(We’re doing it for a shitload of money!)

Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

Some folks on Fetlife recently have brought up the point that event organizers don’t organize events for the purposes of making money. At least, not directly. I know one event organizer who uses their event as a way to promote their business, but when it comes to the actual event, they don’t do more than break even. I know others who barely break even. As far as GASP goes, we have yet to do so, and people often underestimate just how much it’s going to cost to put on an event.

My original budget for GASP was a relatively-low amount that corresponded to a one-time bonus I’d received from my job plus the cost of ticket sales for 250 people. It ended up costing twice that amount. I put my entire bonus into the first GASP, and for the second I had to put in almost that same amount of my own money (but without the bonus). For the third, I’m still not exactly sure what’s going to happen, but I know I’ve already set aside $2500 and I’m sure I’ll have to put in even more as time goes on.

Events are expensive. Events in Atlanta are even more expensive than others. There are seven major national spanking parties in the US every year — two in Vegas, two in Chicago, two in Texas, and GASP. I’ve never asked the other party organizers if they break even, but they’ve been around long enough that I feel as though they have to at least be close to it. For a while there was a spanking party that was actively trying to make money, but it’s now under new management and the goal seems to be to put on a good party, not to profit. But in Atlanta, the GASP hotel is one of the most expensive (and the Frolicon hotel is even more expensive) and it’s only $122 per night this year (plus taxes and fees). Breakfast at the GASP hotel is $25 for the buffet, which is kind of ridiculous, but it’s not something we can control. Getting to the GASP hotel is not a cheap proposition either. That means we are super-appreciative of folks who spend their hard-earned money to come to GASP, and our goal is to put on the best party we can. If that means I have to spend some of my own money, then so be it.

I would love to break even, though.

Basically: any time you think an event is too expensive, odds are good they’re charging the minimum of what they can afford. So be kind. If you can’t afford to go, just say so; don’t berate the organizers for charging more than you have to spend.

One thing I didn’t have a place for: even when I host house parties, it’s still expensive and I still put in my own money. I have my house professionally cleaned, which costs about $200, and I spend at least $150 (usually closer to $200) on food and drink. And I have to board the dog for the night, which is $40. I have an average of 20 people at the party, including myself, and I ask for a $15 donation toward food and maintenance from each attendee. 20 x 15 is $300, which means I’m still spending about $100. Sure, I could ask for a larger donation, but I feel bad even asking for what I do. After all, I’m inviting people to my house to have fun; why should they have to pay? When my parents host Thanksgiving or July 4, they never ask people to donate money, and I’m sure they spend at least $200 on each meal (if not more, because they live in a more expensive place than Atlanta). I’m just glad that the people I invite understand that sometimes you need a little help to put on a good event, even at one’s own house. But if I could afford to do it without donations, I totally would.