Just a reminder, we're not allowed to wear shirts that have our business logo if we are not a vendor... correct?

I was thinking of wearing my Tx jersey since I wouldn't need a name tag. NO ONE would miss the name across my shoulders. BUt alas, it largely displays my rod co. logo.

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I ask folks to use common sense in that area. The vendors are the ones that have payed the price to enjoy any business or sales benefit from the event. If you walk in with a cap with your custom rod business name, nothing is going to be said. But if you come in wearing that hat and a jacket with the same logo plastered across the back of it, well... at some point that sort of thing becomes blatant advertising. Use good common sense in this regard.

There is also nothing wrong with exchanging business cards among each other for contact purposes. What I don't want to happen, and what I will kick folks out for, is using their business cards or whatever to solicit business. It doesn't happen often but it seems like each year we catch somebody giving quotes on custom rods to the general fishing public in attendance, or a person trying to get attendees to purchase components they've got stashed back in their hotel room or out in their car. That sort of thing will get you banned permanently. What's more, those that do it know they're not supposed to be doing it - so I have little sympathy for their excuses.

So just use common sense and be considerate of those who purchased space at the Expo. Any business or business contacts that take place there should be theirs.

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And rightly so!

Shop talk yes, business talk no.

Personally, I'll be there for a different purpose & won't have time to talk business except maybe with vendors. Anyone wishing to talk rod business with me can just wait until I get back home.

Without successful vendors there wouldn't be a show so taking from them is like biting the hand that feed you! It chaps my hide to think that anything like that would go on. That's lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut!

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

The nature of identification/advertising on a shirt can be quite diverse. The Swamp Boyz consider the shirts depicted in following link to be quite conservative. If we hit the floor wearing these and did not have a booth what would you do if you were in Tom's shoes? He has done an extraordinary job in the past seven years handling this very delicate subject in a fair manner. Each of the circumstances he notes in his above post has occurred and no one every knew he was protecting the very existance of the event by taking immediate action.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

We urge all custom builders who do have a business card complete with all contact information to hand us one for safekeeping when you stop at the Swampland Tackle Booth.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/2010 04:33PM by Bill Stevens.

I do shows of this nature for my industry all year and all over the country and wow is all I can say. Maybe if it was treated like a business and people dressed accordingly this wouldn't be an issue. If you leave the T-shirts an ballcaps at home and dressed like you're going to a business meeting (which you effectively are) there would be no issue with "unoffical advertising".

if bill stevens wears that shirt with some bicycle pants he will beat doc ski's outfit for best dressed

I plan to wear shirts with the Texas Rod Builders logo on it. We are a non-profit organization however we will have a donation box for our Rods For Soldiers program. I work for Bill Cason owner of Cason's Crystal Clear who is also a member of Texas Rod Builders. Is this going to be a problem. If so just let me know and I will wear something else. Cason's Crystal Clear is a board sponsor.

Pat

Pat,

No, sorry. You can't do that. Booth sharing is not allowed - only one entity per booth is allowed. This has been a standing rule for all 7 Expos and you will find this to be very similar to the rules at most professional consumer and trade shows out there.

Bill Cason (Cason's Custom Finishes) has a booth at the Expo and you can wear anything you want promoting his business. But your organization has not purchased space and therefore cannot advertise nor promote themselves in the exhibit hall. Please understand that this is nothing against your organization. I'm sure it's a fine group and you may remember that I have donated various items to them. But only those who have purchased exhibit space may advertise and promote themselves in the exhibit hall. Thanks.

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No problem Tom. You have been very good to us and I don't want to do anything to screw that up.
See you in February
Pat