Open letter to Bruce Wagner

[Colargol]

I see no problem that forum whiners are on the bottom of Bruce's priority list...

Wow. Alienate a bunch of people who are eager for more information on the conference and on the future of bitcoin in general.
What a great promotion idea.   

[1714820731]

1714820731

[Serith]

I and several thousand other people, forum members or not, were very exited and looking forward to this bitcoin conference. Mind you, bitcoin is the internet currency, so the "whole" internet was watching, or actually, not watching, because there was no live feed, no blog posts, no press release, no pictures, nothing.

You right about the problem and the solution is known and simple. Next time you should go, or make sure that someone else will go with purpose of reporting, because this is how public gets information about ANY event.

[Litt]

All I read from the op was that he is unhappy that someone else is not working hard enough to make the btc price go up for him. All I want to say is that op needs to just shut his mouth. Or instead of writing on a public forum to complain about it like a whiny little kid, go out and promote bitcoin like you believe it should be at a standard that it deserves on your own merit.

You have not even done a tiny fraction of what Bruce and other devs that spoke at the conference did for Bitcoin from the very beginning. If you cannot appreciate it's progress, then you don't need to part of this community.

[evoorhees]

All I read from the op was that he is unhappy that someone else is not working hard enough to make the btc price go up for him. All I want to say is that op needs to just shut his mouth. Or instead of writing on a public forum to complain about it like a whiny little kid, go out and promote bitcoin like you believe it should be at a standard that it deserves on your own merit.

You have not even done a tiny fraction of what Bruce and other devs that spoke at the conference did for Bitcoin from the very beginning. If you cannot appreciate it's progress, then you don't need to part of this community.

Chillax, man. The OP was completely reasonable and well-spoken. The short-term price action is not important, but the broad point about lack of coverage and info is valid.

As one of those in attendance, I was very happy with the whole weekend but that's because I was there. I think it's a legitimate criticism to say that much more attention should've been given to broadcasting the event and informing the community at large about the goings-on.

I'm sure the lesson will be learned, and there will be no excuse not to have excellent coverage and info-distillation at the next such event.

[BitcoinPorn]

Bullshit trying to put this all on Bruce.  What the fuck tech geeks, how did someone not have their android app out with a live feed off their phone cam.  All are to blame.

[FlipPro]

Bullshit trying to put this all on Bruce.  What the fuck tech geeks, how did someone not have their android app out with a live feed off their phone cam.  All are to blame.

Exactly, I thought naturally we would see more coverage just from the bloggers that were there.

Just a heads up seems like the SA cry babies are planning another massive troll attack, so we will begin to see these threads all over . I have never seen such a coordinated group of individuals that are so into disrupting other peoples daily activities. It's actually kind of disturbing and somewhat vicious...

[qikaifu]

No news reporter go to the conference?
I was told that the bloomberg or something like that would go there.

[matsh]

I was there. I'm from Sweden. Payed in total perhaps 1500 dollars to be there. Stayed in a truly crappy hotel (Latham Hotel on 28th Street) and have this to say:

• Could not afford to pay for the trip? Seriously? That is a lame excuse if you are from the US. How much could a plane ticked have cost? I know no one in NYC I could stay at, but if you're American then the chances are high you actually do.
• The conference fee was 2 BTC (you payed more for a table, but still). How far do you think that takes you in covering the costs for a "ballroom" at a fancy hotel in NYC? I'm sure Bruce made no money at all, and worked his ass off. And so did so many others of his friends and colleagues.
• There weren't that much stuff to stream, really. We had Bruce announcing the whole thing, then we had Gavin talk about the future of the code. Next up was Stefan Thomas talking about BitcoinJS, and finally Jeff Garzik's talk about the state of the coin (his slides are online, check his latest tweets). The rest of the whole thing was just socializing and lots of very interesting discussions with other Bitcoiners. The true content was in the personal meetings. Sorry guys, that's always the best thing with conferences.
• Organizing an event like this is very very very hard work, and not profitable in any way. Pointing fingers at Bruce for doing a crappy work surely doesn't help much.

[defxor]

All I read from the op was that he is unhappy that someone else is not working hard enough to make the btc price go up for him

+1

The true content was in the personal meetings. Sorry guys, that's always the best thing with conferences.

I think the problem is that a lot of people here only know "conferences" to be E3, CES etc. They don't know that a lot of conferences are 30-80 people flying in from all over the world with little to none external coverage and very niche specific.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

I was there. I'm from Sweden. Payed in total perhaps 1500 dollars to be there. Stayed in a truly crappy hotel (Latham Hotel on 28th Street) and have this to say:

• Could not afford to pay for the trip? Seriously? That is a lame excuse if you are from the US. How much could a plane ticked have cost? I know no one in NYC I could stay at, but if you're American then the chances are high you actually do.
• The conference fee was 2 BTC (you payed more for a table, but still). How far do you think that takes you in covering the costs for a "ballroom" at a fancy hotel in NYC? I'm sure Bruce made no money at all, and worked his ass off. And so did so many others of his friends and colleagues.
• There weren't that much stuff to stream, really. We had Bruce announcing the whole thing, then we had Gavin talk about the future of the code. Next up was Stefan Thomas talking about BitcoinJS, and finally Jeff Garzik's talk about the state of the coin (his slides are online, check his latest tweets). The rest of the whole thing was just socializing and lots of very interesting discussions with other Bitcoiners. The true content was in the personal meetings. Sorry guys, that's always the best thing with conferences.
• Organizing an event like this is very very very hard work, and not profitable in any way. Pointing fingers at Bruce for doing a crappy work surely doesn't help much.

Thank you kindly, matsh, for your honest assessment.

[SolarSilver]

I think the problem is that a lot of people here only know "conferences" to be E3, CES etc. They don't know that a lot of conferences are 30-80 people flying in from all over the world with little to none external coverage and very niche specific.

And as somebody who has organized small events (and subevents) like this over the last 12 years, I can only confirm that even if you plan ahead, loads of things change at the last minute. Part of the conference was moved to a different venue. If it had been held in the One-TV Studios, there should been much better recordings. It sounds like the organizers did not have enough volunteers/staff and got overwelmed.

Been there, done that.

It's not that you bought a video streaming access only pass in advance and got screwed

[wolftaur]

It's not that you bought a video streaming access only pass in advance and got screwed

Personally, I'm a bit disappointed. I was hoping there'd be plenty of coverage.

I'm not actually pissed that there wasn't, just a bit disappointed. Like you pointed out, it's not like we paid for it and then got nothing.

[cloon]

we should bring bitcoin and bitcoinproducts into other conferences, where media is present, like gaming/ingegnieur conferences, instead of getting the media to the conference

[the founder]

Flexcoin attended the conference,  we had a table next to Mt. Gox and CampBX ... we viewed it as a great success.    I personally believe you're being hard on Bruce,  he did a VERY good job.   you guys completely missed the fact that it WAS THE FIRST CONFERENCE ...   view it as alpha software.  There will be bugs, and the bugs will get worked out.

You're slamming the guy for making the world's first bitcoin conference ...  it's wrong on so many levels.

[BitPay Business Solutions]

I left very happy and excited for the future of bitcoin.  There seems to be some (vocal) people who did not go, and are saying it did not meet their expectations.  Ok.  Great.  You didn't go.  You didn't help.  You didn't pay.  How much does Bruce really owe you?

Exactly.  The whole point of meeting in person is to network and exchange ideas, and build relationships.  Speeches can be recorded and put on YouTube anytime.  It's meeting people face-to-face that is the key benefit here.

For example, I will buy more merchandise from Littleshop now that I've met him and talked with him for 3 days.  And it turns out we're both from Baltimore.  Imagine that.  Networking is what the conference is all about.

[Grouver (BtcBalance)]

I see no problem that forum whiners are on the bottom of Bruce's priority list. His concern is for the participants of the conference and it seems they're happy.

How much does Bruce really owe you?

He told all loyal Bitcoin Show viewers he would be streaming the entire event
This didn't happen cause of a broken laptop (I should triple check and get an alternative backup before I would go there) .. so yeah that's what he owes us (the people who didn't go) the next Bitcon.
This is my only comment on the whole thing.
I mean look at his first bitcoin show, did this went perfectly? No.
But look at where he stands now with frikking 38 episodes witch are better every time.

[elux]

Suggestion:

Next time perhaps make a call in advance for a shortlist of volunteers
who can take care the inevitable hiccups that show up at any conference.

There will always be issues, but with an action squad on the ready,
you can smooth out the inevitable bumps and make them invisible to the world.

Encourage people to tweet, blog, take pictures, and relate their experience to the outside world.

There was radio silence for almost all of the event,
with the exception of the write-up and photos from BitNavigator. (Thanks.)

Record and publish the talks for Pete's sake!

Manny stated on chat that the whole conference would be streamed live.
What happened to this? Did it fall through completely?

Other than this: Great job in pulling of the conference,
valid criticism is warranted, but the fact remains that the
organizers pulled of a successful first Bitcoin Conference!

Great job! Keep up the good work! *pat on back*

[casey_bowman]

I was there. I'm from Sweden. Payed in total perhaps 1500 dollars to be there. Stayed in a truly crappy hotel (Latham Hotel on 28th Street) and have this to say:

• Could not afford to pay for the trip? Seriously? That is a lame excuse if you are from the US. How much could a plane ticked have cost? I know no one in NYC I could stay at, but if you're American then the chances are high you actually do.
• The conference fee was 2 BTC (you payed more for a table, but still). How far do you think that takes you in covering the costs for a "ballroom" at a fancy hotel in NYC? I'm sure Bruce made no money at all, and worked his ass off. And so did so many others of his friends and colleagues.
• There weren't that much stuff to stream, really. We had Bruce announcing the whole thing, then we had Gavin talk about the future of the code. Next up was Stefan Thomas talking about BitcoinJS, and finally Jeff Garzik's talk about the state of the coin (his slides are online, check his latest tweets). The rest of the whole thing was just socializing and lots of very interesting discussions with other Bitcoiners. The true content was in the personal meetings. Sorry guys, that's always the best thing with conferences.
• Organizing an event like this is very very very hard work, and not profitable in any way. Pointing fingers at Bruce for doing a crappy work surely doesn't help much.

Well stated, matsh. 

[URSAY]

I keep hearing you want "quality" people, not quantity.  I thought the goal was to out BTC into the mainstream.  Obviously the conference is shut off to any new adopters that are curious about BTC.  Admission fees seem unreasonable, especially in BTC which new adopters do not yet understand or know how to attain.

Most establishments would PAY an event to bring in more then 20 people!!

But hey, what do I know?  I'm just a guy that is able to see BOTH sides of the coin instead of spreading unreasonable and untruthful HYPE.

[Bitcoin Swami]

I keep hearing you want "quality" people, not quantity.  I thought the goal was to out BTC into the mainstream.  Obviously the conference is shut off to any new adopters that are curious about BTC.  Admission fees seem unreasonable, especially in BTC which new adopters do not yet understand or know how to attain.

Most establishments would PAY an event to bring in more then 20 people!!

But hey, what do I know?  I'm just a guy that is able to see BOTH sides of the coin instead of spreading unreasonable and untruthful HYPE.

Do you know how much fees are at other conventions?