10 replies to this topic

[Wombat]

So, how are congoers that are under the age of 18 supposed to take advantage of the $25 general admission rate for Tekko being offered at Sangawa?  It seems kind of backwards to discriminate the main demographic of Tekkoshocon by making such a deal unavailable to them, especially since the under 18 crowd could use it the most.

[newtypezaku]

Wombat, on 04 July 2012 - 12:44 AM, said:

So, how are congoers that are under the age of 18 supposed to take advantage of the $25 general admission rate for Tekko being offered at Sangawa?  It seems kind of backwards to discriminate the main demographic of Tekkoshocon by making such a deal unavailable to them, especially since the under 18 crowd could use it the most.

Hmm... I see the argument, though I'm not sure I agree with that last line.  Do most under-18s pay their own way, or do mom and dad foot most of the bill?  I suspect that most hotel expenses are incurred by parents as well.

I also wouldn't be surprised if they also offer this rate at Kuro.

[Wombat]

It does not matter if Mom & Dad foot the bill for Tekko for most under 18 year olds.  Now if Mom, Dad big brother, big sister, etc. is going to Sangawa they can't even pick up the registration for them. But either way, who pays for someone's admission is irrelevant to this, what is relevant is that by only allowing this rate for those over 18 Tekko is favoring one demographic over another.

If they are going to announce this rate at KK then they should announce it now so that younger con goers can be reassured that they will have a chance to get it.

[Katida]

I can't speak to what's going through the organizers minds right now, but I wanted to offer my insight/theories on the matter. I might be unpopular for this opinion, but I don't think the point of the cheap rate at Sangawa is necessarily to make sure everyone gets a chance.

Instead, I would look at with this lens: The low rate is being offered as a sort of a boon to those who support Sangawa. Deals have limitations and that's what makes them deals. It's like a Groupon... Groupons are valuable tools for companies to expand their customer base - but they can only budget for so many or else they'd end up loosing money on the promotion. To apply this to Tekko: It seems like a good way to draw in the older crowd that may have been skipping Tekko in recent years. I tend to agree with Newtypezaku. Teenagers generally (not always mind you,) have a higher disposable income than twenty and thirtysomethings. It's due simply to the fact that they don't pay rent or taxes or any of the other plethora of bills that people no longer living with their parents deal with.

I can sum it up in this way: Just enjoy the discount that SP can give you if you're already attending. So you can't save on your child/younger sibling's pass. At least you save on yours. Your child/younger sibling can't buy you a movie ticket at the child or student rate can they?

That's my two cents, I don't mean to be harsh. I just want to offer another way of thinking about it.

[JoeMello]

1) This is not the first time there has been synergy discounts.  I'm pretty sure there were Sangawa discounts at the first K-Fest in the Boyd.

2) There are a significant number of people who are over 18 and still won't be able to take advantage of this.

3) If what I suspect is true, there are going to be other ways to get a $25 weekend badge for Tekko that don't involve a convention that you can't attend.

4) If the sole purpose of paying $35 for a convention is to buy a $25 badge for another convention, you've buried the lead (which is there's an awesome convention for folks of a certain age who just want to chill)

5) I find the OP's economic viewpoints to be curious

[Wombat]

I have no one else to buy a pass for.  It is different offering a cheaper rate for Sangawa at KK or Tekko because then anyone that could go to Sangawa would have an equal chance to take advantage of it.  Tekko is an all ages, family friendly event.  Not everyone gets a fair chance to this.

Right is right and wrong is wrong and it is simply wrong to do this. I don't see what economic view points have to do with this and why I would be "curious."  Assuming that everyone under 18 has mommy and daddy pay for their con badges is not the business of me or you and is insulting to the people under 18 who do pay their own way.

[JoeMello]

Wombat, on 07 July 2012 - 09:12 PM, said:

Not everyone gets a fair chance to this.

Not everyone gets a fair chance at a senior citizen's discount, either.  Or discounts for military or student ID.  Or discounts for being a recent college grad.  Or the ability to ride the bus for free because they're under four.

When you say "the under 18 crowd could use it the most," I find that highly curious.  Who needs money more: the teenager with limited income, but most if not all of it disposable, or the working person with much greater income, but most if not all of it tied up in expenses and bills?  My answer is that there is no difference, and if there is, it's irrelevant.

[crazypackersfan]

JoeMello, on 07 July 2012 - 10:19 PM, said:

When you say "the under 18 crowd could use it the most," I find that highly curious.  Who needs money more: the teenager with limited income, but most if not all of it disposable, or the working person with much greater income, but most if not all of it tied up in expenses and bills?  My answer is that there is no difference, and if there is, it's irrelevant.

The Tekko president's blog makes it quite clear that this is not the case... he believes that it is the people over 18 that will have the most disposable income, and thus will not only pre-reg for Tekko at Sangawa, but choose to buy the more expensive special badges.

It doesn't matter who could use it the most; Tekko made a stand two years ago that it was going to shift its priorities toward the over-18 crowd, and thus that's how it goes. If you want a real discount, get a panel accepted and then you'll really be getting a good deal!

[JoeMello]

JoeMello, on 07 July 2012 - 10:19 PM, said:

When you say "the under 18 crowd could use it the most," I find that highly curious.  Who needs money more: the teenager with limited income, but most if not all of it disposable, or the working person with much greater income, but most if not all of it tied up in expenses and bills?  My answer is that there is no difference, and if there is, it's irrelevant.

crazypackersfan, on 07 July 2012 - 11:18 PM, said:

The Tekko president's blog makes it quite clear that this is not the case... he believes that it is the people over 18 that will have the most disposable income, and thus will not only pre-reg for Tekko at Sangawa, but choose to buy the more expensive special badges.

It doesn't matter who could use it the most;

So I guess we're in agreement then.  Awesome

[Hightower]

I'm sorry to be kind of a jerk here..... But who ever said anything is fair? who said life is fair? it will always suck for someone somewhere. I've got some unfair stuff going on in my life right now.... but thats the way life is.

Is it fair to me that i cant get that discount since due to a recent injury im unable to attend sangawa? i was fully planing on going. had cosplays and everything.... i want a discount too! oh well. sucks to be me. and in this case it "sucks to be them" it will always suck to be someone somewhere. thats life

[gogal]

The discounted badge is very much to bring back people who have skipped out on Tekkoshocon because it doesn't offer much for them.  It is true that 20 somethings don't have a significant amount of disposable income because of bills and the economy, but those are also the people if a significant value is added to upper tier badges they are more likely to buy them.  Basically, it is like this:  My time and money are very valuable.  If I plan on going to the show, and they can ensure a significant value to my time/enjoyment by buying the upper tier badges, then I should buy the upper tier.  I can always buy the lower tier badge and upgrade later, if the value becomes significant enough.
We are not pushing the focus to 18+.  We are trying to keep our aging attendance and bring in new attendees.  I have seen a large number of our attendee base at our events for the last eight years.  If those attendees started coming at 14, then they would be hitting 21+ at this point and beging to transition into the real world from academia.  While the 14-17/18 years olds are the core demographic for Tekkoshocon/KuroKiiro in order to survive we need to maintain our existing community on top of growing it.
The Sangawa Tekko Reg rate is intended to bring older attendees to Sangawa; which its purpose is to maintain the older community.  It is also to give those people who wouldn't normally come back to Tekko an incentive.
The comment about older attendees buying upper tier badges comes from comments I have recieved from numerous older attendees as their time is insainly valuable and if the upper tier perks were more balanced and publicized they would buy those instead of general admission.
I can say that this rate will not be offered at KuroKiiro.  This rate is intended to keep an aging attendee base at Tekkoshocon.
I hate making things "unfair" but sometimes it has to be.