Many SciFi/Fantasy Conventions are much less than $150, and have the programming (classes) as part of the entrance fee.
Now, there are a few differences though: * Most of the programming (at least at the Cons I've gone to) is one hour slots, either panels (4 or 5 people talking about a subject, interacting with the audience) OR an Author reading his/her novel. There are very few hands on "how to" workshops, and when there are, they are usually two hours at the most. * As I understand it (since I've never been on a committee that runs a Con), most of the presenters don't have to be paid for their appearances. Of course, the !Big! !Name! draws are comepensated with a stipend, but that's only usually 2-4 people. The other people (the ones who are presenting in a panel or reading their books) may get their rooms and entrance, but don't also receive any money. * There are some SciFi/Fantasy style Cons that are now charging on a tier level. Tier 1 gets you in the door and into the vendor room, and a few panels with people who only have a local following. Tier 2 gets you all of Tier 1, and into some of the panels with more well known people, and maybe a book reading from that famous author you love. Tier 3 gets you Tiers 1 and 2, as well as into the panels and presentations with the !Big! !Name! people you'd go all fangrrrrl about (if you fangrrrl, that is). A bunch of the ComicCons are doing this. (Personally, I find that those kind are too expensive for me, and I end up not going, even though local ones are supposed to be good.) The main difference,of course, is that the SciFi/Fantasy Cons are not set up to give intensive, hands on workshops. While they do impart knowledge, they aren't showing 10 or 15 people (or whatever the class limit is) how to make a pillow, how to prep a patterns, how to make the pad (for needle lace). While the larger ones do rent all of the conference rooms in a hotel for the weekend, they also don't need 20 classrooms each day. For a good example of a Con I go to regularly, that costs well under $150 for the Con (hotel and food extra though), check out Mile Hi Con in Denver, CO. (http://www.milehicon.org/Default.aspx) As it's 6 months out, they don't have the programming finalized yet, but this gives an idea. Basically, you can be busy from 8 in the morning until 10pm or later with different programming if you want at this con, all for $40-$46 per person for the whole weekend. Bronwen, who isn't a promoter or on the committee for MHC, but who attends as often as funds and her husband's work schedule allows. On Mon, Apr 22, 2013 at 9:28 AM, <dmt11h...@aol.com> wrote: > What would be an example of a Con that costs $150 or less and where you > could take a dozen classes? What kind of classes would they be? How long > would each class be? > > Devon > > - > To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: > unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to > arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/ > -- Per pale argent and purpure, two phoenixes counterchanged sable and argent each rising from flames proper. "It is sometimes the most fragile things that have the power to endure and become sources of strength." - May Sarton "Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living."- Albert Einstein "Out of clutter, find Simplicity. From discord, find Harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." - Anais Nin "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." - Henry David Thoreau - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
