[MR] try a low cost event was Re: event fees

[Jim]

Yes, you're right.  It *is* possible to hold an event for $5 a head.  However, for that to happen a number of things have to work out in favor of the hosting group.  Mainly finding a suitable site that is inexpensive enough.  If a site costs $500/day, and you expect 100 people, there's $5/head right there.  With no room in the event budget for anything else.  And no margin for error.  And I can tell you that, at least in my neck of the woods, inexpensive sites that also have all the necessary facilities to run an event are regrettably difficult to come by.  Believe me, we've looked, and continue to look.
 
It's not that everyone is conveniently forgetting it's possible or even saying it can't be done, we're saying it can be very difficult to do in this day and age.  I largely agree with the viewpoint that an event budget should be planned to pretty much "break even" on expenses, with a small fudge factor to allow for some cushion to the hosting group's bank balance.  But even with that, I'd rather that groups continue to hold events, even if they end up costing a little more, than not hold them because they don't want to charge larger fees.
 
And, as several folks have pointed out already, when you really compare a day-long event with a lot of other entertainments, we (the SCA) don't come off too badly in the comparison.
 
Mathias
(twice autocrat, and attendee at more budget planning meetings than I care to think about)

--- On Sun, 6/27/10, Becky McEllistrem <bmcellis at yahoo.com> wrote:

And there was a great Feast of St. Pyr story and a comment that several events in the past 3 months had $5.00 day trip fees which is why I knew that it was possible.  We like forgetting that part.

--- On Sun, 6/27/10, Laurie Clarkston <garadh at verizon.net> wrote:

> Lady Rebecca,
> 
> I think you do have something to prove.  You have
> thrown out the remark that it is realistically possible to have a good
> $5 event.