Clif Notes: Why I go to Spectrum (It Ain't for the Ice Cream)
A while back, Charles Barouch posed a question on the Pick Users Group on LinkedIn asking people who were not planning on attending the International Spectrum Conference, "Why not?" As you would suspect, this topic immediately caught my eye.
One of the early respondents self-identified as a "regular programmer," not a consultant or (in my interpretation here) somebody looking to purchase equipment, software, or solutions. As a regular programmer, there didn't seem to be anything in it for him. I think it is a pretty straightforward and understandable decision. It is, however, based on a misunderstanding or misinformation, and I expected participants to point that out. Unfortunately, that is not what happened.
The discussion was quickly taken over by some consultants pointing out that it wasn't worth it to them because they don't get any new business leads from attending. This then morphed into a discussion of how the vendors aren't doing anything to promote MultiValue in the marketplace. In other words, it almost immediately devolved into the same gripe session that I have been hearing for the last 30 years. Now, I normally don't get involved in this discussion anymore. After about 36 years in the MultiValue community, I'm bored with it. The same points are always raised, the same gripes about the database vendors not bothering to do any marketing are always aired, and I have yet to see any new ideas or solutions offered.
But this time, something bugged me. Specifically, nobody bothered to address the Regular Programmer's points. So I attempted to. In the hopes that a number of other Regular Programmers who did not see the discussion on LinkedIn might see this issue of Spectrum magazine, I thought I would expand on my comments in that discussion thread and explain just why it is I attend the Spectrum Conference.
Let's begin by getting the "full disclosure" stuff out of the way. Yes, I am the Editor of this magazine. Yes, I do receive some payment from Spectrum for that work. But that's where it ends. I am not an employee. I have been an Independent Consultant full-time since 1980. The compensation I get from Spectrum is a very small part of my income. As Editor, that is where my responsibilities end. I am not "required" to attend Spectrum. I am not required to give presentations at the conference. I can skip the conference anytime I want to. (Although I will admit, I think it would look a little odd if the Editor of the magazine didn't bother to show up.) Do I get paid to attend the conference? Absolutely not. I have to take the time off of billable work activity (it's called "lost income") just like any other self-employed person or employee who takes time off work to come. I pay for my own travel and my meals out of pocket. Because of the number of presentations I do, Spectrum is gracious enough to comp me a hotel room. But between travel expenses and lost income, it costs me a large chunk of money out of my own pocket to attend that shindig.
So why do I do it? After all (some of you need to prepare to gasp), I have never received a single consulting lead directly as a result of attending or presenting at Spectrum or any other conference I have attended, even those over the years where I have presented sessions. It has always been strictly money out-of-pocket. And as much as I enjoy ice cream, the Ice Cream Social is nice, but I will not take a week off of billable work and pay all the expenses to come just for something like that. I am in easy driving distance of Baskin-Robbins and Cold Stone.
"Networking" (as in connecting with other people) is frequently touted as one of the main reasons why people go to conferences. And it is very important. This conference is where I reconnect with other professionals in the MultiValue community. Note that I said "other professionals," not prospects, not customers, not only other consultants. I want to find out who is working on what. What Regular Programmers have real, hands-on experience with (fill in the blank). Was it a good experience, or was the experience painful? Who's working on solutions to a new set of problems?
I understand that a lot of Regular Programmers don't see the benefit of networking to them. After all, they are not consultants, they have regular, full-time jobs. To you folks I will simply pose the following question. In this age of company failures, acquisitions, and mergers, what makes you think that just because you've been at your current company for 10 years you won't be looking for a job this time next year? A few of those other Regular Programmers you met a couple years ago at the conference and have stayed in touch with just might be the edge you need to avoid finding yourself on your feet all day long saying, "Welcome to Walmart." Just think about it.
Although networking is an important activity, at least in my opinion, that's not the major reason I come. I come to the conferences to learn stuff. What stuff? Anything I can. It's one of the ways that I stay relevant, which I suppose is just a fancier way of saying that I'm trying to avoid becoming a MultiValue couch potato. Of course, I could do that without coming to the conference. I can download software, read documentation and tutorials, and buy and read books. All I would have to do is give up part of my billable activities, cut down even more on my sleep, stop taking time to eat (okay, that might not actually be such a bad idea), and skip spending time with my kids and granddaughter (figure the odds of that happening). Instead, I can come to the Spectrum Conference and take advantage of these bright, knowledgeable people who have already gone through the painful part of the learning curve and are graciously willing to give the rest of us a quick-start in whatever new technology they have been working with.
Did you notice that I haven't said a single thing about "vendors" yet? I'm not talking about spending several days sitting through product presentations although, of course, those are also available, and I strongly encourage you Regular Programmers to check for those presentations, also. The people you work for and who might be looking for various solutions will quickly learn that you're the "go-to" person about what is happening and what is available in the MultiValue marketplace. Not a bad reputation to have in your company instead of just "well, she writes code."
I want to emphasize this professional education thing, because I think that the misconception that the Spectrum Conference is all about vendors pitching their wares is detrimental to all of you Regular Programmers out there.
By my count, there are 51 sessions being presented at this years conference. Of those 11 are vendor presentations or demonstrations. That means that 40 sessions are professional education sessions targeted at Regular Programmers. That's 78% of the content, folks.
What is in it for you? Most of it.
So please forget the idea that the International Spectrum Conference is nothing more than four days of sales pitches and vendor presentations. Yes, those are an important part of the offering. But for those of us Regular Programmers (including consultants) who are not in a position to sign a check to buy anything or looking for sales leads, it's all about connecting with your fellow MultiValue professionals and continuing your education in the ever increasing sophistication of the MultiValue capabilities.
If you are at the Conference, look me up and say hi, and let's exchange a few ideas. I'll be the one wandering around like a kid in a candy store.
Or maybe an ice cream shop.
Located in Livingston LA.
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