blonde, going forward.

[tikay]

This is all good, thought-provoking stuff, & I need some thinking time.

For now, the quickest, simplest & most effective way to get the Home Page & Updates back is to use the blonde Cardroom. If just a few more of the regulars did that, we'd be in easy street. It really is that simple.

I have just, by the bye, finished speaking with the would-be Shareholder. He's very keen to come on Board. At the right price. I am quite certain that his presence would solve everything. But he's struggling to buy blonde Shares at a price he considers reasonable. We shall see. You never know how these things might pan out.

Oh, & we have secured a new Internet Board Sponsor for a few months. Not much, but it helps.

[Geo the Sarge]

I would willingly donate here and there where I could hence asking/pondering as towhether would put a 'donate' button onto the forum  (a lot of sites do have them).

Sometimes I am unable to play on the cardroom due to my own techy probs here so can't donate that way. 

I would more than willingly donate directy if I could as to me this site (the live updates, results service and forum) is more than worth it.  I would see it the same as an annual subscription to a poker magazine - except it's more value for money than just a magazine (IMO). 

FWIW I would subscribe (not donate – subscribe)  just to read the updaters reports alone as they are excellent, so please at least 'think' about having a donate button on the forum for the people that would be willing to donate 'whatever' here and there. 

Besides - it'll give Kev something else to spam   

I can see the Sig now  ..... "Did you enjoy our updates .... please help to keep them going by clicking on our donate button now"    LOL, tongue in cheek BUT I'd rather have this option then lose the writers we have.



Feeling quite sad about all this.

EDIT - was typing this while the last couple of posts went on site

Michelle says it so much better than I could. I would see a subscription as paying for a service (and a great one at that.). But certainly see where you're coming from Tony.

I will be at the Maybury Casino till about 5:30 to meet up with those I know and am then heading to Glasgow for Bobba Fetts team tourney to meet up with the likes of Bandit, Bobba, Cambo and Mads and about another 8 or so Scottish blondes. A little blonde weekend if you like.

Geo

[tikay]

How come sites like AWOP are still financially viable? They employ 4 people and have a lot more equipment. Also I was under the impression that that the tours paid something to have people blogging/updating?

No, Tours don't pay for Updates! If only......

AWOP? They have a different, clearly better, business model. I think it's Affiliate Based, which has never worked for us.

[jizzemm]

Donation would not have to be made to blonde poker ltd, they could be made to updates charity or something similar

[TightEnd]

How come sites like AWOP are still financially viable? They employ 4 people and have a lot more equipment. Also I was under the impression that that the tours paid something to have people blogging/updating?

tours pay something? Nope

AWOP...have a profitable sideline in using their team/camera for third party hire, and an affiliate model that works fine. As I said some time ago, given a blank sheet of paper I'd not necessarily choose a business model that funds added value services out of card-room rake, especially when combined with an open forum, but we (tikay/I) inherited it in 2006 and have to make it work. If we had gazillions in the bank would be easy to change the business model, sadly we don't.

[Tractor]

I have asked for a donate button on the live updates many times and always will are not a charity but what if the donate button was only on the live update thread? Im sure it would go along way to pay for "the updaters" not "the shareholders" i dont get the problem?
If someone is following the progress of a friend/family member thy are never going to sign upto the cardroom but there is a good chance they will donate a few quid to "the updaters" please reconcider this option it works on a lot of forums.

 Another thing i would think about is scraping the homepage alltogether if its not going to be updated and get the forum at the main domain and use a system like avforums which is a complete site but driven by the forum, this works very well.

[redsimon]

Is it too cheeky to ask how much a two person GUKPT or DtD update costs?

[TightEnd]

Is it too cheeky to ask how much a two person GUKPT or DTD update costs?

Depends on whether we were using staff updaters or freelancers

There's a daily rate for each updater, a food allowance and then travel and hotel costs

For a four day GUKPT manned by two people, one a freelancer, both needing a hotel you are looking at £1,000-£1,500. In the good old days updaters shared rooms too which helped a bit

Less for a two day dtd-er

EPTs were horrific

[tikay]

Is it too cheeky to ask how much a two person GUKPT or DTD update costs?

It's not quite that simple, as we employed Chris on a monthly fee, & th quantity & length of Updates varies.

For a typical GUKPT Update, though, assume these rough costings.....

2 Updaters, 4 days wages each.

3 nights Hotel each.

Travel each. (Location dependant).

In the high season, we Updated most weekends.

A two-dayer - DTD £300-er for instance - comes in a lot cheaper, say 2 peeps x 2 days, 2 Hotel Room for 1, maybe 2 nights, & travel exs.

Lately, we've used one Updater, so costs halve, as does the quality of Update, to a point.

[henrik777]

Does the amazon link create much revenue ?

If so perhaps you could get some revenue via dell ? Lots of people mention them when screens, laptops etc are sought/looked at.

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/emea/topics/affiliates/home?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=anavml&~section=001

Don't forget bookies/exchanges too as i said before.

Sandy

[iorek]

Have used Blonde as a resource for a couple of years, love it and will be sad to see it changed in almost any way. I've seen sponsored by and banner ads but never gave much thought to how it all was funded.

I'm guessing Tikay frowns on spamming but the odd email asking if I enjoyed the updates (etc.) and to ensure they can continue might I try my luck on Blonde Poker wouldn't be too intrusive. There should be plenty of us who'd prefer our rake to come back to the community in the guise of Blonde.

Spam away.

[TightEnd]

Does the amazon link create much revenue ?

If so perhaps you could get some revenue via dell ? Lots of people mention them when screens, laptops etc are sought/looked at.

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/emea/topics/affiliates/home?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=anavml&~section=001

Don't forget bookies/exchanges too as i said before.

Sandy

Amazon, no

Negotiating a link with a computer supplier currently

Bookies, that was one of the aims of William Hill deal a year ago, but they never showed any interest. Currently approaching other online bookies

[Colchester Kev]

Loving that avatar Sandy

 

[NoflopsHomer]

Is it too cheeky to ask how much a two person GUKPT or DTD update costs?

Depends on whether we were using staff updaters or freelancers

There's a daily rate for each updater, a food allowance and then travel and hotel costs

For a four day GUKPT manned by two people, one a freelancer, both needing a hotel you are looking at £1,000-£1,500. In the good old days updaters shared rooms too which helped a bit

Less for a two day DTD-er

EPTs were horrific

This was partially due to the cash flow problems. It was difficult for me to book anything too early which meant many prices would go up but I'll point out that some of the EPT's cost less than some may think. For example, the PCA was booked well in advance and flights and hotel ended up costing around £1,500 which was cheaper than many of the EPT's. The EPT in Monte Carlo with three people, was about the same. Some of the others were much more expensive like Barcelona or Copenhagen but it was often a case of me searching for a few hours for each in search of the best deal. One idea I briefly mentioned to Tighty, but that we never got around to act upon was that we should organise all the EPT media to block book all their hotels together, thus everyone saves money and there isn't really a downside.

[TightEnd]

Is it too cheeky to ask how much a two person GUKPT or DTD update costs?

Depends on whether we were using staff updaters or freelancers

There's a daily rate for each updater, a food allowance and then travel and hotel costs

For a four day GUKPT manned by two people, one a freelancer, both needing a hotel you are looking at £1,000-£1,500. In the good old days updaters shared rooms too which helped a bit

Less for a two day DTD-er

EPTs were horrific

This was partially due to the cash flow problems. It was difficult for me to book anything too early which meant many prices would go up but I'll point out that some of the EPT's cost than some may think. For example, the PCA was booked well in advance and flights and hotel ended up costing around £1,500 which was cheaper than many of the EPT's. The EPT in Monte Carlo with three people, was about the same. Some of the others were much more expensive like Barcelona or Copenhagen but it was often a case of me searching for a few hours for each in search of the best deal. One idea I briefly mentioned to Tighty, but that we never got around to act upon was that we should organise all the EPT media to block book all their hotels together, thus everyone saves money and there isn't really a downside.

Chris is correct, a nice cash buffer/funding in the bank would have allowed us to benefit from discounts far more readily