I agree with Kerby about the classified account. I did the Chicago show a few years ago. It cost me $400 in total (I drove from Cleveland with two other vendors). For a colubrid breeder $400 bucks could mean needing to sell a lot of snakes to break even. I did well at that show, but the following year I decided to use my "Show Budget" to get a digital camera. I've never looked back. I haven't attended a show as a vendor or buyer since.
Each show is different. Even for a local show, it takes half a day to pack your stuff into deli cups, label it and pack up your car. In addition, if you have a display with lights and cases, those need to be checked and cleaned.
Then you have "show day." For all your trouble, you may not sell anything. I don't know what attendance is at most shows, but I've noticed a steady decline with each passing year (I attended the last Orlando and first Daytona Expo, as well). I've also had animals stolen from my table at shows.
When you get home, you'll need to unpack your unsold snakes and show equipment. All this can be rather time consuming, and as they say "time is money."
Having said that, there are some positive aspects to reptile shows. If you like parties, there's some good ones. It's very rewarding to have people come up and talk to you because they are a fan of your website. And then there's the variety. I would have never seen "in person" some of the animals and morphs that were at "big shows."
But if you're simply looking at it from a financial perspective, I doubt it would be worth your while. Especially if you're a "small time" colubrid breeder. From what I understand, a number of reptile shows have become "Ball Python Shows."
Tim
