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Im right there with ya. I know how expensive events can get having put on a ton. But WFFC should be giving the vendors the tents for cost at least. For that matter, they should be selling tents on DZ row for cost. Back in the glory days of Quincy, I remember we would have 20 to 40 folks from our DZ packing at the DZ row tent. It really helped solidify whether the group was going that year when they made that kind of commitment. After all, the jumpers are who make the event happen. But you have to make it affordable to encourage people to come back to an event widely considered "on its way out". Especially when it costs a fortune just to get there thanks to gas prices.
I would really like to see WFFC be huge again. It may help Don to go back to the roots and treat it as if it were a smaller event again and build it back from there.
http://www.skydiveatlanta.com
http://www.musiccityskydiving.com
I would really like to see WFFC be huge again. It may help Don to go back to the roots and treat it as if it were a smaller event again and build it back from there.
http://www.skydiveatlanta.com
http://www.musiccityskydiving.com
Charging the vendors in the industry is a thing of the past
First off a disclaimer:
This is my own personal opinion and may not reflect that of my employer.
I agree to a point. I think that the WFFC should not be expected to absorb the costs of the tents, nor the labor hours to put them up.(Eloy owns their tents and uses staff to erect them)
If WFFC were to ask manufacturers to cover the actual man hours to put up their tent plus a small reasonable rental fee I think it would be fine.
In the past it was having the manufactuers at the convention that brought people to WFFC. In essence the manufacturers boogie if you will.
When it becomes too expensive for the manufacturers to attend...guess what? People will stop coming...people can crunch the numbers anyway they like to from convention but truth is...its getting smaller every year.
(I won't even get into the aircraft vendor portion of this discussion.)
So from a business stand point it looks like this:
cost for services up,
services provided down,
employee wages up, lodging up, meals up, tickets up, attendance down.
It would seem to me, that it would be reasonable to listen to the vendors. The current program is obviously not working.
So my suggestion is this. Come together with a reasonable solution so that the WFFC can continue.
The exchange should be an equitable one that works for WFFC and the vendors. The vendors want to come...but they just can't justify the associated costs under the current structure.
namgrunt 0
Just wonder what vendors ARE going to WFFC??????????
still waiting on my vendor package showing the prices
reduced or outherwise
..
still waiting on my vendor package showing the prices
reduced or outherwise
..
59 YEARS,OVERWEIGHT,BALDIND,X-GRUNT
LAST MIL. JUMP VIET-NAM(QUAN-TRI)
www.dzmemories.com
LAST MIL. JUMP VIET-NAM(QUAN-TRI)
www.dzmemories.com
Buried 0
I would really think that this is an issue with certain smaller vendors. I wonder if vendors would rather pay cost of the tent + % of total sales during the boogie? of course you would have to have some monitoring and trust, but then again this sport has some emphasis on trust of eachother.
I looked at the wffc message board and it's to skydivers it's"6.90 a day" as it is posted. Does that mean there will be some prorating done if you are only coming for an extended weekend? Or is there an option for a daily fee? something like 10$ a day for 1-5 days or 69$ for the entire thing?
Are spectators (adults) charged a small nominal fee for watching?
I'm sure the food vendors make out fairly well even with the hirer rents.
Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?
I looked at the wffc message board and it's to skydivers it's"6.90 a day" as it is posted. Does that mean there will be some prorating done if you are only coming for an extended weekend? Or is there an option for a daily fee? something like 10$ a day for 1-5 days or 69$ for the entire thing?
Are spectators (adults) charged a small nominal fee for watching?
I'm sure the food vendors make out fairly well even with the hirer rents.
Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?
I'm sure the food vendors make out fairly well even with the hirer rents.
You obviously are NOT in the food business!!!
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Tami
Buried 0
You obviously are NOT in the food business!!!
Nope!
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thx for mentioning the reality though
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Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?
jpjc2000 0
Just charge vendors COST on tents & space, and a small percentage of gross sales during the event.
mirage62 0
Replying in general:
I just don't fillow this "just charge cost" thing. I'Ve never read that the WFFC was a non-profit event. If you've ever put on even a small local boogie you have an idea of the work that goes into it.
The market - people that go to boogies - will with Don - the organizer of the boogie - determine the fate of the boogie.
I have seen many long term business that can't be sold go out of business on there terms. Simple put they raise there prices as high as they can for as long as they can, reaping the higher profits. In the end it's like "buying yourself when no one else wants to"
It will be interesting to see what changes are made that were suggested by the customers. If you really want to understand the direction of WFFC look at that.
Having said that, I went to the convention four years in a row and then skipped four years. I'm seriously thinking of going this year. Is it cheap. No. But for around three jump tickets I can party with a lot of friends and make new friends, for as many days as I want. Jump plenty of good planes. I don't care if the manufactures show up or not.
On the other hand I might got to L.P. I have never been to that boogie and I hear it's fun,
I just don't fillow this "just charge cost" thing. I'Ve never read that the WFFC was a non-profit event. If you've ever put on even a small local boogie you have an idea of the work that goes into it.
The market - people that go to boogies - will with Don - the organizer of the boogie - determine the fate of the boogie.
I have seen many long term business that can't be sold go out of business on there terms. Simple put they raise there prices as high as they can for as long as they can, reaping the higher profits. In the end it's like "buying yourself when no one else wants to"
It will be interesting to see what changes are made that were suggested by the customers. If you really want to understand the direction of WFFC look at that.
Having said that, I went to the convention four years in a row and then skipped four years. I'm seriously thinking of going this year. Is it cheap. No. But for around three jump tickets I can party with a lot of friends and make new friends, for as many days as I want. Jump plenty of good planes. I don't care if the manufactures show up or not.
On the other hand I might got to L.P. I have never been to that boogie and I hear it's fun,
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Kevin Keenan is my hero, a double FUP, he does so much with so little
namgrunt 0
here is my prediction
1..NO reduction in vendor or jumper fees or costs
may use smoke screen to make it look like a reduction such as pay by the day,hour,min.
2..vendors will go somewhere else
more vendors go where overhead is less
3..Higher cost to the jumper
have to pay for boogie somehow
4..attendance will drop like a rock till either the event go's away or changes are made
5.. another boogie somewhere will step up to the plate in the same general time and replace WFFC
this is afterall a MARKET ADJUSTMENT
where would you go with limited advertiseing dollars.a location that charges you just to show up or one that wants and respects your (vendor) presants
jumpers want vendors at boogies as that is a great oppurnity to see,feel,tryon and actually talk to a factory rep.
when was the last time you saw an event advertised where there was NO mention of vendors??
1..NO reduction in vendor or jumper fees or costs
may use smoke screen to make it look like a reduction such as pay by the day,hour,min.
2..vendors will go somewhere else
more vendors go where overhead is less
3..Higher cost to the jumper
have to pay for boogie somehow
4..attendance will drop like a rock till either the event go's away or changes are made
5.. another boogie somewhere will step up to the plate in the same general time and replace WFFC
this is afterall a MARKET ADJUSTMENT
where would you go with limited advertiseing dollars.a location that charges you just to show up or one that wants and respects your (vendor) presants
jumpers want vendors at boogies as that is a great oppurnity to see,feel,tryon and actually talk to a factory rep.
when was the last time you saw an event advertised where there was NO mention of vendors??
59 YEARS,OVERWEIGHT,BALDIND,X-GRUNT
LAST MIL. JUMP VIET-NAM(QUAN-TRI)
www.dzmemories.com
LAST MIL. JUMP VIET-NAM(QUAN-TRI)
www.dzmemories.com
I don't think "one" boogie will ever replace WFFC. What I DO think is that people will split their boogie time between several other larger boogies, like Dublin, Couch Freaks, SkyFest, etc.
I know very few vendors who will be making the trip to Rantoul this year. It's simply too expensive these days for us.
It's still a fine deal for jumpers in my opinion though. I can, and do, always get my jumper registration money's worth in beer.
Chuck
chuck@bird-man.com
I know very few vendors who will be making the trip to Rantoul this year. It's simply too expensive these days for us.
It's still a fine deal for jumpers in my opinion though. I can, and do, always get my jumper registration money's worth in beer.
Chuck
chuck@bird-man.com
You just want to go so you can show off in your WT jumpsuit
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey
This is your answer to a popular vendor who brings people to your event?
I see nothing silly about this thread.
Well put Lou. You weren't the only vendor that shared tents that last few years either.
I know the cost of running an event so I understand the challenges, but why dont you take a look at the other events that charge a vendor fee and look at their attendance.
Charging the vendors in the industry is a thing of the past.
In regards to early registration wasn't that only a $200.00 discount and it ended March 17th?
We still dont have the packet, nor do others?
No vendor fees is where this event needs to go. When it becomes the largest event in the world again, then you (WFFC) might be in a position to negotiate. WFFC is a major part of our history, has accomplished great things, lets figure out a way to keep it going, not end up in the history books this year.
Hope I didnt come across as rude. But we still dont have an answer from Lou's questions. We would not be discussing this if it wasnt important.
Thank you
J
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