Admission to shows--RIPOFF

[redlevel]

Today's news has a front page story about the annual Home and Garden show near East Lansing, Michigan. It says they will have about 300 exhibitors there, who will share ideas on how to spruce up your yard or home. Seems like a good idea to attend, until you read the information about the admission charge:

$8 per adult, $4 for kids ages 6 thru 14. WHAT A RIPOFF.

It ticks me off big time when "shows" which are basically nothing but a form of advertising, expect the attendees to pay to admission. The businesses that are at the shows hope to attract customers in order to do business, so why are the potential customers expected to pay to attend? When you go to a car dealership, do they ask you to pay them $8 for the opportunity to buy a new car? When you go to a local builder to get an estimate for new windows, do they ask you to pay $10 for an estimate? NO TO BOTH.

Charging admission to shows like the one I mentioned in the opening paragraph is a RIPOFF, pure and simple. The exhibitors are simply cutting their own throats by expecting to make money off potential customers.

THEY CAN WRITE OFF BOOTH FEES AS BUSINESS EXPENSES.

Locally, the majority of shows are held at a University Pavilion at a college campus or in downtown Lansing at a Civic Center. Parking at the Pavilion is free, downtown it is $5-$6. The building/property owners should simply bill the exhibitors for any and all expenses instead of charging admission. The parking fees should be more than enough revenue for anybody.

BTW, I don't consider attending these shows to be "entertainment" as 99% of the crap they have on display is stuff I don't need or want. $8 admission, $5 parking, $5 gasoline...waste of money, IMO. BIG WASTE.

Have never been to a car show, waste of time and money. The local university hosts an "Agricultural Expo" every year. Many events, including the chance to drive compact tractors and ATV's, and tractor pulls. FREE PARKING, FREE ADMISSION, the exhibitors pick up the entire cost of everything and that is the correct way to do it. In all my years of attending I have NEVER seen any homeless or bums there.

BTW, what are you referring to: "go after mooching the free stuff....?" Brochures, handouts, yardsticks, pens and pencils, etc?

JUST DON'T GO!!

 

[jonyyuma]

What comes to my mind was last summer we went to Tupelo Ms to the Azaelia Festival. We got to pay 3 dollars to park in a feild, and getting to the gate they had a 15 dollar per person admission. I almost had a stroke, THey couldnt tell me what all was going on. I had been years back and it was free but scoping around the place I didnt see anything of interest to me. We just drove down to some home owners and gardeners that threw a free show taking donations and I gave donated 10 bucks. It was more interesting than the BS in the park. I agee that it costs alot to run an event but the Azealia fest burnt me.

Don't Feel bad about that one. We drove Down to the Miss. Hummingbird festival, that is in the fall..Pretty steep addmission prices.. Everyone collected money there, so it was our last.