$250 For Your Florida Internext Badge

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Originally Posted by Harlan

From when I was an independent webmaster with just myself to worry about to now at PrideBucks where we have a team to bring, attending any show is takes a bite out of your budget that must be planned for. Lets not forget all of perperation for any exhibiot and doing the sites updates etc in advance to keep things running while you are away. Like anything, it comes down to Return on Invesment.

There's always sticker shock when you see a $100 price hike on anything and believe me, I'm dying to fork it over however, from a purely financial perspective, even if you hoof or cab it to the local fast food eatery or order in pizza for your 3 squares, you are easily going to spend more then $100 on food during a show. If you are an exhibitor and tethered to a booth and have to rely on a hit and run at one of the hotel restaurants, you've porbably spent almost that much by lunch the first day. Regardless of whether or to what % the meals are being paid for by sponsors, having them included more then compenstates for the price hike as almost anyone would spend more providing their own meals.

Add to that, if you just attend the legal seminar, well an hour with our attournney....I wish that was just $100.

The value and the return on the investment is something every company has to weight for themselves. Frankly, just the chance to see my friends from the industry that I only have the opportunity to see at these shows is worth the $33.33/day increase to me.

One InterNext badge, $250, Three days with David, Joe, Rainey and all of our buds, priceless!

My 2 cents!

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Very well said my friend! For us it comes down to this we cannot afford to NOT attend Internext... The amount of business and relationships we have gained through both the Florida and Vegas shows are indeed priceless! AVN has been very good to NakedSword and fully supported us and we will always do the same! Are we thrilled about the $250 no! However we have spent more then that at the Abbey in an hour LOL and had much less to show for it! Thanks to Aly for clarifying all of this :groovy:

I think that is a little excessive given all the other inflated expenses that go with it.

I really want to try and make it to Florida. This will be my first time attending a big shin-dig like this. I hope that a new small fry like me will get my moneys worth, but that price tag might put me in the red! :eek:

I just don't see how the $250 badge price could in the least prevent any individual webmaster from attending the event.
Could it contribute to your company's deciding to send 2 people instead of 5? Certainly. But truth be told if that's a concern, you most likely would not have sent 5 people last year at the cheaper badge price either because if you're that much on the fence or those are the margins you're dealing wtih, you would not have been able to afford last year either.
If you can't afford an extra $100 to go to a convention, then you got way more important things you should be spending that $100 on.
It's the price of hotel and airfare that are really the kickers for those who may or may not be able to attend.
It's 250 bucks. Set aside $65 a month, starting now, between today and the show and you're good to go. Or $25/month if you'd already set aside badge money based on last year's prices cuz it's $100 more this year.

I hate spending money as much as the next guy, but this convo reminds me of something I spoke about on the seminar at Phoenix - you have to be prepared to assume overhead when it's called for. There is no inherent right to succeed in business without investing money. If you can succeed without investing money, more power to ya and you're accompishing an admirable thing. But this is business. More than likely, overhead will exist and ya gotta accept that fact. No one single person stands out from everyone else in having some god-given right to not have to spend money in exchange for a return on that investment.

So if $250 is too much for you, that's your decision as a business person that spending that extra $100 won't benefit your business to a greater value. It is not, however, some wicked doing on account of Internext meant to hold ya down.

I'm simply having trouble comprehending the manner of disapproval expressed in this thread and I don't see much validity in the argument that an extra $100 will be the deciding factor in someone's not attending that otherwise would have. I see that extra $100 being another justification for not attending on a list belonging to someone who wasn't going to attend anyways.

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Originally Posted by krusher

I really want to try and make it to Florida. This will be my first time attending a big shin-dig like this. I hope that a new small fry like me will get my moneys worth, but that price tag might put me in the red! :eek:

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Go go krusher! Every show we have attended was a hard decision when holding it up to the costs and the time away from actual work.

Every show we come back and say .. money and time, WELL Spent. :$$$:

Now for how long I can continue to put 2-3K into a trip, is yet to be seen. For some, that's a small amount of cash to lay out.. but for real lil webmasters, it's a pretty big nut. So we book in a less expensive hotel, drive to the event, and stay lean on the extras.

Yes yes.. I am as tight as a tic's ass.

Of course our personal entertaiment budget is history .. but shoot .. Where else but in this industry could you be so well entertained and network with the very best at the same time?

The point someone made above, that seminars are totally different events, and often MUCH more costly than conventions, is very well taken.

I have planned and/or overseen fairly large conferences and conventions in my pre-adult career, and I can tell you that Aly is right on the money.

The hotel loses a huge amount (or at least, will claim it does) by closing all of its public properties (bars, restaurants, hospitality suites, meeting rooms, etc) to non-attendees. The costs of taking all of those potential revenue streams from the hotel, as well as meals, private security/staffing/etc are not inexpensive. And hotels are notorious for charging absolute robbery rates for everything associated with conventions and seminars, because they know they can get away with it (Think $750 to rent a $800 LCD projector for 3 days, with rules that you can't bring your own... or $100 for a $35 deli plate for the break room... )

And likewise, by guaranteeing to cover the cost of all the rooms, even at a discounted rate, there's a big risk involved... particularly if, like last year, there's a hurricane at the last minute and a bazillion people cancel. So Internext is taking on a lot of additional cost, and a lot of risk. And it's a complete unknown because they've never done it this way before. So my guess is that in the end, they are figuring that they will make a modest profit... but they could also lose big because of the guarantees they've taken on to the hotel.

But forgetting all of that... what we are all paying for here is the opportunity to network and conduct business with others in the industry, to meet new people, develop new relationships, to deepen relationships we already have.

Think of it in terms of investment. If I can pay $1200 per person (hotel, airfare, meals, etc.) and in exchange get the opportunity to get meaningful face time with the most important people in my industry and brainstorm mutually beneficial deals between us, how long will it take me to repay that investment?

We spent almost 10 times that on Vegas 2005, with all our model expenses, sponsorship, travel/lodging/etc, and that was a really large investment given our size and income. It could have bought a lot of other things, but it's been an excellent investment for us in terms of new affiliates, increased visiblity for our videos, websites, and so forth... and while it's difficult to quantify for sure, I am confident that it will return many times over because of the opportunities it opened for us.

And so, while it may not be the same for everyone, I have a really hard time understanding why anyone can complain about $100 difference between $150 and $250. If you have a $20 membership site, it's 5 joins. If you are in traffic, it's maybe twice that. Very, very small investment that, if you put even a little effort into it, will probably offer a better return than almost anything else you could do with the same money. At least in my book.

We spent almost 10 times that on Vegas 2005, with all our model expenses, sponsorship, travel/lodging/etc

LOL! I know I sure apperciated the hotties you sent to Vegas. Lovely young men all of them .. and some pretty nice eye candy for the ole Het gal!

Talk about your ROI!

Yeah Madame, I hope to make it. Sounds like most people's experiences say it's well worth it. Better bring my sleeping bag(shelter) and a bag of chips(food). I guess I'll start checking under the vending machines at work for loose change. Maybe I can set a donation can somewhere. Send Jeff to Florida! So sad.....
:gaydays:

Anyone need a room down here to cut down some cost?! hehehe..j/k

With the price increase, it's going to be a bit tough, but I agree with what everyone else said... the chance to network.. who can put a pricetag on that?

I know Jacob and I had an absolute blast this last time... there's no monetary value we could place on it.

Can't wait to see you all again...

Kevin
Hollywood, Florida

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Originally Posted by krusher

Yeah Madame, I hope to make it. Sounds like most people's experiences say it's well worth it. Better bring my sleeping bag(shelter) and a bag of chips(food). I guess I'll start checking under the vending machines at work for loose change. Maybe I can set a donation can somewhere. Send Jeff to Florida! So sad.....
:gaydays:

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Awww baby - not to worry, Madame always has the coffee perkin' and cookies for all the good boys and girls (over the age of consent).

Sweet Lord! They are gona have to put that on my headstone.

Madame
She loved so many tasty boys.
Over the age of consent.

Taking a right off Topic - One of my favorite headstones belongs to Jayne Mansfield, a really fine actress with -on spot- comedic timing.

WE LIVE TO LOVE YOU MORE EACH DAY

Such a gentle heart who to lives, to enrich a love.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. It's a calm grey day in N TEXAS- the kind of day you leave the weather channel up and running. :eek:

Even though it's only April this thread has me excited for Internext in FL already!!! hehe

I was just thinking about some of the events that will be held at the show and the people that I know are going to be there and so since we're now post-Phoenix and pre-Internext, time to look forward to Hollywood in August!

I'm glad to see someone from AVN answered. I have been in communication with them regarding different events we are looking to throw at the convention. My past experience is that AVN prices are so over the top that its not worth new companies buying booths. Personally I believe we all know what AVN, TopBucks, ***********, etc are all about. I'd be more interested in the convention if I could hear from small companies and new websites.

The pricing of access in some way limits non-industry people from getting access, which is good. However, paying $250 per person is very difficult for startup sites that might not even be making that per month. AVN needs to be encouraging everyone to attend this event, not just the big guys.

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Originally Posted by BDBionic

I just don't see how the $250 badge price could in the least prevent any individual webmaster from attending the event.
Could it contribute to your company's deciding to send 2 people instead of 5? Certainly.

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Your 100% correct on that statement. For example we are bring a staff of about 15 to this years convention, however, we are only purchasing passes for the owners.

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Originally Posted by Direct Holly

Very well said my friend! For us it comes down to this we cannot afford to NOT attend Internext... The amount of business and relationships we have gained through both the Florida and Vegas shows are indeed priceless! AVN has been very good to NakedSword and fully supported us and we will always do the same! Are we thrilled about the $250 no! However we have spent more then that at the Abbey in an hour LOL and had much less to show for it! Thanks to Aly for clarifying all of this :groovy:

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I have to agree with Holly. I am one of those " new companies" that someone mentioned earlier. While the $1500 for my business partner and I to attend is a very large chunk of change at this stage of the game, I think that as Holly said, We can not miss out on this opportunity to attend. The forum in Phx had approximatly 1000 in attendance and I was glad that I spent the money for travel to attend because I walked away with valuable information, friends, and new business opportunities. From what I understand, Internext generally has about 5000-6000 in attendance. Just imagine the potential business opportunities to be had there!

Lately whenever I have balked at having to spend money for travel or some business related expense people keep telling me "you've got to spend money to make money" (And yes I know that you have to have the money before you can spend the money) I'm starting to really understand what they are saying. The $1500 it will cost my partner and I to attend will hurt to fork over, but the potential in revenue and of course the fantastic people we will get to meet and spend time with, are things that I think will make it well worth it.

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Originally Posted by kcwebwerks

The $1500 it will cost my partner and I to attend will hurt to fork over, but the potential in revenue and of course the fantastic people we will get to meet and spend time with, are things that I think will make it well worth it.

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Originally Posted by boyfunk

what we are all paying for here is the opportunity to network and conduct business with others in the industry, to meet new people, develop new relationships, to deepen relationships we already have..

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Originally Posted by Direct Holly

The amount of business and relationships we have gained through both the Florida and Vegas shows are indeed priceless!

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Originally Posted by Madame0120

Every show we come back and say ... money and time, WELL Spent

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Great points made by great people and they have certainly rung true for me personally and professionally and underscore one very salient truth: you have to be in it, to win it!

WM's events, referring to the Winter & Summer InterNexts and the Phoenix Forum as the big three, offer the opportunity to not just meet the faces, but to get to know the people behind emails, IM's and message board posts. It's one thing when someone is tenacious & trying to get your attention with the billing company of the week, but it's a very different matter when you develop trust and respect and just plain joy from getting to know someone and the impact that can have.

It was during a Vegas show a few years ago, conveniently ensconced in the same hotel, I became "show buddies" with some fellow attendees. That gave us the opportunity to share cabs, meet for meals, attend the soirees and walk around the show floor together with no agenda beyond that. The "us" I am referring to is myself, Joe and David. Before that, Joe and I had had no more then had a few ICQ conversations and in fact, we only recognized each other from pictures. What came out of those few days was discovering we liked each other as people and respected each other professionally. What came out of that was something we now call "PrideBucks."

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Originally Posted by BDBionic

Could it contribute to your company's deciding to send 2 people instead of 5? Certainly.

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That can be used to your advantage & as that certainly paid off for us as well. In our first year, all of us attending every show was not in the budget so Joe and David attended a NY Show since it was a short train ride away from them. There they got to hang out with some people we didn't know well and now do regular business with that is mutually advantageous. Amazing what some quality time can do to eliminate misunderstandings and misconceptions that can be created when people only know what they read in cyberspace.

Later that year, I attended the Florida show, since it was in my neck of the woods. Being there solo, I had the opportunity to not just meet, but get to know people over a few days spending more time with each of them then I probably would have had all "Three Amigos" been there en masse. Aside from several people who's names are on now on my speed dial as friends, what also came out of that was meeting someone and seeing them at all of the gay events and saying hello at the next couple of shows. That someone is named "Rainey." It's hard to imagine my life without PrideBucks...its hard to imagine PrideBucks without Rainey.

Whether a webmaster payout, a traffic trade, a sponsorship fee, a design project, co-sponsoring events, or a paid banner ad...PrideBucks has done business when many members of the GWW community.

It's not the event producers I give credit to, but I do acknowledge the opportunity it affords to meet and get to know people face to face over a few days that can a be huge impact in your personal and professional life.

Businesses grow and change and we all know the joys and pitfalls of making our living in such a fluid industry. There are people you meet and develop what I call "a professional friendship" with at the shows. As your business models changes, its been invaluable to have those contacts in your rolodex or ICQ list that, while initially they may have not been any business to do together, all of a sudden there's an opportunity you can take advantage of when you are already networked and you know who to go for what. That can make a huge difference in the timeline from idea to fuition and we all know, time is money.

When you think about the added cost the $100 Summer InterNext badge costs in the short term, choosing not to spend the money could eliminate some things that can pay off in the long term. Remember, you have to be in it, to win it!

I already added my 2 cents before, so I guess I'm up to a nickel now