With regard to HomeBrew Con, I have enjoyed attending (when it’s local to me) and the seminar recordings are a solid resource. The summaries for 2023 were recently posted; and to me, it looks like a good mix of topics and levels.
Don’t give away all of the secrets.
In Grand Rapids a guy came up to a certain vendor’s both as they were tearing down, said the price they had negotiated earlier, handed over cash, and got an extremely nice piece of stainless steel equipment. This is a win for both sides of the deal. Can’t remember all the details, but it stuck with me.
Ask yourself how can AHA be more inclusive.
Based on a 2013 survey there are an estimated 1.2M homebrewers in the US. The AHA is advertising 1,500+ attendance at this yr conference. The max attended conference since 2008 was 3,400 and the avg is 2,312.
IOW, the plan is for .1-.3% of US homebrewers to attend the conference. 1-3 10ths of a percent.
How can you reach the 99.9% that don’t attend? …or even 1%? Red here is in the majority. Instead of coming up with reasons to maintain the status quo, y’all might want to listen.
Ref:
What would you suggest to correct this? Are those numbers different from any other hobbyist organization?
A different model might be to have some smaller, multiple, regional conferences instead of an annual one in a single location every year. Maybe 2-3 regional ones each year for 2-3 years and a larger single one very 4 years or so. I know that this would present a lot of logistics work but it’s just an idea.
Perhaps adding a podcast element to the NHC or coordinating podcasters through the NHC on a live basis, to enable non-attendees to participate remotely? I know that in past years a couple or more were podcasted from the NHC, but I am not sure if they were live podcasts or any interaction was available to the viewers/listeners…just another option.
This has been considered and discussed many times, but so far no one has been able to come up with a workable model. It’s easier to say what than how.
We record a podcast there every year, as do others. Not exactly sure how it could be made live and interactive.
I remember seeing you and Drew at the Baltimore NHC mid-recording from the social area. After the NHC I listened to the podcast and was transported back in time to a good memory. But, yeah, I don’t know the technical side and how to make a live, interactive work. There are some that do it that way via zoom or other means, of course.
My suggestion is above: virtual meetup. Sounds like there are others. Do you have one?
My idea is not a replacement. It’s an addition. A feature at the conference to get those there in a room to connect virtually with members that could not attend.
I have participated in virtual meetings with participants from all over the world. It works.
There are numerous platforms that can accommodate up to 1,000 participants. With one participant at the HomeBrewCon, if each participant is a homebrew club with 10 members in the room (low ball number) that’s 9,990 members reached that would otherwise not be. Even if it’s 4,000 it’ll blow past attendance numbers out of the water. What better way to include members in their organization.
I spent 15 years on the Governing Committee trying to solve these issues. None of the ideas offered are bad. ButbI haven’t seen one that hasn’t been looked at and rejected for one reason or another.
The organization can stand firmly on your shoulders. However, 15 yrs ago I don’t think online meeting platforms existed. The question was raised during your tenure but there wasn’t a good answer. As you know, it’s the same as in brewing: the science advances. For example many are taking advantage of Thiols now that were unheard of far less than 15 yrs ago. Hell, I never heard of them until last year. Likewise, online meeting platforms have developed to a level that the technology can finally be able to answer now the question you asked back then. Take advantage of it.
Just a thought. Why the registration fee? Why not just have an entry fee for those who want to look around the general vendor area, and then add ons for those who want to do the classes or other stuff? In other words, say a 30 dollar entry fee each day to get into the vendor area, then, as I have seen on the website, 50 bucks per class. I actually would enjoy the beginner brewing class and maybe even the intermediate. If anybody wants to do the add on for the VIP, which again looked fun, then add on for that as well. If somebody wants to buy the whole package, cool, keep that as an option a well. But have something scaled down for the folks like me who either don’t have an interest in, or don’t have the cash to justify the whole package.
Then, at least for me, I am not paying 300 bucks for stuff that does not really interest me and then 50 for this, 50 for that and another 90 for this. For instance, the Good Guys does 3 or 4 Car shows in my area. They charge I think it is 30 or 40 bucks to get into the car show. I think there is an add on fee for those who want to look at the cars and trucks for sale, and another add on for guest speakers I think. Even if I just pay for just Saturday at the BrewCon, 130 gets me in the Vendor area, an awards ceremony that I could care less about, and some knockout party, that again does not interest me. So, breaking it down, 130 to get in the door, 100 dollars in classes, and another 90 for the VIP. That puts me at about 300 bucks. Again, that with hotel and gas from San Francisco to San Diego has priced me out of it. But, 30 bucks to get in, 100 bucks for the classes and 90 for the VIP I am only in it for about 200 bucks. That I can justify as a nice weekend with the wife. And hopefully a nice weekend meeting some of you folks that have been so helpful to me in my quest.
Please take this for what it is worth. I am not complaining and certainly not trying to get nothing for nothing. But, I think you guys have priced the “newbie” and the budget conscious out of the party when, in my mind, you don’t have to.
A long time ago there did used to be effectively a day pass for Club Night day, which really is one of the highlights of the whole shindig. That went away probably 15 years ago or so?
No, but they did 5 years ago. Not all of the effort was that far in the past, but the basic issue was there.
Because the conference is massively expensive to put on.
OK, got it. I understand the cost is there, but I am sure all the vendors are paying to show their wares for the weekend, and equally sure that the food and drink folks are also paying their way in, so I am not sure how eliminating, or at least having an option to not pay the registration fee and just pay to play so to speak would leave the association with a loss. But, I will bow out then and just be disappointed that I cannot go. Too bad, it looked like a fun weekend. Maybe at some point the powers that be will figure out how to do it so us little guys can go as well. Either way, I will just say have fun, and end this.
Those things are simply part of the income. They don’t cover all of the expenses by any means.
I can’t imagine the costs of the convention centers alone for 3 days. I must say that I went to 3 and all were quite good (Grand Rapids, Minneapolis, and Baltimore). Fun times with geeking out on all aspects homebrew. I hope to attend again - Nashville got cancelled in 2020, if I recall correctly. I had that one planned for both my wife and me and my adult son…what a bummer that COVID hit - we went fishing in the Wisconsin north woods instead….
I think the paid webinar option is good. Not all the webinars are going to interest people. A year or two ago Yakima chief or YVH came out with hop sampling kit, and there are already the beer flaw kits. You could offer a beer flaw webinar, a hop flavor/aroma webinar, etc and have an expert walking you through the process. I’m not sure what the right price for this would be, but those kits are usually ~$100 and work better to split as a club anyway.
My club was excited about Nashville also, being close enough to drive makes a big difference when you’re a few hours away from one of the big airports.