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Laura Fitton is right. PodCamp was never free.

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Christopher S Penn

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One of the best comments in the free/not-free discussion I’ve ever read was by Laura Fitton (@pistachio on Twitter) on CC Chapman’s blog last October. Reprinted from the source:

The event isn’t, and from what little I understand, never was FREE. In a way, no event ever is. It is subsidized by sponsors and by volunteer hours. You attend for free, because somebody else paid your way. Simple as that.

I think opening up the option for it to be a nominal fee, or a pay what you want, or some other locally-derived setup, and oriented largely towards keeping attendance expectations (and resulting volunteer hours) in line with reality, is 100% reasonable.

While anticipating an event that huge, the volunteer corps of organizers really had to bust their guts. Hard. Long hours, much stress. Value their time at a nominal rate of 10 or even5 an hour, and you see that a very small group paid hundreds and thousands for the rest of us to have the event for free.

Laura nailed it in one.

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Comments

21 responses to “Laura Fitton is right. PodCamp was never free.”

  1. Norman Huelsman Avatar
    Norman Huelsman

    Great point. After doing three events in Pittsburgh and working on our fourth I know what it is like to put in those hours. I honestly think that everyone organizing PodCamp Boston is doing everything in their power to make the event as successful as possible.

    $50 is a big step up from free, but if it means less stress on you guys. Then that only means a better event. My guess is that you’ll be sold out way in advance.

    Reply
  2. Norman Huelsman Avatar
    Norman Huelsman

    Great point. After doing three events in Pittsburgh and working on our fourth I know what it is like to put in those hours. I honestly think that everyone organizing PodCamp Boston is doing everything in their power to make the event as successful as possible.

    $50 is a big step up from free, but if it means less stress on you guys. Then that only means a better event. My guess is that you’ll be sold out way in advance.

    Reply
  3. Laura "Pistachio" Fitton Avatar
    Laura “Pistachio” Fitton

    Thanks Chris. I saw firsthand the kind of time volunteers were pouring into the event, and it really bothered me, because that was very real lost-wage time for some of them.

    So, volunteers were spending their “time-money,” many attendees were spending hundreds on hotel, food, travel, etc., and yet, somehow, it was all supposed to be free.

    That said, I do agree that 50 is probably more than any of us expected.

    So that brings up another point. “Free” events have lots of sponsors. Why make the volunteers do all the work to bring in sponsors? If you and your friends really can’t afford the50, can you rally a sponsorship that would enable organizers to include a number of reduced-rate attendees?

    Be creative, and throw the passion and energy you might think to devote to debating the point into making things happen! PodCamp costs the organizers $50 a person (more if you include volunteer time). If having it “free-er” is a priority for you, why not pony up your connections and sweat equity to crowdsource the sponsorships too?

    Reply
  4. Laura "Pistachio" Fitton Avatar
    Laura “Pistachio” Fitton

    Thanks Chris. I saw firsthand the kind of time volunteers were pouring into the event, and it really bothered me, because that was very real lost-wage time for some of them.

    So, volunteers were spending their “time-money,” many attendees were spending hundreds on hotel, food, travel, etc., and yet, somehow, it was all supposed to be free.

    That said, I do agree that 50 is probably more than any of us expected.

    So that brings up another point. “Free” events have lots of sponsors. Why make the volunteers do all the work to bring in sponsors? If you and your friends really can’t afford the50, can you rally a sponsorship that would enable organizers to include a number of reduced-rate attendees?

    Be creative, and throw the passion and energy you might think to devote to debating the point into making things happen! PodCamp costs the organizers $50 a person (more if you include volunteer time). If having it “free-er” is a priority for you, why not pony up your connections and sweat equity to crowdsource the sponsorships too?

    Reply
  5. Christopher S. Penn Avatar
    Christopher S. Penn

    We actually announced a scholarship program. Get people to sponsor YOU!

    http://www.podcampboston.org/2008/04/16/podcamp-boston-scholarships/

    Reply
  6. Christopher S. Penn Avatar
    Christopher S. Penn

    We actually announced a scholarship program. Get people to sponsor YOU!

    http://www.podcampboston.org/2008/04/16/podcamp-boston-scholarships/

    Reply
  7. studionashvegas Avatar
    studionashvegas

    Amazing post… the guys in Nashville did such an amazing job putting it on, getting donations, food, etc. And they put on such a great event.

    I do believe that time is easier to give than cash (you can’t pay bills with time, unfortunately!), and that’s why people volunteer more than just giving out of their pockets.

    Just my thoughts.

    Reply
  8. Mitch Canter Avatar
    Mitch Canter

    Amazing post… the guys in Nashville did such an amazing job putting it on, getting donations, food, etc. And they put on such a great event.

    I do believe that time is easier to give than cash (you can’t pay bills with time, unfortunately!), and that’s why people volunteer more than just giving out of their pockets.

    Just my thoughts.

    Reply
  9. Avatar
    Anonymous

    ArbCamp (Ann Arbor BarCamp) faced exactly this challenge. It originally caused an uproar because it required a high fee to pay for flying in a speaker and buying two of his books.

    In the end, they required a nominal 15 fee for covering costs to ArbCamp and the whole event went great.

    However,50 sounds high – I would think one way to potentially justify this would be to be very open about the entire accounting of the event. Costs for venue, food, swag, etc. so that potential attendees can be aware of what they are being asked to pay for.

    Reply
  10. Andrew Turner Avatar
    Andrew Turner

    ArbCamp (Ann Arbor BarCamp) faced exactly this challenge. It originally caused an uproar because it required a high fee to pay for flying in a speaker and buying two of his books.

    In the end, they required a nominal 15 fee for covering costs to ArbCamp and the whole event went great.

    However,50 sounds high – I would think one way to potentially justify this would be to be very open about the entire accounting of the event. Costs for venue, food, swag, etc. so that potential attendees can be aware of what they are being asked to pay for.

    Reply
  11. Christopher S. Penn Avatar
    Christopher S. Penn

    And in fact, that’s what we’re doing with Boston, per PodCamp rules. I just finished updating the ledger a few minutes ago.

    http://www.PodCampBoston.org/ledger/

    Reply
  12. Christopher S. Penn Avatar
    Christopher S. Penn

    And in fact, that’s what we’re doing with Boston, per PodCamp rules. I just finished updating the ledger a few minutes ago.

    http://www.PodCampBoston.org/ledger/

    Reply
  13. Rick Wolff Avatar
    Rick Wolff

    As a planned attendee to PodCamp NYC (at which I hope to meet you), I am going to look up who in that operation will take a little contribution to defray costs (probably Whitney Hoffman). I can’t picture going to Boston, so I’ll pass on them. I’m a big believer in “s|he who benefits pays.”

    Reply
  14. Rick Wolff Avatar
    Rick Wolff

    As a planned attendee to PodCamp NYC (at which I hope to meet you), I am going to look up who in that operation will take a little contribution to defray costs (probably Whitney Hoffman). I can’t picture going to Boston, so I’ll pass on them. I’m a big believer in “s|he who benefits pays.”

    Reply
  15. ~bc Avatar
    ~bc

    I’m going, and I’m going to pay, but $50 feels high. I’m betting this will turn away a number of people who feel it’s too high, but are too proud to apply for a scholarship.

    I’ll be happy if the fee means the T-Shirt isn’t an enormous billboard for some random sponsor. I never wear my PC2 shirt for this very reason. Not good promotion of PodCamp.

    Reply
  16. ~bc Avatar
    ~bc

    I’m going, and I’m going to pay, but $50 feels high. I’m betting this will turn away a number of people who feel it’s too high, but are too proud to apply for a scholarship.

    I’ll be happy if the fee means the T-Shirt isn’t an enormous billboard for some random sponsor. I never wear my PC2 shirt for this very reason. Not good promotion of PodCamp.

    Reply
  17. Jaan H. Lutter Avatar
    Jaan H. Lutter

    Small fee is very fair.

    Reply
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    […] Laura Fitton is right. PodCamp was never free. (christopherspenn.com) […]

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    […] Laura Fitton is right. PodCamp was never free. (christopherspenn.com) […]

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  20. Jaan H. Lutter Avatar
    Jaan H. Lutter

    Small fee is very fair.

    Reply
  21. Jaan H. Lutter Avatar
    Jaan H. Lutter

    Small fee is very fair.

    Reply

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