The SQLServerCentral Party at PASS

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The SQLServerCentral Party at PASS

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November 12, 2008 at 6:17 pm

#215168

Comments posted to this topic are about the item The SQLServerCentral Party at PASS

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Jim Norcal SSC Enthusiast Points: 142 More actions · Answer 1

What actually takes place at one of these 'parties'?

Since I live in Arizona, I can't see myself attending one anytime soon. I have been seeing the announcement every year (it seems) but always just dismiss it quickly as I know I wouldn't be attending. This time, however, I'm a bit more curious as to what it is. Can someone who's been to one of these give me a little insider info?

Thanks!

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736212 More actions · Answer 2

Just a chance to meet people from the site. We hire a casino company to cater the event, give away "chips" to play blackjack, poker, roulette, etc. for a couple hours and give out prizes.

The idea started when PASS offered us a fee (US$50) for each person we could refer to the conference. They wanted exposure to build the conference and we were happy to help. At the time, Andy, Brian, and I were running the site and didn't want to make money off this (felt a little funny, ethically), so we decided to throw a party to spend all the money we got from PASS. It's a pretty good sum ($5-10k), so we have a good party.

The highlight of my year is usually going to Best Buy and spending $2k on games, DVDs, iPods, etc. to give away. It's usually a good set of prizes (40-60) for 150 people.

I'll try to take more pictures and video this year.

Wayne West SSC-Insane Points: 22586 More actions · Answer 3

Woohoo! Very much looking forward to the party and meeting lots of regulars here! :hehe:

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[font="Arial"]Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves or we know where we can find information upon it. --Samuel Johnson[/font]

Jim Norcal SSC Enthusiast Points: 142 More actions · Answer 4

Wow! That does sound impressive. Makes me want to go. Perhaps one of these years, I'll be able to afford such a trip. I'm sure I'd enjoy it.

Thanks for filling me in on the details.

Anipaul SSC-Insane Points: 24681 More actions · Answer 5

Anipaul

SSC-Insane

Points: 24681

November 13, 2008 at 9:43 am

#898186

All the best for the success of PASS....

NULLgarity SSCommitted Points: 1572 More actions · Answer 6

Looking forward to it. Didn't get a chance to get the right registration code on my registration last time, so this will be my first time attending despite it being my second time at PASS summit.

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Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736212 More actions · Answer 7

Just as a note, we usually have 2-3 free admissions to the conference we give away to authors each year.

Anyone that can cover travel/hotel and is interested, write me some articles between now and June when I'll start looking for people to take along.

karlakay22 SSC Enthusiast Points: 125 More actions · Answer 8

Steve, two of us are going to the party...we'll be paying at the door. See you there!

SQL Babe

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 9

Jim in Arizona (11/13/2008)
What actually takes place at one of these 'parties'?

Couple of hours of meeting people that you usually interact with online only, gambling monopoly money and generally having a good time.

Since I live in Arizona, I can't see myself attending one anytime soon.

Why not? Arizona's not that far from Seattle.

Besides, every other year the summit's held somewhere else in the US. Last year was Denver. It's not impossible that it'll come to your backyard.

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

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 10

Wayne West (11/13/2008)
Woohoo! Very much looking forward to the party and meeting lots of regulars here! :hehe:

Likewise.

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

Jim Norcal SSC Enthusiast Points: 142 More actions · Answer 11

It's not impossible that it'll come to your backyard.

It gets that close, and I'll help organize it. 😉

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736212 More actions · Answer 12

Not likely to hit Phoenix, but Vegas would work. Orlando, Dallas are other locations they've used.

Jim Norcal SSC Enthusiast Points: 142 More actions · Answer 13

Yea, it's too hot in Phoenix anyway, although the winters are pretty mild compared to most everywhere else. If I were to chose a city though, it would not be Phoenix. Vegas would probably be a better choice and something I could probably do someday down the road.

Wayne West SSC-Insane Points: 22586 More actions · Answer 14

Phoenix has hosted some VERY large conventions in the past, so size shouldn't be an issue. I'd say it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility. And November there is pretty nice. Unfortunately it's also getting in to the snowbird season, so hotel rates start going up, not that Seattle rates are cheap.

Oddly enough, I never got drawn for a license when snowbird season started, for that matter, they never said what the bag limit was... :hehe:

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[font="Arial"]Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves or we know where we can find information upon it. --Samuel Johnson[/font]