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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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Comments  

 
#1 Kenneth Crowder 2008-12-08 09:08
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.
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#2 -matt 2008-12-08 09:27
I learned a good bit, but more importantly made a lot of new friends.
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#3 Bernhard Pfeifer 2008-12-08 09:33
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:
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We need to do an Expo in Europe!


All the best,

Bernhard
XHTMLSuite.com (www.xhtmlsuite.com/) - editing the Web 2.0!
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#4 Brian Teeman 2008-12-08 10:33
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.
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#5 Victor Drover 2008-12-08 10:51
whose the doofus who broke a rib? LAME! :-)
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#6 David West 2008-12-08 11:12
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.
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#7 Brian Teeman 2008-12-08 11:21
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
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#8 Phil DeKoker 2008-12-08 12:35
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.
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#9 Steve Burge 2008-12-08 14:58
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?
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#10 Bernhard Pfeifer 2008-12-08 18:13
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!
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