We had a choice to make

What's happening everybody? Okay, so today uh this is just a surprise episode in a way. Um no fluff, no intros, none of that stuff. You got to kind of fast forward through and see what's going on. Um over here at Las Vegas Fence this morning. I've been here actually this afternoon with getting into uh what do we got? Got some gate operators getting ready to be shipped out. A couple customers coming in. Uh hopefully uh they don't come in while I'm in the middle of this video. Oh, we got Veronica coming on. Veronica, what's up? Hey, what's up, guys? Hold on. Let me make sure I'm got things going on. So, it's gonna be just a few minutes before the other go or the other guest Oh, we got another one coming on. Awesome. I called Veronica on the road and I'm like, "Hey, I'm going live in a couple minutes. What are you doing?" She's like, "Ah, all right. I I'll be somewhere in 20 minutes. I don't even know where you're at. You're in Colorado, right?" Yeah. So, we're actually in downtown Denver right now. So, here's the fam. Um, Lor's Andrea, one of, you know, our president, women of FWA is hanging out over there. I mean, we've got the whole team down here. So, we're just hanging out in Denver. Oh, what do you guys You guys at the airport? No. So, we're actually right outside the convention center. There's Mile High Stadium right here back behind us. So, what are you guys doing? Going to a Snoop Dog concert or something? No, that was last night. No, we're actually going to um Meow Wolf. We brought the teenagers down for one last trip before school started. Oh, that's awesome. So, Veronica, I asked you to come on because I know this week we kind of started launching our campaign uh for the volunteers and uh you know, I came back from that trip to Puerto Rico with the 60 of us volunteers that went down there fired up, was I not? I mean, just I mean just excited about the show coming up in what 58 days or so from now. And um and then we're we're sitting there looking around and as the show has evolved and it's evolved a lot and we're going on year we're going on year four so you learn a lot and you know as you go along and uh with the fence show in Las Vegas coming up uh we we actually have a lot of discussions you know when is it come time to bring a management company in and start paying a management company to come in and start running things like the doors and the registration and you know right now it's always been a lot of Las Vegas fence employees that we've been we've done our best to keep it to where it was just ran by the industry and uh I believe that's what you have to do to to build that vibe that we built. It's a vibe you've been to a lot. There's nothing like the show if you go to a show in Vegas at one of ours. No. And it's not and having the hands-on experience with our team with the people that love the industry as much as everybody that's attending. You're right. You can't pay people or have someone else manage that and still keep all of that Yeah. vibe and that together. So, that being said, you can pay people to do it. You can take um money and pay someone to come in and run that in a management team, but you're just not going to get what we you know, you're not going to get out of it what you what you should get out of a show that's built for the industry. So, we're sitting around and we're talking and I'm like, you know what? If we're going to bring people to the show, if we're going to put people in hotel rooms, pay all that money, do all that, we're going to bring fencers, we're going to bring people from our industry, suppliers, things like that. And I'd rather see money go back into um our industry than go outside of it. So, um, we decided that this year, uh, we're going to we're going to let the the industry help us run it. Well, and even better than that, one of the things when we decided as a team about having volunteers come in and help is we're actually giving them the education. They have the opportunity to attend the classes on Monday and Tuesday and get that full education. So, if those smaller organizations that are out there maybe can't swing it for this year, well, guess what? We just need your time and the rest of it we'll take care of. You just got to get there. I know. So, this year we're doing something. If you may have seen some of the posts that

Started going out today, um trying to recruit some people to come in and be volunteers and there's already there's already been a rush of people signing up, requesting um to fill some of those slots. Um and it's it's pretty cool. So, I mean, um I'm going to go over what you get. I mean, it it's it's it's I mean, if you've been thinking about coming to a fence show um and you have some people you want to bring with you and you've wanted to experience the the either the VIP education experience that we've had in the past and this year um is the full throttle experience. Y you want to experience that full throttle and uh kind of not have to get that pass and pay for that pass and bring some people in with those classes with you. We're making it even more uh attainable and reachable for you guys. So, um we're going to be, you know, what do you get with that? You're going to get uh I mean it's amazing. You're going to get to obviously be around a bunch of other like-minded people. We're going to do our best to create some sort of reception as well for the volunteers. You're going to get a huge huge huge thank you from all of us and pretty much everybody you see because we're going to make sure everybody knows you're volunteering your time and donate. You didn't just, you know, show up and walk around. But we're have that reception invite. Uh here's what we're working towards is uh while supplies last at the hotel. We are limited to the hotel, too. So, um, you know, for for the right people if they need it, we're talking about Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and a Thursday night, uh, room. So, double occupancy. Um, we're talking about a full throttle pass for you and for two guests if you want to bring two guests because, uh, double occupancy room. Hopefully, put more people in there. Bring some people. We want to make this the show. Um, it already is for the industry, but let's make it even more open for people that may have not been yet. Um, tell them about the food and beverage access you get with a Full Throttle. So actually um anybody that had access last year to food and beverage knows that the location was not all the best. The coordination like there was definitely some improvement. This year it's right up front and it is there's going to be snacks out there. There's going to be breakfast. There's going to be lunch out there all while supplies last. Of course, um there's this talk about you know some beer cakes going on out there while supplies last. I mean, there's the the Full Throttle experience as a whole is it's just exactly that. It's an experience. It's you're going to have access to anywhere and everywhere that has things going on from the parties to some of the receptions and stuff that we have going on that might not be completely open to the public. You know, there's some things that happen behind the scenes and some meetings and some stuff that goes on that, you know, not everybody is invited to. And this will kind of give you a whole new look into the industry on this side of it. And I think one of the the coolest things about all of it is we're actually investing back into the industry. We're making sure that the education is there. Hey, Brian, look who I found. Michaela. I just talked to her on the phone a couple minutes ago. You guys are all hanging out, you know. Thanks for the invite, guys. Thanks for the invite. Yes, we can't get away from you even when we try. So, Michaela, you saw some of the posts. I know we're going to be uh getting a lot more information out. You've got some individual post for uh some of the volunteer positions that are going to be u you know, you've already started creating all that. So, everybody get ready. Um this is going to be the show where we bring everybody in and uh we we need your help running the show. Like I said, we can either turn this over to a management company that knows nothing about our industry that just has somebody standing there scanning badges and things like that and helping you or we can um we can have you guys come in and and run the show that was built for you. So, um we definitely need your help. Um we were just kind of going over the, you know, huge thank you from us. You're going to get the reception invite. You're going to get Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday night um while supplies last on the hotel rooms. If you if it's something you need hopefully, keep in mind, if you can get your own

Room, get it. If if you need help, let us know. We want you there as a volunteer full access for you. Two people with you as well, right? And the food and beverage. Don't forget and food and beverage and access with all of us. And I mean, what is better than a week at the fence show because it there's nothing there's nothing like it. So, we I mean, come help us. We want to invest in your guys' future and the education and the access. Um, I know that I've said it a hundred million times, Brian. I know you have, too. you get out of this industry what you put into it. And I know before Brian, you know, it was kind of one of those things you didn't believe in and you're like, "Oh, yeah. Well, you only say that when you have nothing to offer." Well, guess what? Here's your opportunity. If you're going to if you're going to put in your time with us, then we're definitely investing into you and you're going to get way more out of this. And not just full throttle, not access to all of this, but also the networking that goes with that. And get those phone numbers in your phone. So, if you run into a situation back home or you have problem, you've got people to call. And guess what? This the network is like there's no numbers you can put on it. Yeah. And we're going to put our badges where our mouth is because Yes. You know, people love to say you get out of it what you put into it, but we want you to get out of it what we put into it. So, we're saying come sign up. Go on go to fenceshow.com and there'll be a link at the top if you want to look at the volunteer stuff and you can select what you'd be interested in volunteering for. Um, there's a bunch of requests already going in there and then we got to review it obviously and make sure we've got if what days you're available, things like that. But we're talking about I made a list here, look of of the positions. There's so much to to go into making one of these shows happen that um having you there makes a huge difference. So, we're talking about door staff volunteers, the people that are going to be watching the doors and checking badges. Um, again, find something that fits something you'd be interested in. We're not going to be, you know, we're going to have plenty of people to rotate, so you get to enjoy the the event and the show and stuff as well. uh full throttle uh food and beverage crew. That means uh you'll be working closely with the food and beverage making sure that the you know those stations and that big full like you were just talking about taken care of. Education room crew volunteers. I mean we got we're going to have a bunch of people in there helping make sure these the education that's going on this year is second to none. There has never been anything in our industry done like what um the team and you Veronica specifically has been working on for I mean tirelessly for this pretty much this whole year you've been working on it. We now we now have thousands of pages, thousands of education material that's actually going out during the show. Not hundreds, thousands. So, we need help. We need help distributing this. We need help getting these booklets uh in the classrooms and getting the room swap uh swatch, you know, switched over and staying in contact with over 50 60 instructors staying in contact with them. Um I know it takes a massive team to do this and um again, we'd rather we'd rather have the industry in there helping us. So, uh, lobby crews, um, something different. Something different. We're talking about the lobbies here, the lobby downstairs, uh, things like that. Um, helping us, helping guide people. Um, this is your chance. These are people we see every day on Facebook and talk to, it's nice to see them face to face and go, "Man, I thought you were a lot taller than that." But, um, so, you know, we all say that, Brian. floor staff. If you've ever wanted to just be able to wander around um the floor and actually have something, you know, assigned to do, um we're going to need help on a lot of that. Making sure that the floor is running smooth, people are running smooth. Um a lot of questions happen on there. So, uh FWA booth crew members, uh we need to we need to get more people in there that uh you know that appreciate and understand the cause and the mission and what the goal of everything is. So, uh we got that available. um demo days, demo days

To run that demo days booth as well. If you've been to our our one in Florida, it's going to be coming up again in February. So, we're going to need help on that. Women of FWA, we want to get some extra help in there um for you guys as well. I'm going to kind of go through these real quick just so somebody's listening. If you want one of these things, if you're interested in one of these things, go to fenceshow.com, click that or go to fenceshow.comvolunteer. It'll take you directly to it. Um we're looking at stage crew. We're going to have a lot going on on the stage. page. I know Tony Thornton's coming in to help run that as well on the stage. Um, so if you ever wanted to work closely with Tony Thornton, you guys, and you're watching, here's your chance. Uh, he's going to absolutely because that will be directly Tony Thornton has already volunteered to help out with education, um, working a lot of that with me as well as the other team of volunteers we have and then he is actually the one taking care of the main stage on the expo hall floor all three of those days and coordinating those, scheduling those, communication, making sure things are switched over. So, there's a whole lot going on on the stage as well. Yeah. Yeah, kickoff party. This is the one I'm volunteering for. So, um, if you want to be part of the kickoff party crew. Yeah. So, uh, you'll be reporting to me. I'm I'll be the leader of the kickoff party crew. You know, we need to make a note for this show that Brian is not to have the drink tickets this year. Can we Can we have a But we can we have our own party crew t-shirts and it'll just say party. Right. Right. I came to Vegas. All I got was this party crew t-shirt. I had to work. Badge badge registration crew. we're going to need some help down there. Um, we're talking about sometimes thousands of people coming through quickly. So, um, having somebody there that understands the process and can guide people, saves people from waiting in lines. Hotel hotel registration. Uh, again, assisting people with the hotel accommodations, merchandise. Hey, if you like shopping, why not come here and help people shop because, uh, there's going to be a lot going on. You've got some special stuff with tokens going on this year that you're going to be able to cash in for merchandise. So, that's going to be cool. printed materials, display crew. I mean, there's just endless. So, go to fencow.com, click that link, become a volunteer, get one of these badges. We've got your full throttle badge. We've got your You can get an expo hall badge. Look for these special coveted instructor badges. If you can see that, right? Yeah. So, actually, we do still have a few spots, instructor spots that are open. Send my email. Um that are actually open that I'm still looking for a couple of volunteers to take leads on. Um, so if you're interested in that too, you can sign up for the volunteer spot. Put that in the notes. Also, you can email me veronic@lo vegasfence.com. Um, and reach out and we'll definitely We've got some spots open. Some great stuff. Yeah, we just opened up the volunteer thing today. So, get over there. I know some of those spots uh, you know, there are people really interested going to fill up fast. There's just already a little rush. So, Ron, thank you. Uh, tell Michaela thank you for coming on, too. I'll let you guys get back to uh, your Pokemon convention or whatever you guys. Okay. All right. Sorry. Just because you have FOMO. I know. I do. All right. I'm sure I'll be talking to you guys this weekend or on Monday. Everybody's tuning in. Go to Fence Show. Get volunteers. If you you or somebody else wants to do it, share the one of the posts. Share this video. Let's get some people involved. We'll see you guys next week. Absolutely. See you guys. FA. It's time to go full throttle. Fence Show October 7th through 9th. Go to Fence Show. Go to fenceshow.com to register now. Make sure to check out our podcast, FWA.