Topic: 2012 Global Atheist Convention - Melbourne.

[vespine]

Couldn't find that anyone has started a thread about this yet. Tickets go on sale this Thursday, the 2nd of September.

http://www.atheistconvention.org.au/

I'll be there, some great speakers confirmed so far, including ALL four horsemen. Obviously Hitchens' presence might be a bit uncertain, but apparently his agent says that he will do his best to be there. Here's hoping!

[vespine]

"Is this thing on? *tap *tap *tap. Sheesh, tough crowd.."   

Well I got MY tickets anyway..

I did write Thursday the 2nd, that was a typo, it's the 1st today...

[T.A.P.O.R.]

How much was the ticket?

I'm not much interested in a conference on atheism.
Mostly because even though I'm a non believer, I don't care about religion.
More interested in a science convention. With rockets and explosions and robots and other stuff.

[vespine]

Atheism is not a religion But yes, there willl probably be lots of religion bashing.. But I'm pretty sure there will be more to it then that, I won't hold my breath during Dawkin's talk, but Dennett and Harris usually have interesting things to say aside from religion bashing.

Tickets are $310, but that's for 3 days so it's not too bad.. I'd pay that just for the chance of seeing Hitchens speak in person. I know there's a chance he might not make it at all, or more likely he'll just do a video link, but still, won't get a better chance.

[T.A.P.O.R.]

You guessed it, I didn't mean Atheism as a religion.
Just so sick of hearing about other religions.

$310 is a bit rich for me in any case.
Oh well.

[vespine]

No one else going? It starts today..

I know the skeptic crew are generally a bit tired of Dawkins, but come on! Dennett and Harris, PZ Myers, Lawrence Krauss, Eugenie Scott, Peter Singer, Ben Elton, etc...

We're not acutally spoilt for choice here in Melbourne, we haven't even had a TAM here...

Well, I'M looking forward to it

[Caffiene]

I liked the look of it... The price is just way too high for me to consider it.

[Movius]

It's cheaper than TAM. I would have gone but I have been conscripted by my employer for the weekend.

[ting-bu-dong]

Is it just the high number of international speakers that's driving up the price, or is it a fundraiser like TAM?

[worldslaziestbusker]

No one else going? It starts today..

I'm there, operating a camera for the AFA. 
Introduce yourself and I'll interview you.
Introduce yourself with a coffee (long black, no sugar) and I'll almost definitely guarantee that your interview will be used as link material in the DVD box set.


Note careful use of qualifier "almost."


@ ting-bu-dong: I don't know how the price was calculated, but I know who to ask if you are really keen to find out.  I suspect it is to keep the venue from filling up with fundy nutbags.  It takes more zeal than the average theist to fork out that much money to be disagreed with and ridiculed for two days straight.  Fifty dollar tickets might have seen the entire audience composed of Catch the Fire Ministries or Hillsong punters.
This year, half the proceeds are being passed on to secular charities.  Proceeds from the last GAC helped maintain momentum for this one and was used for advertising regarding the census last year and various other projects the AFA is engaged in.

I have yet to interview anyone who feels they have been dudded on their outlay.  Excellent speakers speaking excellently, good food, and funny fundys providing poorly spelt entertainment in the forecourt seems to be the consensus.

[Movius]

Is it just the high number of international speakers that's driving up the price, or is it a fundraiser like TAM?

TAM oz ran at a loss. Despite the $440 ticket price (which sold out in about 30 minutes). These ticket prices are not expensive for this sort of event.

[ting-bu-dong]

QED in Manchester charged 100 pounds in its first year for a two day event with international speakers, which works out to 150 AUD. They made a (slim) profit, so they lowered the price to 90 pounds in the second year. Is it known why TAM Oz ran at a loss? It couldn't have been due to overestimating demand if they sold out.

The high ticket price for TAM is usually justified by it being a long (five day? four day?) fundraiser, so they aren't trying to minimise the ticket price. At such a steep price I was just wondering which model this convention was following.

[vespine]

I'm there, operating a camera for the AFA. 

Bugger I didn't check these forums during the whole weekend.

I had a great time at the conferrence, little bit worn out, wish I had the day off work, "heathen recovery day" or something

Most of the talks were quite good to excellent. Harris in particular and Dennett, maybe that goes without saying, but PZ surprised me a little, I've seen youtubes of him and thought he comes across a bit too arrogant, but live on stage he was much more personable.

Also, Stella Young and Jim Jefferies were great on Friday. Although I can see why some poeple were offended by Jim, he's quite fringy.

[vespine]

Oh and aside from the conventions, about a dozen muslims came to protest out the front on Sunday, that was fun. At one stage their rants were drowned out by chants of "where are the women" (because they were all male) and then later when they started chanting "infidel!" all the atheists joined in

Also, a couple of pastafarians with collanders on their heads stood right beside them preaching the word of the FSM, that was very funny too.