Meet the Show Chair: Keith Bonin – Mardi Gras Magic

Meet the Show Chair: Keith Bonin – Mardi Gras Magic

1. What is the name of your show/cluster?

Keith Bonin: Our shows are called Mardi Gras Magic.

2. Where are your show(s)/cluster held? When?

Keith Bonin: We welcome exhibitors to Alexandria, Louisiana, in the Randolph Riverfront Center. Our shows are always the last full weekend of January.

3. How long have you been Show/Cluster Chair?

Keith Bonin: I’ve been Show Chair since 2011.

4. Can you please provide a brief history of your club?

Keith Bonin: Our club has been in existence for over 50 years. In the 1980s and early ‘90s, our club held shows both in Alexandria and Lafayette, in conjunction with the Acadiana Kennel Club of Lafayette. In the early 2000s, we had our shows by ourselves in Alexandria. In 2011, we joined with the Baton Rouge Kennel Club to hold 4-day clusters in Alexandria. Now our club holds our standalone 3-day shows in Alexandria.

5. How are the following accommodated at your show(s)/cluster: Parking; Grooming; Bathing, Hospitality; Vendors; Public Education?

Keith Bonin: We use three lots near the Riverfront Center for RV parking. Parking for exhibitors is in the 4-story parking garage attached to the Holiday Inn. The Holiday Inn, which is attached to the Riverfront Center, our show site, is our host hotel. We have bathing facilities under the Riverfront Center in a parking lot. We have a variety of vendors that frequent our shows. We also have a food truck parked under the Riverfront Center for the exhibitors to purchase lunch. There are several nice restaurants within walking distance from the show site, and we have an excellent hospitality group that has meals brought in for our judges and workers.

6. Does your show/cluster offer the National Owner-Handled Series? Junior Showmanship? 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy? Best Bred-By? Specialties? Supported Entries?

Keith Bonin: Our show offers the National Owner-Handled Series, Junior Showmanship, and 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy competition all three days.

7. What about Companion and Performance Events? Obedience? Rally? Agility? Fast CAT? Dock Diving? Other?

Keith Bonin: Our club offers Temperament Testing as well as CGC testing at our shows.

8. How are judging panels determined?

Keith Bonin: Our club members determine which judges we will hire for our show, attempting to have provisional judges as well. We attempt to have at least two all-around judges on our panel.

9. Who stewards at your show(s)/cluster?

Keith Bonin: Best in Stewards does a great job keeping the rings on schedule.

10. Does your club have an active membership? How are you seeking new members?

Keith Bonin: Our club has a fairly active membership. We usually have people contact us through our website to join our club.

11. How are your show(s)/cluster promoted? TV? Radio? Print? Social Media?

Keith Bonin: Our shows are promoted by Onofrio, our Superintendent, and through social media.

12. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as Show/Cluster Chair? What are your greatest successes?

Keith Bonin: The biggest challenge we face at this time is attempting to keep expenses down so that we can at least break even on the cost of putting the show on. Our building rental is going up next year and we lost money this year. So, next year will be a challenge. Our club has one of the best raffles that I have seen at dog shows. We have a very active group that works for months accumulating items for the raffle table. We also purchase a couple of nice items to put in the raffle.