[EuroPython] EuroPython 2009 Dates

[John Pinner]

Hello,

2008/5/21 Laura Creighton <lac at openend.se>:
> In a message of Wed, 21 May 2008 18:08:06 BST, "John Pinner" writes:
>>2008/5/21 Laura Creighton <lac at openend.se>:
>>> Ah, its not 'Monday to Wednesday'.  Those are only the times
>>> when we have the talks.
>>
>>Yes, that's how we advertise EP 2008, 7th-9th July.
>
> Hmmm.  Maybe that is a mistake.  Something to discuss with a lot of
> people at EuroPython.

On the other hand, if we said it was a whole week event, many people
who cannot afford the time for a whole week would be put off booking
at the outset.

>>> But the days of sprinting are very much
>>> part of Europython.  So I don't think that a weekend is going to
>>> be long enough.
>>
>>No, but if we were to have the core talks over the weekend it could
>>possible maximise the community involvement.
>
> This is tricky.  I'm not sure if the number of people who cannot
> get off work but would attend on the weekend is greater than the
> number of people who have families and other reasons to not
> 'waste' their precious weekends at conferences.   Does anybody
> know any studies of that?

>From what I have seen, a weekend event (providing it's low cost)
increases the local attendance, for people travelling from other
countries, it probably does not make any difference.

As far as EP 2009 is concerned, the location of the venue in the
city's night life area means that a weekday conference
(Monday-Wednesday, plus sprints) is easier - at the weekend we have
the clubbers to compete with for evening social events.

>>
>>> I'd be happier if Europython was in September, rather than July.
>>
>>Personally I'd prefer July, if only because we tend to take our
>>holiday (if we have one, that is ;) in September.
>>
>>> Is getting a week in September an option?
>>
>>I have July booked provisionally, for both talks and dinner: Almost
>>certainly we could change this to September.
>
> But for a whole week, not just a weekend, correct?

I have booked (provisionally) the main conference facilities for
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and the dinner for Tuesday.  The main
rooms comprise a 520 seat auditorium, 170 seat and 120 seat rooms.

We wouldn't want to book the main hall for the whole week, I presume,
and we can book sufficient rooms for sprinting (Thursday./Friday) once
we have finalised the main booking.

>>I thought that it would be best to ask the list first before
>>finalising the booking, as I know some people like September.
>>
>>And in the light of recent experience on another subject, I thought
>>let's be explicit and ask, rather than assume implicitly that the
>>status quo is what people prefer!
>>
>>As July has become traditional by default, it's generally known when
>>EP will be, so other conferences know to plan around it.
>>
>>So far, it looks like:  July 3 votes, September 1+
>>
>>John
>
> It's early. :-)

Except that we will need to confirm the booking soon.

John
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