Creative Commons license icon

RMFC seeks $30,000 to survive

Edited as of Wed 13 Apr 2016 - 19:50
Your rating: None Average: 4.3 (3 votes)
Rocky Mountain Fur Con

Rocky Mountain Fur Con, based in Denver, Colorado, is facing tough times. Despite 35% growth, debt has led 2009 chairman Sorin Kat to plea for $30,000 to keep the event alive.[1]

The convention's organizers are actively soliciting large donations, offering lifetime memberships and board seats in exchange for funds. Over $4,000 has been raised so far.

RMFC's problems stem from a charge for not filling its room block: a set of hotel rooms reserved for attendees at a significantly-reduced rate. Sorin — who is also treasurer for RMFC's managing organization — says the event was "operating at a surplus if not for this one debt … [which] was based solely on our estimation of room rentals".[2]

Despite the debt, organizers still hope to find space this year at a smaller, more affordable location over August 7-9. Failing that, the convention may be postponed to 2010.[2]

Conventions face a balancing act when it comes to room blocks. Conservative booking reduces the risk of attrition, but can lead to insufficient rooms, less function space, and a higher room rate.[3] RMFC's situation echos that of ConFurence, which at one point risked owing $70,000 to its hotel due to declining attendance.[4]

If efforts to revive the event fail, it will not be alone. Seven North American furry events closed their doors in the last decade, some after only one or two years.[5] Others, like FA: United, have been forced to reschedule in the face of the current economic crisis.[6][7]

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 Rocky Mountain Fur Con 2009 website (March 9, 2009)
  2. 2.0 2.1 WikiFur News correspondence
  3. The attrition condition: what hotel sales people need to know - Deborah Beiter, Cynthia Vannucci, Sheryl Kline, Susan Gregory, Entrepreneur.com (May 2004)
  4. Fifteen years is a good run... - Darrel Exline, ConFurence 2003 Souvenir Program Book (April 2003)
  5. Timeline of conventions: Anthrofest, C-ACE, Conifur Northwest, CritterConDiego, Furry Spring Break, Texas Furry Con, ZonieCon.
  6. FAU3 Announcement - The Dragoneer (February 9, 2009)
  7. The Dragoneer Interview - Furry 101 (March 13, 2009)

Comments

Post new comment

  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <img> <b> <i> <s> <blockquote> <ul> <ol> <li> <table> <tr> <td> <th> <sub> <sup> <object> <embed> <h1> <h2> <h3> <h4> <h5> <h6> <dl> <dt> <dd> <param> <center> <strong> <q> <cite> <code> <em>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

More information about formatting options

CAPTCHA
This test is to prevent automated spam submissions.
Leave empty.

About the author

GreenReaper (Laurence Parry)read storiescontact (login required)

a developer, editor and Kai Norn from London, United Kingdom, interested in wikis and computers

Small fuzzy creature who likes cheese & carrots. Founder of WikiFur, lead admin of Inkbunny, and Editor-in-Chief of Flayrah.