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Announcing CodeConf 2011 (GitHub is putting on a conference)

github.com

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Re: Announcing CodeConf 2011 (GitHub is putting on a conference)

#21

Post by steveklabnik »

acgourley wrote: post #19
jonursenbach wrote: post #2

I wish conferences weren't so damned expensive.

I recently got a "exhibitor kit" packet that lists the costs of renting certain items for your conference display. You know, tables, monitors, booth structures, rugs, plants, extension cords. Stuff marketing teams don't want to deal with packing in and out. $65 to have power available in your area. $100 for a table. $200-500 for area rugs. $80 dollars an hour for labor to help setup or tear down. A 22" monitor is $20…

The last time I had a booth at a conference, I just swung by the local rent-a-center and grabbed a TV. So much cheaper.

Re: Announcing CodeConf 2011 (GitHub is putting on a conference)

#22

Post by watdufa »

Conferences are valued by their ability to capture the energy of a focused audience. OSCON lost most of its value as open source 'won': the featured technologies were too diverse and the rallying cry of 'open source!' was mostly met with "duh! of course".

I'm curious to understand the focus of this one: folks who love github? Cutting edge technology, as blessed by github?

Re: Announcing CodeConf 2011 (GitHub is putting on a conference)

#24

Post by compay »

watdufa wrote: post #22

Conferences are valued by their ability to capture the energy of a focused audience. OSCON lost most of its value as open source 'won': the featured technologies were too diverse and the rallying cry of 'open source!' was mostly met with "duh! of course". I'm curious to understand the focus of this one: folks who love github? Cutting edge technology, as blessed by github?

I hear you. The lineup of speakers does look pretty interesting though.

Re: Announcing CodeConf 2011 (GitHub is putting on a conference)

#25

Post by sleight42 »

jonursenbach wrote: post #2

I wish conferences weren't so damned expensive.

Are you a Rubyist? The following Ruby events are FREE (as in beer)!

Ruby DCamp: http://rubydcamp.org (disclosure: I run this (un)conference)

Magic Ruby: http://magic-ruby.com/

Ruby Hoedown: http://www.rubyhoedown.com/

NYCamp: http://nycamp.in

Not all confs are about the money. A few, however socialist/idealistic/naive people may accuse us of being, are about the love.

Re: Announcing CodeConf 2011 (GitHub is putting on a conference)

#28

Post by count »

tylerrooney wrote: post #14
jonursenbach wrote: post #2

I wish conferences weren't so damned expensive.

The conference is in downtown San Francisco, provides 6 meals, and is throwing 2 parties. If you think $500 is expensive than I don't think you have any idea how much it costs to rent a 300-person conference room at even a mediocre hotel (let alone catering on top of that). And this isn't a mediocre hotel, it's the Hyatt Regency. That doesn't even touch on the cost of organizing and running the conference, travel and…

Shmoocon did 1600 people (1200 attendees + speakers/staff). Tickets were $150/ea. The Hotel was the Washington DC Hilton, right in Dupont Circle and freshly remodeled. The hotel was $40k, the open bar on Sat. night was $30k. They brought in $300k and had $100k left over.

It's seriously not that expensive, although 6 meals might cost quite a bit more...but only for 300 people? I can't imagine it costing THAT much more.

Re: Announcing CodeConf 2011 (GitHub is putting on a conference)

#29

Post by aaronblohowiak »

mkramlich wrote: post #26
jonursenbach wrote: post #2

I wish conferences weren't so damned expensive.

agreed typical conference: your cost anywhere from $300-2000 typical Meetup.com-style meetup: your cost anywhere from $0-5

and free pizza at the meetups!

Re: Announcing CodeConf 2011 (GitHub is putting on a conference)

#30

Post by jamesbritt »

steveklabnik wrote: post #17
bradly wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never really understood it either. RailsConf is $700. I don't know what the turn-out is but I would guess ~1,000 people maybe? That is $700,000. Maybe I am just unaware how much a conference costs to put on, but that seems like a ton of money. Plus most conferences have sponsors too.

Free Market Economoy 101: things are worth whatever people are willing to pay for them. Prices aren't based on cost, they're based on value.

"Prices aren't based on cost, they're based on value."

Sometimes. MountainWest RubyConf is $125. There are other regional Ruby confs that are free. These are among the best and most valuable gatherings I've attended. The organisers are aware of this value, but they're not doing it to make money so they're not jacking up the prices as they could.

When you look at the price for this or that conference, think about who's doing it, for what reason, and for whose benefit. Try to support those closest to your ideals.

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