Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelP
I agree 75% with what you said above. I've been the first to be happy to get free registration for the show an I thank them
The other 25% : Where our industry is VERY different from meainstream's though is that we deal with Tits & Ass and that's why we need to heavily filter who is getting inside. That's where a registration fee help to do that. XBiz is HUGE and they can afford it, good for them, I'm more than happy for them and I wish one day I can do the same...
That being said : Nobody care about an accountant convention unless they're accountant themselves, but when it comes to sex in any form, some people will do almost ANYTHING just to get in with the thought that our shows are simply big orgies where they can do anything they want with "our" girls, which of course is not the case even for insiders...
So big companies in the biz can afford to do "free" shows for everyone, thanks to huge sponsorships and also to huge revenues already from their core business which is not running shows...
As being a small show here, we can't afford (yet) to do a FREE FOR ALL show, but we do our very best to make sure that every attendees, sponsors and exhibitors have the best return on their money as possible. So in the end the Free show is not always the less expensive as someone else highlighted
Love you all  |
It is not just accounting trade shows that allow for free access - CES - AD Tech etc.
Charging an entrance fee does not curb the riff raff. I promoted clubs for many years, back when $5 was too much of a cover we were charging $20 and still had the most violence out of any club in Seattle till finally the city decided to shut the club down by paying off the owners to leave.
JFK mentioned all the problems we have had in the past with shows were good money was paid to get in. Laptops stolen, money stolen, cameras stolen, fights etc.
Bottom line is what you said Michael - If you are promoting a trade show and you do not have the sponsor backing like some of the larger shows then you need the entrance fee to make it profitable.
