Posted by Patty Stiller on July 07, 2003 at 23:41:02:
In Reply to: Re: Total cost posted by Gary on July 03, 2003 at 08:28:37:
: : : : Has anyone figured out what the total cost is to attend
: : : : a convention or symposium such as the AFA or Bluegrass
: : : : Laminitis? Registration, travel, food, missed work?
: : : : I'm not questioning the value of attending these, I'm
: : : : just curious how much they cost, and how many of them
: : : : we average farriers can afford to attend.
: : : : Roger
: : : Get ahold of Baron Tayler, he is the Site Manager for this web site and sign up for the online conference this year. You can sit at your computer and take part in the Q&A session. Not to mention you will get a copy of the whole 3 days just in case you miss part of it. Not hands on but eyes on! Good Luck! Gary
: : Is participating in an online type conference as good a
: : learning experience as actually being there? Did you attend
: : the conference last year? The full copy thing sounds cool.
: : Roger
: Consider your computer a front row seat! You can ask questions and have them answered! The speakers all have visuals that you follow along with plus like I said last year we got the conference back in VHS and DVD. No travel, no hotel, no lost work, the conference is in the evenings. Now if you want to learn how to better forge a horseshoe then yes a handson clinic would work better! Good Luck! Gary
The Online Forum is a bargain compared to attending Laminitis symposium or AFA ,or "Soundfest" . I usually figure over two grand per trip to a three day hands on convention.
It breaks down sometihng like this: (IF I plan ahead and budget on meals etc and don't party)
Airline, about $400
Hotel 5 nights $450
meals 5 days $150
event admission about $300
lost profits about $800 (about 4 days profit after expenses)
Total: $2100 or more , IF I don't spend more on shiny new tools, Allie's great hoof models, clothes etc.
Now don't get me wrong, there are realy good reasons to attend these big seminars especially those where you get 'hands on 'continuing education and see live demonstrations. I will continue to attend as many as I can but to get a ton of great new farrier science and business information ,don't miss the online forum right here! And you can eat pizza at the same time and go to bed in your own bed right after. Patty