Re: [CORE] PostgreSQL conferences

On Sat, 27 Sep 2003, Bruce Momjian wrote:

> Jan Wieck wrote:
> > > We will be at the convention with some card tables, some CDs and a handful of
> > > xeroxed brochures. MySQL will have a multi-media booth with big banners and
> > > uniforms. We need some substance to counter the glitz, and this is a very
> > > good start.
>
> Let me add that having a small booth isn't a major problem. I have seen
> huge MySQL/Oracle booths where no one visited and it looked dead, and I
> have seen small booths where things were going great. The booth has to
> have some color to be visible, and you have to have your folks out in
> front of the booth engaging people. There is nothing worse than having
> your folks mull around in the back of the booth with nothing going on.
>
> Based on my recent travels, there will be lots of activity at your
> booth. I go to these conferences, and the first hour, I am thinking,
> "Man, I should be reading email instead of standing around doing
> nothing", then people find me and I am talking to PostgreSQL users for
> the rest of the entire day --- it happens every time, so be ready. Make
> sure to wear name tags so people can indentify you from your emails ---
> that's how they find you and know who you are so they can go up and talk
> to you, and it makes their day, and you will get a great lift from the
> experience. Of course, they aren't really thanking me, but all of you
> who work on PostgreSQL, and I point that out.

I will concur with Bruce on this ... my experience(s) from having booths
at several conferences so far has been that the mornings start off 'quiet'
but build up quite quickly, and we've always had 'the smallest booth' to
keep costs down ... "Size doesn't matter" :)