Author: steverezhener

Following our conversation with Brent Ozar on how to improve session quality at community events, we will be introducing new guidelines to all submitted sessions:

• We would require an uploaded slide deck for every submitted session. It doesn’t have to be the final copy by any means, but just whatever you’ve got.

• Our Content Moderation Team will open, read, and recap your slides, as well as compare if they line up with the session title and abstract

• If the slides don’t line up with the session title and abstract, we will ask you to change them. They should match what you’re teaching. Don’t feel bad about the change! Think of us as your session co-pilot.

• If time permits, we will schedule an MS Teams meeting to go over your content and our feedback.

Our main goal here is to help speakers shine. In addition, we want attendees to understand their options. This helps them choose which session to attend.

Running events, collecting feedback, and improving preparation and delivery. Adopt new tools, repeat.

During the latest delivery of the 2024 SQL Saturday in Orange County event, we capitalized on the following digital tools:

Designer.microsoft.com – create a logo

MailerLite – email marketing platform

Sqlsaturday.com – event listing

WhatsApp mobile app and email distribution list – internal communication

EventZilla.com – event organization, registration, check-in, offer various tickets

Zeffy.com – collect sponsorship money with 100% retention of funds

PayPal.com – lunch tickets

Databox.com – social media dashboards

Facebook.com, Twitter.com, LinkedIn.com – social media marketing

Buffer.com – social media posts scheduling

Sessionize.com – session submission, schedule builder

Callfordataspeakers.com – get the word out in front of many potential speakers

Eval.sqlsaturday.com QR codes – collect session feedback

Forms.microsoft.com (+ QR code) – order lunch, collect event feedback

qrcodechimp.com – generate QR codes with dynamic URLs

Wheelofnames.com – raffle

LinkTree.com – list all digital touchpoints

PowerPoint – room schedule, session template

Tasks.Office.com (aka planner) – list and assign all event tasks

SharePoint.com – log expenses and revenue into lists

Imgflip.com – generate funny memes

Just a week ago, on April 27, 2024, we brought back the in-person SQL Saturday event to Orange County for the first time post-COVID. It’s the perfect moment to share our experiences, the successes, and the lessons we learned along the way.

The journey to revive the SQL Saturday in Orange County was not without its challenges. After the hiatus caused by the pandemic, rekindling interest in these events was like navigating a catch-22 situation—organizers were hesitant because they felt the community interest had waned, and potential attendees thought there were no more events due to lack of organization. Despite these initial doubts, it was clear there was still a strong desire for these gatherings within the community.

The Rebirth of a Community Favorite

Our team at Data Driven Technologies, Inc., also known as the SQLSatLA Team, has always held a deep connection to the SQLSatOC and SQLSatSD events. Drawing from our past experiences and the guidance we received from previous organizers, we were determined to do whatever it took to breathe new life into SQL Saturday in Orange County. When our offers to help the original organizers didn’t pan out, we took the initiative to manage everything ourselves, hoping that our efforts would eventually bring everyone back together. Our main goal was simple: to revive a beloved event.

Overcoming Obstacles

Reviving SQL Saturday presented several obstacles:

• We had no venue as the event previously took place at Golden West College.
• We lacked access to past attendee, speaker, and sponsor lists.
• Local volunteer support was minimal, and we had limited ways to communicate.

Despite these hurdles, our team was fueled by determination and equipped with a wealth of experience, a collaborative mindset, and a robust set of tools that made organizing simpler:

• Thanks to our non-profit status, we had our own Microsoft Office tenant, which helped us create new communication channels as early as June 2023.
• By December, we secured the Microsoft Irvine Office as our venue, thanks to Jen Beiser.
• Our preparation included building a social media presence, frequent communications with volunteers, and using platforms like Sessionize and EventZilla to streamline event organization.

Event Highlights and Successes

The event saw numerous successes:

• We welcomed over 80 attendees, with more than 200 registrations.
• The pre-conference day featured a session on Tuning Databases by Brent Ozar, which was a major draw.
• Our venue choice, the Microsoft Irvine Office, proved ideal.
• The speaker appreciation dinner at Andrei’s Restaurant and a well-organized lunch from Mendocino Farms added to the positive experience.
• The use of technology like the EventZilla Organizer app and Microsoft Forms with QR codes enhanced the attendee and speaker experience.

Lessons Learned and Future Improvements

While many aspects of the event were successful, we identified areas for improvement:

• Streamlining the check-in process, particularly during the pre-conference.
• Providing clearer information about venue amenities like Wi-Fi.
• Improving wayfinding within the venue with more and larger signs.
• Testing room connectivity in advance to ensure a smooth experience for all speakers.

As we reflect on SQL Saturday 2024, we are grateful for the community’s enthusiasm and participation. Each challenge was an opportunity to learn and each success, a moment to celebrate. Looking forward, we are excited to apply these insights to make future events even more rewarding and engaging for everyone involved.

Join us as we continue to build on this foundation, ensuring SQL Saturday remains a cornerstone event for our community. Thank you to everyone who joined us this year, and here’s to many more successful gatherings in the future!