First off, I really enjoyed 360Flex. Meeting people, the environment, the small cozy nature.

Here’s my thoughts for finances as I did not feel the survey allowed me to convey what I actually feel.

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I. Speaker Compensation: I do not think speakers should be paid, especially Adobe Evangelists as they’re already paid to be such. Nor would I try to cover air fare.

What I would try to do is cover most of the hotel cost. Perhaps a $50 flat fee which would actually pay the fee for hiring a “speaker co-ordinator”, etc. And endeavor to get Adobe and a few companies to perhaps sponsor a goodie package for speakers. Similar to the one we all got in our rooms but perhaps with free software, iTunes gift cards, whatever. Just to say “thank you”.

II. Hotel location: frankly, my two requirements for a conference is a) that the hotel not be a ghetto motel in a bad neighborhood. (Went on a church retreat once in a cheap hotel. With the guy next door blaring porno or knocking a prostitute up. Just what you want on a spiritual church retreat, eh?). My second requirement b) is that the hotel be easily reached from a major airport.

It doesn’t have to be downtown. And if it’s in a sub-burb (say the sub-burb where the airport is) then that’s fine. As long as bus, shuttle, what not can get me from conference to airport. If that cuts hotel costs from $20,000 to $12,000. That’s fine with me.

III. Regarding food & parties: I really appreciated there being lunch. Without it so much time would have been lost, as well as a lot of connectivity. I think there should be at least one party. That said, I think getting sponsors or even partial sponsors would be a great idea.

All said, I really like the $360 price for the conference. I think it also increases the likelihood of a company covering the cost. (I know I can’t.)

Another thought….perhaps a “cruise”. It’s $360 for the 360 Flex conference. I went on a 7-day cruise for about $450. And that included food (but not drinks).

A cruise might be a great thing, in fact, I’d be inclined to bring my family. Because I could be at the conference all day (or heck, shift some of it to late evening). And but my wife and kid could be having fun on the cruise ship all day.

Plus if you covered hotel (ie: cruise ticket but not flights) for speakers. The cruise itself becomes a perk. Just find something like a 5-7 day cruise with 2 island stop-overs. You could have 1 or 2 days on island and 3-4 days (all the sea days) in seminars.

In this case, maybe you have to charge more than $360. But maybe not much more. I got tickets for $450 for me and wife. That’s wasn’t even group rate.