Hi,
1) Enterprise Class on a Startup budget with Open Source tech.
It has always been implied to me, yet I think we should explicitly state it. Perhaps as a tag for selected talks, perhaps as a track,..
( I've been working on building out a network on a budget and a consultant has offered very expensive enterprise class options which imho break the budget - thus I've been thinking a lot about this topic. )
2) As all sorts of great talks are available online thus we need to increase the value of personally attending SCALE.
2A) Networking - people - in person networking We need to pay more attention to how to increase the value of in-person interactions at SCALE.
BOFs and Key signing are good for this.
One speaker last year recommended a SCALE lunch option, perhaps an extra charge for it. ( Thur and Fri tracks often have sponsors for lunch - perhaps we can find ways to increase the value of lunch sponsors with banners or a lunch time presentation to increase the chances of sponsored lunches. )
Selection of speakers - perhaps a little bit of a focus on speakers which people would like to meet in person for business or other purposes. ( the idea is to have a good mix of presenters from the larger pro-open source community )
2B) Prizes - yes they shouldn't be the reason to attend SCALE, yet everyone likes a reward for doing so.
We should look at various additional options to increase rewarding in person attendance.
One tactic other conferences I assist with is to give out prizes at the end of the event to those in attendance, perhaps during a evening reception. I know we've been doing this with Sat night, and that is good, yet perhaps we can also do some of it during the last hour of the expo hall on would make a great opportunity for making it a formal prize give away time from the vendors ( please see 2c )
2C) Sunday Expo Hall needs to remain strong to increase in person attendance Sunday as well as reward exhibitor sponsors.
I would like to see a presentation break during the last 60-45min of the expo hall when prizes will be given away by the exhibitors. This would end the exhibit hall with a stronger finish imho and give people a good reason for a final visit on Sunday to drop their cards off to the exhibitors.
We can workout procedural details a bit, perhaps assigning time slots for exhibitors to give their prizes away to those in attendance, perhaps having a central stage on the expo floor where the prizes are given away.
I know some of the exhibitors are already giving out prizes at their booths on the last day, a little coordination I think will make it better - as some of the good prizes are given out while presentations are in progress and thus having a presentation break during the last hour of the expo hall imho would be nice.
The most important is to give value to the exhibitors, speakers, and attendees for attending SCALE in person. Keeping Sunday strong imho is critical.
Thank You Matti