Bug Fair May 18 and 19 Los Angeles Natural History Museum

[jellybean]

This weekend. Come to see, sell, buy, & exchange bugs. https://nhm.org/calendar/bug-fair-2024

[wollastoni]

Would be great to have some pictures of the fair. If anyone here attends it.

[Trehopr1]

If it wasn't held so dang far away (for most of us on the Eastern seaboard) and the traveling expense was not what it is for airfare and lodging (without specimens cost) then I would be there in a heartbeat.

[wollastoni]

Indeed, you guys need to organize a big fair on the East coast too.

Several fairs are succesful in Europe, I don't see why it would not be a success in the US too. You can coorganize it with shell or mineral collectors, if you fear to lack visitors in the first years. (that's what they do in Modena fair in Italy).

[Chuck]

We've discussed this here in the past, same story.

LA is a great show, specimens you won't find commercially (some people don't feel like shipping), plus you get to meet some great collectors.

I tried on the east coast, there's little interest and costs are high (particularly insurance). The only way this could start up is as suggested, get some other collectors to start a niche at a gem or reptile show.

European shows are more successful because:
1. Momentum- once a show is running it's "easy" to keep going; starting a show is tough.
2. Not too far/ expensive- All of Europe can fit into US northeast; NY to California is a full day of air travel each way
3. US has plenty of forests and wild areas close to just about anywhere, less of a need to buy specimens
4. Culture- Europeans are more into exotic stuff like aquarium fishes, antiquities, etc.
5. USA has more alternative interest opportunities...Europe has far fewer motorcyles, snowmobiles, camping, etc. There more Porsches in USA and even more ski resorts in USA than in Europe.