Murfreesboro

You used to be at the Goodman shows at the fairgrounds. Why'd you stop attending?

Not enough beef jerky?  

There's a long, long line of those folks.....................  

So can someone explain why so many dealers have an issue with Goodman?

As an ex dealer that used to do his shows, lets take a few in order.

1.  He jerks the dealers around by changing HIS rules according to his mood.

2.  He hires STUPID folks to run his shows when he is not there (the norm).

3.  NO advertising.

4.  Compared to some other shows it is bare bones for the dealers.  No hospitality room for the dealers where they can eat a quick bite in PEACE.  That is one thing I have to give the REALLY big shows like Tulsa and the Ohio Gun Collectors show.

5.  Screwing the dealers as to WHERE and how their tables are.  For example my partner and I always had a 9 table end cap.  One time we would be in one place, the next who knows until you get there and found one of his friends have your spot.

And on and ON.

RK shows may not be much better visitor wise, but he treats his dealers better and DOES advertise.

To be fair, Pope had a long list of dealers pissed at him too. He'd often promise two (or more) dealers the same spot of tables & then leave poor Tammy to sort it out..........  He was often moody & mercurial, leading to ill feelings for no logical reason at all. One show I worked for Specialty Arms when the Insta-check first began, the phone system went down completely but the computer link still worked. So Specialty called them in to their shop & they'd call back with the approval #. Pope then decrees that Specialty's owner would then do this for EVERY dealer in order to make things "fair". Needless to say, this became a turd in a punchbowl.  

Promoters are often twins of gun shop owners. Independent, opinionated & stubborn. Too often owners & promoters refuse to compromise & this again leads to much butt hurt.

For the record, I've only worked shows in TN but I've done them from Memphis to Morristown. I've NEVER seen a "dealer only" break room anywhere. Most places simply didn't have the space or the floor plan to do so.

Ken's Guns is a good example of getting screwed. He got mad at Goodman, got mad at RK & now has virtually no shows to attend. I don't think he does the Great American circuit although he'd be a big fish in a small pond there, IMO.

I know there's the promoter's side of things as well. I've heard many horror/funny stories from Tammy as she did shows for close to 20 years. Dealers aren't choirboys either, shall we say...........  

ALOT of things have changed in the last 12 years then.  About 12 years ago Goodman lost half of the dealers that set up.  He USED to have enough dealers to fill up BOTH side of the building he is using now.  He has changed because the other half from then was about to quit doing his shows in Nashville.  Used to be some good dealers came down from Ohio and Indiana that had some good stuff and deals.  I have not seen ANY of them doing Nashville during the last 11 years.  They are still doing shows.  Just NOT Goodman's.

The 'dealer' break room used to be in the restaurant section adjoining the current building.  That also used to be open during shows so folks could eat without leaving the show.

Glad to hear things have changed.

You may want to review the Tennessean article just published.
The show will be held this coming weekend but anything after
30 days from now will be cancelled.