[Strategic] 2010 might be the last SOTM
Frederik Ramm
frederik at remote.org
Thu Jun 17 08:11:33 BST 2010
Hi,
I've chosen a provocative subject on purpose, one that I wouldn't
dare to use in the broader public. And "strategic" is not, I believe,
directly responsible for SOTM, but as we're supposed to deal with
funding, I am sure SOTM will be a factor.
It is the natural thing for everyone to assume that SOTM is an idea here
to stay. You organise the conference and of course you want many people
to come, so you create a lot of hype around it. When it's over, you want
to thank those who did all the work, so you applaud them for the great
conference they put together. And amid all this greatness, it is a given
that someone will say "hope to see you again next year", or usually even
"and next year is going to be even greater, brighter, better, more!"
With all this, one creates an environment where *not* holding a SOTM in
any given year would be perceived as nothing less than a failure;
something that neither OSMF nor anyone who is commercially involved with
SOTM would want. Thus, the engine chugs on...
But at the same time, there is the possibility - likelihood even, if you
ask me - that SOTM in its present form is not the kind of conference
that delivers the best value-for-money for the project. In my opinion
and - very limited, I admit - experience, the cost per visitor for such
a conference, in terms of money and hours spent, has a low point
somewhere around 100 to 200 visitors (a size where you have a wide range
of budget facilities available, e.g. universities), and rises
thereafter. At the same time, I believe there is also a peak of
usefulness for the individual participant, also somewhere in the lower
100s - after that, you tend to miss a lot, and the conference breaks up
into lots of parallel mini-conferences while retaining the disadvantages
of a large one.
The only thing that goes up constantly with conference size is the
"glamour factor", i.e. the amount of superlatives you can thrash around
in the public. But that is not a goal I find important.
As I said, this is not a discussion I want to have publicly right now
because I do not want to be seen as a spoil-sport for those who in these
days devote lots of time & energy to SOTM 2010, where I will of course
be and which will of course be a nice opportunity to meet people. But we
should not take SOTM for granted, we should think outside of this box
and ask whether or not we want to continue holding this kind of
conference, or maybe do something else.
You may wonder if I have something specific in mind. I haven't. I can
think of a number of things one could do; diversify regionally, or
diversify thematically (with DevCons, international mapper meets, and a
business day as separate events), virtualise (something like SOTM but
with much more involvement by those staying at home) or simply have more
and smaller conferences, whatever. It is even possible that after close
inspection, the SOTM format is still the best overall format and worth
continuing.
All I'm saying is that we should be careful not to trap ourselves in a
kind of SOTM perpetuity where nobody even thinks about alternatives.
Bye
Frederik
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