Re: [Debconf-team] [Debconf-discuss] venue issues (renamed)
On Fri, Jul 27, 2012 at 08:10:34PM +0000, Daniel Pocock wrote:
> I don't want to give my own opinions on those things, I felt it was
> better to initiate the discussion about a [survey] to find out what the
> wider community feels, nobody has responded to that email though.
I would like us to do a post-DebConf13 survey, with questions for
people who attended it, for those who watched by video, and questions
on reasons for people not attending in person. Some questions on
people's general preferences/needs for future conferences could fit
into that, as long as we avoid making it too long overall.
> - I agree with a venue that supports lowest-common-denominator, but I
> personally feel it should always be closer to alternative
> (tourist-class) accommodation for those willing to pay more and/or for
> sponsors, guest speakers, etc
Yes, I feel that this could discourage some of our regular attendees
from coming, though as you point out we lack data on these topics.
> - if it is necessary/desirable to change venue (e.g. if they don't get
> the broadband in place), I'm willing to give up some of my time to scout
> potential venues in Switzerland, but other people will have to find them
> in Google first and give me a list
I certainly hope that this won't be necessary, but we need to draw up
soon a credible budget, that doesn't just say "raise four times as
much sponsorship income as normal, from somewhere". In several
previous years (including for DebConf12) we changed the venue from the
original plan to reduce costs and/or improve facilities -- the bid
process has usually been seen as being about choosing the bid team and
general location, but not about signing off unlimited expenditure on a
specific venue.
( http://wiki.debconf.org/wiki/DebConf13/Switzerland/Bid mentioned
some possible backup venues, so the Swiss bid team also recognised
that things aren't set in stone.)
> - we should not look at cost, look at value. It costs more: but can
> DebConf reach out to any of the world renowned organisations (both
> universities and businesses) in Switzerland to gain direct or indirect
> subsidies?
http://wiki.debconf.org/wiki/DebConf13/Switzerland/Bid/PriorityList
mentions e.g. "many charitable trusts" -- while formal applications
for funding generally take some time, they should be approached *now*
to sound them out over whether DebConf funding would potentially fit
within their remits, and the potential amounts that might be provided.
> Given the prestige associated with Switzerland, can we run
> any venture on the side for extra profit, e.g. training?
I'm not really sure what you mean here, but as with "DebConf is not a
travel agent", it's dangerous to assume that we are good at engaging
in general commercial activities, just because we are good at building
a free OS and manage to arrange a nice conference each year.
--
Moray
Reply to: