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Written by Jeff Johnson
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Oct 30, 2007 at 12:59 PM |
An open letter from Minnesota Gamers' president Jeff Johnson about where MGCON stands.
A gaming convention like MGCON runs on a shoe string budget, that’s not to say our budget is insignificant, rather we could do a lot more with more money. Our budget for 2007 is almost $5500; this includes Hotel Rental, Mailings, Advertising, Web-Space, and miscellaneous expenditures like finest hand woven yak’s hair lanyards Tibetan Monks (inside joke) can make. $5500 is down from $5750 in 2006 and $6250 in 2005. We set our budget based upon the estimated number of attendees; the average attendee over the last three years pays $18 for their badge, this year with a slight price increase that will grow to $19. At $19 a badge to break even we need 290 attendees.
We set the price of three day badges at roughly 85% of the Saturday and Sunday badge sold individually and then throw in Friday as a freebie.
Over the last three years MGCON has averaged around 225 paid badges with attendance about 200. This year, similar to the last two years, we have had multiple individuals and organizations donate additional money to support MGCON this support has kept MGCON at least close enough to the black to allow me to continue running the convention. The problem is while this support helps ease the financial burden it doesn’t address a fundamental flaw.
There are many reasons excuses why people don’t attend MGCON but unfortunately not many solutions.
Our Costs are fixed based upon the number of attendees and our budget. With almost no frills left and not much else we can reduce cost one side of our equation is fixed. As MGCON’s budget is fixed number and the number of attendees is fairly certain than the other side of the equation, the cost for attendance, is fixed as well.
I would love to move MGCON back to a more central location, I liked the Four Points on Hamline and I94, nice and centrally located and unfortunately that location is now a Super Target. The other hotels in the central corridor either aren’t big enough or cost three or four times our budget. If I wanted to move down town and guarantee a few rooms to the hotels I could get space very inexpensively at several downtown St. Paul or Minneapolis Hotels, but the lack of parking and ease of access dooms those plans. In the end I can’t find another location in the Twin Cities to match the space vs. cost as the Holiday Inn St. Paul East, which is the same reason that the “Con of the North” uses the same venue.
I have heard a number of complaints over the dates; the problem becomes no date is perfect for everyone; we had to chose a date that better for most people. This year, like last year and the year before, we have asked the people. The weekend before Thanksgiving continues to be the date most people prefer. I personally would like to see more time between MGCON and “Con of the North” however that is not a sentiment many attendees share where many would like to see another convention around Memorial Day.
I will not deny that my personality is also an issue for some people. I tend to be long winded, abrasive and not pull many punches and that doesn’t sit well for some people. On the other hand I believe that I attempt to bend over backwards to accommodate people working towards a similar goal, I’d like to believe those offset one another but I know they don’t. I accept that this issue as probably the most valid reason of the bunch and move on. The honest answer here is I would love to see many of these people come run their games at the convention, I would welcome them with open arms, just don’t expect me to be personally lined up to play.
This year with donations from a variety of sources, including The Source Comics and Games, Big Game Supply, and myself amongst others, we are looking at a number of ways of improving attendance.
You’ll see Big Game Supply running a number of “Magic the Gathering” events in an attempt to bring that group of players to the convention as this is the first year we do not compete against the “Pro Qualifier” tournament.
The Source Comics and Games will be having a large sale and clearance at the convention on Saturday and Sunday. Bob Brynildson tells me this will be huge sale.
Finally on Friday Night we are hosting a “Free For All”. Attendance for Friday Night is Free and Friday will be more of open gaming session.
Over the years we had four people by Friday only badges (three of which later bought either a Saturday or Sunday Badge) so we are not necessarily expecting to lose money on this, as a matter of fact we hope that a good number of people come down on Friday and upgrade to weekend long pass. We are also hoping to fill a number of games so that our judges feel enthusiasm over running events again.
There is a small issue that some people who purchased three day passes will feel “cheated” as much as I wish I could change that perception it is just not true.
Other ideas have been discussed, TV advertising, Newspaper Ads, Monopoly Tournaments, Pokemon Events, L5R Tournaments, Warhammer events, Fantasy Flight Games, computer gaming, other venders, and many many more.
We looked very seriously at TV advertising, a couple of ads during Sci-Fi Fridays aren’t too expensive, however producing the ad that wasn’t too cheesy would be more expensive than airing it and out of our budget. Newspaper ads don’t necessarily connect with our player base.
We would love to get a larger variety of events for people to participate in; the problem is someone needs to run those events. If you are interested in running something contact me off list and we can talk about it. I understand the bigger the event the bigger the commitment in time money and effort by the judges which is why we currently don’t have anything scheduled for events like Warhammer.
Many people assume Fantasy Flight Games will be at MGCON and running events which is one reason we don’t get many FFG scheduled. Again we would love to have FFG attend or even players run more FFG events since they are such a great company.
Got 5 computers you want to bring to the convention to play your favorite computer based MMO or RPG that all that it takes to get computer based gaming going.
I could go on, but my long winded nature is taking over again.
After this year’s MGCON we will evaluate what we can do to improve next year’s experience. If you have ideas please let me know or email them to info”at”mgcon.org.
May the dice fall your way and we hope to see everyone at the Con.
Jeff Johnson
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Last Updated ( Oct 30, 2007 at 01:58 PM )
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