Aquarama 2009 28-31 May Suntec, are u ready ? Options

[white horse T1]

http://www.aquarama.com.sg/competition3.html

are u prepared?

Competition fee
= S$30 per entry

Number of fish per entry= 1

Maximum number of entries per participant per class= 3


CATEGORY A

Class 1:Ranchu 10-14cm

Class 2:Pearlscaled varieties12-16cm

Class 3:Oranda - Long Tail 12-16cm

Class 4:Dragon Eye - Long Tail12-16cm

Class 5:Ryukin - Long Caudal Fin (Tail)12-16cm

Class 6:Ryukin - Short Caudal Fin (Tail)10-14cm

Class 7:Open - Any Fancy Variety10-14cm


CATEGORY B

Class 1:Ranchu>14.1cm

Class 2:Pearlscaled varieties>16.1cm

Class 3:Oranda - Long Tail> 16.1cm

Class 4:Dragon Eye - Long Tail> 16.1cm

Class 5:Ryukin - Long Caudal Fin (Tail)>16.1cm

Class 6:Ryukin - Short Caudal Fin (Tail)>14.1cm

Class 7:Open - Any Fancy Variety>14.1cm
*Size is measured from mouth to caudal tip (tail)



This post has been edited by white horse T1: Sun, 12 Oct 2008 5:52 pm

[goldrush]

I have highlighted to them the printing error between Cat A and Cat B which at the moment show no difference in their banner.
Secondly I have word from the organising committee that Cat A short tailed Ryukin size maybe pushed to 16 cm instead of present 14cm.We just have to wait for their official confirmation

However I was quite shock with the entry fee which is slapped at $30 and that is a 100% compared to 2007 event.Given the amount of sponsors and international participations,I do expect a little subsidy but instead,this time round,the fees can be a major deterrent to most would be participants given the poor economic outlook for 2009.

Hope we can get some response from my personal feedback

[Ezekielyon]

not only goldfish's entry fee went up, even bettas! I have been competing in Bettas for the past 2 Aquaramas, 2005 was $18, 2007 was $20. And next year is $25!

[pugimel]

Overall cost of hosting a show has went up quite significantly over the last two years. The economic downturn is a recent event, which would have little to contribute to the reduction of comp fees...

[The Matrix]

Doc, first of all, this is an official trade show and not just for competition. The competition compliments the trade activities that bring in business dollars. Looking at the size of the competition since 10 yrs ago, it has grew in size and the floor space taken up by the displays tank is no longer "insignificant" to the entire trade show. Furthermore, setup cost and other essential bills can rack up quite a large sum.

If look at just the history of Goldfish competition in this show, from pair fish 6 category of about 50 tanks to now a possible 200++ tanks, it will be hard for any "sponsors" to dig deep into the pocket in this premium space. Furthermore, each participant already given a free 4-days-entry-pass that worth a lot more ...

Not just Goldfish see a fee increase, even the newer category like Planted Tank and Marine Tank rocketed to $100 and $150 per entry.

That bring us to another arena. This new fighting ground is now set for serious players, and players that really put in effort and skill for each entry submitted. Reducing the "try-my-luck" entries, not eliminating completely. In another word, the organiser now WANT a Show, not just a competition, and bring the value of this competition to the next level.

Probably will not see a hugh drop in entries as we have quite a fair bit of commercial players. In fact, for the past Aquarama, can observe that more than half of the entries for the entire competition area are from commercial entities. Even if they dun get a prize, they are happy to showcase their wares. Business comes first, of course a trophy adds more value.

Seriously, this is a commercial international trade show.

[goldrush]

Matrix

Thank you for your elaborate answers to my question.Looks to me like deja vu where commercial entities rule in goldfish competition back in the 80's I understand the surge in prices and costs in hosting this show to unprecedented level in recent months and preparations have been made before the world turned sour in recent weeks Some how the economics of our modern world does not follow the old doctrine preached anymore.Here we have confirmed recession,everywhere we have escalating cost!!!!!!

Coming back to Aquarama,it would always put the hobbyists at a disadvantage level as we are up against the commercial GIANTS of our industry.To them show casing their prized fish is but just another fish from their reputable farm but for us (hobbyists)it could be the only fish we have from our not so reputable home.What's more we maybe showcasing indirectly A fish that was produced from their farm .Showing our fish may become an indirect advertisement and marketing tool for the many levels of commercial enterprises that are involved in producing the final product.It's a case of "we put our fish at risk",they reap the benefits.

We may not see a hugh drop in commercial participation but we may see less hobbyists in this fighting arena.


So is it going to be A SHOW or........... NO SHOW from the hobbyist

[Gold Digger]

If show is full of commercial sellers then it wouldn't bring out the best goldfish because it will eliminate many true hobbyist. Winning won't be so prestigious if you eliminated more than half of competition. I also don't think that if you have the $ to pay the fee, it means that you are serious player. It just means you got money to burn. If organizer's want better quality entries then maybe they should have someone screen them first before accepting entry.

If entry fee is up by 25% or more, that means organizer's cost went up by that much? That's a lot.

Hard times ahead. I am still thinking if I should come visit for my 3rd Aquarama.

This post has been edited by Gold Digger: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 1:04 pm

[The Matrix]

Doc, old days no more. And I dun think will see old dayz coming back any time soon. Dun worry ... now from your stable, choose the best horse ... like the good old chinese saying: Put Horse come over lah ...

Golddigger, come come ... then you can meet us all at one go. 25% is low liao. Some fee jump 100%. In fact, the space for commercial trade area (booth display) jump 25% and this jump was announced somewhere last June. Things are really getting expensive here. Rental jump 50% since a year ago.


Let's go back to " R U Ready ...."

[Gold Digger]

Doc, old days no more. And I dun think will see old dayz coming back any time soon. Dun worry ... now from your stable, choose the best horse ... like the good old chinese saying: Put Horse come over lah ...

Golddigger, come come ... then you can meet us all at one go. 25% is low liao. Some fee jump 100%. In fact, the space for commercial trade area (booth display) jump 25% and this jump was announced somewhere last June. Things are really getting expensive here. Rental jump 50% since a year ago.
Let's go back to " R U Ready ...."

Meeting you guys would be a bonus to the trip. I'll try.

[white horse T1]

i guess most hobbists can forget abt the "famous" categories and go for the unknown ones which will stand a better chance.

[goldrush]

Doc, old days no more. And I dun think will see old dayz coming back any time soon. Dun worry ... now from your stable, choose the best horse ... like the good old chinese saying: Put Horse come over lah ...

O Matrix

6 or 7 months is a long time to go
Beauty in a fish may never last or even hold
Whenever a fish peaks
It seldom speaks
Whenever a fish should fall
It will fade overall
A fish may now be in vivacious paint
In weeks it can be reduced to a mere faint
From my stable you may think I no horse run
Come Aquarama,I maybe left with few or even none……

[The Matrix]

haha ...

routinely a few we buy
of different shape and size
build up a stable of gals and guys
one would come back with a prize

[bekko]

This year, Aquarama commercial booth space in the exhibition area costs S$540 per square meter; S$653 per square meter if you want the partitions, carpet, lights and table. The entry fee for the competition (in dollars per square meter) is very cheap by comparison.

If they consistently fill all the competition tanks then it makes sense to continue to raise the price. This helps control the rush to buy up the entry slots. If the slots are quickly taken then you cannot get space at any price.

Having professionals compete with hobbyists is always a sticky subject. I think that if the audience is the general public and the goal is to promote the goldfish hobby, then it may be better to attract the very best fish - even if they are entered by the farm. If the audience is experienced goldfish keepers who understand grooming and the goal is to acknowledge their hard work then you definitely don't want commercial entries. Aquarama is a business so having commercial entries in the competition is not a repulsive as they would be in a club show.

.... in my humble opinion...

-steve

[churico4ever]

This is gonna be fun I hope I would be ready at that time and also I will have the time to go there because its a little bit far from here sigh.. I want to experience the Aquarama, and of course meet the RG masters


Rico