opinions on a hobbiest only frag fest?

I would definately attend

 

I'm there for buying possible trading etc

 

I will say I like the idea but this is also a fine line. would I show up, No, the reason is because I know who has any corals that I am looking for on the spare of the moment. I am also afraid of what that would do to the frag feast (spring/fall) for the region that has it. Simple way to put it if I spend 300.00 to 400.00 at hobbist event I would not be spending that at a club event. That is just my 2cents worth Maybe the board needs to look at the whole frag feast make up. I will say I like it when the sponsers are there just because they will have some the unique corals there

 

Or call it the GREATEST garage sale ever!!! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

I really feel there is room for both. the community of like minded reefers is what makes this site great. I appreciate the vendors making the fests great but get more out of buying frags from members, tank tours, the helpful advice from everyone. basically the relationahip and community this society provides. I love that I don't have to learn the hard way as many of the senior members have been through all of the bad stuff associated with this hobby. if this event gets organized, I would name it something something other than a fest. I feel it would need a separate identity.

armydog, if the board doesn't have a problem with an event like this I will help you plan and organize it if needed.

 

I'm confused if this is supposed to be a sponsored event or a "garage sale". I think one of the things that makes a sponsored event so successful is the booths ran by vendors. Vendors who have incentive and investment into putting on a spectacular display. GIRS could hold booth space for the home aquariest warrior however it would be at the expense of pissing of the vendors (who make the event what it is). The vendors are invested and put on the displays and need the profit to continue to be a vendor. The hobbyist would be like the back ally sales at the event. People would see what they like from the vendors and take advantage of the prices from the hobbyist. For example salt to a hobbyist is a consumable. Salt to the vendor is an expense and must be included in the price of the livestock to survive.

Seems like coral for sale on the forums does quite well.

 

I better elaborate. It sounds like you want GIRS to sponsor the event, when it should really just be a hobbyist get together.

 

If I may Donny...

I believe it was at the Des Moines region 2013 Christmas Party when I made a suggestion to several members that I thought our region might want to consider having a frag swap. Members could swap, sell and/or buy. It was not mentioned to become a statewide event, just for our region as a "meeting" idea. {Recognizing that GIRS members from any and all regions can attend any Regions' meetings } We have many members that have frags for sale year round.

I think Donny used the term "Fest" loosely. I also think his comment about Board approval was so that we/our Region wouldn't violate anything or cause any kind of problem if we had a swap. Personally, I like the idea of our Region having a frag swap as we had a blast at the Christmas Party when we played our frag game! LOL When this Club was in its' infancy, it's my understanding that members would get together often and swap frags! :0) I think that's something that should return :0) Selling to others who do not yet have frags is a way of including those people :0)

 

/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/hehe.gif It might just be?!!! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/hehe.gif

 

/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/crying.gif

 

Well said/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/wow.gif

 

I don't believe that it is intended to be a Club sponsored event...just a regional event but other regional members are welcome/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif





I'm a hobbyist. As a Member seller at the Fests, I may not have a "spectacular display", but I can tell you that it's not cheap to sell at our Fests! Many of us drive "at least an hour one way". Some of us even stay at a hotel on Friday night in order to set up, let the frags 'settle in' and do any final things necessary before the Show begins. Other consumables for hobbyists' besides salt include: bringing our water, heaters, tanks, llights, bags, paying for a table, etc... One difference between the hobbyist and the commercial vendor is the hobbyist usually holds their frags much longer than the Commercial and thus does not have money coming in as it goes out. I wish there were more Fests so I could have money coming in, not always going out with WC's, dosing, electricity, repairs/replacements, buying plugs, salt and the list goes on!/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/whistling.gif Hobbyists who sell have lost money selling at the Fests (tank wiped out with heater malfunction, SPS's RTNing, etc), some break even and some may make a little. Commercial vendors can use losses, purchases and all the other things involved (mileage, hotel, meals,etc) as their business expense. Personally, I sell to support our Club and Members, to share my corals and promote the hobby, to name a couple reasons./DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif I would hope that Members make the Fests just as much as the Commercial Vendors!/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

I just don't see what the big debate is all about. Donny might have misused a few words but the gist of what was said was getting together to trade/swap or sell some extra frags (or in sponges case an abundance of frags) that people had lying around. These frags would otherwise be listed in the buy sell portion of the forum. As far as the fall frag fest. I don't see why it is so late in the year. You are putting something that people tend to spend a good amount of money on and putting it rather close to the holidays. I know when I go to fall fest this year I will be going on a set budget instead of taking as much as i did to spring fest. My opinion on fall fest is it should be sometime in late September or early October if the sponsors and vendors want people to spend some money. Otherwise, great idea Donny and thanks for bird dogging something like this. I will be in attendance, whenever that might be.