Thanks for a great swap

[daisy]

What a day! From the set up on Saturday through today (though someone else will have to comment on break-down and clean-up, as I could not stay today), it was an awesome swap. It felt like great friends meeting up to put the day together, a family coming together when disaster struck, and everyone working as a team to pull off another successful swap.

Thanks to Josh and Randy for directing us all, to Kathy, Cupcake and Tentacles for making the raffle and 50/50 look effortless, and to all the mods and especially the volunteers for schlepping water, setting up chairs, and even blowing up beach balls and plastic fish!

It was great to see everyone and I can't wait to see the pictures some of you took......

 

[tentacles]

:hug: it was nice seeing you Tahl! I miss our weekly lunches/tank talks at pratt!

 

[Salty Dog]

honestly if things dont change Im all done with the swap thing. I cant enjoy looking at corals with that many people lurking over you,bumping you and just a big PIA to see each vendor. If they have to charge a little more to house it in a larger space please do that. I was there for one hour and than bailed. I did spend $1,300 on a few nice chalices ans some others but it was way too stuffy and just over crowded. :letitallo :bagfish:

 

[FMF0331]

Agreed, too many people

 

[Alex]

Even if the location was bigger, the vendor booth would still be the same size and have even more space around it for more people to "lurk". I also think it was a bit crowded at times but the crowds got smaller and I simply waited my turn.

 

[Salty Dog]

Even if the location was bigger, the vendor booth would still be the same size and have even more space around it for more people to "lurk". I also think it was a bit crowded at times but the crowds got smaller and I simply waited my turn.

The crowds got smaller because of people like me getting feed up and leaving

sell a certain amount of tickets or have certain timeframes.

10AM -11AM 60 people enter

11:15 am 25 people enter or as people leave others enter, as I wasin the swap I was thinking what if there was an emergancy?

 

[strgazr27]

So you spent over a $1000 on corals but have done nothing but complain ? Lol. Couldn't have been that bad or hard to get to the "Goods". As for an emergency I counted no less than 4 ways out of the room/building. Overcrowded ? Yes. Unsafe, I don't think so. In need of a bigger venue? I don't know if that would help solve the problem. You'll simply have more room around the tables for larger groups to gather putting you in an even worse mood

 

[jerl77]

1300 bucks wow I would be mad too lmao

 

[jerl77]

Once again people are never happy lmao

 

[Salty Dog]

So you spent over a $1000 on corals but have done nothing but complain ? Lol. Couldn't have been that bad or hard to get to the "Goods". As for an emergency I counted no less than 4 ways out of the room/building. Overcrowded ? Yes. Unsafe, I don't think so. In need of a bigger venue? I don't know if that would help solve the problem. You'll simply have more room around the tables for larger groups to gather putting you in an even worse mood

just trying to improve the swap to make it more enjoyable for everyone. Im not the only one to feel this way just the only one too speak out.

And for the 1300 its very easy to spend that when one chalice is 400 and I got three. Im used to being in places like Greenwich Aquaria or House of Fins, where people have a little more manors!

 

[jerl77]

I think is a great thing mr does and hope they keep doing what you guys do its a great time and mabey we can rent out msg so we can make some people happy lmao. Keep doing what you guys and girls are doing it truly is a great time

 

[marrone]

I think any convention, trade show, swap or meeting is going to be crowded, especially when the event is only for 1 day. I've been to trade show at the Jarvis center where it's been packed, and that's a pretty large place. Hell, I've been to LFS, on the days where the livestock comes in, and I can't even get to see anything because of the crowds around the tanks. I would also think that you would have except it to be crowded around the tanks and bins, especially with people looking at all the livestock.

Personally I thought the place was crowded, but not as crowded as it has been in the past.

 

[James]

I thought it was less crowded than the last pratt swap for sure, it was hot but wasn't overbearing and I was running around all day. The coral selection I saw was awesome. I know for a fact Reefkoi brought some of his nicest pieces (this was his 4th national show in 9 days) ever, including Macnas. I guess you cannot please all the people all the time but these comments seem particularly harsh this year. Saltydog, I understand that you are trying to give constructive criticism and that is always a good thing. Perhaps next time to literally and figuratively cool off instead of leaving after an hour, go take a seat in the speakers area and listen to the lectures, there were seats available (it was cooler in there too) and the speakers were awesome, that would have taken over 2 hours... just a thought for next time.

 

[strgazr27]

Im used to being in places like Greenwich Aquaria or House of Fins, where people have a little more manors!

This was a frag swap not a dinner dance or Ball. Maybe next year they can hold a "Manners" speaker between the reef chemistry and lighting speakers...

You get this at ANY large event. You have to expect it and A: Learn to DEAL with it, B: IGNORE those people without manors or C: Don't go

Was it crowded? YES. Was it warm? YES Did the people who organized it and helped put it together work their tails off? From what I saw they did and didn't get a dime pay for doing it.

I'm done. I'll post my first timer thoughts in another thread.

 

[NL146]

On second thought lol...

 

[lo7100]

suggestion #1
Set up a VIP only time window and people have to spend at least $2000 or the different will be donate to MR.

suggestion #2
Sell VIP ticket for $200 a piece. It allows you to get in 2 hours early.

Anyway, I'm not able spend anything over $200 so I'm not a VIP. :tired:

 

[jerl77]

So wait your saying if you have 2000 dollars to spend you should get the frist shot at all the corals? I don't think that is right what so ever
This is a first your statement has to be the dumbest thing I have ever heard on this forum jmo
So once again if you have a lot of money you get the nicest corals and leave the scrapes for the rest of us ?

 

[lo7100]

HAhahahah. Are you serious? dumbest thing??? :bablefish

Don't reply to this post. I'm not going to check this post anymore.

 

[jerl77]

Ok very close to the dumbest thing lmao

 

[Salty Dog]

I want to retract my earlier comments, I was not articulate in expressing my exact thoughts. I first want to thank all involved in bringing this all together. The time and effort was incredible with the fishie theme and all the extra's. My wife and I so looked forward to attending. We talked for weeks about seeing fellow reefers, catching up with the vendors and just exchanging stories as in the past. I was frustrated that there was little room to move. My suggestions for future swaps would be to arrange for a larger venue, limit the tickets or host 2 shifts the day of the swap. One from 10-1 another from 1-4 dividing the raffle in two and assuring that both time frames have a diverse selection to choose from. This way it's if you are not a part of the morning your sure to have a nice selection in the afternoon. I would also have nibbles and a cold drink thus alleviating the lunch process which always seems to be a bit chaotic and we can bring the costs down and put it into the rental. Even though crowded my wife seemed to get her pointer threw 3 layers deep of people and land some incredible pieces. Kudos to all those that volunteered, offered their product, the vendors for their diligence with the crowds and all my fellow reefers that supported the event. We look forward to next year and just want a to improve and already incredible process.