Bird fair Charlotte NC

[Sorechia]

EXOTIC BIRD FAIR Metrolina Expo, April 25th, 9a-4p, 727-862-1542

[birdladyinnc]

Yesterday I attended the Charlotte bird show put on by organizer, Michael Hayes.

Something happened that I found quite upsetting. I left immediately and will NOT attend another show put on by that particular organizer.

Occasionally a bird will get loose. Hardly unexpected when a dozen sellers are going into cages to catch the special one the buyer wants.

Two birds got free yesterday and stayed high in the room, landing on air ducts. The owners clearly wanted their birds back because they are $$. (Birds can be as inexpensive as $6.00 or as much as $1500. I expect these were worth a couple hundred.) Everyone was concerned they be caught before they flew into the glass entryway and risk breaking their necks.

Several people were holding nets and it was a bit of a show. Some people were watching the attempts to capture the birds, but most were going about their business.

After a while, I happened to notice the glass double door leading outside was wide open, and I thought it was a mistake, that someone had gone in or out and the door just had not closed. With birds loose inside, I went and closed the door.

The organizer not only went behind me and immediately reopened the door, he told me to mind my own "effing business", it was his door and he would take care of it. "If people kept the doors to their cages shut they wouldn't have the effing problem."

That offended me to the point I left. I couldn't believe anyone would purposely open the doors so birds worth hundreds of dollars, birds that would NOT survive on their own, would escape. And this wasn't just any man, it was the organizer!

While I would encourage people to go to bird shows, to look if not to buy, I would also advise them to pay attention to who is putting on the show. Exotic Bird Shows put on by Michael Hayes is one I would discourage anyone from attending.

[Sorechia]

WOW..... I went to the show too and saw the birds that got out (they were lovebirds). I can not BELIEVE the guy was that way! What a loser! I saw them later in the morning shutting the doors but missed the jerk telling you off. I wasn't paying very close attention to the situation though because that is where I got my baby sun conure. I actually got him from the breeder that had the lovebirds free flying! The breeders seemed very concerned about the lovebirds, they were getting ready to handfeed the lovebirds and they took off. There were a TON of people over at the table where the lovebirds got loose so I am guessing that someone spooked the birds and that's what made them take off like that. I wonder if there is a way to complain about the person that cussed you out... I will write a letter for sure. Anyway I thought that show needed about 50 more vendors.

[birdladyinnc]

I was at the Bird Show today in Hickory. a smaller but very nice show with a lot of potential for future enlargement. Several of the vendors are people I have seen at "Hayes" shows. We talked about the Charlotte show and what happened. None of them knew what happened, they heard there was a rukus but didn't know what it was about I obviously was happy to tell my side of the story. Michael can tell his side if he wants but enough people saw what happened that I think he won't say a thing.

It wasn't just that he would disrespect the vendors by opening the door putting their income at risk, it was also the way he spoke to me, and has to others. He is just rude and I am glad I won't be dealing with him again.

Meanwhile, I understand the Hickory group is considering another show this fall and I hope to throw some support behind them. May even set up a table ofmy own next time.

[Sorechia]

I was there and we sold our big playstand!
Yeah I heard the other vendors talking about the charlotte shows and how bad that dude is.

[Alan]

I went to the bird show in Hickory and unfortunately I wasn't impressed. Nothing there for my big guys. I almost bought a cage but the baby i would have needed it for wont be here till next year and well no need to store it that long.

I am also not impressed with the ones put on by this guy from Florida. I went to the one in Columbia and it was just aweful. I don't think I will go to the one in charlotte put on by him either. he is in it for the money and not the birds.

[Sorechia]

To defend the hickory show, they scheduled it the same weekend as the HUGE one in Atlanta, they didn't realize it when it was booked a year ago. They just moved to the convention center instead of the fairgrounds so alot of people didn't know about it. Yesterday was bad because of the weather. I think we will do the Hickory show again but I do think it should be only one day. The one in Morganton is supposed to be lots bigger, at least that is what the other vendors were saying. The one put on by that dude in Charlotte suck from what I hear. That he is totally in it for the money and is a jerk. The guy that ran the show in hickory is very nice and you can tell they had fun doing this show!

[birdladyinnc]

The Hickory group is small, the scheduling was off if it was the same date as the Atlanta show and while I know some advertising was done, I think there could have been more. Hopefully the next show will be bigger and better. I think more reaching out on the Internet may help. So here we are - - maybe if we can get more people interested in showing and attending we can make it the best show in the area. (It sure couldn't be any worse than the Hayes' shows.)

I look for a good variety of birds at reasonable prices, a friendly atmosphere where people can talk about their birds, exchange questions, answers, advice. Toys, cages, food.

Vendors have certain things they are looking for as well. A good show location, good spots in the venue (wall tables if they want).

Put that together and make sure people understand this can be a cheap family outing, an educational adventure where they will NOT be pressured into buying anything and I think it will be better attended. Even on a Sunday.

But it isn't going to happen without people working on it. Even if it is just posting online about it so people want to be there, as a vendor or shopper. I think it is worth a try.

I couldn't attend that group's meeting today but will be talking to one of the members and offering to help with the next show. Maybe updates on how it is coming will help get it growing. I'll try.