Minnesota Herp Show

Has anyone given any further thought to a show of some type here in Minnesota? If there is any interest it might be good for some of us to get together and brainstorm. I'm willing to be involved. I know there is a lot on the public's mind right now with the elections and the economy but it might be worth planning for next fall.

YES, I would be willing to try and get one started. Are we thinking a show where we sell animals we produce and product? Or what Are we thinking. I can talk to the vice president of the herp soc. and see what he can do also. Let me know.

I did talk to the vice president of the herp soc. (David Dewitt) Twisted serpents father, and he said that he could look in to it for us. I think it would work out great if we could find vendors to come to it.

Thanks Kyle. I really think it would be worth a try. It doesn't have to be big the first year - it just needs a start. I know it would be a lot of work but I'm willing to do what I can to make it happen.

Yeah, well the way a see it if we did it like Iowa and wisconsin and Indianna, they have a small 20 table show every month or every other month.

That would work too. I think it would be really good if several of us who were serious about this could get together and throw some ideas out and see what might work for us.

I'd be in on it, we have enough of a breeder/hobbiest group here to make a decent small one at first at least; and I know people from the Dakotas would be more then willing to make the trip as well. Has this been pushed really with the herp society? Through them is going to be the easiest way of getting this thing going definatly.

I did mention it to David Dewitt on friday of last week, but I guess i just mentioned it and told him that i thought it would be a good idea, I am not sure if he took it as "ok, ill look into it" or whatever. Do you think you could help too Amanda? I am a member of the herp soc. but am not very active.

Dad has mentioned it now and then, but I dont think its been more more then just a mention here and there. Everyone so far thinks its a great idea, we just need to make that push to really get it into motion. I can bring it up to him before he goes to the board meeting to try to push things into motion.

That would be awesome!

TwistedSerpent wrote:

Dad has mentioned it now and then, but I dont think its been more more then just a mention here and there. Everyone so far thinks its a great idea, we just need to make that push to really get it into motion. I can bring it up to him before he goes to the board meeting to try to push things into motion.

Thank you!! That would be great!

I have done the Iowa show in the past... To be honest.. It was a blast! Great people! But again it would be nice to have a more local show... I know I would be up for it as a vendor.... But the show in Iowa is only once a year in Sept. Although last year they had the mid west herp thing going also... I have thought about trying to go solo and getting a small show going down here in minnesota.. but never made it past the thought process..

Don and I were also in that show and it really was great fun. But a show more local would be best.

Well the topic was brought up, th eMHS board says its possible but its a lot of work. A few of the big things are whether the society wants to sponser it or do we want to start up a loose reptile breeders of MN to sponser it. Either way there's going to need to be a commity started just on this project.

I am game to do what ever we need to do to get it started.

I think this is a great idea! I know of 2 vendors that would probably be in.

Well I'm only 14 so I'm not to sure what I could do to help, but if there is anything that I could do, I will willingly do it!

Reptile_Dude wrote:

Well I'm only 14 so I'm not to sure what I could do to help, but if there is anything that I could do, I will willingly do it!

Be a vendor.

Has there been any more take of a show???? I would help. I have sent e-mails to some of the groups that run them in other states to ask them to get one here with no luck... So if I need sign up with the minnesota herpetological society to help so be it.. I would just like to have a show here.. Man, if Iowa has one why the hell don't we!!!!!!!!

Yeah! If Iowa can have them we should be able too. We did talk it over with the MN herp soc. But it seems hard for them to get into for some reason. Who will sponcor it?... who will come?... what do we charge?... Where do we have it?... All of those question come up. I think that even if we started with a small one and see how that turns out that would at least be a start!

Well I just sent a e-mail to the people that run the grounds at the state fare. they rent out all the places there when the fair is not going on. I just asked for info about power, tables, chairs, Hours, size of the spaces, and the cost. With that info down that would be a start. An ad in Reptiles magazine is only $162.00 for 30 words ran for 3 months.

Tie in the minnesota herpetological society into it and have there speaker there and not have a meeting that month. Try to get a few extra speakers.

This really looks like something that could happen by june july of next year. And having it at the fair grounds it would be next to the minnesota herpetological society. Looking into fees for people going to it Well $5-7 and kids free look like the going fees for small shows.

Thats half of there probems anwered and I will post the info for the fair when I get it. I really want a expo here in Mn.

The next time I see Dave DeWitt(the vice pres. of the hepr soc) i ll talk to hime more about it. Thanks Charles!

Got info on the fair Chairs $0.75 each per day, tables $6.00 each per day, Grandstand: First floor–60,000 sq. ft. ............................... $2,700 per day
Merchandise Mart: 11,200 sq. ft. .......................... $750 per day
Home Improvement: 11,200 sq. ft. ....................... $550
Modern Living: 9,840 sq. ft. ................................ $550

Facility rates are based on a one day rental. All additional services provided to an event, and costs incurred by the fair as a result of an event, are charged to the event. Listed below are
the current rates for various expenses.
Setup & Tear down ........................... $19.50/labor hour

With doing the Merchandise Mart they told me with all the power and about 30 tables it would run around $3,500 toltal.. that would be for Saturday and Sunday.... The building is just inside the main enterance to the fair grounds on the left, of Snelling Ave.

Cool! i ll let him know that it is totally possible to do.
Thanks again

I think something around the 10,000 square foot mark for room size is more than enough. I know we could get enough vendors there to more than cover the cost of renting the space for a weekend. Its definitely do-able and if the town of des moines can have I think its 2(maybe more) a year, why can't we have at least one? Getting people to come would be the easiest part of it. I can email some breeders I know of here in MN to see if they would be interested in participating in a local show.