Ok it's time to come out of shell: we are on the verge of securing “Beijing IT Developer Conference Week”.
It will provide free-of-cost to following:
1. A 2,000-3,000 square meter, conference venue, with main pavilion and partitioned classrooms
2. Linguistic support, with instantaneous translations and headsets
3. Sound/video equipment, personnel and recording
4. Security/attendants
5. Internet connection
Caveats:
1. Timing has to be either April, or July of 2010
2. It will be part of a “Beijing IT Developer Conference Week”, with two other companies where for example, Company A at Monday/Tuesday, Drupal on Wednesday, Company C Thursday/Friday
3. In addition to standard practice/protocol of how each company’s developer conference is run (for example, how a DrupalCon is typically run), each company's conference will have to have two more tracks:
a) Successful stories – how particular technology (say, Drupal) is being used in real-life, at enterprises
b) Introductory track – for newbies. For example, Drupal vs. Joomla ☺ (in my experience at DrupalCon Boston, DrupalCon DC and my colleague at DrupalCon Paris, this is not an issue but I still need to note)
FYI, indeed mainland Chinese Drupal community is highly "hidden" from G.D.O -- see http://drupalchina.org/
Having operated in China for 4-5 months each year for the past three years, started first Beijing Drupal Meet-up with Jacob Redding and ChinaOpen in 2008, I know that this DrupalChina web-site is where a significant number of Chinese Drupalers migrate to. Most of them do not bother with G.D.O and hence, the stat-analysis against G.D.O does not, in anyway, reflect the true power of Drupal in China.
Finally, please understand that, it is NOT my intention to complete against other DCAPO events. In fact, I wonder whether we should refer it as a "DrupalCon" Beijing event since I have no idea IF and HOW this will happen yet.
This thread is to purely seek for interest -- given these free-of-cost items that are at our dispense.
Thoughts?
Would you sign up?
Comments
Sounds good, but name could be troublesome
This sounds like a great opportunity, and I would be willing to support it in anyway I can (not sure if I would be able to attend though). My only word of advice is to avoid the "DrupalCon" name. The association are very protective of it, and is what the DCAPO group is working towards.
This is probably a good example where calling it a "DrupalCamp" might not seem appropriate, but it is quite definitely not a "DrupalCon" either. I would imagine most people will advise calling it a DrupalCamp or picking something else.
Also, there is just not enough notice to call it a "DrupalCon" since the earliest we have been planning is Dec 2010. I would also try to avoid April if you expect to get any international draw (and we're looking at July for a national Australian DrupalCamp, but that's less of an issue).
All those caveats aside, I think there is universal agreement within the DCAPO group that we should be supporting more/bigger events in this region and I'm sure other people will be willing to help make this happen too.
--Ryan
Ryan Cross
Drupal Development Services
ProjectPier project management and collaboration software
Appreciate your support and
Appreciate your support and thoughts, Ryan.
And points well taken.
Great Opportunity!
John - this is a fantastic opportunity - I think there there would be great enthusiasm and support for your effort. I agree with others that suggest calling it a DrupalCamp or DrupalChina, DrupalBeijing! (or something like that) but you should definitely feel encouraged! :)
I'm not sure I would be able to attend (travel cost) but if there was any chance, I would LOVE to be there.
cheers
Donna
Donna Benjamin
"Community At Large" representative, Drupal Association Board
Executive Director, Creative Contingencies
Food for thought, last year,
Food for thought, last year, my husband participated in an event called "Do It With Drupal." I thought that name was very catchy and works well. Maybe some creative minds can come up with a name as such for the event that you're hosting?
John, This is awesome! Has
John,
This is awesome! Has the date and equipment already been reserved for a Drupal event, or is this all still tentative? What is the capacity of the venue? Is there a possibility to have it for more consecutive days, free or otherwise? Does each company/community have exclusive use or shared use on those days? Are the other days for IT companies or communities, or both? Where can we find more info?
As Ryan suggested, I don't think that this would work as the first DrupalCon AP, but don't let that be a hindrence. Also, if you see significant value for the Drupal community in calling it a "DrupalCon" you should discuss this with the drupal association. I can help you have that conversation.
I think "Drupal Summit" (See the Pacific North-West Drupal Summit) could be appropriate for an event like this, or something unique (as theWife suggested) like "Do it with Drupal", or "DrupalSouth", but not either of those since they refer to other types of events.
Please keep this group up to date as details become confirmed. I would like to promote this and other such events at DrupalSouth.
Bevan/
Bevan, and all Drupalers of
Bevan, and all Drupalers of DCAPO
Latest update: hotel accommodation (4 star and higher) is most likely covered, for your durations of staying (of conference track) in Beijing.
Waiting for decision: any participants can choose either admission free (hence, open door to the locals), or hotel accommodation free (hence, for outside of mainland China folks).
So ... I would loooooove for Drupal to have it more than 1-day, which is why I am posting -- gauge the possible attendees as well as schedule/topics. So anyone cares to come, please let me know or discuss offline. The event is billed really as a "Beijing International Technology Exchange".
Additionally:
1. The venue is for holding 1,000 attendees at any given-time
2. Drupal can have it more than 1-day, as long as there are enough topics - venue remains free of charge
3. Currently, the plan is calling for each company/community to have exclusive use, in their respective slots
4. Several marquee, publicly traded, for-profit IT companies are finalizing their proposals. In terms of recognition, all of them are just behind Microsoft, Oracle and Google (think Adobe/Novell/SUN/IBM). In regardless, everyone here would know them instantly, if not using/used them in your daily life.
5. Consequently, the schedule is not final yet, as companies are vying for slots and dates
If you care to contact me offline in regards to Drupal Association, I would appreciate it because I think this is an EXCELLENT opportunity.
DrupalCamp
You should call your event DrupalCamp. This in no way diminishes the stature of your event, as we have had DrupalCamps here that have been multi-day events with over 500 attendees.
We reserve the name DrupalCon for specific events, run by the us. The next two DrupalCons will be in San Francisco (April 19-21, 2010) and Copenhagen (August, 2010). When and if we add a third DrupalCon, it will probably be in December and alternate between South America and the DCAPO region.
Meanwhile, we are strongly encouraging groups to put on DrupalCamps and hold local meet-ups. Camps and meetups are the bricks and mortar that we use to build our community.
Please feel free to contact me or the Drupal Association. We will try our best to help you with your DrupalCamp.
Cary Gordon
Events Manager
Drupal Association
December?
Can I point out that December is not the best time for a DrupalCon in or around Australia?
It would potentially conflict with OSDC (runs at the end of November) and linux.conf.au (runs at the end of January). It's peak time for travel - and thus accomodation as well - and it's also the holiday season.
It doesn't have to conflict.
It doesn't have to conflict. Those sound like good opportunities for cooperation.
--
Dave Hansen-Lange
Technical Lead
Advomatic LLC
Great White North Office
Canada
But it will
You'll end up with a third conference at a third location, so people need to travel somewhere three times in three months.
I don't know about you, but I don't have a budget for that. I doubt most people do.
Or perhaps a second
Or perhaps a second conference at a single location...
No arrangement will suit everyone. Other conferences are a consideration, but not the only consideration.
DrupalCon AsiaPacific
Perhaps the Drupal Association could consider sticking to 2 DrupalCons a year, roughly 6 months apart in Spring and Autumn - and make each event be biannual, so in any one year you'd have one in either Europe or the Americas, and the other in South America or AsiaPacific.
Given DrupalCons are already planned for San Francisco and Copenhagen in 2010... perhaps the first DrupalCon South America could be December 2010 to get things started, but I'd have trouble supporting DCAPO in December.
Eg..
DrupalCon North America - Mar/April 2011
DrupalCon AsiaPacific - Sept/October 2011
DrupalCon Europe - Mar/April 2012
DrupalCon South America - Sept/October 2012
Avoiding Summer / Winter also has the advantage of avoiding High Season travel prices.
Donna Benjamin
"Community At Large" representative, Drupal Association Board
Executive Director, Creative Contingencies
So ... wonder what your
So ... wonder what your thoughts are in regards to Donna's Sep/Oct time-frame, for Beijing DevCon - Drupal?, knowing that April is for DrupalCon SF, and August is for DrupalCon Copenhagen?
And oh, how about the latest reference "Beijing DevCon - xyz"?
FYI, it seems that April time-frame will be most likely scrapped since one other company also previously committed a large North America event for April already. And hence, these two questions.
My two cents... I think Oct.
My two cents... I think Oct. time frame is a good time for such an event. Second, on the Conference name, how about "Drupal DevCon - Beijing"? Maybe other countries or cities can name theirs "Drupal DevCon - cityname."
Exact date ?
Any update concerning the exact date ?
Julien MARY
Contact : http://www.progression-asia.com
Various reasons have led it
Various reasons have led it to a limbo state, back to Beijing soon and will try to sort out and update.