In my opinion vendors should look for the following as indication of a quality show:

Promotion should be visible in or on Trade outlets – If you don’t see it promoted on KS or Reptiles Mag pass.

The show should have a good web site – no passes here. This is the easiest way to disseminate information. If they haven’t taken the time to do so here they aren’t doing so in other more expensive avenues either.

Shows need anchor vendors – These are reliable industry names who will travel distance to attend them. A good promoter will have these lined up prior to announcing the show. Their participation is indication that the show is being reasonably promoted. You don’t see a few names from outside the region you need to adjust your expectations way down.

Support from Local Herp Clubs or Groups – a core group of enthusiast will talk the show up and help effectively promote the show locally. If there isn’t such a group or they haven’t been engaged its unlikely that the promoter will be able to spend enough on advertising to make up the difference.

Educational content – to stand out and generate lasting enthusiasm, particularly for first time attendees shows need to be about more than cheap supplies and herps in deli cups.

Talk to the promoter – he or she should be ready willing and able to sell the show to you. Don’t be afraid to ask about their vision of the show and how you would fit in it. Chances are if they can’t sell you on the merits of the show there aren’t any that are not being addressed elsewhere.

Lastly give timely support to shows you choose to attend – Showing up the day of the show with your fees in hand doesn’t help promote the show. I used to have dozens of calls every year asking if a well-known regional python breeder would be attending. Most years all I could honestly say was I hope so. Timely support would have been meaningful to both of us. Showing up with fees in hand the morning of the show was less helpful.

I’m in the midwest, and I can’t even begin to tell you how overwhelming it is to look at a list of all the shows within a 3 hour radius.

The way I see it, when you do a reptile show, you have maybe 2,000 people to sell something to, and a limited amount of time to do so. On the internet, I can sell to anyone in the United States….and I can even sell them a reptile while I’m asleep.

Maybe we should see if we can get the Democrats to ban reptile shows? (joking)

Yet another insightful posting. I could not agree with you more. I also feel that the show promoters need should set a certain stander for the vendors. I can’t stand walking around and seeing snakes in a pretzel container, selling dirty filthy supplies… There are only a few vendors I deal with anyway. But great post. I will see you at the White Plains show.