australian herpetological symposium

[zoolander]

i note that this event is on the calender for October 2010. has anyone heard of "Craig Stewart" or "Rico Walder". I know Peter Johnson of MacHerps.

i'll send off for some more info.

 

[krefft]

Do you have a link for it?

 

[chilli]

Craig Stewart owns the urban gecko and the urban python businesses in Canada.

Rico Walder is Signal Herpetoculture in the US.

Absolutely top shelf breeders.

 

[spongebob]

I got this pm. Guess many others did. Me thinks that with flights, accommodation even old spongie when cashed up aint got a spare 2 grand. Nice idea but I think it will be a flop:

some info for you to peruse:



the symposium is being held at the Reef Casino in Cairns, FNQ on 1,2 &3 October, 2010. the theme of the inaugural conference is "professional breeding", and some of our speakers are the most professional in the world of herps. you may like to check out www.theurbangecko.com (Craig Stewart )and www.signalherp.com ( Rico Walder ) to see the calibre of our speakers.

the registration cost is $1699 per person with the early bird cost of $1299 if registered before 1 October, 2009. this includes the gala dinner on the Saturday night.

the Casino is also able to do discounted accommodation for delegates, and are also affiliated with other less expensive hotels.

about 20 places have already been allocated, and we are intending to 'reserve' about 50 places for overseas delegates. ( so be quick.)

Peter Johnson will be speaking on "Business versus Hobby", and we are sponsored by Reptiles Australia Magazine, who will start advertising the conference in their August issue, and also sponsored by Slitherin.

Greg Miles will be speaking on breeding the "pig nosed turtles" and there will be presentations by veterinarians in relation to keeping large collections and many more.

Our web-site should be up and running within the next few weeks.

thankyou for your interest.


Janice Simpson
Director
Australian Herpetological Symposium Pty Ltdsome info for you to peruse:

 

[Lozza]

I got this pm. Guess many others did. Me thinks that with flights, accommodation even old spongie when cashed up aint got a spare 2 grand. Nice idea but I think it will be a flop:

Interesting... So does the $1299 only cover the conference entry and one dinner? Geez you'd think at that price it would include all meals + accomodation as well :shock:

 

[carpetmuncher]

Interesting... So does the $1299 only cover the conference entry and one dinner? Geez you'd think at that price it would include all meals + accomodation as well :shock:

if quality speakers are going to be there, i guess you have to pay a premium to see them. weigh it up, it's not even a clutch of cheapie snakes, so i think it would be worth it. anyway, 1299 to meet Rico Walder, seems a bargain to me. anyone with gtp's would have to agree.

Cairns in October should be pretty good to go out herping. i think i'll be going.

 

[Macca]

I agree with Sponge Bob that this will be a total flop at this price. I think a more reasonable price for such an event would be in the $300-400 mark, not including accomodation.

The International Herp Symposium only cost US$135 per head, despite I would assume (I have only been once), a much more professional line-up of speakers. The gala dinner is only an extra $US40.

At that price, it sounds like you are really just paying for the American delegates flights over here.

 

[links]

Hell yeah!!! I will be there with bells on, I would fly to the states to hear these men speak. The theme is professional breeding. I dont imagine too many of the professionals will have a problem with the price.
October in Cairns for herping, that will be awesome!!! How do I sign up!!

 

[Oldbeard]

Ill be there. I heard along the grapevine they are in negotiations to get Phillipe Divojoli, Bob Mailloux and Dave Northcott out as well. I think it will sellout easily. Its great that someone has taken the initiative to do something like this. As said, the speakers are top shelf breeders and well respected leaders in the herpetological scene in the US. Bring it on!! Ill be up for some herping as well!!

 

[-Peter]

We are still talking hobby level here and when you cant make a conference for $300 pay I doubt a $2000 symposium with a couple of US dealers is going to get bums on seats. Especially when persons operating on a hobby level cant claim it on tax. Which is how most conferences and trade expos work.
While the walk down memory lane and history lesson from Bob Love; at the Expo; was enjoyable and interesting; drawing parallels to the current state of "herpetoculture" here in Australia; it wasn't ground breaking.
The business end isn't big enough to support such a symposium. From my own perspective I would be interested in actual "keeping" related topics. Ideas and methods I can take home and put into practice. Knowledge on husbandry, psychology and other herp quirks as well as reptiles from a conservation and natural history viewpoint.
There is really only a handful of people in the industry that this could be aimed at.
I am not bagging the notion and I would be more than happy to be wrong with my pessimism.
Good luck.

 

[Colin]

I was talking on the phone last night to one of the people running this symposium and theres talk of a lot more oversease speakers coming yet.. but this is still not confirmed so not yet advertised. In addition to speakers there talk of a few big names that might be coming (non speakers) but still be great to meet and pick their brains.. maybe Paul Harris, Bob Clark and a few others.. who knows? but from the sounds of it might be a top weekened.

epecially when theres talk of a few herping expeditions that might take place up at Nth QLD with a few of the overseas visitors etc..

fights can probably be booked cheaply in advance. as can accomidation. you dont have to stay at Reef Casino so theres options for cheaper accomidation. If a few blokes get together as well Im sure hire cars wont be too expensive when the costs shared.

Im not absolutely sure of this but isn't Rico Walder Greg Maxwell's mate? Aren't some of Rico's green tree pythons featured in Gregs books?

Do you have a link for it?

I dont think they have the webpage up and running yet mate but it wont be too far off..
I received the email posted above and am waiting on the registration package forms etc.

you keen on going mate? Im interested depending on seeing the list of speakers and who's going etc

 

[chilli]

Im not absolutely sure of this but isn't Rico Walder Greg Maxwell's mate? Aren't some of Rico's green tree pythons featured in Gregs books?

that's right! this guy is well respected as the gtp breeder. he only has gtp's and emerald tree boas, and his lines are regarded as the best. look at greg's book, and you'll see a lot of the top end stuff is rico's. check out his site, gtp fans should already be familiar with him, how could you not want to meet him?

 

[Colin]

that's right! this guy is well respected as the gtp breeder. he only has gtp's and emerald tree boas, and his lines are regarded as the best. look at greg's book, and you'll see a lot of the top end stuff is rico's. check out his site, gtp fans should already be familiar with him, how could you not want to meet him?

exactly thought I recognised the name.. I reckon you'll have to fight a few local GTP breeders to the death just to get near Rico :lol:
just had a quick look at his website.. some amazing animals on there..
check this one owned by Greg Schroeder. hope they dont mind me linking the pic

http://www.signalherp.com/images/Snow%20Coneweb.jpg

 

[Elise]

Hey i'm a local to where they are holding it. what if i eat dinner at home and just pay to see the show? wonder how much that would save me...

 

[Elise]

wow i wanna go. had a look as some of the snakes that these people own. jealous. *drools

 

[Colin]

Hey i'm a local to where they are holding it. what if i eat dinner at home and just pay to see the show? wonder how much that would save me...

probably nothing Elise.. as the registration is all inclusive for the conference and the dinner.
you never know though and would have to ask the organisers. email them at [email protected]
But at least you dont have to pay for accomodation, flights, hire cars etc

 

[geckodan]

Every year the AVES parrot convention hosts overseas speakers of similar quality but for less than $300 a head. Unless the costs are reevaluated I can't see a particularly high attendance rate.

 

[carpetmuncher]

Every year the AVES parrot convention hosts overseas speakers of similar quality but for less than $300 a head. Unless the costs are reevaluated I can't see a particularly high attendance rate.

why does everybody want a back-yard bob production in a scout hall. i think it would be fantastic to have alot of great breeders come to Australia in one hit.

it might come as a surprise to a lot of people but properly run conferences usually cost a lot more than this. the last conference i attended for work was $3500 for 2 days.

anyway, good luck with it. i plan on going. they should sell dvd's, so everyone that doesn't go can still get to see the experts talk.

rob

 

[Lozza]

it might come as a surprise to a lot of people but properly run conferences usually cost a lot more than this. the last conference i attended for work was $3500 for 2 days.
rob

They don't have to if you know what you are doing - I used to work in event production. It depends on how many people you are catering to as well - if you only expect a few people then the price is higher. If you are expecting a big turn out then the price is cheaper.
I also attend several conferences a year for work that are held at resorts with lots of quality speakers and none cost over $400 including morning tea and lunch each day (the dinner, which is usually between $50-70 & accomodation is separate).

When it comes to Danny's course, I would much rather pay to hear someone talk who is both a respected person in the industry and has actual qualifications.

 

[chilli]

When it comes to Danny's course, I would much rather pay to hear someone talk who is both a respected person in the industry and has actual qualifications.

not wishing to denegrate Matt Bonnett or danny, but $400 to hear both of them talk, when the best in the world will be here for 1299, and danny suggests that the conference should be under $300. he must rate himself pretty highly.