I hear many people complaining about taxes–I personally think they should be higher (lots higher on some folks and corporations). This stand will not be popular among many of you, and I’m fine with that. My way is very unlikely to come about here, so no reason to get your knickers in a twist.
Anyway, the Europeans (IMO) have it much more right. They fund things like the arts better (and then there is universal health and much cheaper university…). If we did the same, then we too could have 3-day programs for our creatives to improve their businesses…free.
As it is we don’t. Programs offered by groups like ASMP and APA have fees. They are very low, though, especially when you consider the cost to put these events on. Usually the events cost around $25 or less for an evening event and SB2 was (if memory serves) around $300 for the weekend…and yet people complain about them. People who don’t live in the cities where the events take place, complain that the events are not offered online, etc.
By choosing not to live in, say, Chicago, the complainer is benefitting from the lower cost of living, compared to the city. The trade off is that you don’t get everything that the city offers. If the complainer wants what the city offers, s/he either has to move or to pay the extra cost to travel to the city for the event. There is no right to something for nothing in the USA. I checked, 🙂
Besides, a big part of the benefits of the event, any event, is the human interaction. You really need to be there to get the most out of any lecture, presentation, whatever. And producing the materials to appear online or in DVD format takes a lot of time, effort, and, yes, money, which means they are not going to be cheap to buy.
Attending events like those offered by the pro groups are part of your continuing education. Lawyers and other professions MUST take continuing ed. courses to stay licensed–these events are the same sort of thing for your profession. The cost is an investment in your business, and a very important one. SO stop kvetching about the inconvenience and cost and just go–go and meet people and learn. It’s good for your business and good for you.