Just as an aside, it seems this year's show will have somewhat of an international flair. I really hadn't considered how many builders from overseas would be joining us, a couple or three perhaps, but not many more.

I was way off. In the past few weeks I've heard from builders in Argentina, Chile, Great Britain, Germany, The NetherLands, New Zealand, Australia, Italy and few more. It's very likely we'll see about 30 or 35 rod builders from Europe and beyond at this year's event. Granted, 30 or 35 overseas builders out of 1,000+ isn't a large number, but it certainly speaks to the popularity and quality of the show.

No big deal, but I thought it was interesting just how many overseas builders are actually planning on being in Charlotte for the show in a few weeks.

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Thats pretty impressive.

Tom,
It sounds like your efforts to promote the show are really paying off. My hat is off to you, I know that it will be a big success. I do not know where you get all of the energy but congratulations.

Tom,
Did you ever hear from the OLN writer? I tried to push his nose into the trough....

I'll be coming in from Chester County, SC, which is in and of itself another world. I don't think you can consider it a "domestic" location. It's about as foreign as you can get around these parts.

Yes he did. The show will be getting a plug on the OutDoor Life Network between now and the actual show date. I don't know when the actual mention or listing will be or what show it will be on, but he took the info and said he'd be sure to get the word out. We'll see.

We've gotten a couple mentions on some PBS outdoor shows and more to come. My only concern at this point is that we'll be overwhelmed with the huge attendance. However, I'd rather have too many than too few.

Audio/Visual gear is the only thing I'd like to see more of for the seminars. Some things are in the works though and hopefully we'll be prepared in the event that some of the close-up seminars have to seat 200 or more people at a time. There's a strong possibility that all the seminars will be standing room only.

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can't wait for the US west coast version... 2006, right? :-)

eric
fresno, ca.

Tom,

I think having 30-35 builders from Europe at the show is a real success. Don't forget that rod building is not as much spread in Europe as in Northern America.

Yes, there will a Rod Builders' Show in Ontario CA in 2006. Don't expect it to be anything like Charlotte, at least not the first year or so, but hopefully it will come into its own very quickly and easily become the world's second largest rod building event. We know there are enough rod builders on the west coast to make it work, what we don't know yet is how much effort Barry will put into marketing the event. But with everything else that show should have going for it, things should fall into place without too much trouble.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2005 09:13AM by Tom Kirkman.

Tom,
Have you heard if Hiro Tananka will be attending?
Ray

There was some talk that he might be, but I've heard nothing more. Jim Upton would be the man with the best information on that.

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