My guild puts on a show every year - this is the first year I've been a guild member, but I've gone to the show 2 years prior as well (ever since I became a quilter!).
Their admission is $10 for both days, and parking is free. I think that's really reasonable, especially since this year I got to see all the work and effort that goes into the show behind the scenes. The black curtains that hang behind all the quilts are rented by the hour (!!!). Hall rental, cleanup...guild members do a ton of work but some of it has to be hired out. Advertizing is expensive too. I don't know for sure but I don't think the guild really makes much money from the show at all. I think we had about 300 quilts in the show this year, and lots of vendors. (There are 2 other local guilds that also contribute quilts.) I think it's a really good show and a wonderful way to see what the local quilting community is doing and I enjoy the heck out of it every year.
I guess you just have to ask yourself if you'll get X dollars worth of entertainment from attending. If it's going to cost you $50 to go...will you get fifty bucks worth of entertainment out of it? I also went to the PQIF in Santa Clara last year and will do so again this year. I spend a good bit on gas getting there and back, plus hotel rental and of course food. I don't even remember how much admission was - negligible compared to my gas/hotel/food costs! I couldn't do that every month, but if that's the one big show I go to every year, I can afford it. I get enough enjoyment out of going that it's worth it to me. I go both days and I go by myself, so I'm free to linger and stare and drool all I want.
