Re: Points of discussion

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Posted by Lisa on February 24, 2002 at 07:59:57:

In Reply to: Points of discussion posted by Todd Evans on February 21, 2002 at 13:53:48:

Todd,

Please have George contact me - in the interest of not repeating efforts - I already have project that I did in college, when I was going into schools and giving talks on paleontology and the evolution of land vertebrates and dinosaurs. This included a timeline of the appearance of the first land salamanders (giants, but still genus Ambystoma!)up through the first snakes. This was done on the same type of 3-panelled poster as my Society poster. I didn't think of it before, because I figured we'd stick with the modern ones. But its ready to go and be used at the next show...

I have started working on a basic herpetology lesson poster. AND a "first time at a herp show/ beginner herp keeper" poster. We could have these things spread out around the show at various empty spots.

The venomous snake evolution timeline is an *excellent* idea!! Especially if some information about the venoms of the different types, and how they operate is given (this would actually sort of incorporate Zac's idea about a listing of venom toxicities...)

So anyways, let me know what you guys have done for your displays, when I get more time, I'll email you some details about mine so we don't duplicate our efforts...

Anyways, I'm going to Monroeville today...

Cya,

Lisa

: Ok, having read the early replys to this thread, I felt the need to respond. We end up in a catch 22 here. The show Zac was mentioning was a great show as far as education is concerned, BUT, vendors go to these shows for one reason....to sell stuff. People will go for 2 reasons, to buy stuff and to learn. If we concentrate more on the education (I mean FULLY concentrate) then we end up drawing the crowd of people that the vendors HATE....the lookers. I have heard this term from the majority of vendors since the first show "You guys get too many lookers here, nobody is buying." Ok, so, do we cater to the lookers or the buyers. The lookers bring in more money at the door for us, but without people buying things, the vendors are VERY quick to drop out, hence Don Hamper......We do have our dedicated vendors like Brad, Rick, Kirk, and others, but we can't rely on only having about 10 vendors at the shows. This hurts us in the way of attracting buyers. I do agree that we need more education. George has these fantastic plans for our table next show. The displays we bring are going to be accompanied by educational descriptions of EACH snake. Then he is going to be drawing up a timeline beginning with the first known records of lizards and folowing it all the way up to the dawn of man. In this timeline he will portray the evolution of the species through old world vipers, pit vipers and elapids. We will have a display depicting the differences between the fang structure of vipers vs. elapids vs. rear fanged species. We will discuss the importance of the reptiles tongue and the many uses of it (luring, smell, proposed taste) also we will discuss the specialized defense machanisms, the cobra's hood, the rattlesnakes rattle, and mimmickry in the nonvenomous world......but, YES, we will encourage people to make the cobra hood, and the rattlesnake rattle......it's done ALL the time at fairs and school shows......Imagine your dissapointment after reading about how a rattlesnake works it's rattle, just to see a live one that doesn't do it.

: We have plans, but there are so many other aspects of the show that can be hurt with too much concentration on education. That is why we have society meeting (or at least that's what it's SUPPOSED to be for) Get the people in then fascinate them with the wonderful world of reptiles. I'm not saying NO education for the shows at all....I'm just trying to point out situations that may occur....say George wanted to give a cobra display....which he IS planning on doing. Either myself or Mike NEEDS to be there as a backup, and we need another person to be the ready person (getting boxes ready, taking NONDANGEROUS (false water cobra) around so people can have hands on opportunity) That's 3 people helping with a presentation.....2 at the door, 2 watching the club displays, and at least one back at our table....you're left with a mere 2 people to deal with the rest of the show for the 1/2 hour it takes to perform the presentation. More situations such as the ones already brought to light are GOING to happen.....

: I don't know, I do feel that education NEEDS to be A top priority, but we have to put this into perspective.....this is a "swap" people want to go there to buy and sell reptiles.....Right now, my biggest concern is to attract more vendors to the show. More vendors, more people, broader education. It's that simple.........

: Todd Evans
: Beyond Utopia Serpentarium
: TSHS

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: Todd, : Please have George contact me - in the interest of not repeating efforts - I already have project that I did in college, when I was going into schools and giving talks on paleontology and the evolution of land vertebrates and dinosaurs. This included a timeline of the appearance of the first land salamanders (giants, but still genus Ambystoma!)up through the first snakes. This was done on the same type of 3-panelled poster as my Society poster. I didn't think of it before, because I figured we'd stick with the modern ones. But its ready to go and be used at the next show... : I have started working on a basic herpetology lesson poster. AND a "first time at a herp show/ beginner herp keeper" poster. We could have these things spread out around the show at various empty spots. : The venomous snake evolution timeline is an *excellent* idea!! Especially if some information about the venoms of the different types, and how they operate is given (this would actually sort of incorporate Zac's idea about a listing of venom toxicities...) : So anyways, let me know what you guys have done for your displays, when I get more time, I'll email you some details about mine so we don't duplicate our efforts... : Anyways, I'm going to Monroeville today... : Cya, : Lisa : : Ok, having read the early replys to this thread, I felt the need to respond. We end up in a catch 22 here. The show Zac was mentioning was a great show as far as education is concerned, BUT, vendors go to these shows for one reason....to sell stuff. People will go for 2 reasons, to buy stuff and to learn. If we concentrate more on the education (I mean FULLY concentrate) then we end up drawing the crowd of people that the vendors HATE....the lookers. I have heard this term from the majority of vendors since the first show "You guys get too many lookers here, nobody is buying." Ok, so, do we cater to the lookers or the buyers. The lookers bring in more money at the door for us, but without people buying things, the vendors are VERY quick to drop out, hence Don Hamper......We do have our dedicated vendors like Brad, Rick, Kirk, and others, but we can't rely on only having about 10 vendors at the shows. This hurts us in the way of attracting buyers. I do agree that we need more education. George has these fantastic plans for our table next show. The displays we bring are going to be accompanied by educational descriptions of EACH snake. Then he is going to be drawing up a timeline beginning with the first known records of lizards and folowing it all the way up to the dawn of man. In this timeline he will portray the evolution of the species through old world vipers, pit vipers and elapids. We will have a display depicting the differences between the fang structure of vipers vs. elapids vs. rear fanged species. We will discuss the importance of the reptiles tongue and the many uses of it (luring, smell, proposed taste) also we will discuss the specialized defense machanisms, the cobra's hood, the rattlesnakes rattle, and mimmickry in the nonvenomous world......but, YES, we will encourage people to make the cobra hood, and the rattlesnake rattle......it's done ALL the time at fairs and school shows......Imagine your dissapointment after reading about how a rattlesnake works it's rattle, just to see a live one that doesn't do it. : : We have plans, but there are so many other aspects of the show that can be hurt with too much concentration on education. That is why we have society meeting (or at least that's what it's SUPPOSED to be for) Get the people in then fascinate them with the wonderful world of reptiles. I'm not saying NO education for the shows at all....I'm just trying to point out situations that may occur....say George wanted to give a cobra display....which he IS planning on doing. Either myself or Mike NEEDS to be there as a backup, and we need another person to be the ready person (getting boxes ready, taking NONDANGEROUS (false water cobra) around so people can have hands on opportunity) That's 3 people helping with a presentation.....2 at the door, 2 watching the club displays, and at least one back at our table....you're left with a mere 2 people to deal with the rest of the show for the 1/2 hour it takes to perform the presentation. More situations such as the ones already brought to light are GOING to happen..... : : I don't know, I do feel that education NEEDS to be A top priority, but we have to put this into perspective.....this is a "swap" people want to go there to buy and sell reptiles.....Right now, my biggest concern is to attract more vendors to the show. More vendors, more people, broader education. It's that simple......... : : Todd Evans : : Beyond Utopia Serpentarium : : TSHS

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