I personally feel Thai dual pricing is racist, exclusionary and isn't acceptable in most other countries. Sliding scale pricing based on income is fine with me.

Completely valid point.

If we try to set up a space that includes professional office space, or event space, then more or less we'd be going into competition with other venues. Is this a reasonable thing to do as renting office or event space is not even closely associated with our purpose? This is not to say that people can use the space free of charge, but rather to identify their purpose as well, before the issue of rent. This of course limits the market, reduces potential income, so it probably becomes a non-possibility, perhaps.

My initial vision of a Bangkok IT community space was just a place to hangout with free wifi and maybe some power outlets. We don't need a coffee shop on premise or anything fancy since you can very easily go out and get what you need or have it brought to you. If there is enough involvement in such a place and it becomes 'a place' in the IT community then we shouldn't have any problems either getting donations or hiring staff or a manager if that is what is either desired or needed.

Charity events to raise money for the space would be a good idea. Shop space seems more like a convenience then any source of revenue. Sponsorship could be good but it is tricky (I like just accepting donations with no-strings attached to how the space advertises the donors efforts). Membership also becomes tricky since, I would think, you want to make this an open community space (who is going to be the bouncer?).

I don't think you need a "bouncer" -- in my mind the idea of membership is simply to help foster and promote respect for the space and mutually for one another, not to be draconian about policies or establish a rigid hierarchy. Maybe I'm overly optimistic of human nature, but people will look out for each other's things, for what's right, and will trust their instincts. At least if it's any community you want to be part of. Membership and open community are not mutually exclusive concepts, I've seen the model successfully applied.

agree, on not doing professional office space and event rent out. i thought initially a coworking type space would be good for continue funding income and it will allow the space to have residents to keep it going. But I might have had too high of expectations of the space's purpose. A place with some desks and sofas and room to huddle and talk will suffice for a membership models of funding and reduce operating cost and upkeep, i think it's a bare minimum to make it as a hackerspace. more options, means more operation overhead for someone that has to manage it. i vote for funding via donations from crowdsourcing and member commitment donations for startup funds and what remains become operation funds. continue membership fee to keep operation going. sponsorships should solicit in the form of equipment, furniture, food, sodas, water, physical items to supply the startup initiative, and can also help reduce startup cost. so checked boxes: Membership Fees, Crowdsourcing, and sponsorship in limited acceptance of physical donations.