reptile show

we are trying to start a reptile show in chattanooga if any1 is wanting to vend at it please let me know NORD reptiles is the person that is trying to get it going i am just posting this for a friend that is trying to get it started too.

I'd love to see a TN reptile expo but it's not likely to happen as long as Mr. Cook is still pulling the strings at TWRA.

if ol' Walter gives the go ahead on a LEGAL show in Tennessee, Hell will have indeed frozen over.

Nord Reptiles ok here is the deal if you would like us to put on a "gulf coast reptile expo" in your area i need vendor contacts! We would love to come to chattanooga and or mobile but i am far from these places and dont know anyone up there! So if you know people that would like to vend an expo, please put them in contact with me and we will get a show going in your area! (606)369-4357 . This is the reply he posted on his post about the shows

Pachilla and I would love to do a show in TN if we could get one going. We will have enough animals here soon to at least fill two tables with reptiles and another with rodents. Suprisingly enough, when we did the Repticon show in June in Columbia, SC, the rodents were the big draw. We only sold three snakes all weekend but almost sold out of rodents. We should also be able to do at least one table with supplies alone. It would be great to have a show in state. Might break the ice with TWRA and open up things for more shows. I might just be dreaming too, but a guy can dream, right? Anywho, we would love to do an in state show. I will pm you our phone# and you can pass it along appropriately. Really hope this works out!

TWRA won't allow any Class II animals to be sold without getting the $250 permit and you have to be able to provide a paper trail proving each and every animal (or both of its parents) were purchased legally and/or imported legally into the state before you can qualify for the permit. According to TWRA, 99% of all US colubrids are considered indigenous Class II animals because they don't differentiate beyond genus. It's a headache and a half dealing with TWRA and most reptile expo vendors that deal in colubrids just say screw it and don't even bother with it when they can sell their animals without ridiculous fees and restrictions in neighboring states.

If we had any shows here in TN, they would be strictly regulated and would probably be nothing but pythons and boas. I think that the likely exclusion of colubrids would really weaken the overall appeal.

If I'm not mistaken, the main problem would be getting enough vendors and enough people interested in coming even with the exclusion of colubrids. I know people who deal exclusively with insects (mostly arachnids), beardies, boas, pythons, etc... Some would be traveling from out of state but might make the drive just to be a part of the first reptile show in TN in a long time. I know I would. I may be way off base but it would definitely be worth looking into.

The main draw back is that Walter Cook is... nevermind. I dont need to go on with that. There are a few people that are USark members that tried to get shows going in Tennessee, as well as David Evans, and guy that Sandy and I know. Sandy hit the nail on the head with the colubrids, but you would also have to apply for a Tennessee vendors license, and apply for a Tennessee tax ID. All out of state vendors wont do that and 90% of the people residing in Tennessee that sell, wont do that either. You WILL have to apply .0925 state sales tax to each sale, as well as disclose taxable income on your taxes via 1099 form. It leaves it dead in the water.

If a HUGE reptile expo "chain" Like Repticon cannot get a show in Tennessee, then someone that is an independent vendor has no chance in hell.

****** The "Memphis" Repticon is not LOCATED IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, it is in Southhaven Mississippi... Right across the border from memphis, so Mississippi animal laws apply, not Tennessee's. ******

I really would like to see a Tennessee reptile expo. I just don't see it happening until someone new (and reptile-friendly) takes Cook's place in TWRA.

It's a long and dated thread (2005), but this is the sort of mess you'd be looking at with getting a show up and running in TN:

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69642&pp=5

Id LOVE for there to be a show in Tennessee... But coupled with the fees, turtles/tortoises illegal for sale, colubrids crap ect... its dead in the water. Hell if it were to happen it would be in Nashville.... Drive 3 hours to a mediocre show in nashville, or drive 3 hours to Repticon Atlanta?

Nord Reptiles ok here is the deal if you would like us to put on a "gulf coast reptile expo" in your area i need vendor contacts! We would love to come to chattanooga and or mobile but i am far from these places and dont know anyone up there! So if you know people that would like to vend an expo, please put them in contact with me and we will get a show going in your area! (606)369-4357. This is the reply he posted on his post about the shows.

here is the info if you want to try and get one going give him a call