[EuroPython] Pricing (was Re: Work on Call for Participation for EuroPython 2015 has started)

[Paul Boddie]

On Saturday 1. February 2014 08.03.35 Andreas wrote:
> Paul Boddie wrote:
> > 
> > Back in 2007, the exceptional conference was RuPy which offered
> > incredibly cheap rates for students, and I think we were all aware
> > that EuroPython was going to look expensive in comparison and might
> > end up being too expensive for the regional audience, particularly
> > students, but there was no chance that EuroPython could discount
> > rates aggressively to "compete" with RuPy. And of course, no-one was
> > really competing with anyone else, anyway.
> 
> You can not directly compare RuPy 2007 with EP 2014. I was speaker at
> the first RuPy in Poznan and there is a certain difference in size,
> location, length of conference etc. - so do not let use compare apples
> with pears.

For the record, I wasn't comparing RuPy 2007 with this year's conference. I 
was just saying that back in 2007, when hosting a conference in what might be 
regarded as broadly the same region as RuPy, and trying to appeal to the same 
audience, some people might have decided that the base price was more 
attractive for RuPy and that they'd go there instead.

> Also keep in mind that the costs of conference visit also include costs
> for traveling and accommodation. Travelling to Florence appears more
> expensive then getting to Berlin. I payed between 250 and 300 EUR over
> the last years for the flights from Stuttgart to Florence. You can
> get to Berlin within Europe likely with half the money. So the
> conference fee is only one part of the overall personal price for a
> conference.

Yes, I think most people are aware of this. Again, back in 2007 (from which I 
sampled the figures), many people would have been travelling to EuroPython by 
air from western and central parts of Europe because, if I remember correctly, 
the rail options were rather inconvenient, and so the lower cost options that 
people might have chosen (to go to RuPy in Poznań, say, although I wouldn't 
know) weren't available.

> Also every town and conference location has a different cost structure.

Yes, that's why you don't have people hurrying to have these events in Norway.

> In addition to that: there will be a financial assistance program for
> people needing financial support getting to EP 2014.

Great! By the way, I wasn't criticising anyone, but just trying to remind 
people of the historic pricing and what considerations existed about such 
matters at the time, especially since there seemed to be some confusion about 
what the pricing actually was.

Paul

P.S. I can go into more detail about where people came from to go to 
EuroPython in Geneva, Vilnius or Birmingham, if people are sincerely 
interested in that, but I don't think I need to labour the point, really.