[Simon]

Okay, since you asked...

I've pretty much decided not to go. But if I do go, it won't be to attend the show floor or seminars, or anything else the show has to offer. And there's no chance at all that I'd pay for a badge this year.

I went to lots of their shows, but never really did business on their show floors (it's like paying to get spammed). Business got done, but in hotel rooms, bars, and restaurants. None of it really with anyone I met at the show for the first time.

I think they need to completely rethink their strategy for the show. If they want lots of independent webmasters to attend (and I mention that because I believe that's the majority of this board), then they need to stop trying to make a profit from them.

They should make it some nominal fee, say $25 or less, with additional badges at $5 or $10 each at the most.

They could fill the show with webmasters if they had any sense. A packed show would mean a lot more sponsors buying booth space next show. And it would mean an even larger turnout the next show because everyone would say it was a good show if there were free seminars and the entrance fee was $25 or less.

They're still trying to make money from all sides, and it's way too much to ask when they've disapppointed the independent webmasters for too many years in a row now. And now the sponors don't want to spend money since attendance is down, particularly among one of the groups they'd like to reach.

I believe they have a flawed model and they're trying to tweak it to make things work better. I think they need a completely different model, because the one they're trying to tune up is too old and tired, and just won't work anymore.

Their show has crashed. If they want to bring it back to life, it's going to take a hell of a lot more than tweaking what they have.


-- It's sort of like if I was trying to build a high-traffic link list so I could sell link spots and traffic. But at the same time I'm also asking the average surfers to pay $50 to get into my link list. And then wondering why I don't have enough surfers coming inside to interest anyone in my link spots or traffic, or enough content inside to interest the surfers.