DFF Feedback Thread

[Frick]

Hey everyone. I want to thank everyone for coming out to the Desert FRAG Fest this weekend. I know there was a few things we did better this year and a few things that could use improvement. If there was something that you thought was great or could be better let's talk about in this thread.

I will start with I know there was an issue with the room being small and joined with the speaker area that it was hard for people to hear Sanjay's presentation. I hope everyone got to ask him questions and soak him for all the juicy lighting info they needed afterwards. But any feedback and suggestions are welcome on that subject. :hammer:

Also what did you guys think of it being a one day at a smaller venue?

 

[Mael]

I kinda of liked it being one day instead of two, at least until it gets bigger, which could happen quick.

It would definitely help to have a separate room for the speaker, the sound system held up well for those in the front section but not sure about the back. It just happened to coincide with the busiest time of the day for the vendors too.

Depending on the vendor response for next year(and how early they respond) it may be worth looking into a site between the size of the the hotel and pranksters, especially for a one day event.....will try to come up with some ideas on that,

Otherwise I believe the quality was there this year for the vendors and speaker, I had a lot of fun, got some crazy coral and enjoyed the presentation. Definitely need to make sure all this years vendors come back, all of them brought fire for good prices.

 

[Sinocard]

.....I really liked the pictures, but had no time to go

Student life. Ah well, maybe next time.

But really, wow, them pictures.

 

[Frick]

it may be worth looking into a site between the size of the the hotel and pranksters, especially for a one day event.....will try to come up with some ideas on that,

Yes, that's something we've had a hard time looking into. We'll take any suggestions. So everyone keep your eyes peeled.

But really, wow, them pictures.

Most of those were from Eric (Zibba). He's got skills. :bum:

 

[smug vic]

This was my first time attending as I just joined the group recently but it was really fun, I won some prizes in the raffle, ate some good bar food, had a few drinks and bought a couple corals. I hope those VW coral guys come back they had a pretty sweet setup.

 

[full sinthetik]

Sad I missed it..It was the Wifes Bday so I had to be a good boy and not spend money on myself

 

[FLIPxSIDE]

I only have one major gripe. Me and the wife were there dead on @ 10, paid my dues to the guys at the table who were way helpful and nice, and began the hunt for the corals we were after. First booth I hit had a very nice setup, everything priced but insanely hard to see, but they were ready to sell and help, the guys greeted me and my wife immediately. The 2nd booth we hit, this guy was on his phone talking away not really caring about if we were interested or not, honestly anyone could of walked up and grabbed any coral they wanted and bounced and he would have never known. So we browsed and saw nothing was priced and left. We walked the entire run of setups and again ran into the same issue, nothing is priced. I know everyone will say why wouldn't you just ask how much? Well when you go to any store, or shop, or whatever, 99% of the time everything is priced. I don't want to ask 100 times how much is this, how much is that. After we saw all the setups we went back to VW Reefs. The only place I actually spent money was at VW Reefs. They had everything priced, they were outstandingly helpful and super friendly.

Of course this is just my 2 cents.

 

[evolved]

FWIW, this is the norm at all the coral trade shows. The majority of vendors do not post prices.
In fairness, Legendary also had prices listed. Things were grouped in their tanks with a price a plug, common to that section. SWJ had a similar pricing system, but did not have dollar amounts posted.

And of course, we can't control how vendors wish to do their pricing; that's a business choice for them.

 

[FLIPxSIDE]

Evolved, I totally get that point also. Legendary was putting prices on I believe as we were walking away after browsing. They used masking tape I think with prices on it? SWJ had nothing labeled or priced when we were at them that I can recall. It was my wife's first time at a Frag Fest or a Reef/Coral related event. Its just a bummer cause all of them had beautiful amazing corals.

Scratch that, legendary was the first booth we went to and they were the super nice helpful guys also. They did have prices but could barely see them on those little plug price discs. One of the vendors was putting prices on as we passed but it wasnt Legendary.

 

[Mael]

As far as I know only 2 vendors were total ask for price setups, RR and CR and reef raft is always like that at shows mostly due to almost every piece having a different price. They would have had to have 30-40 price tags due to the nature of their higher end coral frags.

Legendary was labeled, VW wrote his on his tanks, LE got theirs on their tanks but I think it was 10:30 or later when they did. SWJ didnt have them written on the tanks but everything was divided into 10/25/50 and ask for price sections.

It is a little frustrating asking on multiple pieces, I must have asked about 7-8 pieces at reef raft and ended up with one but again I kind of see their dilemma with the type of pricing they use. In the end as Hunter said it is kind of a standard to have mostly ask for price pieces at these kind of shows, Ill have to compare it to a big event when I go to Macna this year but I am expecting even less posted prices there. Its even more frustrating when its busy and they have a crowd at their table, which is what it was like from 10-12 that day.

 

[sixpackgarage]

I was only there for about 1 hour with my daughter. Had a couple of beers, talked to a couple of people and I thought it was fine. I wasn't really in the market to buy corals, but if I was, I'd want to see pricing as well. I saw that at least one vendor had their stuff priced, so that's a benchmark to follow IMHO.

I usually don't win at raffles, but this time I had 5 winning tickets. I sent my daughter up to pick up some of the prizes and she LOVED that.

One thing I think would be great also is name tags. I don't get out much, but 'talk' to people online and on facebook. It would be cool to have simple name tags that you write with a sharpie and stick on your shirt. I took a wild guess and kind of recognized Bob with the Hawaiian shirt.. Luckily I was right . Great to meet him. The guy is a legend.

 

[Beefy_Reefy]

I kinda of liked it being one day instead of two, at least until it gets bigger, which could happen quick.

It would definitely help to have a separate room for the speaker, the sound system held up well for those in the front section but not sure about the back. It just happened to coincide with the busiest time of the day for the vendors too.

Depending on the vendor response for next year(and how early they respond) it may be worth looking into a site between the size of the the hotel and pranksters, especially for a one day event.....will try to come up with some ideas on that,

Otherwise I believe the quality was there this year for the vendors and speaker, I had a lot of fun, got some crazy coral and enjoyed the presentation. Definitely need to make sure all this years vendors come back, all of them brought fire for good prices.

+1
Great job guys. My only real complaint goes to Pranksters air conditioner. Which broke down mid afternoon

 

[Mael]

I forgot to bring my FRAG name badge with me but I agree it would be a good idea to have name tags for those that want to wear one, with enough room for real name and screen name like the frag ones.

 

[dream54ing]

..... I took a wild guess and kind of recognized Bob with the Hawaiian shirt.. Luckily I was right . Great to meet him. The guy is a legend.

No one likes him here in Arizona!:lmao:

Event looked great overall! Wasn't able to stay too long, but long enough to attend the guest speaker. Agreed with the acoustic, it wasn't the best, but wasn't too bad if your sitting closer to the stage. Wish I was able to stay longer to chat with old friends!

I personally like the one day thing, but lighting/size/acoustic of the venue can be improved. Agree with Alex, a venue between the hotel and prankster would be perfect.

One surprise was the attendance. I thought I would be much bigger, maybe I missed the crowed (~11:15-12:30).

 

[Tschupe]

+1
Great job guys. My only real complaint goes to Pranksters air conditioner. Which broke down mid afternoon

It was nasty hot at the last auction too. That new room they built doesn't even have duct work in it.

 

[evolved]

It is a little frustrating asking on multiple pieces, I must have asked about 7-8 pieces at reef raft and ended up with one but again I kind of see their dilemma with the type of pricing they use. In the end as Hunter said it is kind of a standard to have mostly ask for price pieces at these kind of shows, Ill have to compare it to a big event when I go to Macna this year but I am expecting even less posted prices there. Its even more frustrating when its busy and they have a crowd at their table, which is what it was like from 10-12 that day.

Expect a lot of that kinda crowd at MACNA and having to ask on a lot of things. (MACNA protip: become a MASNA member and you can get into the show an hour early Friday and beat the crowd)
As far as the business decision goes, it's pro/con. As we can see here, a lot of people hate when vendors don't post prices, but on the flip side it draws people into their booth and get a conversation going between buyer/seller. And that often results in them being able to point you to something you like in your budget.

I usually don't win at raffles, but this time I had 5 winning tickets. I sent my daughter up to pick up some of the prizes and she LOVED that.

We're glad you were able to join us!

One thing I think would be great also is name tags. I don't get out much, but 'talk' to people online and on facebook. It would be cool to have simple name tags that you write with a sharpie and stick on your shirt.

Good idea.

On name tags in general, I will admit I've been lax on that this year. I slid that one to the back-burner with everything else going on within the club and with this show, but I do owe all the FRAG members who have signed up or renewed for 2016 a new name tag!

I personally like the one day thing, but lighting/size/acoustic of the venue can be improved. Agree with Alex, a venue between the hotel and prankster would be perfect.

And that's something we've struggled to find. The cost of a lot of venues is pretty outrageous, and that's really why we settled on Pranksters this year. It was really nice to replenish some club funds too as opposed to barely treading water (DFF 2014).

+1
Great job guys. My only real complaint goes to Pranksters air conditioner. Which broke down mid afternoon

It was nasty hot at the last auction too. That new room they built doesn't even have duct work in it.

So... funny story with the A/C. There is a unit in that room and at 3 o'clock, Jen showed Jason and I the magic switch in the backroom behind the corner behind the door behind the side behind the panel which turns it on! :hmm5::spin2:
So it got really nice in there from 3-4...
But needless to say, it won't ever be that comfortable in there again now that we know the fix!
We are sorry for those who had to endure such the last two times. I didn't much care for it either!

 

[Frick]

Yeah seems like each time we go there, there is a new A/C control to turn on to the additional ones. I made sure I turned on the first two in the morning that I assumed were the only ones but did not know about the secret ones that evolved was referring to.

 

[dream54ing]

Quote:
Originally Posted by dream54ing View Post
I personally like the one day thing, but lighting/size/acoustic of the venue can be improved. Agree with Alex, a venue between the hotel and prankster would be perfect.

And that's something we've struggled to find. The cost of a lot of venues is pretty outrageous, and that's really why we settled on Pranksters this year. It was really nice to replenish some club funds too as opposed to barely treading water (DFF 2014).

totally understandable... I'll keep an eye out for any hook ups for any venues and possibility of sponsor(s) to help out on cost of the venue... I know location is important, but what area do you guys want to stay within?

 

[Frick]

totally understandable... I'll keep an eye out for any hook ups for any venues and possibility of sponsor(s) to help out on cost of the venue... I know location is important, but what area do you guys want to stay within?

As centered to the PHX area as possible and easy access to a highway. In my ol club WMMAC in Michigan we had a community college that gave a us a cheap talking room and an vendor area. Semi separated would be ideal.