Assistance Needed for 2012 Bitcoin Convention - San Antonio, Texas

[edd]

I got sidetracked by other obligations recently and am just now getting a website up for this. I could really use some help from anyone willing to pitch in and help me put all the pieces together.

For anyone interested, here is the proposal I received from the hotel next to the San Antonio Convention Center: http://www.bitcoinconvention2012.com/Bitcoin%20Proposal%202012%20-%20Grand%20Hyatt.pdf

I plan on booking about 80,000 feet of exhibit space at the Convention Center and two good size meeting rooms with the intention of holding alternating panels and discussion sessions. After some consideration, I think having the events on Saturday and Sunday only would be best.

Please provide me with some feedback and, if you want to help, let me know!

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[BitcoinPorn]

I would like to help somehow somewhere.  No matter what, when specifics are out, I'll help linking out in places

[Nagle]

I plan on booking about 80,000 feet of exhibit space at the Convention Center and two good size meeting rooms with the intention of holding alternating panels and discussion sessions. After some consideration, I think having the events on Saturday and Sunday only would be best.

That's ambitious. Especially since Bitcoin may be over by then.

[Littleshop]

I plan on booking about 80,000 feet of exhibit space at the Convention Center and two good size meeting rooms with the intention of holding alternating panels and discussion sessions. After some consideration, I think having the events on Saturday and Sunday only would be best.

That's ambitious. Especially since Bitcoin may be over by then.

Bitcoin is more then a year and a half old, and has spent the vast majority of its life with a lower value then it has now.  Bitcoin will keep going for a while.

[BurtW]

Nagle is just an http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eeyore 

[repentance]

I got sidetracked by other obligations recently and am just now getting a website up for this. I could really use some help from anyone willing to pitch in and help me put all the pieces together.

For anyone interested, here is the proposal I received from the hotel next to the San Antonio Convention Center: http://www.bitcoinconvention2012.com/Bitcoin%20Proposal%202012%20-%20Grand%20Hyatt.pdf

I plan on booking about 80,000 feet of exhibit space at the Convention Center and two good size meeting rooms with the intention of holding alternating panels and discussion sessions. After some consideration, I think having the events on Saturday and Sunday only would be best.

Please provide me with some feedback and, if you want to help, let me know!

Why such a large amount of exhibition space?  A lot of Bitcoin enterprises are service based and even those that sell good aren't going to be exhibiting heavy machinery.  You need to think about how much having lots of unused space is going to affect the cost to potential exhibitors.

Going for the wow factor can cause conferences to fail because they're too expensive for exhibitors and potential attendees.  If you want to get as many exhibitors and attendees as possible then you need to offer a great programme at an affordable price rather than a sexy venue.  Early conferences for anything often don't attract a great many attendees and you'll discourage quite a lot if you choose a venue which puts the price of admission high.

When choosing venues, also check for hidden costs such as separate event insurance which you or the vendors might be required to obtain.

[edd]

I got sidetracked by other obligations recently and am just now getting a website up for this. I could really use some help from anyone willing to pitch in and help me put all the pieces together.

For anyone interested, here is the proposal I received from the hotel next to the San Antonio Convention Center: http://www.bitcoinconvention2012.com/Bitcoin%20Proposal%202012%20-%20Grand%20Hyatt.pdf

I plan on booking about 80,000 feet of exhibit space at the Convention Center and two good size meeting rooms with the intention of holding alternating panels and discussion sessions. After some consideration, I think having the events on Saturday and Sunday only would be best.

Please provide me with some feedback and, if you want to help, let me know!

Why such a large amount of exhibition space?  A lot of Bitcoin enterprises are service based and even those that sell good aren't going to be exhibiting heavy machinery.  You need to think about how much having lots of unused space is going to affect the cost to potential exhibitors.

Going for the wow factor can cause conferences to fail because they're too expensive for exhibitors and potential attendees.  If you want to get as many exhibitors and attendees as possible then you need to offer a great programme at an affordable price rather than a sexy venue.  Early conferences for anything often don't attract a great many attendees and you'll discourage quite a lot if you choose a venue which puts the price of admission high.

When choosing venues, also check for hidden costs such as separate event insurance which you or the vendors might be required to obtain.

It may sound like a lot of space but exhibits don't need to display heavy machinery to take up their fair share of it. Each exhibitor will most likely have at least a tabletop display, requiring a 6' by 3' foot table, a couple of chairs, and enough surrounding space to make it easy for attendees to view and maneuver around it. I imagine many will also have large posters/backdrops, monitors, materials to hand out, etc. The space I have on hold is Exhibit Hall B, the smallest exhibit hall in the convention center, BTW: http://www.bitcoinconvention2012.com/2011%20Street%20Level.pdf

My number one goal while organizing this event is to have the cost of this event covered by sponsors, vendor fees, donations, and merchandise sales, allowing attendees to enjoy it free of charge. Make no mistake, I realize this will be an expensive undertaking but I am fairly confident bitcoin businesses will see the advantages of the exposure this could potentially generate and will make it a priority to have a presence there.

[Elwar]

San Antonio is a good place for it. I would have suggested Vegas because it is a good destination spot and they tend to have cheap flights to encourage gambling.

But I used to live in San Antonio and March is a good time of year. There is plenty to do in San Antonio as well for the tourists (river walk, Sea World, Six Flags, etc).

You will certainly get quite a lot of Austin folks, you may also want to hit up the San Antonio Ron Paul meetup group, they were pretty huge and would probably be interested in Bitcoins.

[evoorhees]

This sounds cool! 

OP - you should edit the post title to include "San Antonio" or "Texas" - it always helps for people associate events with places.

[edd]

This sounds cool! 

OP - you should edit the post title to include "San Antonio" or "Texas" - it always helps for people associate events with places.

Good idea.

[Steve]

Glad you updated the title with the location...San Antonio is a great town for conventions.

[Blackout]

As I said, I can do full HD coverage.... live streaming.... photos.... ect, but I would need expenses covered as I am in NYC.

Here is an example of some of my work:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/crs/2625755341.html

[edd]

Since it might prove difficult to fill three days, I've booked the exhibit hall for only two - March 17 & 18, 2012. Fortunately, they've agreed to only charge us for the space used (with some minimums, of course).

[michaelmclees]

I'll be there.  Might talk to some restaurants to see if their receptive to Bitcoin.

[edd]

I haven't heard from Blackout in a while, so I'm sending out a plea to anyone else who can make it to San Antonio over St. Patrick's Day weekend who can help me cover this event for those who cannot attend in person, as well as recording it for posterity. Any bitcoin business who would like to sponsor the coverage would get full recognition and plenty of exposure, as well.

More info: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=48321

[Phinnaeus Gage]

I haven't heard from Blackout in a while, so I'm sending out a plea to anyone else who can make it to San Antonio over St. Patrick's Day weekend who can help me cover this event for those who cannot attend in person, as well as recording it for posterity. Any bitcoin business who would like to sponsor the coverage would get full recognition and plenty of exposure, as well.

More info: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=48321

We could see if Rashid knows of any cabbies in San Antonio willing to accept payment of fares via Bitcoin. Personally, I see this happening. He does have a following on Twitter and Facebook, connecting to other cabbies--worldwide.

~Bruno~