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What Is SASS Doing To Promote Our Game Among The Over 55 crowd?


Bart Solo

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Well if more of the aarp members were gun folks maybe their position would change. They do a lot for the over fifty crowd which was the crowd the op wanted to reach. I'm a member of nra, aarp, and sass life or above for the shooting organizations, annual for aarp.make the change from within it will be easier that from the outside.

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Don't want to bust anybody's bubble, but AARP is about the most gun unfriendly organization that exists. You might want to re-think membership in that organization. They LOVE restrictive gun legislation.

 

RBK

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I will NEVER knowlingly give a single penny to AARP.

 

Our Constitution and way of life are too important to support organizations intentionally undermining it.

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Well if more of the aarp members were gun folks maybe their position would change. They do a lot for the over fifty crowd which was the crowd the op wanted to reach. I'm a member of nra, aarp, and sass life or above for the shooting organizations, annual for aarp.make the change from within it will be easier that from the outside.

AARP--Have you done ANY research on their ANTI-gun idiocy?

AARP is a joke! And a bad one at that-------

LG

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It is not just anti-gun with AARP. They actively support, lobby and participate (read: consult or collaborate) in "progressive" (read: socialist) issues and legislation.

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AMAC is the conservative alternate to aarp, they would probably love to have a SASS ad in their magazine.

 

Rye

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SASS is us, the membership. I am 57 years old and cannot travel to all of the shoots I would like to. I have a career as a college professor, I am the father of a 16 year old and have a multitude of demands and expectations placed upon me. I am quite involved within my community. I am not complaining. We must promote our own game. We must be our own ambassadors and when the opportunity arrives, be a SASS promoter. Encourage new members at all ages. Take folks out and let them shoot your guns. Show them just how fun this sport really is. When a new member is trying to gather the needed accoutrements, help em out. We are the future of our sport, it is up to us, the members. Remember most of us grew up wanting to be a cowboy someday...I have recruited several over the years who are now happily broke.

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When I came to SASS, last January, I was an advent hunter and shooter, lived within an hour or so of 5 clubs, 55 years old, owned many non-cowboy action guns, visited many gun stores on a regular basis and shot regularly but never competitively. With all that being said, I never heard about the sport until it was mentioned to me by my friend English Bob. My point is, as much as I was involved in buying and shooting firearms, I never came across any type of media that caught my attention about the sport.

 

I think the easiest crowd to introduce our sport to is individuals already interested in firearms for several reasons 1) They like shooting guns. 2) They are experienced at buying guns. 3) They are probably looking to shoot more or shoot with more of a purpose. 4) Open to learning more about firearm related activities.

 

I think the best places to facilitate media and information would be in gun sport related magazines, sponsorship on local gun trading forums, small and large gun stores, gun ranges, feed stores and perhaps western ware retailers.

 

Of course there are many other avenues to promote the sport as well as many different segment in the population.

 

The absolutely best thing that could happen is have our sport appear in a really popular box office hit from Hollywood!

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I would say that within the last ten years most of our new SASS shooters have come straight off the roster of the new membership joining the parent club. Like it or not our two biggest enemy's are those looking for something more exciting (action shooting) and those who think costuming is silly. That first bunch will trickle in as real action shooting becomes to demanding for them while the second bunch will likely always be to macho, in their own mind, to ever play dress-up. This does not apply to fokes from Texas, they dress like that everyday!!! :lol:

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Something I'm not seeing discussed in growing is retaining. There at times are many that are leaving CAS, and not just the youngsters that are finding new interest, (hopefully they will return). But many seasoned shooters are leaving. Some we hear or read about on the wire when they announce or sell their equipment, many we never hear a whimper from, they just quit. Total members isn't just badge numbers, but also how many are still shooting with numbers lower then yours? We need to ask, and if we can help as individual, or as a club to retain them, and if we're doing something wrong, to correct it.

Most shooters are the middle of the pack shooters, who enjoy shooting, comaradie, dressing up, and never will walk away with the Cadillac. They are also the majority of the shooters that attend matches, and keep our game/sport viable. Haweye Gin does an excellent job in her videos of showing not only the shooting side of CAS, but the comaradie and friendly family aspect of CAS. MT

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Howdy Pards! I'd like to make a couple of comments about some of the previous posts on this thread.

 

Videos--a great way to allow people who don't come out to matches to see what's going on. The only problem I have had with many of the SASS videos is that they really want to focus on the people who win the matches. I've seen many videos featuring Holy Terror and Badlands Bud and the like. The comments I've overheard when non-SASS people watch these videos is something to the effect of, "That looks great, but I'd never be able to do that, let's move on." Showing the best of the best in SASS is fine, but you also need to let people see the duffers having fun, knowing full well that they'll never win the match.

 

Gun cost--Yep them durned youngin's are always sayin' one thing and meanin' another. You tell us the cost of the guns are too much and then go out and buy the guns needed for 3-Gun, which are more expensive than SASS guns. But it's kind of a do as we do, not what we say situation. We tell people they don't need to spend a ton on guns to get started, then every new shooter who gets on the Wire asking advice is told, "don't get that cheap Rossi, youll need a totally tricked out '73 to compete so start with that first, yeah, it's more than twice the price of the Rossi, but you'll thank me later!" We don't even ask a person why they want into SASS before giving them gun advice. Perhaps the person just wants a Winchester 94, or grandpa's old hammered double because they like them, not because they think they can ever win a match.

 

The other thing to remember is that when people look at SASS-required weapons, they think of them as a special use weapon. Like it or not, the younger crowd will always pick an AR or semi-auto handgun for personal defense. They don't even want a double action revolver, much less a single action. And that $2000 shotgun is the best street howitzer they can find for the Zombie Apocalypse. Don't laugh, I know young people who actually believe that is a possibility. So when they look at 3-gun, they see guns that can be used for many purposes. To them, Cowboy guns are just that, single use guns that they can't afford to spend their limited dollars on.

 

SASS needs to try and attract people of all ages, both sexes and any race in order to survive. It needs to offer, in my opinion, something more than "lets see if I can dump 24 rounds on targets in 15 seconds (10-10-4)." For the younger generations, that can be done in 3-Gun with sexier weapons, and for many of us older people, it just can't be done at all. I don't have any answers and I'd probably be wrong if I did.

 

Just my .02 worth.

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I agree with IB above,

videos of top, shooters doing 24 rounds in 16 seconds as an introduction to this wonderful family competition

can be the point of diminishing returns

 

And yes, I fully understand that older slower folks don't expect to achieve those speeds

However

Many Persons not knowing better just may shy away, when they pretend dry fire and can't do one firearm type string in 16 seconds

 

Mileage certainly will Vary on this subject

 

Good old fashioned word of mouth talk

Good ol fashioned flyer located at gathering points work to some degree

Booths at your county fair get the word SASS out there

Videos and a photo book of family's shooting, from the very young to the very old, and a fast shooter to show the range to be expected, and is what I have played in our fairground booths

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I know several people who do believe the ZA spilling out of the metropolis' is close at hand, though their definition of a zombie might differ a bit from the Brad Pitt version BUT they will be starving and all consuming. I have probably seen as many former shooters driven away by 'tank' personalities, specially those in power, as any other single cause. I have been really disappointed whenever the tank personalities lose power BUT the ones who were driven off did not return and many were good people and hard workers. OH, them dang hells angels types were pulling SASS shooter like crazy for a while also! What is it with guys turning fifty-sumptin feeling a need to take up those two wheel slaughter machines??

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When I shoot my .44-40's loaded with BP at the indoor range the youngsters gather around and they all want to see what it is and they wanna shoot 'em!! :)

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I am 54 years old and just got started. I did so more for my at the time 13 year old son who has been my constant hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting partner most of his life. For years we have been going to a local range to shoot ARs, SKS, semi auto pistols and pretty much anything we had that went bang, all while watching him progress and mature into what I and others thought was quite a shooter. He recently told me he wanted to get into competitive shooting and after looking into several of the local disciplines including CAS he chose SASS. His choice was driven mostly by the friendliness of the local clubs and even though there were no others anywhere near his age he still chose the cowboy way. I had no intention of getting into anything competitive because I felt at my age those days were past but again the folks from the local clubs were welcoming and hospitable. At our first visit a couple of months ago my son and I were invited to try a stage after the match was over and he took them up on it. After one simple stage he was hooked and the depletion of my bank account began. Because of the fellowship and the folks being so friendly,many of who took great lengths to help both of us along and especially a little extra coaching for my son, I was drawn into the game as well and while I feel like I have struggled much more than my son I still have had a great time and he is having a blast.

My much long winded point to this post is that the members themselves are the very best advertising the sport could have! Try approaching a competitor at a 3G or IDPA match and ask them questions about their gear and you'll quickly see the difference and whether we want to admit it or not I feel this will always be a sport dominated by the 50+ demographic.(Not that there's anything wrong with that)

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OH, them dang hells angels types were pulling SASS shooters like crazy for a while also! What is it with guys turning fifty-sumptin feeling a need to take up those two wheel slaughter machines??

Middle age crazy - a panic crisis. Got to feel young again. Got to go ride something that your Daddy told you not to when you were young.

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Well it appear I need to research aarp and look in to the other organization he mentioned. This might be my last member ship in aarp if what I've read is anywhere near correct.

 

I'll look into a military organization that might provide me with the same type of benefits if I really need them at all. If not I might be advancing I. The nra and or sass again.

 

I would like to see several pro quality videos done by sass show every positive aspect of sass. I have the equipment to shoot the videos, I don't have the knowledge for working with the videos to produce anything more than a home movie but I have the equipment, behind the camera knowledge and the hardware and software to produce the video side of the video audio can be aquired easy enough.

 

What would be needed is several individuals with the correct skills to produce several videos of various lenghts with each ultimate purpose to show the rest of the world what sass is and that is something different to each of us but get that out on one or more of the videos. Some of this probably would fall under someone's grad study project We would need story lines, then a story board the produce the Segmates for each story board item. Then and editor would need to cut and paste the products they get handed to them in a format that delivers our message best adding in music here and their. Interviews with the shooters would need to be professionally done with a cue card or monitor of a n pre interview so we get the correct wording where we need it. We would need video of EOT and WR plus monthly matches. A context for the best story could be done were those selected are invited to attend EOT or WR or one of the east coast matches they get a free shoot for allowing us to pho graph and video them both in action candid and under an interview. They get the match we get the rights to use their footage and photos, story etc for free in our advertising campain. Ideally a ad agent past or present who knows How to run a campain like this would volunteer to run it. I would volunteer my equipment and skills if the they cover trans, lodging at a ,Minimum. I'm sure several other retires could be found that would also work on it if it did cost the to do it.

 

Run the campain to get the stories in between now and the beginning of the year have a panel select the best and the ones that fit the outline on the store board and the story line for each of the videos. Then have them show up at a match where we can do the footage and stills needed. Once the raw footage has been shot it goes to the editor for their take feedback goes back to the field unit to reshoot if needed or for future use. Once all footage has been shot to the editors desire they are assigned to each video some clips may be central to all or several final videos. Now once everything is completed then try to get grants to get the vedios shown also getting 60 minute type support would be great. Also local news segments plus run some as advertising in ABQ before and during EOT, Phoenix before and during WR and the same for each of the matches highlighted in the videos. Plus run them on YouTube and use a seo to link to them and the same with sasses web sites with maximum seo plus Facebook with maximum seo would do wonders for getting this out. I was in a town that had a monthly match, state ran three matches a year at founders ranch and at that time I would say the state had at least five other annual matches. I have lived in the same place since 1991. Never heard about sass until late 2004 when I was watching the outdoor Chanel and Cowboys came on after a couple of shows I want in found out that my daughters friends father was involved and he told me were to go for the match. I did show up and ahotthe next match and did every month started going to other matches then that summer showed up at the inaugural Sass invitational match. We drove up to EOT that year but it was full. That valley was full of tents and venders, shooters etc the hill side was nm largest Rv park I would being willing to bet. Lather I volunteered as a berm mar shall until they did away with them then for a couple of events I still volunteered and had fun once the money allowed I started shooting. I miss the early days of working at the ranch. I still have photos of several of us building the first two or three buildings. I know I ramble a bit here but let's gets some pro videos out to bring the shooters we need.

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How many young people enter this game independent of parents/grandparents? I realize there are some, but very few when compared to 55-65 year old people joining our world.

I agree with Straight Arrow.

Regards,

Ringer

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I have probably seen as many former shooters driven away by 'tank' personalities, specially those in power, as any other single cause.

 

I've seen this also. Probably one of the top reasons for driving participants away. Selfishness, power and control (and for what???) versus the people and the cowboy game:)

Regards,

Ringer

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How many young people enter this game independent of parents/grandparents? I realize there are some, but very few when compared to 55-65 year old people joining our world.

 

*Raises hand*

 

(If 39 still counts as "young people", that is)

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You tube and videos is a great way to work the angle of getting the name of SASS / CAS / WB / Mounted shooting before the folks

 

The membership has the vids, they have the talent, they have in some cases the necessary time to promote from within

 

Could SASS DO MORE, maybe, maybe not

Business, organizations, clubs, even churches are fighting in many cases just to keep their heads above water

Grass roots efforts for something you believe in, enjoy and look forward to, is worth our effort as well

so

Let us do our part to bring wood to the camp fire of SASS,

SINCE WE ARE ON THEIR, internet site

 

Gotta love the internet FOR POSTING IDEAS

no shipping charges for this very important message LOL

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Don't want to bust anybody's bubble, but AARP is about the most gun unfriendly organization that exists. You might want to re-think membership in that organization. They LOVE restrictive gun legislation.

 

RBK

 

I refuse to ever join AARP. They have worked hard and given money to so many anti-gun groups that I just can't give them a single penny of my hard earned cash.

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I refuse to ever join AARP. They have worked hard and given money to so many anti-gun groups that I just can't give them a single penny of my hard earned cash.

AMAC!!!

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Bet most of those folks found SASS and then got there RV.

 

Think money spent to advertise in RV rags would cost WAY more than any return.

Be a waste of money to do so.

Regarding your first sentence, that is exactly what I did.

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AH, you rich SASSers. Twenty $100,000 campers lined neatly in a row and then one small tent with a wood fire and guess where they all converge when the sun goes down? NOOOO, not the little tent, the correct answer was the bar and grill down the street! :D

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AH, you rich SASSers. Twenty $100,000 campers lined neatly in a row and then one small tent with a wood fire and guess where they all converge when the sun goes down? NOOOO, not the little tent, the correct answer was the bar and grill down the street! :D

I am very far from rich, I still bring along an RV that suits my budget and have a grand time, and you most likely will not find me at the local bar after the shoot, you will find me at my RV or perhaps some one else's RV, BE IT $100000+- (and who cares) doing what others may be doing "........ at the local bar

Sharing great brand new stories, embellishing old stories, relaxing and eating RV food instead of bar food, which by the way can be very similar

 

 

It's the "not all like products are alike" disclaimer again :-) LOL

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I started at age 51, mostly due to a TV show. Saw some video of just "average "shooters on the outdoor Channel and it sure looked like fun! I don't know how we got the media attention in the first place but it would seem that that's the ticket! I believe the sport wlll have broad appeal to the "over fifty" crowd, however, I agree that youth is the future. I remember the manor in which I was "recruited" and try to emulate that with new shooters. If every one would just remember what got them started, that would go a long way toward helping recruit "new blood". At our monthly shoots I try and engage the folks I DON'T know in conversation. We must be mindful of the tendency to gravitate to the folks we feel comfortable with(we know 'em) and expand our horizons!

This is a social activity before a shooting sport in my opinion .

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I'm new and what I'm about to say will be considered blasphemy. The costumes are the least appealing part of SASS. I joined up DESPITE costuming. The main attractions for me were shooting cool guns and hanging out with really nice people. Every non-SASS person I know that likes guns is interested when I tell them about SASS until I get to the costuming part. Then they just go blank and change the subject. I know, I know. It all started because a bunch of guys wanted to dress up and play cowboy. Got it. The problem is when you over emphasize the costuming part you exclude 95% of the gun enthusiasts. They just want to shoot, not play dress up.

 

It seems to me that in most of the videos I've seen of the real serious CAS shooters hardly any of them do more than pay lip service to the costuming requirement. Yeah, they're legal but that's about it. Let's stop pretending that everbody places as much emphasis on costuming as we do shooting. We don't. Particularly at the upper echelons of the sport. That being the case if you want to increase membership why don't we relax the costuming rules a bit. Dress up if you want but don't make it mandatory.

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I'm new and what I'm about to say will be considered blasphemy. The costumes are the least appealing part of SASS. I joined up DESPITE costuming. The main attractions for me were shooting cool guns and hanging out with really nice people. Every non-SASS person I know that likes guns is interested when I tell them about SASS until I get to the costuming part. Then they just go blank and change the subject. I know, I know. It all started because a bunch of guys wanted to dress up and play cowboy. Got it. The problem is when you over emphasize the costuming part you exclude 95% of the gun enthusiasts. They just want to shoot, not play dress up.

 

It seems to me that in most of the videos I've seen of the real serious CAS shooters hardly any of them do more than pay lip service to the costuming requirement. Yeah, they're legal but that's about it. Let's stop pretending that everbody places as much emphasis on costuming as we do shooting. We don't. Particularly at the upper echelons of the sport. That being the case why don't we relax the costuming rules a bit. Dress up if you want but don't make it mandatory.

 

While we're on the subject of authenticity, all these hotrodded short stroked guns functionally don't even remotely resemble mid to late 19th century firearms. Neither do the ultra light loads. If capturing the true cowboy essence is integral lets keep the firearms and ammo period correct too.

Don't tell the powers that be but my "costume" consists of boots, cowboy hat, a cowboy cooler shirt, a pair of 501 jeans and some suspenders. The hat I would wear in any event because it is a good piece of shooting kit. The boots and jeans are no big deal. Stuff I normally wear anyway. The cooler shirt is made of the same material as all those NASCAR style shirts I see in 3 gun without the miserable ads, The only thing I wear that is a little goofy are the suspenders. They are good because the pistol and shotgun belts don't hold up my pants all that well and a third belt is kinda silly. IN the cold months I have a vest and coat, but I like staying warm. I leave the fancy cowboy clothes for the fancy cowboys who ride the range in their $100,000 motor homes. Actually I dress more cowboy than my cousins who are real cowboys in Colorado and Wyoming.

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I'm new and what I'm about to say will be considered blasphemy. YUP!

 

It seems to me that in most of the videos I've seen of the real serious CAS shooters hardly any of them do more than pay lip service to the costuming requirement. Yeah, they're legal but that's about it. Let's stop pretending that everbody places as much emphasis on costuming as we do shooting. We don't. Particularly at the upper echelons of the sport. That being the case if you want to increase membership why don't we relax the costuming rules a bit. Dress up if you want but don't make it mandatory.

Relax the costuming requirements???? What do you want to wear, a ball cap and t-shirt? Right now the costuming requirements are so lax, it's hard to tell a cowboy match from a regular match. Don't want to wear a hat, well, don't, it's not required. Don't want to wear cowboy boots, well, don't, they're not required. Don't want to wear a long sleeved shirt, well, it is required, but roll up the sleeves, hey! it's a short sleeved shirt now! Don't want to wear suspenders, well don't, they're not required. Want to wear jeans, heck yeah, they're legal. About the only thing you can't do is wear a ball cap, t-shirt or shorts. And in some locales, in the summer, they allow shorts at their local matches.

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