my first and last reptile show

I have taken the journey to try and educate myself the best I possibly could before bringing home my first BP. I have been reading any book I could get my hands on, searching the forums for hours, joined facebook groups etc. This was all in prep for my to go to my local reptile show and hopefully purchase my first snake. This past weekend was the Cleveland Reptile Show and I've decided that reptile shows are not the venue for me. I ask questions, and I like to be able to do things at my pace, the show was so overwhelmingly packed I couldn't even stop to get a clear look at any of the animals. In short, I have realized that I think I am going to be happier purchasing from one of the many reputable breeders I have learned about from all you guys, allowing me the opportunity to ask questions and feel more confident about my purchase. Just wanted to share my experience and decision. I'll definitely be going to other shows as a spectator and enjoyed seeing many of the different animals I have been researching, but in the end of the day just not the venue for me.

Yeah, I'm not so good with crowded places myself (and yet I want to try to vend at one of these places because I'm a masochist apparently). The folks here are quality though, you can't go wrong!

Yeah epos are not really the greatest place for newbs....
Huge crowds and overwhelming selection really doesn't help when you are still full of questions.
They are great for pricing if you know what you are looking for.

You guys think I am cranky here, you should see me in a crowd. :taz::taz:

I find late in the afternoon on the last day of a show the best time to go. It's usually less crowded and the vendors are more motivated. Only downside is that the selection won't be as good.

Can't deal with crowds, or people in general, actually. Nothing like the age of the internet for a curmudgeonly recluse.

I would like to attend a big one someday just to get a chance to briefly meet some of the folks whose channels I follow, and whose books I own. Doubt I would buy anything there, however.

I on the other hand actually enjoy the shows i enjoy the selection that you can find at a show. While I can understand why some people dont like them as most are over crowded true it is hard trying to get the perfect snake witg out seeing it in person. A lot harder to do that online

I also am not a big fan of crowds and being rushed into purchases. Not saying people are literally rushing me but the feeling of holding someone else up is what makes me feel rushed lol. I would say to the OP to try a smaller expo. I have had great experiences with small local expos where i live. The selection i am sure is not the same as a large expo but you still get a good variety with fewer crowds. I am going to go to my first big expo next month which is NARBC in Tinley. I plan on only looking at all the animals and buying some supplies so I don't think it will be too bad. :D

the only thing i don't like about expos is when i see an animal i'm genuinely interested in, but can't get a chance to talk to the vendor because someone is there with their 5 kids going through the petting zoo routine with each and every animal.

I've only been to one show, and I walked away with my first snake, HOWEVER I had contacted the breeder and been emailing him back and forth for nearly a month. I had my eye on two of his snakes (a lesser butter and a pewter) and he offered to bring both to the show so I could see them in person. I still walked around first, looking at everyone's animals and asking questions, it was very hectic. I didn't get a chance to have a long talk with the breeder while at the show, but his daughter was really helpful. I ended up buying a completely different snake (cinnamon mojave). Later that night I got an email back, he apologized for not having the time to talk and asked if I had in fact gotten a snake. I replied that I had and that his daughter was super helpful, and he promptly sent me all the records for my snake; everything from parents description/genetics to feeding/weight notes dated from the day he hatched.

I doubt I would have gotten anything from the show if I hadn't had such a great experience with the breeder first though. I would not have had enough questions answered and some of the venders were obviously annoyed by people asking tons of questions.

I can understand how some reptile shows can get overwhelming. I feel lucky in that I started going to some smaller shows when I had no idea what I wanted, so could spend more time talking to people. I held off on the bigger shows for when I knew what I was looking for so I could quickly scan the tables and if I didn't see what I wanted, I would move on. I found reptile shows more enjoyable as a vendor than a participant. I love that I could talk with a bunch of people about my passions, and see some babies go to new homes. It was neat to see some people get giddy over taking home their first reptile or seeing the reactions I got when I brought my big male blood python to sit at our table.

I'm not a big fan of crowds either, but I do love to see all of the different breeds and morphs at the shows. Many of the reptiles are snakes that I would never get to see in real life, and you can get an idea of just how large some of them can get. Reading and watching videos somehow doesn't really compare to seeing a snake or lizard face to face.

The first time I saw a Rainbow Boa, the colors just blew me away. I had seen pictures, but a photo doesn't really capture the true colors. You really have to see some of these magnificent snakes in person, and for my money, the stress of the crowd is worth what you take away from it.

I've never been to a reptile show as I've never trusted myself with so many snakes and a credit card ALTHOUGH we are seriously thinking abiut going to one in the coming months , just need to save some money up ..

I bought my BP about a week before I went to my first reptile show. I expected to have buyers remorse of sorts because of the amount of money I spent on my pastel, but I ended up feeling extremely relieved! I would have been so overwhelmed if I was trying to actually buy a snake. The hardest part would have been trying to figure out who to buy from. Some of the booths looked pretty sketchy. I did get some business cards so if and when I'm ready to buy another snake (or lizard, as my daughter seemed to love the geckos she saw) I'll be in a less stressful environment! AND I can research the different breeders/pet shops ahead of time.

I was all set to be a little bit proud of myself for dealing with the large crowd, bustling human contact, and noise of the first Expo I went to... and then I had a panic attack when I tried to take a purchase and their connection declined my card (they re-ran it by punching it in manually, begrudgingly, and it went through fine). I did not purchase anything at my second Expo, and I am not sure whether I will ever work up the courage to do so again - the social anxiety is real (but the in-case-of-panic-take-one's are legit af). But I will still enjoy going as a spectator, at the very least!

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Originally Posted by Aercadia

I was all set to be a little bit proud of myself for dealing with the large crowd, bustling human contact, and noise of the first Expo I went to... and then I had a panic attack when I tried to take a purchase and their connection declined my card (they re-ran it by punching it in manually, begrudgingly, and it went through fine). I did not purchase anything at my second Expo, and I am not sure whether I will ever work up the courage to do so again - the social anxiety is real (but the in-case-of-panic-take-one's are legit af). But I will still enjoy going as a spectator, at the very least!

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That fear is why I always bring cash. That also helps prevent me from over purchasing.

Cash solves all problems. Cept when you run out. Lol!

If you know what you want, shows are great. We usually go to the White Plains NY one once a year as a fun trip. Crowds dont bother me, but rude pushy people do. The reason I like going to shows is for the reptile "stuff" you dont really see anywhere else - t shirts, jewelry, decals, art, etc. I collect BP stuff, and it can be hard to find sometimes, even online! I also love to meet my herper buddies there, and we usually do lunch afterwards. Ive been going to shows for 17 years, and I usually have an agenda when I go. I can see how newbies can be overwhelmed. But fun nonetheless for the experience.

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Yeah I enjoy pumping into people and looking at snakes all day.

The one in Phoenix last fall was so crowded you could hardly squeeze between tables. Fortunately, I was able to squeeze into one and talk about chahoua with a breeder. The pine isle hatchling I bought from turned out to be a female, so in a year or two she'll be introduced to my male PI.

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Originally Posted by stickyalvinroll

Yeah I enjoy pumping into people and looking at snakes all day.

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I think that's a different kind of expo [emoji13]

I have been to two expos. My first was the LA expo which my BF drove us down there AND back the same day (8 hours one way. I have to say he's a keeper after that since he's not even into this stuff). The other was the Sac reptile expo. Both times I walked away with boas. Expos are better for after you already have your feet wet and know what you're looking at. My first snakes (and all but the two boas) were bought online. You have plenty of ads to scope out and time to check who you're buying from as well as email questions and such.

I loved the expos. It was really exciting to be around other people in the same hobby. Especially since my interaction in person with other people in the reptile hobby is pretty limited.

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Originally Posted by Rob

I think that's a different kind of expo [emoji13]

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Totally chocked on my water reading that. rofl