I'd like to see SQL Saturdays happen, whether in person or virtually

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I'd like to see SQL Saturdays happen, whether in person or virtually

Doctor Who 2

SSCrazy Eights

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February 2, 2021 at 1:40 pm

#3840142

I love going to SQL Saturdays. I haven't been to one in about 4 years, due to circumstances out of my local PASS groups control. So, I'd really like to attend one again. But I live in a state where in-person meetings aren't currently allowed, therefore I'd really like my local SQL Saturday to be advertised, very well. When the COVID-19 lockdown happened, I simply concluded that all SQL Saturdays were canned. I didn't realize, until late December, that there were some still going on virtually. Therefore, if SQL Saturdays are happening, especially if they're virtual, PLEASE advertise!
Rod

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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ktflash Default port Points: 1400 More actions · Answer 1

Agree, as a new member of the community id love to see what these are like.

Being able to take part online from europe would be awesome

I want to be the very best
Like no one ever was

https://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/forum-etiquette-how-to-post-datacode-on-a-forum-to-get-the-best-help

annabel.bradford Grasshopper Points: 12 More actions · Answer 2

Many virtual events are being shared, here are some links that should help you:

List of virtual data saturday's here: https://datasaturdays.com/

There's also a list of data community events here: https://datacommunity.events/ and also here: https://callfordataspeakers.com/list You can see Microsoft have this page showing user groups and resources related to SQL Server, Azure Data, and diversity and inclusion: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/community and also here: https://sqlugs.com/

Cambridge, UK
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/abjbradford
Blog posts: https://www.red-gate.com/blog/author/annabel-bradford

Rod at work SSC-Dedicated Points: 34007 More actions · Answer 3

Thank you, Annabel, for sharing those links. They are helpful. However, it's not likely that I'll visit those links often. I'm just not in the habit of doing so. However, SQL Server Central is a website I visit several times each week, if not daily. I'm proposing that advertising of SQL Saturdays (or Data Saturdays) be advertised here, on this website. For example, as I write this post to the right of these posts is an ad for Red-Gate Community Circle. Under whatever is being advertised in that space, there could be a list of the next SQL Saturdays/Data Saturdays coming the next two weeks or month. Just something to put it into everyone's mind.

Kindest Regards, Rod Connect with me on LinkedIn.

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736172 More actions · Answer 4

Rod,

good idea. I'll think about how to make this easy. I'm not terribly interested in manually updating an announcement every week, but perhaps we can get something done.

In terms of events, I do not support in-person SQL Saturdays at this time. I do not think this is safe, and Redgate has no plans right now for any events this year.

However, anyone could run an event now. Organizing a call for speakers, setting a schedule, and helping run an event across zoom/teams/etc, right now isn't too hard. I hope more people do this, and I'd like to see events come every Saturday this year.

ChrisAVWood Grasshopper Points: 15 More actions · Answer 5

We do need to get an overall community name out there soonish, which I belief PASS did previously. Thank you RedGate for taking this up.

As an organizer of SQL Saturday events in a smallish community (Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA) I would have loved to be able to have virtual speakers along with in person sessions. Some people would only attend if a named speaker was going to be there. I was able to attend(virtually) SQL Saturdays all over the World when the events went virtual last year.

One problem we had was to get local sponsors and/or to find locations for the event. We had 4 events and were fortunate to find someone to host for free 3 of those times. SQL Saturdays were not greatly expensive but also nowhere near being free. I cannot speak about virtual events but they might involve more people to help run them than the 6 or 7 needed to organize a physical event.

I was fortunate to present at the last physical event in Victoria, BC, CANADA in March 2020. Covid was declared a pandemic that weekend and I would not have wanted to be Janice Gerbrandt, the organizer, possibly being responsible for an outbreak of Covid associated with the gathering.

We are some way from wanting to organize a physical event let alone attracting both speakers and attendees.

Chris Wood

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736172 More actions · Answer 6

Thanks, Chris,

Personally, just for the sake of keeping things going, I'd like to see more people run virtual events this year. I think you need less people to run one, but it does take work. You might need a few people to act as hosts, but really it's picking a date, getting speaker submissions and then building a schedule. I might recommend this to run an event in 2021

1-3 tracks
4-5 sessions/track
schedule at your local time zone, go 6-6.5 hours max
pick as many local speakers from your area to give it a local feel

If you want a theme, pick a theme and run with that. Beginning T-SLQ, Azure, Python data science, whatever you want.

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004321 More actions · Answer 7

annabel.bradford wrote:

Many virtual events are being shared, here are some links that should help you:
List of virtual data saturday's here: https://datasaturdays.com/ There's also a list of data community events here: https://datacommunity.events/ and also here: https://callfordataspeakers.com/list You can see Microsoft have this page showing user groups and resources related to SQL Server, Azure Data, and diversity and inclusion: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/community and also here: https://sqlugs.com/

Great post. Thanks, Annabel. It also reinforces what "Rod at work" is talking about... there's no longer a single place for SQLSaturdays or PASS chapters and it would be nice if there were. I also agree that SQLServerCentral could/should be that place especially since RedGate bought the PASS and SQLSaturday brands.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

ChrisAVWood Grasshopper Points: 15 More actions · Answer 8

Steve,

When I mentioned volunteer numbers I would say the moderator job is harder than the room monitor as a good understanding is needed between the moderator and the speaker to get questions answered and have the session finish in the right time. You no longer need people at the door to register attendees and provide meals and refreshments so that is a net gain for virtual. Also you need reliable internet connectivity for a virtual session between the speaker and the moderator. Lastly you might need more time management because you might have a speaker from a completely different time zone performing.

Thanks Jeff for pointing out the links that Annabelle had provided. As I was on the PASS speaker rooster I was getting notified about new SQL Saturday events and that was one point I was making with being informed of events.

I know the community will come thru this with a stronger setup because of the people who have added their voices to these discussions.

Chris

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004321 More actions · Answer 9

I'll also add that 60 minute sessions just aren't long enough to do the job right for a lot of sessions. If the 60 minutes on/15 minutes between thing is going to continue (and it should in most cases), there also needs to be the concept of "double sessions" with a "bio break".

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Doctor Who 2 SSCrazy Eights Points: 8194 More actions · Answer 10

Steve Jones - SSC Editor wrote:

Thanks, Chris,
Personally, just for the sake of keeping things going, I'd like to see more people run virtual events this year. I think you need less people to run one, but it does take work. You might need a few people to act as hosts, but really it's picking a date, getting speaker submissions and then building a schedule. I might recommend this to run an event in 2021
1-3 tracks
4-5 sessions/track
schedule at your local time zone, go 6-6.5 hours max
pick as many local speakers from your area to give it a local feel
If you want a theme, pick a theme and run with that. Beginning T-SLQ, Azure, Python data science, whatever you want.

I really like these suggestions, Steve

Rod

Tom Uellner SSCrazy Points: 2995 More actions · Answer 11

Jeff Moden wrote:

I'll also add that 60 minute sessions just aren't long enough to do the job right for a lot of sessions. If the 60 minutes on/15 minutes between thing is going to continue (and it should in most cases), there also needs to be the concept of "double sessions" with a "bio break".

I'll second Jeff's comment. There have been multiple sessions I've been in that just really hit their stride and then the hour is up. Some topics really need a double session.