SCMAS: We'd like your thoughts for the next Reef-A-Palooza 2007

ReefMeister2

Premium Member
Hi Everyone,
SCMAS would like to thank everyone for making the 3rd annual Reef-A-Palooza such an outstanding success! We estimate at least 500 people attended RAP at some point throughout the day, if not more! This is not surprising considering that we have one of the largest concentration of reefers in the world here in Southern California! In fact, there is no reason to doubt that this event will grow exponentially over the next few years, and therefore must be planned ahead accordingly.

As such, we would like to ask for your input as to what would make RAP 2007 even better:

1) CAPACITY/LOCATION:
Obtaining a free facility large enough to hold RAP was hard enough (Thank you Marine Depot!) but acquiring enough shade canopies, tarps, electrical outlets, equipment, etc. was a daunting task (to say the least) that simply would not be practical for larger, future events.
One idea is to rent a hall/facility at a special venue, such as the O.C. fairgrounds, but that would likely require an "entry fee" (roughly estimated @ $5 per person/$50 per vendor) to recover expenses. The upside to this cost is that the entire event would be "indoors" and not vulnerable to the hot summer sun. Would this encourage/discourage your participation?

2) FOOD/DRINKS:
It was very difficult to estimate how many people would show up for this year's RAP, so food and drink selections were kept simple (and cheap!)
What food/drink suggestions do you have that you would like to see at future RAP events?

3) EVENTS/AGENDA:
There was a great deal of interest and participation in Bob Fenner's and Anthony Calfo's presentations. Both of these men are definite assets to the reefing community, and always provide a wealth of information and insight to the hobby.
Would you like to see more presentations such as these?
what other events/exhibitions/etc. would you like to see?

PLEASE share your thoughts and ideas with us so that we can continuously improve this event every year. Please keep in mind that there is an inevitable cost associated with most things, so try to keep the ideas reasonable. We wish to keep the expenses minimal so that little-or-no cost is passed on to the attendees. If all goes well, I wouldn't be surprised to see 750-1,000 people at the next event!

Thank you for your help,
SCMAS Steering Committee
:)
 
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If some how, I know it may not be possible if we can do it indoors? I have no idea where. It would be alot better. Many people left because of the heat(or for the sake of their frags).

Ive seen some pics of someone doing a fragswap in some sort of an empty warehouse....It looked so cool.

Either way it was good I wouldnt change anything. We just need more people to get involved (sell frags) at such a large event. There was only 5-7 fraggers tops out of 500 people??!!!.

Good thing there was a wells fargo around the corner:D
 
Im guessing to get this indoors there may need to be a fee. Unless someone can loan us an empty warehouse:D
 
I think one of the things that draws people is that it is free and you can bring your whole family and just spend some time picking up frags and talking to the people you type at every day. That said if an admission fee is neccessary as long as it's not too much many will still come maybe a free drink or something that will let them offset the cost in their minds.
 
Yup indoors will be best.
I really would not mind spending a few bucks to be in a more pleasent enviroment not only my self but for the family. I am thinking also a couple of free raffle tickets at the door while offset the issue of having to pay the entry fee.
That will definetly bring in more of a bigger crowd, meaning more costumer's for the vendors.
 
Indoors is cool with me, the cost seems reasonable. Also, it seemed like it was a little long maybe 1 hour shorter, and many people were just waiting around for the raffle. + the raffle took a while(Nicole enjoyed her time in the spotlight, hehe). Especially since I didnt win! ;) Other than that, it was cool.... good job... Oh yeah, also not enuf frags, and too much drygoods. We should change the name to "drygoodswap" :cool:

imo
-Mike:D
 
I would liefer see an entry fee for all than one for vendors.

This year, I think the confusion over "reserving" a booth made a lot of local fraggers assume they weren't big enough, so they didn't bother. If vendors are charged, then there will be even fewer local reefers participating. I know I only made about $85, and that included a $50 fish... minus $10 I spent. And I feel it's the small time fraggers that really make these events worthwhile.

Personally, I say $5 to get in, including a free raffle ticket would be very acceptable. Indoors would be perfect, or even under a large tent. To acheive this end, I'd say to either nix the food in favor of drinks only, or invite a "taco truck" or similar to set up shop at the swap. The food/drinks would cost people more, but it would be an optional cost, and the revenues should be enough to make it worth the while of the vendor.

Mike, I have horrible stage fright. YOU do the raffle next time!
 
$5 a person $50 per vendor is more then fair. I did well this year much better then what I was expecting so I would not mind paying $50 at all. But what about the people with only a hand full of frags?
 
You can do a sliding scale for vendors as well, like hobbyist fraggers free, business's selling frags $50, then top level would be dry good vendors $100. The price shouldn't scare many off. You can also sell sponsorship for certain items, like renting the venue, drinks, etc.

At our fragswaps in the SF Bay area (BAR) we have a caterring company bring out their BBQ and they handle all the money (300 - 500 people). We simply guarantee them $500 at least, and we've always met that goal, and more. They've requested to come back for yet another year with us :D
 
yea outdoor heat was killer on the last times i've been there. I wouldn't mine 5 dollars for the event. I would mind 10 ten dollars unless there a ton of fraggers out there. I think what makes this event great is the frags.

So I'd like to see:
More local hobbyists selling frags :D. There should just be a little mini booth to people who have a small number of frags to sells like 5-10 and they can band together.

Somehow more chairs for the presentations, maybe it's not so bad if it was indoors.

Ideas?
Pre-register and get extra raffle tickets? It will get some money into organizing the event(if you're gonna charge).
 
a little closer to L.A...not a lot, just a bit...
i know most of you guys are in OC but some of my friends are in simi valley~ :D
 
Contact and have more vendors out there, make it bigger. More selection, to me this last one was like a mini frag swap.

Free for all vendors, but charge fee for entrance this way you get more vendors to participate.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8007464#post8007464 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NicoleC

I think the confusion over "reserving" a booth made a lot of local fraggers assume they weren't big enough, so they didn't bother.

Good point,
that, and the fact that it was outside in August is why I chose not to go.
 
$5 entrance fee is acceptable to most or all people I'm sure.

$50 booth space fee to shops, pros, vendors, etc. (that's probably the cheapest marketing they'll get all year)

Free for hobbiest with frags or used equipment to sell (this is why we all go right?)
 
Answered in your order:
1. Capacity seemed fine. outside is problematic. Indoors would be optimal for all involved. I agree with those who posted saying charge commercial vernders a small fee to cover room rental. Perhaps market to the venders saying "The room costs $2000 to rent, we have 20 commercial venders, so its a straight $100 per." As you as more venders, reduce the cost to each one. On a related note, I know you can rent those giant tents, big enough to cover a wedding for 300 people, for like $1800, give or take. That includes setup and takedown.

2. I was surprised to see food at all, and anything you want to do it great. Nothing else needed here at all IMO.

3. Events - I had to leave before they started

An observation - the frag booths, both the commercial ones and the hobbyists, were the most popular/busy. I would focus on those, and keep booths for hobbyists free to encourage people to come.
 
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Could you post the costs for the event? It would help in the tactical planning.
It seems like the ultimate answer is to:

have an indoor event, that is free to get into, free for hobbyists to display on a table which they have reserved, has food and beverages, has a cash machine (ATM), has a good estimation of hobbyist attendance, has a seated area in front of a stage where speakers can speak AND Is moved along in a timely fashion.

If the above is accurate, we should be able to come up with tactics to address each goal.

For example; we need an indoor room. We have at least 3 well established clubs in So Cal we should have a strong "reef-a-palooza" funding effort going in all 3. If we need $2000 we may appropriate $500 of that to the clubs. If there are 100 people in all the clubs that's $5 per person. I'll happily cover the cost for MASVC and I bet there would be others who would, at least partially cover it for their groups. At the event recognize those clubs who made their goal, and what their contribution was. In other words, make it a competition. Throw down the gauntlet.

I'd also suggest soliciting donations from the local companies. Maybe next year we focus on LFS's. I would like to meet the owners and I think it may help them to understand their audience (customers) a little better. Ask them to bring some of their frags down. (I know there was an effort made to reach out to these stores)

Manufactures are always looking for an excuse to show off their stuff. I think there was one there this year, Euro Reef. I would think manufactures, maybe through local representatives, could display their items and contribute a small sponsorship.

Just some thoughts, but I do think there are great answers to each of these issues.
 
Perhaps it's important to recall one very important fact:

Very, very few people help put on this event.

Brainstorming ideas is great, but some of the items mentioned require huge amounts of cash and/or footwork to make them happen. Expectations for an event like this need to match the available labor... of which there is very little when push comes to shove.

I know I just didn't have time to work on the event this year. There were maybe 4 or 5 people who made the whole thing happen. This are mostly the same 4 or 5 people that do absolutely everything for the club.

So... who is volunteering to make their ideas happen?
 
1. Capacity/Location: Indoor would be great for the livestock and hobbyists.

2. Admission: Free for Club Members, girlfriends of hobbyists that come in miniskirts (hehe), anyone 15 and under. Everyone else $5 is fair. I think anymore will discourage some people. Like the Coral Farmers Market in Ontario and Nor Cal was $25 (less is you pre buy). Thats expensive, but the vendor base was completely different.

3. Vendor Fees: Club Member Hobbyists Free, other hobbyists $15, Resellers $50.
 
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