If you've decided that you'd like to exhibit your koi or are currently undecided and trying to find out exactly what's involved, then welcome to the site. We hope you'll find the answer to all your questions right here.

Find a show

You've made the decision, now you just need a show, but which show and how to decide? A list of ALL UK shows can be found on this website so finding one is easy, just find one local to you or on a date that suits and look into it from there. Shows in the UK are split into 2 categories; national and closed. National (or open) shows are open to anyone that wishes to exhibit, closed shows on the other hand restrict exhibitors to being members of the organising club.

Closed shows are a great way to get started as not only are they often more local to you than an open show maybe, but as you need to be a member of the club, you will get to know all the other exhibitors and organisers before the show. You'll be able to get lots of help and advice to guide you on your way. By nature, closed shows are more 'intimate' than open shows as there is a closer relationship between all the exhibitors, they really are the best way to get involved in the show side of the hobby and offer a good learning curve towards exhibiting at larger open shows should that be the route you wish to take although there are many hobbyists that will quite happily restrict their exhibiting to being only at their club show.

Open shows are typically more significant events which encourage more competition due to the larger number of exhibitors and thus koi on display but as there are fewer of these than closed shows, you may find that the closest one to you in some distance away, don't let this put you off though, so long as your fish are bagged and boxed properly they'll be just fine in the car for a good number of hours.

Book your vat

As stupid and obvious as it may sound, you do need to book a vat in advance of the show, you can't just turn up and expect to enter your fish. You'll find contact details on all the show information pages on this site, so when you've decided which show you wish to exhibit at, just email them and ask for a VAT form. If it's a closed club show, you'll probably be sent a membership form at the same time, but if it's an open show you're enquiring about, you should be dispatched the form by return, and if you're lucky, there won't be a waiting list to be added to before having your booking confirmed, if you are advised that you'll be added to a waiting list, don't fret, cancellations for various reasons are pretty common in the weeks leading up to a show so this is probably just a formality. Vats vary in price depending on the show, BKKS membership offers a significant discount on vat bookings for The National Koi Show.

Book a day off work

Really? Can't I take my fish after work? No! By the time you finish work, bag and box your fish, drive to and arrive at the venue it will be far too late and you'll find yourself rushing, take the day off and go through the whole process is a calm and relaxed manner.

Get your hotel booked

Once your vat is confirmed, if you're going to be a long way from home and don't fancy driving back and forth, get your hotel booked. Do this nice and early and you'll typically save a lot of money, go onto some koi forums and facebook groups to find out where others are staying, so you'll have plenty of people to talk koi with in the evening at the bar.

Planning

If you're only thinking about which fish to take and how to box them on the morning of the show, you've left it too late, take a look at our Transporting Your Koi article for guidance on how to prepare to move your fish. You may find that the show you're exhibiting at is offering you the option to bench your fish online, if you're confident to get your fish out and into a bowl for photos a few weeks before the event, then this would be an ideal time to check them over and get new measurements and pictures.

Costs

Costs will vary for every exhibitor and every show, the only uniform will be the cost of the vat at a specific show, other things to consider and add in are petrol, road tolls, hotel, food, drink, oxygen and koi bags.

Exhibiting locally and at a closed show will typically be far cheaper than exhibiting at an open show due to the locality of the show. Still, whichever way you go and whatever you end up spending, you'll find it a very worthwhile experience.