Re: Query to the community -- An additional IETF Meeting event?

On Mar 16, 2012, at 2:13 PM, David Meyer wrote:

> On Fri, Mar 16, 2012 at 2:03 PM, Fred Baker <fred(_at_)cisco(_dot_)com> wrote:
> > The question I would ask is: "who are the vendors marketing to, and what are 
> > they selling?" At NANOG, that's fairly clear; companies like Cisco and 
> > Juniper, and resellers like Network Hardware, are selling to their 
> > customers, who are often technical decision makers or senior staff in 
> > companies that buy the stuff. The vendors that sponsor the event go home 
> > with business cards, which give them the opportunity for sales contacts 
> > after the event. Those people also come to IETF, but many others at IETF are 
> > from exactly those vendors, or from research and academia. I'm not convinced 
> > that the lead generation exercise, which is the vendor's reason for showing 
> > up and sponsoring the event, is going to be as useful for them.
> >
> > Not opposed to the experiment, but not sure that we're comparing apples to 
> > apples.
> While I agree Fred, what the beer'n'gear really provides is another venue for 
> our community to socialize (just like any other social event).
Of course, and socializing is a good thing. What I'm looking at is the reason 
for the vendor to sponsor it. When I come to your and my boss and say "gee, 
let's spend a few hundred thousand dollars in the general direction of 
ISOC/IETF", I have to scramble a bit to answer a long list of questions headed 
by "what's in it for me?" and "who's budget does this come from?". I think I 
can say what question I would be asked if I said "let's be a beer'n'gear 
sponsor". I'm not sure that the answer I would give ranks with the one NANOG 
might give.

> Even at the IETF social events are "sponsored" to different degrees. So while 
> vendors get to display their wares, for the most part B'n'G provides another 
> "hallway" where people can socialize/talk while having free beer and food (as 
> well as a way for NANOG to generate revenue). In the NANOG case this is a 
> win-win, however, for the reasons you cite it would be an experiment at the 
> IETF.
>
> Dave
>
> > On Mar 16, 2012, at 12:49 PM, IAOC Chair wrote:
> >
> > > The IESG and IAOC are considering an addition to the IETF meeting week, and 
> > > we would like your views before we develop the idea further.
> > >
> > > At NANOG, there is a Beer and Gear reception one evening.  There are 
> > > exhibitor tables with product vendors (hardware and software) and service 
> > > providers (registries, registrars, ISPs, ESPs, etc.) and anyone else 
> > > interested in face time with NANOG participants. They show their equipment 
> > > and services.  There is bar in the center of the room serving beer, wine, 
> > > and soft drinks. There are hors d'oeuvres scattered around the room.
> > >
> > >  QUESTION:  What do you think about doing a Beer and Gear style
> > >             of event on an evening that does not conflict with
> > >             other IETF activities?
> > >
> > > This would be an opportunity for free food and drink for attendees, for 
> > > vendors and service providers to talk with IETF participants, and for 
> > > additional revenue to the IETF.  Obviously, attendance would be optional.
> > >
> > > Technical people are at the tables, not sales or marketing staff.  Vendors 
> > > know that the audience is very technical, so they send the people that can 
> > > communicate with that audience.
> > >
> > > We would charge for exhibit tables, to raise additional funds for the IETF. 
> > > A stronger base of opportunities for IETF sponsorship distributes our 
> > > funding, making it less fragile; this could make it less likely that we 
> > > would have last-minute scrambles for additional sponsors, including hosts. 
> > > A successful Beer-and-Gear like event would not solve this but it would 
> > > help.
> > >
> > > In the past, the IETF has avoided vendor exhibits and demonstrations.  
> > > However it is clear that NANOG has found a balance that works and that 
> > > NANOG participants and the vendors consider the event valuable.  We believe 
> > > this could translate well to the IETF.
> > >
> > > We are considering some test events, hopefully to be held at IETF 84 
> > > (Vancouver, July 2012) and IETF 85 (Atlanta, November 2012).
> > >
> > > The kinds of evaluation criteria we are considering could include:
> > >
> > > - Did participants enjoy the event?
> > >
> > > - Did vendors consider the event successful?
> > >
> > > - Did the IETF raise additional funds?
> > >
> > > - Did the event "steal" potential sponsors away from other
> > >  aspects of the meeting?
> > >
> > > So, what do you think?  Is this something that we should try?
> > >
> > > Please respond on the ietf(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org mail list.
> > >
> > > On behalf of the IESG and the IAOC,
> > >
> > > Russ Housley
> > > Bob Hinden