PROs and CONs of Free General Admission for WIN 2009

Please contribute your perspective on whether this event would benefit or be hurt from offering free general admission. Points to consider in doing so are:

1) Effect on attendance
2) Value to exhibitors and sponsors dependent on attendance
3) Cost to the event

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Permalink Reply by Jason Prothero on August 28, 2009 at 3:42pm

1) Positive
2) Positive because of the greater attendance
3) Negligible compared to the revenue from sponsors and exhibitors

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Permalink Reply by Michael Laport on August 31, 2009 at 3:05pm

1) In general sense, free admission would benefit the attendance. This obviously depends on the the types of attendant (student vs. professional & distance of travel to attend). The Young Professionals of Corvallis have told me that free admission is a requirement for their attendance. To Mysty's point of perceived value with the event, i would concur. However to find a win-win situation, perhaps we should have a free admission with registration before a certain date... thoughts?

2) As an exhibitor I want both qualified attendants (potential leads) and a large amount of attendants. I lean towards free in this respect because it brings the most leads across the floor. I can do the qualification myself.

3) Risk vs. Reward...? Can we sell more sponsorships that would make the gate revenue negligible

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Permalink Reply by Michael Laport on August 31, 2009 at 3:07pm

I forgot to mention... After some dialogue with potential exhibitors, it appears that parking is quite a nuisance. Is this something we can work out so that sponsors and exhibitors won't have to pay? I would imagine it being a nuisance for attendees as well.

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Permalink Reply by Loyan Roylance on September 1, 2009 at 9:47am

Idea: Engage Dickerhoof as a sponsor. They have parking available. Poeple can preregister for free parking at the Univarsity Plaza. Limited parking available = compelling reason to preregister.

I don't like requiring pre-registration just to create a barrier to entry. But if there is a carrot to pre-register I like it.

Image this scene:

"Im sorry sir you didn't pre-register, you can't enter"
"What the F&CK, its a free event."
"Yes but you had to pre-register."
"That makes no sense!"
"I agree but sorry, I don't make the rules."
"Who does make the rules?"
"You can speak to [enter your name here]."
"I had no idea that [enter your name here] was such an idiot. Thanks for nothing."