Why is going to a convention so expensive?

[Rarity Paige Belle 1,854]

I was about to book tickets to go to BUCK, when I saw the price. £80! Plus the train tickets, staying at my girlfriend's sisters place (who I can't stand) with three of going that's nearly £500 down the drain. Is it really worth that amount of money when I can spend that going someplace sunny!

Edited March 6, 2014 by My Fluffy Unicorn

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

First of all, let's not count travel costs because the con staff has no say in that and there could be someone right next door to the convention center that doesn't have to pay a dime, making that a cost doesn't apply to everyone.

 

Second, it's not cheap to pay all the guests(both big-name fans and show staff) who come and share their time with the con-goers. It's also not cheap to rent the space to host it in, rent all the required equipment, pay for hosting the cons website, and pay for OC content that may have been made just for presentation at the con. 

Edited March 7, 2014 by Shoboni

[An Old Head 4,816]

Specifically for BUCK:

• £80 includes VAT. They had to add VAT because they had to legally become a company given their size/magnitude of business. If you had got there early, the Early Bird tickets were at a significant discount.
• Large conventions within a central city environment cost the con hiring a disproportionate amount of money. Then you gotta consider the hiring of equipment, flying out VIP guests, legal/safety fees and business charges. The bottom tier of tickets doesn't even break 40% of total expenditure; be thankful it isn't a lot more.
• It's only as expensive as you allow it to be. Condition your expenditure. I'm booking a Megabus return journey for £10, and a 3-night Travelodge is £55. I'm spending a third of what you guys will be; whittle things down and you'll find a lot more appealing of a sum.
• In regards to alternatively going somewhere sunny, it's down to preference. I know I'd love to be partying hard and having three nights that will be impossible to forget; some people prefer a beach getaway. Again, it's as expensive as you allow it to be.

And hey, be thankful it's not as expensive as BronyCon!

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

In America it's 110 bucks for a ticket, and I'm within driving distance to most past convention sites in the USA, so approximately 60 bucks in gas in my sisters hybrid car, and if I were to carpool we could split gas cost, so round trip, tickets plus food I would be looking at 300 bucks per person not including pony merch Iwould buy at said convention..... That's actually fairly cheap for a decent vacation.

[The Coffee Pony 1,390]

It depends on which convention you're going to. For example I live in the lower mainland area of British Columbia and there are plenty of conventions here that vary in pricing.

 

To give some examples here are the cons that are hosted here and their weekend pass prices

 

Northwest Fanfest -  $35

 

Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo - $20

 

Anime Evolution - $45 (That's the price online, it's $55 at the door)

 

Anime Revolution - $75 (Believe me when I say it's not worth that price.)

 

BronyCan - $50

 

There's also Cos & Effect but they haven't announced their ticket prices but from what I hear from my sister it's usually in the $30 area.

 

But yeah there are some examples of the cons here. You can go to one as cheap as the Gaming Expo or you can go to one as insanely expensive as Anime Revolution, which in my honest opinion is not really worth the price.

 

And then there's the cash you need for all the neat stuff you'd like to buy there.

[~Silver Essence~ 2,625]

Because there's a lot to doand buy for this once in a year event.

 

Such as merchandise, traveling, food, establishments, miscellaneous, renting, it goes on.

[Simon 4,557]

It depends on the con you're going to.  The thing you have to remember about conventions, especially for a convention in Europe, is that they have tons of expenses they need to recoup.  First of all they have to pay for the convention center itself, so that's obviously a huge expense.  And the expenses for actually getting the guests is much higher because they have to pay for pricey international travel expenses from Canada and the U.S. to Europe for each of the guests and that adds up.  They also have the hotel rooms for the guests and any appearance fees.  And they have costs for running the website and costs for all the other tons of logistical aspects of running a con.  It adds up a lot.

 

I would be happy that the ticket prices are what they are and not much higher, because in all honesty they could charge significantly more than they do for the tickets. 

 

But seriously, if you don't think it's worth it don't go.  It is for some people and isn't for others... but it's not going to get any cheaper than £500

Edited March 6, 2014 by Simon