Comments on: Getting The Most Out Of The MySQL Conference http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/ where things have nothing to do with beer - tutorials, tips, how-tos, thoughts, hacks, and other techy nonsense Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:40:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: My MySQL Conference Schedule | beer planet http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4169 My MySQL Conference Schedule | beer planet Mon, 14 Apr 2008 05:19:30 +0000 http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4169 [...] it in all its glory. Thanks to the Oreilly personal conference planner and scheduler and the advice of my fellow conference goers, I was able to easily (not really) pick out the speeches I am most interested in [...] [...] it in all its glory. Thanks to the Oreilly personal conference planner and scheduler and the advice of my fellow conference goers, I was able to easily (not really) pick out the speeches I am most interested in [...]

]]> By: Matt Dunn http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4089 Matt Dunn Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:07:41 +0000 http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4089 A good rule I've found for conferences is to try and establish in advance which talks are the most practically relevant to what you might need to know. Avoid the temptation to go to events that, although interesting, bear little relevance to what you are trying to achieve. Try and spot speakers or other attendees who you know are in a similar area of database application and then follow them around – you may end up in useful talks that you would have otherwise missed. This method naturally falls down when people start following you. Unless you want to attract attention and ask questions, stay at the back so you can leave quietly if it turns out to be irrelevant or mind-numbingly dull. If you can, stay late and socialize. Sometimes you can learn more from 10 minutes over a drink than you can in a two day conference. But don’t drink too much and always take what you hear with a pinch of salt. Also try not to heckle or throw things at the speakers. A good rule I've found for conferences is to try and establish in advance which talks are the most practically relevant to what you might need to know. Avoid the temptation to go to events that, although interesting, bear little relevance to what you are trying to achieve. Try and spot speakers or other attendees who you know are in a similar area of database application and then follow them around – you may end up in useful talks that you would have otherwise missed. This method naturally falls down when people start following you.

Unless you want to attract attention and ask questions, stay at the back so you can leave quietly if it turns out to be irrelevant or mind-numbingly dull.

If you can, stay late and socialize. Sometimes you can learn more from 10 minutes over a drink than you can in a two day conference. But don’t drink too much and always take what you hear with a pinch of salt.

Also try not to heckle or throw things at the speakers.

]]> By: Arnaud Gadal http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4063 Arnaud Gadal Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:06:51 +0000 http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4063 Hello Artem, Glad to see you won your pass for the conference, it seems you're very self-motivated for it ! About the tutorials session and the ajax interface on oreilly website, I've asked Jay Pipes about it, his advice is there : http://jpipes.com/index.php?/archives/217-Register-for-MySQL-Conference-and-Expo-Tutorials-Are-Selling-or-Sold-Out.html As you've already installed & worked around the cluster, perhaps can you try the cluster certification ? As you know there is a big discount on them at the conf... You have to be a DBA certified to validate the cluster exam, but for 25$/exam you can try both ;) (or pass the dba exams later...) Arnaud Hello Artem,

Glad to see you won your pass for the conference, it seems you're very self-motivated for it !

About the tutorials session and the ajax interface on oreilly website, I've asked Jay Pipes about it, his advice is there :
http://jpipes.com/index.php?/archives/217-Register-for-MySQL-Conference-and-Expo-Tutorials-Are-Selling-or-Sold-Out.html

As you've already installed & worked around the cluster, perhaps can you try the cluster certification ? As you know there is a big discount on them at the conf… You have to be a DBA certified to validate the cluster exam, but for 25$/exam you can try both ;) (or pass the dba exams later…)

Arnaud

]]> By: Diego http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4046 Diego Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:19:40 +0000 http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4046 [quote] because you have to have an OReilly login to customize the schedule [/quote] you can actually use openID if you have one. [quote]
because you have to have an OReilly login to customize the schedule
[/quote]
you can actually use openID if you have one.

]]> By: Artem Russakovskii http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4045 Artem Russakovskii Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:26:14 +0000 http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4045 Baron (Xaprb), I sure hope they will. And if not them, then everyone else, even if they have to use their laptop webcams. P.S. Congrats on Percona again. Kai, Ron, sweet @ beer! I'm going to work on installing additional brains for parallel processing of all information there at the same time. Bill, I didn't realize this because you have to have an OReilly login to customize the schedule. I guess I'll sign up for one, thanks for the tip. Thaya, at least you'll hopefully be able to listen to everything we record there (and see if there's video!). Baron (Xaprb), I sure hope they will. And if not them, then everyone else, even if they have to use their laptop webcams. P.S. Congrats on Percona again.

Kai, Ron, sweet @ beer! I'm going to work on installing additional brains for parallel processing of all information there at the same time.

Bill, I didn't realize this because you have to have an OReilly login to customize the schedule. I guess I'll sign up for one, thanks for the tip.

Thaya, at least you'll hopefully be able to listen to everything we record there (and see if there's video!).

]]> By: Thaya http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4044 Thaya Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:51:36 +0000 http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4044 *Squint Eyes* You guys make me jealous. I don't have a sponsor or a Russian mail-order bride to spare. *Squint Eyes* You guys make me jealous. I don't have a sponsor or a Russian mail-order bride to spare.

]]> By: Bill Karwin http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4043 Bill Karwin Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:24:12 +0000 http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4043 Here's the floorplan of the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara convention space: http://www.santaclara.hyatt.com/hyatt/images/hotels/clara/floorplan.pdf I'm sure there will be a map in the conference bag too. This year the conference schedule has a nifty AJAX interface to note which presentations you want to see. View the schedule, and click the star icons in the sessions you want to see. Then click on "Personal Schedule" to get chronological list of where you should be during every timeslot. You might have already figured this out, but hopefully this will help other readers too. I also downloaded the iCal version of the schedule (now that I'm one of the cool kids - I finally have a Macbook). Here's the floorplan of the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara convention space:
http://www.santaclara.hyatt.com/hyatt/images/hotels/clara/floorplan.pdf

I'm sure there will be a map in the conference bag too.

This year the conference schedule has a nifty AJAX interface to note which presentations you want to see. View the schedule, and click the star icons in the sessions you want to see. Then click on "Personal Schedule" to get chronological list of where you should be during every timeslot.

You might have already figured this out, but hopefully this will help other readers too.

I also downloaded the iCal version of the schedule (now that I'm one of the cool kids – I finally have a Macbook).

]]> By: Ronald Bradford http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4042 Ronald Bradford Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:19:05 +0000 http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4042 Sleep forget that, you have yet to realize the additional free events such as beer at the pool, the MySQL Quiz show again (I'd assume) and BoF's that can easily run to midnight are all outside of the "daily" schedule. I think PZ would notice the difference if you tried to replace his brain. Taking notes with a laptop is highly regarded, and reading www.planetmysql.org or the dedicate channel for the conference will enable you to review what is said in other parallel sessions generally. Sleep forget that, you have yet to realize the additional free events such as beer at the pool, the MySQL Quiz show again (I'd assume) and BoF's that can easily run to midnight are all outside of the "daily" schedule.

I think PZ would notice the difference if you tried to replace his brain.

Taking notes with a laptop is highly regarded, and reading http://www.planetmysql.org or the dedicate channel for the conference will enable you to review what is said in other parallel sessions generally.

]]> By: Xaprb http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4041 Xaprb Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:50:40 +0000 http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4041 I also recorded everything I went to last year. There should be several people recording. If you do it, it would be great if you could share too. I urged MySQL to plan to video-record and YouTube every session this year, but I haven't followed up on that -- I doubt they will. It's hard to balance sleep and the chance to learn from all these people. I'm not sure I have the art myself. I also recorded everything I went to last year. There should be several people recording. If you do it, it would be great if you could share too. I urged MySQL to plan to video-record and YouTube every session this year, but I haven't followed up on that — I doubt they will.

It's hard to balance sleep and the chance to learn from all these people. I'm not sure I have the art myself.

]]> By: Artem Russakovskii http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4040 Artem Russakovskii Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:35:00 +0000 http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4040 Wow, Sheeri, that's quite impressive. You'd be priceless if you could do it this time too. Re-watching the videos, seeing all the speakers again, and having access to the information would be invaluable. Wow, Sheeri, that's quite impressive. You'd be priceless if you could do it this time too. Re-watching the videos, seeing all the speakers again, and having access to the information would be invaluable.

]]> By: Kai Voigt http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4039 Kai Voigt Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:31:15 +0000 http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4039 Planning ahead is a good strategy. There will be enough time to make it between the rooms. Forget about getting much sleep tho :) You will find yourself hanging out with folks for dinner, for a beer or two and go into further discussions. Planning ahead is a good strategy. There will be enough time to make it between the rooms.

Forget about getting much sleep tho :) You will find yourself hanging out with folks for dinner, for a beer or two and go into further discussions.

]]> By: Sheeri K. Cabral http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4038 Sheeri K. Cabral Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:26:07 +0000 http://beerpla.net/2008/03/26/getting-the-most-out-of-the-mysql-conference/#comment-4038 The schedule with locations is in the program book and every day daily ones are printed out. There are about 10 rooms plus the expo hall, and basically there's one hallway that has 5 rooms down it, and another that has the other 5 rooms. They're not far apart. As for the audio recordings, they're not only allowed, but they've been done in the past. In fact, last year I not only did video, but compiled a page with all the recordings and slides I knew about at <a HREF="http://technocation.org/content/2007-mysql-user-conference-and-expo-presentations-and-videos" rel="nofollow">http://technocation.org/content/2007-mysql-user-conference-and-expo-presentations-and-videos</A> The schedule with locations is in the program book and every day daily ones are printed out. There are about 10 rooms plus the expo hall, and basically there's one hallway that has 5 rooms down it, and another that has the other 5 rooms. They're not far apart.

As for the audio recordings, they're not only allowed, but they've been done in the past. In fact, last year I not only did video, but compiled a page with all the recordings and slides I knew about at http://technocation.org/content/2007-mysql-user-conference-and-expo-presentations-and-videos

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