RE: But seriously now folks ... (was HUMOR: STC Conference Time - )

[jgarison -at- ide -dot- com]

Doug, 

It all comes down to economics. The STC conference usually draws about 2500
attendees. They generally have about 250 sessions, many of which have
multiple presenters (panelists and the like) Others are different formats -
progressions e.g. - and also have many presenters. Lets say that 10% of the
attendees are speakers. If those 10% get in for free, then the others have
to foot the bill for their entrance fees to keep the revenue flat. If you
then start talking about payments over and above free entry to include hotel
bills, airfare, etc, pretty soon you are talking about doubling the cost for
the attendees. 

The society doesn't make money on the conference. Having been in the
conference business and trying to make a living off of it (remember Help
University?) I can tell you that the costs associated with a conference are
huge, and the upfront expenses - which you may or may not make back - are
enormous.

My 2¢ worth,

John






-----Original Message-----
From: Douglas S. Bailey (AL) [mailto:dbailey -at- commandalkon -dot- com]
Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 2:02 PM
To: jgarison -at- ide -dot- com; TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: But seriously now folks ... (was HUMOR: STC Conference Time
- )


> If they were to subsidize the speakers, they would
> be forced to raise the rates for the attendees.

The idea that the STC would have to increase the door fees to account for
the "lost" speaker door fee revenue is bull, unless the revenue is
physically lost, i.e. spent on food for the speakers, etc.  If not, then
they're only trying to protect some phantom revenue figure that they've
developed in their heads.  Settling for that figure minus the total door
fees from the speakers wouldn't bust their budgets.  If it actually would
(which I doubt), then there's trouble in River City and they *need* to raise
their door fees.

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