I want to so bad get a Traditional Rendezous started here in my home state of Arkansas but simply just don't know how; I want as many vendors as they have in Kzoo and just want to help "jump-start" a big event down here in the south; I know it will take a couple of years to get started but why can't it happen here and why can't I be the one to get it off and running? somebody, somewhere had the same dream oneday and made it happen and sorry if this sounds selfish, but I have the same burning desire and I will NOT let it die; so if anyone here has ANY information or a helpful ideal, PLEASE share;
Just don't be suprised one day that one of the BIGGEST trad events happens here in Arkansas and I will do everything within my power to see it come true; thank all of you for keeping our sport alive and thank you that you let an Ol' Arkansas country boy hang out on the greatest site on the web.
:campfire:
How much money you got? That's what it will really take if you're starting from scratch. Thousands of dollars worth of targets, lease or buy property, insurance, advertising, food/drinks, porta johns...the list goes on and on.
You're best bet would be to hook up with an existing sportsman's or archery club and try to build it from there.
Good luck!
A few points:
Select a date which does not confllict with other big events. Advertise in Trad bowhunter and on sites such as this one. Contact vendors and invite them well ahead of time, at least 9 months. Do not charge vendors a fee. Have decent targets. Paying to shoot at worn out targets causes complaints. You will need plenty of space for the vendors, camping etc. Showers and some electricity available would be great. Food vendor is important, at least lunch. Campers would like breakfast too. Safety, you will need plenty of space to avoid any dangerous shots.
Look up Terry Harris on here he coordinates 2 of the best events around in the South, "Compton's Spring Fling" and the "Southeast Howard Hill Classic". Also "Pappy" (can't remember his name at the moment, sorry" he runs the "Twin Oaks" event in Tennessee.
Are you thinking an indoor event like K zoo, or outdoor like see of the other rendezvous events? Go visit some if the successful ones and learn how they are doing it. Either way, it takes a lot of time and a pretty good pile of money. It's very possible to lose money for a few years. Lots of start up costs, advertising, targets, etc, etc etc. Vendors already have a bunch of shows to choose from, and can't possibly attend all. It will likely take time to grow it. Vendors want to attend established events with a history of good attendance. Crowds attend events with lots of vendors. It's the old chicken out the egg story.
Location, and the facilities will be a real key to success. If an outdoor event an excellent range with good targets is critical. Food, camping, parking, bathrooms, speakers, all are important.
I'm not trying to discourage you at all. I'd love to see an event like that in your part of the country. Just trying to help point out what will be involved to make it a success. Good luck- I hope to attend someday!
When I was president of our archery club. I set one up. find your local archery club if not a member then join (support your passion). Then talk to the club about having a traditional shoot and vendors coming. Once you get a good vibe, and an idea for a date, talk with vendor in your area, don't charge them. Keep in mind they have to spend money to get to you so they have to make money. There should be a few around your state who might show up. to get one the size of cloverdale or kalzoo, takes time for it to build rep and catch on.
Are you thinking an indoor event like K zoo, or outdoor like see of the other rendezvous events? Go visit some if the successful ones and learn how they are doing it. Either way, it takes a lot of time and a pretty good pile of money. It's very possible to lose money for a few years. Lots of start up costs, advertising, targets, etc, etc etc. Vendors already have a bunch of shows to choose from, and can't possibly attend all. It will likely take time to grow it. Vendors want to attend established events with a history of good attendance. Crowds attend events with lots of vendors. It's the old chicken out the egg story.
Location, and the facilities will be a real key to success. If an outdoor event an excellent range with good targets is critical. Food, camping, parking, bathrooms, speakers, all are important.
I'm not trying to discourage you at all. I'd love to see an event like that in your part of the country. Just trying to help point out what will be involved to make it a success. Good luck- I hope to attend someday!
I had the same sort of idea several years ago. I had traveled to Baltimore, Sissipahaw, A.T.A.R. And decided we needed a similar shoot in Va. I will tell you up front... it is a LOT of work!!!
I approached my local archery club, Sherwood Archers here in Roanoke Va. And pitched the idea. This is mostly a compound club and they weren't too keen on the idea. They did agree to allow me to use the facility and 3-D targets if I could put it together and pull it off. Obviously, all of the profits went back to the club. I then went to the traditional archery club, The Roanoke Valley Traditional Bowmen, and pitched the idea. It seemed we had enough support so we decided to go forth with it. We were going to put on the Sherwood Traditional Archery Rendezvous or S.T.A.R. Shoot.
The first year we started working on the shoot in August or so in order to have it running the next June. It is tough to find a weekend between April and August to host a shoot where you aren't in a conflict with another shoot, as so many of them have popped up over the last several years. I started trying to get the word out early and often on this site as well as other media.
The first year I had about 30 volunteers help me out and we had a couple of hundred shooters show up from seven states. We put on a 30 target 3-d course for competition, a fun course, a 28 target field course for competition, tomahawk throwing, novelty shoots, raffles, etc. One of the things we have going for us is our club site. We have almost 100 acres set in some of the most beautiful, and steep, terrain in the Blue Ridge mountains.
This year will be our seventh year I believe and I have to say our shoot still draws a nice crowd, everyone has a ball and looks forward to it each year, and it has turned out to be one of the biggest money makers for our club. One of the down sides is that I have watched the number of volunteers steadily decline each year, which just puts more on the rest of us.
Some points to consider...
Have some kind of draw to attract people. We have a nice bow built by a custom bowyer to the winners specifications each year and raffle it off. This generates a lot of interest. Last year we raffled off one of the new Bear Take downs.
T-shirts- We have had different colored t-shirts for sale each year, except one. That year we still had a good supply of blue, gray and green shirts from years past and decided to just sell what we had. I could not believe how many complaints I received. I lot of guys go to a shoot with the intention of buying a t-shirt and are disappointed if one isn't available. Besides, t-shirts are a very good money maker. The first year I messed up. I bought a couple hundred t-shirts in S, M, L and XL and a few in XXL. Now I make sure I have a couple dozen each in XXL and XXXL. A lot of the trad guys love those three X shirts.
Food- It is a monumental task to feed a couple hundred shooters, plus their families, visitors, and your workers. Just making sure you get enough food stuffs in and don't over buy and getting the kitchen staffed is a huge task. We are lucky as our indoor range has a full kitchen.
Camping- If you don't at least have primitive camping, a lot of guys aren't going to come.
Several local hotels near by- We work out a deal with some of our local hotels for a rate for our shooters. Have that information handy for when the guys contact you.
Venders- It is tough to get venders to commit to your shoot, and then show up after they do commit. Most of them have a limited traveling budget and are booked a year or so out with shoots they have been to in the past and have a relationship with.
It helps us that we have a lot to do within 20 miles of our shoot. A lot of families come in the area and drop dad off to the shoot while they visit the Peaks of Otter, some of the local caverns, Appalachian Trail, Claytor or Smith Mountain lake or one of our big shopping malls.
If you put your name and information out as the contact person, be prepared for literally hundreds of phones calls and e-mails.
A point to consider is that there is a very large financial outlay up front. Most years you will recoop this and make a tidy profit that can be utilized the following year. It only takes one year of torrential down pours or other bad weather to break you.
It is fun, as well as satisfying, but I would be stone cold lying to you is I said it wasn't one of the hardest and most time consuming activities you can embark on. Myself, as well as 3 or 4 of the core guys in our shoot each probably put in over 100 hours each year to pull this shoot off.
Where are you located in Arkansas? Are there any archery clubs in your area that you could work with to build enough local support/help to get this started. Trad only clubs are a hard sell unless you have lots of support/money to spend with little chance of recouping your original investment.
All the big events were built up over many years of hard work and dedication and I think it is great that you are thinking of starting something new in your area.
If this goes beyond the planning/wishing state send me a PM and I might be able to help.
James
If your weather is nice in April it would be the time to try it, but you won't get many families because the kids are still in school. May is Baltimore, June is Ski Sawmill, July is Denton Hill. You will need to have it near a place with hotels not far away, places to eat, not everyone camps. on site camping, nice showers. Baltimore makes everyone sign a waiver that comes in, for insurance policy. Need at least 3, 20 3D courses spread out over a large property. To get dealers there they have to have enough time in between shoots to have new supplies ready.
I know my self it would be nice to go some where different, but there also would be nice if there is something in the area to visit. A lot of us make it a vacation and spend all week. Baltimore, Inner Harbour. Ski Sawmill, Wellsboro and surrounding areas great fly fishing. Denton Hill, Corning Glass, site seeing. So you see it's not just about the shoot.
A lot goes into the area where it will be held.
Good Luck, I hope you can get something going in your area so we can visit a different state.
We in Pa have been really spoiled. With all the best trad shoots in the country so close by.
You need a place, a time, and some help. All that followed by hard work and time, Money for advertising, follwed by hard work and time, Good support from friends and family followed by hard work and time.........good luck
Arkansaslongbowman.,
I live in Oklahoma (about 50 miles W. of Tulsa), and I'd love to go to a shoot closer than the others. I'd also be willing to help set it up and run it. Keep me in mind.
Richard
Good for you! Dream big I like it!
Best of luck!
Wish I lived closer so I could give you some help, best of luck with it.
You might contact Joe Clark, Secretary/Treasurer of the Traditional Bowhunters of Arkansas. TBA hosts several shoots a year close to Little Rock, including The Arkansas State Longbow Chapionship. Also The Pine Bluff Bowhunters host the 2 day Ben Pearson Memorial Shoot. There is a raffle, lots of novelty targets and 2 or 3 different courses.
You definately need help, 10-15 people willing to do a lot of hard work for nothing, not to mention alot of space,a set of targets that is going to cost into the tens of thousands of dollars, and dont forget an insurance policy that is likely to cost around $1,000 a year. dont even consider doing anything without insurance. We have never had a prblem with anyone, but if there were an accident you could lose everything you own. You need to get involved in a club. It takes that to get it done. Its a year round job, planning, and booking attractions. these sites are good advertising, as well as archery mags, namely TBM. Those mag ads are a big expense as well. Good luck, you'll need it !
I think you can do it. I was a member of a small club that started the McAlester Oklahoma shoot which draws several hundred shooters. It is a lot of work but you may be able to alternate years with another club so you don't suffer a burn-out. Also you may be able to purchase used targets to get started from a club that no longer puts on a shoot. It would be nice to have a shoot in this part of the country to take the place of the Flat Rock Missouri Shoot.
Gordon
Sound like a plan to me. Make it happen! :readit:
I love seeing a motivated person. Only thing holding you back is your imagination. There have been some very knowledgeable people weighing in on this subject, and it is all true. If something was easy, everyone would do it. Our Great Lakes Longbow Invitational has been a HUGE success over the years, and is continuing to grow. If you make it fun, people will come, and for the most part, someone having having a good time, usually doesn't have a problem pitching in to help. Good luck in your quest.