Pricing exhibit space is more of an art than a science of course, but I’d really like to find a better way to work out the cost of booth than the “what the market will bear” type pricing. The Digital Life show in New York City is nearly twice as much as Podcast & Portable Media Expo. However, they had 35,000 attendees at their first event – I am projecting 2500.

I addressed this in one of my earlier posts, but even though most companies will say they want quality over quantity, I’ve had one company basically say, I pay $7500 for 35,000 attendees at Digital Life – why would I pay $3000 for only 2,500? I then go into why the quality of my 2500 will blow away the 35,000 but I don’t think they got the message.

I’ve always done shows where at least 80% of my revenue came from sponsors and exhibitors – I may need to increase the conference price next year to start reducing that heavy reliance on exhibitors. But with a more hybrid / “prosumer” event where individuals are paying out of pocket rather than an employer paying their way, I just don’t see conference tickets over $295 in my future.