A few of you might have seen the recent announcement from PASS about SQL Saturdays. I don't like the decisions, especially the new 600 mile radius limitation for events on the same day (or consecutive weeks), but I am trying to keep an open mind here. Kevin Feasel performed an interesting analysis, looking at the potential conflicts with events. It's worth a read, and if you want to run your own analysis, please feel free to do so.

I know lots of you have gone to a SQL Saturday. I'm sure most of you that have attended one have gone to a local event. However, what I'd like to know is the answer to these questions:

• How far have you traveled to each event? (multiple numbers in mi or km)
• where were the events? (city, year if you want)
• Are you a speaker? (yea, nay)

Please, please, take a minute and drop a comment. Or send me an email (sjones{at}sqlservercentral[dot]com). I'd really like to get some data on travel. Note, I'm asking how far you have traveled. Not what you're be willing to do. I thnk plenty of people think they'd drive a long way, but I'm not sure many of you would.

My contention is that most people wouldn't drive 50 miles, much less 100, for a SQL Saturday (or Code Camp, etc.). I know some of you would, but 50 miles is probably an hour+ in most places, plus an hour back, plus 7-8 hours of conference talks. Is that worth your time?

Sure. Sometimes. If you don't have family commitments, or you're not too tired, or the weather isn't too bad (or good). Even if the event is once a year, I see no shortage of people that can't, or won't, attend. Lots do, that that's great. I love seeing SQL Saturdays grow, especially with lots of first time attendees.

I have seen people go a few hundred miles, even one guy riding down from the mountains west of Denver to Albuquerque, but that's rare. That's the exception. At least, I think so. Let me know today. Actually, let us all know. I think the data will be really interesting.

As an aside, I'd like to get more people performing some analysis of how limitations affect the growth of SQL Saturday and also how we might actually grow to 200+ events a year in the US. I am open to listening to arguements for the changes, but I'm more interested in finding ways to continue to grow SQL Saturdays around the world.