Volo Cask Days - Oct 17-19

Jon Walker · Post by **Jon Walker** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:51 am

davefungi wrote: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.

For Christ's sake...I give up.

El Pinguino · Post by **El Pinguino** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:16 pm

Holy hyper reactions. $21,000 not $2,100.
Nothing against making money. We can all afford this event too which is rare.
My only 'point' here is that not all these events are loss leaders. The preferred reactions would have been more of the "ya, you know Volo deserves $20K in ticket sales and this should be a template for other establishments to have similar great events" Ignore my sarcastic ticket buying comments....that's just a side effect of trolling around this forum so long.
Now I think we did confuse davefungi!!

Pub Style · Post by **Pub Style** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:37 pm

So, let's change gears and start over again.

The list already looks great and I've talked to some brewers who have mentioned that they're going to be brewing up some special stuff as usual. I look forward to seeing the names of the other breweries that will be participating and I think one will be a big surprise, if it happens.

I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Jon Walker · Post by **Jon Walker** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:42 pm

Beer guys might be geeks but they clearly don't know how to work a calculator (myself included).

Okay...

4x sessions of 100 people @ $35
1x session of 100 people @$40
1x session of 25 people at $65 and 75 people at $35

Total revenue = $22,250 potential ticket revenue assuming a sellout. Well that is a pretty decent sum of money after all!

Look, I'm certainly willing to adjust my position on this. Perhaps this higher price (and smaller sample size...years past were half pint (10oz)samples) is a little shocking in light of the relative BARGAIN the event has been in past years especially if you compare the cost this year to other events. For example;

Mondiale: Admission $0 (free), tokens $1 each, 1-5 tokens per 3-4oz sample.
Buffalo BrewFest: Admission $20 (U.S.), with 20 tokens that were good for 3oz each. Additional tokens $1 each.
Toronto Beer Fest: Admission $20 with 5 tokens. Samples were 1-2 tokens for a 4oz sample and extra tokens were $1

So in light of that Cask Days is pricey, particularly since the sample sizes have dropped from 10oz to 4oz. I take my dismissal of those questioning this back somewhat. Sorry.

Doesn't change my opinion that it's still a great and much needed event in this city and I will be there despite the price increase.

JerCraigs · Post by **JerCraigs** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:44 pm

Pub Style wrote: The list already looks great and I've talked to some brewers who have mentioned that they're going to be brewing up some special stuff as usual.

I think its pretty cool that so many of the local brewers are participating now.

Gedge · Post by **Gedge** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:51 pm

Jon Walker wrote:Beer guys might be geeks but they clearly don't know how to work a calculator (myself included).

Okay...

4x sessions of 100 people @ $35
1x session of 100 people @$40
1x session of 25 people at $65 and 75 people at $35

Total revenue = $22,250 potential ticket revenue assuming a sellout. Well that is a pretty decent sum of money after all!

Look, I'm certainly willing to adjust my position on this. Perhaps this higher price (and smaller sample size...years past were half pint (10oz)samples) is a little shocking in light of the relative BARGAIN the event has been in past years especially if you compare the cost this year to other events. For example;

Mondiale: Admission $0 (free), tokens $1 each, 1-5 tokens per 3-4oz sample.
Buffalo BrewFest: Admission $20 (U.S.), with 20 tokens that were good for 3oz each. Additional tokens $1 each.
Toronto Beer Fest: Admission $20 with 5 tokens. Samples were 1-2 tokens for a 4oz sample and extra tokens were $1

So in light of that Cask Days is pricey, particularly since the sample sizes have dropped from 10oz to 4oz. I take my dismissal of those questioning this back somewhat. Sorry.

Jon, I appreciate your comments above. I'm not trying to influence anyone one way or the other and, as I said earlier, I'll being going to the fest. It's a great event and I'm sure the logistics involved are a nightmare. I just got a bit of sticker shock when I saw the price of admission this year.

viggo · Post by **viggo** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:52 pm

How about we use this thread to promote a fantastic event instead of bitching and moaning about everything under the sun.

Jon Walker · Post by **Jon Walker** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:59 pm

viggo wrote:How about we use this thread to promote a fantastic event instead of bitching and moaning about everything under the sun.

Well, I've had a meaculpa about it so...I actually think it's fair to question the increase and discuss it. Last year's $25 ticket got you 10x 10oz samples, this year's $35 ticket gets you 10x 4oz samples. That does practically mean last year's Cask Days pint cost $5. This year's pint costs you $14. That IS worthy of discussion and I don't really think it qualifies as bitching.

lagerale · Post by **lagerale** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:28 pm

Jon Walker wrote: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.

Jon Walker wrote:Well, I've had a meaculpa about it so...I actually think it's fair to question the increase and discuss it

Thank goodness Jon Walker now thinks it's fair to discuss the price issue. What would we do without this harbinger of common sense

Price aside, do people think this event is worth taking someone new to cask????

Gedge · Post by **Gedge** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:33 pm

Jon Walker wrote:Last year's $25 ticket got you 10x 10oz samples, this year's $35 ticket gets you 10x 4oz samples.

Actually, the Cask Days site says that each 4 oz sample costs 2 tickets (and "premium" samples are 3 tickets), so your $35 admission only gets you 5 x 4 oz samples if I've read it right.

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:39 pm

Jon Walker wrote:Last year's $25 ticket got you 10x 10oz samples

Actually, it was either 5 x 10oz, or 10 x 5oz (can't remember which, I just remember there was a 10 and a 5...).

Jon Walker · Post by **Jon Walker** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:53 pm

lagerale wrote: Thank goodness Jon Walker now thinks it's fair to discuss the price issue. What would we do without this harbinger of common sense

I guess you'd have preferred if I'd dogmatically stuck to my guns and not actually been swayed by the validity of the points others were making? I dunno, I'm pretty opinionated but I'm also willing to admit when I've made a mistake. Yeesh.

Anyway...in light of the confusion around the pricing and number of tickets per sample I'm still pretty sure the ratio works out to around a 350% price increase per pint. IF last year was 5x10oz samples and this year is 5x4 oz samples (in light of two tickets per sample) then that means last years $10 per pint price is this years $35 per pint. But so far my math has been fairly whacked so...someone else can figure it out if I'm wrong.

TwoPint · Post by **TwoPint** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 2:13 pm

I may be alone here but I don't intend to stop at 20oz. That $35/pint figure will come down when I take advantage of "Additional beer sample purchases will be available".

jaymack · Post by **jaymack** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 2:59 pm

You guys crack me up on this forum. Do you argue as much in person?

Jon Walker · Post by **Jon Walker** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 3:02 pm

jaymack wrote:

You guys crack me up on this forum. Do you argue as much in person?

Generally no. We tend to drink a lot and laugh about it all. I'm sure even Buju would be decent enough in person to share a pint with.