Assistance Needed for 2012 Bitcoin Convention - San Antonio, Texas

[edd]

I have some experience organizing conferences, conventions, etc. and had considered putting together an alternate event for 2012, but since Bruce had several already in the works, I didn't think another one would be very productive or succesful. Now, however, it seems our community might benefit from one after all.

Let me say right off that I think the New York event was a huge success. These things usually require months and months of planning, firm commitments from vendors, sponsors, and attendees, and a small army of volunteers. For everything to go as smoothly as it seemed to (I was not able to attend) is a testament to everyone involved.

So, here are my questions for you:

When would you like the next Bitcoin Convention to be held?

Where?

What would you like to do at this event (workshops, networking, seminars, panels)?

How long should it last?

How far in advance would you be willing to purchase?

Would you be willing to sponsor or donate to provide an even more worthwhile experience for everyone?

Any other suggestions or recommendations. (I'm already assuming wireless internet for all and live coverage are necessities.)

[edd]

Bumping once just in case this got overlooked with all the current drama.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

It saddens me that Chicago has yet to be mentioned as a conference site by any of the past promoters. So sad! Please make it Chicago because they have the Cubs, Bears, best Hotdogs, a good size lake, etc. FYI--I'm not suggesting Chicago because I live near her. I'm suggesting Chicago because I live near her. Big Difference!

[BitVapes]

I vote Austin, TX.   It could be held during SXSW when lots of people and media are in Austin from out of town anyway.

[Elwar]

From the judgement of the users on this forum it should probably be in some Amish town in Indiana.

[Otoh]

Medellin, Columbia

Mogadishu, Somalia

Ciudad Juárez, Mexico

Karachi, Pakistan

Chechnya, Russia

Caracas, Venezuela

Pyongyang, North Korea

Havana, Cuba

Harare, Port Moresby and Dhaka

Syria, Tripoli, Kabul, Baghdad

Wolverhampton, Accra, Detroit, LA

New Orleans, USA

Cape Town, South Africa

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ was this where the latino Bruce Cruise was headed?

[Boussac]

From the judgement of the users on this forum it should probably be in some Amish town in Indiana.

Do Amish people use computers ? cell phones ? (in the barn, when no one is watching?)
Or do they stick to bitbills ?

[Littleshop]

San Fran, LA, Vegas, Chicago, Orlando, DC, Austin, New Orleans, Boston....  Basically any big US city that would have a core group of locals using Bitcoin for a larger turnout.  I am all for Bitcoin events overseas, but it would be far less likely for me to go due to cost.
I would not think anything sooner then two months to allow people willing to come to make plans.  

[ctoon6]

if you ask me, london is the best place. its kind of like the worlds capital, and i live in the US.(yeh i know NY is also more accepted, but i duno, i just seem to like london better)

[helloworld]

If you look at the distribution of current bitcoin nodes, a huge proportion are already in the US.

So I vote for anywhere outside the US as a conference location.

But not Pakistan.

[Elder]

If you look at the distribution of current bitcoin nodes, a huge proportion are already in the US.

So I vote for anywhere outside the US as a conference location.

But not Pakistan.

Shouldn't that be a reason for you to want it IN the US? A lot more people would be able to attend if it doesn't cost them quite as much money.

[edd]

If you look at the distribution of current bitcoin nodes, a huge proportion are already in the US.

So I vote for anywhere outside the US as a conference location.

But not Pakistan.

Shouldn't that be a reason for you to want it IN the US? A lot more people would be able to attend if it doesn't cost them quite as much money.

That's why I think Chicago and Austin would be good fits - they're centrally located in the US, almost equidistant from the east and west coasts. I'm also going to throw in my own preference, San Antonio, Texas for the same reason (I also happen to call it "home" ).

But really, location is the last thing to decide upon. In the end, I'd conduct a poll, take the top ten choices and see who could provide the best venue at the best price over the chosen dates.

What else do you look for in a Bitcoin Convention?

[wolftaur]

San Fran, LA, Vegas, Chicago, Orlando, DC, Austin, New Orleans, Boston....  Basically any big US city that would have a core group of locals using Bitcoin for a larger turnout.  I am all for Bitcoin events overseas, but it would be far less likely for me to go due to cost.
I would not think anything sooner then two months to allow people willing to come to make plans.  

I'm going to recommend one that most people wouldn't think of...

Providence, Rhode Island.

There are extremely easy and direct routes to there from many of the bigger cities nearby -- such as Boston, Hartford, NYC, and Philadelphia.

Providence has a very large supply of hotels, many equipped for conventions. There are many other things nearby for attendees that get bored, such as a multilevel mall in downtown Providence. Many of the historic sites are nearby and easy to get to.

There are many good choices for where to gather on the eastern section of the US, but Providence can be cheaply and easily reached by people clustered around several of those good choices.

[helloworld]

If you look at the distribution of current bitcoin nodes, a huge proportion are already in the US.

So I vote for anywhere outside the US as a conference location.

But not Pakistan.

Shouldn't that be a reason for you to want it IN the US? A lot more people would be able to attend if it doesn't cost them quite as much money.

Sure, if you look at it that way.

But I still see it as a reason to spread the word beyond the US.

[theymos]

I'd only be willing to go to a conference close to Wisconsin: Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, etc.

[BitcoinPorn]

If you look at the distribution of current bitcoin nodes, a huge proportion are already in the US.

So I vote for anywhere outside the US as a conference location.

That makes no sense.   I think one more, large event, sponsored by a few sponsors getting together rather than one head behind it all, in the US.    Bitcoin users should think logically and realistically about it's users who are most likely already financially invested in BTC itself, and determine the meeting place based on a location that offers cheap air fares and hotel rates.   Better organization, rooms in bulk deals, I know there has to be a few people with con and expo experience to get behind the next event.

[ctoon6]

If you look at the distribution of current bitcoin nodes, a huge proportion are already in the US.

So I vote for anywhere outside the US as a conference location.

That makes no sense.   I think one more, large event, sponsored by a few sponsors getting together rather than one head behind it all, in the US.    Bitcoin users should think logically and realistically about it's users who are most likely already financially invested in BTC itself, and determine the meeting place based on a location that offers cheap air fares and hotel rates.   Better organization, rooms in bulk deals, I know there has to be a few people with con and expo experience to get behind the next event.

that would be the logical way, but most everything else is not logical, so why not this 

[edd]

If you look at the distribution of current bitcoin nodes, a huge proportion are already in the US.

So I vote for anywhere outside the US as a conference location.

That makes no sense.   I think one more, large event, sponsored by a few sponsors getting together rather than one head behind it all, in the US.    Bitcoin users should think logically and realistically about it's users who are most likely already financially invested in BTC itself, and determine the meeting place based on a location that offers cheap air fares and hotel rates.   Better organization, rooms in bulk deals, I know there has to be a few people with con and expo experience to get behind the next event.

This is why I like San Antonio. I have five years of experience working with these types of events and have lived here my entire life, so I have a lot of contacts. Our convention center has more than 1.3 million square feet of usable space and is within walking distance of dozens of hotels, the newest of which is right next door with 1000 sleeping rooms. The convention center also has:

67 meeting rooms
4 exhibit halls with over 440,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space
3 elegant ballrooms including Ballroom C with approximately 40,000 sq. ft.
Full service UPS Business Center
36 loading docks, including 24 covered docks

Not to mention the Alamo, the Riverwalk, all the great shopping, the restaurants, and the many theme and amusement parks, including the world's largest SeaWorld.

Hmmm, looks like March 4, 5, and 6, of 2012 might be a good time, right after FIRST has their robotics competition (March 1st, 2nd, and 3rd). The weather will be great at that time, too. Let me see what kind of room rates are available.


In any case, how does March 2012 sound to everyone?

[edd]

I've begun contacting some of the more prominent members of the bitcoin community about participating in this event but I'd like everyone's feedback:

Who do you want to see at a Bitcoin Convention?

[enmaku]

As a long-time Las Vegas resident, I can definitively tell you that this place was MADE for conventions. You will have precisely zero problems laying your hands on every last thing you need and you'll have no issues drawing attendees from anywhere in the U.S. since flights to Vegas are made often and cheap, we have massively developed taxi/public-transit infrastructure, etc. (Just don't hold it during the summer, that's suicidal)