TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:RE: The Business of Conferences From:"George F. Hayhoe" <george -at- ghayhoe -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 12 Dec 2000 14:32:00 -0500
Salette Latas said:
<<What about at least waiving the conference fee? 500 speakers times
$350 divided by 2000 nonspeaker attendees is only $87.50 per
attendee.>>
That's an idea that has been discussed. One problem is that speakers
don't all invest the same amount of time and effort. For example,
compare the investment in a solo 90-minute workshop to the investment
in a paper that is part of a 90-minute panel with three or four
speakers. The investment is obviously not equivalent. Should both
speakers receive the same compensation in terms of waived conference
fees? What about those who do multiple sessions?
The fact that these problems exist doesn't mean that Salette's idea is
without merit, just that the solution is perhaps more complex--or more
complicated to identify--than she suggests.
Salette also said:
<<(If the conference speakers are already receiving a 1/3 discount as
some posts suggested, then the figure is more like $57.75.) Many
attendees are fortunate enough to have employers who cover the expense
of the conference, so this number is even less significant to them.>>
The $350 figure mentioned in my earlier posting is the discounted fee,
so the cost differential for the nonspeaker attendees of waiving the
fee for speakers is $87.50 not $57.75. That's about a 20% increase,
and many of us pay the conference registration fee ourselves.
Winner of Three APEX 2000
Awards for Publication Excellence
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Develop HTML-based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver! (STC Discount.)
**NEW DATE/LOCATION!** January 16-17, 2001, New York, NY. http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.
Take XML and Tech Writing courses online! Our instructor-led courses
(4-6 hrs/wk) give you "hands on" experience at your convenience. STC members
get 20% off! http://www.online-learning.com/index.html.
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
