1 big fest a year or 2 small ones?

I think there should be at least 1 show in Des Moines no matter what. How can you get more centralized than Des Moines? Its smack dab in the middle of the state.

I like 2 fests a year. Alot of time people cant make both but they can usually make 1 a year. If their was only one a year and someone missed it, it would be 2 years between fests for them.

The raffle is nice and its somewhat of a draw for me as well as others I suspect. However, I think it should be done ealier. A lot of people leave early or WANT to leave early, so they give away their tickets or stay longer than they want. Believe me, it sucks to wait around for 3 hours after your done shopping for a chance to win something. Move it to the middle. Lets say 2:30pm. Thats my vote for change!

 

I have to say, i thought the one in IC was way bigger, or better turnout for vendors, maybe it was just that the des moinies had a bigger building. Loved the grab bags. Would love to see a true frag swap some day, have to wonder how many vendor/collectors we would get if there was no charge for a table. The event was great, I for one do not say for the raffle, so it is not an interest to me at all. That came after my fall fest experience when one of the vendors told me about a guy that spends a ton on tickets whens everything, however it makes money for the club so i understand. Wonder how much the guy from the BOYAH clowns made, he was selling those things like hot cakes.

 

I would attend two a year as long as they were in dsm or east of there. I like to see nice stuff and buy often!

I don't care for the raffle. i gave my tix away cause i wanted to go home. It takes too long, my corals are cooking and at fall fest some guy stacked the raffle. Good for the club i guess, but a preety ostentatious display and a bit of a letdown for the rest of us... Id rather focus on the frags, socializing and seeing a couple talks.

 

Des Moines may be the center of the state, but it is not even close to the center of our membership base.  This is why we origionally started having 2 a year.

 

It would be interesting to know how many nebraskans we had there.

 

I think I got quite a few people from Omaha to come to the show! I really like it being in Des Moines for selfish reasons!

 

No love for South Dakota? /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/sad.gif
I voted for 2. If there was an option for more I would have chosen that, lol. I always have a great time when I come to these.. On that note, thank you everyone that works so hard to put these together. Your hard work and dedication are amazing and greatly appreciated!

 

Sorry Evan, didn't realize you lived in SD. You remebered your screen name.

 

 The guy that stacked the raffle is Carl Nelson, he is also the membership coordinator for MASNA.  If you noticed he bought a bunch of tickets but the items he put them on were things like reef putty and other odds and ends. He bought all those tickets to help the club and then used the majority of them on the least expensive things.

 

How about each area having a smaller "swap" throughout the year and then one big "FEST" with speakers, raffles, and vendors (preferably around tax time for obvious reasons). The smaller ones could just be for hobbyist to sell their extra stuff w/o all the bells and whistles everyone has come to expect from the regular events we usually have.

It would help solve the problem with getting raffle items 2 times a year and smaller, more frequent, less extravagant swaps would help spread the love so to speak.

What it comes down to is we are all pretty spoiled and have become accustomed to having these huge events that tend to cause a lot of stress for the people that put them on. Back in the day we had swaps in members garages, sold corals in ziplock bags. We also used to have silent auctions for coral, those were always fun.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is not every swap we have has to have raffles, speakers, vendors, and concessions. K.I.S.S.

 

I was one of the people giving away my tickets because I wasn't able to stay for the raffle.  I think you may be overestimating the effect of people staying though, there were a lot of us just sitting there debating over whether to stay for the raffle or leave with about 2 hours left until the raffle.  The problem is if you can't commit for the whole event and show up late for the raffle, you've massively cut down on your coral selection.  I don't personally have a problem with the raffle being at the end, because the coral not the raffle is the big draw for me, but when the perk for being a member is free raffle tickets, it kind of defeats the purpose.

 

It seems like there is one in Des Moines every year , which is nice for the members in Des Moines, the rest of the group in order to attend , spend a lot of time driving, Guess I have only been a member for a couple years but in that timeframe, I have not seen one in the Iowa City area..... If 1 is always in Desmoines, those chances are significantly reduced......

It would be great start a rotation for all....

 

+1 for Wloo/CF area.

I would even volunteer to find a place and get it organized. I would need some help but I would do it. I think the pavilion at NCC might be cheap and good spot. I also know I can get the butler county fairgrounds for 150. I work with guy on the fairboard. He has been trying to tell for years, we should have our fest there.

 

I think 2 small one this would give more people a chance to make it and let new comers be able to experiance it also.