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

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8011448#post8011448 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NicoleC
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?

I'd help. I don't know how much I can contribute, but I'd help. I'm not a member but I wouldn't mind being one.
 
Paying the $25 annual dues is a good contribution in itself. The club only lives on raffle ticket sales and membership dues.
 
So out of everyone in the SCMAS club only 5 people helped out to get this? That itself is sad.

Im sure people that arent even in the club are willing to help next year if they ask. I will.

Anyway once a year isnt good. It isnt to HUUuuuuuuuge of an event to do it once a year like MACNA and all that.

Maybe 2wice a year like someone said above?
 
This may sound crazy, but perhaps you could have a month long event?

Four (4) Saturdays, with each event taking place in different city to allow easier access to SOCAL residents.

i.e. 1st Sat Northridge, 2nd Sat Torrance, 3rd Sat Irvine, and the 4th San Diego

Also, host a thread/website where you offer picture postings of the corals, dry good trades and items for sale to allow reefers a good idea of what to expect and entice visitors.

As for location, I have heard you can place reservations at public parks at the local city Parks & Recreation. Perhaps reserve the soccer field, baseball field or parking lot and have everyone bring swapmeet tents or rent them with donation money. Perhaps the parks will have suitable electricity outlets as well. (How about Elementry, Jr and High Schools as well?)

Between all the reefers here in SOCAL I'm sure some are employees of the city, schools, and local government and can probably assist in your reservation requirements.
 
Well, unfortunately for me I arrived about 1.5 hrs late so there was slim pickings of frags by the time I got there.

I would have liked to see more hobbyists selling frags. Perhaps something that would facilitate this would be for the organizers to set up an area where all people had to do is bring their frags for sale and they would get a section of a tank to put their stuff in. This was my first time attending so now I know more or less what to expect. I would totally bring some frags next time but I wouldn't really be making much money so I don't know if it would be worth bringing my own tank, table and lights etc. BUT, if I could show up with my frags and drop them in a tank, I would totally do it!!!

I think it is not unreasonable at all to charge some of the stores that were participating there. From what I saw, they pretty much sold everything. That is a lot of profit for them. So as long as the event brings the buyers, it is totally worth it for a store to pay a fee.

Also, I think it was totally cool of Marine Depot to allow this. DId they supply the electricity too??? Totally cool.

I am already looking forward to the next and would totally support this event occuring more than once a year!

It would also be nice if people wore name tags with their reef central names so that I could meet people in person that I recognize their screen names from RC.

Food was totally nice to have there but to be honest I was there to score frags!!! I did not think about food at all :) I was on a mission!

Okay, this is getting long here so I'll stop.

Great event!! Found one of the corals that had been on my wish list for a long time!!
 
Just my $0.02, maybe hold the event on a cooler day? August is the hottest month of the year, perhaps by moving the event to another month, say June or October, it still might be done outdoors with great success. :)
 
SCMAS has a forum and website already for the promotion of RAP.

Also, there WERE holding tanks for small-time fraggers.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8011341#post8011341 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stockham2121

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.

There were numerous "manufacturers" & reps there, and many more contributed to the raffle as they couldn't attend. Off hand, liquid Life, Sun Light Supply, Tommy, Reef Nutrition, Jelliquarium, Euroreef, and a few others that are escaping my mind.

IMO there were far more "dry good" verdors/manufacturers present, then straight frag selllers.
 
There were numerous "manufacturers" & reps there, and many more contributed to the raffle as they couldn't attend. Off hand, liquid Life, Sun Light Supply, Tommy, Reef Nutrition, Jelliquarium, Euroreef, and a few others that are escaping my mind.

You're right. I stand corrected.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8012515#post8012515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SPSFiend


It would also be nice if people wore name tags with their reef central names so that I could meet people in person that I recognize their screen names from RC.

Food was totally nice to have there but to be honest I was there to score frags!!! I did not think about food at all :) I was on a mission!

Okay, this is getting long here so I'll stop.

Great event!! Found one of the corals that had been on my wish list for a long time!!

Hugo brings up another great opportunity. Perhaps we could have pre-printed name tags that could be purchased for a suggeted donation of $5 but you could do more or less depending on your ability to pay.

We would need to set up an ordering page which would also serve to give an estimation of attendance. Food could be supplied based on the number of name tags ordered.

Hugo, I'm psyched you found some cool corals at the event. I'm sure I will be laying out some cash for a tiny, not yet exitant frag sometime in the near future.
 
I agree that by moving the event to the spring or fall you would alleviate the problem of heat and would keep the cost down.
 
I liked steves idea of having a partitioned tank with frags in it available from different people. I purchased 2 out of that 1 from EZ and the other from steve. If I had known somthing like that would be available and steve would be ok with me putting stuff in there I would have brought some of my frags. I did like being able to just walk in and sell my dry goods with no hassle. maybe a dry erase board with available space information would help, as sellers come and go frequently (some not even showing up).
 
I like the idea of a board -- the booths can be mapped out and numbered with the tape stuff, then as people set up they check-in/out and people can find specific vendors.
 
I do agree that moving the event to the Fall or Spring would have helped on the heat. But just our luck we would then have to deal with rain. I can say that the outdoor event was a concern to manufacturers because of heat, and sunlight. I am dissapointed that more locals were not selling frags. I had at least 15 reservations before I left for vacation. Unfortunatly people seemed reluctant or intimidated to sell and swap at this event. I was arranging a suprise for sellers for a sponser to donate frag display tanks, lighting and powerheads for all that would sell (free to keep) but it's hard to give acurate #s when very few would reserve space in advance. I wish I could have given more time to organizing the event but logistically it just wasn't possible. That could change if I move back to the OC. I see very good suggestions in this thread and I hope we can incorporate these ideas into future events.
 
family addmission price. my wife wouldn't come if she had to pay to just keep me company. she may not even let me go if she couldn't/wouldn't go.

this is not a cheap hobby. $5 or more is cheap for a day's fun. i would pay more than that to hear Anthony or Bob speak.

i love the idea of speakers.

indoors is great. i know my frags were 86 degrees when i got them to the car. not good, although all seem to be doing fine now.

i should have brought a cooler, i will next year.

the one seller who brought a mini chiller was cool.

some venders frags were in the direct sun. not good. i didn't buy from him. i wonder how hot his livestock got?

indoors seems like the way to go.

Nicole, you didn't seem like you were shy while doing the raffle.
 

Nicole, you didn't seem like you were shy while doing the raffle.

The better to get it over with!

It's hard to predict the weather. I didn't really think it was hot this year. If we'd had in in June, it could have been 100F+!

If an indoor venue can be found that would be great, but cost will be an issue. For frag swaps, always remember to bring a cooler, ice packs and/or heat packs, extra water, extra bags, and extra cash!
 
THANK YOU EVERYONE for these awesome ideas!
Please keep this thread flowing throughout the coming year.
We WILL be reading all these recommendations at the steering committee meetings for consideration; continuous improvement is a top priority!
Remember: Reef-A-Palooza is really for no one's benefit other than YOU! This is a cooperative effort for the entire reefing community.


Thus far, I think the major consensus is:
1) The next RAP should definitely be INDOORS
2) Small entry fee is acceptable (preferable to being outdoors)
3) We want MANY MORE small fraggers at the event
4) HUGE opportunity for sellers (demand high/many customers)


From what I've heard from the vast majority of people: There was a HUGE demand for frags at this last event, but "supply" dried-up within the first hour and a half or so. This was also a huge opportunity for vendors...hundreds of customers walking around with money to spend. Please help spread the word to vendors, local fish stores, etc. so next year will be even better!
 
I was super suprised to find out that me and mike dege brought the most frags....We were thinking there would be a lot more small time local fraggers that would bring stuff...Heck our frags were almost gone in 2 hours and we brought a ton...The last RAP had a lot more people selling frags and little dry goods...This years RAP was almost all dry goods...weird!

I think next year should be indoors and we should pay an entry fee...Heck Id even pay $50 to rent a booth that isnt bad at all...

Oh well time to start fragging again...later
 
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