I do admit that I don't know much about this and some of my conclusions are based on observations of what other conferences / events have done. So feel free to shoot parts or any of this down if need be. Tiers of sponsors: The reason why I say we are too small to have tiers of sponsors is because essentially the number of sponsors we can have in a small event such as this is small. To me tiers of sponsor implies the sort you see at the ballet etc where it says if you pay a certain amount you are listed as a sponsor at that level. This however doesn't specify what they are sponsoring. ie we'd be out there each of us asking ppl to sponsor $x for Tier1 and sponsor y for tier 2. With those sorts of sponsorships (form what I have seen) there is a list of perks they get with it. eg tier 1 = 3delegates, logo on bag and shirt, etc. Tier 2 = 2 delegates and logo on notepad To have this we'd have to have ability to work towards obtaining enough sponsors, and figure out what to do if we don't get enough. I know that's like normal sponsorship. Howver it is a bigger risk if some or many of our potential big sponsors decide to go for a lower tier. So instead of tiers, we have a shopping list of stuff we want and find sponsors for a combination of them. The reason why we would package them is because some stuff is more "sexy" and so more easy to find a sponsor. The idea with the package is to ensure at the end of the day we aren't left with a list of the stuff that is hard to find a sponsor for and yet is important for the conference. It is also harder perhaps to find sponsors for an overseas speaker as the $ amounts are higher For example it won't be hard to sell the idea of sponsoring a bar tab but you may find it harder to get someone to sponsor stuff like the AV gear (mics, laser pointers etc). It will be like tiers of sponsors in the fact they are sponsoring $x means we give them certain benefits. With each item in the shopping list we should perhaps add a certain markup to cover costs of some of the other non sponsorable stuff. or make sure they sponsor more than one thing. eg speaker + AV hire. Bandwidth + bags The thing with the big ticket items is we should try to give them something in return. Something that their management can understand as a return. Some of those speakers can speak on more than one topic. So we could perhaps ask them to also do a public lecture (perhaps at a uni campus somewhere) and an interview with idg or herald technology. Thus the sponsor has a bigger exposure for that amount given. List of items that are sponsorable Overseas Speaker(s) - Travel & Accommodation Local Speaker(s) - Travel & Accommodation Venue costs (room hire) Main Dinner Bar Tab Bag (generic term - could be backpack/satchel/folder etc) Lunch Bandwidth Networking (wireless hubs) Streaming AV Gear (mics, data projectors, laser pointers) Coke Fridge. Fridge hire & filling it with drinks (we perhaps get stickers for each can with the sponsor's logo? or just a poster on the fridge door, say size of door with sponsor's logo) First night dinner (usually not part of nznog) Costs So far all I have is what has been posted to this list I have no idea what other sutff cost in the past but things like t-shirt and bag, I could easily ring round for quotesi f need be. Bandwidth: 2005: The conference network carried just over 32GB of traffic, including the video streaming, but not traffic to www.nznog.org. Coke: 2005: 495 cans of soft drink (incl 275 coke and 100 diet coke), 2004: 420 cans soft drink (there was fridge filled with coke, diet coke, sprite, fanta, and other soft drinks. No V or red bull) Tea, Coffee, OJ, Biscuits 2005: over 60L of juice and nearly 4kg of ground coffee. 2004: 80 ltrs OJ (morning tea/coffee and lunch) Food bill: 2004: $5800 (I am not sure what that included. Tony - did this include dinner or just lunch, morning tea&coffee) Bar Tab 2005: $1500 ($1000 by 2day and $500 by WAND) 2004: $1000 2002: $1000 Anyway I am sure there are ppl in here who are more experienced than I about these sorts of things. Do we want tiers of sponsors as in look for people to contribute certain sums of money? eg $10000, $5000, $1000. OR do we want sponsors to sponsor specific items. ie all stuff we need is listed as sponsorable items? regards lin