The Reptile Outlet
Well-Known Member
It's sounds like I missed out on a great event this year... I have just been sitting here wondering what the average age bracket of attendees would have been? I'm not proud of but honest enough to admit that I felt that the price tag of seats at the Symposium surely must have limited some enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and keen younger members of the herpetoculture world, myself included.
Not to rehash on a topic of old, because I know this has already been discussed, but surely this should be a major consideration? How else are those of us trying to "move up" in the herping world/industry if we're unable to meet the more experienced and learn from them?
Hi Kristy, I understand what you are saying, but from personal experience of hosting our own Reptile Festival, which of course is on a smaller scale, I realise just how time consuming and expensive a process it is to bring this kind of an event together. I'm sure that the other organisers of Expos can also testify to this fact. It's not cheap to bring together even a smaller one day event, so I can't even imagine how expensive a project this was for the organisers of the Symposium, but I'm sure that they do appreciate that not everyone is going to be able to attend, and that in many instances it's going to be because of price. It's a shame, but it's a fact!
It's great that you and many other young new keepers to the industry are so keen. Heck, I know what I'm like myself. I'm like a sponge and absolutely absorb any info that I can. My advice to all newcomers, whether they can make it to the Symposium or not, would be similar to Michael's. Read, read, read, every reptile book, every reptile magazine that you can get your hands on. There's information in them all year round. Ask questions from experienced keepers. Attend any of the Expos/Festivals that you can. These are different to the Symposium, but you'll have the opportunity to meet and chat with many of Australia's most respected keepers at these events too. I've found that in most cases they are more than happy to help the newcomer, or less experienced person. We just need to ask them!
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Joy
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