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

On 3/16/12 14:19 , Fred Baker wrote:
> 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.
I'm neither for or against it in the particular case but I have served
on the nanog pc so I have been involved in organizing events like this.

There are actual operators why buy actual gear and services, who attend
ietf meetings. We're soemthing of a minority. that's an audience.

I would expect the net needs to be throw a little wider eg around
service organizations, other SDOs, and other entities that want a low
pressure social environment in which to share information about their
products services activities recruitment efforts etc.

> > 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