That's so U-n-b-i-z-n-i-k-l-i-k-e!

Can't wait to read it, Karrie!

Well, in the last few days, I have have had an opposite problem. My current Event is set up for 6 people. With building scenarios and filming them, then critiquing them. I figured that 6 would be the right size.

Well I have people who can't make it, but hope I can do it again. That's normal. But I have been sent a few e-mails asking if they can attend or is there a cancellation. This is very good for me to know. If this Event goes well, then there may be interest to do it more than a couple of times. So not everything is a no-show problem.

I know about the no RSVPers! That is something that has always irratated me. Then you have to call and say are you coming or not? I too believe its just rude! bad manners!
I did have to cancel 2 times for biznik events one for blind friend who needed a ride to her doctor, the other a school event...that one was how to network the biznik way..which was full...I immediately emailed a couple of people who were interested in going, that I cancelled. I believe one of them took my spot. I don't really know what we can do about it. Apparently its just a sign of the times.

I'm driving along tonight, not thinking about this thread at all and out of nowhere comes this notion:

NC Cubed: No Call. No Cancel. No Class.

Harsh. I dunno. Like I say, it came out of nowhere, although I was listening to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at the time ...

I just caught this thread, so I'm chiming in to say that charging a fee definitely cuts down on the no-shows. Sure, my events don't fill up as easily as the free ones. But I think I can count the NCNS's on one hand for 12+ months of event-hosting.

My attendees sometimes drop out, but they always message or call!

Also, I'm throwing this 2 cents in again--I agree strongly with Karrie and Lara that event hosts should charge for their events. For everything but Happy Hours.

Reasons to charge for your event: Your time is worth it. Biznik sure could use the support and DESERVES the support. You'll make a little money for your time. And ironically, people will value what you have to give more, cause it's "worth more."

Last, but not least, your attendees will show up!

Comments on this thread inspired an article I wrote on the topic of no-shows and RSVP's.

We can take this discussion over there if you'd like. I'd love to hear more things people have done to improve their attrition rate at events or tell us which of my 16 suggestions you would be willing to try for your next event.

Great topic and very important. If people are going to take the time and energy to host events, they would be wise to do what they can to encourage people to attend and make the event more worthwhile for everyone.

Karrie beat me to it: go read her article (link above).

GREAT stuff, including a positive twist on the perspective of "No Shows", re-framing it into "Attrition Rate", which puts a problem-solving angle on it rather than the really-ticks-me-off perspective that I can tend toward.

Rachel, Karrie, Lara, correct me if I am wrong--When you speak of charging for events you are mostly referring to a "real" fee (e.g., $20 or more) rather than a token charge (e.g., $5). ???

Leila, thanks for spreading the word about my article.

As for charging a fee for mixer and other events, I say try some different ways of doing this--$5, 10, $20, and see what works for you.

I made a lengthy comment a while back at the end of page 2 on a thread about fee vs. fee based events that breaks down the different kinds of events and a strategy for how to charge/not charge for them.

I would add to that old post that you could easily charge a token fee (as Lara said: $1 + the required $5 for biznik credit card processing, which totals $6-- attendees would only see $6 on their RSVP) even for some non-value based events, just to reduce attrition.

It doesn’t sound like much, but you would be surprised what a difference this makes for people and how they mentally commit.

As Rachel Whalley said above, if you charge a small fee, you may not get as many RSVP's initially, but you will know that those who sign up will most likely show up. You will know what numbers to expect at your event and you won't be disappointed with a horrible attrition rate.

If you are offering your expertise at an event, you should definitely charge more. My post on the article above outlines this more clearly.

As Lara said, we should probably take this part of the discussion to the thread about fee vs. fee based events or to the article I wrote about reducing no-shows.

Thank you Karrie. Will do.

Wow! Congrats on your full event, Andrew! Did you use some of the techniques I outlined in my article. I am curious!

I hope you'll share your success story by adding to the article comments thread. Bizniks have said they'll be checking back there to share and read results of trying out the 16+ tips and what worked best.

Thanks for bringing up this topic, Andrew!