Tom! I'm hearing a rumor that you're a native Californian. But yet you keep the rod building show on the east coast. What gives? LOL!

Seriously, hope you can do something out here one day for us other "native" west coast boys.

HOW ABOUT VEGAS THAN THE WIFE WOULD BE ALL ABOUT IT EACH YEAR, THAN ITS NOT A I THING ITS A WE THING . JUST THINK ABOUT IT SHOW GIRLS AND CUSTOM RODS DAN

I was born in San Diego. My dad was stationed at NAS Miramar while doing his carrier flight training. It was a Naval air station at the time, I believe it has since been transferred to the Marine Corps. We returned here to NC in 1960. So yes, I am a native Californian by birth.

We've gone over this before. There are some demographic issues that keep CA from being one of the better places to have an event like this. But I won't go into all that again. You can do a search and find all the past conversations on this topic.

A show of this size requires a substantial financial risk. I'm into this year's event to the tune of nearly $40,000 right now. Please understand that to uproot what has been a very successful event and which has shown exceptional growth each year, and move it somewhere else on the slim chance that we might do as well, is just not an additional risk I"m willing to take. And unfortunately, I don't have the time nor the funds to do two such events. I know everybody would like to have something like this in their backyard, but it's not possible. I wish it was.


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forget cali hit the fishing cap of the world florida <3 haha ;)

i second that.....florida ....florida .....florida

Indeed you are correct Tom,

It has been transfered to the Marine Corps. We took over Miramar shortly after the closure of EL Toro just a little further north of Miramar. I believe that this took place sometime in the mid 90's, so it has been a couple of minutes since the changing of the gaurd if you would like to call it that.

I completely support you decision to keep the show located on the East coast (might have something to do with the woman being in VA). Heck the West Coast boys might decide they like BBQ, Sweet Tea and some good ole' Slaw!!!!!!

Seriously, even though I have been unable to attend due to operational commitments of the Marine Corps I can completely understand the financial obligations that you must forgoe. I can only hope that you will be able to continue to provide such a great venue for all of us who have the passion on rodbuilding running through our blood.

Thanks for all of the support and what you have done for the rodbuilding community.

Tom Kaufmann
GySgt USMC

FYI there is a custom builder in Minnesota that has been ripping you and your rod builders show. I've gotten numerous E-mail messages from him telling me to boycott your show among some other not very nice things. He is trying to organize a competing show in his area and this is probably the reason. Just FWIW.

Vegas? Or Reno? Certainly lots of cheap flight and room availability there. Tons of conference space too. That's why so many conferences go there.

Ed,

I don't really care. I learned a valuable lesson from a former employer I had many years ago. At the time I thought he was nuts, but in the years since I can see the logic of his statement, "Any talk is good talk, just as long as they're talking."

My event already has a proven track record that anyone can check out. I can't imagine anyone is going to stay away just because someone else tells them that they should. Ultimately the success or failure of my event won't come down to what someone else has to say about it - it'll come down to the quality of the event and the time, money and effort that I put into it.


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Dave,

Remember, most of the attendees will drive, not fly.

Vegas has been trying to take the International Home Furnishings Market from High Point for about 3 years now. Thus far, they've been completely unable to do so. There is a reason why. And that reason is exactly why I have located the 2007 International Custom Rod Building Exposition right here in High Point. It's a much better location than Vegas is for this.

Again, I do sympathize with folks who would like the show closer to them, it's only natural for folks to want the thing in their own backyard. But it's currently in a location that puts it within a days drive (or less) of about 1/2 of the entire U.S. population. We'll stay here unless things show a downturn. Considering the advance ticket sales thus far, I don't anticipate that to happen anytime soon and certainly not this year.


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I was hoping for a picture of Tom Surfboarding.

IT's a heck of a lot easier to tell someone else to put something together than to put something together yourself. Unfortunately for the West side of teh country many feel it's too far for them. Well, start planning now for next year, instead of taking the money you make on your next rod towards a Blueprinted Tiagara, why not put some of it towards High Point 2008? THis way when it comes time to buy the tickets you dont' have to scrounge up $400 for a flight?

Lots of furniture makers in that area, and a lot of mass would have to be trucked back and forth for the furniture guys to try elsewhere. Would be miles of consecutive semis I'd think. A lot of those factories also do their own exhibitions at their plants concurrently for custom work. Logistics would be nightmarish for those guys to move.

I'd think rods are different. A whole lot less product mass. Gun and rod shows flow around the country quite easily it seems. Certainly the guys doing rods for a living would go just about anywhere. but what % of the potential market are they? Could be an interesting poll. This website is the mecca for people doing their own rods, which says they have pretty good interest. So what % of all the people here go to the expo? How many would if it was closer to home, or if it was in a place where they could piggyback the trip on other attractants (like Vegas). Guess it depends upon the target market. Big guys will go anywhere, but hobbyists are much less likely to do so.

Anyway,, you're happy with it then that's great. It is your baby afterall. This rodbuilding.org site alone certainly covers 99% of my interest. And the site is a GREAT resource!
PS... my mother lives in NC,,, which is a bit of a repellant after 24 hours or so for me personally. Can only listen to dog breeding stuff for so long before my eyes cross. :-)

Not for nothing, but TOm lives in NC. WHy would he want to move it further away from where he lives? THat really doesnt' make any sense whatsoever....he saw the potential for a NAtional Show, he made moves and made it happen. There is absolutely no reason for him to do the show elsewhere. Take all the polls you want, but I PROMISE that 75% of teh people who say yeah I would go, wouldn't go if it were held in their own backyard. Tom built it in NC, people are coming to NC, and it's gonna stay in NC. Unless someoen else takes the steps to put it together elsewhere.

Billy nailed it! Don't mess with success!!!! According to Tom's numbers, a very small number of the builder's visiting this site go to the show or subscribe to Rodmaker. I realize I'm being cynical, but I don't think it has nearly as much to do with travel as it does with money! If they're not willing to pay for a subscription, book or video, I really doubt that they would pay to go to a show. This site is the greatest resource in the world for rodbuilders and the people who participate are great, but how many would pay to be here????

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Dave,

Almost no furniture makers here now. Of the 3,000 furniture manufacturers that show in High Point, most are located outside of North Carolina, and many outside of the United States. The one thing you never want at a show, are other distractions. You certainly don't want your customers in casinos and night clubs, you want them in the exhibit halls and in your booth.

But I appreciate your comments. I'm sure that many share them. Bottom line is that I'm staying here as long as what we're doing continues to be so very successful and continues to show this type of growth each year. No other rod building event held anywhere else has ever drawn even 10% of the crowd we're getting, so I feel good about where we are. No single location will please everybody, so at some point you pick a good location and do the best you can with what you've got to work with. That's what I've done here and it's working extremely well.

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More power to ya. Didn't realize the furniture guys move. Been 20 years since I was around that area.

I work in the computer industry, and well,,,,, distractions and booze work. Very helpful in getting million $ contracts signed. :-)

Tom and all others, I'm glad that "any" rod building event takes place, and is meeting with success. That your show is located on the east or west coast is moot for me since I've got to endure hours of flying out of Alaska to go anywhere in the lower 48. While the timeframe doesn't permit to attend, I hope your show continues good success. The important thing is that the word is getting out, and more vendors are taking the rod building fraternity more seriously.
We've got our annual Anchorage sportsman show coming up in a few months. There are always at least two booths showcasing custom rod building to some degree. They do draw the crowds.

Thanks Tom. You've made a reasonable comment to an unreasonable situation. The fellow who was ripping you and your show didn't do himself or his club any favors. I'm sure you'll have another hugely successful show.

I live in San Diego, and travelling across the country to attend the show is no big deal. Shop around a little and you will find a decent flight. I only started looking in December, and at the begining of Janurary found a flight for $263....... I'm sure there are plenty of people who will drive there and will spend near that on gas.............

Jerry, for $263 I might just fly out to San Diego and fish for a few days... and be back in time for the show. More seriously (but not much more), does flying to the show raise any big problems with getting your new goodies back home? I guess USPS and FED-EX will get a spike in business from the High Pt area.

clyde

Our main post office is just about 3 blocks from the ShowPlace facility. It's open early on Monday morning, 7:30AM, for those who might want to ship their acquisitions home.

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