~Shows - FAQ - Running a Show
SO YOU WANNA BE A SHOW MANAGER?
Seriously?
REQUIREMENTS: Age 15-85
QUALIFICATIONS: Must have sense of humour - be physically fit (preference given to weight lifters) and have past experience in a child minding centre. Does not need to like cats.
So you have been selected to run a cat show for the Birdsville Cat Club.
Firstly send out schedules (invitations) according to a list supplied by the club. Specify closing date in bold capital LETTERS in a prominent position on schedule.
Closing date at least 2 weeks before the show.
Exhibitors completely disregard this instruction and will contact you the night before the show with entries.
Sometimes they do no bother with this formality but merely bring their cat to show.
Sometimes they bring extra cats or a substitute cat to the show.
When this occurs excuse yourself for a moment and run outside and scream.
Return and smile and do your best. "no trouble" you mutter.
Hopefully after much trouble scrounging amongst business houses and shops in the metropolis of Birdsville you will have enough prizes to distribute at the show.
On occasions you will have donations from people who no longer exhibit.
These donations invariably are old rusted trophies bearing inscriptions such as Best Tail Type won at the Broome Bombay Cat Club Show 1915.
You accept these and announce they are very valuable antique trophies.
You may now sit back and relax for 2 weeks or perhaps a pre show spell at the Birdsville Nursing Home may be beneficial.
At last! Closing day has arrived. You travel kilometres from your property "Forest Park" where you breed the famous Birdsville Forest Cat to the Post Office, eagerly anticipating a pile of entries and when you look in the box there are 4 envelopes - 1 being a rate notice.
After making trips each day, by the end of the week you seem to have a lot of entries.
Ah what a relief! You seem to be having a nervous breakdown at this time - cannot eat or sleep properly. Never mind in another week it will all be over.
Next step - cut up the entry forms and sort into groups 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Then sort the kittens from the cats in each group.
Always check the birth dates because I know a cat lady who has a 4 year old kitten.
Really!
Next step.
Let us start with Group 1.
In the kittens and cats place them in correct breed and then colour order, and then say you have 4 black Persian cats, the male is first - talk about sexist - and then the neuter then female and then spey.
If in doubt check with the Birdsville Cat Club DO NOT attempt to copy the catalogue from the Thargomindah Cat Club show - you don't really want to know.
You now have a bundle of entries secured with a rubber band. Starting with Group 1 kittens and ending with Group 4 exhibits... Number each slip starting at No. 1.
Write out cage cards and mark on cards which cat needs a double cage thus "DC".
Some breeds like the Birdsville Forest Cat will not fit into a normal cage.
Now also write the No. on the exhibitor's summary sheet.
As each exhibitor arrives at show you hand them this form so they know where to put their cat.
Just sort it out if you have duplicated cage numbers and 2 people are stuffing their cats into the same cage.
You often see people fighting at cat shows so just keep your cool and use the spray bottle.
One week to go!
Catalogue has been printed and prizes have been sorted. If you are short of prizes just look around the house and find something you don't want. Remember what is some person's rubbish is another's treasure. I successfully after 2 or 3 attempts, as it kept on being re-donated, managed to get rid of Aunty Mabel's plastic snowstorm paperweight.
Put the judges' slips and challenges in folders clearly labelled with each judge's name.
Bank the cheques and cash but bring some change to show as those who pay at door often tender a $100 note to pay for a $20 entry.
The day before the show take everything plus spare challenges, judges' slips, cage cards to venue.
Now this is where your weightlifting comes in handy.
If you are very lucky some others may come to help you move trestles and cages around.
Attach cage cards to cages and always separate the males from each other and especially neuters.
Speys are OK as the males do not notice the difference.
Place spray bottles containing disinfectant and paper towels on each judging table.
Keep entry forms etc. at the front desk.
Give each worker a lunch ticket and have a separate table for the judges when they have lunch.
Try to have a helper at the front desk as you will need to go outside and scream sometimes.
All day you will receive complaints about everything!
If it is your lucky day no cat will escape and no judge will be bitten.
It is helpful if you can arrange for the St. John Ambulance Service to be in attendance.
At last it is over! What blessed relief! Last chores - clean up venue, pick up rubbish - kitty litter and cat food etc. off floor.
Check if all cats have been collected. Sometimes the owners are very upset they have not won and forget to take pussy home.
Rescue Aunty Mabel's plastic snowstorm paperweight that is hidden behind the toilet door - you can use it again at the next show!
This is of course a humourous view and any resemblence to any show or show manager alive or dead is purely coincidental!
