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So the long awaited announcement was finally made: what price increases would we see at MDRF.
Per the MDRF Website:
Ticket Prices and Group Sales for 2011
At the Gate &
Also Available Online Beginning June 1
Groups (20-99) Groups (100+)
Adults (16-61) $19.00
2-Day Pass $28.00
Fairever Pass
$120.00
9 Day Subscription - $81.00
6 Day Subscription - $60.00
Wow - what a price jump. It actually works well for us doing the 6 day pass. I feel sorry for the people who were planning on going every day - I say planning because I know a few will look at the cost and think maybe not.
I wonder what the thought process is though. The economy is still not great, gas prices are really high, and to see a $40.00 jump in faireever passes is odd. Mayhaps Caroline is hoping to weed out the regulars and bring in fresh blood? Mayhaps it's a way to keep the attendance down? Or maybe prices have just went up that much.
I can't complain since we were planning on curtailing our faire attendance anyway. We're doing the 6 day. Without themed days, other than Labor Day weekend, it will probably be more to the end of faire. I am concerned about other prices jumping 50%. Then again, mayhaps they wish for more bang for their buck.
Still for us - from a purely cost/benefit analysis - I think faire is coming to a sad end. It's too hard to get around. Prices are becoming outside of our means. I'm not fond of the newer music (however, at least now I can hear Barleyjuice). And the main reason to go - to see friends - may be going by the same wayside. I've read more than a few that will now be cutting down to 6 days or 9 days - no not in protest of Hack and Slash or The Rogues but rather because they simply cannot afford it anymore.
Sad. But all things come to an end. All things change and evolve.
Per the MDRF Website:
Ticket Prices and Group Sales for 2011
At the Gate &
Also Available Online Beginning June 1
Groups (20-99) Groups (100+)
Adults (16-61) $19.00
2-Day Pass $28.00
Fairever Pass
$120.00
9 Day Subscription - $81.00
6 Day Subscription - $60.00
Wow - what a price jump. It actually works well for us doing the 6 day pass. I feel sorry for the people who were planning on going every day - I say planning because I know a few will look at the cost and think maybe not.
I wonder what the thought process is though. The economy is still not great, gas prices are really high, and to see a $40.00 jump in faireever passes is odd. Mayhaps Caroline is hoping to weed out the regulars and bring in fresh blood? Mayhaps it's a way to keep the attendance down? Or maybe prices have just went up that much.
I can't complain since we were planning on curtailing our faire attendance anyway. We're doing the 6 day. Without themed days, other than Labor Day weekend, it will probably be more to the end of faire. I am concerned about other prices jumping 50%. Then again, mayhaps they wish for more bang for their buck.
Still for us - from a purely cost/benefit analysis - I think faire is coming to a sad end. It's too hard to get around. Prices are becoming outside of our means. I'm not fond of the newer music (however, at least now I can hear Barleyjuice). And the main reason to go - to see friends - may be going by the same wayside. I've read more than a few that will now be cutting down to 6 days or 9 days - no not in protest of Hack and Slash or The Rogues but rather because they simply cannot afford it anymore.
Sad. But all things come to an end. All things change and evolve.
no subject
I can vouch that EVERYTHING is more expensive. Fuel, ice, printing, insurance, plastic cups -- plus we're seeing fuel surcharges on anything that gets delivered. You hold off as long as you can, but at a certain point, you have to pass some of it on.
At Virginia, we're lucky in being a young faire -- there are plenty of places where we can just get more efficient, make better decisions, work on better deals. For a mature faire, and one run by professionals, there are fewer opportunities to find cost savings.
You're not looking to weed people out -- but it's generally speaking the people on the margins - who had just enough money to get in the gate and purchase the minimum food and drink -- who wind up staying home. You don't really want anyone to stay home - but if you figure you're spending an average of $15/head on overhead (and that's a not well thought out guestimate based on overall amusement venues, not Maryland) for every person that walks in the gate, then you're willing to trade in a really cheap season pass for higher margin daily or multiple passes.
That would be my number-crunching, anyway.
no subject
There ya go - it's a business and one that tickles me to watch. Geek.
Right now for our cost/benefit, VARF works better. Hotel is cheap. Faire prices aren't bad. I can always find a place for Jon to set - something that's gotten more difficult at MDRF each year (one of the main reasons we bail early). He has to set down periodically. So we'll hit VARF once or twice and MDRF a few times and call it happy.
We'll also look at opportunities missed because we were always at MDRF 9 weeks. The thing is yes, while Jon and I are in a unique position, we are not unique. Others are looking at the cost/benefit as well and many are opting for the multiple day passes. I personally think that was a very good idea.
Good to hear your take on this from a business standpoint. :)