General Attendance Policies
Attendance RESTRICTED to shooting, hunting and outdoor trade professionals and commercial buyers and sellers of military, law enforcement, and tactical products and services ONLY. The SHOT Show is not open to the general consuming public (e.g., private visitors, hunters, sport shooters, members of hunting and sport shooting clubs, etc.). NO ONE under age 16 admitted (including infants). Childcare is not provided.
Admission to the show requires government-issued photo identification plus documentation demonstrating direct professional affiliation to the trade. Exhibitors and media are subject to different credentialing requirements.
A show badge constitutes a limited revocable license to attend the current SHOT Show. Badges CANNOT be reproduced, transferred or resold. There is a $100 fee to replace lost or stolen badges. Badges are the property of NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, and may be revoked at any time for any reason.
NO animals except for properly identified, on-duty, ADA-recognized service animals. Service animals may not be branded.
NO Photography — Photography or video recording at the show is prohibited except by those with valid media badges or other authorized individuals.
Surveillance equipment is in use 24/7.
NO solicitation, suitcasing or outboarding.
NO personal firearms or ammunition allowed. Only firearms on display by exhibitors and whose firing pins have been removed (and have been inspected by SHOT Show safety advisors) will be permitted on the show floor.
NO loud, abusive or defamatory language, harassment, or other unprofessional or inappropriate behavior.
Show management is NOT responsible for injuries, property damage or loss of any kind, or for any other incidents, directly or indirectly connected with attending the show. Attendees assume all business and personal risks before, during and after the show.
Attendees and their belongings may be searched at any time during the show. Attendees consent to such searches and waive any related claims that may arise. If an attendee refuses such searches, attendee may be denied entry or be removed from show premises without refund or other compensation.
Attendees grant show management permission to utilize their image, likeness, actions and statements in any live or recorded audio, video, or photographic display or other transmission, exhibition, publication or reproduction made of, or at, the SHOT Show in any medium or context without further authorization or compensation.
These attendance rules are applicable to all show “attendees” including buyers, non-buyers, exhibitors and media. Show management shall have sole discretion over admission at all times and shall strictly enforce all show rules. Attendees agree to abide by these attendance rules, as well as all other rules applicable to their badge type, which may be updated at any time. Violators risk immediate confiscation of their show badge without refund and removal from the premises. Violators will not be allowed re-entry.
Media and Press Room Policies and Guidelines
The following policies and guidelines have been prepared for credentialed news media covering the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show™ (SHOT Show). The SHOT Show, the largest trade show of its kind in the word, is owned and sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry.
If you have questions regarding press room policies, operations or available resources, see Frequently Asked Questions or contact NSSF Senior Director, Communications Bill Brassard at bbrassard@nssf.org.
Keep up with show information at shotshow.org, SHOT Show Blog, SHOT Show Blast newsletter, the SHOT Show Newsroom, on Twitter @nssfshotshow and #shotshow, and on Facebook.
Media representatives are reminded that the SHOT Show is a private trade show whose primary purpose is to provide a positive business environment for manufacturers, distributors, retailers and others in the shooting, hunting, outdoor and law enforcement industries. NSSF requires all media to conduct themselves in a professional manner and to ask permission before taking still photos or video. We understand that it may be necessary to obtain certain establishing shots of the show floor to complete an assignment but ask that you not shoot close-ups of any booths, persons or products without permission. NSSF requires all media to defer to those exhibitors who do not want to be interviewed or have their products photographed or videotaped. At its discretion, NSSF may provide an escort for video crews on the show floor. Unauthorized photography, videotaping and sound recording, or unprofessional behavior, will result in the immediate revocation of media credentials and removal from the premises, and may jeopardize admission into future shows.
Press credentials are issued to media whose purpose is to cover the show for a bona fide industry-related news outlet. Marketing, public relations and advertising representatives do not qualify for press credentials (see section below). NSSF reserves the right to bar from this and future events any press badge holder who attempts to solicit services, advertising or subscriptions exhibitors, press or other show attendees.
Representatives from public relations, marketing and advertising firms are not permitted to register as press. They must register as “Attendees” at shotshow.org and pay the required registration fee regardless of their affiliation with a media outlet.
NSSF strongly encourages all media who want to cover SHOT Show to read the description of media badge types and their corresponding criteria under Media Badge Types and Requirements for Credentials. All press credentialing decisions are at the discretion of NSSF communications staff.
There is NO ONSITE REGISTRATION for media. All media must pre-register for SHOT Show.
Journalists planning to pick up their press badge onsite must present personal photo identification. Registered journalists must wear their current show media badges when on the SHOT Show exhibition floor or when attending SHOT Show-related events. All press areas and exhibition halls are open to credentialed media.
The SHOT Show provides media with a full-service press room, including free wireless Internet access. Also, a limited number of computers that will have Internet access are made available to journalists for work-related purposes. These computers are to be used strictly for research, story composing and filing. Any activity not relating to these activities may result in forfeiting all access to the SHOT Show press room. Altering or changing any computer settings is strictly prohibited.
Please Review the Listing of Press Room Resources and Services
The Press Room is located in the Venetian Hotel, Level 3, Murano Ballroom. The show’s Press Conference room is located across from the press room in San Paolo #3401.
SHOT Show Press Room Hours
Monday, January 16, 12:00–5:00 PM
Tuesday, January 17, 7:30 AM–6:00 PM
Wednesday, January 18, 7:30 AM–6:30 PM
Thursday, January 19, 7:30 AM–6:30 PM
Friday, January 20, 7:30 AM–3:00 PM
SHOT Show Exhibitor Hours
Tuesday, January 17, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM
Wednesday, January 18, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM
Thursday, January 19, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM
Friday, January 20, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM
Some law enforcement section booths will open at 8:00 AM.
Any personal property is solely the responsibility of the owner. Neither NSSF nor the SHOT Show is responsible for the loss or damage of any property in the press room, coat check area or press conference room. Also, no personal items may be left in the press room office area. Only authorized NSSF communications staff is allowed in this area.
Media can access press kits, news releases and other exhibitor-provided press materials prior to, during and after the show in the Digital Press Kit section of your Media Planner. During the show, dedicated computer stations in the press room will allow viewing and printing of exhibitor press materials.
Exhibitors can upload materials to the Digital Press Kit via the link in the Exhibitor Dashboard. All press materials are subject to approval by the NSSF communications team. NSSF reserves the right to refuse placement of any exhibitor or industry press materials on the Digital Press Kit site or that is being distributed in the SHOT Show press conference room or other show locations.
NSSF makes downloadable photographs of the SHOT Show, NSSF State of the Industry presentation and select other show events on this photo site during and after the show. Media is welcome to use these photographs at no cost in appropriate coverage of the show.
Press Conferences will be conducted in the show’s press conference room, San Paolo #3401, located at Venetian Level 3, across from the press room. Exhibitors may also schedule press conferences in their booths or other meeting rooms. NSSF keeps a record only of press conferences that are scheduled using the online reservation system for the show’s official press conference room.
NSSF encourages media to use the SHOT Show® name and logo in their coverage of the show. There are, however, some important limitations. The “SHOT Show®,” “SHOTSM” and “Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade ShowSM” names, logos and images, and affiliated names, logos and images, are trademarks or registered trademarks of the NSSF, which takes great strides to protect the SHOT Show brand.
The press and other media representatives are permitted to make fair use of show trademarks in connection with general editorial and news coverage of the show subject to the SHOT Show Trademark Branding Guidelines. Use of show trademarks for profit or gain (e.g., use of show trademarks to sell media services) or for non-fair use purposes is prohibited.
Media who attend SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range, which takes place the day before SHOT Show opens, are reminded to practice safe firearms handling always, follow range-officer commands at firing stations and, in general, be courteous to others and mindful of safety throughout the day. Your cooperation will contribute to a safe, efficiently run event. It will also help you make the most of your time at Industry Day at the Range.
Please remember that Industry Day at the Range Policy and the Venetian Expo policy prohibits the carrying of personal firearms and ammunition.
