Conferences: give us something new (and remarkable)
I just wanted to post a brief summary of my experience at the latest Jazoon, but Roman’s preceded me with a detailed post. I agree with him on every single point, so I’ll not annoy you repeating the same concepts.
Overall, it has been a good first edition. There’s definitly space for improvements (more time for presentations, more “active” sponsors, more space for BOFs), but we must give Jazoon’s guys credit for being able to create such a big event.
The real interesting point in my opinion is that the “conference model” hasn’t evolved so much in the last ten (20? 30?) years. Like ten years ago, we have the usual boring/marketing keynotes, the usual 40-50′ presentations (part of them boring, all of them really “introductive”), the usual plastic food (suggestion: don’t even try to make pasta for a thousand people!….it’s simply impossible), and the usual too small spaces to meet people.
The final result is the typical attenders of conferences are junior/mid-level developers, while more experienced people simply prefer to stay at home.
I think that there’s a lot of space to create something new and remarkable, able to attract both young and experienced people. Some ideas:
- Labs. At Javapolis 2006 there were some labs organized by companies (Sun Microsystems) in which you could try the technologies under the supervision of instructors. We need more of them! And not only from big companies, but from open source developers, xp coaches, even researchers…
- DIY sessions. It’s a variation of the lab, but with the collaboration of different people and a unique goal. Under the supervision of an instructor a (small) group tries to create something in, say, 4 hours (or a day). It can be a website, a prototype with Sun Spots or with Lego Mindstorms. We are hackers not salesmen!
- Non technical speeches. Ok, you’re going to the next All-Java-Conference… but if you had to choose, would you prefer to attend YASP (Yet Another Struts/Spring Presentation), the usual use-this-cool-tool speach, or, let’s say, a good talk “IT market and opportunities in China”, “Marketing for developers”, “Latest improvement in biotechnologies”, “How to create your startup”? My guess is that really good developers are also curious people, and would love to hear different topics. Give us a track of non technical speeches now!
- Active sponsors. Let me tell it straight. We need them because the put the money in, but most part of the usual sponsors are just a waste of lobby space. They come with lot of gadgets and smiles, but their contribution to the “conversation” is so little that you wouldn’t notice their absence. On the contrary, there are so much small companies and startups out there that would love to have just a little table at the conference to show their products and ideas, to meet people and talk with them; but, being a couple of teenagers working in their bedrooms, they can’t afford the price. So I’m not telling you to refuse big sponsor, but give us something “alive” to talk with!
- Meeting spaces. Networking is one of the primary reason for attending conferences; you often find interesting people. I can’t understand why there’re so small spaces for talking. I can’t understand why there’re just a few chairs for a thousand people. And why the music is too loud. Please, buy at least some more chairs!
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