Re: [RC] re "making money on a ride" - Ed & Wendy Hauser
"...discover IF money could be made on ride
management..."
If by making money on a ride you mean making enough to
pay everyone a reasonable amount per hour and cover the cost of equipment and
running of vehicles, it really CAN NOT be done. In addition to careful
management, ride fees would have to be much higher, and much more advertising
revenue generated.
Can you imagine Dodge paying the type of fees they do
to get their name at a NASCAR venue?
The ride fees are held down by two things. First,
by how much we, the riders, are willing (or can afford) to pay. Second,
most rides are put on by people who DO NOT EXPECT to make a "profit"* even
if they do need a "positive cash flow"*, competition from these charitable
people alone is enough to prevent anyone else from charging high
fees.
Definitions:
*profit: Money left over after all expenses, including
total cost of running the vehicles used, replacement of equipment, capital
equipment (stock tanks etc.), fair wages for all concerned (for all planning
time as well as the ride weekend), food, awards, advertising, association dues
and whatever I have forgotten.
* "positive cash flow": Money left over after the most
important expenses have been paid. Usually does not include provision for
vehicle replacement, lots of little expenses that do not make the
RM's accounting procedures, and any wages for the RM and
volunteers.
Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower
Road Victor, MT 59875
