I've just finished up teaching at an in-person event, the first in fifteen months. It was the SQL Server and Azure SQL Conference (formerly known as SQLIntersection). The event organizers did a great job making it into a hybrid event, where  we presented both in-person and virtually, so that people could choose if they wanted to attend in-person or join online. I have to say, it worked better than I thought it would. It took a little adjustment to remember that there were two different audiences to speak to, but overall, a wonderful experience.

The most interesting aspect of the event were the discussions. Yeah, you could say that about almost any in-person event. However, a lot of the discussions we had were around how to make the virtual side of the events work even better for people. After all, we've spent decades fine tuning in-person events. Yet the virtual event, as a primary mechanism, is still developing. A lot has improved since the lockdowns started, but there's still more to learn.

I think the interesting thing about this is the easy assumption we all made. Yes, we're probably going to go back to some, or maybe even a lot, of in-person events. Yet, we're probably also going to have hybrid, or all-virtual events continuing into the future. There were just too many people who have benefited from this move to virtual events. We're not now going to cut them off. So a bunch of us talked about ways to improve the virtual experience and ways to make the experience more valuable to those people who are likely to stay virtual into the future. Honestly, I think it makes for an exciting time as we expand how we engage and interact with people more and more.

What do you think are ways that virtual events can improve?

And, don't forget, the PASS Data Community Summit call for speakers is open just a few more days. Also, register to attend this virtual event. We're hoping to make it a pretty special experience for all involved, maybe even using your idea.