2013 Frag Swap

[piranhapat]

Maybe one day White Plains Center can have a Westchester Frag Swap. It would be ideal place to have. Only hoping someday...........

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

I wouldn't mind a change in venue!!

 

[duke62]

way to big of place. its hard enough to get some vendors we get now

 

[KathyC]

Is this the same as the Westchester County Center?

That would be a heck of a road trip for our members who come to the swap via subway..and that is a fairly large number

While we do look at other venues to hold the swaps, we do have to be careful about the fees they charge. Do keep in mind that we require use of the venue for 2 days - one to set up and the 2nd for the swap itself.
Also keep in mind that certain venues require the use of union labor (this is not a discussion on unions, it is about the cost ) for running all of the electric cords (we use a LOT of electric at the swaps), and renting that equipment along with all audio and video equipment..and union people to run all of that too...and do the set up & take down. (this place charges $475 a day just for electrical CONSUMPTION in their Main hall, never mind the labor for running & renting the wires). Additionally you need to use their food services, no idea of the costs for that.

While it is true that bigger swaps require more vendors, that would not be the issue as we always have more vendors that want to attend than we can accomodate, the issue is we need to have more people attend the shows so that those vendors are all making enough profit to make them want to attend repeatedly.

As this isn't a hobby where someone not already involved can attend and decide to instantly get involved and purchase all the things they need at the event, so the addition of 'outsiders' would not help during the event.

As you can see - there is a lot that must be taken into consideration when looking at a new venue

If anyone has a suggestion on a good location for any of our future swaps, we are always willing to take a look and see if it will work out well for our members!

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Metro North train station right across the street and hotels galore around the venue aside there are 2 rooms available for the Westchester County Center.

 

[piranhapat]

I hope I didn't offend anybody where it should be. I was only saying that because I saw Westchester Country Center have other exhibits. The place is big and more vendors would go. I never been at swap show and only saw pictures. It always looked to crowded. I do know glass cages sells they tank there. It would also bring people from CT, as well upper Westchester. Well if not a Frag Swap. Maybe a show for sponsors to show off they new equipment. There is not a lot of information out there to capture more people to understand how to start into this hobby.Lets face it I bet you 90% of new people coming into this hobby is knowning a friend that help them. And of course of web site as MR. If more people learn the right way and not kill and waste money the first time. More people would stay into this hobby. Instead you see them selling they stuff because of failure. We have two shows about telling us about we build the amazing tanks. But don't explain anything about filling it and putting in fish. If it was only that easy and all done in one day.

 

[tosiek]

I hope I didn't offend anybody where it should be. I was only saying that because I saw Westchester Country Center have other exhibits. The place is big and more vendors would go. I never been at swap show and only saw pictures. It always looked to crowded. I do know glass cages sells they tank there. It would also bring people from CT, as well upper Westchester. Well if not a Frag Swap. Maybe a show for sponsors to show off they new equipment. There is not a lot of information out there to capture more people to understand how to start into this hobby.Lets face it I bet you 90% of new people coming into this hobby is knowning a friend that help them. And of course of web site as MR. If more people learn the right way and not kill and waste money the first time. More people would stay into this hobby. Instead you see them selling they stuff because of failure. We have two shows about telling us about we build the amazing tanks. But don't explain anything about filling it and putting in fish. If it was only that easy and all done in one day.

First off, I think you need to attend a swap and then comment on how things are. Even at a larger event I am 100% sure that it will fill up the same. Also, its extremely hard to judge something without experiencing it.

I do agree with you though, I think a change in venue is needed for MR just to change it up a bit and its time for MR to scale up. Sadly, MR will need a ton of extra staff to make that happen which is another part of the problem scaling up in venue size aside from whatever Kathy mentioned. And I agree, going away from the city will deter people from the city from coming. I'm sure there are tons more people in the city that will not come due to the drive out of the city than there are people out of the city not willing to come in because of the traffic and parking.

There is SOOOOOOOOO much information on setting up a tank, along with anything you would ever need to know right here on these forums or any other reef forum. There are also wiki's, books, and a ton of great fish stores now that are knowledgeable in reef tanks that will surely help you out. The main problem with people not knowing what they are doing or not finding info is that they are lazy, stupid, talking to the wrong people or anticipating a simple hobby when in fact this hobby is extremely complex. There is a little search button on top of this page that will find any information you want in the hobby for you. 90% of people here don't use it which you will see when you actually search because there will be multiple threads on the same question because of the 90% that don't use the function which makes your life searching much easier. Google also does a good job in finding information for you rather quickly. All you have to do is spend time looking through everything and finding your answer.

Your not going to find setup and other information from vendors at an event. They will help you out and give good info but their #1 priority is to sell their items, they paid for an area to do so and need to make that back + profit if possible. The more people you have the more people at their booths and they will focus their time selling things than giving tank advice.

What your looking for is an event that has booths geared towards tank setup and information. We already have speakers and demonstrations that try to help out in certain areas at the swaps. If more information is what you think is needed at the swap I am sure someone could step up to the plate and run an extra demonstration explaining things. But this is a volunteer thing. Also, with all the information out there for the basics, people want to see the intermediate to advanced information at these swaps.

Anyways, just my 2 cents. Hope I didn't offend anyone with anything, wasn't trying to.

 

[piranhapat]

Maybe something in between a MACNA and Swap show. For me to attend Swap its a little out of way and be hard to get too.I only hope to see MR post pictures of Swap so I can see what a good time it was. This is one of the most addicting hobbyies. I didn't need all that information. Simply No would of been taken. Now hook my IV I need Phyto-Feast to calm down...

 

[tomtoothdoc]

no.:shocked1:

i find oyster feast with a dash of selcon in an insulin pump works much better....lol