I've been thinking about our InstallFest this last weekend and what worked well and what we can learn from the event and maybe do better next time. I've been passing this around the IRC channel for a little while and this is what I've got so far:
- I think we need to do a better job of welcoming people, NLUG members and non-NLUG members, especially. To that end, I think the following might be a good idea. - Have a sign-in table where people can sign their name and email address and pick up a name tag (and maybe even some goody bags with Linux CD's and other information) - Have some event volunteers in some kind of special garb (like a red T-Shirt that says "NLUG" or something) that would be clearly identifiable and willing to help anyone who needs help or has a question. - Have a scrolling slideshow somewhere at the event (preferably at the head of the room or something) with information like: - Formal Welcome - What is NLUG? - When/Where does NLUG meet? - NLUG website, IRC channel, and mailing list - Invitation/Instructions for any demo machines, wireless network, etc. - Time/Location of any special scheduled presentations or demos. - If you have any questions, please see any of the event volunteers in the red NLUG T-Shirts. - Reminder to sign in at sign-in table - Other slides... - Follow up with all event attendees (as determined by sign in sheets) with an email a few days after the event with information about our website, how to get on the mailing list, how to get on IRC, etc. - A little more organized next time and get a couple volunteers to help set up and tear down. It isn't hard to do, but it would have gone faster if I had thought about it ahead of time and asked for some volunteers. - Scheduled and unscheduled presentations/demos/installs in a separate room. We could get some of these prepared in advance (by putting out an invitation to the mailing list) and then schedule them in a separate room where we could really geek out on a specific topic and have full-screen projection for the whole thing. If we get organized enough, we could even post the topics to the website so potential visitors will see what we're going to be doing and when we're going to be doing it. I think this would get some people interested who might not be, otherwise. - Demo machines. I don't think the demo machines set up was really used very much this time around, but Igneous suggested in the IRC room that we set up one box with lots of RAM with VirtualBox and Compiz and workspaces, so people can demo all the distros one one box and even switch between them. This could also be projected, perhaps. - Schedule Install Fests on a regular basis (every 3 months on the 3rd Saturday of the month, I'm thinking?) so we can drum up some repeat visitors and get the buzz built up over time. Well, that's my two cents. Please chime in and let me know what you think. I had a blast and I'd like to do it again and see if we can do even better! Chris --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NLUG" group. To post to this group, send email to nlug-talk@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to nlug-talk+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nlug-talk?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---