AngraRULES
Member
This. ^
It really does get up into the $1K range very quickly.
It doesn't get up there, unless you want to splurge and have no friends to share a hotel with....
This. ^
It really does get up into the $1K range very quickly.
It doesn't get up there, unless you want to splurge and have no friends to share a hotel with....
Exactly. People give up without even really looking at all options for the trip. That mentality is hurting us more than anything. Not counting the ticket, those guys could do a 3-night trip for under $150 each if they wanted. Hell, I'd show them how if it made a difference.
Not counting the ticket, those guys could do a 3-night trip for under $150 each if they wanted.
I'm sure this has already been considered though.
driving, rooms and time off wouldn't be as big of a deal if single day tickets were an option.
I was still in high school when I first attended Prog Power. I was extremely broke back then, but I made it happen. I literally paid for all my expenses with just over 100 bucks for the entire weekend, excluding tickets.
We were 5 dudes in a small car driving all the way from Miami. Yeah, the 5 of us shared the same room! hahah 2 beds and 1 sleeping bag...
Of course those were extreme conditions. We were all 17-18 years old and we did not give a damn about having to share a bed with another dude or having to eat bad food all weekend... But that's what we could afford, and it was extremely fun.
If we did the same thing this year it would be more expensive... Gas is more expensive, the Super 8 probably doesn't charge 50 bucks anymore... But you can still do it cheaply if you give it a try.
driving, rooms and time off wouldn't be as big of a deal if single day tickets were an option.
Easily!!!!
But some people are spoiled little bitches too... They want their room at the DiamondFuck Suites for $229/night. They need to spend at least $200 in merch just because "They have to, it's ProgPower!" Oh yeah, they need to drink booze throughout the whole night at the venue (soooo cheap right?!?!?!), and eat at a good restaurant EVERY.SINGLE.MEAL.
Then they ask people, "how the hell do you do ProgPower for under $1,000?!?"
You are right. That is one of the biggest things people need to realize. You don't have to stay at a hotel within a mile of the festival. They naturally jack up the prices of their rooms for that week because they know they will sell them.
I always just find a hotel a short drive off for a decent price and just drive in each day to the venue. And even though it is cheaper to park a block or two away, I go ahead and pay the $15 to park under the venue so that I have easy access to a cooler in my vehicle to keep beer/gatorade/food for anytime I have some time during the evening to go get some.
Even though I am on my own coming to Atlanta, it generally only runs me just over $500 for the few days I am there. About $200 for the hotel (generally for Thurs., Fri. and Sat. nights) and the rest for merchandise/food/gas. It would be way cheaper if someone came with 1 or 2 other people to split those costs.
Honestly, the only costs that distinguish ProgPower from any other vacation for me is whatever money I decide to spend in the vendors' room. So if they can go on other vacations, they can go to ProgPower USA. I count this as my main vacation for the year when I do my yearly planning as I know I will have a great time.
Just happened to have made friends with a fellow commuter on the train back home from work... got into talking music, especially progressive metal. Found out he's a huge Symphony X fan (but has never seen them) and has heard of the festival.
Took me just a few minutes to tell him about what ProgPower is all about, the fest, the music, the people, the experience...
"I'll look this up tonight. I could use a weekend in Atlanta in September..."