Comments on: Attend Venture Northwest from the comfort of your own desk

By: Jmartens

Jmartens — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:01:44 +0000

I really wonder if the OEN is about helping entrepreneurs or making money off them.

By: Samuel

Samuel — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:59:12 +0000

@aaronhockley

There are about a dozen ways to stream a conference like this at absolutely NO COST. I tried to post links to those, but, the comment has not been approved.

Really, zero cost. Digital camera? Mic? :05 to hook up and press “go.”

Even $50 is an insult. If DEMO can do it for free, why can’t it be done here; even GNOMEDEX streamed at no cost. The fact they started at $250 demonstrates that these people haven’t got a clue about the online world and economics.

And, they are supposed to invest in technology?

I’d have very little faith in anyone who thinks $250 is a reasonable price as knowing anything about the state of the internet, commerce or Users (particularly, Start Ups).

This is a very discouraging week around here, eh?

By: Jeff Katz

Jeff Katz — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:57:34 +0000

Yes it does cost to money to stream, but I would say even $50 is $50 too much for this type of event. OEN should want to get as much exposure to this event with no barriers to entry aside from attending the event in person.

As Mike Berkley points out, this is a squandered marketing opportunity to showcase the local technology and business communities to a larger audience.

By: Aaron Hockley

Aaron Hockley — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:49:21 +0000

I don’t necessarily object to the idea of charging for the stream (producing a stream does cost money for the bandwidth/equipment/talent), but charging 50% of the in-person ticket price seems a bit steep

I wonder how much objection there would be to a significantly lower fee… say $50?

By: Irksome

Irksome — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:42:08 +0000

@mikeberkley, considering the cost of production for EVERY NBA game, and the cost of delivery v. the cost of streaming a VC conference which is FREE!

Let’s see if they add that to their perspective? Wait, will they say they need a video camera, tripod and internet access? That justifies their cost?

http://www.ustream.tv/

http://www.stickam.com/

http://www.blogtv.com/

http://www.livestream.com/?referrer=mogulus

http://www.justin.tv/

I propose that everyone ATTENDING the conference hook up a camera to their laptop and broadcast the event through one of the above or any other number of services.

It’s for START UPS right? $250 means something to a Start Up, it’s supposed to be cocktail money for VCs.

Now, going one step further (into the absurd) if everyone attending broadcasts the event, shouldn’t they get FREE media passes to attend as well?

By: Mike Berkley

Mike Berkley — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:16:54 +0000

A little perspective of economics: a single day of live streaming of Venture Northwest costs 2x more than an entire season of live streaming of EVERY NBA game on nba.com.
Come on guys (oen), wake up!

By: Rick Turoczy

Rick Turoczy — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:42:45 +0000

@DanD In the interest of full disclosure, I will be attending on a media pass to cover the event. I did not receive any compensation for promoting the event.

By: Jeff Katz

Jeff Katz — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:41:30 +0000

Well – DEMO streams for free. Another case of the local VC community being out-of-touch with reality. OEN should be encouraging folks to watch the stream for free, not charging an absurd premium.

By: Mike Berkley

Mike Berkley — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:36:30 +0000

Sorry, but it’s absurd that Venture Northwest is charging $250 for the live video stream! MAKE IT FREE!

This is exactly what’s wrong with Portland investor and startup community.

This is a great marketing opportunity to the rest of the world that is being totally squandered!

Makes me mad.

By: Dan D.

Dan D. — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:33:26 +0000

$250?

RIP.

OFF.

Really, name one conference like this in California that wouldn’t be free for online video? Typical NW over-hyped RIP OFF.

Did Silicon Florist get free tickets for promoting this? Any disclosures required?

Just askin?