Represent USPSA at a Gun Show

I would like to encourage all Area 7 clubs to represent themselves, and USPSA, at local gun shows. We represented USPSA on January 27-28, 2001 at the Marlborough, MA gun show. We obtained 46 leads, and will be contacting these persons about a USPSA Safe Handgun Competitor course we will be offering in early March.

Helpful Hints

Here are a few things we found helpful at Area 7's table at the Marlborough, MA show:

Keep the expensive guns in the bag - We included the scoped wondergun on the table for the first hour of the show, but removed them after several visitors made comments such "this game is just too expensive for me".
Run Videos - Match videos were a "hook" which stopped traffic long enough for us to engage visitors in conversation. Bring a roll of duct tape and a long extension cord to the show in case you don't have local power. (Tape the cord to the floor before someone asks you to remove a "trip hazzard").
Wire tie gunbelt rigs - We used electrical cable ties to "wire" a gunbelt rig together. The gun was strapped into the holster, as were the magazines (thread the tie through the mag release hole and otu the top).
Be Friendly - In addition to a staffer behind the table (so it would be obvious it was attended), we had staff in the aisle ready to engage visitors in conversation.
Proper literature - We had the USPSA full color brochure; a handout of local club contacts, schedules, and sectional web site; and a flier for our upcoming course.
Take Names - We obtained 46 names of people interested in the intro course and matches. We will send them an invite to the course, and a spring schedule once we shift out of "winter mode."

Financial Support

Each USPSA Director is authorized to spend up to $1000/year on marketing activities within their area. I would like to use some of this money to pay for club's table fees to exhibit at gun shows. In order to obtain reimbursement for your table fee, the following conditions need to be be met:

Your exhibit must be primarily oriented towards Practical Shooting. It's fine to represent your club, but if you want USPSA to pay for it, the image the table presents must be oriented towards USPSA Practical Shooting. (You may, of course, also feature other activities held at your club).
You must provide a list of all USPSA affiliated clubs within reasonable driving distance (2 hours or so) of the show's location.
You must make USPSA membership brochures available at your table. These are available from Sedro Woolley. Please contact me if you have any trouble getting what you need.
Original reciepts (or photocopies of cancelled checks) must be forwarded to me. Please send a brief report on the show (how it went, do you think it was a succuss, suggestions for others exhibiting at shows, etc.) to me after the show. I will add my letter requesting payment, and forward your receipt to Sedro Woolley.
Reimbursement is subject to USPSA budgetary limitations. If you need an advance committment, please contact me with the show location, date, and anticipated table fee.