Anyone going to NARBC Tinley Park Expo?

I know it's a long time away, but, I'm just wondering if anyone is planning to go, from either close by, or long distance. It's going to be my first expo, and I have to say I'm a bit excited haha. I've heard some big name breeders are going to be there, but, I'm not 100% sure. So, anyone going there and want to meet up?

Edit: It's Oct. 13-14, 2012

I'm definately toying with the thought of driving up there to check it out

Oh and I just have a quick question about NARBC events, I'm not buying tickets online, but at the door. I know they sell them at the door, but do the tickets sell out fast like that?

@Jay: You should go!

bump :)

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Originally Posted by BigJayPiercer

I'm definately toying with the thought of driving up there to check it out

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Belleville!! eee!! I'm moving there (or perhaps Fairview Heights) in a month or so. Soo nice to see another herper in the area!

OP: Barring major life event or natural disaster-I'll be there. It'll be my 3rd Tinley. :)

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Originally Posted by theReptileGuy

Oh and I just have a quick question about NARBC events, I'm not buying tickets online, but at the door. I know they sell them at the door, but do the tickets sell out fast like that?

@Jay: You should go!

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As far as I know they don't sell out. I've bought them online the past couple years (there's a gigantic line to purchase them and a much shorter line for pickups).

Thanks for the reply Kat (if I may call you that)!

I hope to see you there! The more people from this forum the merrier! :D

I am going!!! Yeah!!

Not my first expo, but it will be my first BIG expo, lol, and my first Tinley. I am SO excited - already have our room booked at the host hotel!! :D

I'll be buying tickets online and I'm toying with the idea of splurging and getting the VIP tickets. Has anyone done this? Is it worth it??

Hope to see lots of BP.netters there!! I'll be wearing my black BP.net t-shirt at least one of the days!! (Can you tell I'm excited??) :P

The tickets won't sell out. I always buy my tickets at the door.

I'll be there! Thinking about picking up a GTP while I am there. :) :)

I would love to go if anyone wants to pay for a plane ticket for me from CT to IL :)

Come on, any takers???:D

lol Mike. I would if I had the money haha.

Anybody care meeting up? All the BP.net members? lol

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Originally Posted by theReptileGuy

Anybody care meeting up? All the BP.net members? lol

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I'd be down. I know we had a mini bp.net meetup a few years ago. Went out for dinner after the show. It was fun!

Are you in the chicago area? Ever go to the AAE in Wheaton?

Ill be there also, room is already booked. staying friday and saturday night. no getting up early to drive 4 and a half hours this year.

As for the tickets, no they don't sell out. However, the line is very long to buy them at the door.

Good to know they won't sell out :D
It's my first expo and I'm pretty excited. However I can't buy anything, can't have any pets till I have my own place. (Once I graduate college!) I'll just be checking out what they have and meet up with Brian from SnakeBytes!

I live about 25-30 min. away from Tinley, so I'll probably come an hour or two earlier haha.

I'm planning to go! It'll be my third Tinley (last October was my first, though I only got to stop by for a couple hours in March). October Tinley is a super fun first big reptile show, I hung out with the iHerpers and had an absolute blast... and still get cravings for bacon brownies. Damn those iHerp folks XD

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Originally Posted by theReptileGuy

Good to know they won't sell out :D
It's my first expo and I'm pretty excited. However I can't buy anything, can't have any pets till I have my own place. (Once I graduate college!) I'll just be checking out what they have and meet up with Brian from SnakeBytes!

I live about 25-30 min. away from Tinley, so I'll probably come an hour or two earlier haha.

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Where are you going to school? If you don't mind me asking. lol. I just graduated from IIT in Chicago. Got my first snake my sophmore year against my parents wishes. They still don't like that I have snakes, but whatever. It's my life!

Back brownies? o.0

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Where are you going to school? If you don't mind me asking. lol. I just graduated from IIT in Chicago. Got my first snake my sophmore year against my parents wishes. They still don't like that I have snakes, but whatever. It's my life!

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I forgot to add in high school too haha. I'm going to be a senior this year, so I still live and abide by my parents rules.

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Originally Posted by theReptileGuy

Back brownies? o.0



I forgot to add in high school too haha. I'm going to be a senior this year, so I still live and abide by my parents rules.

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Aaah gotcha. Yeah that is tough :/ My parents would never allow me to have a snake as a kid... So I rebelled and got 7 lol

When I got my first snake while I was at school, I told my parents. They were not happy and told me to return it.. Yeah that wasn't happening! After that I just neglected to tell them when I got new animals. What they don't know won't hurt them! lol

My parents would literally either die of fear or kill me, haha. Don't want to take the chance. However, I've handled friends snakes and am planning to buy some tubs right now and keep them until I get some animals haha.

Yeah, the gf/wife (I can't remember lol, oops) of the guy who runs iHerp made these really tasty brownies with crumbly bits of bacon in them, as well as a whole bunch of unusual cookies. The pepper cookies were my favorite. It was pretty fantastic.

Ooo, sounds good. Although I never had bacon before, haha.

Where do you get the BP.net T-Shirts?

I'll be there, this will be my third Tinley show. I hear the Fall shows at Tiney are bigger. then the spring to.

You can messege JLC for the shirts, I believe she has them.

The family and I went last October, took tons of pics on Sunday. Hoping to go this year, but funds might not allow. Quit my job for health reasons two months ago, now we are hurting big time.

Anyway, it is a blast and you can't possibly see everything in one day, it's just too huge.

Gale

I will be there! Driving over Friday night and staying through til Sunday! So excited :) We should totally have a BP.net meetup... but I don't know where, I've never been lol.

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Originally Posted by theReptileGuy

Ooo, sounds good. Although I never had bacon before, haha.

Where do you get the BP.net T-Shirts?

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Due to religious beliefs or by choice? If youre muslim or something i can totally dig it, but if youve just never tried bacon then we have got a problem lol....

I hope you could make it Gale (if I may call you that.)
We should all try making a meeting point or figure out what everyone is going to be wearing, but I think it's a little to early for that now haha. And if it's really that big I might just go for both days lol

I'm not Muslim lol, I'm Hindu, well was anyway lol, i was raised a veg. All my life and I just started eating meat haha.

Like I said before we should all try to coordinate a group thing when time comes, it would be fun!

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Originally Posted by theReptileGuy

I hope you could make it Gale (if I may call you that.)
We should all try making a meeting point or figure out what everyone is going to be wearing, but I think it's a little to early for that now haha. And if it's really that big I might just go for both days lol

I'm not Muslim lol, I'm Hindu, well was anyway lol, i was raised a veg. All my life and I just started eating meat haha.

Like I said before we should all try to coordinate a group thing when time comes, it would be fun!

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get in your car right now and go buy a triple baconator from Wendy's! go now! Idc how far you have to drive just do it!
Then blog/tweet/vlog about how epic it was.

Bacon brownies and iHerp!!! Rock on! :gj::gj::gj:


Didn't see anyone answer this yet - are the VIP tickets worth getting?? They're expensive, but they get you into the show on Friday during vendor setup and to the reception that night. Also gets you in an hour early on both Saturday and Sunday. But they're $50! Is it worth it???

I'll be at Tinley again and yes, the fall show is amazing compared to the spring show (about twice the size in fall) though I can't really complain as that's where I picked up my first ball. I'd be game for getting together with people afterwards also depending on schedules. As for VIP tickets, I haven't heard much though I would think it would give you an edge if there is something special you're looking for. However, both times I went, vendors were still getting animals out and set up after the regular opening so not sure the early entrance will really be worth the cost.

This will be my 3rd Tinley. I don't know about the VIP tickets as far as getting in early, but if by "reception" you mean the auction/dinner on Saturday evening, that's open to everyone.

I'm down for getting together! In March I ended up sitting with 3 other couples at the auction, one of which being Aaron and Hana of iHerp fame! They are awesome! Aaron brought some of his home-brews and a good time was had by all.

ReptileGuy - if you've just started eating meat, bacon is where you need to start my friend!

If we do meet up, I'd probably be the youngest, it might be awk XD
We should all figure out what we're going to dress in the future! :0

Bacon sounds a bit too 'extreme' for me...dripping pig fat haha.

Oh and the reception is something different, I don't know what it is since it's my first expo, but that's what I just read on the site.

Who cares about age! I've hung out with 6 year olds at shows before. :gj:

As for planning what to wear, or just announcing what we are wearing.. I find that a little pointless since everyone at the show will most likely be staring at reptiles the whole time, not other people!

The best way I have found is to have a specific time and place to meet up. I think once we did noon in the lobby area and that worked out well. I'll make a little sign or something XD

"LFG BP.NET"

Yeah ok I'm a geek :)

Lol. That will work even better! Haha. One question, do they sell any food there at all, or do you have to bring your own?

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Originally Posted by theReptileGuy

One question, do they sell any food there at all, or do you have to bring your own?

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Yea you gotta bring your own BACON!!!

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Originally Posted by moonlightgdess

"LFG BP.NET"

Yeah ok I'm a geek :)

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What's sad is I had a similar thought...

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Originally Posted by theReptileGuy

Lol. That will work even better! Haha. One question, do they sell any food there at all, or do you have to bring your own?

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They do have some concession stand type food though I've always just gone across the street to Culvers. Nothing like a large strawberry shake for lunch! ;)

There's also a little shop nearby that sells bubble tea and some of the best unusual sandwiches I've ever had. The prices aren't bad either :D

I'll be at tinley again this year and my tradition is stand in line for an hour walk around for ever lol then go to white castle :) I have about 3 people I'm supposed to meet there for the first time and I am so excited. Last year I picked up a pastel female and a het clown female, can't wait to see what I get this year with the low budget of $800...nothing compared to what alot of beautiful snakes were priced at.

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Originally Posted by Dracoluna

They do have some concession stand type food though I've always just gone across the street to Culvers. Nothing like a large strawberry shake for lunch! ;)

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Now that sounds like a plan!! I am so there...

I can't wait to meet everybody! Not too many of us frequent the Taylor MI show so I haven't actually met anyone from here yet. It'll be fun!

The VIP tickets really are for Tinley - not Repticon: Tinley Park VIP tickets. They get you into the show at 2pm on Friday, 2 1/2 hours early on Saturday, and 1 hour early on Sunday. And there is an ice breaker/press release reception from 4-6 before the summit meeting that you can be a part of with a VIP ticket.

I'm going to be looking for a pair of Angolan Pythons so I thought it might be worthwhile to do this.... ;)

Can't wait either :D

I'll probably buy some morphs of BPs as well as some GTPs and ATBs.....oh wait I can't because of my parents >:( haha

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

I'm going to be looking for a pair of Angolan Pythons so I thought it might be worthwhile to do this.... ;)

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Angolans!! I've seen them at Tinley before. I would love to get a look at them if you do get them! They are so cool!!! Exclamation points!!

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

Now that sounds like a plan!! I am so there...

I can't wait to meet everybody! Not too many of us frequent the Taylor MI show so I haven't actually met anyone from here yet. It'll be fun!

The VIP tickets really are for Tinley - not Repticon: Tinley Park VIP tickets. They get you into the show at 2pm on Friday, 2 1/2 hours early on Saturday, and 1 hour early on Sunday. And there is an ice breaker/press release reception from 4-6 before the summit meeting that you can be a part of with a VIP ticket.

I'm going to be looking for a pair of Angolan Pythons so I thought it might be worthwhile to do this.... ;)

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That schedule is from the March Tinley which was a summit show. I don't think the October one is...

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Angolans!! I've seen them at Tinley before. I would love to get a look at them if you do get them! They are so cool!!! Exclamation points!!

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If I do pick up one or two, of course you can! I really like them. I'm hoping there'll be a few to choose from. They're pretty rare, so we'll see. :gj:

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Originally Posted by KatStoverReptiles

That schedule is from the March Tinley which was a summit show. I don't think the October one is...

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Ooops - you're right about the summit. So it's true I don't know about that reception from 4-6. But the VIP tickets are still available for the early hours, so I'll be looking at that. That was my primary reason for considering them anyhow, not the reception - boring... LoL! :P

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

If I do pick up one or two, of course you can! I really like them. I'm hoping there'll be a few to choose from. They're pretty rare, so we'll see. :gj:

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They usually come with quite the price tag! I don't remember exactly the prices I have seen, but definitely a few grand...

So since we're on the subject, what is everyone else looking for at Tinley??

My Tinley list:

Pair of Angolans
female Argentine het T+ albino boa
Irian Jaya Jag carpet python
black tailed cribo
female leachie gecko

I'll be taking a close look at the boas as well although I don't have anything specific in mind for them. I love sunglows so I'll be considering one of them carefully. But the Angolans are my primary focus. And I doubt I can get everthing on my list, but I'm gonna try to stick to the list and not stray too far from the beaten path, lol.... :D

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

They usually come with quite the price tag! I don't remember exactly the prices I have seen, but definitely a few grand...

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Oh goodness no. Yes they are pricey, but prices have come down a bit thank heaven. I should be able to find a female for under 700 and a male for around 500 which puts it at about 1200 for a pair. If they are too expensive at Tinley, I'll have to wait til the following spring and maybe order one or two from Chad Duggin or Casey Lasik... Either way, no worries! ;)

Do they allow you to handle some reptiles at the show? If they don't, I don't think I have a reason for going haha.

Well I've been looking for a female ghost het caramel for a little bit now. Kind of a specific morph and hard to find. So I'll have my eye out for that.

I'm sure, as always, the hubby will try to talk me into another boa or a retic. And once again, I'll most likely say no...where the heck will we put it!? LOL

But mostly I just go to hang out with people and see all the cool stuff people have on display.

Also there's this awesome little seafood restaurant up the road from the convention center that the hubby and I discovered last Oct. So we plan to eat there probably on Friday night. ;)

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Originally Posted by theReptileGuy

Do they allow you to handle some reptiles at the show? If they don't, I don't think I have a reason for going haha.

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Generally, if you strike up good conversation with a vendor, they will be happy to show you some of their stock. And there are usually several vendors that will show stuff for educational purposes. But DO use hand sanitizer and expect vendors to ask that you do before handling anything of theirs. And DON'T expect just anyone and everyone to let you handle their stock. Some vendors will only allow that if you're a serious buyer. But, yes, you should have the opportunity to put your hands on some pretty special critters. :gj:

I was messaging Brian from BHB back and forth for a little while, and he's going to be going if all turns well. I'm just mainly going there to talk to people, since I can't buy any animals. Anyone looking for any specific breeders to talk?

Also, if anyone is going there and willing to buy me a shirt, I'll gladly pay them back and some more :)