TASC 2011

 

 

First of all, kudos to Jason Crean, TASC members, lecturers, and all those that participated in assuring the show ran beautifully—you did a great job and best of all, most of you did it with a smile which was amazing!!

We finally met a ParrotLand family member, Andrew, and it was great to add a new friend, it’s always nice to meet people who are talented and jus’ good people–it allows for the beginning of a real friendship. Meeting Andrew, catching up with Theresa, and finding $2 Jungle Talk foraging toys was our high point… I really wish we had the chance to catch up with Patricia Sund, we saw her but we were both busy…and of course, it’s always a joy to see Tracy Dowler Hylka of Bella Embroidery!

Now for the interesting points… To those vendors who had the balls to raise your prices by 30% or more—shame on you and bite me! You can blame the economic crisis on your attempted robbery but we can blame it as well and not shop at your booth and that is what I think many of us did. I will be kind and not be specific, I figure many already know the error of their ways and paid for it quite heavily yesterday…and rightfully so. Another piece of advice—engage your audience! Don’t stand there with your arms folded and a nasty look on your face—especially when you have a nice face!

I also want to address those that bring in large parrots…come on, be a bit more responsible! I fell in love with a Buffon’s Macaw (Ara ambigua) but the vendor really threw me off, quoting all sorts of prices to every individual…That’s for car dealerships, not for those who have livestock and especially livestock that is getting more stressed by the minute. Give us your bottom price and perhaps the bird will get out early enough to have as less stress as possible. The same individual had the guts to try to sell a Hy for $12,000 but in the next breathe said it was negotiable, this poor bird was being passed around like a cheap hooker at a bachelor party…yeah, I want that bird after that kind of treatment… The Buffon’s asking price was $2500, the individual quoted me $2000 but I really think at the end of the day (4 p.m.) I could have had her for $1700 but again, she would have been a basket-case from all the stress incurred during the day…Plus I really hated the dog-and-pony show this vendor presented.

I really think anyone wants to flourish or profit in this industry they need to be more inventive and look for what they think may be the next greatest thing…I am so tired of rainbow colored balsa, pine, plastic, etc., bring us something we have never seen before and make us need it! Give us something that will revolutionize the way we keep our birds and show us how important it is to have it.

I also wish more rescues made a known presence, with so many birds in need of good homes, I wish you could have/would have been front and center. Thank you for being the kind souls and havens for those in need.

All in all, it was a very, very good day!