The SQLServerCentral.com Party - 2008

  • Comments posted to this topic are about the item The SQLServerCentral.com Party - 2008

  • Sorry guys, I can't make it but my heart and soul will be with you all. I will surely miss it. OK folks all the best and keep up the good work. 😛

  • Speaking as a PASS volunteer who will (hopefully) get comped on admission, I'd be willing to both pay a fee AND forego prizes in favor of those who registered through SSC. I have way too much fun meeting people that I've only ever typed at to to miss out. $30 isn't too much to pay for some food & fun.

    To reduce costs (and be sure of a more equitable split) maybe those who can win prizes will have a tag and those that are just there for camraderie won't?

    I'd hate to miss the party.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • As a hopeful speaker, I second the above. Prizes are nice, but the party's plain good fun.

    Do you know why PASS changed the way things were done re the codes?

    Steve, what's the aprox break down between cost of prizes and cost of the food, drink and entertanment?

    If I may suggest, for this years party. Is it possible to get people name tags with forum nick name?

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Best of luck on speaking Gail. I've submitted two abstracts this year as well.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • This is the 3rd year I've submitted. No luck so far. Will see.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Good luck getting picked as well from this side of the water.

    We've tried to budget for 200 people, though we've usually run in the 160-180 range the last couple years. Based on that, it's about $9 for the catering, $17 for the shirts, $8 for the book, and then the rest in prizes. We could absorb a little loss, which is why I was thinking $30.

  • I'll bet attendence goes down slightly if you charge. I'm good with it. I think it's a fine idea even, but I do think a few less people will show. Maybe I'm wrong though. Maybe more people will come. I know that people who wanted to go but who didn't use SSC for registration would have paid in years past.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • I was there last year. I thought the party was very nice. Since I have already registered Early-bird, this also applies to me. I am willing to pay to attend this year, however.

    Craig

  • First of all Grant and Gail, coming from the Program Committee, all I can say is that the sessions have been selected and it's to the point where Tom and I will do a final review so the wait is almost over. Hang in there!

    Secondly, I'm not sure, but there may be issues with charging for a casino-type event at the door (I'm thinking gambling regulations may prevent that.) Therefore if you charge, it will probably need to be done ahead of time through PayPal or the like.

    So, I think it was Gail who suggested name tags (with SSC Aliases also) for those who used the code. A grand idea, so long as you also include the ones who paid ahead of time. You can still admit others at the door as in past years, but they would only have a handwritten name tag on different colored stock and would not receive a shirt or prizes. I'd still offer them a book though, as publicity for SSC.

    Finally, I think Gail should be exempt from winning anyway! The past 2 years she's been picked up prizes in the SIG Quizbowl!

    - Tim Ford, SQL Server MVPhttp://www.sqlcruise.comhttp://www.thesqlagentman.com http://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyford

  • One other comment, if you are going to sell tickets, you should have a "spouse" ticket available that gets them in the door but doesn't get them a shirt or prizes.

    Thanks.

  • Do the gambling laws apply if no one is actually, you know, gambling? Although I guess the prizes at the end for the three highest sets of chips could count, but the rest of it... it's Monopoly money.

    And Tim, the check came through all right? It had the right number of zeros and everything? 😉

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • Timothy Ford (5/15/2008)


    First of all Grant and Gail, coming from the Program Committee, all I can say is that the sessions have been selected and it's to the point where Tom and I will do a final review so the wait is almost over. Hang in there!

    Any chance of an early information leak? 😀 😉

    Secondly, I'm not sure, but there may be issues with charging for a casino-type event at the door (I'm thinking gambling regulations may prevent that.) Therefore if you charge, it will probably need to be done ahead of time through PayPal or the like.

    Even though it's gambling for monopoly money?

    Problem there is not everyone has access to Paypal. It doesn't work well in this part of the world at all...

    Hmmm, would there be any chance of adding in an "attend SSC party" on registration, similar to buying the conference DVD? Maybe a bit late for that though.

    Finally, I think Gail should be exempt from winning anyway! The past 2 years she's been picked up prizes in the SIG Quizbowl!

    Shall we try for 3 in a row this year? :hehe:

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • I had already paid this year before the discount code came out so that was of no use :).

    However I would be happy to pay via Paypal, if only as thanks for all the invaluable information provided by this Site

    Patrick Flynn

  • Paypal would really be to cover the majority of people early and get an idea of how many will attend for planning.

    We could sell tickets at the door as well, which might be a pain, but I'm sure I could press someone into service to collect money.

    also, sorry about the delay. PASS was a little slow in getting things setup and getting our agreement done with the changes in leadership, so we didn't finalize things until April-ish.

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