Reefstock March 8th at the Curtis Hotel

[cardgenius]

I thought you guys did good with all the stuff raffled off. You had lots of stuff and some really great prizes. This was my first "reef event", so I probably dont know how these work, but I thought it a little strange that during the raffle I saw staff member after staff member winning prizes, even the guy doing the raffle was winning prizes. Its not a big deal, just different from the ones Ive taken part in. And I did buy about $50 in tickets.

You guys had great frags for great prices. But it was crazy trying to get up close to be able to look at frags. Im not really sure what I can suggest since I know more tanks would be the key, but cost $$. You might think about cutting one in half and having two small tanks so you can spread them out more.

I had my hopes up that Reefflo was gonna have more stuff. I thought they were the ones lacking with only having one skimmer and one pump on display.

I only saw one speaker, Frank Burr, and really liked his presentation. Kinda cool to see how you dont have to do much to have a reef tank, big or small. I wanted to see the others, but since the food was gone in a flash we went and got food, droped off the frags and made it back just in time for the last raffle. Parking was $20 so that didnt make me too happy. I had a good time just a few things I thought would be different.

 

[adams0816]

I wish I could have made it. I absolutly possitive that the next one will be more thought out & everybody will show up to that one too. coodo's to you guys!!!

 

[reefkoi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12052091#post12052091 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Clown-N-Around
Glad I was able to make it. Props to all of the hard work you guys did - it is NOT easy and I think your hard work paid off. I was disappointed that we didn't hear about it in time to help out. I think it would be awesome if we all did a big blow out event in the future I am sure more helpers can only make for a better event.

I'm glad you had a good time, but I can't remember ever SCMAS having been invited to "help" with a RMRC event, so I think it's a mutual feeling on this one
We really had plenty of help though, I can't see any reason to complicate the whole thing by dividing up the event into jobs and tasks that 2 seperate clubs perform, I think it would cause much more harm than good, I do really appreciate a few of your members volunteering though, we had several RMRC members helping at the event and I think that was very nice of them to help out.

C

 

[thejrc]

nah you didnt offend me are you kidding, I'm an IT consultant (we've got thick thick skin).

and to be brutally honest, I'm glad you knocked me back because in retrospect I was a little harsh he he... but eh... thats how we all meet each other... a little tiff now and then never hurt anyone eh!

I can tell you that as I type this everyone who took part is planning and thinking, and we're ready to roll... this october (I think... hrmm wife is my calendar here) we have our frag swap that we need to plan and of course god knows what's going to happen in between... and naturally with every event comes a lesson. That's for sure!

Everyone really does appreciate the criticism, and of course you know how it is. That one post you left where you forgot to mention this or that... I know you meant well but at the time I was tired (still am) and proud, and a little deranged (eh wait thats normal) so naturally I think everything came out wrong. I seriously appreciate the 8 out of 10 though, which is an outright amazing mark to hit for events that are happening over and over let alone the first one.

I may seem a bit of an @$$ a lot of the time but beleive me I'm used to kick back. I sit on the board of directors for two non profits (both 501C's... ugh... I mean yaaay) and tend to be more charitable than I should most days... but yeah I'm an abrasive guy, people get used to it... it's my style (gotta have style man).

The whole truth of the matter is, I put a lot of my effort and time into this thing... tossed dollar after dollar at it, completely annoyed my wife and family with it, was amazingly dedicated to it... and I didnt even touch the efforts and dedication that a lot of people had for it.... (bastages....) People like Jake Adams, Dave over there at Aquamart, the board for my own club SCMAS... and countless others put sooo much effort into it I'm kinda proud to be associated with these lunatics...

Just like every other sponsor... I missed the speakers and the fun (well okay I told everyone to p*** off and saw Mitch Carl for the whole thing but kept falling asleep). I did get to catch a few minute or two portions of Adam, and a the first oh... 2 minutes of Frank (which sucks because I wanted to hear all three really really REALLY bad) and the bits I caught were great. I still wanna know what Mitch's group recommends feeding the coral spawn for nutrition... (big nutrition buff here)

But I suppose thats the way it goes... and in the grand scheme of things I'll get to check out the footage that wont get released... so I'll at least get to see Adam Blundell bop around in his animated nature... which is pretty cool! And I'm sure Jake will keep me posted on what Franks got goin on in his little world of crazy self sustaining tanks!

I think the best constructive criticism I got so far was from my wife who told me every vendor, sponsor, and staff member should have brought a forgiving accepting and loving partner (little suck up there) who doesnt necessarily have an interest in the hobby but is happy to help; along so they could man the booths and work while we actually got to see some of the event.

I'd love to comment on how it was to see as a visitor... but yeah, I got no clue... I was setting up a PA or cutting wire he he!

so when was the last time you actually got to golf?

 

[Huhhhhh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12050134#post12050134 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ricklee
Who wanted to wait around till the end I seen everything in 15 minutes. Had to leave to go get some lunch!!!

Great job ricklee I love people who know how to solve their own problems.

 

[dkone]

I helped setup Friday (ok, after we spent 2 hrs driving around Denver lost before we got there!), I worked all day Saturday with my "Staff" shirt on. My personal thanks to Joe and Scott for driving my backside up and down from Springs to Denver each day. I think I actually managed to get 2 hrs sleep Fri to Sat !

This was a great event and I applaud everyone who helped and worked so hard to make it so. I also salute the 250+ people that took time out of their weekend to come and visit us at Reefstock! I was working the SCMAS table by the door and was amazed at the line of people patiently waiting to get in (some for an hour or longer) as the doors opened at 11am. I was very happy to see the grand prize won by lady from Denver. Congrats to all of you that got some sweet deals on frags, won a raffle item, or just had a good time.

As for food complaints, it's simple, next time I would suggest the food we will provide for free will be for staff and vendors working the event ??? Personally I brought a thermos with coffee with me and tried to grab a snack before I left at 7am for the event that morning! I certainly had no expectations that all my dietary needs would be supplied, for FREE, by Reefstock! I did manage to hold 3 plates with a sandwich and chips _hostage_ for our SPEAKERS - btw thankyou for not eating them whilst they were hiding behind our table!

John
"DK-one"
Mr. DeathTank
owner of the 700ml Micro Tank ! <-- that was me

 

[dkone]

BTW, the Curtis still made the vechicle I was in pay for Parking on the way out later that night - $18 .. no amount of "vendor" or "staff" badge wearing of offers to remove our staff shirts and show our biceps changed their minds on that one! Alas, Parking in Downtown Denver just sucks and everyone has to pay !

John

 

[thejrc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12052091#post12052091 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Clown-N-Around
Glad I was able to make it. Props to all of the hard work you guys did - it is NOT easy and I think your hard work paid off. I was disappointed that we didn't hear about it in time to help out. I think it would be awesome if we all did a big blow out event in the future I am sure more helpers can only make for a better event.

yeah, given the short timeframe we had to pull it off I'm sure it seemed more like a pop quiz when we lobbied support for sure!

Eventually things will get in sync between all the clubs and the people, obviously we dont all get along but we can all work together for sure! (he he I'm sure i've proved that one by now).

Next year I'm sure with all the input we've gotten and our awesome board as well as supporting members not to mention community and well.. clubs abound... we'll knock it out of the park!!!

we've got time to plan this one so compared to the last two months this should be a walk in the park.... (okay so it's a park in new york and we're walking after dark still but hey... we'll do better for sure). Hrmm maybe we should call up deepwater out there in brooklyn and get some advice on what caliber to carry!

Thanks for coming, and I look forward to seeing you guys next month for sure! Oh and great job with Reef Ed... Marini sparked a ton of new interests for me and my plankton!

 

[coralite]

Thank you to everyone who helped, supported and attended REEFSTOCK. The event was a huge turnout and suffered a little under the weight of it's own success. The event was designed for 100-150 attendees and we had about twice that. The comments I received from the staff, sellers, manufacturers and attendees at the show were overwhelmingly positive. This is by far the largest and most active reef aquarium event Colorado has ever seen. The admission fee was well below what is normally charged for this type of event. The parking left something to be desired but over 250 people managed to make it anyway.
I would like to address some of the points which were brought up in previous posts.

Sorry about the food. it was really expensive but i still went over budget out of my own money and got 400 half sandwiches which were intended to feed about 100 people. The attendees rushed the food before lunch was announced and people had plates piled high. Probably wont do food next year.

There were purple death palys for $25, pokerstar monti, purple monster, oregon and cali tort for reasonable prices, plenty of australian lords and top shelf micros, great zoas and exotic corals enough to male reefers in other cities cry with envy. I had kids count the coral frags available and there were over 1200 at the beginning of the show. We mobilized about twice as many corals that any store in Denver carries at any time, asking for more is kind of naive.

The level of professionalism in the vendor and frag setups is above par on a national level. We had over 25 staff, some who worked for months before the show, others worked a few hours the day of and frankly, there was more than enough help that all the people involved had time enough to enjoy the show. REEFSTOCK will happen again next year and we will have more frag tanks, more vendors in a bigger room, very likely at the same location. Thanks again to everyone who came and participated.

 

[GreshamH]

I thought it was a great event myself and I see more then my fare share of these deals Did I say great....pssssh, I meant outstanding That was the nicest hotel of any club level event and even some past MACNAs I've attended. To be honest I have never seen anyone pull off an event of like this is the time frame they had to work with. Having done major event production myself I can honestely say I'm impressed and I know it'll only get better from here.

I was only able to catch Mitch's talk and I must say he rocked as usual. SECORE has interested my since I first heard about it a couple years ago. Enough so I went out and bought Dirks book when it landed on our shores. I was primed for the talk in other words

I'm sorry I wasn't selling but in the realm of this industry the LFS is the true glue that binds it together. I fully support the LFS's and I do my very best not to step on thier toes. Next time I will work with my local dealers and give them discounts to pass onto you the day of and the day after. Another hurdle for selling RN products at events is the fact everything in the RN line is perishable and must be refigerated.

However I did donate like 20x 6oz bottles of RN product (Roti-Feat, Tigger-Pods and Arcti-pods) and would have been over 40 bottles had the hotal staff NOT put my package into their deep freeze cooler. Some of the Tigger-Pod bottles froze solid only to be thawed and come back to life!!! Amazing creatures

I didn't get any 400 half sandwiches that where there. Sure seemed like a lot of food but boy did it go quickly. I suggest using a ticket and line style food area if you do food again. I've seen that method work quite well. FWIW 99% of the events I attend or have attend did/don't offer free food.

 

[GreshamH]

Oh, I totally forgot to say......DAMN there are some INSANE reef tanks around here. My hats off to Chris and Steve for truly stunning tanks and for being such great hosts

 

[irishguy24]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12052397#post12052397 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cardgenius
I thought you guys did good with all the stuff raffled off. You had lots of stuff and some really great prizes. This was my first "reef event", so I probably dont know how these work, but I thought it a little strange that during the raffle I saw staff member after staff member winning prizes, even the guy doing the raffle was winning prizes. Its not a big deal, just different from the ones Ive taken part in. And I did buy about $50 in tickets.

You guys had great frags for great prices. But it was crazy trying to get up close to be able to look at frags. Im not really sure what I can suggest since I know more tanks would be the key, but cost $$. You might think about cutting one in half and having two small tanks so you can spread them out more.

I had my hopes up that Reefflo was gonna have more stuff. I thought they were the ones lacking with only having one skimmer and one pump on display.

I only saw one speaker, Frank Burr, and really liked his presentation. Kinda cool to see how you dont have to do much to have a reef tank, big or small. I wanted to see the others, but since the food was gone in a flash we went and got food, droped off the frags and made it back just in time for the last raffle. Parking was $20 so that didnt make me too happy. I had a good time just a few things I thought would be different.

if i makes you feel any better i've dropped a hundred for a raffle and not got anything

 

[thejrc]

Thanks for the kind words Gresh, it was great to finally meet up with you and chat of plankton! I have to re-iterate how much respect I have for the way Reef Nutrition takes care of the LFS owners! It's more than admirable. Hope your flight back goes well. I'll be shipping out this sea monkey bobblehead this week for you too!

 

[rbrusletto]

Seems to me like there are alot of peoplel whining about free food and free drinks while attending one of their favorite hobbies with free talks, and free knowledge abound from some of the most interested people in the hobby in colorado. JMO.

I can say I was very happy to see this event happen, and Jake, hats off to you and everybody else for making it happen. My family will be attending again next year for sure.

I brought home several(8) great frags that are healthy and happy in their new home.

 

[murfman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12048681#post12048681 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scaast
I was mainly looking for some nicely colored zoas. Don't get me wrong...there were a LOT of frags...some great acans...just not what I was looking for.

I was able to pick up Frankenberry Zoas at 1pm.

 

[murfman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12050126#post12050126 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zombiereef
how were the talks? did anybody learn anything? i wish i could have made it.

Presentations were standing room only. I learned a lot from Adam Blundell. I wish I would have been able to make the last talk. I wish I would have stayed for the full presentation from Frank Burr on Self maintaining bio systems.

 

[Zooid]

My favorite talk was Frank Burr's. He made me feel so much better about not changing my water in about a year. LOL well, I probably change about a gallon a day because I skim wet but .....

 

[TxOilman]

I was at the event and really enjoyed it. Were there some things that might be improved upon next year - sure. But that should be part of the fun of being in this hooby. Always figuring out better ways to do things.

My biggest complaint - how to get some of Cliff's doggone luck at the raffle event rubbing off on the rest of us hehe!

Great job by everyone involved at putting this on.

 

[Zooid]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12060578#post12060578 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TxOilman
My biggest complaint - how to get some of Cliff's doggone luck at the raffle event rubbing off on the rest of us hehe!

Now THAT would be nice! lol

 

[mjcarl]

[Just like every other sponsor... I missed the speakers and the fun (well okay I told everyone to p*** off and saw Mitch Carl for the whole thing but kept falling asleep). I still wanna know what Mitch's group recommends feeding the coral spawn for nutrition... (big nutrition buff here)
[/B]

I went over that in my talk...oh, that was probably while you were sleeping. Guess I need to brush up on my speaking skills.

Thanks to the small group that stuck around to hear me blab. It was a fun event and Jake and his people did a great job.

Mitch