Milwaukee-Waukesha area swap meet-Reef show.

[TropTrea]

I have done events in the past and was wondering how much interest we could get into something like this for attendence.

Some of my general thoughts is we could have farg tables for rent, as well as vendor tables. Perhaps get a speaker or even two in from out of town. This costs would be offset mainly by a small token door entry fee.

Timing would be some time this comming fall. However before going any further on this idea I'd like to know how much interest there is to get an idea of the space needed etc.

Dennis

 

[carpediem360]

If I had any frags to trade I would for sure rent a table. All my corals are just frags now. Milwaukee isn't really in a prime location like chicago but I think there would be some turn out. Just look at the rockford one!! It sounds like it's going to be a big one and I can't wait to go. You have to start out somewhere!! I think it's a good idea. It might even get some of our LFS to beef up their stock with more quality frags instead of expenisive colonies. Maybe even charge the lfs for advertisment to lower the cost to comsumers. Well Just Ideas. I like to think big!

 

[srlumaye1]

Dennis,

Your poll only allows one selection to be entered. I might choose to select 2 or 3 if I was given the ability...


Steve

 

[jeffgp]

well if you need a place to hold it come and talk to me i might be able to get a conferance room at a hotel

 

[jeffgp]

and will help plan the event ... thats all easy to me... i can talk to the LFS and see what they can do as well

 

[MiddletonMark]

FWIW, from Madison area ... but while I would pay for a door-admission charge ... I wouldn't want to pay for frag-table space too.

IMO, that discourages any but the commercial-end of fraggers ... as someone with under 10 frags doesn't want to rent a table [and IMO a majority of folks fall into this range].

JMO, best of luck with it

 

[TropTrea]

I like the comments keep them comming. It is giving me ideas on what we might be able to get started, and in the future grow consideraably.

Going back a few years I ran several semi annual shows and auctions for the local Betta club. The turn out grew by at least 50% on each of these shows. With the last show having over 150 bettas auctioned off to nearly 100 bidders.

If you look at Milwaukee/Waukesha for a location it is somewhat centeralized, between Madison,Rockford, Chicago, and GreenBay.

Dennis

 

[MiddletonMark]

True, but you need quite a frag swap as Rockford, Chicago, Madison all have established yearly [or more regular] swaps.

It means there's a market for it - but I know the first Madison swap I think was 100% free. Only after success has there been a charge [and folks coming from over an hour] - and the charge is just channelled directly into paying for the club's website/forum.

I would consider two things that IMO are important factors:
Commercial vendors vs. no commercial vendors - Often very strong opinions on the subject ... but IMO too many commercial vendors and home-fraggers are unhappy. Then again, commercial folks can bring in more folks though IMO it changes the character of the swap big-time.
Time for trading For the MARS swaps, the first hour [or less] of the swap has 75% of the people coming thru - often wall-to-wall and the last hours combined have less new folks walking in/still there. Given this, the last MARS swap had the first hour as `trade only, no cash transactions' which allowed folks a chance to browse/trade/`swap' without fighting the crowd + before the highest dollar removed all the desirable stuff.

JMO from our last ones, I'd find out what the strongest desire from locals is [who will help setup, spread word, organize] and follow that.

Anyway, I talk too much [obviously]

 

[TropTrea]

First off this is basicly just a feeler at this point. If we only get a dozen people that show interest then it is not realy worth the effort. But on the other hand if we have 50 or 100 interested individuals then we have enough interest to make something like this sucessful.

What I personaly would consider an ideal situation would be a basic full day event. We could get two Know speakers, plus a few factory reps to give presentations. The Known speakers would cost money so we would need to charge something to offset that cost. Unless a sponsor would come forward and sponsor one or both of the speakers.

Fees for tables would probably minial for those selling frags or perhaps an option might be having a frag auction where a percentage of the sale price is retained by the club.

There are loads of organizations that do simular shows however it does take time and advertising to realy get something like this into a big event. An example could be train feast where they take over a major arena in Milwaukee however I think there are more people with salt water aquariums than there are with model trains these days.

Dennis

 

[jeffgp]

well i think it could be good to have a mix be keep it small like 1 table per person or if you dont have alot you can share a table ..
for the venders i think i can get a few from midland plastics to come and maybe a LFS to just be there and sell some small things or closeout things .. if we got a medium sized conferance room i think well be fine and just have a admin at the door for a $1.00 or two entrance fee and for the table space i think maybe $5.00 per table and $3.00 per half table and we should be able to cover cost of the day .. i can find out the price of the room for the day or weekend ....

 

[carpediem360]

Why does it have to be just frags? What about people bring in used equipment??

 

[srlumaye1]

Anyway, I talk too much [obviously]

Every comment, espeicially from people who've been thru it before, helps the person setting this up have a better chance of pulling it off successfully.

I find the topic interesting and refreshing :bum:

Steve

 

[sticky]

A monetary, (set by the club hosting), donation for traders fraggers and sellers at the door. Provide the tables and charge the traders/sellers what you would for general admission. You will generate attendance by the amount of sellers you have. IMO private farmers will generate more attendance due to frag selling prices. If you sell them they will come. JMO.

 

[steve414]

Used equipment is a good idea, things like clam's,anemone,etc anything. I've never been to a frag swap.I would not care to trade two frags for an ipod or something not related to saltwater.Bring what you got or pic's on what you got.

 

[jeffgp]

that a good idea too take pictures of what you got and hook up that person later to keep it a fresh frag

 

[steve414]

pics of your big dry goods. I've been trying to sell a big rock of zoo's the rock is worth $30 bucks alone and i still haven't found anyone to buy it or trade for something. Its really hard in wisconsin sell saltwater stuff.

 

[Thorium]

Hey Guys
Now, you may or may not agree with me, but to be completely honest, I really don't think a "local swap" would work in our area (SE WI). Most of us trade with each other and know what others have and don't have. From what I have observed in the area essentially looking at other people's tanks -nearly everyone has that special limited edition birds nest and others like it. To get a great mixing of corals and some truly unique items, swappers are going to want big money, as they should. Then it becomes more of a one man sell all and nobody swaps. It would be interesting to set up a true swap, where no cash exchange takes place, but knowing some people that kind of thing is not going to happen. Interesting though. I totally see where TropTrea is coming from on the bettas though. I'm still waiting for that big blue shirt to show up on the parking structure at the airport. Good topic.

 

[prugs]

I not sure that I would go to a frag swapp meet.
After reading all the problems that the CMAS group had with hitch hikers. And how crowded the MARS swapp was. I was going to do the Rockford swapp, but I'd rather go to some Chicago stores.
Maybe it's just not my cup of tea.

 

[TropTrea]

Okay here are some new questions for those that know.

How many people attended the last MARS swap meet? It could be a good starting point for calculating the size of facility needed.

the next question is what would be the thoughts about an auction rather than just a swap meet. Many fish clubs run auctions and it can be fish, corals, or even hard goods?

Dennis

 

[carpediem360]

I know the Milwaukee aquarium society has fresh water auctions and it was an all day event. I thought I was fun and it wasn't because there was a bar right outside, but that helped! I liked the way they had eveything set up.The last auction I went to it was packed.