Hi all,
I was asked about giving an explaination - how I see the next instaparty,
and why we need an instaparty, so here are a few(...) words about the
issue.
First of all, here is how I see the instaparty. An Instaparty should last
from the morning (10:00) until the evening (20:00). In such an instaparty
we will have installations, explainations and lectures. We can have only 1 or 2
lectures which will repeat on themselves (2-3 times in an instaparty), or
we can give the whole series (technical one) from the beginning - one
after the other with a short break between them. or maybe to give another
combination of lectures. What we should have the least is the
install+network lecture and the basic admin+hebrew lecture. The instaparty
should be in two halls - one for the instaparty and audience, and another
one for the lecture itself. We also don't need a network installation,
unless that is properly planned in advance. We can do very well without it
- unless someone picks the gloves and plans it. We should also have
sponsors. The sponsors would love to have a stand there and publish their
products, and in return we will get everything that is needed to provide
a proper instaparty. As for the distribution - my request for a
distribution will arrive in another email. My decision will appear next
Thursday (15/9).
I was also asked about moving the instaparty to Hannuka. This might be a
good idea, if it is considered a regular day in the Technion (I think that
it is), if we don't lose the "momentum" of the lectures (we probably won't
because we should repeat on the important ones), and if we're not going to
lose another audience (for example - we might get more teenagers, but we
will get less oldies, no?). I wanted to hear your opinion about this. If
we choose Hannuka for the instaparty, I am for moving the whole series one
week later. It can help the instaparty be more connected.
Later I was asked, why we still need an instaparty. I was given notes that
it is not needed anymore since people can download a distribution from the
Internet, because it is easy to install, because it requires a lot of
efforts, so not so many people will arrive. So, here's why we actually
need an instaparty:
1) Showing the installation process to people is not enough. People will
usually leave it aside, will forget, or will be afraid. This time (once a
year!), they have the oppurtunity to give Linux a try, by letting someone
experienced installing it for them, following the installation process and
getting calmed. Afterwards - they only need to use it.
2) It is easy to install - but they don't know that until they sit and
see it happening in their computer. Some installees prefer that some
experience will start the installation process, and then they keep
watching it. For this very special moment - it was worth the effort, and
a new Linux user was born.
3) It is easy to download - but this is not relevant as well. People need
a motivation to download something. And they won't just download a
600-3000MB of a distribution.
4) I was talking about it for the last 3 years, but nobody really listened
to me. I said that in my own words: the most important thing of this whole
show (including the welcome2linux series), is a good advertising and
publishing. If we don't have that - nobody will arrive, or very few, or by
chance. Now, finally, when more people figured that out - this is actually
the first time that we will check good advertising and its result. It's a
good chance to see how it effects people coming to an instaparty. I have a
very strong feeling that it is related. Saying that very few arrived to an
instaparty is quite ridiculous while in the same time - very few people
arrived to the w2l series. Actually - it is just an excuse not to have
another one. If my assumptions were wrong (that advertisement helps more
people to arrive), believe me that I will not try anymore. If nobody is
interested in an instaparty (and we'll figure that out after a proper
publishing and counting people), I assume that we won't have another one
next year. At least I won't insist on it.
5) It is worth the effort, because this is something that we do for new
people. It's very easy to get the people who've already heard about Linux.
It is tougher (and more important) to get those who haven't heard about
it, so they will give it a try. Those who hear about it for the first time
will usually not want to mess with the installation process and will want
someone experienced to do the hard work for them. Yes - we do the hard
work, and more people come. That's the way it goes. The big effort is
actually the organization of the whole process. In this case I ask people
to come and help. If you can't help - that's fine with me, but at least
don't be against something that you don't wish to help. Just don't help!
And if you wish to help and more people will help, nobody will feel the
"pain".
6) As I said in the meeting (and it is very related) - if we're not going
to have a proper advertisment for the W2L+Instaparty - I see no reason to
hold an instaparty anyway. Repeating on last year(s) results due to bad
publishing is no fun.
I hope to get you helping me lifting this very important event, and also
help with the ads so everything will work as planned.
Thanks,
Adir.
--
Adir Abraham
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