Will you attend the Convention if it costs you $X?

I got to wondering how many people would actually attend a Wet Shaving convention. I ask because eventually this information will become an important item for planning purposes. The date, where, and cost are probably the most important factors in deciding if you'll attend, but I'm just focused on the cost aspect in this poll.

In my mind, there are three classes of attendees regardless of where the convention is held… those that live close enough to commute, those that live close enough to drive to the location but need to stay overnight, and those that must fly (or use train/bus).

I’ve looked at the cost for round-trip airline tickets between the top 16 domestic (US) airports and they are not cheap. Depending on where you live versus where the convention is held you’ll typically pay between $144 and $939 for the cheapest round trip ticket. (I used the cheapest Travelocity price for a flight leaving 4/5/08 and returning 4/6/08… I did no filtering for number of stops, time of day, etc., so the actual cost will likely be higher.)

So, here’s a poll to see whether you would attend at various cost levels. The “cost” is intended to reflect your total expenses… ie, travel (be it by car, train, plane, or whatever), lodging, parking, meals, any convention fees, etc. (Note: if you are a vendor, you will likely incur costs over and above those of an attendee... do not factor these additional costs into your vote.)

The poll is multiple answer, so check ALL of the options you would be willing to commit to. I know you will have a lot of “it depends” questions… you’ll have to do the best you can and make your best guess. The “this implies” comments are guidelines only… there will be many exceptions I’m sure. But please be as honest as you can in your answers… it will do us no good to have a lot of people saying they’ll attend and then not show up, and vice versa!

Please DO NOT post replies to this thread…. just take the poll. If you have questions, PM me and I’ll do my best to answer your question. If you have comments, please start another thread.

C'mon folks...

Over 200 of you have visited the forum since the poll opened and only 11 have voted... that's under 6% :eek:


Surely more than 6% of us are interested in having a convention? :shrug:



PLEASE VOTE !

:OT

post deleted

:OT

post deleted

:OT

post deleted

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by azjoe

Please DO NOT post replies to this thread…. just take the poll. If you have questions, PM me and I’ll do my best to answer your question. If you have comments, please start another thread.

---

:shrug:

Sorry guys, but I've deleted your posts.

This poll is trying to identify how many people would attend a convention at various cost levels. How to reduce cost, where to have the convention, etc. are off-topic here.

I will go if it's near where I live so I voted 1st option. I am very busy and would risk major wife and children trouble if I would fly to U.S. to attend straight shaving convention. The missus already feels I spend an awfully long time with my narcistic (read straight razor shaving) behaviour in the morning. "Getting ready in the morning takes you as much time as a woman"

(Bump)

Everyone needs to vote in this poll. The convention planning activity depends on your answer.

Name and shame! Name and shame! :nono: ";"

I voted, but I think this poll is created the wrong way.
I voted for the 150 - 300 option because that is what I would be prepared to pay.

But being a European, this is not even enough to cross the big pond, so even though I voted, I don't see what use my answer will be.

The question probably should have been changed to include only local costs and not travelling costs. That way, someone who would vote for say 150$ would indicate that if the event itself costs 150$, he would come, having looked at traveling costs beforehand.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bruno

The question probably should have been changed to include only local costs and not travelling costs. That way, someone who would vote for say $150 would indicate that if the event itself costs $150, he would come, having looked at traveling costs beforehand.

---

Valid point!:cool:

So far only about 10% of the members who have logged in since the poll went up have bothered to vote. We need everyone to vote.

There's no commitment involved... we're just asking you to indicate approximately what you could justify spending to attend the convention.

I've added an "I wouldn't attend" option for those who wish to vote that option.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bruno

I voted, but I think this poll is created the wrong way.
I voted for the 150 - 300 option because that is what I would be prepared to pay.

But being a European, this is not even enough to cross the big pond, so even though I voted, I don't see what use my answer will be.

The question probably should have been changed to include only local costs and not travelling costs. That way, someone who would vote for say 150$ would indicate that if the event itself costs 150$, he would come, having looked at traveling costs beforehand.

---

I'm pretty much in the same boat as Kees and Bruno. I'd love to but just don't have the cash to spare.

You need to interpret the poll question in the following way... if the convention were being held somewhere that would cost me approximately $X for transportation, meals, lodging, and fees would I attend. The choices for X are 0-150, 150-300, etc. It doesn't matter where you live for the purposes of the poll since what I'm trying to model is (on average) what percentage of our members could afford to attend a convention if it cost them less than $150, between $150 and $300, etc.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

<snip>I'd love to but just don't have the cash to spare.

---

So then I'd guess you either voted "I probably wouldn't attend no matter what it cost" or "$0-150". Nothing wrong either response. What's important is that YOU VOTED. :D

edit... if you didn't already vote, I've reopened the poll for another week.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bruno

I voted, but I think this poll is created the wrong way.
I voted for the 150 - 300 option because that is what I would be prepared to pay.

But being a European, this is not even enough to cross the big pond, so even though I voted, I don't see what use my answer will be.

The question probably should have been changed to include only local costs and not travelling costs. That way, someone who would vote for say 150$ would indicate that if the event itself costs 150$, he would come, having looked at traveling costs beforehand.

---

Same concerns here really. I voted a few weeks ago in the cheapest bracket, but that would have to include travel costs too for me to come from the UK.

I'd love to attend but realistically couldn't unless it was in the UK, which isn't going to happen.

Am I right in thinking that the poll seems to have devolved to a "if the lunch were free, would you eat?" Obviously the trend in answers seems to be "well, since it costs, I'll starve." Aha! What an inspiration I'm having: The SRP Diet! Move over Dr. Whoever. SRP is gonna get rich on this one and then the Convention could be free!!

Guys, you are geniuses!

Actually, a preliminary look at the data is somewhat encouraging. But so few of our members have voted that it's hard to conclude they represent the norms of the group. Nonetheless (once I correct for those that didn't follow the directions ;)) here's a snapshot of what we have so far...

• Since no one voted they would not attend, we can assume a high percentage of members would spend up to $150 to attend.
• approx 75% would spend up to $300
• approx 35% up to $600
• approx 15% up to $1000
• approx 5% up to $1500
• approx 2% >$1500

We still need more members to vote so the data truly represents the resources of our community of members. But... along the lines of what Bruce alluded to... I would caution against "voting low just to try to drive the cost down" :nono:... if you do that there's a real possibility it will affect whether there's a convention at all.

So please vote what you can honestly justify spending.

Looks like the poll is closed, but it would depend on cost to an extent. $600-$1000 depending on what was at the convention. Any money spent on a convention is money not used for razors! At any rate, if the convention price of admission came with discounts for the vendors at the convention or there were some types of classes or something it could really make it worthwhile. It would probably be best to decide on a convention location most central to the majority of the members, or a location close to an international airport where airfare would be competitively priced. A discount on room rates could also be established for members from SRP.

Just some thoughts.