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MACNA... Anyone going this year or have been before?

ryangrieder

ryangrieder

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So, I have been thinking for awhile now about planning a trip to this years MACNA XXIII with a few friends. I have checked out the entire web site and watched many youtube videos before. It seems like the ultimate swap to me. I see a lot of our vendors attend this as well. So, what's your experience like going there and would you say it's worth the trip to Iowa this year to go?
 
KathyC

KathyC

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MACNA is ALWAYS worth going to. If you go, do take advantage of seeing as many of the presentations as possible, they are incredibly worthwhile!

..and don't miss the MR party, it is also a highlight of the event :)

but I don't plan to go to this one!
 
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Acro76

Acro76

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albano said:
IOWA!!!...not even, if they gave me free airfare and hotel!
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Its not bad actually, the downtown area is really nice. Bars are fun and the peeps are friendly. Good steakhouses with monstrously huge portions. I was there 3 weeks ago for their spring swap. Club is well organized too...

MACNA always has the best and most speakers of any national event (20-30 talks in all). All the manufactures and coral vendors bring their best stuff, announce new product, new displays, etc., since the show is more national than regional. Usually 1000 to 2500 people attend over the course of the weekend. I've attended 4 MACNA events and been a vendor at 3 of them, it is truly a "if you build it, they will come" type of show. I don't think it matters much where it is located, upon the quality of the event itself.

BTW the MR party is dangerous!!
 
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Aqua Pro Builder

Aqua Pro Builder

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Manhattan Reefs
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It all depends on what you are looking for. It's more like a corporate event; less like flea market style shopping; entertainment always is not the same style as in NYC; Lots of gifts from major e-tellers and other vendors; lots of time to socialize because most likely attendants are staying for couple days; lots of seminars. There are usually new technology that you may not be aware of-e.g. one of the presentation discussed his study of arrangement of the RO/DI units where cascading and parallel different cartridges to obtain different results.
 
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ryangrieder

ryangrieder

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MR party? At the MACNA show? What do you mean...

I would mainly considder it a mini vacation. Not really to relax, but to just go out for the weekend and have some fun. I never been to Iowa before, but as long as there were a few bars and some other things to do during the night or whatever then that's fine. I don't really understand exactly WHAT it is though. Is it mainly vendors there and companies showing off, or sell, or little this little that? I mainly would want to just take my time and look at all the products and companies and ect. From the YouTube video from 2009 show, it seemed to be pretty nice. Not crowded at all either for a "north America" type "club". Just pondering the idea still. Like I said, I see ALOT of awesome vendors. just an idea
 
Acro76

Acro76

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Manhattan Reefs has a party at macna that is always alot of fun. I think you either have to be a member of MR or be invited. They usually have food, games, and a bartender.

MACNA is much more paced throughout the day, and the days are long! There is always plenty of time to talk to vendors and its much more relaxed than a typical swap. That said, things can get busy from time to time depending on speaker schedule.

The vendors are there to sell and advertise, the manufacturers and distributors are there only to advertise and give away freebies, t-shirts, raffle items, etc. The raffle is huge at macna and can take 2 hours to get through it all...

If you buy livestock the vendors will hold your livestock until you leave on Sunday. Bring a small cooler or extra bags to pack the livestock in your suitcase. Shipping is also arranged if needed.
 
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ryangrieder

ryangrieder

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Northern Jersey
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Acro76 said:
Manhattan Reefs has a party at macna that is always alot of fun. I think you either have to be a member of MR or be invited. They usually have food, games, and a bartender.

MACNA is much more paced throughout the day, and the days are long! There is always plenty of time to talk to vendors and its much more relaxed than a typical swap. That said, things can get busy from time to time depending on speaker schedule.

The vendors are there to sell and advertise, the manufacturers and distributors are there only to advertise and give away freebies, t-shirts, raffle items, etc. The raffle is huge at macna and can take 2 hours to get through it all...

If you buy livestock the vendors will hold your livestock until you leave on Sunday. Bring a small cooler or extra bags to pack the livestock in your suitcase. Shipping is also arranged if needed.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I saw your name in there for vendors for the next show, maybe I'll see you there!:thrash:
 
prattreef

prattreef

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Manhattan Reefs
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MACNA is an amazing event, but it is a 3 day conference and not a frag swap. While there is certainly tons of great livestock to be had, it is more about the speakers and product showcasing and meeting reefers from around the country.

AND of course the MR party which has become over the past 3-4 years THE party of the whole conference.
 
M

masterswimmer

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Manhattan Reefs
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NY
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ryangrieder said:
Soooooo if there is a MR party...(might be a dumb question) I'm guessing a lot of people here on MR go? Lol
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Yeah, a lot of us go :tank:

We started the MR party thing in our hotel room in Pittsburgh. We had a good 50+ people in the room and it started getting a bit, uuhhh, wild? The theme of this party was Wii Tennis and Bowling, not to mention just a little bit of alcohol :lol2: The room couldn't contain everyone, spillover into the hallway was the only place for the overflow of peeps. Hotel security came twice. The second time to shut us down. At that point it ended a bit after midnight for about 40 people and the rest of us 10 remained till the weeee hours of the morning.

The MACNA party the next year moved to Atlanta. That's the year we moved it into a suite. Jim and I had our room, then an empty 'party' room and then Josh's room. so we had three connecting rooms. Wii Rock Band was the theme that year.

The MACNA party's sponsored by MR began to morph into a rented 'hospitality' room the next few years.

I'll be at the Des Moines MACNA, as a show attendee, not a vendor. :sgrin:

Hope you enjoyed just a bit of what started out as the Saltwater Critters/MR sponsored party @ MACNA, which morphed into the MR party @ MACNA.

Russ
 
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