Re: [guadec-list] GUADEC 2012 Sponsor Perks

[Dave Neary <dneary gnome org>]

Hi,

On 11/21/2011 08:28 PM, Brian Cameron wrote:
> > In the local team, we suggest the attendance to be free.
>
> It might be good to consider a sliding scale. Students and community
> volunteers, for example, could be allowed free attendance. Professional
> attendees can be more reasonably expected to pay a reasonable fee. Some
> volunteers might even be willing to pay an affordable fee if there are
> perks like attendance to a dinner or party. Most people understand
> that things like parties cost money, and understand that a reasonable
> fee is needed to break even.
>
> I do think that free attendance is important for people that the GNOME
> community needs to reach out to, such as the local community. But, such
> fees can really help to cover costs for making a successful event
> happen.

I agree with Brian, I think it's important to send the message that 
attendees are contributing to the viability of the conference. Having a 
fee (even a token amount) also allows much more accurate numbers of the 
number of attendees than if registration is free.

One other concern is also the longer term implications of free 
attendance. Perhaps this year the budget works out so that we don't need 
registration fees, but if, in future years, that is not the case, the 
precedent of a free conference might make it harder to have a fee. This 
is something we've already seen after the Desktop Summit in Gran Canaria.

In general, I think it's important to set the expectation that GUADEC 
attendance is not free, but that we will never turn anyone away for 
financial reasons. Perhaps a "suggested contribution" similar to 
voluntary (but heavily encouraged) entrance fees to museums would be 
appropriate?

Cheers,
Dave.


--
Dave Neary
GNOME Foundation member
dneary gnome org
Jabber: nearyd gmail com