I've been doing some thinking about Guzzle & Twirl and all the stuff that happened there. This is not a rant about that show or anyone in particular. Oh, I suppose the overtones may turn to Guzzle but, this article is not really intended to. This is just some thoughts and observations on the hobby in general.
I think it is getting to the point, where, you will soon not be able to even bring your own Beer to drink at some of the bigger shows. Or even be allowed to drink for that matter. You will either have to buy what they sell or drink what the host chapter serves. Which would be OK , except that the host chapter needs to have some decent Beer and not free Glueks Beer. I'd rather go dry, then drink that stuff. You may not even be allowed to leave the Hotel and have dinner at some restaurant, because that would make the host chapter mad. Because, you did not eat at their Hospitality room. And if you have a table, you will need to be tied to it with a rope no longer than 10 feet and will need stay there until the show is over. Unless you have a heart attack, then maybe you can leave. And heaven forbid if you try and sell some tickets for a Beer can that your chapter is raffling off. Repent man, repent. I would say, this and many more rules will be true for most bigger shows, not specifically Guzzle & Twirl.
Take some of the many Canventions that we have gone to for example, and some of the silly rules that are being enforced. I know that the Hotels charge a "corkage fee" where you must pay to have a keg tapped or even a bottle opened. I remember one Canvention, where you could not even pour a Beer yourself from a tapped keg. Had to pay someone to do that. I know the Hospitality Chapter (which I belong to) have their meetings in secret at Canvention to avoid paying someone to open a damm bottle. I mean, if you have never seen a keg or bottle before, then maybe. But, the corkage fee is asinine, in my view. We also, in the past had to order pizza from other than the host Hotel and have it delivered across the street from the Hotel and then sneak it in for the Rusty Bunch chapter meeting, as to avoid paying an outrageous amount of money for pizza from the Hotel. I think it was Kansas City, that someone told us we could not drink Beer on the trade (buy) floor. You can barely wipe your own ass, without having to pay someone for it. Just the act of comsuming a Beer that you brought from home can get you in trouble. It seems like everywhere you go, everything and I mean everything is DICTATED. Including what to eat and where to eat it. Sounds like Guzzle ? Hell son, it sounds like society in general. These are just some of my experiences.
Now, let us look at the Buy, Sell, Trade aspect. Whenever we go to a show and even if something comes up that I want to get for my collection, 2 things will more than likely happen. #1, I will not be able to afford it or # 2, someone else will have already bought it. As I've said, we mostly just go to Canvention/ Guzzle as a vacation and to party with collecters /friends. Which can be expensive, even without buying anything for your collection. The exception to the rule, would be the free loaders out there, who take and don't give. I guess, I'm sorta at a limit as far as collecting goes. There are things I'd like to have but, like I said, they are either unaffordable or unavailable. And I just can't get myself to go past 300 bucks for any Beer related item. I think that in the next 10 years or so, alot of collecters/dealers are gonna have to eat their trade stock that they carry around from show to show. Of course anyone can predict anything but, we shall see.
Now I want to take a look at some of the smaller shows we go to. The Nordlager show in July. I love that show. Why ? Not because it is a small show but, because it's just without "rules". So what do I mean by that ? Well, I can came and go as I want, I can drink any Beer I want, when I want, and I'm not told I have to eat at the bar or that I have to be strapped to my table. It's just freedom. The SAME applys to all of our Border Batch shows. Also it seems to me, these smaller shows are more affordable to go to and more affordable in what is being sold. You tend to know most everyone and people seem more likely to have "human" prices on stuff. I believe it is more likely for me to add something to my collection from a smaller show than a bigger show. Why ? I think it goes to cultivating friendships. I picked a nice Northern tray at Nordlager for 10 bucks and would not have minded paying 20 or 30 bucks for it. That's the way it should be. I'm not saying to give away a mint Red Wing cone top for 50 bucks, stuff like that will always commamd a high price. But, you know, I'm just as happy sitting on Stubie's pontoon as I am at a Beer show, or having homebrew and goat cheese at Vance's or stopping to see someones collection or......... I don't need to go on, I think you get the picture. Because for me, this hobby has now become more about socializing and discussing Beer, (acting stupid also works) then paying 700 bucks for an empty Beer can.
So, with all that being said. What's the answer ? What's the question? Well, you can decide but, for me, there is no complicated/philosophic answer or question. It's simple, like life. Just like Tom said, we (Border Batch) will just keep doing what we are doing. If you want to join, fine. If not, don't. We are not gonna make a bunch of rules or play politics for any of our shows. Freedom, that's the word. Jay Martin # 16605
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