So I remember the first "Reef a Palooza", was living down there at the time. Just a bunch of hobbyists at a guys house for a BBQ and like 40 coolers filled with food and frags.
I think it would be cool to start something like this, but let's try to be realistic with where we are at as a club. The BBQ last week would have been the perfect time, everyone just brings the frags they have, when interest was gauged on the boards no one was really interested.
IMO instead of trying to start out huge to legitimize ourselves, let's accept who we are as a club and just try to do a local get together, and people can bring frags as they like. If it gets huge great, if not then that is fine too.
The market in Southern California is very different then it is here. There is a lot more money in the hobby there, and many more hobbyists. The population difference in itself is amazing. They draw from an area 10x+ or so larger then ours. There events are going to be bigger. Just because we can't be them does not mean we can't be us.
IMO it would be better if we started small and see what it builds into, then trying to compete or redefine anything in this industry. Even Reef a Palooza started in a backyard.
JMO