Would you pay $3.00/$4.00 entrance fee - local pin meet?

[PinClubs]

As Disney pin trading evolves there are many of us who have started up local groups across the country/world.

Some clubs have become quite large and are now having trouble finding places that can accommodate larger groups (50 traders or more) that don't charge a fee.

John Rick and I have spent the last 2 months looking for a new venue for our group the CJDPT - Central Jersey Disney Pin Traders since the Bridgewater Mall Management has requested us not to meet there because of the club size.

Many venues, i.e., firehouses, VFWs, churches, libraries, all charge to use their meeting rooms. The Fall Foliage Pin Meet inspired me to also price out the local hotels in the area. Their meet was held at a Residence Inn.

The bottom line is most places will charge at least $125.00 - $150.00 to use their facilities and some can be double that amount, so I wanted to ask the question who would pay $3.00 or $4.00 out of their pocket for a local pin meet?

I think it is decision that is going to have to be made by more and more club organizers in the future.

Thanks in advance for your feedback,

Jeff (Buddy Bear aka Pin Clubs) Langdon

 

[Duckfan]

if it were a nice place with plenty of tables and chairs. Do you guys bring food or what because if not, it would be nice to have access to beverages. Still, it is hard for me to imagine because in my pin land if we have 10 traders it is a fantastic get together.

 

[atlnewf]

I would for the right place, but it would depend (on what, I'm not sure right now..)

 

[PinClubs]

Until now, our meets where always at the Bridgewater Mall Food Court, so bringing food and beverages wasn't necessary.

Here are some photos of past meets at the mall - http://www.pinclubs.com/cjdpt/events090702.aspx

With any new venue we will probably have people volunteer to bring something to eat and drink.

I am currently looking into a local Residence Inn. The Connecticut Fall Folliage Pin Meet was held at a Residence Inn and the cost wasn't too unreasonable.

Photos of the FF Meet can be found here - http://www.pinclubs.com/ctdpt/events101902.aspx

Jeff (Buddy Bear aka Pin Clubs) Langdon

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

Here in the Washington, DC suburbs we are fortunate that we have our incredibly generous local Parkhopper pin meet hosts. Vince & Suzi have access to a private location that is just wonderful.

However, we have had other pin meets at malls (food courts) and in libraries. When we had one at the library everyone was more than willing to pitch in to cover the room rental fee.

Personally, I would go anywhere rather than a food court. They are noisy, usually not very clean, and we are exposed to the general public. We need to guard our (often very valuable) pins very closely, as well as our younger children. That type of venue certainly does not lend itself to the games and comraderie that we can enjoy in a private location.

I never mind bringing some snacks, drinks, or whatever is needed to make the overall meet fun for everyone.

Since we're a family of five, I would like to see some arrangement that is a per person contribution, with a "cap" for a whole family.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Here's another suggestion ...

For the first GPA in 2001, we raised money to help with the rental of a ballroom at the Swan. Also, we had a raffle to supplement any additional money raised and made a donation to charity.

Perhaps the local pin clubs could do this -- raise money from regular attendees and hold a raffle for charity at each meet in which occasional or new attendees can participate, pay for a room rental and donate the excess to a local charity.

 

[DisneyFan0304]

Kathy and Cathy from Staten would be willing to pay to attend the meetings. We always have such a good time at the meets. it would be a shame if the CJDPT can't find a place to get together.

Jeff, where is the Residence Inn you're looking into? Is it any closer to Staten Island than Bridgewater?

Thanks.

 

[sgtslovak]

Sure!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would be willing to pay a few dollars toward the costs involved both in space rental and in for food and beverages. Obviously if people contribute food, then the cost of the space rental only should be charged, using an estimated attendance to set up the per-person charge; if there is any excess it should be carried forward to the next event.

I did attend the Fall Foliage meet; it was quite good and we had a lot of people travelling long distances to attend. The hotel sold a large number of rooms in what would have been an otherwise slow weekend for them, as they are primarily a business hotel.

The one thing I would disagree with is a "family cap". If a family of five shows up, and all are involved in pin trading and/or eating/drinking or otherwise participating each should pay. I can see no reason to say that since the family is a large group one or more should be free. There is a possibility that there might be a reduced price for children under a certain age.

I also have gone to Vince and Suzie's events; and it is a wonderful venue. They do have people bring food and beverages to share (JudySue and I have brought our fair share). We feel that should charge at least a niminal fee so they can have someone come in to clean up after we have made a mess of the place.

 

[We4mickey]

If you have that many pin traders all the time. I see no reson to
charge.
just my 2cents.

 

[PinClubs]

In response to the last post, I think I need to clarify why this thread was started.

Some local pin clubs have grown quite large. Clubs like the CJDPT are averaging 40 - 50 people per meet which until recently were meeting twice a month.

In our search for a new meeting place, we found that any place that can hold an average of 50 people costs money. A lot of money!!

Per all the wonderful suggestions, we checked the following:

Mall community rooms, libraries, schools, township community centers, churches, condo community rooms, firehouses, first aid squads, VFWs, American Legion halls, restaurants, banquet rooms, hotel meeting rooms. The search for the last 3 months has been exhaustive.

The Bottom Line: Every one of these places charges money. The lowest cost which could accommodate 50 people was $150.00. Many were double and triple that cost!! An additional problem is that almost all require an insurance policy that insures the venue owner in the amount of a million dollars. Yes, six zeros! This insurance in many cases is additional to what the venue owner may already be insured for.

The $3.00 or $4.00 is not to cover food, drinks, prizes, entertainment, or the pin meet organizers time and effort. It is just to pay for a venue so a pin meet could be held. In many cases, the pin meet organizer is going to have to put out the $150.00 - $200.00 out of pocket up front and hope they can get their money back.

I would imagine, across the country, in some towns it may be possible that to find a community room for no charge, but not here in the Northeast. In our case, the entry fee would be just to pay for the venue.

Regards,

Jeff (Buddy Bear aka Pin Clubs) Langdon

 

[Hopkins]

I wouldn't have a problem contibuting for the hall rental expense at all. In the Washington area, we have the Parkhoppers (Vince and Suzi) that have a large space to accomadate a large crowd, so we are very lucky. I can't see why anyone who is attending a pin meet and they need a large space should have a problem with paying a small amount toward the hall rental. One pin meet a few years ago outside of Baltimore, they rented a library room and we contributed for that... along with food and drinks, of course. These pin meets are drawing large crowds.

Tina