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Frank, could you elaborate? I don't understand a desire to have exhibitors play nice with each other is an impediment to the customer. Exhibitors who make wild claims about their own work to garner short - term sales will find that it comes to bite them in the ass simply because the customer community is fairly small when it comes to hand made guitars. The work will be the arbiter -- either someone likes what you bring to the table or they don't. If they don't they try someone else's instruments, or a different price point.

Hi

Perhaps it was not clear, there were two points here, one addressing the POV that Hesh has and some of the debate around that, that he has a strong focus on the sales and commercial aspects of exhibiting and there has rbeen some criticism about that... I was merely perhaps suggesting that maybe this is in some part due to the fact that a strong commercial focus will create a different atmosphere to some extent, but it does not have to spoil the culture of interaction and 'brotherhood' that seems to exist betwen builders (on another point, a local retail owner who specialises in highend hand built US made instruments here in the UK suggest that its this culture of sharing best practice that has elevated the US builders above that of other countries!) ... but so maybe its more important at shows to simply look at what the audience/customers want and go down that road?

On the flip side, The orange tag idea is scary... It is as you say a small customer base... but its made even smaller if customers feel that they dont get the attention or time when they brouse as even if they are 2-3 years away from making a decision on a custom order, they will remember who did what.. and who gave them the orange tag!

So I guess I kinda sit on the fence - can appreciate that marketing and Sales dont have to be dirty words - and understand the need to maximise time with those that need it most, but also the need to ensure that all potential customer needs are met where possible