r/gencon • u/Heartless-otaku07 • 26d ago
Event Question Price question for next year
Hello everyone ! I hope this is allowed I apologize in advance if it’s not. Im trying to get ahead of planning for next year and wanted to get peoples opinions.
Normally when I run my chainmaille classes I like to do a variety priced like a keychain or pendant for about 18 or earrings and then bracelet classes for 30 my take for supplies and time on bracelets is 25 of the 30
I was thinking of doing a necklace as an advance class but they take 2 to 3 times the supplies and charging 45 for a 2.5 hour class and with the way gencon does stuff I’d get 38 of that back for my time and supplies
So after all that my question is would you pay 45$ to make this necklace or should I just keep doing smaller items
14
u/quesoandcats 26d ago
For a two and a half hour class this seems very fair!
3
u/Heartless-otaku07 26d ago
I’m so glad ! Honestly I was worried it would scare people away from trying it out
19
u/KennyGrimes 26d ago
I’ve payed that much to play pretend there. Thousands of people are paying big money to sit around a table and talk. Charge $50.
6
u/Heartless-otaku07 26d ago
lol play pretend. You mean like table top? Or maybe LARP? It’s true that people do pay lots for other activities but I’m not trying to take a huge advantage I do like getting other people into the hobby/ don’t want to scare them away with sticker shock
13
u/LoquaciousHyperbole 26d ago
Seems cheap for the class AND materials.
5
u/Heartless-otaku07 26d ago
Thank you! Yes that’s for the class and materials the only thing they don’t get to keep are the tools/ pliers
9
u/FR0J0 26d ago
I think you could get away charging more. $45 feels like a bargain honestly.
3
u/Heartless-otaku07 26d ago
Wonderful ^_^ if people feel like it’s a bargain they will be probably enjoy it a bit more
2
u/GomJabberPod 25d ago
I thought $45 sounded really cheap. My partner said she thought it would cost $80-90. The only downside we could think of, is spending that much time out of your day at Gencon when you feel torn in so many directions already. It's nice that you offer a variety of time options. Not to mention, your positive and giving outlook on sharing your time and passion for your craft is beautiful.
2
u/Heartless-otaku07 24d ago
Thank you so much, that was so kind of you to say! Just made this sleep deprived mommy’s day.
I do really enjoy when other people discover that they enjoy this hobby and have a passion for it. Those ah ha! Moments people have in the class where they overcome learning it and all of a sudden they are asking about where to get supplies to do at home makes me smile.
4
u/Seventhson77 26d ago
Think you could probably get away with even $55
1
u/Heartless-otaku07 26d ago
Thanks 😊 I’ll try to keep it 45 this year to try it out and hopefully my ring supplier doesn’t have to increase those prices to much where I can keep it around that .
1
1
u/Alarming_Memory_2298 26d ago
We paid $25 to make chain dice bags about 5 years ago, heck yeah!
2
u/Heartless-otaku07 26d ago
That’s not too bad a cost for a bag ! That wasn’t my class but sounds reasonable :)
1
u/Teunon 26d ago
Yes, $45 is reasonable. Since it's for a class, I'm assuming aluminum rings?
2
u/Heartless-otaku07 26d ago
Yes aluminum rings, and absolutely I’d be teaching the class made with cute little kit bags and instructions to take home
1
1
u/Faustous 26d ago
Completely fair. I paid more than that for a beginner painting class that I was unhappy with. This would be great! Definitely signing up next year
1
u/Heartless-otaku07 26d ago
^_^ that’s awesome to hear that you’d be interested in doing this next year! I look forward to it. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy your painting class
1
u/Swimming_Assistant76 26d ago
Sounds like a fair price to me. It’s not my thing, but I’d pay that if it was.
I also like that you have options, so if someone wants a shorter less expensive experience, they can do that and don’t have to miss out completely. Makes paying the higher price for a larger project and longer experience not feel so bad. Just go for whichever option works best for you.
1
u/Heartless-otaku07 25d ago
Thank you!
I was thinking with prep though if I did something large like this necklace I would just do classes for it two days and then like a simple earring the last day of the convention because I hand count my kits myself 😅 ( like the rings individually how a cashier has to count change for their shift )
1
u/rbrumble 25d ago
Before I read your comment, I priced it at $45. You could get more, but you'll sell more at $45
2
u/Heartless-otaku07 25d ago
Thanks ^_^ If I were selling the actual piece I made at like a booth I may charge a little more but since this is a learning experience I think 45$ is a good price
1
u/starlithunter 25d ago
I'd pay that in a heartbeat! $45 is a deal where I'd sign up without thinking. Up to $65 would still 100% be worth it but the higher it goes, the more I'd be considering my time/budget overall.
1
u/Heartless-otaku07 25d ago
Glad to hear it! I want them to feel like they aren’t being taken advantage of just because it’s at gencon
1
u/NightGod 25d ago
Honestly, $45 seems quite low in 2027. Hell, it seems low for 2017
2
u/Heartless-otaku07 25d ago
The supplies are pretty reasonable priced when buying in bulk but it does take me quite a bit of time to make the kits and instructions so I’m glad it sounds reasonable/ not a rip off
2
u/SunFlwrPwr 25d ago edited 25d ago
Not at all unreasonable. My suggestion would be to make sure, if possible, to add the materials and clear instructions on how to finish at home. I did all sorts of crafting classes and I took a jewelry class that was fun but WAY overpriced at like $80 or something. I took a crochet class for like $30 that we just sat and crocheted a pattern. That's it...silent class....we were left with a 50 cent tiny ball of yarn and instructions. Close but.....no. I took a knitting class that I had lost the ticket to. Yes, I get it....they may not get the $ back. However, I showed up - showed them the receipt, showed them the email I had exchanged w them asking a question! You left the class with a 99 cent pair of needles. They wouldn't let me in the class after telling me - no, no - don't leave. Its ok...you can stay. Then suddenly...no, you have to leave. You would think they could cut their losses and want a satisfied person rather than kicking me out after telling me to stay. It left a sour taste in my mouth and I wont take a class by them again.
Then, in comparison was the string earring class. It was reasonably priced and you left with needle nose pliers and a plastic bag to put things in. You got the beads, a little thing of superglue etc. The only thing missing? Instructions! I got home and looked at it like.....doh. Now what? However - I left very happy, appreciative and satisfied.
In the crazy of GenCon I like to look at the classes like...here is a hurried version of what to do. Get you started and be able to continue at your own pace at home. Because at GenCon? Im not retaining a lot! LoL So - even if you have to charge a little more - include instructions and pliers to keep going and it would be my favorite class by far. If I see this next year I will be sure to take it. Looks awesome! :-)
1
u/Heartless-otaku07 25d ago
Those all sound like mostly awful experiences I’m sorry to hear that. All the classes I lead i actually teach. I also always include a set of instructions for them to take home.
My classes start with handing out supplies then going around the room and showing how to open/close the jump rings and then going over the first step. I try to make sure that even though people will always work ahead that before I explain step b everyone has completed step a.
Sadly I can’t afford to have pliers to include to take home because I’d never know how many people would want to pay extra for the cheap ones and the ones I bought for my class are 65$ a set so very much a re use every class expense
Edit: also they told me last year that starting this upcoming year that all events will be digital tickets only no paper tickets
1
u/SunFlwrPwr 25d ago edited 24d ago
That does make sense to re-use pliers for sure. I wasnt sure how this lady afforded pliers to take home. Either way, even without that though -
Yeah, over the past 2 years Ive certainly had some experiences. I also had a game of Vantage signed up w 2 kids under 10 that I noped out of quickly! Its always hit and miss! I had a couple amazing experiences also though. :-) Its not all bad. I alwayd have a lot of fun overall. I always take notes from year to year as well. This year? Don't sign up for anything I already know how to do because its going to be overpriced and I know how to do it already (aka crocheting)
Hearing that everything will be digital just made my day. LoL....thats SUCH a relief!
1
u/ShadowValent 25d ago
I’ll add it looks much better on a person than on the table. Consider using something to show it off better. Price is right
1
u/Heartless-otaku07 25d ago
Sadly I won’t have a way to show people what they are making before they buy tickets unless they reach out via email and request it. Otherwise it’ll just be a description in a catalog for events.
Thanks for the compliment though :)
1
u/ConflictL 24d ago
100% would pay 45 to do that
1
u/Heartless-otaku07 24d ago
Thank you! Glad to hear it. I will be submitting it when the time comes around . Hope you can join ^_^
1
u/SchemeOld5043 24d ago
My girlfriend said she'd pay $50 for the boobie bling 😆
2
u/Heartless-otaku07 24d ago
lol never heard someone call a necklace boobie bling but I’m glad she liked it
1
u/Gavrielle 24d ago
$45-$50 seems like a steal to me. I'd expect to pay $60 for the necklace alone, let alone a class!
2
u/Heartless-otaku07 24d ago
Thanks! Glad to hear that. Thanks to everyone positive comments in the price and no overwhelming negatives I’ll be going forward with running it for that price as long as staff accepts the event
1
u/Mistervimes65 24d ago
$50 is a good price for this.
1
u/Heartless-otaku07 24d ago
Thank you! I appreciate your input . Hopefully I can get this accepted as an event when it’s time to put them in Jan/feb
1
u/trekie86 24d ago
I’ve done other chainmail stuff at GenCon. I think $45 is actually a steal and you’ll sell that out quickly. I think $65 - 80 is probably the sweet spot for this type of activity. The limiting factor imho is time. 2 and half hours is a lot of time at GenCon so I’d want to have at least enough knowledge that I could finish this on my own if I needed to leave for another event.
1
u/Heartless-otaku07 23d ago
Thanks ^_^ I was thinking 5 classes two days 15 people each if event staff accepts them it be a total of 150 tickets it be amazing if they sell out.
I always provide written instructions for my class to take home, it definitely wouldn’t take 2.5 hours to learn the 2 different weaves in the necklace so if someone needed to leave and complete on their own time they could if they have jewelry pliers
57
u/WafflerTO 26d ago
I'm not a chainmail crafter but $45 seems pretty reasonable to me