Great advice above :)

I find that getting there early can be helpful as vendors have more time to chat when it's quieter at the beginning of a show.

Orchid Society memberships are usually around $50/year. Bring extra money for that, and make sure to go to the regular meetings. It's a great way to learn about orchids and establish relationships with local vendors.

Our Orchid Society also has an annual auction coming up next month. This will be my first one, but I'm told that there are excellent plants available and very reasonable and low prices. It's also load sof fun to met with like-minded people and talk orchids for entire evening. We have an inexpensive dinner ($12) with cash bar before our meetings. So it's a great social occasion.

As for speakers, it truly depends. Ours does my have a speaker because the event coincides with the Missouri Botanical Gardens Orchid Show. We just simply don't have the space to do that, but it really depends upon each society and what they are able/willing to do/afford.

Our orchid society charges $20 and you get a free orchid for joining at the show, then, at Christmas, another free orchid. Two orchids for $20. The only other money you spend is buying orchids when they just happen to appear. :)

LOL, ours has a raffle for orchids at most meetings. Sometimes there are so many that everyone walks away with one, lol... Then of course there are speakers who are also vendors that come in and sell their goods in addition. Good times, but dangerous financially!

All great ideas but I would like to add two more:

1) Always get the name and contact information for any vendor from whom you buy a plant in case you want or need to contact them for any reason.

2) Do not shop the "right hand side of the menu".The most expensive plants may not be the best or the best for you and your conditions.

Mainly, just have fun and enjoy the experience!

CL

I have nothing in bloom! The last of my Dryadella bloom has faded.

I wasn't planning on going to POE next week but now I'm waffling.

:hmm Maybe I won't find parking.

What damage there is to my wallet, I blame on this thread and the rest of OB.

For other big shows, what is a typical entrance fee? I find this one to be exorbitant at $15 (not including parking, though the lot is probably the cheapest in SF) where as the other two local shows (GG Park and San Jose) are $4 (IIRC) and free, respectively.

Orchid shows are how societies generate operating funds for the year. $15 is reasonable. If you don't want to pay an entry fee, you can join the Society and volunteer for the show. I've done both, and it's a fair system.

OK. In perspective now. I wasn't thinking about the society but as a huge retail event.

I suspect a big chunk of the fee goes toward the cost of venue.