Pet Expo wrap up?

[GTR73]

So how did the Pet Expo go? Anyone have anything interesting to report?
 :)

[wrk21]

i came second in the big fish class with my red devil......

[Bubblesx4]

Congrats Wayne!!!!!!!!!

[fishybusiness]

i thought it to be disapointing
I know a lot of time was put into some of the displays but i found it to be
Product, Products and more Products.
i saw the devil he had some great markings on his head.

[braddo]

I would have to agree with fishybusiness, I went about 8-9 years ago and loved the aquarium show but I thought this year to be a little dissapointing although there was some nice fish there was hoping it would have been bigger. I actually liked the idea of products as this way you can see what is out there and the dogs and cat section was good too. The reptile displays were a good touch.

[dammwoman]

I didn't get in there this year and the numbers of fish were probably down but that is due to the fact that the convention centre in their wisdom left the Pet Expo with only a couple of hours to set up right from moving the stands in. Very poor on the part of the convention centre. The aquarium exhibit takes at lot of time to set up and those who did manage to exhibit deserve a big pat on the back.
Convention Centre on the other hand need a good kick in the ass.

Hope those who got there enjoyed themselves.
Cheers Linda

[GTR73]

Yep. The good ol' Convention Center. They wrecked the Motor Show (from when it used to be RNA), and sounds like they're wrecking the Pet Expo too.
I went to the Pet Expo 4-5 years ago when it was RNA and called something different (Pet and Aquarium Show?). It wasn't too bad.  :?

[dammwoman]

Yes when Pet Expo was at RNA Grounds it was good and it was a PET expo. All sorts of stuff  and sites were cheap enough for heaps of the shops and clubs to go there.
Convention Centre get harder and harder to work with every year and are starting to kill the thing. I didn't think the Aquarium Exhibit could possibly put it all together in such a short amount of time and I know of a few exhibitors who wouldn't enter because of the risk to their fish with so little prep time.
Sorry of hear that its happening to other types of Expos too.
Maybe they should all start to go back to RNA grounds where they are much easier and considerate to workin with, cheaper and generally allowed more space to use too.

The convention centre actually owns the Pet Expo and the aquarium exhibit is under contract to do the exhibit for a certain number of years but I think that the contracted time is almost up so will be interesting to see what happens then.
Cheers Linda

[GTR73]

[quote:77582efaa7="dammwoman"]
The convention centre actually owns the Pet Expo and the aquarium exhibit is under contract to do the exhibit for a certain number of years but I think that the contracted time is almost up so will be interesting to see what happens then.
Cheers Linda[/quote:77582efaa7]

Yep you said it and there in lies the problem - Convention Centre now owns the thing.
Same happened with the Car Show - lots of little people could participate when it was at the RNA and oh hey, that included actual enthusiasts and not just big business. Now the Car Show is but one big floor of Car Manufacturers selling their products and gone are the heaps of classic cars, hot rods and street machines that used to be part n parcel at RNA. So why pay money to go visit a bunch of car dealers?
And from the sounds of it, why pay money to go visit pet/aquarium product salesmen when you can just go visit the local LFS for free?
Sometimes the business "shakers and movers" in this town think Brisbane is a bigger economic metropolis than it really is.

(ok, I'll get down off my soapbox now   :roll:  )

[xysti53]

[quote:aed2f90f02]The convention centre actually owns the Pet Expo [/quote:aed2f90f02]
Sorry but this is not correct the Convention centre is just rented out by Event Marketing Services (or at least I think that's their name) who actually bought the rights to run the Pet & Animal Expo from the Queensland Federation of Aquarium Societies back in 1995.

The first Pet and Animal Expos were run at Chandler in the early 80's before being moved to the RNA and the first EMS Pet and Animal Expo was held at the Boondall Entertainment centre and then moved to the South Bank Convention Centre.

The show this year was extremely good when you consider that everything was set up in one day.( most shows have at least 3 -4 days to set up and settle fish in not 3 - 4 hours) All the stands were moved into position and all electricals checked and tested by 10.30am.  Then all the tanks sent up and fish put in and most competitors out by 11.00 pm. The Bettas took the longest and we finished them around 1.00am.

Mind you for some it was a very long day by the time one got home cleaned and finally got to bed - 5.00 am to 3.00 am the following day and then back into the centre by 7.30am to finish putting up sponsor signs before the expo opened.

This happened as a result of the Commonwealth Games - the car show had to be moved forward so that it did not clash with the Games and they required the extra day to remove their displays - as a result we got one less day than normal to set up. We have been told that it will be back to normal next year.

The Aquarium show this year had 53 entries (from 9 different competitors) spread over 16 classes competeing for just over $1350.00 in prize money, as well as an International Betta Show consisting of 120 Bettas of which about half were international entries.

The Champion Betta was an absolutely stunning copper double tail bred by Patrick and Najima from Gladstone and Paul & Leeanne's Bocoulti (? spelling) took out Champion fish of the Aquarium Show while Eric'a planted tank took out Best Display of Show.

A VERY BIG thank you to every one who entered and to all those who helped out with the setup, manning the stand and the pull down.

One of the greatest joys of showing is to see the faces of yound and old as they admire the fish and the displays.

Next show is the Caboolture Show to be held over the Queens Birthday long weekend - tanks in the Sunday before judging Wednesday night show open Friday, Saturday and Sunday - pulldown Sunday afternoon / night.

Entries availible soon contact Queensland Aquarium Hobbyists

see you all there.

Graeme

[dammwoman]

Whatever the circumstances you all did a great job to get it done in so little time.  CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Also congratulations to Patrick and Najina....wonderful...I wish I'd been there to see it!

Paul and Leanne congratulations too...hes a lovely boy and a well deserved win with probably plenty more to come.

Cheers Linda