I just registered to attend the 2014 SHOT show and they're charging $175 for attendees. I've been going for about 15 years and remember paying something like $30 in the past with a gradual increase over the years.

Anyone know why the price jump this year? At this price, it may be my last.
Thanks.

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Watch & Pray

You must get a "free brick of .22s" with your admission.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Nice show but what a shame. Oughta give drinks, a dinner, and entertainment for that.

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Down inside's a true marksman!

must be the new show promotion outfit charging more.

I would NOT be surprised if the cost for Booths, Hall rental, Insurance and everything associated with a "GUN SHOW" has gone up drastically due to the political climate! Don't know this for a fact, but I would NOT be surprised if this is a large contributing factor.

Of course the other reason could be that they are simply taking advantage of the situation and they feel "gun people" will just fork over any amount of money to attend this largely popular GS.

Does the entrance fee cover anything else such as maybe a special event, seminars, food/drink or is it simply to walk in the door?

Dump1567,

I visited their Facebook page and sure enough...there is a WEEK old, UNANSWERED post with another person asking the same question; "Is it now $175 to attend"?

I am unaware of any changes to the management of the Show. Though Perazzi mentions above that there's a new promoter.

I also recall paying $50 to attend.

If it is now at $175... I guess SHOT is turning into the SCI Annual Convention...attendance fees SO HIGH the common man can not afford to attend.

And before one of the Dealer or Industry types post it... I KNOW it's an INDUSTRY Show and NOT a simple Gun show.

There are many FFL holders with small shops or part time operations who like to attend. More than TRIPLING the fee will surely stop a lot of those from attending.

I hope the fee posted is an error. If it is...they are taking their time correcting it!

FN in MT

I think the common man is the biggest problem there. There are several web sites that will post instructions on disabling rolling luggage that seems the preferred method of transporting loot by the Common Man at SHOT. The Common Man has no business at SHOT. FFL holders yes. From what I ve heard the Airsoft nerds are ruining SHOT

I sent an e-mail asking why the price increase.
Although I'm just the common man (LEO) attending, I do spend 5-10k a year on the industry. I also am the authority were I work and make recommendations to others ( I just talked 2 guys looking for top gear into $1,500 KAC AR uppers).

It seems like the promoters like a large attendance, as they post this info. on their website.

And as asked above, $175 only gets you in the door.

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Watch & Pray

I just registered and the cost is still $25

Well there ya go! All this fussin' over

JAAAACK SQUAT!!!!!!!

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Forum consigliere

What do you register under (dealer, buyer, etc?).

Everything I'm reading on the net is people are paying $175.

I guess I'll have to call them, as they never replied to my e-mail.

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Watch & Pray

There is a new promoter. the SHOT show was produced by the same British owned company who banned ARs at the Pennsylvania show and got fired by NSSF over it, and of course getting that show canceled thanks to industry outrage.

I have no idea what the pricing is this year, though I'm hoping and praying I'll be able to attend, but I will say NSSF has been getting more complaints over the years from both vendors and buyers about the crowd size, specifically how many are there who aren't really dealers (or are FFLs in name only) and are just window shopping. They see those people as tying up time in booths that could be spent getting business done.

I have never been so I can't say if they have a point or not, and please be clear it's not MY point at all but just one I've heard made from NSSF attendees and vendors, and we've seen NSSF try the last few years to tighten the application process to be able to attend in response to those concerns. After all those are the guys who pay the bills for the show, and they want to make sure the people who come in the doors are good potential business customers.

All big trade shows go through this balancing act, wanting to be a huge show but also being a very serious show where vendors and buyers come away with sales contracts. Consumer Electronics Show charges $100 I believe and states outright it's to keep the show to serious buyers, along with the application process similar to NSSF to make sure it's only industry professionals.

Hopefully they'll find a good balance. $175 isn't cheap but out of all of the expense of going to Vegas it may be the cheapest bill I get. lol.

It may also be confusion over pricing that includes tickets to the Penn & Teller dinner thing or the SHOT University, which are additional and aren't cheap.

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Chuck M

My actual badge is Media, so it does not cost me anything. However I was hearing all these people throwing $125 to $225 around the net and it did not sound right. So I used another email address to go through the registration process as a gun smith, gun shop and buyer.

Each time it came up as $25.

I think people are clicking on Shot Show University or the Dinner Show unintentionally and seeing the wrong price.

If you registered like you said you did you should be able to go back and edit your registration. I sat in limbo for a week or two because I registered before I got my annual invitation and it kept me in a hold status asking me for additional credentials. I called monday morning and they fixed it in 10 minutes.

Gunsmith, gun shop, buyer, LEO, and Military are the folks Shot Show is for. What happens if you register as a airsofter? Or swag collector?

Just called.

It's all in how you sign-up to attend. If your just an attendee LEO, it is $175. If your a buyer, FFL, etc., they have a different price scale.

If you do a lot of gun purchases through the same shop as I do, you may want to try to get in on their FFL to save some $$.

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Watch & Pray