Michael Jacobi
Tarantula Whisperer
For anyone considering exhibiting at this show I would like to clarify a few things that are misrepresented on the show site,
1] The site does a poor job of explaining just how restrictive our "native" animals laws are. You will need a $275 permit to sell ANY kings, corns, ratsnakes, garters, racers, pinesnake, etc. Native species are only defined to the species level; so an albino Cal king or a Florida blue garter are native even though they're found nowhere near TN.
2] The site mentions turtles as being excluded, but makes no mention of tortoises. Neither are permitted in TN. You may not possess chelonians. This is a long-standing, strictly-enforced HEALTH department regulation. It is not covered by Fish & Wildlife regulations you are more likely to investigate.
3] The site claims that except for the aformentioned restrictions anything else can be sold ["Everything else can be sold without restriction or permit"]. That is false. All crocodilians except for caiman are prohibited in TN. Venomous snakes are also prohibited - the state does have permitting criteria, but they are impossible for any private individual to meet.
4] Claiming that there is a possibility of 15,000 spectators ["This looks to be a large show possibility of over 15,000 spectators"] is absurd. There's a possibility that there might be 150,000 too; but it's not going to happen. There are established professional promoters who spend $20,000+ to promote shows that have yet to crack 15,000 people. New people in a town where no reptile show has succeeded are not going to sell anywhere near that many tickets. There's a reason that a pro promoter like Tony Cueto hasn't expanded into TN. There is a long-running bird show held twice a year at the same fairgrounds and I would guess that they bring maybe 1500 people through the door. When I was at the last show it was early afternoon on a Saturday and there were more vendors in the room than spectators and the show had moved to a smaller building.
5] The exhibitor table prices are ridiculous. A show of this stature shouldn't be more than $40 a table. Also, not requiring table covering gives me the impression that this will be a very unprofessional looking event.
I am a professional breeder, broker and importer of herps and inverts in Nashville and there has been no promotion that has crossed my desk or that I have seen or heard anywhere. I am not wishing ill will on a show; heck, I'd love for there to be a successful exotic animal show in my backyard. If the tables were appropriately priced I would attend just to support the slim possibility of the birth of a herp show in TN. It's just that after exhibiting at herp shows since there was such a thing and being in the business for over twenty years, I feel a responsibility to alert potential vendors or spectators traveling some distance that reptile shows don't work in TN. You leave out colubrids, chelonians, hots, etc. and you lose a lot of potential dealers and customers. And although the promoters are pointing out that its Fourth of July weekend as if that will attract more people, my experience of many years has been that sales and attendance are poor during any holiday weekend, including the Fourth or Memorial Day.
Regards,
Michael Jacobi
owner: Jacobi Herpetoculture, Spider Shoppe and Exotic Fauna Press
editor and publisher: Arachnoculture magazine
1] The site does a poor job of explaining just how restrictive our "native" animals laws are. You will need a $275 permit to sell ANY kings, corns, ratsnakes, garters, racers, pinesnake, etc. Native species are only defined to the species level; so an albino Cal king or a Florida blue garter are native even though they're found nowhere near TN.
2] The site mentions turtles as being excluded, but makes no mention of tortoises. Neither are permitted in TN. You may not possess chelonians. This is a long-standing, strictly-enforced HEALTH department regulation. It is not covered by Fish & Wildlife regulations you are more likely to investigate.
3] The site claims that except for the aformentioned restrictions anything else can be sold ["Everything else can be sold without restriction or permit"]. That is false. All crocodilians except for caiman are prohibited in TN. Venomous snakes are also prohibited - the state does have permitting criteria, but they are impossible for any private individual to meet.
4] Claiming that there is a possibility of 15,000 spectators ["This looks to be a large show possibility of over 15,000 spectators"] is absurd. There's a possibility that there might be 150,000 too; but it's not going to happen. There are established professional promoters who spend $20,000+ to promote shows that have yet to crack 15,000 people. New people in a town where no reptile show has succeeded are not going to sell anywhere near that many tickets. There's a reason that a pro promoter like Tony Cueto hasn't expanded into TN. There is a long-running bird show held twice a year at the same fairgrounds and I would guess that they bring maybe 1500 people through the door. When I was at the last show it was early afternoon on a Saturday and there were more vendors in the room than spectators and the show had moved to a smaller building.
5] The exhibitor table prices are ridiculous. A show of this stature shouldn't be more than $40 a table. Also, not requiring table covering gives me the impression that this will be a very unprofessional looking event.
I am a professional breeder, broker and importer of herps and inverts in Nashville and there has been no promotion that has crossed my desk or that I have seen or heard anywhere. I am not wishing ill will on a show; heck, I'd love for there to be a successful exotic animal show in my backyard. If the tables were appropriately priced I would attend just to support the slim possibility of the birth of a herp show in TN. It's just that after exhibiting at herp shows since there was such a thing and being in the business for over twenty years, I feel a responsibility to alert potential vendors or spectators traveling some distance that reptile shows don't work in TN. You leave out colubrids, chelonians, hots, etc. and you lose a lot of potential dealers and customers. And although the promoters are pointing out that its Fourth of July weekend as if that will attract more people, my experience of many years has been that sales and attendance are poor during any holiday weekend, including the Fourth or Memorial Day.
Regards,
Michael Jacobi
owner: Jacobi Herpetoculture, Spider Shoppe and Exotic Fauna Press
editor and publisher: Arachnoculture magazine
. Then again, I'm always more likely to stay in the shop and care for the critters!
