I've met many broke agents on incentive trips.
However, the agent dropping $1,000 for a confrence ticket, $600 for airfare, and another $750 on a hotel, because he or she wants to is a proven producer.
Lol. Sounds good... in theory. How many of those types of producers will be at this conference? I'd bet dollars to donuts you could count them on one thumb. Almost every producer there will live within a few hours drive. None of them will have paid more than $30 for a ticket. Would you seriously want to trade ideas from a producer who paid $1,000 to attend this?