Yes, here we are again, another year gone by and another database full of interesting information.
First, the numbers:
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
| Total attendees (staff excluded) | 446 | 482 | 639 | 748 |
| Staff* | 27 | 29 | 46 | 52 |
| Total attendees (staff included) | 473 | 511 | 685 | 800 |
| Percent increase in attendance | — | 8.1% | 32.5% | 16.8% |
| Preregistered attendees (sponsors included) | n/a | 212 | 344 | 386 |
| Preregistered sponsors | n/a | 51 | 69 | 64 |
| At-the-Door sponsors | n/a | 34 | 26 | 19 |
| Staff sponsors | n/a | 11 | 13 | 6 |
| Total sponsors | 37 | 85 | 108 | 83 |
We had budgeted for a 20% increase in attendance and we weren’t far off the mark. The big surprise was the drop in sponsors. We raised the price for sponsors from $85 to $100 to better cover the costs for sponsor benefits. Evidently the $100 mark is a big psychological barrier, even though it’s only a $15 increase over last year. One thing I know for sure: I’d rather a nice, sane 15-20% growth than a repeat of last year’s surprise 32%. We handled that, but it was a near thing.
Next, a breakdown on a regional basis:
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | ||
| Midwest | 65.9% | 69.8% | 66.0% | 65.7% | (IL, WI, IN, MI, MN, OH, MO, IA) |
| Northeast | 5.8% | 7.5% | 4.5% | 5.6% | (NH, VT, MA, NY, CT, RI) |
| Mid-Atlantic | 4.7% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 3.9% | (PA, MD, VA, WV) |
| South | n/a | 12.4% | 12.4% | 11.3% | (NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, TN, KY, AL, MS, LA, AR, TX) |
| Canada | n/a | 2.50% | 3.51% | 4.01% | |
| West Coast | 7.4% | 2.9% | 4.2% | 5.4% | (CA, OR, WA) |
| East Coast | 14.6% | 16.4% | 13.7% | 13.8% | (ME, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, PA, DE, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL) |
| East of Mississippi | n/a | 79.30% | 77.52% | 75.09% | |
| West of Mississippi | n/a | 16.70% | 18.85% | 20.65% |
So, what can we tell from this? For one thing, we are still very much a regional convention, though we’re making inroads outside of our area. Our attendance from the West Coast, Canada, and the Northeast is on the rise, which is good.
One question which has come up is will the numerous new furry conventions popping up all over next year impact our attendance? The closest one, Ohio Morphicon, is far enough removed timewise (it’s in June), that it probably won’t impact us at all. There’s a couple new cons in California, and one in Atlanta, all of which will be small enough to have negligible impact. The other thing that we have going for us is great word-of-mouth. Everyone hears what a great time people had at MFF 2003 and they resolve to attend in 2004. This, I think, will be the factor that will account for our greatest increase in attendance, and will more than outweigh any detrimental effects of new conventions.
Here’s the state-by-state (-by-province) breakdown at attendance:
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
| AK | 0.00% | 0.15% | 0.13% |
| AL | 0.80% | 0.58% | 0.88% |
| AR | 2.70% | 1.75% | 1.13% |
| AZ | 0.00% | 0.15% | 0.00% |
| BC | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.13% |
| CA | 2.30% | 3.65% | 4.88% |
| CO | 0.00% | 0.29% | 0.50% |
| CT | 0.60% | 0.58% | 1.13% |
| DC | 0.00% | 0.15% | 0.00% |
| FL | 1.50% | 1.46% | 2.13% |
| GA | 0.80% | 0.44% | 1.13% |
| IA | 2.50% | 2.04% | 2.00% |
| ID | 0.00% | 0.15% | 0.00% |
| IL | 25.90% | 25.26% | 25.41% |
| IN | 3.90% | 5.69% | 4.26% |
| KS | 1.00% | 0.58% | 1.38% |
| KY | 1.00% | 1.02% | 1.25% |
| MA | 2.90% | 0.73% | 1.13% |
| MD | 0.80% | 0.88% | 0.13% |
| MI | 9.10% | 8.03% | 8.01% |
| MN | 5.20% | 4.67% | 5.38% |
| MO | 2.90% | 2.63% | 3.13% |
| MS | 0.00% | 0.29% | 0.13% |
| MT | 0.00% | 0.15% | 0.00% |
| MX | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.13% |
| NC | 1.20% | 2.63% | 1.13% |
| NE | 0.20% | 0.58% | 0.50% |
| NH | 0.60% | 0.44% | 0.38% |
| NJ | 0.60% | 1.46% | 1.13% |
| NM | 0.00% | 0.44% | 0.13% |
| NV | 0.60% | 0.44% | 0.13% |
| NY | 2.90% | 2.77% | 3.00% |
| OH | 7.50% | 6.13% | 6.76% |
| OK | 0.20% | 0.15% | 0.38% |
| ON | 2.50% | 3.07% | 3.50% |
| OR | 0.00% | 0.15% | 0.25% |
| PA | 1.50% | 2.19% | 2.50% |
| QC | 0.00% | 0.44% | 0.25% |
| SC | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.13% |
| SK | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.13% |
| TN | 1.90% | 1.61% | 1.38% |
| TX | 1.20% | 2.04% | 1.13% |
| UT | 0.00% | 0.15% | 0.38% |
| VA | 2.10% | 1.61% | 1.00% |
| WA | 0.60% | 0.44% | 0.25% |
| WI | 10.80% | 11.53% | 10.76% |
| WV | 0.20% | 0.29% | 0.25% |
| WY | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.13% |
Finally, just to show off a little bit, I present to you an analysis of the number of attendees processed every ten minutes:
If you look closely and do a little quick math, you’ll see that at the height of the rush on Thursday night, we were processing attendees at the rate of one every twenty seconds. On Friday morning, that fell to one every thirty seconds, which isn’t bad considering we had fewer staff on hand. As we determined at Closing Ceremonies, no one had to wait longer than fifteen minutes to get their badge. For next year, our goal is to get that down to ten minutes.
So there you have it! I hope that everyone who attended MFF 2003 had a great time, and I hope to see you all at MFF 2004 next November!
VA 1.0%
WOOO HOOO! GO VIRGINIA! :p
I’m my mind, you shouldn’t be effected too much by the other conventions. It would appear that, from the data collected, your biggest competition would be the conventions closest to you in time. Of that, this would be California’s Further Confusion in January. Seeing as that almost half (over 48% percent) of the convention attendees are based out either IL, MI, WI, or IN; and that there is a solid two months between your convention and FC; would seem to indicate the MFF will continue a strong following. (As you previously stated, this is very much a regional convention.)
I think the biggest hit in numbers for MFF, in the years to come, will be based on outside and unforseeable forces. Items such as a slow economy, airline ticket prices and airline safety record for that year (which would affect many of those traveling from outside of a two state radius), those opting out because of too many friends who are unable to attend (because of the aforementioned factors.)
PERSONAL PREDICTION: I think that 2004 will mark a large surge in the amount of people trying new (or different) conventions. With ConFURence now defunct, many may look to one or two “other” conventions to attend. Furthermore, with the popular concensus voicing that the PA based Anthrocon has grown too large, I think that a good population of convention attendees will look toward smaller conventions in the coming year.
With MFF being more than established, and it’s proximity to affordable travel hubs (such as the South Shore rail and O’hare International) and ample food available within walking distance, Midwest Furfest is destined to be a large consideration for many. Still, I believe that the trend for MFF to remain predominately regional will continue; much like it will for Furry Weekend Atlanta and Rocket City Fur Meet.
So, there’s my twenty two cents! :p
Thanks for sharing the data, Duncan.