What was your impression of RAP today?
- Thread starter solitude127
- Start date
I don't think I'm going to go again. Last year it was frag a palooza. And so was this year. My kid had a Blas meeting the guys from tanked do. So I'm glad he had fun. As for me. I think the even should offer deals on frags. But most of then are more pricey than when I see them at the shops. I mean I know the event is in OC and all but Tham those prices are crazy on some frags. Had a better time after wards when I visited ellis aquatics for the first time. Little colonies for 30$ can't beat that.
In all fairness, I doubt you'll find many sellers offering bargain basement prices; this for the following reasons:
EXPENSES: vendors have to pay hundreds of dollars for their booths, and not due to greed or unscrupulous show operators, but for the mere fact that holding an event such as MAX or RAP is UBER EXPENSIVE.
TIME: Transporting livestock to a remote venue, setting up, selling/trading, tearing down, dealing with customers, etc. etc. is extremely taxing on even the most hard-working individual
ECONOMICS: Lets be honest. The reef hobby has created a suedo-ego-driven-trendy-hype as with any other industry. So why would vendor "A" sell frags at $10 each when vendor "B" gets $15 or $20 each? The market dictates prices, not so much the seller
CONVENIENCE: Where else can you find such diverse selection under a single roof, ANYWHERE in the world?
CAMARADERIE: Where else in the world are you given the chance to pick on Gumbii??
SUBSIDIARIES: Food, speakers, raffles, workshops, demonstrations, etc. etc. are all inclusive to the Reef show experience.
Every show has its own unique character, advantages, and disadvantages.
MAX may not draw quite as many visitors, for instance, but we cater to a more family-oriented crowd by design (which carries its own advantages)
MACNA holds a banquet ceremony that neither CA show can even THINK of replicating (it is just too dammn expensive).
CFM reaches niche places in the country that none of the big shows can even think of touching. They do well by hitting much smaller venues.
and then you have the smaller frag swaps that the local clubs host. Many hobbyists have reported liking the old school frag swaps best, so there you have it!
The diversity of choices are there for all to enjoy.
EXPENSES: vendors have to pay hundreds of dollars for their booths, and not due to greed or unscrupulous show operators, but for the mere fact that holding an event such as MAX or RAP is UBER EXPENSIVE.
TIME: Transporting livestock to a remote venue, setting up, selling/trading, tearing down, dealing with customers, etc. etc. is extremely taxing on even the most hard-working individual
ECONOMICS: Lets be honest. The reef hobby has created a suedo-ego-driven-trendy-hype as with any other industry. So why would vendor "A" sell frags at $10 each when vendor "B" gets $15 or $20 each? The market dictates prices, not so much the seller
CONVENIENCE: Where else can you find such diverse selection under a single roof, ANYWHERE in the world?
CAMARADERIE: Where else in the world are you given the chance to pick on Gumbii??
SUBSIDIARIES: Food, speakers, raffles, workshops, demonstrations, etc. etc. are all inclusive to the Reef show experience.
Every show has its own unique character, advantages, and disadvantages.
MAX may not draw quite as many visitors, for instance, but we cater to a more family-oriented crowd by design (which carries its own advantages)
MACNA holds a banquet ceremony that neither CA show can even THINK of replicating (it is just too dammn expensive).
CFM reaches niche places in the country that none of the big shows can even think of touching. They do well by hitting much smaller venues.
and then you have the smaller frag swaps that the local clubs host. Many hobbyists have reported liking the old school frag swaps best, so there you have it!
The diversity of choices are there for all to enjoy.
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For me It's always fun just catching up with friends and vendors I know. Finding a nice frag or two is just the bonus.
It cracks me up watching all the raffle ticket gamblers. Spending more on something you never even wanted or needed (IF you win). But whatever floats your boat.
I enjoyed myself.
ps. my ears are still ringing from those drums
It cracks me up watching all the raffle ticket gamblers. Spending more on something you never even wanted or needed (IF you win). But whatever floats your boat.
I enjoyed myself.
ps. my ears are still ringing from those drums
Kogi, and the food was awesome!
I picked up some great deals and bought some premium pieces at fair prices. Wife won a couple prizes at the raffle, and my youngest kept going back to the touch tank.
I found a acros similar shaped to a Strawberry Shortcake, but with crazy darker rainbow colors from Unique, I think they called it Kalidescope Acro. I picked up a large blue Squamosa calm from Clam Mania, 3 beautiful pieces from Daryl, Honey Cocain Milli, Superman table, and Diabolic Pacman. J.P. Driver had some of the nicest SPS at the show and I found large frag of Somewhere over the Rainbow milli, and I bought the larger frag of his Walt Disney
(Yes I bought into the hype)Wanted to add a couple caps to the tank and picked up a cold fusion cap from Jason Fox, and a WWC grafted cap from Victor. Also bought a new red and blue bounce from Victor, that had a little yellow in it. They could turn out nice. My best pickup was at the SCRK booth and got a Monti that looked like a bright shroom called Reef Raft Ratchet moniti, this was my favorite piece of the day! Hunting for more hot SPS today.
All the coral I bought was off frags I sold at the SCRK booth, thank you Rob for selling my stuff! I plan on hanging out again today and trying my luck at the raffles.
I saw many $5, $10, and $20 frags, the premium hyped up stuff costs more and I have found most will deal.
I also want to say congratulations to Reefer Cove, he brought his prized WWC Big Balls Bounce to show off at his booth and it was purchased for a record amount, Liz and Jorge you owe me dinner Fun to see my baby grow up!
Anyways if you see a big guy smiling with s beer in his hands say hi, chances are it will be me.
Great times, Great friends, Great Hobby, Reefapalooza Rocks!
If you are reading this and not on your way head out now, I guarantee you will not be disappointed unless you put your raffle tickets in the prizes I am going to win
I picked up some great deals and bought some premium pieces at fair prices. Wife won a couple prizes at the raffle, and my youngest kept going back to the touch tank.
I found a acros similar shaped to a Strawberry Shortcake, but with crazy darker rainbow colors from Unique, I think they called it Kalidescope Acro. I picked up a large blue Squamosa calm from Clam Mania, 3 beautiful pieces from Daryl, Honey Cocain Milli, Superman table, and Diabolic Pacman. J.P. Driver had some of the nicest SPS at the show and I found large frag of Somewhere over the Rainbow milli, and I bought the larger frag of his Walt Disney
(Yes I bought into the hype)Wanted to add a couple caps to the tank and picked up a cold fusion cap from Jason Fox, and a WWC grafted cap from Victor. Also bought a new red and blue bounce from Victor, that had a little yellow in it. They could turn out nice. My best pickup was at the SCRK booth and got a Monti that looked like a bright shroom called Reef Raft Ratchet moniti, this was my favorite piece of the day! Hunting for more hot SPS today.All the coral I bought was off frags I sold at the SCRK booth, thank you Rob for selling my stuff! I plan on hanging out again today and trying my luck at the raffles.
I saw many $5, $10, and $20 frags, the premium hyped up stuff costs more and I have found most will deal.
I also want to say congratulations to Reefer Cove, he brought his prized WWC Big Balls Bounce to show off at his booth and it was purchased for a record amount, Liz and Jorge you owe me dinner
Fun to see my baby grow up!Anyways if you see a big guy smiling with s beer in his hands say hi, chances are it will be me.
Great times, Great friends, Great Hobby, Reefapalooza Rocks!
If you are reading this and not on your way head out now, I guarantee you will not be disappointed unless you put your raffle tickets in the prizes I am going to win
It was a good event, lots of the same stuff though and I felt like a found a lot more unique reasonably priced corals at MAX earlier this year. As always the cooler stuff seemed to be at the club tables, although many clubs had a lot better selection at MAX, probably just due to whoever wanted to bring coral. I had to chuckle at the $350 baby jawbreakers and $150 jack-o-lanterns. Good times though.
