The Harlen shoot is 2 weeks away yet.
MANSKER and I ran a booth at a festival near this shoot this past weekend.
The organizing of the booth was done by our man on the ground Tony.
We ran this booth much as has been done by others at gun shows.
With a few exceptions. We had to deal with torrential rain and wind. We were even shut down early the first night do to a Tornado warning :o. So in this respect it was much the same as any other AS.
We also got some stage time, a live interview on a radio program, and contact to a local paper.
We had some from the "I already know how to shoot" camp stop by. Invitations from us for them to become instructors was met with stammers, "I work to much", or "I'll see".
We had many more who were interested. A Lot of young people were very interested. They tended to draw over the parents.
(Guns on the table do indeed draw in people :) )
Several ladies also seemed to be very interested.
Don't judge a book by its cover. Some of our best prospects were from guys most of us would run of the front porch with a shotgun. ;) This next generation, the one we will have carrying on for us, have different ways of looking at things.
Don't be afraid to talk to the guy with the red mohawk and lots of metal in his face. He may be the next state coordinator.
Aaron
Quote from: student on May 11, 2009, 02:58:11 PM
Don't be afraid to talk to the guy with the red mohawk and lots of metal in his face. He may be the next state coordinator.
Or the long-hair redneck from Alabama that looks like Ted Nugent's bastard son? **)
Liberty doesn't have a fashion. %)
Kudos to Aaron, Mansker and Tony for making this happen. I know that you guys had to take time out of your lives to accomplish this and I appreciate the effort. O0 I do think as time goes on these type of promotional events will prove themselves to yield much better results than the event flyers alone.
I had a tornado come by after the last B'ham shoot as I was cleaning up the range so I can sort of identify with your inclement weather.
Tony said you guys made the front page of the local paper! You guys are FAMOUS!! ^-^ I'll scan and post the article in the thread later this week.
A big rebel yell to you guys.....
Bama
NEXT NEW IDEA-
FUN TIME IN CUMBERLAND (KY)
LAST FRI-SAT WAS A GREAT WAY TO GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH MANY FOLKS WHO ARE OF THE SAME MIND AS WE ARE AT APPLESEED.
STUDENT-HIS LOVELY DAUGHTER JULIA AND I SPENT THOSE DAYS AT THE ANNUAL "BLACK BEAR FESTIVAL" IN DOWNTOWN CUMBERLAND-NEAR HARLAN.
WE HANDED OUT FLYERS-SWAT ARTICLES-GOT TIME TO DO 2 OF THE "STRIKES" PLUS A RADIO INTERVIEW AND PICS IN THE LOCAL PAPER.
APPLESEED WAS VERY MUCH IN THE NEWS DOWN THERE.
NOW-WE MUST WAIT AND SEE HOW MANY SHOW UP FOR THE SHOOT ON MAY 23-24 IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF WE HAD THE DESIRED EFFECT.
LESSONS LEARNED-1. GUN DISPLAY WILL BRING PEOPLE TO TALK 2. HAVE PLENTY OF FLERS-ARTICLES-RED COAT TARGETS TO HAND OUT-TO MEN/WOMEN AND YOUTH. 3. SUGGEST A POSTER BOARD OF PICS OF AS SHOOTS--CATCHY. 4. ? VIDEO LOOP PLAYING SHOWING THE EXCITEMENT OF A FIRING LINE. 5. COMMITTMENTS FROM DIRECTORS ABOUT TIME ALOTTED FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO CROWD-WE GOT SHORTED BY SOME LAST MINUTE SHOWUPS. 6. POP=UP TENTS WORK GREAT ALONG WITH CAMP CHAIRS-WILL NOT GET TO SIT DOWN MUCH HOWEVER. 7. PERIOD DRESS IMPRESSES PEOPLE-WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU GOT THOSE FUNNY CLOTHES. WHY THESE ARE THE SAME CLOTHES THAT THEY WOULD HAVE WORN ON APRIL 19TH 1775!
8. HISTORY LESSONS LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION-"I DIDN'T KNOW THAT"--THE MOST COMMON HEARD EXPRESSION. 9. "LOCAL BOTG" ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ANSWER LOCALS QUESTIONS.
HAD A GREAT TIME AND LOTS OF FOOD-FUN-FELLOWSHIP WITH STUDENT AND JULIA.
MY THANKS TO TONY FELOSI FOR SETTING THIS UP.
MANSKER
I know I'm not in the area, but what about a booth at the court days they have in Kentucky in the fall? I went up a couple of years ago for one in Mt Sterling and met family that had made the trip from Michigan to attend. Lots of gun folks at the one I went to. Just a thought.
That is a good idea.
We also need to make it SOP to have a schedule of upcoming AS's.
We had several people that "weren't from around here" stop by.
It is best to have the info so we are not giving them the " I think we have something near there later in the year".
Aaron