What would you rather see at a koi show?

[Mtn ponder]

People should be awarded well for there hard work.

[gspotmc]

It should be all about high quality koi. The success of a show is based on attendance of not people participating in the show. but how many quality fish are present during the show. husbandry then comes into play. When we go to a SHOW we do not praise the owner of a certain koi immediately. We praise the koi first for it's beauty and elegance, then compliment the owner.

[PapaBear]

I am of the opinion that you CAN have your cake and eat it too, but here's my priority list.
Assuming it is a show I haven't been to before.
1 Show me the fish.
2 Introduce me to the owners.

I'll look at the trophies sooner or later, but the only reason I'm there is to see the fish, meet the people, and see if I can guess whose fish will win them...

[jbolding]

I agree with PaBear on this one it's always nice to have a back story to go along with the wonderful koi at shows.

[dick benbow]

It would be nice to reward the participants with an extremely nice award
befitting the accomplishment. If the trophies are of a high caliper I think you do attract a higher quality of koi as all part of a prestigeous show. Bern had it right, there are more than one segment to focus on. So what comes first the chicken or the egg? Neither, you bring in world class judges with access to them for the general public. You put together healthy first class facilities with the best care and water. Those that come the farthest have people waiting to wisk their koi thru and get them settled ( so the owners can relax too). It doesn't take too many seasons before the word gets out that this is the show to take seriously. All individual components go toward reenforcing the whole. koi kichi's share and talk among themselves and a great show will not be overlooked.

[Auntiesue]

Quote: Originally Posted by dick benbow It would be nice to reward the participants with an extremely nice award befitting the accomplishment. If the trophies are of a high caliper I think you do attract a higher quality of koi as all part of a prestigeous show. Bern had it right, there are more than one segment to focus on. So what comes first the chicken or the egg? Neither, you bring in world class judges with access to them for the general public. You put together healthy first class facilities with the best care and water. Those that come the farthest have people waiting to wisk their koi thru and get them settled ( so the owners can relax too). It doesn't take too many seasons before the word gets out that this is the show to take seriously. All individual components go toward reenforcing the whole. koi kichi's share and talk among themselves and a great show will not be overlooked.

I think this also sums it up for me as well!!

Although, as a side note, trophies that hang on the wall rather than table top would be much easier to find room for.

[cindy]

Quote: Originally Posted by mstrseed Crazy folks looking and talking about Koi............................................. Where's the BBQ?

Louisville, we do BBQ Thursday night, Friday we do breakfast and lunch and a Shrimp Boil Friday night. Beer and soft drinks and good company for everybody that comes in early to set up and to show, all free. Club picks up all expenses. Only meal we charge for is the banquet, a catered bbq - steaks and chicken and open bar Saturday night for the banquet.

I'd never heard complaints about our awards until recently, only compliments from people that were thrilled to be at our show and experience the hospitality of the Phelps. They open their home and property to the masses from Thursday until the following Sunday, including cooking breakfasts and lunches for the judges and workers.

Maybe we don't have the $6 trophies (our cost more), but until now I didn't know our awards weren't appreciated. I'll be happy to bring it up with our club and the Phelps and let them know that our awards don't meet some people's idea of awards.

Here's our Friday night cookout. All free, you might recognize some of our group.

Quote: Originally Posted by Auntiesue I think this also sums it up for me as well!! Although, as a side note, trophies that hang on the wall rather than table top would be much easier to find room for.

I'd be proud to display our trophies.

[Ryan S.]

I'd rather see high quality fish of course. When showing I'm happy to recieve anything. I realize that shows are expensive to put on and alot of other people's money and effort went into it they probably did the best they could on the awards. I'm not sure how most shows fund the trophy part, if its just from trophy sponserships often time they only find sponsers for a few awards, maybe some entrants should step up to sponser some awards if that is what is needed to increase the show's trophy budget.

[cindy]

Our clubs goal simply is to put on a good show and make sure everyone has a good time. Its not a money making thing for us. We take sponsors for the trophies and our awards aren't cheap. Guess we could save money by buying the standard trophy but I respect Carolyn's taste and she can buy whatever she likes. The Phelps bust their azzes for weeks to get their property groomed, rose bushes perfect and the grounds ready (yes its at their home) Our club members set up tents, fill tanks,set up filters, set up furniture and work hard to have a great show. A huge thank you to the clubs like Florida that drive all night and work tirelessly to help us make it a success.

Our show grows each year and anyone that has been there, has a great time and comes back every year. We have dealers that have never missed our show and people that schedule their vacation around our show. Its more like a family reunion, except we like each other.

Nobody goes hungry at our show and to be able to sit down with old friends, have a drink and talk koi, is priceless.

[dick benbow]

we were fortunate to have the phelps team to judge our Puget Sound show one year. You are very fortunate to have them as an active contributor. Maybe it's a process of ageing or having been around for awhile in shows, but while i enjoy seeing beautiful fish, It's the people anymore that make the show for me.

In the Northern Idaho Club of which I am also a member, we don't have a show. It's a group that really focuses on learning. It's been fun and amazing to see how close the group has become and to see how each shares with the others things they've learned or experiences they've been privy to. Just
organized mid year this year already it has taken on the monumental task of sponsoring the Pacific Northwest Koi Clubs Association annual get together.
Held in Idaho, the event will be held in september and already has Toshio sakai and mat mc cann as speakers.

Washington Koi and watergarden club, also a club I was lucky enough to have helped start and be their first president to kick off a koi show, their emphasis has been on really having a first class show and great japanese judges. Different strokes for different folks but each doing their own thing very well.....as it should be. Just as a pond full of kohakus would be pretty boring, it's nice to see a variety to really appreciate the differences