December 15, 2014 at 9:54 pm
I really wished I was better at encouraging more people in my area to make events remotely accessible. Is there documentation for recommended practices ?
December 16, 2014 at 1:19 am
To a certain extent these exist already. http://www.meetup.com/
I go to a few of the technical ones and I know people who use them for social events.
December 16, 2014 at 1:39 am
I have to ask why should these events be totally free? Most people would be happy to pay a fiver or tenner (UK) which would cover the hire of a village hall, scout hut or similar, which are usually cheap and have tea/coffee making facilities. Lunch doesn't need to be provided either as long as there is somewhere it can be purchased or bring-your-own eaten.
Personally I don't do work or work related things on Saturdays - I have a life and family.
December 16, 2014 at 1:56 am
I don't think it has to be free. The important thing is to minimise discouragements i.e. awkward locations, strange times, high costs, loads of pre-requisites.
December 16, 2014 at 6:04 am
I was one of the commenters on Jens blog, so you can read what we do at the local Python developer meetings. This past Saturday we had 22 people show up and we discussed editors, tools and other development quirks. Tomorrow night we meet for Project night, designed to help people with their individual coding issues. I also attend some .NET and other IT related groups in the area.
It doesn't take much, sometimes a few people at the library or a get together at a coffee shop. Our local user groups in the Dallas area are very lucky, we have a variety of corporate sponsors that offer meeting spaces. Even without their offerings, we still have places that have worked out to one degree or another.
As for local SQL Server group, I wish the McCowns would jump back into the local user group scene. I've learned more database admin and development from them than any other source. There is room in the DFW area for them and the folks that like the NTSSUG. Thankfully there's a lot of material on the MidnightDBA web site.
December 16, 2014 at 6:41 am
This year, thanks to my grandson, I've been to three Comic Cons. Two in Salt Lake City (the third largest in the US) and once here in Boise, the first for the Tree City Comic Con. The Boise event was tiny in comparison to Salt Lake. Yet they had some big time stars there. One said that she liked to go to inaugural Comic Cons to help kick start them. Maybe Red Gate could do the same thing, go to some small and/or first time SQL events to help get them going. Maybe you do this already but if not think about it.
December 17, 2014 at 1:51 am
In the UK, many pubs would be happy to do a plate of sandwiches and a few chips for very little. Sometimes for nothing. This works for them by using the pub during quiet times and is funded through the drinks, especially soft drinks where there is more profit in each drink. Some even have a separate room of a part of the pub that they could reserve.
This can be a mutually beneficial agreement.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
December 17, 2014 at 5:54 am
Panera Bread in the U.S. often has a similar room for meetings. They often ask for a minimum purchase of food and beverages.
The issue I have with vendor space is that most people don't ask good questions to the hosting vendor, or invite the competing vendor to speak at the same meeting.
This often also leads to having low value meetings about an issue that the vendor tool solves for a very small subset of people attending.
December 17, 2014 at 8:27 am
Robert Sterbal-482516 (12/15/2014)
I really wished I was better at encouraging more people in my area to make events remotely accessible. Is there documentation for recommended practices ?
Not really, though maybe PASS has some User Group leader Wiki/notes.
To me, if you want remote events, ask. Or volunteer and help set them up. Many presenters will do remote stuff, and many of the MVPs get some benefits from Microsoft to make it easier. I dislike them, but I can persuaded at times. 😉
However, the harder part is getting people to attend. If you go to a meeting, and there is a projector showing a webcast, is that good? Would you just stay home? Personally I'd like to see the in person events, and if it's hard, do them less frequently. Do them every other month or once a quarter and then see if you can convince people to attend.
December 17, 2014 at 8:32 am
P Jones (12/16/2014)
I have to ask why should these events be totally free? Most people would be happy to pay a fiver or tenner (UK) which would cover the hire of a village hall, scout hut or similar, which are usually cheap and have tea/coffee making facilities. Lunch doesn't need to be provided either as long as there is somewhere it can be purchased or bring-your-own eaten.Personally I don't do work or work related things on Saturdays - I have a life and family.
The events don't have to be free. Some are, some aren't. What we don't even have to do is organize or pay for lunch/refreshments. I'd like to see events that take a break for 90 minutes and let people get lunch on their own. Or organize something shorter, half day, and let people provide for themselves.
Hiring a place is hard. It can be USD$1000/day for a couple of spaces, or even just insurance. Getting people to pay a tenner isn't hard, but you have to get enough to pay for things. You have to do it in advance, so the organizer has to front this. That's not easy and it is risky.
You don't have to do things on Saturday, my wife wouldn't, but many would. It's helpful to think of this as an investment in your career, however. It isn't every Saturday, it's one. Or one a year. It's the type of thing many people do in other industries, attending classes on weekends or at night.
December 17, 2014 at 8:33 am
chrisn-585491 (12/16/2014)
...It doesn't take much, sometimes a few people at the library or a get together at a coffee shop. ...
Good ideas.
December 17, 2014 at 2:35 pm
P Jones (12/16/2014)
I have to ask why should these events be totally free? Most people would be happy to pay a fiver or tenner (UK) which would cover the hire of a village hall, scout hut or similar, which are usually cheap and have tea/coffee making facilities. Lunch doesn't need to be provided either as long as there is somewhere it can be purchased or bring-your-own eaten.Personally I don't do work or work related things on Saturdays - I have a life and family.
I agree with you on this. We have a SQL Saturday in my area, and I get a lot out of it! However, it is very important to me to have them be either free or nearly free. Going to conferences isn't something that is always possible, so something like a SQL Saturday is literally a godsend. I would be willing to bring my own lunch to such an affair, but I think I'm in the minority as far as that goes. Most would rather just have it catered or purchased somehow.
Rod
December 19, 2014 at 8:59 am
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (12/17/2014)
...You don't have to do things on Saturday, my wife wouldn't, but many would...
No. Not Saturdays. I am running about on Astroturf swinging my carbon fibre stick around 😉
Monday-Friday are career days (and evenings).
Everyone does it differently but for me weekends are for family and recreational sport.
EDIT: Inability to format control text correctly. Or use the right words.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
December 19, 2014 at 9:54 pm
I think my evenings are limited to once a week for all practical purposes for the foreseeable future. What is the second best way to get out there (without getting out there)?
Can anyone connect me with someone who has had success, and has the time to share some information about attending meetings remotely, and possibly podcasting them later?
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