Comparing Big Conferences to Small Conferences for Speakers

Exploring the advantages of audience familiarity in smaller conferences and the speaker's preference for increased interaction and connection.

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Episode notes

In this episode of 'Ruby for All', host Andrew is joined by guest Drew Bragg to talk about the ins and outs of the Sin City Ruby conference. Drew provides a comprehensive breakdown of the event, highlighting the mix of technical and lifestyle talks presented, the benefits of regional conferences for building community and networking, and the unique atmosphere that smaller, regional conferences offer. Additionally, the episode covers the importance of Ruby and Rails in current technology, personal experiences with speaking and organizing community events, and thoughts on the future of regional programming conferences. The conversation concludes with Drew emphasizing the value of these gatherings in strengthening the Ruby community and encouraging participation in future events. Hit download now to hear more!

[00:00:29] Drew introduces himself and tells us what he does, and Andrew explains why he didn’t attend the conference and what he did instead.

[00:02:45] Drew talks about his game show-style talk he gave, which is interactive and challenges attendees’ knowledge of esoteric Ruby syntax.

[00:05:31] Andrew brings up seeing Jason’s talk and the attendee makeup at Sin City Ruby, noting many new faces and speculating on the impact of regional conferences bringing in local attendees who might not travel to larger conferences.

[00:07:51] Andrew asks about the speakers’ dinner, which Drew describes as a communal eating experience.

[00:11:42] Drew explains the first day began with a forced socialization event which Drew found more pleasant in a smaller conference setting.

[00:12:44] Andrew inquires about the style of talks at Sin City Ruby, wondering if there was a particular focus. Drew describes the conference as having a mix of topics with some technical, business-related, and lifestyle-oriented tasks related to Ruby and Rails.

[00:14:01] Drew mentions enjoying Stéfanni Brasil’s talk, Jason’s live coding dressed as Elvis was very entertaining and hilarious, and Obie Fernandez’s closing keynote offering a different perspective on AI’s impact on the industry.

[00:15:40] Regarding lack of recordings at the conference, Drew sees benefits form a speaker’s perspective, and acknowledges that recordings can be valuable for review and as a portfolio asset.

[00:18:41] Drew prefers speaking at smaller conferences for the close-knit atmosphere and better audience interaction but acknowledges that larger conferences have their own advantages.

[00:21:12] Andrew asks what went well with this conference, and Drew explains he appreciates the laid-back nature and mentioned the relaxed atmosphere set by organizer Jason Swett made the event feel more like a meetup.

[00:24:23] Drew shares that he didn’t find any aspect of the conference that didn’t go well and praises the simplicity of regional conferences like Sin City Ruby. He emphasizes the convenience of Vegas as a conference location.

[00:25:40] Discussing Vegas itself, both Andrew and Drew enjoyed visiting Hoover Dam and the overall experience of connecting with people with shared interests in Ruby. They also touch on having fun people-watching and the vibrant environment of “Old Vegas.”

[00:27:55] Drew’s takeaway from the conference is the reaffirmation of Ruby and Rails’ potential and expresses enthusiasm for the talks he attended, singling out Tom Rossi’s as particularly energetic and engaging.

[00:31:01] Drew promotes the idea of attending or organizing local conferences for their intimate nature and the connections they foster. He gives a shout-out to several upcoming Ruby conferences.

[00:32:05] Find out where you can follow Drew and his podcast online.

Panelist:

Andrew Mason

Guest:

Drew Bragg

Sponsors:

GoRails

Honeybadger

Links:

Andrew Mason X/Twitter

Andrew Mason Website

Julie J. X/Twitter