Re: Re: [PSF-Members] Python11 at OSCON2003

> Well, let's at least try to get "Python Software Foundation" in
> there. Some exposure will certainly be good for us; at least from
> the standpoint of noting that we *exist*, are a non-profit, and
> willing to accept donations :-)

Will do.

> >...
> > > I'll note that the Apache Software Foundation has made on the order
> > > of $100k over the past two/three years from its conferences. In
> > > fact, we had a notable lack of income last year when our conference
> > > organizer folded, and we had to cancel the Con.
> > 
> > There are may ways to look at that information less than favorably.
> 
> Heh. I presume you meant "many", but I can only think of one: the
> conference was quite expensive for the attendees. I'd be interested
> in other "less than favorably" aspects you have in mind. It would be
> great feedback!

Yes, I meant many.  I was thinking that perhaps the organizer gave too
much back to the ASF and went out of business as a result.  More
likely, they were a simple victim of the bursting internet bubble.

> But even so with the higher cost than the Foretech/IPC conferences,
> the speakers got *paid* for being there (flight cost, per diem, and
> (of course) free entrance to the conference, etc). Even after that,
> money was still available for the ASF. I've always been amazed that
> the IPC conferences never generated positive cash. It just doesn't
> seem right :-)

OSCON gives all speakers free registration; tutorial speakers and VIPs
I believe get paid or get a free trip.  (I assume Larry Wall gets paid
royally.)

> > > While the ASF arguably has a larger and broader interest base than
> > > the PSF, I don't see a specific reason why a PSF conference could
> > > not generate proceeds for us.
> > 
> > Because it never made money in the past?
> 
> See above. This just amazes me :-)

Yet it's a simple matter of numbers.  The number of people who can
convince their boss to pay for their trip to a Python conference is
much smaller than for an Apache conference.  While a lot of the cost
is per attendee (like the food), there's also a lot of fixed cost
(e.g. projector rent).  Plus, for a larger conference you can get more
money from sponsors.  Since this will be your first conference since
the bubble burst, it will be interesting to see how it goes.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)