To show or not to show?

[carolyn swanson]

Going to the shows for someone not totally into it is a lot of trouble, especially if you stand no chance of winning something. The shows happen only a few times a year and are convenient to almost nobody. There are only two in my area (within 100 miles) per year and I live in an area with a lot of dealers and hobbyists. I have to travel 8-10 hours to get to the other ones at which I show.
At the shows that are far away, due to the limited time that the fish can spend in the boxes, it is not an option to stay over Sunday night. Thus, the exibitor has to drive all night, getting home at 4:00 a.m. If a person has to be at work early in the morning, they will not have any sleep.

If one is to do it correctly, there is a lengthly preparation period and an equally lengthly quarantine period afterward.

And then there is the expense. The entries are not expensive, but usually a two night hotel stay is required if the show is not local.

Perhaps for kicks there can be a Koi-Bito internet show, done on the honor system where we can submit pictures with sizes and have one of the people who like to do such things act as a judge. There wouldn't be any prizes as such, but placings posted. This would give people on a budget and live too far away from the shows to showcase their fish.

[Regenmeneer]

Good idea Carolyn, like the two www show Joël held in the nineties. (I still have the certificates )

[mrbradleybradley]

Quote: Originally Posted by dick benbow I think if everyone who shows koi goes with an unselfish attitude to allow the public in general to appreciate the beauty of the koi and experience how relaxing this hobby is in a stressful world, then you have won the hearts of others which is far more vaulable than a paper certificate or trophy to gather dust on someone's display case.

Health concerns aside, if this was the focus, perhaps more would show. If showing koi was more like showing works of art, the day would be more about appreciation and less about the competition. But, it is built around the competition. So, somehow there needs to be a balance of two.

BB

[Beadmaster]

I believe that I do know how to handle koi. 16 years of koikeeping, last 9 years as dealer with many trips to and shipments coming in from Japan........
And I like to think that I do have a privat koi collection that is very worthy of showing........
But even with the comercial interest (showing would be good advertising for my bussiness) in the back of my head, I DO NOT SHOW MY KOI!
Why?
Simply because there is a serious risk involved in transportation to and from the show and also the water conditions at a show are AT BEST "questionable".....
I like (love) my koi and do know that some are very high quality but I don't need a cup or certificate to tell me that. I must admit; I did enter a few koi in a show in 1995 and won hobbyist champion. Must also admit that I only have the trophy to remember me of that koi (died 2 weeks after the show......)
Would it be a car or something else replaceble, no problem. But it took me many years to build my collection (my name is not Martin or Marc ) and I will not expose them to ANY risk I can avoid.
Its the most important lesson I learned in koi keeping; preventing is better than curing.....(if curing is possible at all -> I "met" with KHV already in 1998)
Getting good at it too! Did not lose a single koi from my private collection in over 5 years.
So why should I start playing russian roulette now?
Grtz, Hans

[RayJordan]

I agree completely with Dick. While getting some of the high end hobbyists to return to shows would be wonderful those guys have made a decision to not show for lots of reasons.

The new hobbyists are the future of the koi hobby. Helping them with the preperation and transportation issues involved with showing is critical. It is only through encouraging newer hobbyists that koi shows and the koi hobby can flourish.

[PapaBear]

Experienced ponders/showers do have valid reasons for backing away from shows, several of which have been well stated. Petty jealousy, health concerns, transportation issues, time, etc... But shows are still an important aspect of the hobby just like sandlot ballplayers and Major Leagers each having their own niche in the human experience.
For shows to grow and thrive some of these concerns should be and CAN be addressed, (water quality, accomodating storage issues for those who have to travel greater distances...), but those apply mainly to the veteran showers. For the rookies there needs to be a "hook".
The attitude and atmosphere of the show plays a big role in that. If a newbie goes to thier first show and feels intimidated chances are they're finished before they start. If they feel welcomed and encouraged it can provoke a different response altogether.
I've been to a grand total of 1 show in OKC. My wife and I were impressed by the quality of the Koi AND the people. If was a comfortable venue, non-intimidating environment, and even though the Koi were far and away better than anything we own it didn't frighten us away. It encouraged us to polish our own skills with an eye toward participating in the future. Much to learn and do before that can happen??? Sure. But we felt like the welcome mat was laid out even though nobody there knew us or pestered us about showing. It was just a welcoming AND challenging experience.

[philhunter]

Hi,

I used to show, and was lucky enough to win Grand Champion once. I no longer do so because of the health risks, plus the hassle of quarantine after the show, etc. Now I just enjoy my koi.

Over the years, I have seen some questionable judging, but that is not the primary reason I don't show.



Phil

[jnorth]

How about start by having the shows as advertised? I was planning on showing at the MAKC Young Koi Show and the Potomac ZNA Show this year. Both of them cancelled. How excited do you think I am about next years shows? If it weren't for ABAKS and the Koi-Unit Show I would not have shown at all this year. For those shows I just bought some tosai on the west coast while I was there for the show so I could participate. For the shows here I was going to show koi that have been in my pond for at least a year that I have conditioned. I could take them to the MAKC show in PA but I don't want to travel 3 hours with my koi in the trunk. Very disappointing season to say the least. Here is my suggestion though. If you want people to show then everyone that does show needs to go out of their way to help other koi keepers net, bag and deliver their koi to the show. Don't wait for them to ask for your help, ask them if they need help. Plenty of koi keepers want to show but are afraid they will kill them in the process.

[Sangreaal]

Quote: Originally Posted by jnorth How about start by having the shows as advertised? I was planning on showing at the MAKC Young Koi Show and the Potomac ZNA Show this year. Both of them cancelled. How excited do you think I am about next years shows? If it weren't for ABAKS and the Koi-Unit Show I would not have shown at all this year. For those shows I just bought some tosai on the west coast while I was there for the show so I could participate. For the shows here I was going to show koi that have been in my pond for at least a year that I have conditioned. I could take them to the MAKC show in PA but I don't want to travel 3 hours with my koi in the trunk. Very disappointing season to say the least. Here is my suggestion though. If you want people to show then everyone that does show needs to go out of their way to help other koi keepers net, bag and deliver their koi to the show. Don't wait for them to ask for your help, ask them if they need help. Plenty of koi keepers want to show but are afraid they will kill them in the process.

Amen, J....

[Steve Nguyen]

I don't do show and don't plan to. I just like visit dealers and friends' ponds. I am just too busy with other stuffs so my fish stays in my pond for personal enjoyment. I am just curious if there is a newbie category in existing shows to promote newcomers? maybe limited to tosai and jumbo tosai and break them into $100 and $200 classes. this way, all newcomers have a fair shoot at winning and not just the guys with deep pockets.