First Trip to DSC Convention and meeting outfitters

[Green Chile]

I make a list every year of which booths I need to get to, which questions and/or things I'm dropping off or picking up there. Just do a little pre-planning (like your topic here) and have some conversations. There is NOTHING wrong with saying you are new to this and trying to figure out some decisions for later. Also, I always thank them for their time. If you can go 2 days even better. Little pro tip is that most of them are less busy on Sunday than Sat. If you really hit it off, you can offer to help them tear down too and get some interesting conversations that way. Also, for those you are really interested in, get their WhatsApp contact info. That's become the main mode of communication for many of them.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Always wear proper African attire to you first convention, I recommend a golden wildebeest loin cloth, or very short khaki shorts! It lets them know you are serious about a real safari. If you really want to make them know you mean business have your Courtney boots and bush hat on! I like to keep them guessing and I don’t wear the bush hat! Also use terms like “let’s make a plan!” Or “we need to sort this out”. When they hear those phrases, you are in. Avoid things like saying you want a Dagga Boy to look like he owes you money!

 

[CoElkHunter]

Don't forget to wear some high quality canvas gaiters over your Courtney boots to the convention. You never know when you might stumble over some not quite so empty beer cans in the parking lot and you don't want to get your ankles wet even before you enter the convention? Just saying.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Always wear proper African attire to you first convention, I recommend a golden wildebeest loin cloth, or very short khaki shorts! It lets them know you are serious about a real safari. If you really want to make them know you mean business have your Courtney boots and bush hat on! I like to keep them guessing and I don’t wear the bush hat! Also use terms like “let’s make a plan!” Or “we need to sort this out”. When they hear those phrases, you are in. Avoid things like saying you want a Dagga Boy to look like he owes you money!

Cody. Those may work for you. But some of us don't have that swagger and personality to wear the loin cloth with Courtney's

 

[Bullthrower338]

Cody. Those may work for you. But some of us don't have that swagger and personality to wear the loin cloth with Courtney's

I always try to look the part my friend! Never want my ass to look fat though! The loin cloth is my go to!

 

[thi9elsp]

Always wear proper African attire to you first convention, I recommend a golden wildebeest loin cloth, or very short khaki shorts! It lets them know you are serious about a real safari. If you really want to make them know you mean business have your Courtney boots and bush hat on! I like to keep them guessing and I don’t wear the bush hat! Also use terms like “let’s make a plan!” Or “we need to sort this out”. When they hear those phrases, you are in. Avoid things like saying you want a Dagga Boy to look like he owes you money!

I just hope no one photoshops that loin cloth image and posts it here. It will be something none of us will be able to unsee!

 

[Green Chile]

I've got a strong stomach but everyone has their limits.

 

[Altitude sickness]

You could really narrow down your search by giving the experts here the perimeters of your search. Budget, country, animals. Then they can recommend booths to hit from there.

No sense talking to a PH working in Uganda when you want 5 animals in South Africa.

As Green Chile said. Load WhatsApp in advance

 

[dobber]

A good sense of humour is what I looked for, I knew I would be spending time with the PH for the week and enjoy some good fun. So along with the normal questions I asked one that carried a bit more weight, as the answer would give me a sense of that person.
Is a zebra white with black stripes, or black with white stripes?
Again, a silly question, that can be answered many ways, but a fun loving PH will have some quick answer, and from there lays the foundation of the rest of the hunt.

 

[firehuntfish]

One other thing to be aware of: some outfitters will be extremely busy at their booth at DSC. I exchanged numerous emails with an outfitter and we agreed to continue the conversation at DSC. Every time I went by his booth, he was having a discussion with someone and had 2-3 others waiting to talk with him. I tried a few hours later and same thing. Never did get to talk with him.

Unfortunately, there will be times at the shows when outfitters are swamped with guests at their booths. Different shows tend to have different peak times and the last day(s) of the show can be especially busy. It can be challenging when you have a have a combination of past clients, and friends who want to visit with Hannes or the PHs along with new prospective clientele booking safaris. It is extremely important to us to make sure we make time for everyone, and we always strive to make every effort to make that happen.

This is precisely why we offer to make accommodations before, during, and after regular show hours to make sure that we can meet and visit with everyone who takes the time to come by and see us at these shows. Please feel free to contact us before or at any time during the shows to set up a time that is most convenient for you to visit with us. We are always happy to have a conversation over breakfast or an evening cocktail if that is what will work best! As always, we look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones!

 

[mdwest]

One other thing to be aware of: some outfitters will be extremely busy at their booth at DSC. I exchanged numerous emails with an outfitter and we agreed to continue the conversation at DSC. Every time I went by his booth, he was having a discussion with someone and had 2-3 others waiting to talk with him. I tried a few hours later and same thing. Never did get to talk with him.

Completely agree... dont 100% count on actually speaking with everyone you have an interest in.. DSC and SCI are extremely busy... There was one particular South American outfitter I really wanted to link up with a few years back.. I literally stopped by the booth 2-3 times a day, on the 3 different days I was at the show.. and he was either engaged with someone else at the time, or was away from the booth..

I still ended up hunting with them.. but it took several weeks after DSC and SCI were over to make reliable contact and engage in meaningful conversation and start to work out a plan...

Thats why I recommended earlier in the thread to seek out social options (AH Dinner, Bos en Dal party, etc) where there will be experienced hunters and several outfitters and PH's present.. you'll almost certainly get a chance to chat for a few, get to know them, ask questions, and get a good feel for a particular operation... on the floor at DSC is no guarantee.. folks are super busy for the most part..