Location of next European Bitcoin Conference (London v Berlin)

[Vandroiy]

What about Munich?

Tee hee hee.

I doubt the conference would end up in Munich this time, but maybe we could plan a Munich minting cut party. Plenty of time to think about this, and maybe a good topic for the next Munich meetup.

I'm also in favor of Berlin, I have quite a few people I could visit there anyways.

[wareen]

I haven't done an official count, but it looks like there's more votes for Berlin than London…

from this thread (and my unofficial counting):

Berlin: 24
London: 10

I would especially not go to London due to the Olympic games this year - everything will be much more expensive (Taxis ~20%, hotels 100-400% [source]).

[Yankee (BitInstant)]

I haven't done an official count, but it looks like there's more votes for Berlin than London…

from this thread (and my unofficial counting):

Berlin: 24
London: 10

I would especially not go to London due to the Olympic games this year - everything will be much more expensive (Taxis ~20%, hotels 100-400% [source]).

Didnt even think about that point, Berlin even now more then ever!

[sturle]

Berlin!  Berlin!  Berlin!

You won't regret it.  Berlin is a wonderful city!  It is young and full of life and culture, and also history.  And it is cheap.  And it is not going to be on it's head and full of security theatre due to some sports event, which probably many Londoners would like to get away from as well.

[tsupp4]

Is there new information about the conference, maybe an approximate date?

[Matthew N. Wright]

Wherever it is, keep in mind that Bitcoin Magazine/BitTalk.TV would like to be there to cover everything. Don't pick some place that I can't bring myself and my crew for under $20,000 and keep in mind that press doesn't usually pay for entry to places they are publicizing for free.

I vote Berlin because people follow Bitcoin and Bitcoin follows people so the choice should be made strictly on cost. This is not a trade show or exhibition like the one we're planning at the DCAO where people off the street will be going, so it doesn't really matter where it is.

[genjix]

Is there new information about the conference, maybe an approximate date?

Yeah, we're going to make an announcement soon after we confirm the venue. We're shooting for either September or December.

[BTCurious]

Is there new information about the conference, maybe an approximate date?

Yeah, we're going to make an announcement soon after we confirm the venue. We're shooting for either September or December.

Sounds great! Berlin I hope? I estimate an 80% probability of me attending if it's in Berlin, compared to 25% for London.

[Technomage]

I will very likely attend this conference, especially if it is in Berlin. Missed the last one but I won't miss this.

[Yankee (BitInstant)]

[wareen]

Is there new information about the conference, maybe an approximate date?

Yeah, we're going to make an announcement soon after we confirm the venue. We're shooting for either September or December.

Great to hear that there's progress - just let us know if you need any help!

Maybe we can witness the block 210.000 apocalypse live in December

[Matthew N. Wright]

Forget Berlin.

[grondilu]

Never been to Berlin.  Could be an opportunity

[Timo Y]

+1 Berlin

more friendly, more laid back, less crowded, affordable and spacious accommodation, plane connections slightly worse than in London, train connections a lot better.

Not that I don't like London, but it's not the best setting in the world for conferences.

[m3ta]

Reasonings in the OP make sense.
However:

- London has Heathrow. *blargh* *ptui* *eek* *gasp*
- If you wanna drink a beer or book a hotel, you'd better be... a brit, or rich.

I've been in Berlin several times for various conferences, and they were all a success and a pleasure to attend.
This is what is needed - a place where the trip to get there doesn't "punish" you and diverges you from the real aim.

+1 Berlin.

[Ente]

Berlin has without doubt  by far the largest Bitcoin community in Europe. Alone because of the potential participiants who live here it would make absolute sense to choose Berlin.

Berlin is dead cheap, London is bloody expensive (I've just been there again last week and couldn't believe my restaurant bills ). This accounts for accomodation, cabs, food, drinks, conference space ... not to mention cigarettes  !

Berlin already has some real world Bitcoin business going on. BTC-payment is already established at a couple of places, including the local hackspace (C-base), one or another bar / restaurant and even a (gay) sauna club, so one can actually go out and eat and drink for Bitcoins. If things go right there will be an actual "Bitcoin-Kiez*" established in a couple of months, meaning an area where many bars and shops accept BTC so you can go out shopping for BTC as well. An upcomming international BTC-conference would support this effort and the local Bitcoin-Kiez* would be a great experience for participants and would also be a great demonstration for the media and show that there are other things than drugs and porn available for BTC and that it actually works and is being used by someone. London on the other hand is a desert when it comes to BTC-retail (zero businesses as of last week as far as I could find out).

Regarding media-contacts: we do have them here too and please consider that the only journalist who showed up in Prague came from Berlin, which resulted in a rather big article in the biggest-selling German magazine. Media interest here is increasing (I alone know of more coverage comming up beginning of the new year) and a BTC-conference in Berlin would have full attention of the media and definately get quite some coverage.

Yes, London is the biggest banking-place in Europe but that is the kind of banking where BTC precisely does not want to go.

Last but not least:
Berlin will still be part of Europe next year, the Londoners are not so sure about that (sorry, could not resist  ).

I'd say first we take Berlin!

Joe


* "Kiez" is Berliner slang meaning as much as neighbourhood area.

I would vote for Berlin due to three main reasons, already mentioned by some people before me:
1) Berlin has a way larger Bitcoin Community. From what it looks like there are more German than UK bitcoin users at least judging by Prague
2) For most continental Europeans, Berlin is easier to reach and easier to pay
3) UK is tough due to visa problems. Quite some of my friends are Russians. They can move freely within Schengen but not to the UK. Thus, it might be a problem for some people to get to London

As in regard to media coverage - if it is really happening in Berlin I should be able to help in this respect. I only have contact to German media, though.

This and that!
Covers it best. Berlin has more potential for fun besides the conference (culture and costs wise) and will attract a lot more visitors. I would rather pay some BTC in the pot for paying for some speaker's flights instead of having all visitors pay five times the money they would in Berlin.
I believe the conference should be visitor-friendly. Else I could just read some whitepapers and see videos from the conference at home..

Ente

(from Berlin)

[Matthew N. Wright]

I really don't understand or appreciate the "there are lots of other things to see in town too!" arguments. Fuck everything else in town, no one is going for a sightseeing expedition of a town, they're going to a convention/conference.

[grondilu]

I really don't understand or appreciate the "there are lots of other things to see in town too!" arguments. Fuck everything else in town, no one is going for a sightseeing expedition of a town, they're going to a convention/conference.

Well, people can do both, you know.   Don't be so squared.

[Matthew N. Wright]

I really don't understand or appreciate the "there are lots of other things to see in town too!" arguments. Fuck everything else in town, no one is going for a sightseeing expedition of a town, they're going to a convention/conference.

Well, people can do both, you know.   Don't be so squared.

If I flew all the way from South Korea to go to a conference/convention, I'd be fucking pissed if it wasn't all-day.

[neuronics]

+1 Berlin