Topic: Assistance Needed for 2012 Bitcoin Convention - San Antonio, Texas - page 2. (Read 6814 times)

Okay, here's what I'm planning:

Where: San Antonio, Texas, USA

San Antonio is a very popular convention and conference destination. It's roughly equidistant from the east and west coasts, has pleasant weather most of the year, and has attractions and accommodations to appeal to just about any traveler. I also happen to live here and, considering the amount of work I have cut out for me, this was definitely something I had to take into consideration. For more info see: http://www.visitsanantonio.com/index.aspx

Space is available at the dowtown convention center. They're holding 80,000 square feet of exhibit space and two large meeting rooms for panels and discussions. For those of you concerned about internet capabilities, I took the liberty of copying the following from their website -



When: 2012 - March 16th, 17th, and 18th

March seventeenth is St. Patrick's Day and Spring is the best time of year to visit Central Texas.


Lodging:

I'm in the process of locking in a rate of $199/night at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio for the above dates for 200 rooms. This price will include High Speed Internet access in guest rooms. No one will be under any obligation to stay here, but this hotel is right next door to the convention center.


Cost of admission: Free

Sponsors and vendors will need to step up and cover the cost of this event. I'm convinced that one of the things bitcoin needs to grow is more exposure, and what better way than to invite anyone and everyone who can make their way to San Antonio and find a couch to crash on?


Who: Almost everyone I've corresponded with has been very enthusiastic about attending but couldn't commit without knowing the dates. I've finally been able to get firm rates for lodging and convention center space, so I should have some names to post soon.

I'll be putting up a website soon with all of this information and updating it as things coalesce. I'll also be relying on all of you to suggest topics for panels and other discussion groups.

funny, i thought of him after i added Falkvinge and S3052 but got lazy.

I'd love to go on "all expenses paid" trip to a conference like this. Particularly if many people from that list are present.

I would present a talk on mining (novice and intermediate level). And maybe even hold a raffle (free of course) for some of my super-puper  secret mining rig cases.  

@cypherdoc: one more person for your list: ArtForz

Thanks for the kind words. I definitely would be game as long as I don't have any shooting conflicts with other projects... as a date / location firms up I'll be able to give a definite answer.

Loved the Amish subtext. Lol.

I was a little surprised that there wasn't at least a small surge in demand for bitcoins after the New York conference, but then I realized, everyone who attended was already immersed in the bitcoin world. After some careful consideration, I realized that, in order for this event to ever be more than a glorified meetup, it needs to be open to the public.

This means that sponsors and vendors will have to pay more, but it also means that they will get greater exposure. It should also encourage bitcoiners to bring their spouses and significant others to the show so that they can see how vibrant and exciting our growing economy really is.

Once I get a website up, I may begin taking donations so that we can even set up a booth at the show to help beginners download the client, set up a wallet, and purchase or trade for their first bitcoin.

Oh YES! Make all the fast food places around the location aware of the geeks coming and tell them that accepting BTC will definitely be a selling point during the conference Maybe BTC can grow in the real world after successfully seeding some spots with such conferences.

When on a conference, all I buy locally is fast food late at night but maybe other businesses should be briefed, too. Tell them you will have a list of local businesses accepting BTC on the conference website. Most likely if you have a hair dresser accepting bitcoin for the free advertisement, one out of 50 guests would even get his hair cut.

And please give such businesses all the support to get started free of charge. Most likely the local bitcoin community would love to help out.

Get a firm date . I will set-up Boston. Entrance fees will be in Bitcoin. I still want to do the video wall.... so if any other location wants to be connected say something.
Gonna try and get some local farmers markets to accept BTC as well.

It doesn't matter where you host the conference. Just give each attendee one free bitcoin, that will be one big magnet.

ORLANDO is a great choice.  The flights are cheap and frequent, the hotels are cheap and plentiful.  and the weather is great from October to May!

This is exactly how conferences should be! This entire centralization of just one person handling everything was a bad idea to start with. I think the best idea is for everyone in every major city to organize and plan ahead (atleast 4-5 months for good organization and promo).

Hey, what about us Bitcoiners who grew up in cold climates and love it when it's 5 degrees Fahrenheit outside?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!    TORONTO, CANADA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We host the Toroto Stock Exchange and it is the best ideal place for an event for Bitcoiners.

Try to Avoid hosting it in Winters as it might be hard for some fellow bitcoiners who are not used to the extreme cold weather.


Cheers!!!!!!!!
Amit

YES! On a Tuesday and Wednesday in Shipshewana: http://www.tradingplaceamerica.com/


I'm tellin' you, Amos. Bitcoin gonna to increase our fireplace sales three fold.


I nominate Blackout to handle all the video production for the next Bitcoin conveference, if held in the US, with the organizers, and whoever also wishes to, collectively pay all his expenses. I'll pledge/donate at least $100 (or BTC equivalent at close to time of BTCLV2012 [just made that up] date) to get the ball rolling. Or we can put it in escrow till the time comes. 29,28,27,26...Just counting down the seconds till his truly jumps on this thread and states he'll hold the money. Seriously, I believe Blackout would be a great asset for the next conference.

Opinions! Blackout, you game?

Now that session would definitely be filled to capacity!

i keep threatening to come to one of these just to meet her but then again, i'm just a tease

I can make that happen!  She paid for her lunch at Meze Grill with bitcoins, so she's a pro by now!

I completely agree, cypherdoc. I think even the speakers would appreciate the opportunity to listen to one another instead of missing out on everything that happens to be going on while they're addressing an audience.

I am hoping to record and stream all sessions, maybe even strategically placing some monitors around the vendor areas so that attendees won't have to squeeze into a meeting room that might be too small due to an overly conservative estimate of interest.

I think an online program would be a reasonable expectation for an event like this, not to mention being more environmentally friendly and cost effective than a printed one.

Sessions and panels will have to be tailored to the experts, of course. Responses to the emails and PMs I've been sending have been very positive, though.

assuming the turnout would be similar to Bitcon, it would be nice to have sessions that everyone could attend instead of breaking up into separate groups depending on an individuals interest.  for instance,  i would have loved to attend a mining session and a merchant session except they were simultaneous at Bitcon.  even though i know nothing about the details of mining, i think we are all intellectually curious enough to want to know whats behind this part of Bitcoin.

you could have a series of 3 experts in each category speak for 30 min followed by a panel discussion of the 3 speakers and a couple of other experts with Q&A.  these sessions would proceed one by one throughout the day with breaks mid morning, lunch, and mid afternoon of 45 min so that attendees could visit vendor displays in the next room.

i would love to see all the vendors out there bring their products and devices to the conference for attendees to touch and feel.  they should have internet hookups to demo their websites if they don't have a physical product to display.  programs with descriptions of speakers, panel discussants, and vendors would be nice but an extra expense.

anyways, i'm describing my own personal professional conferences which i would love for Bitcoin to be able to reach in the near future.  good luck.

...


I'll send him a PM.

i'll throw in Santa Barbara; West Coast, midway btwn LA and SF and near Vegas.  great weather, plenty to do.

i'd like to see the following speakers:

Gavin
Jeff Garzik
Stefan Thomas
Theymos
Mike Hearns
Grondilu
Casascius
Coderr
Bruce Wagner
Bitpay guys
ALISON
Ira from BTCinch
Mark Karpeles
eMansipator
Jered Kenna
evorhees
Matt Corallo
Max Keiser
John Matonis
Todd Bethell
Trader Steve
Keyur (CampBX)\
ExchB
Ruxum founders
Nefario
Peter Lambert
Steve Gornick
hugolp
Vladimir
tcatm
Jans Vonberger (Instawallet)
Jackjack
hashcoin
mewantsbitcoins
gmaxwell
Luke Jr
genjix
fellowtraveler
hiro
Bytecoin
bcearl
and finally;
Satoshi

edit:

Rick Falkvinge
S3052