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Huge Frag Swap Suggestion...

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BobC63 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BobC63 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 9:35pm
I am liking this idea a lot!

Nikki, please head this up!


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ReefdUp Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 9:07pm
Wow bmac! Those are great suggestions!! You'd better be right alongside me if you're nominating me! LOL.

You're completely right on all those points. That's why I was nervous waiting until the new year to get started. There's so much to do! I also agree we need a chair and subcommittees (sponsors, vendors, advertising, food, facilities, you name it!) I'm more than happy to volunteer as long as I have everyone on board.

I was thinking the "facilities" committee could research our needs (based on expected number of vendors, hobbyists, etc.) and compare our electrical and space needs to available places (also depending on cost, convenience to the highway, etc.) I like your idea of mixing hobbyists with vendors. Most places I've seen line the vendors against the walls (so they have the most electrical access) and put the hobbyists in the center (less electrical...if any.) If we could find a facility to accomodate everyone, that'd be great! I also hadn't thought of charging a premium for booths at the entrance to aisles. Really think we could get more for them? I was thinking maybe a premium for corner spaces or double spaces. Hmm...interesting!

Speakers would be awesome, but I'm not convinced (not that it matters). This would make it a mini-MACNA with hobbyists selling too...almost seems like too much going on (at least for my little brain.) But you're right - it would draw even more attention. I wonder if we could get a mini hotel with multiple conference rooms in order for it to work. Hummmmm....

Food vendors may be tricky. If we do it in a hotel, we usually have to use their catering service ($$$.) I was just thinking of ordering pizza and soda...or maybe some hamburgers/hotdogs on a grill...but vendors would be nuts! Getting more interesting!!

As far as $$ goes, I think those things would just have to wait for the swap committee to propose a budget and present it to the Presidency. We'd have to weigh the costs of the facility, etc. and make sure we make the club back something nice to fund more activities.

Molli - that's a neat idea! We could have a small QT/dipping station with maybe some pictures of pests and containers to dip a few corals in. I have a few concerns (certain frags don't do well with certain dips, so we don't want to kill people's frags, etc.), but I think we can work around them. It would be so educational and beneficial!

   
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Molli Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 8:53pm
How difficult would it be to actually set up a dipping table, especially for the newbies who might want hands on experience about how to dip their corals?  I think people may be more likely to take that precaution if it was easy for them to do so.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote bmac2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 8:25pm
I spent a few years as a trustee of the Utah Open Source Foundation, so I helped manage and schedule the yearly nerd conference.  I would be happy to help with it.

couple of things that would have to be done quickly.  One, a committee to put the plan together, and a chair person to be in charge....cough...nikki...cough...nikki....cough  (typed in my best subliminal style).  Positions that need to be filled.  Marketing person, the face, the one to push it, the person to be the announcer to announce events, etc. 

One thing that would have to be found immediately is a space.  We need a space so we can lay out what we want.  There has to be a booth layout, then someone to manage the spaces, the schedule and who goes where.  That is what I always did, was the conference scheduler/manager.  Once the layout of the booths is designed, then there is a decision on the cost of the booths.  Better booths at the front or at the start of isles usually get premiums, just like booths next to the entrance.

Also, if you are going to plan this type of "conference" swap meet, then my suggestion is to pepper it with 3 or 4 good speakers on topics that would interest the crowd.  Make it a full blown fish nerd conference.  Frags, equipment, booths to sell whatever would appeal to the hobbyist.  As long as they pay for a booth, and what they are selling is legal, go for it.  if it is all day we need to court some food vendors who want to come in and will pay us a percentage, or some decent fee.  This done right can make substantial money.  Especially if advertized correctly and the word gets out all over the mountain west.

Do we want to make the place in sections, vendors here, hobbyists here, or frags over here, equipment over here, or just spread eveyrone out.  My suggestion is mix and match and spread them out to maximize traffic.

Do we want to charge a minimal admission, like a $2 for a member of any fish club, $3 or 4 for someone not a membrer?  or just let in the general public and make the money on the booths?

lots and lots of questions to answer.  I nominate Nikki to chair this since this is her idea..all in favor say I!!!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ReefdUp Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 8:10pm
Hm, another good idea! A warehouse would be ideal (as long as the power situation is ok) since water on the floor is no big deal. We've always had to request power limitations of the building when searching...I've seen too many swaps with blackouts. But, thankfully the day of the LED has arrived!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote lskurys Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 8:03pm
This sounds really good.  I know the first thing that my wife did in the hobby with me was the Reef fest / frag fest last year at the Redlion hotel.  We both had such a good time.  We have been wanting to do something like that for the past year.  I have talked to alot of people that have stopped by the house to see the new tank and we all end up on the even from last year and how much everyone liked it. 
 
Just thinking that there is a lot of warehouse space in Noth Salt lake that is not being used.  This might be an idea for a large location just have to work out details for the vender with power. 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ReefdUp Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 8:02pm
Ooh, I hadn't thought of that. Nice idea!

Thanks again!

Edited by ReefdUp - October 09 2012 at 8:03pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Fatman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 7:56pm
I'll help.  If we want to we can set up a google or similar site with a log-in for volunteers and planners to work from if setting one up here is too hard.  Also we can use a free live meeting tool for the meetings.  Let me know.

Fat

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ReefdUp Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 7:46pm
I'd recommend it on a Saturday. We should be able to get more vendors - especially those who are far away. I know I'm usually up around 3am the day of the swap getting ready, so I'm sure others would appreciate it on a non-typical work day.

The schedule I've seen work many times (not saying this is how it has to be...just an idea):

8 am - Doors open to staff/vendors for setup
9 am - Doors open to early bird hobbyists for setup
10 am - Officially open
2 pm - Raffle
3 pm - Event closes & cleanup
5 pm - Everyone goes home

This is why I've recommended lunch be served (pizza, drinks, etc.) Otherwise, people leave for lunch and we would lose money on the raffle, etc.

Again, nothing is in stone...just throwing out ideas.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jaschall Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 7:26pm
I think this is also a great idea. Think you could plan it on a Friday or Saturday?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote nsfw dave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 7:01pm
a handout on dipping and qt, is an awesome idea.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ReefdUp Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 6:57pm
That's a great point. Maybe we could hand out pamphlets on dipping/QT or even get the teeny bottles of CoralRx for goody bags.

In my experience, vendors/hobbyists have about the same type/number of pests (hobbyists get it from somewhere.) But, you're right, there are ways to counter this. I'm sure those who are uber-cautious with their reefs already have a QT system or just won't purchase (but may sell.)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote nsfw dave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 6:53pm
agreed, but its also on the buyer to dip and quarantine anything they might find to be a risk.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote bur01014 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 6:47pm
hate to be the downer, but this sounds like pest swap city to me...

perhaps I am just too particular (i only buy from certain vendors), but providing the opportunity for everyone to sell increases the risk of pest swapping, along with the frag swap.

please don't let me discourage the concept everyone is pumped about, but I do think we owe it to inform the new hobbyists the risk of buying at such an event.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ReefdUp Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 6:44pm
Exactly - we always had equipment at the swaps, and it was pretty awesome. There was also live rock, dry rock, sand, books, you name it. I usually had a bucket of old test kits, light bulbs, etc. for free...and it was always gone really quick.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote nsfw dave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 6:39pm
not sure if its part of the idea.. but even equipment people would want to try to sell seems like a good idea. ive tried to get something like this going in the mustang community, but cost is a little bit more significant when deal with car stuff. btw.. love this idea.. and absolutely think something similar to fragstock is a definite must with no reef fest this year. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ann_A Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 6:26pm
Awesome idea! Let me know if there's anything I can do to help!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ReefdUp Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 6:21pm
WAAAHOOO!!!

So, would we still call it FragStock? Same time of the year? Same place?

Is it possible to get a separate FragStock volunteer section of the forum (like MWRF) so we can plan without clogging up the normal threads? It would also help us plan without having to drive all over the place to meet.

Teknik - got you down as the first volunteer! ;-)

Who else wants to volunteer?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Teknik777 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 5:53pm
Nikki awesome idea! I think it would be a huge event! I am willingto help out also if needed.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Adam Blundell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2012 at 5:35pm
Let's do it.  

Nikki- make it happen.

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