but have done several shows across the state of California. Each show is different, each maker is different and each buyer is different. Try a few more close to you and the closer the better as far as costs go.

By the way, if you have sold 100 knives in three years by not leaving your own town and being able to sleep in your own bed you are doing pretty darn well from that outlet already with your cost per sale low.

Think of what you could do to get that up to about 50 knives a years? Go for one a week. You also need to decide if you want to hang out with your family or spend money on the road and build your standing in the knife Maker community?

There is no right decision. Or maybe when your kids are older?

I have a retail store that I sell my custom knives & sharpening out of, so you might say I have a small show five to six days a week.
 
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rhinoknives said:
Mikey,
All knives have inperfections because they are made by humans. Your's are very functional looking and you dress them up nicely with your choices of materials and your style is fine!

I have never gone to the blade show show but have done several shows across the state of California. Each show is different, each maker is different and each buyer is different. Try a few more close to you and the closer the better as far as costs go.

By the way, if you have sold 100 knives in three years by not leaving your own town and being able to sleep in your own bed you are doing pretty darn well from that outlet already with your cost per sale low.

Think of what you could do to get that up to about 50 knives a years? Go for one a week. You also need to decide if you want to hang out with your family or spend money on the road and build your standing in the knife Maker community?

There is no right decision. Or maybe when your kids are older?

I have a retail store that I sell my custom knives & sharpening out of, so you might say I have a small show five to six days a week.
Click to expand...

Great advice L, I really think that Im gonna do it .. Definitely not Blade , but a small show for now .. Thanks Again..
 
Mikey,
Another thing that I found out like Bruce B mentioned is that after about half an hour people go kind of blind from looking at table after table of knives. I have done well at High end Art & craft shows that are juried, Meaning that they decide if they want you to attend after viewing pictures of your wares. Your knives are elegant enough to be at these kind of shows.

The one I found was very near me and for a few years it was just me or myself and one other knife maker with wood work, jewelry, blown glass, photography and the like. I have done well at those shows and established customers that I have sold to for over a decade
 
Mike, You'll do great! Your knives are more than passable for you to be stepping up and sitting with the big boys. The hardest part about selling at a new show is the first 10 minute of " I'm the new duck" thoughts. Your own self doubt will be the biggest obstacle to get around :biggrin:

I sat a table at the Oregon show last year. After 10 minutes and getting to know the guys around my table it was just family getting together. everyone helping everyone, everyone giving each other heck.

my advice is get a table and follow a few simple rules:

1) No chair behind the table, you need to be at eye level to the people walking by and everyone gets a hi hows it going. you only have one chance to get them to stop at your table and sitting there on your iphone wont get it done. only exception to this would maybe be a tall directors chair, but standing is better I think.

2) A knife in their hands helps you convince them they got to have your blade.

3) If you go home and you still have a voice and your knees don't kill you... you didn't do your job.

enough with the pep talk... do it, you'll be glad you did.

Erik
 
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