Opinions on tarantula/inverts show

[Hardus nameous]

90% of the shows I have been too have a vendors list, most of these are not repticon either.

I was under the impression all these shows were repticons, are there shows specifically for inverts or is repticon a brand name of one show?
I guess I'm even more behind the times than I thought.

 

[jrh3]

I was under the impression all these shows were repticons, are there shows specifically for inverts or is repticon a brand name of one show?
I guess I'm even more behind the times than I thought.

Repticon is just the name of the show. In my area its mostly reptile shows with inverts. We used to have the Dixie Reptile show, Southern Exotics expo, and a few others that are still going on. Most of them are snakes but there is always 1 or 2 booths of inverts.

 

[cold blood]

90% of the shows I have been too have a vendors list, most of these are not repticon either.

interesting, the one I did (which is called "sewerfest") has a list on their website with the names of each vendor...I assumed that was the norm, you know what they say about assumptions...lol

 

[Hardus nameous]

I assumed they were like gun shows, so I'm just as guilty.
Apparently there was supposed to be a show in Wichita right after I got home but it got cancelled. One day I'll get to one......

 

[Richard McJimsey]

I've been a vendor at quite a few exotic animal shows, so here's my perspective.

There are two types of dealers: breeders/ hobbyists, and reptile importers.

Both types of tables primary interaction from the public while vending is comments from the public such as "ew", "is that a brown recluse?" or "your uncle has one of those". Spider tables don't get the level of attention that even ball python tables have. Reptile importers with spiders on their table will often garner more attention, having a plethora of wild caught Theraphosa, Haplopelma, and Heterometrus; things more interesting to the general public than some cutting edge niche Avicularia fresh from Poland.

Most of our sales were common things with high profit margins like young Brachypelma, Grammostola, or Poecilotheria. Not many people come to reptile shows expecting to spend $400 on some obscure spiderling.

After table costs, travel costs, and hotel costs, it just isn't as hot as you'd think; spiders are niche even compared to reptiles.

90% of attendees at reptile shows are just the general public looking for something to do with their kids for the weekend.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

I've been a vendor at quite a few exotic animal shows, so here's my perspective.

There are two types of dealers: breeders/ hobbyists, and reptile importers.

Both types of tables primary interaction from the public while vending is comments from the public such as "ew", "is that a brown recluse?" or "your uncle has one of those". Spider tables don't get the level of attention that even ball python tables have. Reptile importers with spiders on their table will often garner more attention, having a plethora of wild caught Theraphosa, Haplopelma, and Heterometrus; things more interesting to the general public than some cutting edge niche Avicularia fresh from Poland.

Most of our sales were common things with high profit margins like young Brachypelma, Grammostola, or Poecilotheria. Not many people come to reptile shows expecting to spend $400 on some obscure spiderling.

After table costs, travel costs, and hotel costs, it just isn't as hot as you'd think; spiders are niche even compared to reptiles.

90% of attendees at reptile shows are just the general public looking for something to do with their kids for the weekend.

I'd agree with this for the most part. And there are often SO...MANY...CHILDREN. Especially in my area of the country. Running around, screaming, etc. in a crowded area. Sensory overload for me. My fiance who has sensory issues got seriously uncomfortable very quickly.

 

[Richard McJimsey]

I'd agree with this for the most part. And there are often SO...MANY...CHILDREN. Especially in my area of the country. Running around, screaming, etc. in a crowded area. Sensory overload for me. My fiance who has sensory issues got seriously uncomfortable very quickly.

Most parents say nothing as their children wreak havok around potentially dangerous animals and various other fragile items, it's great.

 

[Matt Man]

In the US (at least oil the West) there are 3 shows 1) Reptile Supershow 2) Reptilian Nation 3) Repticon
I work all 3 of them. The first 2 are typically the biggest and the best, Repticon is from the East Coast and trying to establish footing out here, but they advertise less and seem the least organized.
The booth I work at is 95% inverts so we're not distracted with reptile issues. Typically Adults, Sub adults are kept in assorted, appropriate sized tubs. Slings are in vials and we house them in a big case with pictures, and they are alphabetized by Genus. Here's some pix from some shows. First Pic is all the slings

I was under the impression all these shows were repticons, are there shows specifically for inverts or is repticon a brand name of one show?
I guess I'm even more behind the times than I thought.

Repticon is a brand. See the above

"Most parents say nothing as their children wreak havok around potentially dangerous animals and various other fragile items, it's great."

there is a lot of truth in this, that is one reason why everything is under netting

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Oh my, the children.....and an old cult classic horror movie named 'The Children'.

Gotta love those parents not watching after their kids.

I've seen some of that last time I went to the exotics show, unbelievable.

I feel sorry for the vendors having to deal with that and any liability that would follow.

It's not the kid's fault they have labotomized people for parents.

 

[Rigor Mortis]

I like going to shows, but damn the last one I went to was a tad pitiful. Companies that have NOTHING to do with exotic animals had booths there, trying to upsell their cell service and roofing jobs. Like, do you guys really think people who are here to genuinely buy exotic animals give a crap about what you're selling? I sure didn't.

 

[Matt Man]

Oh my, the children.....and an old cult classic horror movie named 'The Children'.

Gotta love those parents not watching after their kids.

I've seen some of that last time I went to the exotics show, unbelievable.

I feel sorry for the vendors having to deal with that and any liability that would follow.

It's not the kid's fault they have labotomized people for parents.

OLD CULT CLASSIC? from 1980? The really bad one? or 2008 (wouldn't really qualify as old)
I was thinking 1960s Village of the Damned.

 

[Richard McJimsey]

Oh my, the children.....and an old cult classic horror movie named 'The Children'.

Gotta love those parents not watching after their kids.

I've seen some of that last time I went to the exotics show, unbelievable.

I feel sorry for the vendors having to deal with that and any liability that would follow.

It's not the kid's fault they have labotomized people for parents.

There's a reason a lot of vendors take "breaks" at the car

 

[jc55]

I like going to shows, but damn the last one I went to was a tad pitiful. Companies that have NOTHING to do with exotic animals had booths there, trying to upsell their cell service and roofing jobs. Like, do you guys really think people who are here to genuinely buy exotic animals give a crap about what you're selling? I sure didn't.

The last Repticon show i went to in Florida was like that and mostly reptiles with very few tarantalas for sale.

 

[Matt Man]

The last Repticon show i went to in Florida was like that and mostly reptiles with very few tarantalas for sale.

Out west the invert dealer number is steadily increasing. It used to be 4 per 5 a show, last show there was around 8 or 9.
Also: the shows out west are so much better lots of East Coast Dealers drive cross country to sell here. @ Reptile Nation Pomona there were snake sellers from Atlanta. @ Anaheim, the line to get in Saturday AM looks like a rock concert of a popular band

 

[Arachnophobphile]

OLD CULT CLASSIC? from 1980? The really bad one? or 2008 (wouldn't really qualify as old)
I was thinking 1960s Village of the Damned.

Hey now......it's a cult classic even if it's B rated

I get it, I'm old

 

[joossa]

In the US (at least oil the West) there are 3 shows 1) Reptile Supershow 2) Reptilian Nation 3) Repticon
I work all 3 of them. The first 2 are typically the biggest and the best, Repticon is from the East Coast and trying to establish footing out here, but they advertise less and seem the least organized.
The booth I work at is 95% inverts so we're not distracted with reptile issues. Typically Adults, Sub adults are kept in assorted, appropriate sized tubs. Slings are in vials and we house them in a big case with pictures, and they are alphabetized by Genus. Here's some pix from some shows. First Pic is all the slings

Matt is like the ideal person to have at a booth. So personable and knowledgeable. Always engaging with everyone. Great booth, always.


And Matt, I see you've had Brachy juvies at your booth before!? Ooof! I better watch myself at future shows... that's my big weakness. Hope to make it to Anaheim and Pomona in the summer.

 

[Matt Man]

Hey now......it's a cult classic even if it's B rated

I get it, I'm old

You ain't old if I am pulling films from 1960

Matt is like the ideal person to have at a booth. So personable and knowledgeable. Always engaging with everyone. Great booth, always.
And Matt, I see you've had Brachy juvies at your booth before!? Ooof! I better watch myself at future shows... that's my big weakness. Hope to make it to Anaheim and Pomona in the summer.

Thx @joossa. We try to steer people into the right T, instead of just clamoring for a sale. Those Brachys weren't Juvies. They were adults, 2 females and a male. It was a "start your own breeding program" in the making

 

[goonius]

It's interesting to read about the experiences at Repticon. Ours was so tame in comparison. Not crowded, well-behaved kids (and not many of them), and the one seller of tarantulas was a dedicated local invert breeder. I was generally impressed with her tarantula enclosures, which were minimal but allowed hiding places for the spiders. She brought them hungry and fed them to get them to come out so we could see them. We ended up buying 4 and getting a freebie plus some springtails. All were super healthy and are thriving.

Also great prices on substrate and enclosures there compared to big box & online stores. I wish I'd stocked up on more.

Hearing about other experiences, I guess we won't be travelling to the bigger ones further away -- although I was tempted because there might be more variety elsewhere.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

You ain't old if I am pulling films from 1960

Well thanks, you do got 7 years on me though tadaaa

 

[starlight_kitsune]

I have a love/hate relationship with shows. I'm equally distant to two towns that regularly have them so gas isn't a huge concern for me, and I've gone to shows in both. I think the highest door fee we paid for either of the two that come through here was in Colorado Springs and for the 3 of us, it was something like $20? Both have leaned pretty heavily towards an even split between tarantulas, crested geckos, and ball pythons the last few times we've gone. I got wishlist spiders for pretty reasonable prices each time for less than it would have cost me to get them online with shipping, but we don't have to drive far. I also always find supplies like enclosures and bulk bags of substrate for cheap. Plus I enjoy meeting different vendors and the last two shows have had artists and plants as well.

But I don't do terribly well with crowds. I have bad hearing and conflicting noise makes it even harder for me to understand when people are talking to me. They always let too many people in at once so it's always too crowded and noisy inside. No one else seems to watch their kids or keep an eye on them. I made the mistake of bringing my toddler once, and while he was strapped into his stroller the entire time it added an entire layer of stress that I didn't enjoy, so I'm not sure how the other parents aren't having conniptions over their kids getting into everything and running around insane. Some of the booths just use inverts as eye candy to draw people in to see their reptiles and don't know a thing about them. It's also 50/50 if the tables will have different tarantulas or if it's going to be five tables of the same four species.

The booth I work at is 95% inverts so we're not distracted with reptile issues. Typically Adults, Sub adults are kept in assorted, appropriate sized tubs. Slings are in vials and we house them in a big case with pictures, and they are alphabetized by Genus. Here's some pix from some shows. First Pic is all the slings

Oh hey, I recognize that setup lol. I got my blue death feigning beetles from you last summer. You were definitely the most organized and easy to browse through invert table there. Some of the others were a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack.