Vintagers

[John Truitt]

They need our assistance to improve and propagate this event for the future. Better for them means better for us - vendors and competitors alike - lets work on it![/QUOTE]

Could not be any more true. Well said Mr M.

[Cold Spring]

Just my take on things.

Of course this is only the 2nd time Hopkins did the Vintagers event, but Hopkins has been putting on well run sporting clays tournaments for twenty or more years and surely knows how to do the shooting part. The question is: was Hopkins doing the event as per parameters set forth by the new Vintagers organization, or was Hopkins in the driver's seat and using the Vintagers name and goodwill to promote its own (Hopkins) SxS shoot?

Said another way, was this a Hopkins shoot or a Vintagers shoot? It seems the answer is the latter as there were Vintagers flying signposts at the entrance driveway to the club and none of the promotional posts I've seen either here or elsewhere were originated by Hopkins management or staffers.

If in fact this was a Vintagers shoot, the feedback and improvement ideas should be addressed to the Vintagers organization, not to Hopkins as some of the posts here seem to propose. I'm sure Hopkins will do whatever the Vintagers contracts for, and do it well, and I believe that the future improvement of this event lies primarily with the Vintagers leadership. Let's not chase the wrong rabbit.

One last comment, it didn't help that there were three competing events last weekend and the weekend before. And those of us in the north who didn't have other obligations and wanted to shoot or see some of the larger vendors before they travelled to Hopkins, had other options closer to home.

Again, all this is just my take fwiw.

frank

[Kevin McCormack]

The feedback and improvement ideas need to be conveyed to BOTH Hopkins & the Vintagers at the same time, so Hopkins knows of the recommendations and concerns expressed and can react accordingly. That way, both are aware of the vendor/participant concerns and can adjust their "windage and elevation" accordingly to improve the event.

[William Davis]

My uninformed observation is Hopkins provided the facility while the Vintagers promoted the event. I thought Hopkins did a great job, equal to Backwoods, and that's saying a lot.

William

[Kensal Rise]

After some many years in the advertising/communications business, I can suggest that events like The Vintagers must be sure to assess and optimize two things:

Audience and Promotion.

Without a sizable and enthusiastic audience, success is difficult.

Without effective and far-reaching promotion/advertising to that audience, success is impossible.

Sadly, effective promotion and advertising cost money. And time.

I wish Vintagers great success in future years. It was once THE SxS shooting event of the season...

[Opening Day]

Originally Posted by John Campbell

After some many years in the advertising/communications business, I can suggest that events like The Vintagers must be sure to assess and optimize two things:

Audience and Promotion.

Without a sizable and enthusiastic audience, success is difficult.

Without effective and far-reaching promotion/advertising to that audience, success is impossible.

Sadly, effective promotion and advertising cost money. And time.

I wish Vintagers great success in future years. It was once THE SxS shooting event of the season...

John,
It's very true advertising is expensive, but there was very little internet chatter on the different gun boards, Fox, SS, 16ga, Upland J. etc that don't cost money but do cost time. I would love to see this shoot become what it use to be.

[Bill Murphy]

Advertising is expensive, but to miss advertising in the Summer Double Gun Journal is ridiculous.

[John Truitt]

Double gun journal
Shooting sportsman
Clay shooting USA
Sporting clays magazine
Parker pages
LC Smith journal
Double gun BBS site
the parker site
LC Smith site
shotgun world site
Trap shooters site
16 ga site
Fox Collectors site
Flyers sent out to clubs within 200 mile radius, etc
Facebook
Virginia Sportsman
shotgun classics
etc
etc

Can they advertise or get the word out during or at the very end of the Spring Southern? (I don't know if that would be appropriate or not. May not be may be I am not the person to answer this or not)

[Bill Murphy]

The lack of publicity for the Pintail Point Vintagers events has been a major point of conversation for Maryland shooters, since the events were held years ago. I guess thing have not changed. The confusing part is who suffered the most, George Hopkins, Gary Lacey and his Vintagers, or the visitors and vendors.

[John Truitt]

Hopefully it is a learning process and a growing experience.
Remember the vintage cup had all but be written off until last year. IMO for a second year event in resurrection they did a fine job and much larger and better than last years event. Again they made significant changes to address the issues brought up last year. They were/ are listening IMO.
It is my understanding that there is a new VGC president as the term that Mr Lacey wanted was only two years.
Perhaps we can collectively voice our concerns and give constructive suggestions to the new president of the VGC and to Hopkins.