Comments for Jeremiah Peschka, SQL Server Developer

Comment on SQL Server Performance Tuning Webcast by Howie Doherty

Howie Doherty — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:41:56 +0000

Going to watch webcast

Comment on How can we grow the pool of Summit speakers? by Grant Fritchey

Grant Fritchey — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:22:39 +0000

I couldn’t vote. It kept saying I needed to provide a valid answer. So, let me just say it here & you can add my vote. No, I don’t think they should limit the good speakers like Adam or Paul/Kim or Kalen or Itzik, etc., but I do think they ought to set aside a percentage of slots for new speakers. It might be a gamble, but that’s the one way to ensure you’re injecting new blood at the same time you provide a quality program with the speakers that people are paying to see.

Comment on How can we grow the pool of Summit speakers? by Eric Humphrey

Eric Humphrey — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:27:17 +0000

I voted no, and set aside. But I think there's another option. Encouragement vs. Discouragement.

Comment on How can we grow the pool of Summit speakers? by Jack Corbett

Jack Corbett — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:40:39 +0000

Darn, I voted NO but had come to the page before the 3rd option was posted so I didn’t see the option of “No Set aside X slots” which I would have voted for.

I posted a somewhat long-winded comment on Allen’s blog that gives my thoughts.

I also agree with Adam that there should be some mandatory experience for Summit speakers. Considering that there were over 500 abstracts submitted for 113 sessions, I think the Summit could probably manage 10-20% new speakers for several years, especially with the expanded opportunities to speak (SQLSaturday’s, Virtual Chapters, etc…) the pool is growing fairly quickly.

Comment on How can we grow the pool of Summit speakers? by Josef Richberg

Josef Richberg — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:39:12 +0000

I don’t think there should be a limit. I would love to travel and present, but I am not able to for a variety of reasons, so those that can do and should be able to give as many presentations as they believe they are capable of giving. A way to ‘limit’ the number given is to look at what is available and say ‘Bob is able to give 5 presentations, but we will give him 4 and give one to Jane’ Just because someone can give 5 doesn’t mean they have to be allowed 5.

Comment on How can we grow the pool of Summit speakers? by Adam Machanic

Adam Machanic — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:33:19 +0000

By the way, I really like the idea of bringing in new speakers, but I don’t think they should really be “new” speakers. Just new to the summit. Attendees don’t pay to come to a conference to see someone work on stage fright issues. Any summit speaker should have at least four or five code camps, SQL Saturdays, user groups, or whatever under their belt.

Also, setting a fixed arbitrary number, e.g. 20%, is going to become limiting. There are only so many people who are even willing to give speaking a try once, let alone multiple times. At my UG I’ve had some brand-new speakers speak, and maybe 50% didn’t really like the experience enough to continue. Given the number of speakers that PASS brings in I think it might be impossible to fill 20% year after year.

Comment on How can we grow the pool of Summit speakers? by Jennifer McCown

Jennifer McCown — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:28:10 +0000

Hah, when I vote No, a popup says Please Choose a valid poll answer. RIGGED! RIGGED!

Comment on How can we grow the pool of Summit speakers? by Steve Jones

Steve Jones — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:27:50 +0000

I vote no as well. There are people like Adam that need to justify their trip, but also I think this is a marketing item. Having some popular speakers deliver 2 makes sense to me.

However I would support a couple of other ideas. Limiting speakers to presenting no more than say, 2 Summits in a row isn’t the end of the world. We could exempt spotlight or pre/post con people, but it would be nice to have slots open up for new speakers.

I’d like to see a percentage of new speakers as well, perhaps 20% first time speakers.

Comment on How can we grow the pool of Summit speakers? by Jeremiah Peschka

Jeremiah Peschka — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:24:50 +0000

You have a good point. Maybe I should have had a third choice: No, but set aside X sessions for new speakers. Maybe I should see if I can change that now.

Comment on How can we grow the pool of Summit speakers? by Adam Machanic

Adam Machanic — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:20:22 +0000

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Especially given that PASS doesn’t pay anything. Those of us who both lose income and pay our own way need to justify the trip, and doing only a single session makes it much less appealing.