Domaining Flamewar

[companyone]

When I attended Internext, Rick spoke and put his foot in his mouth yet again...he said that if domainers are not willing to spend $5K-$10K to attend one of his tradeshows, they are quote "Time Wasters" the reasoning he uses is that if attendees pay this amount, they will come to the conference to do business and not waste time, However, if we use the 10K figure, attendees are already dishing out $7500 in expenses, this alone is enough incentive for attendees wanting to do business!.

I would much rather spend this kind of money actually buying domains.

Peace,
Dan

 

[melmunch]

www.unethical.com Wow, this has been taken to the next level.

 

[companyone]

This thread is going to be a long one.

I feel like I am back in high school and the whole student body is the parking lot behind the local Target store...watching the fight of the year about to start...LOL

Dan

 

[Fearless]

however TRAFFIC can easily reduce admission and still make a substantial profit, one way is by doing what Duckinla suggested, charge more to the vendors thereby reducing admission to draw more attendees.

The TRAFFIC vendors pay what they do because they are targeting a select group of people. Charging them more to have to deal with additional people who aren't even in the group they are targeting is not feasible.

 

[Gerry]

Wow, there are some bizarre comments on here and some outrageous figures being mentioned on here. I am not sure that this is a pathetically humorous thread or just pathetic.

While I try to take all of it with a grain of salt or sand, $7500.00 will get me two more weeks in Italy or Austria or both...for two people. All airfare, hotels, transportation, meals, opera and concerts and wine included.

I know we can get great returns on domains. What else can you buy for 8 bucks and get nearly a 1000%-10,000% in no time? A domain I regged for $7.95 sold for $8,500.00 less than 6 months later. I am sure many of you have done better.

But I have also done exceptionally well (extremely well) in another form of "real" estate...land. Primarily waterfront property.

As for conferences, I'll be going to Phoenix in June, Seattle in July, Las Vegas in August (that'll be a hot as hell!). Each is at least a 5 days (one I'll be gone for an entire week), all meals included as the Vendors (sponsors) will be catering during the day hours and dining us at night (open bar if that is your pleasure). One trip I am paying for, the others are paid for. All three total is less than perhaps $7,000.00 combined.

My benefit? Continuing education (isn't that what these conferences are supposed to be about?), introduction to new techniques and updated information (isn't that what these conferences are supposed to be about?), hands on demonstration of the latest technology and gadgetry (isn't that what these conferences are supposed to be about?), and a chance to meet leaders in the field and discuss new advances, visionary statements, global markets and conditions (isn't that what these conferences are supposed to be about?).

So what's the differences between my profession's conferences and a domaining conference? There shouldn't be any.

I am not tooting my own horn but there appears to be a huge gap here between the reality of some things. $5K-$10K will get me and my wife a fine hotel, a great week's of entertainment in NYC, some broadway shows, a Yankees game, some great sightseeing and dining along with encountering the same type of bitching and whining people as I would at a domain conference.

Sorry about the block or rooms, meals, conference center, and other associated fees. I'm not underwriting the thing.

My point is, it will be a cold day in hell that I dish out those kind of fees to attend a conference or seminar that is going to rehash what I am reading on the forums or in trade journals or any kind of blog.

About $6000.00 will get me two weeks all inclusive on the Mayan Riviera. All food, all drinks, all transportation, all expenses included. And that's for two people.

So, what do you say...everyone get together on the Yucatan Peninsula of the Mayan Riviera for a week at about $3-$4K for two people, airfare and ground transport included. Price includes three hotels, resorts and facilities usage at one particular place (very generous), all meals, and all drinks. Have drinks served on the beach, in the resort, at the pool, in your room, in the spa, in the hot tube, get a massage, eat, have some more drinks, talk about domains once and write off the entire expense as a business trip. Beach attire optional.

All you have to pay for is para-sailing, windsurf instructions and rentals, any side trips to the jungle to visit the Mayan ruins, and whatever escort for the night you so desire.

www.unethical.com Wow, this has been taken to the next level.

Would that be "next" level as in a step up or down?

That's not lipstick on his chin. Barbecue sauce perhaps? ound:

... targeting a select group of people.

When you go to Sweden to pick up the Volvo, if you register a domain name while you are over there...does it then become a "business trip" and you can write the whole expense and purchase off?

And if you drive down to Amsterdam and meet up with one of our members (not necessarily in the red light district or any smoke bar), and talk a minute or two about domaining, that has got to have some business value.

If you start a website on your adventures and trip and show the XC90, that's got to be some benefit to your venture.

Hmmm...

 

[Fearless]

When you go to Sweden to pick up the Volvo, if you register a domain name while you are over there...does it then become a "business trip" and you can write the whole expense and purchase off?

And if you drive down to Amsterdam and meet up with one of our members (not necessarily in the red light district or any smoke bar), and talk a minute or two about domaining, that has got to have some business value.

If you start a website on your adventures and trip and show the XC90, that's got to be some benefit to your venture.

Hmmm...

I will be bringing my laptop.

 

[companyone]

The C&D letters... should be coming out of the printer... right about now.

Peace ~ Love ~ Joy ~ To ALL!

Dan

 

[Fearless]

So, what do you say...everyone get together on the Yucatan Peninsula of the Mayan Riviera for a week at about $3-$4K for two people, airfare and ground transport included. Price includes three hotels, resorts and facilities usage at one particular place (very generous), all meals, and all drinks. Have drinks served on the beach, in the resort, at the pool, in your room, in the spa, in the hot tube, get a massage, eat, have some more drinks, talk about domains once and write off the entire expense as a business trip. Beach attire optional.

All you have to pay for is para-sailing, windsurf instructions and rentals, any side trips to the jungle to visit the Mayan ruins, and whatever escort for the night you so desire.

Easier said than done. Nice concept in theory.

 

[Raider]

So, what do you say...everyone get together on the Yucatan Peninsula of the Mayan Riviera for a week at about $3-$4K for two people, airfare and ground transport included. Price includes three hotels, resorts and facilities usage at one particular place (very generous), all meals, and all drinks. Have drinks served on the beach, in the resort, at the pool, in your room, in the spa, in the hot tube, get a massage, eat, have some more drinks, talk about domains once and write off the entire expense as a business trip. Beach attire optional.

Sounds like a plan to me.....All we need is a auctioneer on the beach and some good floating bid paddles :yes:. Oh, and a bodyguard for all my DNF enemies :lol:

 

[Rarethings]

This is without a doubt thread of the year.

www.unethical.com Wow, this has been taken to the next level.

That is without a doubt the funniest picture I've seen all year. I hate DS also, but this is too much.

 

[Gerry]

I will be bringing my laptop.

I knew there had to be an angle.

 

[jimbaggs]

You mean, as in the Domain Roundtable Conference 2007 allowing FREE attendance to anyone on the last day of their conference for the live and silent auctions? We expect over 1000 people on that day. Does that sound feasible? We think so!!

Great Idea!

Usually the ticket prices reflect the food functions, the various multiple seminars (which most companies charge $300 for a 2 hour seminar), room block guarantees, and the time and upfront money it takes to produce the show. It costs over $100k to just get the show off the ground, and that's before the event kicks in. Then the costs really start piling up. However, most attendees at any of these domain conferences always leave with the feeling that they've invested their money well and learned alot, had fun, met the right people to advance their investments in domains. I've never heard a complaint yet from an attendee.

There are expectations of room block minimums placed upon the promoter of the event by the venue (the hotel). If the promoter doesn't bring in the expected attendees booking rooms for the three days of the event, then the promoter has to PAY the hotel the difference. Additionally, the food costs, rental costs of basic items like electrical strips and corkage fees on water bottles, on top of a mandatory 20% service fee charge on all items, it's a lot more expensive and scary than everyone thinks. Just the overall logistics of administrating the event is costly and time consuming. Try and throw a dinner party or birthday party for just 30 people and see what that's like. Multiple that effort 100 times, and you have a conference. LOL

Hope this dispels the myths that millions of dollars are being made from these conferences. They serve a purpose, and that is to benefit the sponsors and the attendees to do business that makes them all great profits!

Obviously millions ARE being made. Just not by the promoters.

Having looked at these sorts of contracts myself I'm floored by the high cost. Maybe its just a supply/demand thing because there's no other way to rationally justify the expense of the items and services rendered. Sometimes high price is just a way to bar the door but it doesnt necessarily come hand-in-hand with what I feel is "Superlative Quality".

At least the gathering we had at The Edgefield last month we got real value. I don't feel like a chump for it. And what a fun place!

 

[Gerry]

Sounds like a plan to me.....All we need is a auctioneer on the beach and some good floating bid paddles :yes:. Oh, and a bodyguard for all my DNF enemies :lol:

We'll each take a turn auctioning off one of our own domains, raise your water wings to bid, and your enemies will not know you when they are drunk, passed out, face in the sand, and you step right over them.

 

[ALGDomains]

www.unethical.com Wow, this has been taken to the next level.

Sedo is doing a user conference adjacent to TRAFFIC in NYC, Enom did the same, with a BIG party at TRAFFIC Vegas earlier this year as did rick's boy, Sahar Sarid, this is commonplace behavior. Companies entertain clients/partners/propsects at conventions, through direct and indirect means <gasp!> If these party sponsors had thrown $5k at Rick, this whole brouhaha never happens right? What does that say? Kinda has a "Sopranos" feel doesn't it?

The actual conference is a loss leader to get to the auction, which is the real profit center. Rick takes 8-10% of the 15% sales comission on domains sold at the TRAFFIC Auction. You do the math:

TRAFFIC West 2007 $4.3 million in domain sales
TRAFFIC East 2006 $4.7 million in domain sales
TRAFFIC West 2006 $2.1 million in domain sales

This is simply sour grapes.

 

[Fearless]

TRAFFIC West 2007 $4.3 million in domain sales

You left off a $9M sale.

 

[strongvis]

You mean, as in the Domain Roundtable Conference ..... spam etc spam

Big shocker here that you'd post in a TRAFFIC oriented thread.

 

[Raider]

Sedo is doing a user conference adjacent to TRAFFIC in NYC, Enom did the same, with a BIG party at TRAFFIC Vegas earlier this year as did rick's boy, Sahar Sarid, this is commonplace behavior.

I believe the companies your mentioning here are actual sponsors of the convention, and your correct, this is commonplace behavior at almost any convention you go to...The problem is that DS is NOT a sponsor of the event, now what led to that, we don't really know for sure, since there is too much conflicting information going around, But if DS made travel plans and booked Hotel rooms for TRAFFIC and Rick gave DS the boot, then I don't blame DS for doing what there doing.

 

[Fearless]

You mean, as in the Domain Roundtable Conference 2007 allowing FREE attendance to anyone on the last day of their conference for the live and silent auctions? We expect over 1000 people on that day. Does that sound feasible? We think so!!

I think that's wishful thinking. I don't see people flying in for one day just to get to bid in an auction.

 

[smashfactory]

http://www.dnjournal.com/columns/cover020204.htm
Rick Schwartz: Domain King or Royal Pain?

 

[Raider]

I think that's wishful thinking. I don't see people flying in for one day just to get to bid in an auction.

If there was a domain I wanted, I certainly would!.