Stone Edge User Meeting

[John Frazar]

Hello Everyone! 

Our client appreciate dinner a few weeks ago in Chicago was very well received.  I've heard from many of the attendees who have expressed interest in having more meetings.  We have been discussing the idea of having another Stone Edge User Meeting and even have some tentative plans in place.  But before we pull the trigger on it, I'd like to hear everyone's opinion on the subject. 

We use to have about 250 in attendance at our Annual User Conferences.  They were 2.5 days long, full of sponsors, lots of food and alcohol served each day, tons of content.  They were very expensive to host and time consuming to plan and prepare.  Eventually, I'd like us to get back to that, but I don't think that would be realistic in the near future.

So, I think we need to think about hosting smaller regional user meetings that people can drive to, spend the day with presentations on current SEOM related topics, eat a meal or two, and then head home.    

Questions for you all:

1. How many of you would make the journey to Philadelphia for a day-long conference/user meeting?
   Would New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, or Southern California be preferred?  Keep in mind the further away from Philly, the more difficult and costly it is for us to pull this off.  I think we would need a minimum of 50 attendees to make it worthwhile.
2. Is a $300/pp admission appropriate?
   If not, would fewer/less fancy meals or additional sponsors be a fair trade-off for a lower price point?  Do you feel the meals and sponsors add convenience and additional value to an event like this, or are they not necessary?
3. Any specific topics that you'd like to see us present or discuss?

Any feedback would be appreciated! 

Thanks,

John Frazar

[tle...@earthsunmoon.com]

My ideal would be something like Philly or Chicago for 2-3 days.  It gets harder to justify the time and expense of travel if it's only one day.  More sponsors sounds good.

I don't think you need to provide meals beyond a modest breakfast and lunch.  Personally, I'd rather see admission be a higher price than to have to leave the hotel during the conference for those meals. If there's alcohol, it should be a cash bar or have a sponsor that's willing to pay for it.

It was suggested several years back that it might better to have these somewhere like King of Prussia instead of downtown Philly to make them less expensive.  I also imagine that there several resort areas that probably have greatly reduced rates in the off season - I just got back from vacation in Myrtle Beach and I know that place is a ghost town by October.

[Federico]

I agree, but prefer Philly or Atlanta.

 

Fico

 

 

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[Cathy Wise]

I would be interested.

 

Any city is fine by me. Atlanta is a great option, but not so interesting. 😉 I’d rather have it in a city where it’s walkable, and Ubers are easy. Off season on the beach sounds wonderful. Smaller cities are cool too – Raleigh Charleston, etc.

 

Length 1 ½ - 2 full days sounds appropriate.

$300 is good.

Breakfast and lunch are good. Sponsors for cocktails and dinner are good.

 

Topics can be decided if this plan comes to fruition.

 

Thanks!

Cathy

 

 

From: ston...@googlegroups.com <ston...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of tle...@earthsunmoon.com
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2019 4:32 PM
To: Stone Edge User Group <ston...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Stone Edge User Group] Re: Stone Edge User Meeting

 

My ideal would be something like Philly or Chicago for 2-3 days.  It gets harder to justify the time and expense of travel if it's only one day.  More sponsors sounds good.

 

I don't think you need to provide meals beyond a modest breakfast and lunch.  Personally, I'd rather see admission be a higher price than to have to leave the hotel during the conference for those meals. If there's alcohol, it should be a cash bar or have a sponsor that's willing to pay for it.

 

It was suggested several years back that it might better to have these somewhere like King of Prussia instead of downtown Philly to make them less expensive.  I also imagine that there several resort areas that probably have greatly reduced rates in the off season - I just got back from vacation in Myrtle Beach and I know that place is a ghost town by October.

--

[Jay Cell]

Since we are on the west side of the country, California Arizona or Nevada are best for us

We used to love going to the meetings in Philadelphia 

Sent from Jay’s iPhone

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[Brad Rusin]

Philly is fine to save on costs. I think 1.5-2 days max. Is there enough content? I don't mind a quick trip. Maybe a dinner/mixer the first evening and then a full day of content the next day?

[Brad Rusin]

Oh $300 sounds about right but I'd like to see a rough agenda first.

[Roxanne Brown]

I think Philly is fine; it makes it easier for you to have the staff attend and meet everyone.

1.5 - 2 days is preferred. That way we are not away too long; but the conference is long enough to cover some great content and allow time for networking and talking to vendors/sponsors. One day isn’t enough time.

Breakfast and lunch are kind of a must in my opinion. It’s not just for convenience (but that’s a big factor); it also allows for additional networking opportunities - which I feel is pretty important. It also gives the SEOM staff the opportunity to talk with attendees without missing a session. The meals do not need to be fancy; but I feel they need to be included.

As far as alcohol - either a cash bar or a sponsor; and just the first night.

I think having sponsors is great. It gives the vendors a chance to meet/talk to users; to discuss their solution in general and more importantly get feedback on needed features. The attendees learn about solutions they might not know about, or learn more about a solution they are already using. Plus, it helps offset the cost to put the conference on - which ends up being a win for everyone.

Thank you!
Rox 😎

[tle...@earthsunmoon.com]

If you do provide breakfast and lunch, I'd love to see you offer a "meals only" option for spouses of fully paid registered attendees.

If you do end up doing Philadelphia on a Friday evening through Sunday, I might be able to bring my wife with me and I'd happily pay something like $60 if she could eat breakfast and lunch with me on Saturday and Sunday at the conference.

[Lawrence Neibauer]

I would also love to see this happen, Philadelphia, King Of Prussia, Washington DC or even South Carolina would be nice. I just don't want to go to NYC.  The prices in NYC are just too damn high

[Jay Cell]

Vegas has great room rates certain weeks of the year 

Sent from Jay’s iPhone

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[P Coleman]

Philly or NY - $300 is reasonable - stick to Philly if it makes it easier to plan it  as all have to  travel regardless of venue

I would stick to a one day plan - early start   - plough through the day - 

Pat