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Putting on a fish show


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#1 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 06 November 2006 - 11:02 PM

O' collective wisdom of the net,

I am contemplating trying to kickstart the FW hobby in Jackson, maybe by putting on a fish show. We have no aquarium club here. Almost all the independent LFS's (all 3 of 'em) are saltwater specialists.

Any advice? What is involved in one of these shows? How much would it cost, etc. - anybody ever put one of these things together?

#2 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 07 November 2006 - 07:02 PM

OK, anybody ever exhibited at one?

#3 Guest_drewish_*

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Posted 07 November 2006 - 07:49 PM

Here is the website for the Catfish Convention that PVAS puts together:

http://www.catfish2006.com/

I believe Bob Bock attended the latest one if you need someone to talk to.

#4 Guest_dredcon_*

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Posted 08 November 2006 - 07:12 AM

I have set up native fish displays for large public functions at our school, but never anything on a large scale. If you get something going let me know and I'll help out.

#5 Guest_bflowers_*

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Posted 08 November 2006 - 01:06 PM

I have both helped plan local shows and exhibited in them. The big costs of putting these on for a weekend is the renting of the hotel space and putting up any guest speakers, if you are going to have any speakers.
Another couple of ideas would be to see if you could setup a couple of tables in one of the local fish shops or setup up at a local mall and then answer questions about freshwater fish.

Bill F.

#6 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 08 November 2006 - 07:02 PM

I wasn't thinking of any speakers - just showing the fish themselves, and maybe having awards and stuff. I gather 10-gallon tanks are the standard, and I expect one would have to buy those in order to have the show. Also air pumps??

#7 Guest_choupique_*

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Posted 10 November 2006 - 01:07 AM

We just had our killifish show for WAKO, and again it was a success. This works because there are several "hardcore" members in the Milwaukee area that take on the brunt of the work load. Then things that need to be done during are taken on by members from out of town that are serious, and this seems to get most everyone else, non members included to pitch in.

In contrast, CWAS ( Central Wisconsin Aquarium Society) has not been doing well in recent years. People just don't go to meetings, and shows and auctions have fell off in recent years. CWAS is loosely based around the Wausau area, which I think might be part of the problem. Not enough members close enough to drive over to each others house at any given time and prep things etc. The club fills in between the Green Bay, Minniappolis, and Milwaukee clubs in the area. That is a big span for a fish club.

Sooooo, putting on a fish show is pretty easy, if you or you and some help have the drive to set up, run it, and tear it down. Easy is relative of course, versus having a few people who work hard. When no one shows up to show fish, then what is the use, they get burnt out and the rest is history.

WAKO ( Wisconsin Area Killifish Organization) does have some things making it easier than a general fish show. There are more standards. It is all killinuts, and killis don't show up in pet stores ( enough to make note of). So if you want killis, you have to go to these kind of things. All killis can be set up in small tanks easily aligned on light weight stands, don't need airation etc.

Versus a general fish show. You might see stuff that interests you, you might not. If you go a few years in a row, and feel left out because you are the only one showing such and such, its easy to get burnt out. There is a range of tanks from little tanks for bettas to bathtub tanks for moray eels. Of course the colorful salts and discus get all the oooos and aaaas from the crowd who filter through to look.

There is so much I can go into , but have went on way long enough. I say, give it a try, copy clubs that do it and seem to do well. Try to get some friends to commit to help. Look around, someone might have an affilitation with something ( VFW etc.) and could get in to a banquet hall type room for free. Just make sure that room has good access to water and drains, and that they are not a place that would be sue happy if a tank spilt all over the floor. Been through all of that with various malls and things. Gander Mountain let us have an auction at their store ( it is like Cabelas or Bass Pro Shops). They said if we were "good" we could probably hold fish shows there too. I think it was free, or nearly free. Even though this was tropical fish, I think they figured it would draw clientel.

#8 Guest_bflowers_*

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Posted 10 November 2006 - 10:26 AM

You do not necessarily need to buy the tanks. The persons entering the fish can supply their own tanks. Ten gallon is the size we limit unless you get approval first from the committee putting the show on. We normally recommend that the larger tanks have their own stands. If you plan on doing this every year you might invest in a 1/8 HP blower or an equivalent Linear Pump. Also design an airline system that can be quickly put up and torn down.

Bill F.

#9 Guest_monocielo_*

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Posted 10 November 2006 - 11:54 AM

hey drewish dyou go to the catfish convention? wallys put out coupons for that
show but apperently no one got em? dyou see them in the goodie bag?

#10 Guest_bflowers_*

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Posted 17 November 2006 - 10:48 AM

Here is an article on Hosting a one day Conference. It might get you some ideas. Just came across it last night.

http://www.melevsree...conference.html

Bill F.




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