Expo Tickets & Prizes: Changes for 2014

LincLinc OwnerDetroit Icrontian
edited February 2014 in Events
We're changing our ticket pricing and the prize auction for 2014. You will be shocked by neither. :)


Pricing

I agonize over ticket price every year. The never-ending tension is between two factors. A) We spend a helluva lot more on Expo every year than we get back in ticket sales and B) We absolutely don't want to price anyone out of coming because we'd gladly eat a few extra dollars to see you.

There's two types of costs we incur. First are our fixed costs, which include equipment rentals, logo design, t-shirts, badges, consumables (tickets, TP, soap, paper towels & plates, etc), and electricity. We always go over budget just on the fixed costs. Second are our capital expenses, which include things like fans, electrical work, air conditioners, floor mats, repairs & replacements for damage, and whatever we missed in our planning. We almost always eat capital expenses entirely.

(We're incredibly lucky our LAN infrastructure is volunteered by @Ryder every year instead of in the capital expenses column).

Expo Communism in 2013 worked out well (donations of $30 toward someone else's ticket were matched with $15 from ICHQ), but it added a lot of overhead in communication and sending money around. Plus, I worry about making folks too self-conscious to ask for a special ticket even if they need it.

So here's our experiment:: Three tiers of ticket pricing that all get you exactly the same thing. You pick the one that fits your situation. The new standard price is $95 which helps fund all costs. There is a "Student / Budget" ticket available that approximately covers just your individual fixed-costs. And there's the "Crazy Ivan" ticket where we foot most of the bill. No one will know which you choose (except Lincoln and Brian, who don't care).

tl;dr: communism.


Prize Auction

You'll note the dearth of hardware reviews since our last Expo. Most of the Expo swag came from companies we worked with throughout the year. We'll ask around to see what we can get, but expect a greatly pared-down prize auction this year.

So here's our request: Know a great game you want to share and have some extra cash? Buy a copy and bring it/send it/email us the code and we'll add it to the pile o' loot this year. Prize table donations will get announced in a separate discussion & you'll get an Icrontic badge. Let us know if you want to donate anonymously.

tl;dr: more communism.


NOW BUY TICKETS.
oni_dels
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Comments

  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    A particular Icrontian who happens to be sitting nearby asked whether the Attendee ticket offset a discount ticket and I said no, it really doesn't. He proposed a fourth ticket tier to allow folks to do that. So I've added the "Attendee+" ticket if you feel so inclined.
  • RyanFodderRyanFodder Detroit, MI Icrontian
    First!
    mertesn
  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    I gave him no warning.
  • mertesnmertesn I am Bobby Miller Yukon, OK Icrontian
    Missed it by a few minutes.
    BuddyJ
  • Was he actually first? I was pretty damn close...
  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    @TiberiusLazarus was actual first.
    GnomeQueen
  • RyderRyder Kalamazoo, Mi Icrontian
    Not first but.... meh :)
    BandrikLinc
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    IT will be a pipe dream once again. With 3 kids and no funds, I alas am stuck in PA once again
  • RyanFodderRyanFodder Detroit, MI Icrontian
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    It's weird: I got notification of Jimmy's payment first, but Ryan's Eventbrite notification came through first... Hmmmmm.
  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    The attendee list on the ticket page says it was Jimmy.
  • QCHQCH Ancient Guru Chicago Area - USA Icrontian
    IN
    Linc
  • CantiCanti =/= smalltime http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9K18CGEeiI&feature=related Icrontian
    I think the fact that Ryan is there 4 months early makes him first.
    RyanFoddermidga
  • DogDragonDogDragon Jacksonville, Fl Icrontian
    Red and I will be there this year will be getting tickets sometime before the weekend.
    Is there room at ICHQ or hotel and if hotel any hotel you guys set up a group rate for?
    BandrikLinc
  • oni_delsoni_dels Drunk French Canadian Montréal, Québec. Icrontian
    no money no candy. plus with school i can't take days off.
    :/
  • BandrikBandrik Elkhart, IN Icrontian
    In and paid. Can't wait for the Epic party in the D.
    Linc
  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    edited February 2014
    I'm hoping to put together an accomodations guide for Expo as we get closer, and hopefully Brian will organize a group rate again (somewhere not-Corktown-Inn). You're going to find Detroit hotels pricier than in Warren generally.

    There will indeed be attic-crashing space for anyone who needs it. Reports from last year were that it really wasn't very hot up there at all - there's plenty of air circulation. Just be aware we are a single-shower household so you may need to shower at odd times to make it work.
    DogDragon
  • ZanthianZanthian Mitey Worrier Icrontian
    Got Item: Expo Icrontic 2014 ticket!
    GHoosdummertesn
  • RyderRyder Kalamazoo, Mi Icrontian
    I am also staying at the courtyard again this year.
    mertesn
  • Based upon our community, I can envision a world in which everyone buys an Attendee+ ticket. A glorious, glorious world in which the event becomes truly self-sustaining.
  • RyderRyder Kalamazoo, Mi Icrontian
    Woo-hoo!
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    Snarkasm said:

    15th to the 29th. You bitches gon' see some Snarky again this year.

    image
  • fatcatfatcat Mizzou Icrontian
    Snarkasm said:

    15th to the 29th. You bitches gon' see some Snarky again this year.

    I are sad. I'm going to DisneyLand the following week for my birthday and won't get to see Snarky
  • TeramonaTeramona Consulting Tea Specialist Best Coast! Icrontian
    My last Icrontic event as Terin Clyde.

    Also, weird. Didn't we just leave EXPO? Damn time, you scary.
    Koreish
  • QCHQCH Ancient Guru Chicago Area - USA Icrontian
    Got the week off... I hope. I REALLY hope I have a home picked out and moved into by the time I leave to go to Detroit... and maybe a new car...
  • mertesnmertesn I am Bobby Miller Yukon, OK Icrontian
    QCH said:

    Got the week off... I hope. I REALLY hope I have a home picked out and moved into by the time I leave to go to Detroit... and maybe a new car...

    Well, if you don't have the car I might be able to stop by...hopefully this time with 100% less death plague.
    QCHmidga
  • SnarkasmSnarkasm Madison, WI Icrontian
    fatcat said:


    I are sad. I'm going to DisneyLand the following week for my birthday and won't get to see Snarky

    NOOOOOOO :( I miss my FC yet again.
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