Volunteers needed for Pet Expo on April 11th-13th!

[Bruce]

American Family Pet Expo on April 11-13th in Costa Mesa.
http://www.petexpooc.com/index.html

This has evidently been held for many years. All this time, there has been NO representation for the aquarium hobby; not salt, not fresh, nothing.

They are looking to create more awareness of the aquarium hobby, and have offered a booth FREE for this purpose.

We have asked members of IEMAS if they can help, however I thought it would be a good idea to ask a wider audience.

Ideally, we'd have at least 2 people to man the booth each day (I'm thinking more, personally, but beggars can't be choosers).

I am not viewing this as an event to promote a club; I'm viewing this as an opportunity to spread the word about the AQUARIUM hobby, and hopefully plant some seeds in some little minds. I'm pretty sure most if not all of us started with a fresh water tank... So let's make an effort to get the word out!

Before we commit to this we need at least 2 volunteers to setup and monitor the booth on Friday, April 11, 2008. You would need to arrive 2 to 3 hours early to setup the booth. The show opens at 10am and runs until 6pm. We have volunteers for Saturday and Sunday.

As a condition to getting the booth for the show we have to have someone in the booth displaying live animals the whole time. The event will provide the tank. Also, we need to notify the show manager of our intent to participate by March 7th.

Once we get some manpower, we'll work on making sure we have literature, determine the type of livestock we'll want and everything else that makes a solid game plan.

Please, if you commit, please MAKE IT a commitment. This is a great opportunity to expose the hobby to a wider audience, and I'm really hopeful we can make this work.

Thanks!

 

[socaltropicalfish]

vendor booth?

 

[Rick]

There are opportunities for Vendor booths. more info can be found at www.PetExpoOC.com However I do not think they allow onsite delivery of live goods except in the pet adoption area.

vendor booth?

 

[Bruce]

They're giving away a booth. Selling would be (IMO) kinda against the spirit of them donating a booth...

vendor booth?

 

[zatoichi]

Hey Bruce,

Any details on the tank setup they will be providing?

Seems like a few nano cubes with nemos could go a long way!

 

[Bruce]

I'm ASSUMING that they will be providing a glass tank (55G IIRC) and some cheap fluorescent lighting. My thought is to set up freshwater fish and not salt as salt isn't exactly an "entry level" for most people.

I agree with the nemo thought, though. That's what I'm doing for my kids classroom. Kinda "boring" to us, but for them, it's totally fascinating.

You think you'd be interested in helping somehow? Talent/time/something?

Hey Bruce,

Any details on the tank setup they will be providing?

Seems like a few nano cubes with nemos could go a long way!

 

[socaltropicalfish]

I am not looking for a free booth, just info on how to rent one.

 

[Bruce]

IF YOU DO, perhaps you should have it close to the booth that will be provided for "us"?

I'd be interested to know if you do. Then, we can coordinate and try to maximize the exposure. Perhaps you could sell little "starter kits"?

Again, I would stress freshwater; enough FW fish that are easy to care for get knocked off as it is. You don't want to complicate matters by throwing salt into the mix... Remember, if they don't succeed in keeping their animals, they won't "be back".

Just a thought.

I am not looking for a free booth, just info on how to rent one.

 

[Rick]

They are giving a free 55g aquarium to any club that participates and display live animals for the whole show.

We do not need to use the 55g in our presentation.

I was thinking some small tanks with some damsels or something tough.

We could setup petting situation with some starfish.

 

[Raskal311]

We get people coming in every six months or so buying stuff for the aquatic contest they have. Since we are only about two miles from the show we may consider getting a booth our self. If we don't are you interested in us sponsoring the booth? We'll provide display material like a few dozen freshwater fish and maybe a few show tanks that we already have setup at our shop?

Another thought is maybe setup a free raffle to get peoples attention and I can talk to my partner about donating something nice to give out.

 

[RTG]

I worked that show twice about ten years ago for Marineland (the company not the theme park). It was OK but it's mostly animals-with-fur stuff. For a club display I think a salt display is in line with the club. I think if they're giving the space to a club it needs to stay club related.
But then I'm not a member so what do I know. :lol:

SteveU

 

[Bruce]

They're looking for representation for the AQUARIUM HOBBY. To me, this should NOT be used to promote a particular aspect (water/livestock) OR club.

Our clubs CAN be promoted, obviously, yes. As a part of an already occurring conversation, I would think. Promotion of "the" club or clubs should only be incidental IMO.

The space it not being given "to a club", it's more like the space is for the purpose of promoting the hobby, and it just so happens that club(s) are the ones manning the booths...

I'm trying to maintain the spirit of the intent as well as keep in mind the OPPORTUNITY to promote the aquarium hobby as a whole.

And I can forward you a membership application if you like, Steve.

:laugh:

I worked that show twice about ten years ago for Marineland (the company not the theme park). It was OK but it's mostly animals-with-fur stuff. For a club display I think a salt display is in line with the club. I think if they're giving the space to a club it needs to stay club related.
But then I'm not a member so what do I know. :lol:

SteveU

 

[Bruce]

Absolutely! That sound great!

I know that there will be corporate sponsors, but honestly, I don't have a list of them yet.

I really would like educational materials, and a raffle (provided it's legal!) would be nice. Not sure if it would be a "fund" raiser; perhaps have a "free" raffle where each kid gets a ticket just for showing up?

I dunno... Hard to tell.

I really appreciate the offer; I'd most certainly like to take advantage of it... It seems as though there are LOTS of options and OPPORTUNITIES here!

:top:

We get people coming in every six months or so buying stuff for the aquatic contest they have. Since we are only about two miles from the show we may consider getting a booth our self. If we don't are you interested in us sponsoring the booth? We'll provide display material like a few dozen freshwater fish and maybe a few show tanks that we already have setup at our shop?

Another thought is maybe setup a free raffle to get peoples attention and I can talk to my partner about donating something nice to give out.

 

[MadMax]

We will be there promoting AND advertising our freshwater show for August, as THEY will be at our show promoting AND advertising their pet expo.
This is what businesses do....they promote.

They're looking for representation for the AQUARIUM HOBBY. To me, this should NOT be used to promote a particular aspect (water/livestock) OR club.

Our clubs CAN be promoted, obviously, yes. As a part of an already occurring conversation, I would think. Promotion of "the" club or clubs should only be incidental IMO.

The space it not being given "to a club", it's more like the space is for the purpose of promoting the hobby, and it just so happens that club(s) are the ones manning the booths...

I'm trying to maintain the spirit of the intent as well as keep in mind the OPPORTUNITY to promote the aquarium hobby as a whole.

And I can forward you a membership application if you like, Steve.

:laugh:

 

[Bruce]

Is there anyone who thinks they might be able to help on that Friday? The initial setup will be pretty laborious, I would think, as well as challenging with regards to placement of tanks and literature and such.

I think the weekends should be able to be covered, but that Friday seems to be a major issue.

Anyone?

Bueller?

 

[Spartan081]

Bruce,

I'm one of the partners at OC Aquatic. I would have to get there friday to setup anyways if we are to sponsor the booth. I can stay for a while to help out as neccessary. Email me at ocaquatic(at)gmail.com so we can plan.

Richard

Is there anyone who thinks they might be able to help on that Friday? The initial setup will be pretty laborious, I would think, as well as challenging with regards to placement of tanks and literature and such.

I think the weekends should be able to be covered, but that Friday seems to be a major issue.

Anyone?

Bueller?

 

[Raskal311]

Bruce,

I would have to get there friday to setup anyways if we are to sponsor the booth.

Richard

So does that mean we are getting our own booth?

 

[Bruce]

Dunno. I was kinda wondering that myself...

Richard, give me a bit. Working on some other issues at the moment...

So does that mean we are getting our own booth?

 

[RTG]

Just seems strange to me that they need to give a space away to get something fish related at their show, you know what they say. Ten years ago all the major manufacturers displayed there. Now all I see in the vendor layout that doesn't have fur, feathers or need a heat lamp is All Glass. Maybe the rest figured something out.

SteveU

 

[Spartan081]

Would be nice just to work one booth and help out as much as possible. It'll take a lot of man power to staff another booth. We have to discuss it.

So does that mean we are getting our own booth?