[Robotgroup] Robotgroup @ Screenburn cancelled :(

[Def Egge]

Vern,

You made the correct decision, IMHO.

The SxSW folks seem to have the worst attitude of 
all in this regard.  I told them so last year.

We should aim more towards collecting an 
appearance fee with complete waiver of entry 
fees, booth fees, electricity / compressed air / 
utility fees, and taxes, title & license 
fees.  Print the appearance policy on the 
business cards (right under the three-line mission Statement)!

dorkbot and the EFF shindig will be plenty of activity.


All the best....

Mike


At 11:56  2007/02/21, you wrote:
>Just a heads up for everybody, seems the "invitation" from Screenburn to
>  The Robot Group wasn't so much an "invitation" as it was a "sales
>offer". Bottom line, to get a booth w/electricity we have to pay ~$100:
>
>------------------------ CLIP -----------------------
>From: Lindsay Muse <XXXXXXXX.com>
>To: Denise Scioli <XXXXXXXXX.com>
>Subject: Re: video of spinart and first night
>Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 17:27:15 -0600
>
>Denise,
>
>Unfortunately, we are unable to assume your electrical charges for your
>booth in the ScreenBurn Arcade.  I think they run around $90-100 for
>both days with a regular electrical pull, if you'd still like to
>consider participating.
>
>Thank you for your support and interest.
>------------------------ CLIP -----------------------
>
><MY $0.02>
>
>The Robot Group Inc. has a finite number of "bookable" hours on
>weekends/evenings. We also have a finite number of "people" hours and
>have to consider eventual "burnout".
>
>We need to *carefully* consider how best to use these hours and make
>sure we use them wisely for such activities as fund raising for new
>artistic works/maintaining existing works, and attracting new members.
>
>As far as I'm concerned, as a general policy (unless there is some
>mitigating circumstance), I think we should only accept appearance
>invitations from groups that agree to fund our presence at said event.
>
>I think our *minimum* fee should be $300 for 3 hours of robotic
>menagerie/display/entertainment/chaos. :)
>
>If there is some unique aspect of an event that would benefit The Robot
>Group, we should consider reducing or (rarely) waiving the appearance
>fee. This would be the *exception*, not the rule.
>
>I think the criteria for an exception should be based on a tangible
>benefit for the group such as a television guest appearance, opportunity
>to promote the group to sponsors, or to further our outreach mission &
>recruiting programs.
>
>We appreciate people thinking about our group but, with no consistent
>form of income, I don't think the group can afford to *pay* to
>participate in events.
>
></MY $0.02>
>
>
>Vern
>
>--
>Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE    | "If the network is down, then you're
>Senior Systems Engineer    | obviously incompetent so why are we
>Texas Information Services | paying you? Of course, if the network
>http://www.txis.com        | is up, then we obviously don't need
>Austin Office 512 328-8947 | you, so why are we paying you?" ©VLG
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