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

2012-03-17 04:19:33
Hello everybody,

The beer and gear seems to work pretty well at Nanog, and therefore it is
a good idea to consider it for the IETF. However, I am a bit worried that
we are, however, not seeing the difference between the IETF and Nanog.
Nanog is a Network Operator Group. Hence, the name. Vendors come there and
show their products to their potential customers. In addition, sometimes
the people that come to the meetings are a bit different - though, a
significant overlap does exist.

We are a bit different.Though, we do have many operators, many of the
people are from the vendor camp, and other camps (such as academia). For a
vendor, it might seem a bit that showing your product at the IETF, you're
mostly showing it to your competitor.

Therefore, I don't believe an IETF beer would have quite the same interest
than the Nanog one would. I am very skeptical if this concept would work
at the IETF..

That said, if trying it out does not carry financial risk for the IETF,
perhaps we can try this out, and see what happens. I guess we are supposed
to believe in running code, aren't we...

Cheers,

Jonne.

-- 
Jonne Soininen
Renesas Mobile


Tel: +358 40 527 4634
E-mail: jonne(_dot_)soininen(_at_)renesasmobile(_dot_)com





On 3/16/12 10:13 PM, "IAOC Chair" <bob(_dot_)hinden(_at_)gmail(_dot_)com> 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