I have to disagree about the value of attending CAC. I attended CAC in Vegas last year and CAP spring break last year and this year, and without all three of them, I would not be anywhere close to where I am now financialy in this business. Though CAC and CAP spring break have some similarities, they are 2 different experiences.
I have a pretty good idea of the business side of charging for admission, and I don’t have a problem with it at all (though I should note in fairness that I didn’t have to buy my pass last year or this year). If you don’t see the value or just don’t want to come, that is fine, your decision and right, but I don’t see the upside of bashing on the conference. I like to meet face-to-face with the people that are directly related to a great deal of my income. I want them to know who I am if I call them, so I can get an answer in a timely manner.
One thing that both CAC and CAP are great for is networking with other affiliates. I don’t know about anyone else, but if I hadn’t built a few relationships with fellow affiliates, I would be out of this business by now.
Just my 2 cents.