Guys, there's a treasure trove of potential slingers out there!  Certainly more than I had anticipated, at least locally.  I spent the last 3 days at a local outdoor festival testing the waters a bit, and the interest was nothing short of inspirational!  

I cut out an 8 foot plywood Goliath which ended up being the star of the show.  So many people stopped to pose with 'big G' for pictures that if I would have charged a buck a pic, I'd have cleaned up....and if Johnny had done the painting, who knows!?

As it was, my inability to accurately render the human eye garnered more than one inquiry as to why I had made him wearing sunglasses.  I asked my daughter Kaley, who did most of the painting, to put a sign around Goliath's neck that read:

"These custom made slings really blow my mind."  She looked disgusted and said....."That's too long, I'm writing Slinging Rocks!"

We were quite busy and my son, Caleb, and I spent all our time either making custom slings or showing people how to use them.....and this during the three hottest consecutive days of the year thus far.  We had a blast and highly recommend the activity for any and all who would like to help further advance the legitimacy of our sport in the public eye.  I was quite pleasantly surprised at the wide variety of genuinely interested individuals....it seems the lowly sling strikes a deep and common cord in nearly everyone who sees it.  Almost peculiar, really.

Everyone who bought one of my custom slings lived in or near a rural area and although nearly half were sold to adults....the rest were for their mouth watering kids.  If I would have sold to every kid who wanted one, I'd have completely run out of them.  One 18yr. old was so excited, he ran around evangelizing about our booth to every boy he saw.  I got a kick out of the multitude of reactions to the sling.  

Guys, if we truly want an ISF, it's ours for the taking.  These shows aren't hard to do and I suspect they could be instrumental in greatly increasing momentum for such an undertaking.  Use my designs or make your own....The market is there and the variety of technological  enhancements, I feel, definitely serve to arouse a level of interest that can tip the scales in our favor.  I know one thing,  If I'd sold only two pieces of cord attached to a pocket....I'd have spent my weekend baking in 104 degree temperatures people watching, instead of educating dozens of potential ISF members.  


Here's a few pics of our weekend:











Take a chance guys....get out there and get noticed....I'm sure you'll be glad you did.  I had two older gentlemen pick up the figure 8 overhand on the first try by simply showing them to keep their hand still and upright while throwing the pocket downward and slightly outward and to throw forward into the cast as it came down behind the back.  They picked it up quicker than I did!


I'm bushed.  



Later,



TS

Well, there certainly wasn't much interest in my basic, traditional model....I think the advancements are what really tipped the scale for them to decide that slinging was worth giving the old college try.


Yes, I was unprepared for the response and wished I had more information to hand out.  I will be better prepared next outing.


The old saying, "Life imitates art" is true.....and apparently, the more our slings imitate art, the more people want to try the art of slinging.


I am finding that people really want form to go with the function.  I really do think it's the way to go if one can pull it off.  It seems to benefit all involved.


But of course, every bit of effort helps the cause and each in our own way, will end up being able to say that we took part in the resurrection of slinging from ancient to modern sports tradition.


TS

nightweave, when i think pamphlet i think of those glossy little tri-fold papers that they hand out in travel agencies.  i do not print these.  i print out a four page packet on regular 8.5 by 11 inch paper and staple it all together with a cover page. 

ts, you say they go for the newer age and more high tech stuff ?     interesting.  perhaps it is because of the modern world we live in, and the dependency we have on thinks like computers and compound bows.(random i know)

well, it is good to hear that there is so much interest

Way to go Techstuf!

Wish I were there! 8)

i plan to do something similar, but on a smaller scale - because it has to be implemented in the program of my Order (of the silver dragon).

it's great to see that it worked for you.

it could be a good idea to rent slings (with ping pong balls, tennis balls or other non lethal ammo) - 5 shots 50 cents, or the like. (with a provided target, of course)

(acctually i had an idea /and most of ppl that know me well freeze or start running st that word: idea, because my ideas go bum! and wush!  / of an archery range - like shooting ranges on carnivals, but here the target is a watermellon, at a distance of 6-10 meters.
stone ammo, of course - so you get the prize when you open it. i think it would work great in summer months  )

Nice! How many slings did you make all together?

That makes me want to do something like that too! You're a great inspriation for all of us others!

Gard

a demo dvd?  is it footage of yourself slinging or did you find others to sling for the footage? 

that's interesting.  is there a possibility of you making it available for trade in the trade section, or possibly uploading it in three or four minute segments for us to watch on the site?

yes that too.

thanks willike