I hope everyone has had a great beginning to the New Year. 2009 shows a lot of promise, excitement and hope! This year’s Second Life Community Convention is a monumental year. It will be the 5th year that an SLCC has been organized and run. Throughout the five years, there have been many changes to the format, a breadth of topics covered, and a lot of groundwork to make SLCC successful. I want to provide an update on the upcoming convention in response to some of the many questions we have received.
Location and Dates
Each year, we choose a different city in a different region of the United States. This year we’re looking at the west coast for a venue and have included cities such as San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Seattle in our search pool. In looking at a location, we’re also looking at a venue to hold future conventions when returning to the west coast.
The location we choose must meet several requirements and be available for the dates we select. At the moment, we are focusing on a date from Mid-July to the end of August and plan to announce our location and dates by Mid-February.
Pricing
It is my every intention to keep registration prices the same as they were the previous year. I would hate to raise registration costs, especially given the state of the economy. Registration prices are determined by sponsorships, location, and convention costs. To help alleviate some pricing concerns and to make the convention flexible for attendees, we’ve discussed alternatives such as day passes or track passes and are still investigating these options. There are many factors we have to take into account before making a decision on registration packages. Registration prices will be announced at the same time as location and dates.
Sponsorship/Track Leaders/Volunteers
Since Tampa, we have received many inquires for sponsorships, those wishing to run tracks and those wishing to volunteer. We are making changes to each of these components and will provide this information very soon. Do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in any of these aspects. We are maintaining a list of names and organizations who sent inquires and will contact you once we have the information solidified.
2008 Audio
There are several gigs of audio from the 2008 SLCC panels and presentations. Processing this audio has taken longer than initially anticipated (considering it is two days worth of audio across several different tracks.) We will be releasing this audio for free in the very near future once they are finalized.
I want to thank you all for the continued interest in and assistance with SLCC. Plenty of more news and information is headed your way.
This is Great. If you are looking at Seattle, stay away from the first week of August which is Seafair for us and the place is packed with people and the Naval Ships are docked.
It’ll be interesting to see if Las Vegas prices drop or incentives increase due to the economy.
From my standpoint, a more central location would be best to increase the likelihood that I could go, and I imagine others as well.
In order of preference for me would be Los Angeles, San Jose, Los Vegas, San Francisco.
I think you’d get more participants someplace like Los Angeles or the general area since it’s a major air hub. Given the makeup of the area, you could hold it in one of the smaller outlying cities like Burbank or Glendale or Pasadena and still reap the benefits of the “big city” since everything’s close, relatively speaking. It also gives greater options in the way of hotels/motels depending on where the conference is held, also there’s a subway/bus system that would make it easier.
Los Vegas would be good for obvious reasons, easy to get to, is designed for that sort of thing.
San Jose would be good, close to San Francisco, not too far away from Los Angeles, probably a bit cheaper than a major city would be.
I’m hoping it’s close enough and timed right so that I can figure out a way to go, money is tight and location is going to be key for many folks on whether they can easily get there.
Not that anyone cares perhaps, but I vote for July over August. I have another conference during August 8 – 11, 2009, and then school starts for me. Educators may prefer July, in general.
Vegas Vegas Vegas Vegas Vegas.
Hoping for Vegas again, Nice place and I have a friend base there and the prices were not too bad last trip.( perhaps this time I will be on the right side of the country).
Vegas would be awesome. I’m just glad to have it back on the West Coast.
Pituca and I are hoping to be there (Health allowing). We live on the west coast so it will be great to have the SLCC here again
As much as I think it would be really neat to hold the conference near LL HQ – most of the people I’ve talked to seem to think that Las Vegas is going to be the best option in terms of rates. Considering just about everyone has had major knocks this year in terms of finances, it may be prudent to go where they are offering the larger incentives even if it only ends up being a 1 time thing.
The other thing to consider is that there is this great big mass of land just above that line where all the US weather maps stop called CANADA which will give people more bang for their buck if you also included places on the list such as Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. If Seattle is really an option then you should be considering Vancouver as well (EH!).
As stated, there’s a lot that goes into choosing a location, including accommodations and what works best for the convention. Las Vegas is always a sexy pick, but there’s an additional list of factors that take place including convention space, time availability and cost.
I would love to be there and San Francisco would be tops for me or somewhere within easy reach of SFO. Have you thought of San Jose, Santa Cruz, etc? I know Vegas is sexy but perhaps there could be too much competition from outside attractions?
Aww, Nex, you know that Las Vegas is the only place in real life that looks exactly like SL. Where else can you get blinged out Egyptian goddesses, Star Wars space aliens, and a 7 foot *werewolf dancing the Electric Slide together? Here, just choose this place: http://www.luxor.com/ and now tell us the important stuff, like where the after parties will be.
*Yes, Akela, I mean you.
Due to the economy Vegas would actually be the cheapest of all the choices.
Also a reminder that the Relay For Life of Second Life concludes in July. I’d hate to think that you all would step on that.
HtB
I like teh idea of Edmonton (i suggest teh Fantasy Land Hotel [has convention room
) but yeah, since thats not very feasible (since most SLer’s live in the states, so its easier to stay there) I am up for Las Vegas..
]…however since that is probably not big enough convention room…check Northland’s Agricom…right across the road from the Coliseum Inn (really good rates, nice hotel as well
Oh and if your wondering, the reason i support/know so much about Edmonton, i live there XD…choose Calgary we will never look at Second Life the same again D= Ewww Calgary (yes, its because i live in Edmonton that i hate them)…
Anyway, go Edmonton (or Vegas) for SLCC09…also do July, i have school starting End of August, and make sure its like middle of July =/ lol…
Teen Grid Resident,
Hunter Trommler,
Haven Owner
Las Vegas would be a great locale when considering airfare costs for visitors flying in, as many cities/airlines have cheap, direct airfare into here…peak-summertime sucks for outside activity because of the heat, but overall costs are much cheaper when all is considered. Late spring and early fall (great for another SLCC timeframe) would probably be very well suited for Las Vegas, for both the convention and it’s guests
I believe Seattle would be a great choice. Not only would it give all the Lindens somewhere else to go, but July in Seattle will be comfortable and Canada outtings would also be in reach.
It is tough all over, but the casinos and stuff in Las Vegas will be more of a distraction than addition… and I think more long term options are available in the Seattle area. I know I would work to come.
Thanks…
San Francisco is the very BEST city on the planet, imo. Close to home, classy, great history, great food, art, scenery…LOTS to offer and has a kind of SL sensibility to it… in other words there’s something in SF for every SL resident!
SF ? Haaaaaa !
Amsterdam has more ….
And its closer to my home, *grins* !
Wouldn’t you all love to come to that little country that once owned NY ? LMAO, they traded it for Surinam. Surinam you ask, yes Surinam ! I just google mapped it, wow I can see the house I once lived in, ages ago.
I am sure the late evening special events will be very … ehhhh, interesting in Amsterdam with all our coffeeshops (no, they don’t sell coffee there, LOL)
kind regards, Ben
If we are considering West Coast cities, let me put forward San Jose and Oakland.
They both have very accessible international airports, several convention / hotel options, and lots of local amenities.
ComicCon 2009 is July 22nd-26th. Probably best not to compete with a large convention. My preference would be for very early in August probably, so it doesn’t conflict with the start of school semesters in mid/late August.
Would love to see it happen 1st week of August!
And we need a stage for comedy. Apparently, SL Convention doesn’t think funny. LAST YEAR WAS GREAT IN TAMPA
San Francisco is a great place!! Hope you pick it for this year!!!