Well timed topic Brion. I find that staying standing at the table helps engage the customer, try not to be doing anything that makes the customer feel like they are intruding or interrupting in order to talk to you. For goodness sake put the phone down for a second, if there is one time to break this addiction it is behind a show table; in my opinion the only time you should be staring at a smartphone behind a show table is when you are using it to complete a transaction for the person on the other side of the table.

As a table holder- respect your neighbors! They paid for their tables too. If you are doing some sort of dog and pony show to attract people to your table are you doing it at the expense of those next to you? If you are a real popular person and have a crowd at your table chatting you up often, is this blocking or limiting access to your neighbors tables? It is one thing if there is a line of people at your table with cash in their hand, nobody will begrudge you that, but if it is just a big social get-together blocking the entire aisle, move it to the end of the row. If you are not helping your neighbor with paying for his table, don't use it, it is not yours. I have had folks with big displays or boxes just sort of claim a foot or so of my table before, this is often the case with those folks with an eclectic mix of used items and trinkets in ratty old boxes. This is a knife show not a flea market, if you got so much junk that it is spilling over onto your neighbors tables you may want to rethink your venue.

For show attendees, those same rules about family reunions in the middle of an aisle go for you as well, but the rule about setting your junk on a table goes doubly so for you. You are an attendee, you did not pay for a table at all, so the only table you should even consider setting your junk on belongs to the guy you are currently talking to, and then only after you clearly ask for permission. If you are part of that crowd blocking the entire aisle while fawning over your favorite maker, you are already being tolerated out of politeness, but if you start setting your junk on the tables of folks you are not there to see, you are over the line and will probably get a very appropriate correction. NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES set food or drink on a show table! This is perhaps the gravest mortal sin you can make at a show, and could, indeed should, elicit an immediate violent reaction.

If you see the maker talking to somebody who has one of his knives in his hand a very important interaction is occurring, try not to interrupt it, browse and patiently wait while the guy makes his living.

I don't know a single knifemaker who doesn't want you to handle his knives, we are very keen on that, but do be aware of how you set them back down. It is a $1,000 item, don't toss it back on the table like a used butter knife. Some makers arrange their blades in a very particular display and have no problem with you handing the blade back to them to replace on the table. Makers should avoid wiping down their blades while people are handling them, it can discourage that behavior which you want so much. But everybody should be aware that this is necessary show maintenance and needs to be done, so if you see a maker wiping his blades after you have left his table, it is not that he isn't delighted that you stopped and handled his work, he just finally found a break in the crowd to get ahead of an hours accumulation of spit spots, (if you don't know what spit spots are you haven't done a show yet).

I would add to keep a close eye on your kids if they are at the show, and if your kids cant be trusted to stay hands off keep them home. I had a kid (same kid) spit on my knives set food down on them and stick one through my table cloth.. the dad was mortified but also unable to control his son.

I get the need for a back pack at the show, but you need to be aware of that pack. I was just about taken out several times going to get coffee or to the rest room by back packs in the crowd.

I'm really wanting to help the new and up and comers in the knife making world, especially the ABS apprentices. So I regularly get guys and gals visiting my table for their questions and just to visit or get to know me. I encourage this of course. However they are not usually there to buy a knife. When an actual customer does approach, these visiting makers need to be very aware that they are using your time that you should be greeting your customers and trying to get the most from your show table and opportunities. I have had people (would be customers) tell me after the show that they tried to approach but could not because of the people around my table, some of which surely were just there to visit and talk. Again, it's our natural tendency to visit and to talk and catch up with our friends we haven't seen in a while. But to those who are not here to buy, just talk, I would ask that you keep an eye out for those who are approaching and politely just make room not only in the space but in the conversation.

I try to stand and talk and did 95% of the time. This last show was particularly taxing on me because I made a real effort to have a lot of knives to offer and worked long hours right up to the show with no time to recover physically. So I dealt with leg cramps and spasms and the like the whole show, not to mention lack of sleep. That's my doing and my choice. But I know that I'm not the only one who was in that condition <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />. Point is, a show is hard work and is not easy to keep a good professional demeanor. But it is necessary for us to do what Kevin and Brion said, Be nice and friendly and converse with those who approach. Even if you have a Charlie horse the size of a brick in you calf. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

I had a lot of knife "fondling" this year, and in retrospect, I found something noteworthy - a LARGE percentage of the time - like 80%+! - the knife was set back down exactly where it was picked up from.

In many years past, it was noteworthy when a customer actually set it back on the table right - now it was the reverse.

And the majority of the time, they asked permission first!??!

A fluke? I'm guessing - yes.

Or, my quality of knife customers has risen.

One or the other.

Either way, I just found it strange that I did very little "fixing" of my knife display.

Along with what's been spoken of so far, I'm gona voice something that drives me nuts, and that's vendors who show up dressed like Larry the Cable Guy. And not in a nice way..... they look like they crawled out of a dumpster, and many of them even smell that way too.

While I no longer wear a coat and tie like I once did, mainly due to it being just too darn hot, I still think it's important to look neat and clean, and make one's self presentable to the public. There are various interpretations of the term "professional", but I believe that word has been all but forgotten by many vendors/makers.

This was my 24th year of the Blade Show, and the contrast/changes that have taken place over that time period have been immense.

As to the show itself, I have to wonder, with the show being sold, if it's not going to suffer the same fate at the Eugene, OR show did. To explain, at one time the Eugene,OR show was the only other show that could rival Blade in terms of it's draw of both quality Makers and Clients..... the chairman of that show made a command decision to make the show the "Biggest show west of the Mississippi", and in the hast to do so, expanded the show from 300 to 600 tables in one year. When all the tables didn't fill/sell, he allowed all manner of "items" into the show, and within two years, all the collectors stopped coming, and in turn, all the higher level of Makers purchasing tables quickly declined to "newbies" and locals. In other words, it became a "flea market". My final year of that show, the table next to me was a lady and four kids, with a cotton candy machine..... I spent my time trying to keep her kids from handling my knives/cutting themselves, and keep the cotton candy (that was flying around in the air) off my knives.

While I hate to say it, and dearly hope I'm wrong, I see the same thing happening to Blade if the pattern I've witnessed over the last few years is any indication. While I did not get into the second room at Blade this year, when I hear terms such as "Romper Room" and "Circus" in reference to the second room, it certainly does not inspire confidence.

Lot's of great tips here already. Something to keep in mind as you talk with potential customers is that they aren't just buying a knife but rather are also buying a piece of the maker. Don't be reluctant about talking about yourself or how your knife was made, especially with first time acquaintances. Always greet each person who stops at your table. Once you get them talking even if it's only a return of your hello, they are much more likely to feel at ease.

I've found that it is best to be on the same eye level as the potential customer. If you are seated when they arrive, stand to talk with them. If you remain seated it appears as if you aren't interested in them.