The Bar Towel

100 tickets per session and 6 sessions at $35 per ticket?
So ticket sales are raking in $21,000, assuming a sell out.
From what I've read most people drop extra coin from additional beer and cheese samples?
Plus by only having tickets cash only at location, I'm guessing the vast majority of ticket buyers will stop by for a pint or two on ticket day, where they might not otherwise stop by.
I'd say if any 'special' event was going to be a money-maker this would be it! (vs. those reasonable one-seating $100/ticket dinners people whined about before)
If I don't arrange to stop by this year, I'll wait for next year and the online ticket ordering form for us out of towners.

And the fact the Cask Days has hardly made Volo a cent since it's inception. Is it not time that the organiser should at least make a $0.01 profit out of all the hard work that goes into making this excellent event happen?

Okay, so assume the sellout scenario of $21,000 from ticket sales. That's the gross figure. What do you imagine it costs Volo to put this event on (staff, utils, custom glassware, security to watch the open patio overnight, food and supply costs etc...)? Then remind yourselves that the place is completely unavailable as a bar/restaurant for the entire three days and derives no income from that conventional source. Then add the personal hassle and inconvenience of organizing the event, printing tickets, arranging a sales event for the tickets, marketing etc...Let's also not forget that the event is larger than in earlier incarnations with more beers, more sessions and a greater operating cost as a result.

Still don't think the increased cost is justified?

My defence of this event in particular has nothing to do with elitism or myopia. I remember Ralph scratching his head after the first one as he wondered why such a successful event had cost him more time and money than it was worth. Thankfully for all of us he carried on staging Cask Days and has refined the way it operates to both serve us and his business.

But the simple truth is (whether folks like it or not) if you have a problem with the pricing of the event then don't go. Many of the beers will likely be available on Monday, after the event is over, for discounted prices and NO admission fee. Everybody wins.

I certainly wish Ralph would make money from the event, but Jon makes many good points, and it's easy to see how he (Ralph) may not.

Regardless, I have no problem with the fee increase.

And apart from the beer, here's hoping they have the smoked cheese I tried last year! It was liking eating a campfire, but without the burning.

I don't see why anyone is complaining (or appearing to complain) about prices here... This is a premier event and it costs the operator a lot to put on. I remember thinking that based purely on quality and novelty of the event in its first year, there was no way it could stay at $20 and be profitable (read "happen again next year"). It's a testament to Ralph's vision and perseverance that he's forged ahead and tried to figure out how he can keep having this event without breaking the bank. This is truly the only event that makes me wish I was still living TO and not down here in Philly, where a $35 entry fee will get you into a mediocre beerfest similar to the Toronto Beer Festival.

He he. I figured that would stir up some defensive responses. I am actually happy they're most likely making money off this event.

The losses on this one are minimal to me. I've never seen 100 people at Volo any time I've been there. Actualyl come to think of it most times I've bdropped by for an hour or two they've been pretty quiet.

In terms of not forgetting the bar is open to regular bar/resto service...also don't forget how often beer drinkers drop by for 2-3 beers over the course of a few hours and don't bother getting any food.

People like to shoot the shit and get into fun debates, like here on BT, and before you know it 5 hours have passed, you've only had 3 beers, so you drop $30 and leave...

So the $35 ticket price for a 4 hour session is actually more than what many people would spend on a regular event, especially for a quick lunch. To me, they've done a smart job of eliminating the 'loss' of revenue from the increased ticket price.

Just offering a different perspective. Sometimes people like to exagerate the oeprating costs and potential lost revenues. Can probably give the weekend off for the entire kitchen staff too if cheese samples are the only option.

Now, I really do like fancy, custom glassware....and am happy to pay a steeper price for a cool souvenir!

El Pinguino wrote:He he. I figured that would stir up some defensive responses. I am actually happy they're most likely making money off this event.

The losses on this one are minimal to me. I've never seen 100 people at Volo any time I've been there. Actualyl come to think of it most times I've bdropped by for an hour or two they've been pretty quiet.

In terms of not forgetting the bar is open to regular bar/resto service...also don't forget how often beer drinkers drop by for 2-3 beers over the course of a few hours and don't bother getting any food.

People like to shoot the shit and get into fun debates, like here on BT, and before you know it 5 hours have passed, you've only had 3 beers, so you drop $30 and leave...

So the $35 ticket price for a 4 hour session is actually more than what many people would spend on a regular event, especially for a quick lunch. To me, they've done a smart job of eliminating the 'loss' of revenue from the increased ticket price.

Just offering a different perspective. Sometimes people like to exagerate the oeprating costs and potential lost revenues. Can probably give the weekend off for the entire kitchen staff too if cheese samples are the only option.

Now, I really do like fancy, custom glassware....and am happy to pay a steeper price for a cool souvenir!

You are presuming to know roughly how much revenue Volo makes during an average weekend and then, apparently, drawing the conclusion that this event makes them more money. Sorry...but even I don't need to see their books to shoot that down.

First off, your personal observation of three of four people sitting around the place having a few beers and no food is certainly NOT the case on Friday-Sunday, particularly the evenings. It might be more valid for an afternoon or weeknight...but have you been in on a Friday around 9pm?). How on earth could the place stay afloat financially and carry four or five staff each shift with the kind of rents charged on Yonge Street if the place was only bringing in $40 worth of beer sales an hour (according to your scenario)? Consider this...if the place were to be open as scheduled during the times the Cask Days event is running (12-12 Fri,Sat,Sun) all the food and drink business they'd need to do to just equal the $2100 the cask event would bring in (if sold out) would be a paultry $58 per hour. That's right...an average bill for three or four people per hour. EVEN if the place was only open for 6-10pm on the three days (their busiest times usually) they'd only need to do $175 in sales to equal the Cask Days revenue. That's a figure that ten people could easily pay in a given hour of sales and the place is RARELY that empty during those peek hours.

I think it's fair to guess that an average gross sales figure for an average Volo weekend (Fri-Sun) is conservatively more like $2000-4000 or higher. So how does making $2100 add up as a money maker?

STILL think the losses are minimal? Seriously. At best Ralph and Volo now break even due to the higher ticket price.

I personally hate all this whining and suspicion that little bar owners like Ralph are taking advantage of us by hosting an amazing event like this with an increased ticket price. I guarantee you he is one of the good guys who does events like this, at a loss generally, because he loves beer and wants to promote it. It's got bugger all to do with making big money off the backs of beer geeks.

So buy a ticket or DON'T but stop assuming this is a cash grab when it so clearly is nothing of the sort.

It appears that there is an affliction of Bujubanton on the board at the moment. It's like a bloody virus!!!!!

Torontoblue wrote:It appears that there is an affliction of Bujubanton on the board at the moment. It's like a bloody virus!!!!!

I agree. A comment like "He he. I figured that would stir up some defensive responses." is annoyingly troll-like.

JerCraigs wrote:
I *AM* one of those early lineup crazies!

How early is early? I'd like to get a ticket but not sure when a good time to line up is. I assume we can pick which session we want providing that session isn't sold out?

I'm guessing the diehards will be there between 10 and 11am. Assuming you're near the front of the line you should have no trouble buying tickets for any session you wish. The Sunday night tix will probably be the last to sell since there's no guarantee everything will still be available by Sunday night.

I arrived just before 11:00 last year and there were 40 people in line already.

jaymack wrote:

JerCraigs wrote:
I *AM* one of those early lineup crazies!

How early is early? I'd like to get a ticket but not sure when a good time to line up is. I assume we can pick which session we want providing that session isn't sold out?

Last year we got there maybe half an hour early and there were two people in front of us who had just arrived. The line probably increased exponentially within 15 minutes before the on sale time.

People that showed up within a half hour of tickets going on sale I think all (mostly?) got tickets last year, they just had to wait longer. With more tickets/sessions this year unless your picky about which session you go to it shouldn't be a big deal.

Why are some people so hung up about whether someone is making a profit or not...start your own bar and lose money every day as apparently some of you think a bar is a charitable organization. Can't afford it, say so...or rather don't as no one really cares. You also can't afford many other things in this city and, again, who cares. Ralph is a treasure in this city and I can tell you he is not getting rich but rather has a passion for good beer and anyone posting anything negative about his place and his events deserves to be dragged out in the street and hung from a lampost...of course, that's only my opinion and I am often wrong.

Is this right?
$35 entrance, 10 tickets, 4oz per ticket, 5 tickets for a 20oz pint, therefore $35 for the initial pint ($52.50 if it's a 3 ticket premium beer)
including a glass, cheese sample and charity element.
Guessing $2 for more tickets = $20 or $30 for subsequent pints.