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Anyone coming to Daytona this year?
- Thread starter ArpeggioAngel
- Start date
ZoologyGirl
Under Tank Heather
I'm tentatively hoping to be there. It will depend on my money situation.
Nanci
Alien Lover
The annual Daytona vacation is the highlight of my year. The first year- the year I got Isabel. I hung out with Katie and Joe and Dave123. Got to meet so many people. The second year- hung out with the same people, got Noah the BOA!!! The third year- Taylor!!! That was the year we had the dinner at the hotel. And the raffle!! So exciting. Oh, and Dean and Lori!!! And Hallie!! And Sharon!! And CAROL!!!!!!!!!!!! And Rich's retirement blow-out. Then last year, I was a vendor. So many new people, so little time! I was obsessed with making sure my babies, and Carol's babies, were okay. I barely saw the show at all. I wonder what this year will bring!
kathylove
Pragmatic & Logical
The '09 Daytona show wasn't GREAT for us. But at least we paid all of our expenses, plus had some left over - unlike the 2010 show.
I want to go mainly to see people I only see once per year, and all together at the same time. And our corn snake dinner, of course. I am afraid the "good ol' days" of relatively easy profits from shows are pretty much over, at least for the kind of stuff we sell.
I also think there are likely to be tables left over by the time of the show - so I am not in a hurry to make a decision. If we wait too long and miss out, no big loss. Between the bad economy, the proliferation of shows on every street corner (or so it seems!), and our FWC officers looking harder and harder to make compliance more difficult, I think an increasing number of out of state vendors are choosing to avoid it. This is usually the only show we do that we pay for tables instead of trading talks for tables. At $300 per table, it is getting more difficult to justify the expense. OTOH, at least it is a business expense, and not just a nondeductible vacation. So that is a small consolation.
I want to go mainly to see people I only see once per year, and all together at the same time. And our corn snake dinner, of course. I am afraid the "good ol' days" of relatively easy profits from shows are pretty much over, at least for the kind of stuff we sell.
I also think there are likely to be tables left over by the time of the show - so I am not in a hurry to make a decision. If we wait too long and miss out, no big loss. Between the bad economy, the proliferation of shows on every street corner (or so it seems!), and our FWC officers looking harder and harder to make compliance more difficult, I think an increasing number of out of state vendors are choosing to avoid it. This is usually the only show we do that we pay for tables instead of trading talks for tables. At $300 per table, it is getting more difficult to justify the expense. OTOH, at least it is a business expense, and not just a nondeductible vacation. So that is a small consolation.
Kathy, I heard that there were some new paperwork requirements from FWC for the show(s). Something to do with proof of ancestry of the animals sold or some such thing. I don't get that info any longer since I dropped my permit, so I'm out of the loop on that kind of stuff. FWC officers did seem to be swaggering down the aisles like they were looking for trouble last year. Quite a difference from the impression they have given in past years.
Susan
Go Ahead, Make My Day!
Listening to everyone, and thinking about the expense and time involved in doing a show, wholesaling most of my hatchlings is sounding more and more appealing. But who knows, if all the tables aren't sold, the price for one might go down just to sell it. And sharing is always an option, especially since I'm basically alone at Daytona, I would need to find help anyway.
kathylove
Pragmatic & Logical
Yes, back in the "old days" (not all that long ago), FWC seemed to be very reasonable, and willing to help permit holders to make sure they were in compliance with what used to be very simple rules. But the past few years, they keep changing the requirements. Now they want to know what kind of disaster preparations I have for my corns! Since it is not illegal to release natives, maybe I should tell them that I will remove my few tree boas and ball pythons, and just let the corns fend for themselves???? (That was a joke, not my intentions). I am just so tired of the constant attacks on our hobby / industry by EVERYONE from local to state to federal - it just takes the fun out of it. Seems like they are TRYING to shut down the business. Maybe the state exotic inspectors don't realize that they will be out of a job if they run everyone out of state or out of business?
If we get a table at Daytona this year, I doubt I will bring animals (although it is still possible, I guess). Between the cheap prices, FWC headaches, and the fact that I have downsized a lot, it isn't really worth the increased stress to deal with live animals at the shows anymore. We really want to increase Bill's photo related business instead.
If we get a table at Daytona this year, I doubt I will bring animals (although it is still possible, I guess). Between the cheap prices, FWC headaches, and the fact that I have downsized a lot, it isn't really worth the increased stress to deal with live animals at the shows anymore. We really want to increase Bill's photo related business instead.
Yeah, FFWCC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - often shortened to just FWC) has been in attack mode against commercial fishermen for quite a while now. Back in 1999 when the Marine Fisheries Commission merged with the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission to form the FFWCC, the MFC already had a bad reputation for the way they were treating fishermen. Unfortunately it appears that their mindset was the one that has taken control of all agents for FWC. It's to the point where they have almost driven most commercial fishermen completely out of business. Many won't even go out fishing any longer because of being hassled by FWC and the paperwork and regulations they have to follow to the letter or be arrested and fined. Commercial fishing boats cannot even put in at dock unless they contact FWC three hours in advance to meet them there to have their catch inspected. There are separate permits required for each step of the process from catching the fish to putting them for sale to the public. There are quotas, size limits, seasons, etc., etc., etc., to have to deal with. Plus openly hostile FWC agents who have been known to just make up charges just to pull a fisherman's license or confiscate their boat and equipment. THIS is where I see FWC heading with the reptile industry as well. Pure unbridled abuse of power to harass reptile breeders out of business. Heck I heard a rumor a while back that although the rules for caging size for snakes indicated that a snake must be no longer than the circumference of the floor of the cage, FWC agents just took it upon themselves to change the term "circumference" to mean the distance from one corner to the opposite corner (hypotenuse?).
You do have to wonder why in the world government agencies seem to be hell bent to put all forms of private industry out of business..... Who the heck is going to be left to generate REAL income for them to tax? Everyone CAN'T be government employees!
You do have to wonder why in the world government agencies seem to be hell bent to put all forms of private industry out of business..... Who the heck is going to be left to generate REAL income for them to tax? Everyone CAN'T be government employees!
Memphios
Unknown Entity
I made the list! I have no idea if I will be able to make it this year. Because of how insane the gas prices have jumped recently, one can only hope they go down before the show. Plus the Daytona show/weekend is the weekend RIGHT before classes start. I have to rush back to move in etc. It's just definitely up in the air for now
Nitelion94
I am The Nitelion
Not this year. But I plan on going when im 18. I hope everyone does good this year!!