Hey AGD. This is for you Mr. Kaye.

[wanna-b-ballin']

First off,
This is really important to me, as it affects whether or not I graduate. I'm sure you could probably care less, but it's just a small favor and should only take a few E-mails.

Just let me say I feel guilty for starting another thread about contacting you, because there is already another thread at the top of the page. I only started this thread because I cannot PM you, and I fear that if I send any E-mails through airgun.com that they will either go unanswered, or not reach you at all. When this thread is not needed by me anymore, I will delete it.

This is for an Exit project I have to do for my english class. I have to choose a topic important to me, which in this case is paintball, and go all out and make a big project out of it. It includes a big paper, research, interviews, participating in the topic, watching it be done, and all sorts of other stuff.
I was planning to interview a field owner of a field I frequent, but I just found out that he does not do interviews for school or anything of that sort.

So if you could please contact me, that would be really great. I'm curious what it was like forming a business in paintball, how you got started, what processes you had to follow etc.

thankyou very much,
-Liam S.

[dahoeb]

that sounds like a pretty cool topic, if you get an interview n stuff, you should post it on here. i'm sure a lot of us are actually sorta curious how it all got started too.

[wanna-b-ballin']

that sounds like a pretty cool topic, if you get an interview n stuff, you should post it on here. i'm sure a lot of us are actually sorta curious how it all got started too.

I'd only do it with Tom's permission though. just for privacy reasons.

[Alpha]

www.tomkaye.com has better contact info, as well as a complete bio of him

[Rudz]

huh?

www.tomkaye.com has better contact info, as well as a complete bio of him

is it just me or the top link bar all cropped off...

[Phantom_Mag]

Not just you.

[AGD]

Wanna,

Its not that I don't want to do an interview for you, its just that the story is not very interesting or informative. In reality I was forced into paintball when a large customer left. We made parts as a supplier to PMI and never wanted to get into the actual business. Then after another financial disaster I was again forced to open AGD and sell product PMI did not want to sell.

Most of it was coincidence and not very thoughtfull. The paintball business is really ugly on the inside as I have said before. Talking to me is just depressing for most people because I can't lie about it.

AGD

[anomoly40]

I just had a flashback of when mom told me that santa wasn't real and the fat guy at the mall was probably some pervert getting his jollies off little kids sitting in his lap.

[punkncat]

Most of it was coincidence and not very thoughtfull. The paintball business is really ugly on the inside as I have said before. Talking to me is just depressing for most people because I can't lie about it.

AGD

I can vouch for that, but on a much smaller scale of course.

I am involved in opening a field here which is the first of its kind. I started a thread about it elsewhere, but the short of it is a county owned park with private management. This has brought about the ugliest behaviour I have ever seen among players, field owners (especially) and store owners in the area. Its really pretty rediculous.

[JRingold]

The paintball business is really ugly on the inside as I have said before. Talking to me is just depressing for most people because I can't lie about it.

Might be an educational event for the boy... It's those truths that make people understand and respect some of the better companies in the business. It could open the eyes of people who are enamored with the "paintball business".

It's times like these that I'm glad I passed on an opportunity to get into paintball as a business. Well and every day that I go to a new field and have to hang with the AGG crowd that complains because they have to pay 2% markup on supplies. It amazes me that any paintball operation can stay in business longer than three years and that new ones keep opening up.

[wanna-b-ballin']

Even if its ugly, I'm interested.
My project is supposed to cover pretty much everything related to my topic, and if the truth is ugly, then so be it. I have to use as much info as I can possibly get my hands on.
being forced into paintball actually sounds pretty interesting to me, as its fairly odd; I dont think I have ever heard about anybody being forced into a profession.

I'm not trying to sound needy, and I shouldn't be because its really the person being interviewed who's time and effort is being taken; but my class was given a very short period of time to find someone to interview, and I'm starting to fear that I wont find one in time.

If you wouldn't mind answering some questions through E-mails, I would be very greatful. I hope you check back on this thread..

thanks,
Liam

[Recon by Fire]

Well Tom, it may not have been your original intention but many of us are happy you fell into the business. Thanks for a great design that will last forver! The other can have their markers de jour.

[RoamingStorm]

Tom I love you... your my hero!!... I give you mad props for accidently falling into the business.. we should make a custom mag for you

(lets put a big mustache on it)

[AGD]

Ok Liam, post your questions here and I will answer.

AGD

[wanna-b-ballin']