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I have been thinking about this for quite some time now and after reading through the Sandy Clave/Meiser issue I think I will go public.
It may well be time to go big with the spey clave idea. The shops, Bachman's et al have done a wonderful job of developing interest in things spey. However, as we have seen it is about business. We certainly cannot begrudge that, these things cost money and the shops have every right to expect that they can promote their business through these events.
One of the problems I see - and I consider it more serious than the Meiser/Sandy issue is the overlap. As a Prostaff and occasional presentor I have attended most of the events (Poppy maybe I will get out there one day!) and what I see is a core of the same presentors and an even harder-core of attendees. Certainly there are newbies at these events - but it is almost a "club" of guys who attend. And why not, it is fun!
My point is that maybe it is time for a major event - like the CLA Gamefair that occurs in Britain. While I do not know the particulars (maybe Malcolm or some of the other Brits could fill us in) it does seem that this is in the realm of a giant outdoor "Show" like the Bellevue thing, except it is "on the water" as well as field /range etc. All vendors manufacturers etc would be welcome (for a fee I imagine). Contests (the North American Spey Casting Championship?), demos, hands on try-outs etc, etc would be the order of the weekend.
If I am not mistaken the CLA event sees some 20,000+ people visit over a single weekend! That number alone (probably 1/4 of that number) would be enough to get all the NW shops willingly involved and even working together!
While I am neither equiped or prepared to take on such a venture, I am sure there is/are some entrepreneurial types out there who can and would put together such an event. Just imagine - a Pacific Nothwest Spey Fair! It would be very cool.
It may well be time to go big with the spey clave idea. The shops, Bachman's et al have done a wonderful job of developing interest in things spey. However, as we have seen it is about business. We certainly cannot begrudge that, these things cost money and the shops have every right to expect that they can promote their business through these events.
One of the problems I see - and I consider it more serious than the Meiser/Sandy issue is the overlap. As a Prostaff and occasional presentor I have attended most of the events (Poppy maybe I will get out there one day!) and what I see is a core of the same presentors and an even harder-core of attendees. Certainly there are newbies at these events - but it is almost a "club" of guys who attend. And why not, it is fun!
My point is that maybe it is time for a major event - like the CLA Gamefair that occurs in Britain. While I do not know the particulars (maybe Malcolm or some of the other Brits could fill us in) it does seem that this is in the realm of a giant outdoor "Show" like the Bellevue thing, except it is "on the water" as well as field /range etc. All vendors manufacturers etc would be welcome (for a fee I imagine). Contests (the North American Spey Casting Championship?), demos, hands on try-outs etc, etc would be the order of the weekend.
If I am not mistaken the CLA event sees some 20,000+ people visit over a single weekend! That number alone (probably 1/4 of that number) would be enough to get all the NW shops willingly involved and even working together!
While I am neither equiped or prepared to take on such a venture, I am sure there is/are some entrepreneurial types out there who can and would put together such an event. Just imagine - a Pacific Nothwest Spey Fair! It would be very cool.