[Inpycon] Venue Finalization {was} PyCon 2010 - Let's get started

[Kenneth Gonsalves]

On Tuesday 20 Apr 2010 5:19:49 pm Noufal Ibrahim wrote:
> > I will shortly send out some more mails detailing how I think we
> > should go with the whole project. Watch this space!
> 
> I'll keep this open for a few more days to see where we're heading.
> 
> I don't like the quality of responses. There are too many that say
> "I'm from Bangalore so it should be in Bangalore". However, Bangalore
> is leading right now 16 to 11.

polls are the worst way of deciding anything - lot of people have no other 
work than to respond to polls. I for one never vote on polls. But the people 
to decide are the people who are going to do the work.

> 
> The popularity contest aside, I feel that Bangalore is the right place
> this time as well. The 2 times in one city approach adopted by the
> PyCon US people has some considerably advantages. Thanks to the delay,
> I think the offer from Chennai which came up has cooled down a little
> so we're somewhat 50/50 right now energy wise.
> 

I think that we are still going about it backwards. We are yet to decide what 
kind of conference we are going to have. What is the aim and orientation? If, 
for example, it is building up community all over India, it makes sense to 
have it in a different city every time. And it makes sense to hold it in a 
college/university which gives a readymade audience and saves us a couple of 
lakhs for venue and infrastructure.

if it is a professional event to attract industry, then of course we should 
hold it in the metros only - and the metros with the most attractive climate, 
in a good hotel or convention centre, charge much more to make sure that only 
seriously committed people take part etc etc.

do not forget that the US is the most advanced country in the world for this 
kind of thing and things that weigh with them - two consecutive events in one 
city, doesnt mean much to us here. There every one who attends will attend 
regardless of where in the US it is held. Here, things like distance and 
expense for travel and stay means much more. Or even getting leave to attend.

so what is focus of the conference? who is the target participants and 
audience?

As mentioned before, my personal idea is to spend the first few years focussing 
on newbies and on building community in different parts of the country (with 
maybe some professional tracks depending on whether we can attract people to 
write papers *specifically* for this conference or not). But this is a personal 
opinion - if most of those who are working for the conference feel different, 
fine with me.

-- 
regards
Kenneth Gonsalves
Senior Associate
NRC-FOSS
http://certificate.nrcfoss.au-kbc.org.in