my first time vending at a show! (Columbus, OH)

on the good side I had a blast meeting and talking with everyone. on the better side I completely sold out of geckos by noon. I only left with 12 of the 50 animals that I took so It really was a good day for sales and my first time ever vending at any show. Now for the bad part of the day. I use a couple of dums for educational shows and this was my newest one and wanted to socialize her a little bit. Shes normally a sweet as most dums are but I hadn't ever had her in public and figured a show would be a good place to gauge her attitude with crowds. At least there most people would have some experience with reptiles vs just taking her into a building full of kids that have no clue. It was the end of the day and someone was looking at my dumerils girl. She had been handled more than anyother day and seemed to be handling it just fine. no big surprise. dums are great, right! and then it happened. a kid walked up reached straight at her face. She hammered him. :O I felt so horrible! I couldn't apologize enough! shes never had any problems like that before. All I can do is chalk it up as her being stressed. Now she didn't hold on or anything it truly looked like a defensive strike to me. The parents were great about it, completely understanding but I cant help but feeling horrible for it. The kid was 9 or 10 and handled it like a trooper his eyes watered up a little bit but he never made a peep. pretty impressive for a kid getting hammered by a 4.5 foot dumerils. Anyone ever have a customer get bit? how was that handled. I was soooo scared the parents were gonna flip out on me but they seemed completely fine with it. I'm a little nervous. Praying they don't lawyer up or anything. he only had like a half dozen pin pricks in his hand but the world seems sue happy these days. :(

Darn lawyers ruin everything these days. I wouldn't worry about it honestly, it should be not expected, but understood that this could occur. I would focus on the good, maybe just in case next time put up a sign saying caution or something. In the end, you didn't do anything wrong. Grats on the great show day

I dont think its that big of a deal, people going to a reptile show should expect a certain potential to be bitten. Personally I have been bitten by a few snakes at shows.. for some reason they always end up in my rack afterwords.. maybe I am just a glutton for punishment.

I'm glad you had such a good show, and the kid had sensible parents! Your dum probably was just stressed and tired from all the activity around her.

i know my dum is very calm and not head shy at all! i can do amost anything to her and she doesnt even flintch. I went to a show yesterday in taylor, and a guy had 2 or 3 four foot dums. i asked to see one since mine is only 30 inches. they were alot different than mine. all snakes are different. like they said before. he was probably all stressed out and a reptile show does not smell like a normal show that you would do does either.

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Originally Posted by nick654377

a reptile show does not smell like a normal show that you would do does either.

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Good point! I didn't even think about that!