Need a Shmoocon Badge for $250 or less

[Xodia]

Yeah, I named a price right off the bat (I'm not a haggler). I just need a badge. Obviously, I was unable to get one in the 7 seconds they were available online.

Anyone willing to lend me a hand prior to the last reg in January?

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Need a Shmoocon Badge for $250 or less

i'm very curious to see how this sort of discussion (not exclusive to xodia, but he's a great example case) heats up after the last round of official sales comes and goes.

there seems to have been a lot more chatter and grumbling in the community about folk who are seriously worried about not making it in to ShmooCon this year. are our memories a little hazy, is it always this stressful for people just before the last round of sales? or is this year different?

i'm hearing worry from a lot of notable people in the community saying that they fear they won't be able to attend... and these are people who have become associated with popular and fun cons in the minds of many.

is ShmooCon really still ShmooCon if most of our closest friends aren't there? no easy answers, far as i can see.

[theprez98]

Re: Need a Shmoocon Badge for $250 or less

Tickets have been bought and re-sold in the past, but it seems to me that only this year people have been publicly shamed for re-selling tickets for profit (see for example, here). Perhaps the initial difficulties in selling tickets has somehow created its own demand. I don't know. I think that beyond increasing in size (which seems to be off-the-table), there really aren't any answers. You either sell more-or-less randomly the way it is now, and risk some notable people not making it, or give preference to some group or another (i.e., past attendees) and risk being seen as "exclusive". I think most would agree that random is the most fair to all.

[Thorn]

Re: Need a Shmoocon Badge for $250 or less

This year, the problems the Shmoo had on Nov 1 have contributed to the problem, at least in part. There were a lot of people (including me) who tried Nov 1, and then missed the first round when they did get the ticket sales working about Nov 10th or so. When the Dec 1 sale rolled around, I had a scheduling conflict and couldn't get online as 1200 EST. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Jan 1.

My observation is that as Shmoocon has become more popular, the demand for tickets has gone up and that's has accelerated the quicker sell outs (6 seconds!) on the sale dates, as well as the profit motive for scaplers.

[Xodia]

Re: Need a Shmoocon Badge for $250 or less

This year, the problems the Shmoo had on Nov 1 have contributed to the problem, at least in part. There were a lot of people (including me) who tried Nov 1, and then missed the first round when they did get the ticket sales working about Nov 10th or so. When the Dec 1 sale rolled around, I had a scheduling conflict and couldn't get online as 1200 EST. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Jan 1.

That is the same situation I've gotten myself into. Hopefully I can snag one of those 200 before you can.

Tickets aren't selling all that much faster this year as compared to last year. I mean, how much of a difference is there between them selling out in 6 seconds instead of 12? Its ridiculously fast either way. If folks can't come, its just bad luck. Better luck next time.

[Sidepocket]

Re: Need a Shmoocon Badge for $250 or less

I really do not understand why this raffle system is even needed.

They keep citing that it's because of "limited size", even though the con grows bigger every year and I have also attended conventions with size limits that have better ticket systems than this.

To me, all is creates is frustration and elitism on behalf of the ticket holders and the Shmoo Group itself. Hell, more and more people I know just show up to DC and don't even attend the con. Or like what the PLA did one year, sneak into the con. It's not that hard to do apparently.

[theprez98]

Re: Need a Shmoocon Badge for $250 or less

I really do not understand why this raffle system is even needed.

They keep citing that it's because of "limited size", even though the con grows bigger every year and I have also attended conventions with size limits that have better ticket systems than this.

To me, all is creates is frustration and elitism on behalf of the ticket holders and the Shmoo Group itself. Hell, more and more people I know just show up to DC and don't even attend the con. Or like what the PLA did one year, sneak into the con. It's not that hard to do apparently.

From my recollection the size has been roughly the same the last 3 years.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Need a Shmoocon Badge for $250 or less

From my recollection the size has been roughly the same the last 3 years.

if i can recall, t was 1200 people three cons ago. then last year they tried moving the size up to 1400 people. don't quote me for sure, but i believe that was thought by some to be a little too large and they targeted 1300 this year. they did so via 1250 regular sales of barcodes in the raffle system and allowing some sales to non-accepted speakers and such.

but yeah, prez is right... size has remained fairly consistent across many years now.

I have also attended conventions with size limits that have better ticket systems than this.

this will sound like me being harsh or defensive (indeed, i am passionate about speaking positively about shmoocon, but that's not my tone here) but i am given to ask: what are these other cons?

i am not familiar with any other con (in or out of the hacker scene) that has such a massive crush of people wanting to attend, year after year, and successfully maintains a small size without becoming too elitist and exclusionary. i really would value hearing about examples of how other events do their ticketing, etc.