Reptile Expo in Gainesville, FL

Hi everyone I would just liek to get an idea of what everyone think of having a reptiel expo in gainesville,FL. The reason is I just might host one. Gainesville, FL is a huge untapped pool of resources. you have a lot of college student ( whom just moved away from home and are home sick and wants a pet) the problem is the place they live sometimes won't allow cats or dogs, so they look for alternative pets mainly reptiles. I am thinking of hosting an expo is mid Nov. like the 2nd weekend   it will probably be during football weekend so there will be a lot of wild parties and what not. it will be for 2 days and the place might even be on UF campus. If the event goes down there will be at least 10,000 fliers passed around plus air-time with radio station during rush hour. so hopefully it will be a good turn out. I am thinking of accomadating about 40 tables about 80$-100 a table plus electric.  
So if you think it is a good idea let me know  and if you thibnk you can give me a verbal commitement let me know too.

Thanx

Winston <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Winston,

No offense, but if you think you might want to start a Herp show in Gainsville.  Your best bet would be to find someplace to host it that you can charge less (ALOT LESS) for your tables.  I don't know anyone who would pay $80-$100 for a table at a show that is being sponsored by a person that noone knows.  I know you personally from the WPB show, but I would not pay those kind of prices for a table there.  Also there is a show that happens in Gainsville already.  If you look in the back of Reptile's Mag. in the Cold Blooded Events you will find the info on that show.  Good luck

May not be the best idea. College students may have the money but may not be able to provide the best homes for reptiles. I'm not sure about UF but many dorms on college campuses throughout the country don't allow them. And with college students moving so often, many animals simply get left behind. Plus many parents do not want reptiles in their homes, so college students moving back home with their parents sometimes have no place to leave their reptiles except in an empty apartment. Call around and find out from  any Wildlife Relocation and Rehabilitation organizations in your area and ask them if they have such a problem with unwanted reptiles. I live up in Tallahassee, and it does happen with students here going to FSU. UF does have a school of Herpetology though and it appears that there are more reptile shops in that area.
As for the location of the event, I would do it off campus. I can only imagine having it on campus during a home football game weekend, with a bunch of drunks buying up snakes because they think they're cool. One could only imagine the stories.

Well the 80-100 is for 2 days, plus possible BBQ banquet and there will be talks from graudate students in the herptology department and this is only an estiamte amoutn and the event will be located on campus so it makes it easier for the students to get there and I have already check with teh university students Can have reptile pets in dorms as long as they are in an aquraium. and if this thing goes through I will be promoting it everywhere. Also the "reptile or exotic animalsshow" it is  just bunch of birds I have done that show and there was nothing but birds, dogs, sugar gliders, onyl 2-3 reptiel vendors. and the "show in March" is a reptile convention no animal sellign of any kind mostly talks by grad. students. so there really haven't been any type of live reptile expo in gainesville. Well thank you for the commet.
I would like to hear more from people out there

Thanx

Winston

I dont think a reptile expo in gainesville would be a good idea.  First off most of those kids know very little about reptiles.  They wont be looking for nice quality reptiles, their just going to be looking for the cheapest ones they can buy and your trying to chare $80-$100 a table.  Planning to do this show on a football weekend is another bad idea.  You will probably get more money selling beer at a table than reptiles.  I went to a reptile show that was hosted in gainesville once and the turn out was not very high plus I didnt see one college kid there.  Bad idea.

Well also the reptile expo that was in gainesville had no advertisement and the guy who promoted sucked. Think about this. the place I'm trying to get is in the O'dome which is right next to the football stadium. and If this thing goes down I'mmaking HUGE poster to  place around campus and direction pionting to the reptile expo. Also you have no idea what the kids can afford. I have people asking me for albino ball python and albino col. boas. I even sold JCP, and emerald tree boas. Even Rex Grossman have a burmese python. some of the students are driving around in BMW, Mercedes and Hummers. and they live on campus.a lot os students will def. buy reptiles cheaper then the pet-store price. and they will also buy sometime unique or cool looking. that is my personal experience from supplying to the students up here in gainesville.

Thanx

Winston <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

I think a well promoted show has possibilities in this area, especially if you promote it well down through Ocala. Reptiles have sold surprisingly well in Ocala (Ben S. started here) and still are selling well at Ocala Exotics, and there's really no where to go to buy quantities or huge varieties around here like there used to be with Crutchfield and Hogtown Herps.

Do it and I'll get a table!

Kerry Swan
El Lagarto Farm
Citra, Fl <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Winston,

It has already been done. Not a very successful show, thus there isn't one anymore. Contact Eugene Besset, I'm sure he could provide you with info from the show and the syposium.

Take care,
Tyler

I have mixed emotions about this.  On the positive side, I am for any reptile show that is close to Georgia.  I cannot attend the ones that are further south than Gainesville, or an equal distance west north or east.  Thats just for MY benifit.  

Now, I know a lot of retailers will disagree with me on this, but I always feel bad when I see an animal sold to someone who is not dedicated to the health and welfare of the animal.  I know we live in an imperfect world, but if I know one of my snakes will go to someone who wants it because it is "cool".  I want sell it.  I can't control those wholesaled to pet stores, but I can still feel bad about it.

A football week end would be a VERY poor idea.  I sponsored a large craft show for about 10 years and can tell you from experience, do not have the show in conjunction with anything, and definately keep the posibility of "Alcohol" induced problems from occuring.

I would be interested in doing the show, but as it would be a first time show, the price would have to be appropriate.

Oh yeah guys taht is why the Gainesville Herptological soceity will be there hopefully handing out care sheets on animals purchased. I respecte responsible pet ownership more than anythingels. It also might be a By-week for UF. and if it is not there wil be people on campus and they will see the signs and bring them in before the football game. because generally the game is at 5<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>0pm or 3<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>0 p.m. or veen 7p.m. and the parents will ahve kids with them and the kids will see the sign and whin untile they get their way. Well it is a work still in progress. I'll let you know about more once I can establsiha  place

Thanx

Winston

I live in Gainesville and while I would welcome any expo that came to town, I have some serious reservations concerning this proposal.  If the show were to go on as Winston proposes during a football weekend, there would be some serious problems.  First, where are the "kids who drug there parents in because it's cool" and the other game goers going to keep there newly bought pets during the game?  Maybe they will stuff the containers in there bags...oh, wait, bags aren't allwed in the stadium.   Are we going to have hundreds of little deli cups sitting in the stands with all those cheering fans? I can just imagine someone forgetting it and sitting down on the poor snake or leaving it when they leave the game (if they are drinking, it's possible they won't even remember they bought it).  Let's don't forget the escapes that could happen...can you imagine the high pitched girly scream coming from the huddle when a baby corn wanders onto the feild?  Taking them into the game is out.  How about in putting them in their sitting-in-the-sun-baking-in-the-Florida-heat cars?  Let's forget that, too.  So, these spur of the moment reptile buying football fans are not good buyers unless they don't plan on going to the game after buying the reptile.  There goes the major revenue Winston had planned, right?  Now, I would love a reptile expo in Gainesville...a responsible show not held  on a game weekend would be wonderful.  And, if Winston pulls this off, I will probably go and pray that all goes well...but, I seriously hope that some serious thought goes into this, seriously...I'm serious, can you tell? <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

I'll tell you want Winston you put it together and I will get a couple tables and I will talk to others I know that do show and see if I can help you out there I'm sure I can.The only real trouble I see is that if you want it to be a 2 day show then you need to get a larger space so you can have at least 90 to 100 tables. <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>