$350

[Beleth]

I'll be honest - I'm having an awful hard time justifying $350 for TAM5 to myself, much less my spouse. Especially since I saw so many of the same speakers at TAM4.

I doubt I'd qualify for any kind of scholarship either.

This makes me sad.

[Piscivore]

Dammit, Beleth, get off my lawn! I ain't giving you no tree-fiddy!

[Overman]

I'll be honest - I'm having an awful hard time justifying $350 for TAM5 to myself, much less my spouse. Especially since I saw so many of the same speakers at TAM4.

I doubt I'd qualify for any kind of scholarship either.

This makes me sad.

Just make a plan to gamble the money back and break even.;)

[Loon]

It's always an option to go and not actually attend the conference, or attend only one day of it.

I do think the hanging out is more fun if you go to the conference, but that may just be because it interferes with the hanging out, so the hanging out feels more precious.

[SkepticScott]

Just make a plan to gamble the money back and break even.;)That kind of thinking keeps Vegas in business! ;)

[tkingdoll]

I know where you can get a loan at 177% APR.

[SkepticScott]

That's approximately 1.81e-15% interest, compounded each nanosecond. An accountant's nightmare, since light only travels 1 foot between updates. :D

[Ed Baehr]

That's approximately 1.81e-15% interest, compounded each nanosecond. An accountant's nightmare, since light only travels 1 foot between updates. :D


I'm so confused.

[kittynh]

honestly sign up for partial time. Then attend the JREF events

AND you can get a partial scholarship. They don't ask for your salary or anything like that. If you want a little help, go ahead. And get a roommate. Or stay off the strip. Some really nice cheaper places are just off the strip.

[exarch]

I'll be honest - I'm having an awful hard time justifying $350 for TAM5 to myself, much less my spouse. Especially since I saw so many of the same speakers at TAM4.

And that's just the conference. I have to multiply that by 4 to get an estimate of the costs for the hotel and plane tickets ... :boggled:

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Beleth, man, just apply for a scholarship.

~~ Paul

[kittynh]

yes, but isn't the US dollar worth like even less than the Canadian one now?

Listen to PAUL.

[exarch]

yes, but isn't the US dollar worth like even less than the Canadian one now?

Are you saying inflation is the only reason the conference price keeps going up? So the price stays the same in Euros?
I wonder if it does (stay the same that is), but I doubt it ...

[citytom]

Option 1: You stay home, wife goes.
Option 2: You go, wife stays home.

Don't rule out finding someone to share a room.

I dont' think $350 is that high. That includes excellent lunches, excellent breakfast displays, and a welcome buffet.

[exarch]

... excellent breakfast displays ...

That's one of the better descriptions I've heard so far. It looked good from a distance, but upon approaching it turned out to consist entirely of cakes and cookies ...

[deBergerac]

If $350 is a lot of money or not, is not only judged relative to what you get for the money it is also judged relative to the amount of money you got.

For me it is quite a lot since my 17 000 Czech crowns a month is roughly $740 a month. If you are also traveling for some distance (like from Europe) TAM can get quite expensive. But do not worry, I have applied for a scholarship, so hopefully, if you all contribute to the fund, I can come to TAM5.

It is a good thing though that so much food is included in the price, even if a lot of it is just cakes, although I seem to remember some fruit on display. There is also one person who owes me a dinner and I have evidence. ;)

[Jeff Wagg]

It was real struggle to keep the price at $350. All of our expenses went up this year. It is a lot of money, but please don't get the impression that the JREF is making a killing on the fee, because that's just not the case.

[grayman]

Just a thought for next year: maybe JREF could start a fund where a person that is doing well financially could donate a dollar or two and have that money earmarked for TAM VI in order to offset the costs.

I paid $350.00 for myself and another $350 for my wife. If during the year I sent an additional 10% (tithing anyone?) and others did the same, we could bring the price down a bit.

Comments?

[Gulliamo]

It was real struggle to keep the price at $350. All of our expenses went up this year. It is a lot of money, but please don't get the impression that the JREF is making a killing on the fee, because that's just not the case.

Out of curiosity: What are the main expenses? Rent? Do any of the speakers charge for their appearance? I know many of the guests command striking fees for speaking (Randi included) but I was under the impression that they were here pro bono. Are there any expenses we could offset through contributions of time, hardware or expertise?

[grayman]

I just got around to reading about the TAM-V Scholarship http://www.randi.org/amazingmeeting/tam5/scholarship.html .

Since this goes along with what I was thinking in post #18, My check is in the mail.

:D

[Jeff Wagg]

Out of curiosity: What are the main expenses? Rent? Do any of the speakers charge for their appearance? I know many of the guests command striking fees for speaking (Randi included) but I was under the impression that they were here pro bono. Are there any expenses we could offset through contributions of time, hardware or expertise?

The AV costs and food costs are MUCH higher this year. Airfares are also much higher as are room rates. Speakers aren't the issue.. it's the facility.

[Gulliamo]

The AV costs and food costs are MUCH higher this year. Airfares are also much higher as are room rates. Speakers aren't the issue.. it's the facility.

So we should start a thread to donate frequent flyer miles.

[Soapy Sam]

Airfares- I've been looking at airfares.
Maybe some economist can explain this one.

London-Las Vegas-London(Virgin Atlantic) 17-27 January 07 costs $676 at $1.9 to the pound.
Las Vegas-London- Las Vegas, same dates, same airline, costs $370.

Maybe it's time TAM moved to Europe.

[CFLarsen]

It is a lot of money

Yeah, but....apart from the lousy dollar value, think about what you get for it. :)

[grayman]

Maybe it's time TAM moved to Europe.

Yeah, to Germany. I can stay cheaply at my sister's house, and Rebecca et al can enjoy beer (http://http://www.german-way.com/beer.html).

[exarch]

Of course, there's a difference between being the #1 beer drinkers, and the #1 beer brewers ...

[Pirate_Lad]

Consider doing what I'm going to do and skip the lecture portion. $350 is a lot of money for me, but I still want to get into vegas and hang out with some of the people from here. I've gotten a scholarship once before, and I might be able to get another if I asked, but that seems unfair when I know there are a lot of people that haven't attended a TAM before, and could definitely use that money.

[geni]

The AV costs and food costs are MUCH higher this year. Airfares are also much higher as are room rates. Speakers aren't the issue.. it's the facility.

So hold it at a university.

[exarch]

Consider doing what I'm going to do and skip the lecture portion.

I've wondered about that. But I think Vegas is one of those places that's a lot more interesting at a time when the lectures are finished.

[Pirate_Lad]

I've wondered about that. But I think Vegas is one of those places that's a lot more interesting at a time when the lectures are finished.

It is. And if you don't have to wake up at 0800 to attend lectures, then the fun increases exponentially.

[exarch]

It is. And if you don't have to wake up at 0800 to attend lectures, then the fun increases exponentially.

Hmm, you make a compelling case ...

[Mercutio]

That may be my only possibility, too...if that, even.

[Rodney]

Airfares- I've been looking at airfares.
Maybe some economist can explain this one.

London-Las Vegas-London(Virgin Atlantic) 17-27 January 07 costs $676 at $1.9 to the pound.
Las Vegas-London- Las Vegas, same dates, same airline, costs $370. The explanation is the most basic one imaginable: Supply and demand. How many residents of Las Vegas want to go to London in January? Not many, because by most people's standards, the weather is much more pleasant in Vegas than in London at that time of year. A lot of Londoners, on the other hand, would like to visit Las Vegas in January for that same reason. In July, the situation is reversed. So, if the Randi Forum wants to lessen the airfare for Europeans, it should hold TAM in July, when the high temperature in Vegas is a lovely 40-45 degrees Celsius. ;)

[exarch]

That may be my only possibility, too...if that, even.

Well, let's just say that if we get enough people together, hanging out elsewhere during conference hours just might not be as boring and lonely as I thought it would be at first ...
Although it would still suck to miss a bunch of interesting speakers.

But even that is looking rather expensive. And I still haven't paid back Jeff's loan either :boxedin:

[Pirate_Lad]

I don't want to hijack this here thread, but there are some plans in the making involving a secluded location, a large bonfire, and some delicious tequila/whatever other people want to bring.

Being awesome is a requirement for attendance. A sleeping bag probably will be, too.

[Mercutio]

Being awesome is a requirement for attendance.

Oh, well...:boxedin:

[Pirate_Lad]

Aw, Merc. You were pretty fun from what I recall. You could come to the bonfire and tell bard's tales.

[Soapy Sam]

It is done. I'm Doomed.
TAM is booked.
The room is booked
The flight is booked.
Oh Deearie me. This Internet is a verra perilous thing for a True Scotsman! Ah havnae spent sae much money withoot moving ma erse since yon Zen Whore in Manila , back in '77.
(How can it take 5 hours from LV to Memphis on the way back , even allowing for timezones and head winds? They use a Cessna? Why is it cheaper to fly from Glasgow to Amsterdam, then across the Atlantic than Glasgow- London? The mysteries of travel).

Afterwards, I hope to go to Mammoth Lakes to ski a couple of days.
The trip is costing so much already that the only way I can justify it is by buying something incredibly expensive while over there, that would be at least $1500 dearer in Britain.
2 Apple Powerbooks, perhaps?

(Roll up! Hear the Scotsman squeak! Only a dollar!)

[exarch]

Why is it cheaper to fly from Glasgow to Amsterdam, then across the Atlantic than Glasgow- London? The mysteries of travel).

Yes, apparently flying through Amsterdam is cheap. You are the second person to say it is. It's making me consider it as a possible alternative to Brussels or Paris.

[Geek Goddess]

It is done. I'm Doomed.

Oh Deearie me. This Internet is a verra perilous thing for a True Scotsman! Ah havnae spent sae much money withoot moving ma erse since yon Zen Whore in Manila , back in '77.



I love this!!!