Mailing List Archive: [PSA MEMBERS] Python Conferences

Hi All--

Jeff Rush wrote:
>

[snip]

> I'm a self-employed consultant and always pay my own way, and
> the conference fees I see run from $300 - $800. I consider those
> a real bargain, because the airfare, hotel and lost billing time are
> the much larger portions of attending, for me. The -location- of
> the conference, and duration, is more important, therefore, than
> the attendance fees.
>
> I don't see how your wife could attend ten conferences for one
> Python conference -- ten plane tickets and hotel nights has got
> to cost more than one Python con.
>

I'm sorry, I didn't make that clear, did I? I was *only* considering
the conference fees--her fees seem to be in the $40 range, and I
estimated one Python con at $400, which is less than I paid last year at
IPC7. But of course 10 travel/lodging expenditures costs more than
one;-)

> And for the international among us (not me), travel expenses
> must be much higher still.
>

Well, I agree that even the high fees for Python conferences *are* worth
it. I had a blast at IPC7, and I can afford those fees. I would not be
able to attend Monterey, though, if I weren't doing a talk. And that
makes me wonder how many others are in the same boat as I am. ... And
as far as international conferences go, I would not be able to attend
conferences outside continental North America, on a cost basis alone.

I'm sorry to be such a grump; it's just that I think if fees were lower
it might attract interesting contributors and fresh young minds to
Python cons, and that would be good for Python. But maybe you're right,
the flight/hotel may well outweigh the fees.

> -squinting-at-the-bigger-picture-ly-yours

<how-can-we-squint-when-we-can-fly>-ly y'rs,
Ivan
----------------------------------------------
Ivan Van Laningham
Callware Technologies, Inc.
ivanlan@callware.com
ivanlan@home.com
http://www.pauahtun.org
See also:
http://www.foretec.com/python/workshops/1998-11/proceedings.html
Army Signal Corps: Cu Chi, Class of '70
----------------------------------------------

Ivan Van Laningham wrote in message <3798845C.BC16931A@callware.com>...

>makes me wonder how many others are in the same boat as I am. ... And
>as far as international conferences go, I would not be able to attend
>conferences outside continental North America, on a cost basis alone.
>
>I'm sorry to be such a grump; it's just that I think if fees were lower
>it might attract interesting contributors and fresh young minds to
>Python cons, and that would be good for Python. But maybe you're right,
>the flight/hotel may well outweigh the fees.

Maybe you really just want a local Users Group. It is important that at
least some Python conferences attract international attendees, otherwise you
will end up with a North America Python Workshop - in no-ones interest,
include the North Americans.

I certainly would not pay around $2000 in airfares and accomodation to
attend a $40.00 conference (assuming the facilities were worth the $40.00,
and not subsidised elsewhere)

In other words, there are Python users all over the world in the same
position as you - except you are lucky in that the International Python
Conferences are hosted in North America. I would consider it unfair in the
extreme to cater for the "poor" North American Python user without catering
for the poor international user. Maybe some funds would be better spend on
CD or Video of the proceedings so that people who can not afford to attend
could still view it, whereever they happen to reside. Thus, for the $40.00,
both you _and_ the International Python user, could get value for money.

All due respect, but in my opinion, it is the people who _can_ afford the
existing conferences that are important to Python obtaining mainstream
acceptance. We need company sponsored individuals and professional
consultants to arrive, and spread the Python word. It is often these people
that seed Python into interesting places, rather than the people who would
attend $40.00 conferences hosted in dormitories.

Mark.