[OSGeo-Conf] Two parallel conferences proposal: OSGeo-tech and OSGeo-Biz

[Paul Ramsey]

I don't really agree, though I hope we have a proper attendee survey
this year so we can bear out my general feeling (if not, 2009, I *beg*
of you, a survey that asks job titles, number of reports, budgetary
responsibility, etc, if you like, I'll even write one with cheeky good
humor to make the medicine go down easy).

The idea that there is a market for an "OSGeo-Biz" separate from the
technical conference I find hard to entertain. Certainly, the *look*
of FOSS4G attendees indicates we skew heavily technical, even if many
of the technical people are new to FOSS and are there to learn. For
those of you present in 2007, remember the show of hands for Damian's
"who where is a geek?" question.

The energy that makes FOSS4G to appealing to folks (and it is
universally mentioned by folks I talk to who have been to other
industry conferences) derives heavily from the geek presence.

I think our presentation *tracks* could be better marked, probably
2008 did better than we did (?) at separating business from technical
content, so people get what they want when they go to a presentation.

But I don't see the demand for a "no technical stuff please, we're all
just managers" conference, I really don't.

P.

On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 8:23 AM, Markus Neteler <neteler at osgeo.org> wrote:
> We just enjoyed a great conference in South Africa...!
> It was great to meet all those being present there and some
> virtually - thanks for the hard work!
>
> <idea>
> Thinking about future conferences, after speaking to a couple
> of people, I wondered it the following proposal makes sense:
>
> Have two conferences in parallel, in different continents with
> - one being low cost, hacker oriented, maybe at a university,
> - one being more costly, business oriented, in a conference
>  center.
>
> This may accommodate probably better the needs of these
> two groups. While I like the mixture, it probably no longer
> scales with growing number of participants.
>
> I know that a number of people would like to do more coding.
> They will be happy with pizza and such.
> Business and sponsors would be probably happy to see more
> customers passing by to actually create more OSGeo business
> cases.
>
> Having two conferences in parallel and moving these around the
> globe brings each of them "close" to you every second year.
> Additionally, OSGeo-Biz could more easily generate money
> for the local team and OSGeo (think cross financing, too, fly
> in good speakers and so forth).
> </idea>
>
> Well, just my private idea for 2010+ conferences,
>
> Markus
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