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Home / Blog / Joomla Meetings / 5 Thoughts from the CMS Expo 
Dec
08
2008

5 Thoughts from the CMS Expo

Joomla Meetings
Written by Steve Burge   
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CMS Expo1) Organization

Wow - outstanding. Both Expos have run like clockwork. If you think Open Source people are flakes, you haven't seen an event organized by John, Linda and their team from Chicago.

2) Core + Commercial

It was great to see Anthony from the Joomla core in attendance. Hopefully we'll see commercial developers at April's Joomla Day in Las Vegas.

3) Networking

Where else can you get your head together with dozens of the best Joomla developers and entrepreneurs for several days? Not everyone will walk away from conferences like this with a large new contract, but if you lay the groundwork in advance, its the place to to get Joomla business done.

4) We're Klutzes

  • One speaker (who'll remain nameless) couldn't change the battery in his fire alarm without breaking ribs.
  • A whole bunch of speakers sprained legs, arms and backs on the ski slopes.
  • I went to the airport, walked through security and realised my wife's car keys were still in my pocket. Cue an embarrassing turnaround, a quick drive home and a later flight.

5) Catch up if you weren't there

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Your Comments (13)

0
Kenneth Crowder
December 08, 2008

It truly was a great event. It was nice to finally meet you and all the other Joomla! friends I have known for years. And yes, the organization of the event was amazing.

0
-matt
December 08, 2008

I learned a good bit, but more importantly made a lot of new friends.

0
Bernhard Pfeifer
December 08, 2008

Hi Steve,

I had the pleasure to be in contact with John before the Expo and must say that I am very impressed by what he, Linda and their team got going.

It's a real pity I couldn't attend this Expo but I'm really looking forward to be there in May.

Maybe John can export the Expo to Europe, as John wrote in an e-mail to me:

We need to do an Expo in Europe!


All the best,

Bernhard
XHTMLSuite.com - editing the Web 2.0!

Teeman
Brian Teeman
December 08, 2008

What really made a difference between this event and other "open source" events that I attend was that this one - like all the good ones- was structured. I'm not a great fan of the un-conference structure.

For me the "best bits" of an event like this are always the "networking" but imho the "networking" cant operate in a vacuum. The networking opportunities need to occur outside of the main "conference".

And that is where the organisation of this event was so good. Plenty of opportunities to sit and listen to skilled speakers and plenty of opportunities to network with fellow participants.

vdrover
Victor Drover
December 08, 2008

whose the doofus who broke a rib? LAME! :)

0
David West
December 08, 2008

I was glad to have been able to come to the conference. I met a number of people that I hope to meet again at future CMS Expo events. Thank you all for making this oh so swamped sys admin feel welcome into the community.

Teeman
Brian Teeman
December 08, 2008

It was great to meet you David and I look forward to seeing what you are able to produce in Joomla now that you have learnt so much

pdekoker
Phil DeKoker
December 08, 2008

It was so great networking with all the wonderful website professionals gathered in Denver. I had Skype chatted many hours with some of you folks and to see those live faces that are behind the Skype was invaluable. John and Linda are extra special people and it was not for Joomla I would not have made such wonderful friends.

steve
Steve Burge
December 08, 2008

Looks like a lot of satisfied Expo-ers!

I hadn't met half the commenters here before Denver, but I'm certainly now glad I have.

Bernhard - that's a great idea. Paris, London, Amsterdam, Berlin perhaps?

0
Bernhard Pfeifer
December 08, 2008

Steve,

how about Hamburg - that's where I am at. Beautiful city, lots of interesting places to go and - most important i guess - many people interested in Joomla!.

Would love to see the CMS Expo move to Europe, Germany, Hamburg :)

Berlin however as the German capital doesn't sound a place too bad at all for a first CMS Expo :)

Let's get in touch regarding this!

shumisha
Yannick Gaultier
December 09, 2008

Hi all,
weel why not Bordeaux then ? active Joomla community, ability to surf the web, ability to surf the ocean, ski slopes next by. And then there is that wine thing you may have heard about :)

Teeman
Brian Teeman
December 09, 2008

I'd love to go to Bordeaux for an expo. At least it wouldnt be as far for me to travel.

steve
Steve Burge
December 09, 2008

Its on the TGV line ... half-way between Paris and Madrid / Barcelona ... maybe we can ask John to put a poll up on CMSExpo.net

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