The grown up part of me gets all ruffled when I hear about stuff like this. When I was younger I got all self-righteous about how much things (think college tuition, conference fees, etc.) cost. My estimation was always low--too many things I failed too account for. I think this is something folks do chronically.

Just a touch of perspective wouldn't hurt here for those of you who feel overcharged. For me to go to an annual conference for work: 150 bucks (100 as a student). No tshirt, no booze, no food. Just some shitty printed program and a 2 dollar name badge. The balance of the funds went to keeping the organization healthy and in the black. Sure some people whine about the conference fees on listserves...and in so doing they marginalized themselves because in the real world nobody gives a shit about them; their incessant squawking gradually becomes the background noise we expect and ignore.

Also, in many professional and recreational associations, the cost of conference attendance goes to cover the cost of the perks of organizational membership. Garreth et al are, in my opinion quite kind to have kept the cost of DF membership so low. I'm not saying that y'all ought to tack more fees (I.e.vent costs) onto the bill (frankly I think that sort of thing ought to be mandatory and paid by all annually, but that's not my call), but I am saying NOBODY ought to take for granted the very tangible benefits of being in DF, even above booze at the meetup, have netted you.

20 bucks for 2 meals, beer, and taxi service: If that's too much for you, you a) probably need to go on more dates, or b) perhaps need to reevaluate whether this is the sort of thing you should be spending future monies on.

Um wow

I didn't realize people were having issue with the fee, it's really shocking how low it is. I was expecting $50 a piece easy. My problem was trying to get use of someone's debit card to make the transaction. instead I just got a prepaid visa from work and took care of it. I appreciate everything you folks are doing to organize the meetup and can't wait for it.

oh and G you wont be giving me a wedgie... Craig however should be an easy target

but but, if i pay the 35$ I can't race change until next month.............

I'm sad that this is even an issue.

Here's the breakdown I did in my head.  tl;dr version - it's a fucking steal.

$35 buys you food for 3 days, booze, and a T-shirt.  Let's break that down.

As Garreth said above, $15 buys you the shirt alone.  A custom-made Downfall T-shirt that you won't find in a store.

That leaves $20, from you, for food for 3 days and some booze.  Let's pretend that you drink 2 beers on Friday and Saturday.  A six-pack costs, on average, about $8.  So your 4 beers will run you about $5.

That leaves $15 for food for three days.  Presumably, this means lunch and dinner for those days, as if you're like me, you don't eat breakfast.  $5 a day for two meals means $2.50 a meal.  That's a steal.

Even if we assume that the T-shirt was as cheap as $5, that means $30 for three days of food and booze, which - given the above breakdown, is $25 for food for 3 days, or about $4 a meal.  Again, a steal.

I understand that I've played my part in making the preparation for the meet-up a bit of hell for Saja and the others on the committee.  I'm a person that likes to know things well in advance and for my personal liking, it might have taken a bit long to work things out.  But if people are complaining about the PRICE?  $35 is a damned steal, and if you're among those complaining about it ... well, that's your problem.  Don't make it theirs.

I'm unable to attend the event again this year, but I want to add one more point, and I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds..

$35 isn't even the price for ONE (1) night at a hotel. Your getting food/drinks/shirt/setup all included for 2-3 days/nights (not to mention people are opening their homes and letting people stay there). Did people honestly expect everything for free??